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50,000: Estimated number of undocumented Latinos in region

PROGRESS: Luis A. Valentin is state's first Latino prosecutor
Groups unite in new initiatives to help Shore Latinos integrate
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 10/15/05
BY RICHARD QUINN
TOMS RIVER BUREAU
Carlos Cedeno isn't a genius.

Bringing Latino tenants in Lakewood together with their English-speaking landlords wasn't a novel idea he had. But doing it with the official backing of Lakewood's municipal government gave him authority and made people open doors to him.

"The township was getting concerned with everything falling into their laps," said Cedeno, Lakewood's fair-housing officer. "They said, "Let's get someone who can look at this thing proactively. Don't react to the problem. Solve the problem.' "

That's the difference these days.

Whether one welcomes or derides the crush of Latinos who have made Monmouth and Ocean counties their home over the past 15 years, the fact is, they have become a large presence at the Shore.

And, as with the growing pains associated with any struggling immigrant group's acclimation period, Latinos have put down roots, created a community infrastructure and made great strides in shedding stereotypes.

The latest benchmark in that latter quest was the appointment of Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis A. Valentin, New Jersey's first Latino prosecutor.

Latinos, however, have also drawn public enmity as illegal immigrants who have forced public entities into difficult decisions on how to provide services.

Government's response to the tide of Spanish speakers has mostly been plodding â€â€