Tiempo with Joe Torres

On this edition of Tiempo, we catch up with the chancellor of CUNY, the City University of New York. CUNY has 26 colleges and professional schools spread throughout the five boroughs, serving nearly 240,000 students. According to CUNY's official statistics, Latino students represented approximately 31% of the total student body last year. Joining us to discuss is CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rod...

On this edition of Tiempo, we highlight a brand-new restaurant that just opened in the heart of the South Bronx, and detail what's new at this year's New York Latino Film Festival. The non-profit organization, Oyate Group, started the restaurant Nourish, which is located in the South Bronx. It's not your typical money-making venture. One hundred percent of the profits will go to scholarships and c...

On this edition of Tiempo, we speak with New York City Public Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos about the academic year ahead. About 42% of New York City public school students are Latino, and they represent the largest demographic in the nation's largest public school system. Chancellor Aviles-Ramos, the current leader of the city's public school system, is also Latina herself. Aviles-Ramos...

On this edition of Tiempo, we count down to the 2025 National Dominican Day Parade in New York City. A ribbon cutting ceremony will kick off festivities in Midtown Manhattan on Sunday, and the parade is sure to be a good time for all. The annual event celebrates Dominican culture and the many triumphs of Dominicans in the city. In fact, Dominicans represent the largest Hispanic population in the f...

This week on "Tiempo" we are gearing up for the National Dominican Day Parade next month. The owner of "Don Carvajal Café" joins "Tiempo" to talk about brewing authentic Dominican Cafecito in Westchester County. Also, a look at the lawsuit Nassau County is facing regarding its partnership with ICE. Earlier this year the county became the second in New York to deputize local police to carry out imm...

On this edition of Tiempo, we catch up with our friends from El Museo del Barrio. Located in East Harlem, the museum has been around since 1969 and features an extensive, permanent collection of pieces from Latin America and the Caribbean. But that's just part of the story. El Museo del Barrio also offers bilingual public programs, educational activities and festivals. Joining us to discuss the mu...

On this edition of Tiempo, we get to know the pioneer making history as the city's new parks commissioner. Iris Rodriguez-Rosa is the first Latina to hold the post of New York City parks commissioner. City officials made the announcement last month at an event also celebrating the completion of a project to renovate playgrounds and some NYCHA complexes. Up Close sits down with Rodriguez-Rosa to di...

On this edition of Tiempo, we sit down for a one-on-one conversation with Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. Gonzalez made history nearly a decade ago when voters elected him as the first Latino district attorney in New York State. Since then, he has spearheaded several beneficial and impactful community initiatives. In fact, last year was the safest year for gun violence in Brooklyn's hist...

On this edition of Tiempo, we highlight one local school in New Jersey whose students are graduating with a special honor. The Hoboken Dual Language School (HoLa) just graduated its first class, and those students wrapped up the year with a unique designation. The 8th graders graduated with diplomas from both the New Jersey Department of Education and the Spanish Ministry of Education -- a first f...

On this edition of Tiempo, we examine recent public reaction and pushback to the Trump administration's immigration crackdown across the United States. Large protests against federal immigration raids have erupted across the country, including right here in New York City. Advocates rallied against the threats that have taken place during routine court appearances and at work sites. President Donal...

On this edition of Tiempo, we preview the 2025 National Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City. Celebrating its 68th anniversary, the parade kicks off along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan and remains one of the biggest celebrations in the city. The theme this year: Plantando Bandera, or "Planting Roots," which recognizes how Puerto Rican communities across the diaspora have established deep roots and...

On this edition of Tiempo, we hear more about the work and mission of the LatinoJustice Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund (PRLDEF) amid federal attacks on the U.S. judicial branch of government. Dating back 50 years ago, the national nonprofit has a half-century history of advocating and challenging the rule of law to empower the Latino community. The organization started after three P...

On this edition of Tiempo, we discuss the latest efforts to help New York City street vendors obtain a license to work legally. Proposed legislation would decriminalize vending, make permits more accessible and help mitigate some of the risks that immigrant vendors may face. Currently, more than 10,000 street vendors are on a city waitlist to get a license. The number of permits issued by the city...

On this edition of Tiempo, we discuss a monumental recognition for a local community trailblazer and the Queen of Salsa: Celia Cruz. Cruz was posthumously honored with a Walk of Fame star in New Jersey. The ceremony took place at the Barrymore Film Center in Fort Lee, where the multiple Grammy Award winner lived for decades. The Celia Cruz star kicks off a yearlong celebration coinciding with the...

On this edition of Tiempo, we take a closer look at the mass deportations under the Trump administration. The federal crackdown has produced fear and confusion across migrant communities, sparked street protests and spurred a historic showdown between the executive and judicial branches over the legality of the deportations. But do mass deportations work? Joining us to discuss is immigration attor...

On this edition of Tiempo, we take a look at a new book highlighting Latino communities in the Garden State and the inspiration behind the literature. The book "Latinas/os in New Jersey: Histories, Communities and Cultures" is a compilation of research writings that explore a wide range of topics about New Jersey's Latinos and Latinas, including their migration to the Garden State. Joining us to d...

On this edition of Tiempo, we discuss the impacts of recent power outages on Puerto Rico and its people. Last week, an island-wide blackout plunged Puerto Rico into darkness. LUMA energy, the island's private power company, restored power the next day and said an underground power line may have led to the outage. The last outage that affected the entire island was on New Year's Eve. Puerto Rico ha...

On this edition of Tiempo, we continue to follow the latest immigration headlines from the White House. The Trump administration recently created a registry for undocumented immigrants in the United States. Under the new registry, the administration says all undocumented immigrants must register, give fingerprints, and provide an address to the Department of Homeland Security. Joining us to discus...

On this edition of Tiempo, we discuss the new proposed sanctions on immigration lawyers who represent migrants and asylum seekers. Last month, the White House issued a presidential memorandum directing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to investigate immigration attorneys. Camille Mackler, the founder and CEO of Immigrant Arc, called the directive a politically-motivated attempt to intimida...

On this edition of Tiempo, we examine the escalating anti-immigrant sentiment across the country. The New York Civil Liberties Union is making sure New Yorkers know their rights if they are stopped by immigration enforcement agents or caught up in an immigration raid. Joining us to discuss is Donna Lieberman, the executive director of the NYCLU. Lieberman shares what to know about the organization...

On this edition of Tiempo, we focus on the latest immigration headlines coming out of New York City. U.S. Border Czar Tom Homan says ICE agents will flood New York if Gov. Kathy Hochul doesn't cooperate with the federal immigration crackdown. According to his political opponents, Mayor Eric Adams has undermined New York's sanctuary city status through his overt cooperation with the Trump administr...

On this edition of Tiempo, we introduce you to a new Broadway show highlighting Grammy Award-winning Cuban musicians. The "Buena Vista Social Club" follows the musicians and explores their origins in Havana, and the production features a star-studded ensemble. While the show is currently in previews, it's set to debut later this week and Tiempo gets a sneak peek on what to expect. But first, it's...

On this edition of Tiempo, we discuss help for small business owners in New Jersey. Many of the business owners are Latino themselves, impacted by President Donald Trump's executive actions and immigration crackdown. For more than 35 years, the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey has helped, guided and educated Latinos on starting and growing a business in the Garden State. We spe...

On this special edition of Tiempo, we return to City Hall for another one-on-one chat with New York City Mayor Eric Adams. There is so much ground to cover, and so many issues that impact and affect Latinos across the five boroughs. Recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations have rattled immigrant communities. The economic fallout of those operations has resulted in a loss of reven...

On this edition of Tiempo, we highlight the SBH Teaching Kitchen in the Bronx. So many Latinos know how to cook savory, mouthwatering meals, and the mission at SBH Teaching Kitchen focuses on preparing dishes that are not only delicious, but also healthy. The kitchen offers eating plans, prenatal and Caribbean cuisine, cooking workshops and even has a rooftop garden. We speak with the vice preside...