The Union City Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance creating a new division to the Department of Public Affairs.
The new Office of Hispanic and Cultural Affairs will work to provide more cultural events to the city’s Hispanic populations and well as provide assistance to the community.
“This will bring more outreach to the community,” said Union City Mayor Brian Stack, adding that his Department of Constituent Affairs already works closely with the city’s Hispanic community. “This will be one more outlet for the community.”
Commissioner of Public Affairs Tilo Rivas will head the new Office of Hispanic and Cultural Affairs. He will not earn an additional salary. According to Union City Mayor Brian Stack, if Rivas chooses to hire a deputy director in his department, this department will fall under the deputy director’s duties.
Taking control
Although Rivas said that no definite plans have been made for the new division, Rivas plans to organize the city’s involvement in cultural parades and the flag-raising ceremonies held in honor of each of the different communities in Union City.
“The Hispanic community is growing so rapidly in the city,” said Rivas. “There are a lot of activities going on at the same time.”
“We are trying to regulate parades and celebrations in the city,” said Rivas, adding that these events require a lot of city personnel such as police officers and cleaning people. “With this department, we will have better control of the events taking place.”
Currently, the city already holds flag-raising ceremonies in honor of the many different cultural communities living in Union City.
According to Stack, the city is hoping to expand on these activities through this new department.
Rivas, who is a member of the city’s Dominican community, has experience in organizing cultural events in the city. Rivas played a large role in organizing the Union City Public Library celebration in honor of Dominican Heritage Week, which celebrates the Dominican Republic’s gaining independence from Haiti on Feb. 27, 1844.
The library’s events were kicked off with a floral offering made to the statue of Dominican patriot Juan Pablo Duarte. Two Spanish classes from Emerson High School attended educational presentations on Dominican culture and history at the 15th Street library branch located at 420 15th St.
Dominican artists and authors were also booked at the library as guest speakers during that week. The library also displayed Dominican books, musical instruments, postage stamps, masks and a map of the Dominican Republic at the 15th Street branch.
More culture
Stack said that the new division will also be working closely with Commissioner of Parks and Public Property Michael Leggiero to bring more cultural events to the city’s parks.
This year, the city added Shakespeare in the Park and poetry readings to its summer events series in the parks.
The Hudson Shakespeare Company planned three productions in Ellsworth Park located on 24th Street and New York Avenue for the summer. The company will perform Measure for Measure on August 21 and already held productions of King Lear and The Merchant of Venice.