DECEMBER, 2021

L’ATTITUDE attendee economic optimism appears justified
by recent economic numbers

The latest reports on the American economy are mostly positive, with an expected growth rate by year-end of 5.7%. The latest positive numbers, as reported in Axios, include:

  • Nearly 6 million jobs created between January and October
  • Unemployment rate down to 4.6%
  • The “quit rate” which is the barometer of worker optimism, hit an all-time high in August
  • Average earnings are up 3.5% this year, 4.9% annually, to $31 per hour
  • Checking accounts are 50% larger than they were pre-pandemic
  • Household wealth for the bottom 50% of the population is up 55% from before the pandemic
  • Stock are up more than 30% year to date

When L’ATTITUDE surveyed its event attendees in October this year, 44% said they believe the economy will improve next year, while 81% believe their own personal financial opportunities will improve. The latest economic numbers appear to validate their optimism.

However, the Gallup economic confidence index is now at -25, down from positive territory in June, which is reflected in the Harris Poll report that 56% of voters think the country is on the wrong track. The passage of the bi-partisan infrastructure bill was a major step toward strengthening the economy, and if projects using that funding can be implemented soon, the rest of the country’s optimism may begin to catch up to that of U.S. Latinos.

Veteran Latina actor speaks out. Netflix drops offensive
Latina housekeeper role from Uncoupled series.

Ada Maris has been a working actor in TV and film since the mid-1980s. Her career has included co-starring in the NBC drama, Nurses, FX’s Mayans M.C., and HBO Max’s The Garcias.

As reported in Variety, Maris has been dismayed by the stereotypical and often racist portrayals of Latinos that persist in TV and film.

In late September, she was shocked to come across the small role of a housekeeper in the first episode a new Netflix comedy series Uncoupled that she found to be offensive. Maris had been excited when her agent told her that Netflix was casting for a Latina. Then she read the role of Carmen, a housekeeper, in the script for the first episode.

As she told Variety, “When I opened it and saw that it wasn’t even funny – it was hurtful and derogatory – I was shocked because I walked in expecting something very different given the way things are nowadays and the progress we’ve made.”

Maris penned an open letter to the show’s producers, which she shared with Variety. She says she felt an obligation to make an example of what she read in the script to sensitize writers and producers to the damage that is done by one-dimensional portrayals that cross a line into demeaning.

She told Variety, “Sometimes people have to sit with the discomfort. I would hope they would rethink this. I would hope they would recognize the harm that it does to everyone. Both to people who are Latino and people who are not.”

As a result of her efforts, Netflix apologized to Maris and said the character was no longer part of the series. “We’re sorry that Ms. Maris had a negative experience, and this character will not appear in the series,” a Netflix spokesperson was quoted as saying in Variety.

Is immigration policy related to supply chain issues?

According to Axios, the U.S. has 3 million more open jobs now than it did before the pandemic. Companies across the country are struggling to hire enough workers to meet demand.

Economic experts are saying that a slowing of Immigration to the U.S. is exacerbating our country’s labor shortage problem. In 2019, just over 1 million people obtained lawful permanent residency in the U.S. That number fell to 707,000 in 2020. As reported in Axios, half as many nonimmigrant visas were issued last year compared to 2019, and only 25% of what were issued in 2016.

Restoring pre-pandemic immigration levels can play an important role in helping relieve our labor shortage. Expanded immigration can mean more truck drivers, more port and warehouse workers for example, and they could help ease supply chain bottlenecks that are disrupting our economy.

There are 66,000 H2-B visas available per year for nonagricultural seasonal workers. And yet, in the lottery that covered April to October of this year, there were 98,000 employers vying for just 33,000 available visas. The result is unfilled positions by workers who participate in our economy, add value for employers who then generate more employment. These unfilled jobs have ripple effects throughout the economy.

Our economy runs on a full spectrum of workers from childcare workers to construction workers to logistics professionals. Yet, there is no policy tool to allow for adding nonseasonal, nonskilled workers we need, in addition to tech entrepreneurs and professionals of all skills.

With over 10 million unfilled jobs and a labor force that isn’t growing to keep up, immigration is an issue that needs immediate attention both from a policy perspective and a process perspective.

Further complicating our labor force resource issue is that It is estimated that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will add 1.5 million jobs each year over the next 10 years. While this is a major step forward for our economy, the question is, “Who will be available to fill those jobs?”

(Sidebar story)

Quotes from L’ATTITUDE 2021

“We need to find real solutions to be able to allow folks to continue to come to ths country and to have opportunities that this ountry as offered all of us … that’s what this country is about … and it’s our responsibility to fgure out how do we keep passing it on? How do we continue to create opportunities for folks that come behind us?” – Craig Menear, Chairman & CEO of The Home Depot

“We need to recognize and remember that America should be a beacon … a place where we attract the best the brightest … a place that offers opportunity as we have for so long.” – Representative Liz Cheney, U.S. Representative from Wyoming

“As a nation we have to remember what made this nation great – we’re a nation of immigrants.

We have to have a real immigration policy that makes sense.” Governor Larry Hogan, Governor of Maryland

McCann Worldgroup taps two U.S. Latinos

for global leadership roles

McCann New York, one of the country’s leading advertising agencies for over a century, recently announced major leadership changes that include U.S. Latino executives. After twenty years at Nike, Alex Lopez has taken on the new role of President and Global Creative Chief for McCann Worldgroup. Meanwhile, McCann Worldgroup also appointed Cristina Rodriguez Reina as Global Executive Creative Director and Head of Art.

Latino words of inspiration

for 2022

“You only have what you give. It’s by spending yourself that you become rich.” – Isabel Allende

“Every single immigrant we have, undocumented or documented, is a future American. That’s just the truth of it.” – Junot Diaz

“Whatever it is your heart desires, please go for it, it’s yours to have.” – Gloria Estefan

“You are not lucky to be here. The world needs your perspective. They are lucky to have you.” – Antonio Tijerino

“The Latina in me is an ember that blazes forever.” – Sonia Sotomayor

“I am the one thing in life I can control. I am inimitable. I am an original.” – Lin-Manuel Miranda

“You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep spring from coming.” – Pablo Neruda

“We must use our lives to make the world a better place to live, not just to acquire things. That is what we are put on the earth for.” – Dolores Huerta

“Preservation of one’s own culture does not require contempt or disrespect for other cultures.” – Cesar Chavez

“If you have an opportunity to make things better and you don’t, then you are wasting your time on Earth.” – Roberto Clemente