HAZLETON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — The City of Hazleton is the focus of a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Justice Department claiming the current at-large method of electing city council members is discriminatory to the city's Hispanic citizens who are in the majority of the city's population.
The complaint, filed in Federal Court in Scranton, alleges the city is violating the Federal Voting Rights Act and wants a judge to order the city to change the method by which council members are elected.
Hazleton-Complaint-1.7.25_1736358697-1Download
The Mayor and other city officials are reacting, denying that the city discriminates against Hispanic citizens.
The I-Team's Andy Mehalshick is working the story and will report live Friday on 28/22 News.
The U.S. Department of Justice says the city of Hazleton discriminates again its Hispanic citizens with its current method of electing council members.
The DOJ filed a lawsuit this week asking a federal judge to order the city to change the current 'at-large ' method of electing council members to allow for a more fair process for the city's Hispanic population.
This is a copy of the ten page lawsuit. It outlines what federal officials describe as a pattern of discrimination against the city's Hispanic community when it comes to electing council members, but city officials namely the mayor is not having it.
The U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit filed in federal court in Scranton alleges that despite the Hispanic community being in the majority of the city's population of nearly 30,000 residents, Hispanic candidates have not won any major elections.
Namely that for one of five of the city's council seats, according to the complaint, the current at-large method of electing Hazleton City Council dilutes the voting strength of the city's Hispanic citizens, in violation of Section 3 of the Voting Rights Act.
The lawsuit alleges that the city has a history of official discrimination that has affected the right of Hispanic citizens to register, to vote, and to participate meaningfully in the democratic process.
The DOJ wants a federal judge to order the city to change that method, possibly to a single-member district, such as ward or precinct voting, it says, would be more fair to Hispanic citizens.
Hazleton Mayor Jeff Cusat (R) says the lawsuit is outrageous and insist the at large method is not discriminatory to Hispanic residents.
So, they're coming in here trying to force something down our throats that needs to be discussed with the people. If the people want it then that's okay," stated Mayor Jeff Cusat.
Cusat argues that the lawsuit itself is not fair to the entire community.
"So to me they're stereotyping our community and it's not fair. It's a great community here. Everybody's working together as we should be able to work our government the way it has to be ran," said Mayor Cusat.
Amilcar Arroyo is publisher of the Spanish language newspaper in Hazleton- 'El Mensejero'.
He says he understands the intent of the DOJ lawsuit. He ran for school board and state representative and lost. He thinks the problem is really voter turn out.
"It's sad to say the Latin people don't come out to vote in Hazleton. It's a majority of Latino population. I lost. The only reason, my people didn't come out to vote," voiced Arroyo.
Current Council Member Tony Colombo says he was stunned by the lawsuit.
"When I heard about the lawsuit, I was caught off guard because I think the city has been more than fair, always went out to residents, gave everybody a fair chance to get their name on the ballot, run for office, encourage people to do it. I think our diversity is our strength in the city," explained Colombo.
Columbo and Mayor Cusat say they look forward to arguing their case before a federal judge. We reached out to the DOJ for comment, but we have not heard back.
