The annual celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month took place Tuesday night at the New York Botanical Garden.

The event was hosted by councilmember Rafael Salamanca, who emphasized the value of celebrating culture.

“It's important that we honor the Hispanic culture. In the borough of the Bronx, over 60% of the residents are Latino. One in every 3 individuals in New York City are Latinos, so we need to celebrate and keep the Latino culture alive. This is what this event brings to us,” he said.

The event also honored several local leaders including Ritchie Torres, who was awarded the Hispanic Heritage Month Distinguished Leadership award.