FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM DECEMBER 16, 2021 • THE QUEENS COURIER 21
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Electing Moya as City Council speaker would uplift Latino, Hispanic communities
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BY DAVID
CARABALLOSO
New York City is a
place where individuals
from every corner
of the Earth come to
live out their dreams
and build better lives. Th at diversity is
our city’s greatest strength. It is critical
that our leaders in city government
refl ect what is best about New York City,
not just because it’s the right thing to do,
but because it is essential to ensuring the
fears, hopes, dreams and problems of all
New Yorkers are heard and understood by
those with power.
Born into a Cuban and Puerto-Rican
family and elected as the fi rst Latino
vice president of the 20,000-member
strong New York City Carpenters Union,
I believe it is vital we fi ll the vacuum
of high-ranking Latino leaders in city
government by choosing Councilman
Francisco Moya as the next speaker of the
New York City Council.
As a Latino leader of a union, I know
how important it is to elevate all voices to
leadership roles.
I started my career in the NYC
Carpenters Union as a member of Local
157, the largest local union in the country,
which covers parts of the Bronx and
Manhattan. One of my major priorities
was, and still is, protecting hundreds of
non-union workers who are from Latino
and Hispanic communities by organizing
them into the union where they can begin
building safe and stable careers for themselves.
Th at includes good jobs with great
pay and benefi ts.
Th e brothers and sisters I organized were
able to do a 180-degree turn in life and live
the American Dream that people from
around the world come to NYC for. Rather
than continuing to work on dangerous
non-union construction sites where their
diversity wasn’t valued and they were paid
subpar wages with no benefi ts, they sought
out a more rewarding path.
I speak from experience. Before I joined
the union, I had a long career as a nonunion
construction employee. I didn’t understand
how transformative a union job could be
for me. I also didn’t see someone who
looked like me rising up in the ranks either.
I couldn’t have been more wrong. Aft er
15 years as a rank-and-fi le member building
up our iconic skyline, I played an integral
role in the creation of a new local for
the next generation of concrete workers —
Local 212. Before long, I was elected president
and I have continued to excel.
With close to 20 years of experience in
this industry, I have seen fi rsthand the
struggles of minorities in nonunion construction.
It is more important than ever
to ensure that we create more opportunities
for our Latino brothers and sisters.
Th at is my primary focus now that I
am serving as vice president of the NYC
District Council of Carpenters. It’s with
this experience that I will help to uplift
Latino and Hispanic workers and leaders,
just as I have been uplift ed myself.
For years, Francisco Moya has served
in the City Council representing the
21st District in Queens, which comprises
Corona, Jackson Heights and East
Elmhurst and is one of the most diverse
parts of our city. He has shown experience
and grit, standing up to special interests in
his time in the City Council, as well as his
time in the New York State Assembly. As
a native New Yorker, he understands what
our communities need.
With Moya as speaker, Latino New
Yorkers will know that Mayor Eric Adams
has a strong partner protecting them and
their children, while creating a more just
and equitable New York City.
Moya is the perfect person at the perfect
time for the job. He represents what
is best about New York City and the values
that we uphold in the union, not just
for our Latino and Hispanic members, but
for everyone.
I am proud that my union endorsed
him for New York City Council Speaker,
and I look forward to working with him
to ensure that we continue to foster viable
pathways for Latino and Hispanic brothers
and sisters to climb, lead and prosper.
Th at is the New York dream, and the
American dream.
David Caraballoso is vice president of
the New York City District Council of
Carpenters.
A NEW BISHOP IN A
TIME OF NEED
Brooklyn and Queens Diocese has a new
Catholic bishop, and his name is Bishop
Robert J. Brennan.
As Grand Knight of St. Anastasia Knights
of Columbus Council #5911 in Douglaston, I
would like to applaud his appointment to the
Brooklyn and Queens Diocese.
Bishop Robert J. Brennan was born and
raised on Long Island, where he attended
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School
in Lindenhurst and St. John the Baptist
Diocesan High School in West Islip.
Th e bishop is a true New Yorker.
Bishop Brennan at his installation pointed
out that the world — every language and
every nationality — is found in Brooklyn and
Queens and that we are a diocese of immigrants.
Well, I fi nd that to be true.
Bishop Brennan is compelled by his religious
beliefs to listen to the needs of all those
who are hurting in the diocese.
We have a new voice in Brooklyn and
Queens at a time when many people, both
young and old, are hurting and need spiritual
healing, especially during the COVID-
19 pandemic.
Bishop Brennan, may God guide you and
protect you in all that you wish to accomplish
for the good of all those that need you.
Frederick R. Bedell Jr., Bellerose
ON THE SAME PAGE
Last week’s editorial, “Who’s throwing their
vote away?” hit the nail right on the head.
What could have been added is, if one does
not like the present system, one can help
change it by voting.
Also people must remember, if one does
not vote, one has no right to complain!
John E. Creed, Floral Park
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