Mayor of Philadelphia Appoints Hispanic William Cartagena to Latino Advisory Committee

Philadelphia: Mayor Cherelle Parker of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is making significant strides in fulfilling her campaign promise to establish a diverse municipal government. Her recent appointment of Latino leader William Cartagena to the Latino Engagement Advisory Committee is a crucial step in this direction. The mayor has entrusted Cartagena with the responsibility of amplifying the voices of the Latino community throughout the city and advocating for policies addressing social injustice, health, well-being, economic opportunities, and gender equity.

Mayor Cherelle Parker promised a diverse government.

William Cartagena

“Dear William Cartagena, it is our pleasure to appoint you as a member of the Mayor’s Latino Engagement Advisory Committee. As a member of this distinguished body, you will be tasked with amplifying the voices of the Latino community across our city and advocating for policies that address social injustice, health, well-being, economic opportunities, and gender equity,” said Mayor Parker.

“Thank you for your service to the community and your ongoing commitment to making Philadelphia a safer, cleaner, and more environmentally friendly city in the country, with economic opportunities for all. Contributions like yours and others in such volunteer roles will achieve this vision for our city. I look forward to you and your leadership helping us achieve that goal,” concluded the communication signed by Mayor Cherelle Parker on June 28, 2024.

Since taking office at City Hall, Cherelle Parker has been fulfilling her campaign promises.

Cherelle Parker made history by becoming the first Black woman to achieve the mayoralty of Philadelphia, easily defeating her Republican rival David Oh in a city where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by 7 to 1.

As soon as she won the November 2023 elections, Parker announced her transition team members at City Hall and ensured that her team would be characterized by diversity from the outset, sending a clear message about her mission to ensure diverse representation in city government and promising to eliminate the need for personal connections to work at City Hall.

In her short time in office, Parker has made a noticeable impact on the city. For instance, she ordered the removal of homeless individuals from Kensington Ave in North Philadelphia. This action not only improved the area’s physical appearance but also provided much-needed attention to people experiencing homelessness during the cleanup of the Kensington camp.

With assistance from the Police Department, an operation was carried out on Kensington Avenue to dissolve a camp that had existed for years and had negatively affected the former thriving economic and commercial center of the Kensington neighborhood. It was an actual hell on earth, where hundreds of homeless and drug-addicted individuals had taken over the central neighborhood and its surroundings, living in makeshift and dilapidated tents. This necessary eviction is part of Mayor Cherelle Parker’s plan to improve the neighborhood.

The camp was dismantled after the City of Philadelphia issued a camp resolution notice 30 days in advance and posted signs in the area before closing Kensington Avenue from East Orleans Street to Allegheny Avenue in both directions on Wednesday morning when efforts began.