If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then the city of Milton-Freewater may be about to pay a big compliment to the city of Hermiston.
Eddie de la Cruz, chairman of the Hispanic Advisory Committee (HAC), said Milton-Freewater officials have been seeking input from Cruz about forming their own HAC.
“They’re amazed at what we’ve accomplished and want to replicate what we’ve done,” de la Cruz said during Monday’s Hermiston’s HAC meeting. Hermiston was the first in the region to form a Hispanic Advisory Committee several years ago. Milton-Freewater has a significantly larger percentage of Hispanics than Hermiston (55 percent to 33.8 percent, according to City-Data.com.
Former Hermiston HAC member Virginia Garcia asked de la Cruz if the city of Milton-Freewater was as supportive of its Hispanic population as Hermiston city officials have been.
“From what I’ve heard, they are very interested in forming an HAC,” he said.
Also during Monday’s meeting, de la Cruz informed the committee that RDO is in the process of seeking permits to build migrant housing for its employees near the Boardman Bombing Range.
“I’d like to see something like that built in Umatilla County,” de la Cruz said. “There is a big demand and a shortage in housing. You have to get on a list.”
The committee also has two openings with the departure of Bryan Medelez and Claudia Jimenez. Applications are available at Hermiston City Hall.
