A Puerto Rican mom in Orlando has a message for Latinos: Vote for our future

Marlyn Rivera and her husband, José Ortega, have raised their three children in Orlando, and now they are seeing how family and friends are struggling with the high cost of living.

Marlyn Rivera, a Puerto Rican mother residing in Orlando, sees how the high cost of living impacts family and friends.

Her two oldest children are already adults, and although they work full time, they do not earn enough to become independent. Likewise, she knows people who have to work two or three jobs to survive.

This is one of many issues driving her to the polls in the upcoming elections.

The other is health care, as both she and her youngest daughter, Isabel, have faced health complications.

“We are looking for ways to always have more access, both to hospitals and to doctors. We are seeing that appointments are getting later and sometimes we need appointments earlier. And the medical plans need a lot of improvement too,” Marlyn told Floricua.

Marlyn Rivera and her husband, José Ortega, have raised their three children, Alejandro, Amanda, and Isabel, in Orlando.

They left Puerto Rico nearly 30 years ago, after experiencing a traumatic robbery in their home in Toa Alta, when their first child was only six months old.

Today, with their lives completely built in the Sunshine State, Marlyn reflects on the importance of voting as a tool for change.

Even though three members out of her family of five work, it still doesn’t bring in enough income.

“There are job opportunities here, but salaries have not increased, and the cost of living is very high. The minimum wage must be raised to at least $15 to more or less break even,” she said.

Marlyn, who has helped register voters in the past, has noticed that the Latino community has a special interest in voting this year.

Although many people are affected by the high cost of living in Florida, they are even more concerned about democracy, she said.

That’s why she encourages voters to carefully evaluate the presidential candidates: Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic Party and Donald Trump, for the Republican Party.

“I am seeing more impact on people who want to vote, especially people who are scared about what happened on Jan. 6, who feel that if the Republicans win, it can affect democracy. And an interesting aspect is that I am seeing more people worried about democracy than about the economy, even though I see and feel that the economic part has affected many people. I have coworkers who cannot handle just one job, and have two and sometimes even three,” Marlyn said.

RELATED: Luis Dávila: Puerto Rico’s future tied to November elections, urges Florida Puerto Ricans to vote

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