City leaders criticize Curtatone for lack of diversity

By George P. Hassett

     Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone talks a good game when it comes to promoting diversity in Somerville but he has yet to follow through on his rhetoric, said two community leaders this week.
     Franklin Dalembert, Executive Director of the Haitian Coalition, and Nelson Salazar, Director of the Welcome Project, said Curtatone has done little to involve new ethnic groups in local government and public life.

     “The power has not been shared. The power in this city belongs only to one population. None of it has been made accessible to the other populations,” said Salazar.
      To witness this fact, Dalembert said you must only go to City Hall.
      “The local government does not reflect the community. There is no one in a top position of power in the city who is bilingual. This is a diverse city, but you can not see that when looking at the people in power here,” he said.
       Census 2000 reported that 22,727 Somerville residents, 29.3% of the local population, were foreign born and spoke a language besides English at home. Yet, to the great detriment of the city, there are no bilingual aldermen or department heads, said Dalembert.
       “When the mayor fails to hire and promote bilingual and minority leaders he is creating a gap between government and the people,” he said.
        The Curtatone administration has done little to reach out to the immigrant segment of Somerville, said Salazar.
       “There is nothing at city hall to make immigrants feel welcome. The mayor made the Memorial Day parade into a big celebration, which was great because celebrating American history is wonderful. But how about acknowledging the history of where we come from?"

To read this article in its entirety and learn what Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone said, see the August 31 print edition of The Somerville News.