Members of the Lafayette Latino community are expressing disappointment to city officials about what they say is an underrepresentation of Latinos in the city’s workforce and a wage discrepancy in its employment practices.
Some Latinos addressed City Councilmembers during a recent public meeting about their concerns. At that meeting, councilmembers did not respond to the criticisms but later issued a written statement that emphasized how diversity and inclusivity are among the city’s core values.
“This evening I will speak about corruption, lack of social justice, inequality, equity and exclusiveness and discriminatory practices in the oppressed,” said longtime Lafayette resident Frank E. Archuleta, who opened the public comment portion at the Sept. 6 City Council meeting.
In his comments, Archuleta alleged the city will hire Latinos part-time at lower wages rather than as full-time, benefited employees.
“The city continues to lose these great Latino assets,” said Archuleta, citing multiple employees who have worked for Lafayette for a number of years without benefits but with unfulfilled promises of full-time positions.
Jessica Quintanilla said she is one of those city employees.
She has worked part time for The Collective — Community Arts Center for about five years. She supports her family, and as a part-time employee, does not receive health insurance. The conundrum she finds herself in is the income-based private health insurance she pays for out-of-pocket would become unaffordable if her part-time hours at The Collective increased. She also said the full-time position in the city she has anticipated advancing into has never materialized.
Quintanilla is now pursuing her commercial driver’s license (CDL) to become a part-time bus driver with Boulder Valley School District, which will offer her and her family benefits.
Attempts to reach Lafayette Mayor JD Mangat and Councilmember Tim Barnes have been unsuccessful. Instead, the city’s communication director, Debbie Wilmot, issued a statement.
“Diversity and inclusivity are core values and practices the city of Lafayette upholds every day. It’s who we are, and we take them seriously as part of our organizational culture. The statements shared during the public comment period will be evaluated as part of our commitment to fostering a fair and equitable workplace. We view ongoing conversations about diversity and equity as part of building our inclusive community.
“The city of Lafayette’s workplace practices and policies reflect the values of the organization and extend to the entire employee experience. We are proud of the diversity reflected in City Council, staff and services provided to our community.”
Still, Quintanilla said when the city staff heard she had planned to speak at the Sept. 6 City Council meeting about her concerns, she was sent an email informing her about the guidelines under which staff can address council at regular meetings.
The email dated Sept. 1 advises “whether an employee may contact City Council about an issue depends on the subject matter.”
If the subject matter is a personnel matter, the employee “must voice their concerns through channels established by the employer.” If the subject matter pertains to something pertinent to the general public, then “the employee may do so using the same channels other members of the public use to contact City Council.”
The email also cautioned that an employee risked disciplinary action if they addressed council with employment matters.
Acknowledging the receipt of the email to the City Council, Quintanilla attempted to comply with the policy, and recited a poem about power. She then turned her back on the councilmembers to address the members of the public.
“I would like to offer myself to anyone here who feels the proper channels are dead ends. I will not tire of hearing your experiences. I will not dismiss your experience. I will walk with you as far as I’m physically able,” she said.
Lafayette’s workforce
However, demographic data provided by Sarab Khalsa, the city’s human resource director, shows Lafayette’s non-white workforce is increasing.
In 2017, non-white employees made up 9.9% of the city’s workforce, growing to 16.5% of the 241 full-time employees in 2022. Employees who identify as Hispanic or Latino/Latina have increased from 6.8% of the workforce in 2017 to 11.5% in 2022.
Of the city’s 340 part-time employees, 10% identify as Hispanic or Latino/Latina, followed by Asian at 3.5%. In 2017, 6% of the 381 part-time employees identified as Hispanic or Latino/Latina. Of the total number of employees who have left the city of Lafayette in 2022, 9.9% identified as Hispanic or Latino/Latina.
According to the 2021 U.S. Census Bureau data, about 15% of the city’s 31,002 residents are Hispanic or Latino, down from the 18% representation of the population in 2010.
Problems still linger
Archuleta said that despite the city’s efforts, a problem still exists.
“What a shame that the city of Lafayette preaches inclusiveness, diversity and equity but does not live up to their word,” Archuleta said at the meeting, calling on the city to hire more Latinos in full-time, benefited positions.
“After all, McDonald’s pays $18 an hour and Boulder Valley School District gives insurance to part-time people. Are the Latinos of Lafayette only tokens?” he asked the board.
Quintanilla and Archuleta say what is needed is more Latino representation in the full-time staff so there is some representation of the community in the city’s government and commissions.
“We bring in art and programming that has a diversity and inclusion message,” Quintanilla said after the recent council meeting. “But my real problem is I don’t have the support to address the core issues.”
