Title
Resolve: That the City Council hereby declares September 24
“Malden Latino Business and Workers Appreciation Day”
Body
WHEREAS the contributions of Latinos have been and remain essential to the
success and well-being of our nation, and
WHEREAS Latinos are starting businesses at a faster rate than the national average
across several industries, growing 34 percent over the last 10 years compared to
just 1 percent for all other small businesses; and
WHEREAS Malden has seen an increasing growth of Latino-owned businesses
during that same time period; and
WHEREAS Latinos account for 85% of all farmworkers, 59% of the country’s
construction crews, 53% of all employees in food services and 39% of the nation’s
total workforce and that Latinos make up a large portion of the labor force in service
sectors that were considered essential after the COVID-19 pandemic started (some
65%); and
WHEREAS The Covid-19 crisis has hit Latino small businesses particularly hard,
including not being able to access PPP funding at a similar rate to other business
owners. And many individual proprietors or small, family-owned businesses may feel
the impact of Covid more directly, as the pandemic has disproportionately impacted
the Latino community.
Now therefore in recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, be it resolved, that the
Malden City Council:
(1) Recognizes the important and increasing contributions that Latino businesses
and workers make to Malden and our regional economy, and
(2) Thanks all our essential workers, including the many essential Latino workers,
who have ensured during COVID-19 that food continues to reach our table, our
health care system continues to function and that our economy stays strong,
despite the risks to themselves and their families, and
(3) Recognizes the disproportionate health impact and loss of life in the Latino
community due to COVID-19, and
(4) Hereby Proclaims Friday September 24, 2021 as Malden Latino Business and
Workers Appreciation Day and call on residents to frequent our many Latino
Businesses on that day and through-out the year