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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, A paletero is a beloved sight within the Latino
3community, serving a frozen treat staple during the hot summer
4days; and
 
5    WHEREAS, The paletero pushes a mobile cart, typically the
6size of a wheelbarrow, throughout residential areas and parks,
7garnering the attention of those in the area through bells on
8their carts; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Paleteros serve a variety of paletas, a frozen
10treat made of natural and cultural flavors, typically with
11fresh fruit; the word paleta refers to the stick on which the
12treat is found, and the treat mimics the shape of a popsicle;
13and
 
14    WHEREAS, Common paleta flavors include maracuya (passion
15fruit) filled with condensed milk, watermelon (also known as
16sandía), hibiscus flower (jamaica), rice pudding (arroz con
17leche), milk caramel (cajeta), and mamey (a tropical tree
18fruit), just to name a few; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Michoacan in Mexico is considered the birthplace
20of paletas, which were first introduced in the 1930s; Rafael
21Malfavon, a Michoacan native, would distribute his paletas

 

 

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1using a herd of donkeys with wooden crates, which made him one
2of the first paleteros; and
 
3    WHEREAS, The paleteros job is physically taxing as they
4spend all day in the sun, oftentimes walking between five and
510 miles a day to serve paletas to the community; the paleteros
6carts can weigh over 200 pounds once filled, and the dry ice
7used within the carts can burn your arms and hands if not
8careful; and
 
9    WHEREAS, The paleteros spend much time within their
10communities; they learn familiar faces and build relationships
11with those in the area; many people will see their paleteros a
12few times a week, making them a key contributor to the
13neighborhood and local economy; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Paleteros take pride in understanding the needs
15of their communities, knowing which paletas are best served
16where; they are familiar with activities within the
17neighborhood, including sports games, fairs, and parades and
18often tailor their goods to the events and their demographics;
19and
 
20    WHEREAS, Selling paletas has many benefits beyond the
21bonds formed within a community; by purchasing a paleta, you
22are supporting a local business, enriching the community's

 

 

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1culture, and providing a safe space for paleteros to continue
2their work; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Most paleteros work multiple jobs and sell
4paletas in the summer to make additional money; regularly,
5they receive the job through recommendations from family and
6friends within the area; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Paleteros face many barriers in their work; with
8an increase of local ordinances making it more difficult for
9paleteros to acquire permits, it is evident that these
10communities mourn the absence of their once beloved local
11paletero; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Paleteros are at higher risk of being robbed and
13harassed by residents; with many paleteros only taking cash
14and with an increase of unwelcoming experiences from
15residents, they are left vulnerable to attacks and having to
16relocate to safer areas; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Paleteros flourish within Latino-based
18communities across Illinois, including many Chicagoland
19neighborhoods, such as Cicero, Melrose Park, and Berwyn, and
20extend into the suburbs within Kane County, including Aurora
21and Joliet, and downstate with the Quad Cities and Fairmount
22City; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, For generations, paleteros have been bringing
2much joy to the children and residents of the communities they
3serve; they are a staple in a local economy and an inspiration
4to those who aspire to become small business owners; while
5their hard work and dedication to the paleta profession often
6goes unnoticed, it is essential that we continue to fight for
7them to have a safe space within our neighborhoods; therefore,
8be it
 
9    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
10ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare May 3, 2023
11as "Paleteros Day" in the State of Illinois.