At Somos, New York’s political future meets Puerto Rico’s present
By THE STAR STAFF
The annual Somos conference has long been equal parts family reunion, policy summit and political marketplace for New York’s Latino elected officials. But the 40th anniversary gathering at the Caribe Hilton in San Juan carried unusual significance this year, unfolding just days after a Democratic wave election that reshaped New York politics while forcing attendees to confront Puerto Rico’s own challenges, from drought and infrastructure strains to questions about economic development and political self-determination.
More than 3,000 people attended what organizers described as the largest Somos conference ever, filling hotel ballrooms, poolside receptions and crowded hallways with lawmakers, labor leaders, advocates and business interests. Yet amid celebrations over Democratic victories in New York, Puerto Rico itself remained a central topic of conversation.
The conference, which ended over the weekend, opened against the backdrop of concerns about the island’s water shortages and drought conditions. While some New York elected officials questioned whether the gathering should proceed under those circumstances, others argued that the annual influx of visitors provided an economic boost and offered an opportunity to spotlight the island’s challenges before influential policymakers.
Throughout the week, discussions repeatedly returned to Puerto Rico’s relationship with Washington and Albany.
Outgoing U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.), attending what is expected to be her final Somos as a member of Congress, used the conference to urge federal officials to increase support for the island. She warned about Puerto Rico’s looming Medicaid funding cliff, called attention to infrastructure needs and renewed her push for a self-determination process that would allow Puerto Ricans to decide their political future among non-colonial status options.
“The most important fundamental issue for me is that Congress takes responsibility for the colonial situation of Puerto Rico,” Velázquez said during the conference.
That issue resonated throughout the gathering, where many New York lawmakers of Puerto Rican descent stressed that their connection to the island extends beyond cultural ties and into policy concerns involving healthcare, economic development and disaster resilience.
The island also became a focal point in emerging political battles. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, making his first official trip outside New York since becoming mayor, drew one of the weekend’s loudest ovations when he declared his opposition to the proposed Esencia luxury tourism and residential development project in Cabo Rojo.
“How can we ever justify 1.5 million gallons [of water] a day to build luxury housing and hotels?” Mamdani asked attendees at the labor breakfast, framing Puerto Rico’s development debate as inseparable from concerns about water availability, labor rights and economic equity.
The controversy over Esencia highlighted a growing divide over how Puerto Rico should pursue economic development. Supporters see large-scale tourism projects as a source of investment and jobs, while critics argue they threaten natural resources and accelerate displacement.
Those tensions mirrored broader conversations unfolding across the conference.
At a roundtable organized by the Hispanic Federation, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mamdani met with Puerto Rican community organizations and resilience advocates to discuss drought conditions, climate change and water infrastructure.
“What is too often described as a natural crisis is in fact a political crisis,” Mamdani said.
Hochul, meanwhile, pledged continued engagement between New York and Puerto Rico, emphasizing the enduring connections between the island and the large Puerto Rican population living in New York.
The conference’s significance extends far beyond policy panels. For four decades, Somos has served as a rare gathering place where elected officials, activists, labor leaders, nonprofit organizations and political operatives mingle in a less formal setting than Albany or New York City Hall.
That dynamic was evident throughout the weekend.
One of the most striking moments came when New York State Assembly Member Phil Palmesano became the lone sitting Republican legislator from Albany to attend the overwhelmingly Democratic gathering. His presence prompted good-natured jokes from Democratic colleagues but also underscored Somos’ role as a venue where lawmakers can engage across political lines.
“I just would love to see more collegiality and civility in politics because I think there’s too much finger pointing and blame,” Palmesano said.
Behind the receptions and networking events, however, attendees were already looking toward upcoming legislative and electoral fights. Conversations centered on housing, taxation, criminal justice reforms, labor priorities and leadership changes expected in Albany next year.
The conference also became a staging ground for national Democratic ambitions. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, widely expected to become the first Black speaker of the House in January, remained a major topic of conversation. Meanwhile, attendees openly speculated about future statewide campaigns involving figures such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other rising Democratic stars.
Yet Puerto Rico remained more than a backdrop.
The island’s challenges repeatedly forced attendees to confront a reality often overshadowed by campaign strategy and political maneuvering. Whether discussing housing inequities, climate resilience, healthcare funding or economic development, speakers consistently returned to the question of how stateside political power can be leveraged to improve conditions on the island.
That may explain why Somos remains one of the most important events in New York politics. It is simultaneously a celebration of Puerto Rican identity, a showcase for political influence and a reminder that for many attendees, the issues facing Puerto Rico are not foreign affairs but deeply personal concerns.
As lawmakers departed San Juan, the conference’s central message was clear: while Democrats celebrated electoral victories and plotted future campaigns, Puerto Rico’s unresolved challenges continued to demand attention. For the thousands gathered at the Caribe Hilton, the island was not simply the host of a political conference. It was the reason many of them were there in the first place.
