For Immediate Release

THE NEWARK MUNICIPAL COUNCIL HOLD FIRST-EVER LATINO MEDIA BREAKFAST CELEBRATING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

Newark, NJ – September 22, 2008 – During this Hispanic Heritage Month, Council Vice President Luis A. Quintana, Councilman-At-Large Carlos M. Gonzalez, North Ward Councilman Anibal Ramos Jr., and the Newark Municipal Council hosted their first-ever Latino Media Roundtable Breakfast on September 22. Entitled “Latinos in Motion,” the breakfast was an opportunity to dialogue with members of the Latino press and to recognize the outstanding achievements of Latinos in the media.

“We wanted to host this event to give the Hispanic media the same access to the Council that mainstream media receives. We realize that most of our ethnic weekly publications do not have the resources to send a reporter to every meeting or every event, so we wanted to come to them,” says Quintana.

At the event the council members discussed the ways the Council is trying to reduce crime, increase employment and continue to support community programs despite the state’s spending restrictions.

“State Commissioner Joseph Doria denied our request for a waiver in 2008 that would have allowed us to continue to financially support community events such as parades, block parties and festivals. But we will prevail. I am committed to finding other resources so that these important events are able to continue,” said Quintana.

Councilman Ramos discussed the ways the Council is trying to reduce crime. “We are in the process of implementing a resolution that will make it mandatory for a security guard to be present 24 hours a day at all apartment buildings with 100 or more resident,” said Ramos. He is also working on an ordinance that will ban the possession or sale of deceptively colored handguns, which are often times mistaken for a toy.

Councilman Gonzalez spoke to the strides that have been made since this administration came into office in 2006. "The reduction in crime in Newark is not an accident. It reflects the efforts of our government officials, the department of the police and the fine citizens of the city in solving this problem," said Gonzalez. Gonzalez also addressed the need for more incentives to attract businesses to the city.

Council President Mildred Crump attended the event and awarded the first ever "Latinos in Motion" award to Council Vice President Luis A. Quintana for his accomplishment as the first Hispanic councilman elected to the Newark Municipal Council. The other “Latinos in Motion” honorees were Mr. Irving Linares for his success and longevity over the last 31 years as the owner of El Nuevo Coqui newspaper, and Mr. Santiago Paniagua for his rapid success over the last five years as owner of Quisqueya Internacional newspaper. Both publications are based in Newark.