Q: What do you do at your job?
I am an Investigator 3 in the Housing Unit of the Division on Civil Rights (within Law and Public Safety.) I investigate cases of discrimination in housing. When a report alleging discrimination is filed with the NJ Bias Investigation Access System (NJBIAS), I—along with other investigators across the state—research the issue to determine if it falls under the Law Against Discrimination. At the moment, I have a case load of about 25—which is pretty typical.
Q: What did you do before working for DCR in Housing?
I worked for a Loan Brokerage company. I had always wanted to work in government, especially dealing with justice. That was my biggest drive, always, to have justice afforded for people who can’t speak for themselves; where there’s a language or information barrier.
It felt right to join DCR, where our mission is to eradicate discrimination and inequality.
Q: How has the work changed since you started?
Everything is online, so we can get more done from the office than the field. You might think that could slow down processes and fact-finding, but since we are an enforcement office under the Office of Attorney General, when we call, people pick up the phone.
There are more resources for communicating with non-English speakers today, but since I speak fluent Spanish I take a lot of time to ensure that nothing gets lost in translation when I’m interviewing Spanish-speaking renters and landlords.
Q: How and when did you become a Shop Steward?
When I started, we had a Shop Steward for clerical but not professional workers. I learned how they organized workers and saw this as a match for my social justice interests: I could advocate for justice externally as an Investigator and internally for my coworkers as a Shop Steward. I felt we needed to be informed about our contractual rights and have a seat at the table, so I asked my coworkers if they would support me being their Shop Steward. That was in 2005.
People don’t know what our rights as workers are and all the things that we can do, and I wanted to let people know that they don’t have to do these things alone.
Q: What is most rewarding about being a Shop Steward?
That people trust me enough to confide in me. Often they want to talk to me about issues that have nothing to do with our contracts, but they see I’m someone who wants to represent and support my coworkers, and I take that very seriously. People can safely vent to me about work or life concerns, career considerations, etc.
Q: What’s on your Union bulletin board?
The flyers on my board take up at least twice the space of the actual board, with flyers sticking out in every direction, haha. I have membership information, membership and PAF cards, Marathon Health benefit information, our Union calendar, contract, and flyers on Weingarten Rights.
Q: What do you say to non-members?
I usually explain the benefits, like voting on new contracts, and Union elections. I explain that you get full representation in disciplines and grievances, and you can have a seat at the table. Our unit has about 90% Union membership. Non-members feel like the Union can and should be doing more for them, without often realizing that the 3.5% annual raises that we’ve been guaranteed—plus steps—were negotiated through our Union.
Q: What Division on Civil Rights resources should the public be aware of?
We have so many online trainings and resource guides on discrimination that people should look into. NJ discrimination laws go further than federal law, protecting more people in more ways.
Q: What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you?
It’s a time to celebrate Hispanic accomplishments across all fields: music, arts, legal—Sonia Sotomayor is someone I look up to—it gives you pride. I was born in Colombia and moved to Paterson when I was five years old. It’s nice to celebrate Hispanic Americans, but also Hispanic people outside of the U.S.
Q: Hispanic Heritage Month is unique in that it falls September 15-October 15. How do you feel about that?
I’ve always thought that it’s kind of odd, but I’m not against it.
I know Mexicans celebrate their Independence Day on September 16, and several South and Central American countries celebrate theirs in mid-late September (including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua on September 15, and Chile on September 18 and Belize on September 21.) And Indigenous People’s Day is the second week of October so it’s important that Hispanic Heritage Month is during that time.
Q: What do you like to do for fun?
I live near Garrett Mountain, and love the nature walks around there. It’s really nice in the summer to take a walk while it’s still light out. It gives me a good contrast between the city life where I’m rushing and can take in the nature and peace. I love being in the wildlife, seeing squirrels and deer. I also do a salsa class once a week, and love to go on vacation with my nieces and nephews.