A new commission designed to give Salem’s Hispanic community direct access to City Hall is one step closer to becoming reality. A city committee voted unanimously this week to back the creation of a Hispanic Advisory Commission. The measure, pushed by business leader Jonathan Castro Monroy, now heads to the full City Council for final approval.
At its core, the Hispanic Advisory Commission would function as a permanent liaison between local government and a community that makes up a quarter of the city’s population but has little formal representation. The commission would host listening sessions, advise the council on policy issues, and organize cultural events like Viva Salem and Día de los Muertos with the help of donor funding.
A Growing Community Without a Voice
The scale of underrepresentation is hard to ignore. Nearly 25 percent of Salem residents identify as Hispanic or Latino, according to census data. In schools, the shift is even more striking: Hispanic students now make up the largest share of the Salem-Keizer School District, about 47 percent of enrollment — not quite a majority, but enough to signal a clear demographic shift.
Former City Councilor Jose Gonzalez — the council’s only Hispanic member until he left office in January — said the size and diversity of the Hispanic community make the commission a logical step. At the same time, he acknowledged that some residents may question whether creating one group’s commission will lead others to demand the same.
Speaking as board vice president of the Latino Business Alliance, Gonzalez added: “We support any effort to strengthen the relationship between the Latino community and the City of Salem. We want a great Salem, where no one feels left out, and the committee and community can count on our support.”
Supporters say the commission could begin to close longstanding gaps in trust and participation. Castro Monroy, who has deep ties to both business and civic life in Salem, said many local Hispanic residents are disconnected from city decisions not by choice, but by conditioning.
“Most Hispanics in Salem are first-generation immigrants,” he explained. “Many come from countries where politics is deeply corrupt. That creates a built-in distrust of politicians and the political process. Not having a voice feels like business as usual.”
For him, the turning point came during the city’s controversial attempt to implement a payroll tax without voter approval. When he spoke with community members about the proposal, he was struck by the sense of resignation. One person told him, “That’s not right, but what can we do? Politicians won’t listen.” That moment, he said, highlighted just how deeply disenfranchised many in the community feel.
The proposed commission, he believes, offers a structure to change that dynamic — not just for U.S.-born Chicanos already involved civically, but for the often-overlooked majority of first-generation immigrants.
What It Could Accomplish
Supporters frame the commission as a practical fix to a glaring gap. Instead of leaving outreach to ad hoc public hearings or staff surveys, the city would have a standing body gathering feedback from Hispanic residents and funneling it directly to councilors.
That could shape decisions on everything from housing policy to public safety, areas where mistrust has sometimes run deep. Regular community listening sessions, combined with cultural programming, are intended to build trust while ensuring families see themselves represented in public life.
Castro Monroy said those listening sessions should be the commission’s first major focus — ideally held in Spanish, with interpretation for English speakers. “Listening is what signals that this commission is different,” he said. “It isn’t about politics or symbolism, but about going to the neighborhoods, meeting people where they are, and hearing them in their own language.”
That approach, he argued, not only helps establish legitimacy within the Hispanic community, but also reassures city leaders that the commission is designed to function — not just to exist.
At the same time, he sees the commission as a potential model for civic engagement beyond the Hispanic community. “This is not only about Hispanics. It’s about what the Hispanic community has to offer for all of Salem,” he said. “The bigger picture is about building a stronger Salem where the contributions of our community lift everyone.”
The Potential Upside
The list of advantages is long if the commission works as intended:
- Creates a formal avenue for nearly a quarter of the city’s population to influence policy.
- Strengthens trust between Hispanic residents and city leaders.
- Provides a central contact point for city staff, reducing scattered outreach efforts.
- Boosts civic participation among young people who already make up the largest share of local schools.
- Uses cultural events not only as celebrations but as gateways to civic involvement.
The Drawbacks — or at Least the Doubts
But the plan has raised quiet skepticism. Salem already has more than a dozen advisory boards. Some worry about adding another layer of bureaucracy without clear authority. Others wonder whether such commissions risk becoming symbolic — a box checked, but not a tool for real influence.
Another question looms: if Salem creates a Hispanic Advisory Commission, what about other underrepresented groups? Should there be separate commissions for every demographic? Could the city handle an expanding roster of commissions, or would it dilute their effectiveness?
These are the trade-offs councilors will have to consider when the proposal comes up for a vote.
Why It Matters
- One in four Salem residents identifies as Hispanic or Latino.
- Hispanic students are the largest share of the Salem-Keizer School District.
- The city has no permanent body representing this community in policy discussions.
- Approval would mark a first structural step toward closing that gap.
What’s Ahead
The Salem City Council will decide whether to establish the commission in the coming weeks. If approved, members would be appointed and given formal terms, just like other city boards.
Whether councilors view the move as overdue or unnecessary, the conversation has been forced into the open. The outcome will say a lot about how Salem defines representation in the years ahead.