January 2009

Bronx, NY: The most important labor strike in New York City taking place is at Stella Doro in the Bronx. The new owners, an equity firm, are asking the workers to take a 25% pay cut while giving up all sick days and most vacation days. These are only some of the givebacks sought by the new employers.

The workers, mostly female Latinas, Asians and Africans have been on strike for close to six months. They need our support. They are asking for a boycott of Stella Doro products. PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD.

If Adolfo Carrión gets appointed to a federal “cabinet” position a quick special election will decide the next “interim” Bronx Borough President. Expected to run are State Senator Ruben Diaz Jr and City Council member Joel Rivera.

The campaign will be short and of course the candidates will try to dodge the real questions they must answer. Among those questions will be:

1) Where did you stand on the Yankee Stadium deal? What was your role? What position did you take on the additional tax abatements? How do you intend to expedite the creation of the alternative playgrounds promised to the community in the Yankee Stadium Deal?

2) Who are you supporting for Mayor? What was your position on the extension limits?

3) How will you soften the impact of the Fiscal crisis on the already distressed Bronx?
These are only some of the questions that Diaz, Rivera and any other candidate must answer.

The major media institutions in this City have already anointed Michael Bloomberg the winner of this upcoming election. The coverage of Mayor Mike is most often positive, while little criticism is heard. He is portrayed as “unbeatable”, too powerful and without substantive opposition.

This seems to run counter to a NY1 Poll which showed the Mayor beating Congressman Anthony Weiner by seven points and City Controller William Thompson by 13 points. This does not appear to be an overwhelming lead especially when you consider the 155 million plus he has spent in the last 2 campaigns, his eight years of “sweetheart” coverage from most of the media, his charitable contributions (which are used to enhance his political power) and the city contracts he awards.

The polls indicated that 64% of New Yorkers still viewed Bloomberg positively but he only received close to 50% when opposed by Weiner or Thompson.

Note; This poll took place before Bloomberg announced his “disaster” budget that includes higher taxes, additional increases in tuition for CUNY, serious cutbacks in education, health and child welfare. This budget will result in more unfavorable criticism of the Mayor.

To beat Bloomberg it will take a candidate who is ready to work from the bottom up (community organizing) and willing to present a progressive alternative vision to deal with the New York fiscal crisis. This candidate should spend less time seeking support from powerful economic groups in the City, while focusing on community groups and activists. To beat Bloomberg will take block-by-block, neighborhood-by-neighborhood and community-by-community organizing. To create such enthusiasm a progressive alternative vision must be presented.

WILL SUCH CANDIDATE APPEAR?

Vito MarcAntonio – Harold Washington

WHERE ARE YOU?

We thought our readers would love to read this one….

by John DeSio

Village Voice Running Scared Blog (January 28, 2009)

The Daily News reports that newly-minted Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has hired the Mirram Group to mend fences with the Hispanic community. Too bad Mirram’s friends probably played a role in breaking those fences to begin with.
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This Daily News Blog was interesting and we wanted to share it with our readers. Our community better count, if not we make it count. What should be some of the issues that you thinmk our Latino elected officials should address with Gillibrand?

By Elizabeth Benjamin

Daily News’ The Daily Politics Blog (January 29, 2009)

After backing down on their threat to go nuclear on Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in exchange for her promise to sit down and chat about immigration, Latino lawmakers have secured a date for their meeting with the new senator

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On February 7, 2009 at Hostos Community College in the South Bronx at 7:00 PM, the life of recently deceased José Chegüi Torres, Former Light heavy weight champion will be celebrated.  We are asking all his friends to spread the word as we have only a few days to organize the activity.  Please contact Ramón J. Jimenez (917-517-1320), Julio Pabón (718-402-9310) or Ponce Laspina (646-337-6775).
We are developing the program and it is open to any suggestions.  There will be a large representation from the Boxing World and many journalists who worked with José.

PLEASE ATTEND AND HELP ORGANIZE

Sponsors:  Juan La Porte Boxing Gym, El Maestro, Latinos Sports and Friends of the South Bronx

Un Boricua que siempre dijo: "Si se puede"

By Sewell Chan

New York Times (January 26, 2009)

Antonio Pagan Councilman Antonio Pagán in 1997. (Photo: G. Paul Burnett/The New York Times)

Antonio Pagán, a former New York City councilman whose iconoclastic views on matters from low-income housing to AIDS often infuriated liberal activists in his Lower East Side district, and who later became the employment commissioner under Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, died on Sunday morning at Beth Israel Medical Center. He was 50.

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The inauguration of Barrack Obama as the 44th President of the USA was an incredible experience for everyone that attended. For those that were not able to attend they could read articles like the one written by Mariela Rosario of Latina.com to get the “real feel” of what was going on in DC.

http://www.latina.com/lifestyle/news-politics/president-obamas-inauguration-inspires-hope-and-unity

http://www.latina.com/lifestyle/news-politics/exclusive-stars-come-out-full-force-latino-inaugural-gala

Bronx, NY:  These days Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. must be turning in his grave as we see Afro-American elected officials such as Governor David Patterson supporting the Israeli bombardment of Gaza.  Dr. King was a peacemaker, a negotiator, a man who believed in non-violence and respect for Human Rights.  Watching Afro-Americans elected officials pander to the conservative Israeli lobby is tragic and beyond comprehension.  How does one justify such disproportionate violence?  How do you as an Afro-American, who has been victimized by discrimination, turn around and support this massive attack against another people of color? [click to continue...]