April 16, 1999
ASSOCIATED PRESS
PASSAIC, N.J. - Federal civil rights officials have ruled that Passaic County and the city of Passaic discriminate against Hispanic voters.
The U.S. Justice Department is threatening to sue the county and city if election officials do not accommodate more Hispanic participation in the voting process, according to a letter the department sent to Passaic leaders last week.
Bill Lann Lee, the acting director of the Justice Department's civil rights division, charged that the county and city do not provide enough Spanish-speaking poll workers or Spanish-language voting materials.
``Hispanic citizens in Passaic ... are being denied an opportunity equal to that of other residents to participate effectively in the city's and county's political processes and to elect representatives of their choice,'' Lee wrote.
Although Hispanics comprise nearly 70 percent of Passaic city's population, only one Hispanic serves on the seven-member city council. Only two of nine school board seats are occupied by Hispanics.
Lee noted that the city's at-large system of electing council candidates has been a barrier to more Hispanic representation. Only three of 21 Hispanic candidates have won seats over the past 12 years.
He said county and city election officials are intentionally failing to hire enough Spanish-speaking poll workers.
Federal lawyers threaten to sue the local officials to force the changes, but Lee said they are willing to negotiate first. One Justice Department attorney met with city and county lawyers Tuesday.
Passaic County attorney William Pascrell III said the officials are working to bring the county into compliance with the federal Voting Rights Act. Passaic Mayor Margie Semler declined comment.
An unsuccessful city council and state Assembly candidate said he and fellow Hispanics have suffered from low election turnout among Spanish speakers. ``I would like to see the system more friendly to the voter,'' Oswaldo Maldonado told The Record of Hackensack for Wednesday's editions. ``Do we have the proper amount of representation? Obviously not.''
Only 24 percent of eligible voters in the city's predominantly Hispanic 1st Ward voted last November, compared with a citywide rate of 30 percent.
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