2 Latinos join Suffolk human rights panel

An attorney in general law practice and an immigrants advocate are the newest members of the Suffolk County Human Rights Commission that tracks and investigates discrimination complaints in government agencies and corporations.

Both new members of the agency’s 15-member board — appointed by County Executive Steve Bellone and confirmed by the Suffolk legislature — have ties to the county’s growing Hispanic community. Luis E. Rodriguez is a Salvadoran-born attorney from St. James. Luis Valenzuela is a social worker of Puerto Rican heritage who is director of the Long Island Immigrant Alliance in Amityville.

Bellone said in a statement that he chose them because “they will continue to emphasize the importance of diversity and equality.”

“Suffolk County has the opportunity to be a model of inclusion for the rest of the nation,” Valenzuela said.

Rodriguez said he hopes his appointment will help make more of the county’s immigrants aware of the commission’s role. “We represent a big community in Suffolk County, which is mostly unrepresented,” Rodriguez said. “I hope more would be willing to come to us.”

The legislature also confirmed chairman Steven A. Moss, a rabbi; vice chairwoman Lynda Perdomo-Ayala; and members Michele Del Monte and Carolyn Peabody to new three-year terms.