Label
Councilwoman Morris
Title
Recognizing Rico Neller, the 1989 founder of La Prensa Publications, for his lifelong dedication to promoting the Latin/Hispanic community, language and culture.
Summary
WHEREAS, Rico Neller, the 1989 co-founder and later editor of La Prensa Publications, was born on March 11, 1946 in St. Louis, Missouri; and
WHEREAS, he is one of four siblings who spent some of their childhood living in Cuba, Mexico, Chile & Peru; was very intrigued in learning about the Latin culture and later became a bilingual attorney that was licensed in Ohio and other various federal courts including Texas; and
WHEREAS, during this time in Toledo, Ohio no one knew what the word Hispanic meant, and in 1989 Mr. Neller created La Prensa Publications with Celso Rodriguez and others, where he has successfully kept the bilingual weekly newspaper running for over 34 years without ever missing a week of printing; and
WHEREAS, La Prensa, the oldest regional Latino newspaper, is an innovative weekly newspaper serving the Latino/Hispanic communities in Ohio and Michigan with more than 75,000 weekly readers (includes Lazo Cultural Supplement and the weekly Internet visiting readers), a number that grows every day; and
WHEREAS, La Prensa provides its readers objective coverage of hard news from their community about education, people, politics and events; offer in-depth articles on literature, art, culture, poetry, dance, travel and Latino Music; and adheres to the ethics of the Society of Professional Journalists; and
WHEREAS, La Prensa is nationally known for its support of Tejano music-a combination of Texan and Spanish music with strong influences from polka, country, rock and jazz and is popular throughout the region-coverage and sponsorship; and
WHEREAS, La Prensa is active in the community not only serving as a watchdog, but sponsoring cultural and musical events such as Latino Scholarship Day with the Muds Hens and has sponsored past events such as the Midwest Tejano Music Awards and festivals; and
WHEREAS, each year La Prensa partners with the Toledo Mud Hens to offer 2-4 scholarships to a deserving Hispanic student on their way to college, and serves as a clearinghouse for minority contractors. Contractors from across Ohio and Michigan read La Prensa weekly to enhance their business; NOW, THEREFORE,
Be it resolved by the Council of the City of Toledo:
SECTION 1. That Rico Neller, the 1989 founder of La Prensa Publications, is hereby recognized for his lifelong dedication to promoting the Latin/Hispanic community, language and culture.
SECTION 2. That this Resolution shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.
Vote on emergency clause: yeas 11, nays 0.
Passed: September 13, 2022, as an emergency measure: yeas 11, nays 0.
Attest:
Gerald E. Dendinger Matt Cherry
Clerk of Council President of Council
Approved: September 15, 2022
Wade Kapszukiewicz
Mayor