Author name: Buffalo Latino Village

Buffalo does not have a strong Puerto Rican community. However, there is a concentrated pocket of Puerto Ricans living on the west side of the city, known as the “Lower West Side.” This area is home to two elected officials of Puerto Rican heritage: Councilman David Rivera and Assemblyman Jonathan Rivera—a father-and-son duo. Their presence reflects an element of “political gatekeeping” that often emerges within communities of color. The Puerto Rican population predominantly identifies as Puerto Rican or Boricua. However, their leaders and organizations commonly use the term “Hispanic,” which can create a sense of disconnection. Many community leaders live outside the city, claiming to be “committed to improving the community,” yet they remain unwilling to reside within and directly contribute to its development. The Lower West Side is a hub of Latino businesses, particularly Boricua-owned restaurants. Niagara Street, often seen as the cultural artery of this neighborhood, energizes the local Puerto Rican community. This street hosts an array of artistic and cultural institutions, including Los Artistas del Barrio, El Batey Puerto Rican Center, and El Buen Amigo. Additionally, the annual Puerto Rican & “Hispanic” Parade fosters cultural celebration and engagement. Three Puerto Rican publications amplify the voices of the community. Two of them—La Ultima Hora and the Buffalo Latino Village—are monthly newspapers based in the Lower West Side. The largest publication, Panorama Hispano, serves as a “Hispanic” newspaper for the broader Western New York region. Looking ahead, a cultural institute spearheaded by the Hispanic Heritage Council is set to open on Niagara Street later this year, further enriching the area’s cultural landscape. However, this development unfolds amid the challenges of gentrification, which continues to displace Puerto Ricans to make way for middle and upper-middle-class professionals returning to the city after decades of suburban migration. In summary, while Buffalo’s Puerto Rican community is not strong overall, the Lower West Side holds great potential for business and economic growth—provided it has leaders with genuine dedication and vision. Unfortunately, many of its current leaders live outside Buffalo, some even splitting time between Buffalo and Florida, effectively disconnecting themselves from the community’s day-to-day realities. As for me, I am the publisher of the Buffalo Latino Village, a vibrant publication rooted in the heart of the Lower West Side. We produce both print and digital editions (buffalolatinovillage.com), along with an online Latino Art Gallery (buffalolatinovillageartgallery.com). Our platform showcases a diverse array of voices, with over eight Latino and non-Latino columnists sharing opinions, features, and stories that reflect the richness of our community and the city.   Want more? Write to us at latinovillage1@gmail.com Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books & Poems Business Column Community Community News Education Entertainment español Food & Culture Health Interviews Media Military & Veterans Music Peace People Photography Politics Sports Technology QUESTION ABOUT PUERTO RICANS IN BUFFALO, NY: DOES THE CITY OF BUFFALO HAVE A STRONG PUERTO RICAN COMMUNITY? March 29, 2025/No Comments Buffalo does not have a strong Puerto Rican community. However, there is a concentrated pocket of Puerto Ricans living on… Read More Gatekeeping March 12, 2025/No Comments Published by LATINO NEWSLETTER, a national publication to push the Latino perspective to the forefront: It’s time to break down… Read More SHARE, READ TOGETHER WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE:The Educational Pledge January 14, 2025/No Comments December 2024-Revised by the author from his original, composed in 1994-___________________________________ I stand here now,face to face with myself,gazing into… Read More Load More End of Content.

Published by LATINO NEWSLETTER, a national publication to push the Latino perspective to the forefront: It’s time to break down barriers and ensure equitable opportunities for all — By Alberto Cappas Opinion for The Latino Newsletter: Editor’s Note: Part of The Latino Newsletter’s mission is to feature the work of as many Latino and Latina voices as we can. One of our subscribers, Alberto O. Cappas, the publisher of the Buffalo Latino Village, sent us one of his recent opinion pieces. Alberto’s outlet is known as “The Latino Voice of Buffalo and Western New York.” Here is Alberto’s piece. Gatekeeping is a significant issue within Black and Latino communities. As a writer, I have scrutinized the allocation of discretionary funds and noted a persistent pattern: the same community groups are repeatedly favored with support and funds from politicians, while other worthy groups are persistently neglected. This partiality calls for an inquiry due to its inequity and the intentional exclusion of organizations that could otherwise foster community growth and development. The practice of controlling and often limiting access to resources, media, networks, or government funding is increasingly problematic. This is gatekeeping. It allows access in some instances while denying it in others, affecting all groups. Fostering growth and development requires community leaders to collaborate and ensure equitable service to all communities. Nonprofit groups with minimal political connections often face challenges due to gatekeeping. Elected officials must thoroughly assess community leaders to curb gatekeeping practices, as overlooking this duty can negatively impact their political futures. This prevalent practice warrants public discourse and objective analysis. Often, the standard response to this topic is defensive, framing it as a personal affront rather than acknowledging it as a legitimate concern. Gatekeeping is a tangible and persistent issue. It hinders opportunities, suppresses innovation, and excludes people from the political sphere of influence. Attempts to dismiss the “problem” cast dissenters as irrational, troublesome, and divisive within the community. A healthy community hinges on harnessing the finest minds it has to offer. The legacy cannot be effectively handed down to the succeeding generation if it is hindered by gatekeeping, which has negative effects, including: Reduced Diversity and Inclusivity: Gatekeeping fosters homogeneous environments by granting access to resources, opportunities, or decision-making roles. This exclusion limits the diversity of perspectives and experiences, which is crucial for fostering innovation and addressing complex challenges.Stifled Growth and Development: By limiting access to resources and opportunities, gatekeeping can stifle the growth and development of individuals and organizations. This can result in missed potential and hinder the overall progress of the community.Perpetuation of Inequality: It reinforces existing power structures and inequalities by favoring those who already have access to resources and opportunities. This creates a cycle of disenfranchisement, where marginalized groups continue to be excluded from important decision-making processes and opportunities for advancement. Erosion of Trust and Community Cohesion: When certain groups or individuals are consistently excluded, it can lead to a breakdown of trust and cohesion within the community. This can result in divisions and conflicts, making it harder for the community to work together towards common goals. Limited Representation: Gatekeeping can prevent diverse voices from being heard and represented in various spheres, such as politics, media, and education. This lack of representation can lead to policies and decisions that do not adequately address the needs and concerns of marginalized communities. During these uncertain times, we must do all we can to expand opportunities in our communities. Enough gatekeeping. It’s time to open the gate for everyone. About the Author: Alberto O. Cappas is the Publisher of the Buffalo Latino Village, “The Latino Voice of Buffalo and Western New York. Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books & Poems Business Column Community Community News Education Entertainment español Food & Culture Health Interviews Media Military & Veterans Music Peace People Photography Politics Sports Technology Gatekeeping March 12, 2025/No Comments Published by LATINO NEWSLETTER, a national publication to push the Latino perspective to the forefront: It’s time to break down… Read More SHARE, READ TOGETHER WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE:The Educational Pledge January 14, 2025/No Comments December 2024-Revised by the author from his original, composed in 1994-___________________________________ I stand here now,face to face with myself,gazing into… Read More IN THIS ELECTION, LATINOS SACRIFICED THE WHOLE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE FEW December 2, 2024/No Comments Upon examining the reasons behind support that many Latinos provided to Donald Trump one cannot help but feel disgusted and… Read More Load More End of Content.