What’s driving this Puerto Rican social worker to the polls in Florida

In addition to helping families through his career, Díaz is also involved in community work, which has shown him how important it is to exercise your right to vote.

Puerto Rican social worker Ivan Díaz has been living for five years in Florida. Following a doctor’s recommendation, after surviving cancer, Diaz left his life in New York, where he had lived for 13 years, looking for a warmer climate.

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So he settled in Orlando, where it took little time for him to see the significant drop in wages compared to the Big Apple, even though the cost of living was almost the same.

“The change has been quite drastic. Although the cost of living in New York is high, the salaries are compatible with the cost of living. Rent, transportation, food, all of that is high, but the salary makes up for it,” Díaz told Floricua.  “Moving here, my salary decreased three times less than what I earned in New York. And comparing the cost of living in Orlando and New York, it is quite similar. It was a financial blow to begin with.”

​​Fortunately, Diaz got a good job at the Mental Health Association, where he works in a program with children and teenagers, offering family therapy.

In addition to helping families through his career, Díaz is also involved in community work, which has shown him how important it is to exercise your right to vote.

Díaz admits that in the past he was not that interested in voting because he did not find the candidates’ platforms attractive. He voted in one election in Puerto Rico and another in New York, and this is the first time he will vote in Florida.

“This year I am very motivated. I have high energy to cast my vote, because I have realized that change does not happen from afar. You have to know how to work within politics, in order to be able to bring about changes that benefit society and the community,” Díaz said.

Some of the main topics that motivate Díaz to vote are the cost of living, housing, and education.

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“I think that the leaders who are guiding society right now have certain fears about touching on diversity issues. For example, the LGBTQ community is like a political ‘bogeyman’ because it can represent an increase in votes or a decrease in votes for them, depending on their political position. However, they are not interested in protecting the interests of that community. The same is true for women, children, and the elderly. All of these are issues that need to change,” Díaz said.

Are you ready to vote? Make sure to check your voter registration status, see who’s on your ballot, and make a voting plan here.