Dear Constituent:

As the public debate continues around the Economic Development Corporation’s decision to release a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) for two underutilized spaces in the Julia de Burgos Latino Cultural Center (the Center), allow me to respond to a specific type of criticism that equates my advocacy in challenging the status quo with an elitist agenda. Most disappointing is a recent column that missed the point on the need for change by resorting to inflammatory and dismissive characterizations of those of us who are striving to optimize the strength and vitality of our community’s assets.

At the core of this most recent community struggle is a larger dilemma we have been remiss to confront and is tearing at us. We must face the fact that too many of our institutions, community based organizations and political leaders, have ignored the urgent need for leadership development and succession planning. Continue reading →