If you want to vote in the comfort of your own home, you only have a few days left to request a mail ballot for the June 5 Presidential Primary Election. There are several ways to apply:

• Complete the application included on the back of the sample ballot and voter information pamphlet mailed to each registered voter.
• Download an application from the Registrar of Voters’ website at www.sdvote.com.
• Fax or mail a letter to the Registrar of Voters. The request must include the voter’s name, registered address, name and date of the election, the address where the ballot is to be mailed, and the voter’s signature.

Applications and letters can be faxed to (858) 694-2955 or sent to the Registrar of Voters at P.O. Box 85520, San Diego, CA 92186-5520.

By state law, applications must be physically received by the Registrar of Voters no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 29. They cannot be simply postmarked on that date.

Those who miss the deadline can vote in person at the Registrar of Voters office at 5201 Ruffin Road, Suite I, in Kearny Mesa beginning May 7, or at their neighborhood election poll on June 5.

To learn more about voting in the June 5 election, visit www.sdvote.com, or contact the Registrar of Voters at (858) 565-5800.

Cesar Gonzalez, owner and head chef of Mama Testa Taqueria in Hillcrest as well as a successful small business owner and former Accion client, will join Accion San Diego to host a fundraising day on Tuesday, May 22 in celebration of National Small Business Week. Mama Testa Taqueria will donate 20 percent of all sales from the day to Accion San Diego, a nonprofit micro-lender offering business loans from $300 to $35,000 to directly assist other local entrepreneurs with loan capital and business assistance.

Gonzalez opened his business eight years ago with the dream of providing authentic regional Mexican cuisine to hungry San Diegans. From the beginning, the restaurant was a challenge with continual requests for Americanized versions of Mexican food such as “yellow cheese and California burritos.” Gonzales realized that he needed to increase his customer base and sought capital for advertising. However, being a fairly new business owner, Gonzales found it difficult to secure financing from traditional sources and turned to Accion San Diego for help.

Accion San Diego provided a $10,000 loan for Gonzalez in November 2006, which was primarily used for marketing and advertising purposes. The loan enabled him to hire five additional employees and dramatically increase awareness for his restaurant to the point where he was eventually featured on Food Network’s “Throwdown! with Bobby Flay.” After fully paying off his loan in February 2011, Gonzalez is now giving back to the local small business community.

“We are so proud of Cesar’s success and the Accion loan empowered him to grow his business to a point where he can now give back to other fellow entrepreneurs,” said Elizabeth Schott, Accion’s Executive Director. “Cesar’s story is a great example of how microfinance provides entrepreneurs the opportunity to start or grow their businesses and create employment for others.”

Jeff Harding, another former Accion client and successful entrepreneur, was elected onto Accion San Diego’s board of directors in May.

“He is the first former client to serve on the board of directors in the organization’s 18-year history,” says Gordon Boerner, Accion’s board chair. “The entire board and Jeff are very excited about the opportunity to have his perspective as a previous Accion client and his business expertise at the board level which will help Accion’s program best understand the needs of other local small business owners.

Harding will serve a three-year term on the Accion board and will also sit on the board’s marketing and fundraising committee.

Harding is the founder and owner of Recycle San Diego, an electronic waste collection and recycling facility based in Kearny Mesa. When it came time to expand his business, Harding was unable to secure traditional financing due to credit issues and a lack of assets. However, Accion was able to provide him a $20,000 loan to secure a warehouse and truck. He has since hired 10 employees, increased his revenues and is now located in an 11,000-square-foot drop-off and processing facility. Harding plans to expand to three more locations in El Cajon, Carlsbad and Eastlake by the end of the year.

The fundraiser at Mama Testa Taqueria will be held at 1417a University Ave., San Diego from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. One hundred percent of the money raised at the event will be used to support Accion San Diego’s microloan program.

For more information about Accion San Diego’s National Small Business Week activities, visit www.accionsandiego.org/sbw2012.html.

Grupos de baile Ballet Tierra Caliente; Wa-kushma (Wa: familia y Kushma: danzante); Grupo Folklórico Yoneme de la Preparatoria Federal Lázaro Cárdenas y Danzarts participarán en este gran evento.

La danza mexicana es uno de los tesoros más preciados del País Azteca. En gran parte se debe a que cada región tiene su propia expresión musical y dancística.

Es por ello que el 19 de mayo a partir de las 3 p.m., se llevará a cabo México a través de sus danzas, el primer encuentro de danzas mexicanas en el Organ Pavilion ubicado en el Parque Balboa.

El evento es organizado por el Consulado General de México en San Diego con motivo de la celebración del 150 aniversario del 5 de mayo, fecha histórica para México en la que se conmemora el triunfo del ejército mexicano sobre el francés, uno de los ejércitos más poderosos en 1862. También, el evento celebrará los 100 años de presencia del Consulado Mexicano en San Diego.

El encuentro gratuito está abierto al público en general e incluirá la participación de los grupos de baile Ballet Tierra Caliente; Wa-kushma (Wa: familia y Kushma: danzante); Grupo Folklórico Yoneme de la Preparatoria Federal Lázaro Cárdenas y Danzarts, Sabor México, los cuales ofrecerán una demostración de danzas representativas de diversos estados de la República Mexicana, incluyendo Sinaloa, Baja California, Jalisco, Oaxaca y Veracruz.

La Cónsul General Remedios Gómez Arnau indicó que México es un país con mucha diversidad, como se refleja en los diferentes bailes típicos.

Las danzas regionales son el eje entorno al cual giran varios elementos, de la cultura popular, lo cual, tiene mucho sentido”, señaló la cónsul. “Es muy importante subrayar que México es un país plural de profundas raíces populares, indígenas, mestizas, y que las expresiones culturales varían notablemente de una región a otra”.

Para Gómez Arnau, San Diego es el lugar perfecto para hacer una muestra de la danza mexicana.

“En San Diego hemos encontrado los grupos dancísticos de gran calidad, que nos permiten ofrecer un programa rico y variado, representativo de ocho estados de la república”, dijo.

José Jaimes, director del Ballet Folklórico Tierra Caliente, que trabaja con jóvenes del área de Vista, en el norte del condado, indicó que la danza es una excelente manera de celebrar a México.

“Ya que en San Diego la comunidad mexicana es muy grande, es muy importante el dar a conocer nuestras raíces por medio de la danza, el lograr identificarnos entre nosotros y presentarnos como lo que somos: una comunidad fuerte, unida y multicultural”, dijo Jaimes. “Este evento sirve no sólo para celebrar nuestras raíces, sino pera abrir muchas puertas artísticas y culturales en nuestra comunidad”.

Fernando López Maldonado, profesor y director del Grupo de Danza Yoneme de la Pre-paratoria Federal Lázaro Cárdenas, en Tijuana, recalcó que este evento unirá aún más el intercambio cultural entre ambos lados de la frontera.
“Seguramente dará inicio a una relación de intercambio más sistemática, además de que con la participación de los cinco grupos (incluyendo el nuestro) se ofrecerá al público un variado mosaico de danzas folclóricas de diferentes regiones del país”, señaló López Maldonado.

Jaimes resaltó que lo que hace única a la danza mexicana es su diversidad.

“La danza folklórica mexicana se caracteriza por ser una amalgama de muchos países entre ellos los de Europa y Africa, que es lo que la hace diferente y rica en estilos, sonidos musicales y vestua-rios”, indicó.

López Maldonado comparte esa opinión.

Hay un reconocimiento internacional en el sentido de que la nuestra es una de las danzas más ricas y variadas del mundo ya que la idiosincrasia, la forma de ser del mexicano, se ma-nifiesta de muy diversas maneras en las diferentes regiones del país; tenemos poblaciones que viven en zonas tropicales, desérticas, costas, valles, en grandes ciudades o pequeñas ciudades, donde el contexto histórico local y social son factores que inciden en las expresiones culturales que con su diversidad enriquecen nuestro mosaico cultural.

Más que nada, aseguró Jaimes, la danza mexicana es una manera de instruir al público acerca de la historia de México a través del baile y la música.

“La danza es una forma de contar la historia de nuestro país y de demostrar que somos una cultura muy rica en muchos aspectos”, dijo. “Con la danza uno puede instruir a la audiencia los distintos eventos más impactantes de nuestra República Mexicana, desde lo prehispánico, la conquista, la época porfiriana, la Revolución Mexicana, sólo por mencionar algunos”.

PHOENIX – Latino activists in Arizona lauded the news that the Department of Justice was filing a federal lawsuit against the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office for alleged civil rights violations.

The suit, filed Thursday in federal court, is the latest chapter in a four-year-long investigation that began after Sheriff Joe Arpaio started conducting immigration sweeps in Latino communities, raising allegations of racial profiling and discrimination.

“The wheels of justice move slow, but they are still moving. In this case our community has been waiting close to four years for today,” said Daniel Ortega, a civil rights attorney and chairman of the board of the National Council of La Raza (NCLR). “The racial profiling continues in this community despite of what the Department of Justice has done.”
But some activists say the lawsuit is not enough.

“What we’re asking is for the Justice Department to continue and indict Arpaio on the criminal charges they are investigating for abuse,” said Salvador Reza, an activist from Tonatierra whose case is mentioned in the lawsuit as a victim of alleged retaliation.

The federal lawsuit comes as negotiations broke down with the Sheriff’s office over the DOJ’s requirement to impose a monitor of the law-enforcement agency, after the Justice Department released a scathing report in December.

The findings alleged that sheriff deputies engaged in a “pattern and practice” of civil rights violations, including racial profiling during traffic stops, discrimination against Latino inmates in county jails, and acts of retaliation against those who criticized Arpaio.

But the DOJ findings went beyond issues affecting the Latino community.

“At its core, this is an abuse of power case involving a sheriff, and a sheriff’s office that disregarded the Constitution,” explained Perez.

It’s unclear how these allegations could affect the ongoing separate criminal investigation into Sheriff Arpaio’s alleged abuse of power. The complaint lists a number of critics of the Maricopa County sheriff – not all of them Latino – who were allegedly subjected to acts of retaliation by Arpaio and former Maricopa County prosecutor Andrew Thomas.

The Arizona State Bar recently disbarred Thomas in connection to his activities in the Maricopa County Anti-Corruption Unit (MACE), which he founded with Arpaio. The bar claims that Arpaio, Thomas and others engaged in “a concerted effort to wrestle power” against the Board of Supervisors, judges and county officials to “instill fear in the hearts of those who would resist.”

“Nobody is above the law, and nobody can misuse the legal process to silence those with different opinions,” said Perez.

No other choice

This week’s lawsuit is only the second time in U.S. history that the DOJ has to brought suit against a law enforcement agency. Normally, the Justice Department is able to come to an agreement with agencies to fix any problems. That’s what happened in 1997, when the DOJ reached an agreement the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office in connection with mistreatment in county jails. Perez said that this time around they wanted to ensure they’d have a monitor to avoid repeating history.

“I can’t think of any other choice the federal government could take than file this lawsuit,” said Antonio Bustamente, attorney and pro-immigrant activist.

The lawsuit addresses allegations of racial profiling against the Latino community.

According to Perez, Arpaio wasn’t only responsible for these abuses; he was also responsible for a culture that “promotes and is indifferent to the discriminatory conduct of its law enforcement officers” and has “virtually non-existent accountability measures.”

The lawsuit describes employees of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office as frequently using derogatory comments to refer to Mexicans like: “wetbacks” and “Mexican bitches.”

Some of these allegations resonate with claims brought by another suit that is still pending against Arpaio, which was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF).

The racial-profiling lawsuit is now reaching its litigation stage and will go to court on July 19.

The federal court will have to make a determination of whether or not the DOJ lawsuit relates to the suit filed by the civil rights organizations and, if so, it could be assigned to judge Murray Snow, who is handling the other lawsuit. That means that both cases potentially could be consolidated into one, according to Perez.

Funding at stake

Maricopa County is now facing the burden of expensive litigation to fight the lawsuits. Even more worrisome for the sheriff’s office is the possibility that it could risk losing funding if it is found to have violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, explained Mary Rose Wilcox, a Mar-icopa County supervisor.

One of the conditions it must meet in order to receive funding is to comply with the title guidelines, which prohibit “intentional discrimination on the grounds of race, color or national origin.”

Joseph Popolizio, an attorney representing the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, said the Justice Department didn’t simply want to have a monitor supervise the agency but was opening the door in many instances for the DOJ itself to have veto power over the sheriff’s decisions.

“I’m not going to surrender my office to the federal government,” said Arpaio during a press conference. “I will fight this to the bitter end.”

The day before the lawsuit was filed, Arpaio released a 17-page document with new guidelines to improve the relationship between his agency and the Latino community.

But activists like Perez see the document as “an admission of the existence of a problem … not a substitute for meaningful reform.”

During a press conference, Sheriff Arpaio called the DOJ lawsuit politically motivated, saying it was simply an attempt to attract the Latino vote in the 2012 presidential election.

It remains to be seen whether the new lawsuit will have an impact on voters in Maricopa County when they go to the polls in November to choose a sheriff.

It is becoming clear that too many in our society have reached a level of comfort with overt expressions of bias and racial discrimination towards non-whites, especially among those who feel those “unlike” them are taking over “their” country. This fear of invading hordes of those who are different or unknown is rearing its ugly head in an increasing number of situations.

This form of xenophobia has manifested itself in a variety of ways, including permissive attitudes and actions among members of a declining white “majority” towards former “minority” groups that are becoming the new “majority” in many parts of the nation. For many xenophobes the fear of losing their “majority” status and historical entitlement of dominance is motivating their behaviors. Their attitudes are frequently expressed by bumper sticker and placard slogans like “We want our country back!”

The vehemence of those espousing such expressions is no longer associated solely with white extremist or supremacist groups. In spite of the many contributions made to the USA by citizens of all races, colors and creeds, these increasing overt acts of hate and bigotry belie the principles of our democracy. For generations, U.S. Americans have supported these principles — many having paid the ultimate price to insure “liberty and justice for all.”

The killing this past November of 68-year-old African-American Marine veteran Kenneth Chamberlain, Sr., who was fatally shot inside his apartment by White Plains, NY police responding to a false alarm from his medical alert pendant; the shooting of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin while returning from the store to his gated-community home in Sanford, Florida; the hunting, shooting and killing of Latino immigrants from the U.S. border states to the Northeastern Atlantic states, and recent Tulsa, Oklahoma shootings that left three black men dead and two more wounded are examples of the growing public display of disrespect and prejudice visited on non-white members across the country.

The recent NCAA basketball tournament game between Kansas State University and Southern Mississippi University, where the chant, “Where’s your green card?” — a reference to immigrant status — was directed at K-State player Angel Rodriguez by supporters of the opposing team. Rodriguez, born in the U.S. Territory of Puerto Rico, is a U.S. citizen — a fact most high school and college students should have already learned in their geography classes. Some consider such behaviors as aberrations, actions of the criminal elements or kids just having fun. But consider the examples parents and other adults are providing for their children with the banning of ethnic studies in predominant ethnic school districts, English-language only requirements, voter photo ID laws, and the passage of anti-immigration laws in many states that trample the civil rights of U.S.-born and naturalized Latino citizens.

Add to them the racial invectives and ongoing challenges to our President’s proof of U.S. citizenship, his alleged relationship to Muslim radicals, and the public disrespect shown him by his fellow elected colleagues — actions that are rationalized as political differences and the right to free speech. These aforementioned cases are but a few examples of the xenophobic frenzy and overt prejudice that has become too common in our public discourse. Actions like these have no redeeming value in a society that grows more diverse with each passing day.

A collective silence by law-abiding and moral citizens infers agreement with, and acceptance of those whose hate is based on class, race or religion. Acts of unabashed hatred and aggression toward one’s fellow citizens will survives only in a society where silence is the norm.

As parents and role models, we must become better examples for current and future generations. Our country is undergoing a demographic change. Now is the time for to us to stop what appears to be the polarization of class, economic, political and social distinctions. The demographic changes in our nation are inevitable; therefore, we must revoke the “License to Hate” before it contaminates our population and destroys the promise of a democracy that was once the model for every other society in the world.

Jim Estrada is the Founder/CEO of Estrada Communications Group in Austin, TX — a company owned and operated by him and his son Raymond. The San Diego native is a former Channel 10 TV news reporter, documentarian and corporate marketing executive for McDonald’s & Anheuser-Busch. He is also the author of “The ABCs & Ñ of America’s Cultural Evolution,” scheduled for publication later this year. Read his blogs “Pelos en el caldo” at http://jimestrada.post erous.com/.

Next month, the country’s educational community celebrates the 30th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Plyler vs. Doe. In Plyer vs. Doe, the high court ruled in June 1982 that it was against the law to prohibit primary and secondary education to an undocumented student. Although the decision has stood for nearly 30 years, attaining higher education for undocumented high school graduates has been, for most, a long, distant dream — a nightmare, even.

Too often, politics has gotten in the way of common-sense policy. In 2001, a bipartisan effort led by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) resulted in the introduction of the Development Relief for Alien Minors Act, or the DREAM Act.

This legislation, which many had hopes of passing, came to a screeching halt after the September 11th attacks. Since then, officials like Kris Kobach (the Kansas Secretary of State, who’s a key architect of Arizona’s S.B. 1070 immigration bill) have used fear tactics to fuel anti-immigrant sentiment.

A climate of hate, under the pretense that immigrants are criminals, have defined the immigration narrative, especially within the extreme wing of the Republican Party. When the DREAM Act came up for a vote in 2010, it was a Republican filibuster and five Democrats that altogether deferred the dreams of thousands of immigrant youth.

Across the country, students who were raised as Americans — who attend public high schools, who seek to become full-fledged, contributing citizens of the country they call home — live in limbo.

As we mark the Supreme Court’s decision on Plyler vs. Doe, it’s fitting that the DREAM Act and access to higher education are again at the forefront of the contentious conversation on immigration reform. Conveniently enough, the attention also comes in an election year, when both parties seek the Latino vote, which will prove critical, particularly in swing states.

For two years, the GOP has either been silent or shown great apathy on the issue. When asked about the DREAM Act during the Republican primaries, Gov. Mitt Romney said, “If Congress was to pass the DREAM Act, I would veto it.” But a few weeks ago, surprisingly, the silence and apathy was broken by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL).

Rubio picked up the flag left behind in the battle field after the DREAM Act vote and began talking once again about education and immigrant youth — and a path to legalization for them.

United We Dream, the largest national organization of undocumented youth, has not dismissed Rubio’s attempt just yet. We are eager to learn the details of his upcoming bill. As the people who are directly impacted by this issue, we appreciate the senator’s interest to listen to our stories. We are thankful for being asked for our ideas on what the legislation will say, and are glad to see the Senator reaching out to our long-time champion on this issue, Senator Durbin.

To some, this outreach may seem like nothing more than a political calculation for a man who has higher ambitions.

Rubio’s name, after all, has continually topped Romney’s vice-presidential wish-list. But it cannot be overstated that Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants and a first-generation American, understands that the Latino population cares deeply about this issue. He also understands that the country as a whole wants to find a solution to this problem.

Immigrant youth are not beholden to one party. We’ve mobilized, organized and negotiated with both parties. With many risks, we’ve created our own stage. Now that we have the public’s attention, we are challenging Republicans and Democrats and President Barack Obama.

Four years ago, under the banner of hope and change, he promised to take on immigration reform during his first term. Though the Department of Homeland Security has offered some failed attempts of relief, through prosecutorial discretion, the Obama administration has also deported the highest number of immigrants in the history of the United States.

But Obama can also execute the power he holds in his hand — the power to stop the deportation of immigrant youth and grant them temporary relief, while Congress addresses the issue in a more complete and lasting way. After all, the Obama administration has increasingly been using Executive power under the slogan “We Can’t Wait.”

We will continue to push for the President to take action.

Sitting through my American history honors and AP classes, and learning the basis and foundation of this country, I’ve learned that the road to justice, though arduous, is one that America has always found.

Immigrant youth, like myself, fervently ask for an opportunity to adjust our undocumented status so that we can then serve and participate fully in our communities.

I graduated college in 2005; since I haven’t been able to work because I don’t have papers, I went back to school and earned two other degrees, one of which is in special education. I love children. My deepest desire is to one day be in a classroom teaching elementary-school children with Down Syndrome and autism so that they too have a voice — that they, too, matter in this country.

We are hopeful that the gap between feeling American and becoming American on paper soon becomes a reality. In the meantime, trendsetters and pioneers of education in this country, like Dr. Eduardo Padrón, President of Miami Dade College, understand the importance of ensuring that immigrant youth, who are part of the fabric of this nation, have an opportunity to receive an education.

Currently there are 14 in-state tuition laws that allow undocumented students to attend college. Miami Dade College, who has opened the doors to countless undocumented students in Florida, believes that “Opportunity Changes Everything.”

So do I.

Gaby Pacheco, editor of Latina Lista’s “American Dream” section, is an undocumented American and an immigrant rights leader from Miami, Florida. Since 2004 she has been working on the DREAM Act. Her passion for education and immigrant rights prompted her and three friends in 2010 to walked 1,500 miles form Miami to Washington DC, to bring to light the plight of immigrants in this country, this walk was dubbed the Trail of DREAMs. 

Sabor a Mexico.

Mexican dance is one of the most precious treasures in the Aztec country. That is due to the fact that each state has its own musical and dance expressions.

That is why on May 19, starting at 3 p.m., the first festival of Mexican dance, “México a través de sus danzas,” will take place at the Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park.

The event is organized by the Mexican General Consulate in San Diego to celebrate the 150 anniversary of Cinco de Mayo. It also celebrates the 100 year history of the Mexican Consulate in San Diego.

The free festival is open to the public and participating dance troupes include Ballet Tierra Caliente; Wa-kushma (Wa: family y Kushma: dancer); Grupo Folklórico Yoneme de la Preparatoria Federal Lázaro Cárdenas and Danzarts, Sabor México, which will offer a showcase of representative dances from eight Mexican states, including Sinaloa, Baja California, Jalisco, Oaxaca, and Veracruz.

Mexican Consul Remedios Gomez Arnau said that Mexico is a diverse country, as reflected in its traditional dances.

“Regional dances are the center from which several elements circulate, including popular culture,” she said. “It is very important to point out that Mexico is a pluralistic country with deep popular, indigenous, mestizo roots, and that cultural expressions vary from one region to another.”

Jose Jaimes, director of Ballet Folklórico Tierra Caliente, which works with youth in Vista, in North County, said that dance is a perfect way to celebrate Mexico.

“Since the Mexican community in San Diego is huge, it is very important to promote our roots through dance, to identify ourselves and present us as we truly are: A strong, united, multicultural community,” Jaimes said. “This event not only celebrates our roots, but it opens many artistic and cultural doors in our community.”

Fernando Lopez Maldonado, teacher and director of Grupo de Danza Yoneme de la Preparatoria Federal Lázaro Cárdenas, in Tijuana, said that this event will promote cultural exchanges between both sides of the border.

“Most likely it will start a interchange relationship that’s more constant, in addition to offering people a variety of folkloric dances from different regions from our country,” Lopez Maldonado said.

Jaimes said that what makes Mexican dance unique is its diversity.

“Mexican folkloric dance stands out because it is a collage of many countries, including European and African, which make it different and rich in styles, musical sounds, and dress,” he said.

More than anything, Jaimes said, Mexican dance is a way to teach people about Mexican history through dance and music.

“Dance is a way of telling our country’s history and of showing that we’re a very rich culture,” he said.

To learn more about “México a través de sus danzas,” please call (619) 308-9950 or visit www.consulmexsd.org.

It was his love for soccer that made Joel Valdovinos enroll at San Diego City College more than 20 years ago. His high school soccer coach, Milton Hidalgo, was going to start teaching at SDCC, so Valdovinos decided to follow him.

It was also, in part, his love for soccer that during his second year at the college, he decided to major in civil engineering.
“During my second year at San Diego City College I knew I wanted to study civil engineering since the career provided certain components that were in my list of likes,” Valdovinos said. “For example, prepare the plans (design), work in and out of the office, work as part of a team (just like soccer), and the bonus was the high paying career.

More than 20 years later, after transferring and graduating from San Diego State University, and after founding his own company, CValdo Corporation, Valdovinos has received two recognitions from his alma mater, San Diego City College: Recognition Award for Exemplary Performance by a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Recognition Award for Exemplary Performance by a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE).

CValdo Corporation, based in the Morena District, is a planning and design civil engineering firm with expertise in public works, drainage and flood control, water quality, commercial development and residential development.

Valdovinos was recognized by campus project managers throughout the SDCCD, and is honored for his “excellent work and great attitude” as part of its first annual Contractor Recognition Program, honoring four small businesses for exemplary performance, and four construction management and professional services firms for exemplary practices in small business outreach and engagement.

Brought on to work on a storm water pollution prevention plan at City College in collaboration with an existing civil engineer and project design team, the CValdo team was acknowledged for its professionalism, attention to detail and follow-through.

“The work was done before I knew it, and the task completed correctly. I remember thinking that I wished all civil engineers were this way,” noted City College Campus Project Manager Tom Fine.

For Valdovinos, receiving these awards give him “a very rewarding feeling to know that the hard work and effort that is placed on the preparing of construction documents and the coordination involved with the many trades is recognized by our client.”

The District’s five Recognition Awards for small and historically underutilized businesses (S/HUBE) acknowledge excellence in each nominated firm’s respective discipline or skillset, and in their performance on Propositions S and N projects. Award recipients demonstrate adherence to the District’s design, building, and safety standards, assure on-time delivery within budget, and compliance with all regulatory requirements.

“It is always a pleasure to work with civil engineers that understand their business,” said David Umstot, vice chancellor of Facilities Management for the San Diego Community College District. “CValdo has performed exemplarily on a number of storm water engineering projects for us during the past two years. We are pleased to recognize them for their ‘can do’ attitude and contributing to our bond program infrastructure build out necessary to support our educational mission.”
Valdovinos said that, having graduated from San Diego High School and then attending San Diego City College, he is a product of barrio schools.

“I attended the local barrio schools where studying was definitely not a priority, but thank God to my parents that showed me and my siblings about respect to others, good manners, and to focus on completing our homework, that was a must in our house,” Valdovinos said. “I strongly believe this strong background has carried me to where I am now.”

He said that his advice for young Latinos who are thinking of going into civil engineering is not to be afraid of higher education.

“ The first thing that I share is that college is like high school, that there are many ways to pay for college, and that going to college is a very unique experience,” Valdovinos said. “Not to mention the great benefits they will obtain once they graduate, socially and financially.”

Valdovinos said that his experience working for the San Diego Community College District has been great, just like the three years he spent as a student and soccer player there more than 20 years ago.

“We are more than thankful for the opportunity and to show that our local people can come all the way around and give back to our community in many different ways”, he said.

Joel Valdovinos

Fue su amor por el fútbol soccer lo que llevó a Joel Valdovinos a matricularse en San Diego City College hace más de 20 años. Su coach de fútbol de la high school, Milton Hidalgo, iba a comenzar a enseñar en SDCC, así que Valdovinos decidió seguirlo.

También fue en parte su amor por el soccer lo que hizo que en su segundo año en el colegio decidiera estudiar ingeniería civil.

“Durante mi segundo año en San Diego City College supe que quería estudiar ingeniería civil ya que la carrera proveía ciertos componentes que estaban en mi lista de gustos”, dijo Valdovinos. “Por ejemplo, preparar los planes (diseño), trabajar dentro y fuera de la oficina, trabajar como parte de un equipo (como en el fútbol) y el bono es que es una carrera muy bien pagada”.

Después de 20 años, luego de transferirse y graduarse de San Diego State University, y después de fundar su propia compañía, CValdo Corporation, Valdovinos ha recibido dos reconocimientos de su alma mater, San Diego City College: premios por desempeño a un negocio de minorías.

La CValdo Corporation, con sede en el Morena District, es una compañía de ingeniería civil de plan y diseño con experiencia en obras públicas, control de drenaje, calidad de agua, desarrollo comercial y residencial.

Valdovinos trabajó en City College en un plan de pre-vención de contaminación de agua de lluvia. El equipo de Valdovinos fue reconocido por su profesionalismo, atención a los detalles y seguimiento.

“El trabajo fue hecho antes de que yo lo supiera, y fue completado correctamente. Recuerdo pensar que desearía que todos los ingenieros civiles fueran de esa manera”, dijo Tom Fine, gerente de pro-yectos de City College.

Para Valdovinos, recibir estos premios le han dado “un sentimiento muy conmovedor al saber que el esfuerzo y trabajo puesto en este proyecto ha sido reconocido por nuestro cliente”.

Dijo que su consejo para los jóvenes latinos que están pensando estudiar ingeniería civil es no tenerle miedo a la educación superior.

“Lo primero que comparto es que la universidad es como la high school, que hay muchas maneras de pagar por la universidad y que ir a la universidad es una experiencia única”, dijo Valdovinos. “Sin mencionar los grandes beneficios que obtendrán al graduarse”.

Valdovinos dijo que su ex-periencia de trabajar para el San Diego Community College District ha sido importante, al igual que los tres años que pasó como estudiante y jugador de fútbol ahí mismo hace más de 20 años.

“Estamos más agradecidos por la oportunidad y demostrar que la gente local puede venir en círculo y regresar a su comunidad y ayudarla en muchas maneras”, dijo.

Dicen que todas las luchas tienen un principio, y en teoría también un fin. En el caso de los derechos políticos de los mexicanos en el exterior, dice la leyenda relatada por Arturo Santamaría, paisanólogo que se gana todo mi respeto porque por lo menos tuvo la decencia de cruzarse alguna vez la frontera por enmedio de los surcos, la lucha comenzó en 1928, cuando un grupo de mexicanos de Los Ángeles armó tremendo pancho para poder votar desde esa ciudad.

No lo lograron, por supuesto, porque querían votar por José Vasconcelos, candidato opositor al Partido Nacional Revolucionario, versión todavía más antediluviana y dinosáurica de lo que hoy es el Partido Revolucionario Institucional, y en contra del candidato oficial Álvaro Obregón.

Ya en tiempos modernos, la lucha la retomaron por allá del año 1980, precisamente ahí en Los Ángeles una bola de organizaciones de mexicas al firmar la Carta de los Derechos de los Trabajadores Migrantes, donde se establecía claritamente el derecho a votar desde el extranjero.

Algunos años después, en 1994, la retomamos aquí en Chicago después de que al Ingeniero Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas le pareció buena la idea. En ese año, con tremendo esfuerzo ciudadano, abrimos una docena de casillas donde los mexicanos podían votar nomás con decir que eran mexicanos. Sacamos, si no me falla la memoria, 3 mil 200 votos. En el 2000 lo volvimos a hacer, con 42 casillas, en las que recibimos poco más de 10 mil votos. Les llamábamos “elecciones ciudadanas”, basadas en que constitucionalmente todos los mexicanos mayores de 18 años pueden y deben votar y punto.

En el 2006 no lo hicimos, porque andábamos un poquito ocupado organizando unas cuantas manifestaciones de este lado, defendiendo nuestro derecho ya no digamos como ciudadanos del mundo o de un país en particular, sino simplemente a ser tratados comos seres humanos. Eran los tiempos de la Sensenbrenner, y levantamos acá la consigna de “un camino a la ciudadanía”.

Aunque de Segunda…

De hecho, en los dos países seguimos fregados. De este lado no nos dan más que el camino pa’ nuestra casa, y mientras no regresemos, de allá no recibimos mucho más.

En el 2006, además de la marchas, ya no hicimos nuestro famoso “ejercicio ciudadano” porque ya había voto desde el exterior para los mexicas. Cortesía del PRI y el PAN, México recuperó algunos ciudadanos.

Apenas 54 mil mexicanos en el exterior mandaron ese año su solicitud de registro en el Padrón Electoral del IFE, para votar por presidente desde el extranjero. El IFE tuvo a bien rechazar a 14 mil de ellos, yo entre ellos, por quien-sabe-qué problema con la papelería.

De los aceptados, unos 40 mil, solamente 30 mil votaron, de los cuales 28 mil lo hicieron desde Estados Unidos.
Este año el IFE recibió un total de 61 mil 687 solicitudes de registro desde más de 100 países, un mísero aumento de 5 mil comparados con el 2006. Aún no se sabe a cuántos hayan rechazado, aunque un sistema de corrección de errores debe reducir el porcentaje de casi 20 por ciento en el 2006.

En aquél año, entre Felipe Calderón y Andrés Manuel López Obrador se llevaron el 91 por ciento de los votos desde el exterior. Dicen que por el Peje votaron 11 mil y por Calderón 19 mil, aunque dado el fraude de esas elecciones nunca se sabrá en realidad. Supuestamente mil 360 votaron por el PRI.

Esta semana llegaron los paquetes electorales para los afortunados que el IFE aceptó para registrarlos en el Padrón Electoral. Y ya comenzaron las denuncias de que faltan muchos, de que el correo no ha dejado los avisos para irlos a recoger a la oficina cuando el destinatario no está en casa y demás.

Por supuesto, sigue siendo un voto mocho y ciego. Es mocho porque solamente permite votar y no ser votado, solamente por presidente y no por otras autoridades. Es mocho porque aún no se puede sacar una credencial del IFE en el exterior. De hecho, negarnos la credencial es una forma de negarnos la ciudadanía, porque solamente el ejercicio del voto nos hace ser ciudadanos. De otra forma solamente somos “nacionales” de un país, pero no ciudadanos. Y es voto ciego porque el paquete trae las plataformas de los partidos, pero absolutamente insuficientes, y sigue estando prohibido hacer campaña en el exterior.

Como quiera que sea, suponiendo que mi voto por Andrés Manuel López Obrador se cuente el primero de julio, ese día volveré a ser ciudadano mexicano.

Actores de Clown Club obra teatral en la que fueron dirigidos por Carlos Jiménez e Isaac Aguirre.

Dentro del desarrollo del programa de la Séptima Temporada de Matinée Infantil que se está realizando semanalmente promovido por el Instituto Municipal de Arte y Cultura, a través de la Casa de la Cultura, el pasado sábado 12 de mayo la Compañía de Teatro “De cierto azul” representó el montaje de la obra “Clown Club”.

Al mediodía del día referido se realizó la tercera llamada y los actores: Paco Mufote, Irving Gallegos, Valeria García, Ana Red e Iván Becherdz, aparecieron en la escena en la que fueron dirigidos en esta puesta en escena por Carlos Jiménez e Isaac Aguirre.

La temática de la obra es la de denunciar y concientizar sobre las diferentes y múltiples caras con que se presenta el actual movimiento social del bulling, en un espectáculo en el que se divierte el público y reflexiona sobre este problema y su solución.

Los actores participantes y el público lograron establecer una relación íntima que se convirtió en simpatía en la que todo fue diversión y buen tiempo, disfrutando en todo momento del trabajo y del desdoblamiento de los actores en el desempeño de sus roles. La compañía “De cierto azul”, es un colectivo independiente, constituido como asociación civil, no lucrativa, dedicada a impulsar y difundir la cultura y las artes, además de participar en diversos proyectos.

El Instituto Municipal de Arte y cultura premió a ganadores del concurso “Carta a mi madre” certamen que se verificó como un homenaje a las mamás con motivo de su día el pasado jueves 10 de mayo. Los ganadores fueron: Gloria Alejandra Espinoza Gaudiño (8-10 años), Ana Paulina Abrica Miguel (13-16 años) y Nancy Oregón Pérez (17 años).

Se acerca la fecha de inauguración de la XXX Feria del Libro Tijuana Edición 2012, será el próximo viernes 25 de mayo y estará abierta hasta el domingo 3 de junio; en este evento se reunirán escritores, habrá conferencias, espectáculos diversos, habrá un Pabellón Infantil y otro Juvenil y la exposición y venta de miles de libros. Con toda seguridad se le rendirá un homenaje al gran escritor mexicano Carlos Fuentes, gloria nacional, fallecido recientemente en forma imprevista; esperamos haya tiempo suficiente para organizarlo y llevarlo a efecto.

Más de 30 academias provenientes de Ensenada, Rosarito y Tijuana, con sus diferentes propuestas dancísticas participaron en la IV Edición del Festival Danza Jazz Fest 2012, evento que se realizó los pasados días 5 y 6 de mayo en la Sala de Espectáculos del Centro Cultural Tijuana.

El dueto de Haash, estará en Tijuana el próximo viernes 18 de mayo, en El Volcán, Centro de Espectáculos, frente al Cristo de Los Alamos. Este es un espectáculo apto para toda la familia. La gran vocalista mexicana Yuridia, pre-sentará un extraordinario concierto el próximo viernes 8 de junio en el Audiorana del Museo El Trompo.

WASHINGTON – As presidential candidates target prospective Hispanic voters, there is a new issue, besides immigration, that might get their vote: education.

A study by Beck Research, a Washington-based Democratic research firm, shows that, after the economy and jobs, education is a main priority for Hispanic voters in the November presidential election.

“Education is one of the priority factors in the election,” said Albert Collazo, communications director for the Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options, a nonprofit organization dedicated to K-12 Hispanic education reform that cosponsored the poll.

The poll, also cosponsored by the American Federation for Children, shows that Latinos support more opportunities and expansion in K-12 education in programs such as special needs, education vouchers and scholarships for low-income children.

“Latino voters recognize that the key to a prosperous economy filled with economic growth and prosperity for all, lies in the way that we educate our children,” Collazo said.

The poll found that 58 percent of Latinos want to hear presidential candidates speak about education and how they intend to improve it.

Latinos in the survey supported education reforms such as increasing teachers’ salaries to improve school performance.
The survey sampled 1,050 registered voters by phone in Arizona, Florida, New Jersey, New Mexico and Nevada. It included an oversample of 300 Latinos. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.

Reach reporter Silvana Ordoñez at ordonezs@shns.com

Since 1994, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) has been an essential tool in helping to protect victims of domestic and sexual violence. While seeking to improve criminal justice and community-based responses to victims of abuse, VAWA ultimately changed the landscape for those previously left to suffer in silence.

Since then, Congress – on a bipartisan basis — has repeatedly shown its commitment to preserving and enhancing the core goals of VAWA by increasing protections in all subsequent VAWA reauthoriz-ations. This was recently demonstrated by the Senate’s VAWA reauthorization bill (S. 1925) introduced by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Mike Crapo (R-ID) that passed last month on a vote of 68 to 31, with strong bipartisan support. S. 1925 was introduced after months of input from a wide range of stakeholders. Unfortunately, Republican leaders in the House have taken a different approach, with the introduction of H.R. 4970, a bill authored by Rep. Sandy Adams (FL-24), that actually rolls back protections for victims of domestic violence. On Tuesday, on a vote of 17-15, House Republicans passed this measure out of the House Judiciary Committee, without properly considering the cross-jurisdictional sections that provide for protections on tribal lands, in federal housing programs, and on college campuses around the country.

The Adams bill adds burdensome, counter-productive requirements that compromise the ability of service providers to reach victims, fails to adequately protect Tribal victims, lacks important protection and services for LGBT victims, weakens resources for victims living in subsidized housing, and eliminates important improvements to address dating violence and sexual assault on college campuses. Among the most troubling components of this bill are those that jettison and drastically undercut existing and important, long-standing protections that remain vital to the safety and protection of battered immigrant victims.

Since its inception, VAWA has reflected the unique circumstances that immigrant victims face, and as such, has demonstrated a commitment to offering them protection and addressing the specific issues that endanger the lives of these particularly vulnerable victims. This commitment includes addressing the problems faced by immigrants married to or in relationships with abusive citizens or legal residents.  In many of these relationships, abusive partners use immigration status as a tool to control and further abuse immigrant victims.  Currently, VAWA addresses this by allowing battered immigrants to petition for their own immigration status—independent of their abusive spouses – freeing them from their spouse’s abuse and control.

The Adams bill takes a significant step backwards from the existing law by allowing immigration officials to interview an alleged offender and consider the information obtained in making a determination about the adjudication of a battered immigrant’s petition for status. This not only undermines the critical protection of confidentiality relied on by victims to find safety for themselves and their children, it also allows abusers to manipulate the immigration process to cause further harm. Because the risks of serious injury and homicide increase when a victim is taking steps to leave an abusive relationship, this provision puts victims directly in harm’s way. This proposal guts nearly 18 years of established law and undermines the very foundation of VAWA.  Never before have policy makers retreated on the core VAWA principle of victim safety.

The bill also discourages immigrants from reporting sexual assault and other crimes by placing other unnecessary restrictions on the U visa program and fails to provide an increase in the number of available visas. The U visa is a tool widely used and supported by law enforcement officials in order to help keep our communities safe by prosecuting criminals. Many law enforcement agencies have called upon Congress to increase the number of available U visas so that they can encourage victims to come forward, report crimes, and receive the help they need to be safe.

Finally, the Adams bill will decentralize the VAWA immigration adjudications process – bypassing examiners who are specifically trained in domestic violence and sexual assault – and mandates additional interviews for battered immigrants, causing unnecessary burdens on victims.  Immigrant victims often have limited options to escape abusive relationships and the provisions in the Adams bill contradict the very purpose of VAWA by putting victims’ lives, health, and safety at risk.

Our nation’s laws should continue to strengthen protections for our most vulnerable populations – not roll back those safeguards. The long standing bipartisan commitment to ending domestic violence must continue to be supported and strengthened to better protect all victims from violence, abuse, and exploitation. We urge the House of Representatives to join with the Senate in passing a bipartisan VAWA reauthorization bill that protects all victims.

Lynn Rosenthal is the White House Advisor on Violence Against Women. Felicia Escobar is the Senior Policy Director for Immigration.

Rudolph Johnson, of NHA with the Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius

On May 9 First Lady’s Let’s Move! Child Care initiative recognized Neighborhood House Association (NHA) of San Diego for exceptional work to promote young children’s health and prevent childhood obesity. NHA was recognized at the Let’s Move! Child Care Recognition Luncheon. The Let’s Move! Child Care Recognition Luncheon Washington, DC. featured White House Assistant Chef and Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives, Sam Kass who gave the keynote speech highlight NHA’s efforts.

NHA was selected for recognition for carrying out exceptional work to promote and implement the goals of Let’s Move! Child Care, including using creative strategies, engaging families in obesity prevention efforts, and overcoming challenges to get children moving and encourage healthy eating in the early care and education setting. NHA is one of twenty selected for recognition, including early education and child care programs and networks, communities, and states.

“NHA is honored to be recognized by the First Lady’s Let’s Move! initiative, and to contribute in the fight against childhood obesity,” said Rudolph A. Johnson III, President and CEO of NHA. “As a large organization with a passion for preschool nutrition, NHA believes that it has the potential to positively impact others that may want to duplicate our efforts. This recognition solidifies that NHA has become a model for building a healthier future for children and families not just in San Diego, but across the entire nation.”

Let’s Move! Child Care is a nationwide call-to-action to empower early education and child care programs to make positive health changes in children that could last a lifetime. The initiative focuses on five goals:

· Physical Activity: Provide 1-2 hours of physical activity throughout the day, including outside play when possible.

· Screen Time: No screen time for children under 2 years. For children age 2 and older, strive to limit screen time to no more than 30 minutes per week during child care, and work with parents and care-givers to ensure children have no more than 1-2 hours of quality screen time per day, the amount recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

· Food: Serve fruits or vegetables at every meal, eat meals family-style when possible, and no fried foods.

· Beverages: Provide access to water during meals and throughout the day, and do not serve sugary drinks. For children age two and older, serve low-fat (1%) or non-fat milk, and no more than one 4-6 ounce serving of 100% juice per day.

· Infant feeding: For mothers who want to continue breastfeeding, provide their milk to their infants and welcome them to breastfeed during the child care day; and support all new parents in their decisions about infants.

NHA’s efforts against the prevention of childhood obesity are primarily driven by a cost- effective, groundbreaking preschool menu. The agency implemented a menu overhaul that was spearheaded by a Registered Dietitian and professional chef to provide healthy meals to over 2,000 children daily. The new menu was designed to eliminate processed and pre-packaged foods by including local, fresh, natural, and organic foods. The pioneering nutrition program also partners with Farm to Preschool to teach children and parents about local produce, agriculture and the benefits of eating healthy foods. Bolstered by active parent involvement and a comprehensive educational program, NHA proudly boasts a 96% meal satisfaction rating among children.

“NHA has taken numerous steps to help prevent childhood obesity,” says Johnson. “The statistics are alarming, and as operators of a very large Head Start program, we are keenly aware that we have both a great opportunity and responsibility to impact the future health and habits of our preschoolers and their families. Through our innovative nutrition program, we have embraced the challenge of dispelling the myth that young children will not eat healthy foods.”

Let’s Move! Child Care is supported by public and private partners, including the Office of the First Lady, White House Domestic Policy Council, Administration for Children and Families, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Health Resources and Services Administration, Nemours, Child Care Aware of America and University of North Carolina. For more information about Let’s Move! Child Care, please visit: www.healthykidshealthyfuture.org.

By Dottie Fieger, Adjutant, MCL Scuttlebutt Det. #886

Marines will be Marines. And things happen when you unite Marine “plank owners” with retired and former Marines. The groups embarked on a proud mission to leave a Marine footprint to honor the Navy/Marine Corps Team aboard the USS San Diego (LPD 22), which will be commissioned at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 19th at the Broadway Pier.

“Legacies cost money and that’s when our retired and former Marines gladly stepped in,” said Detachment Commandant Dan Anderson, of the Marine Corps League Scuttlebutt Detachment #886. The membership of Scuttlebutt Detachment provided the necessary funds to help make the Marine plank owners’ dream come true.

The USS San Diego is a 684 foot amphibious warship that transports Marines and equipment on missions abroad. The crew is comprised of 360 naval personnel. This includes the only three Marines who work in the Combat Cargo Department. Under the leadership of GySgt Ricardo Saldana, these Marines designed and created an impressive plaque to be mounted on the wall of the Chief’s Mess (dining area) where senior enlisted Marines and Navy Chiefs (E-7’s and above) will break bread together.

The plaque bears the Marine Corps emblem of the Eagle, Globe and Anchor. “Semper Fidelis” is emblazoned above the emblem and the Marine Corps rank insignias (E-7 to E-9) are mounted below the emblem. The words Semper Fidelis mean “Always Faithful” and characterize the Marines’ pledge of fidelity to their country and fellow Marines.

San Diego Museum Council presents El Dia de los Museos

Sherman Heights community to explore the world of museums for FREE during the third-annual event on May 20
The San Diego Museum Council will bring the world of museums to the Sherman Heights Community on Saturday, May 20 during the third-annual Dia de los Museos at the Sherman Heights Community Center.

El Día de los Museos, or Day of the Museums, is a free event presented by the Museum Council and hosted by the Sherman Heights Community Center in Barrio Sherman. Sixteen local museums will showcase fun, hands-on activities that reflect their individual institutions. Visitors of all ages will experience a world of ideas through art, science, nature, history and more. Each child who fills a special “passport” with stamps from participating museums will earn a prize.

“Each year we are able to reach even more children in the underserved Sherman Heights community, and we are looking forward to further sharing the museum experience during this year’s expanded and free event,” said Anne Marie Tipton, chairwoman of the Museum Council’s Education Committee. Saturday, May 20: 1-4 p.m. Sherman Heights Community Center, 2258 Island Ave., San Diego

Fechas Límites Importantes Para la Elección del 5 de Junio

Fechas Límites para Inscribirse para Votar y para Votar por Correo

Usted tiene solamente una semana más para inscribirse para votar en la Elección Primaria Presidencial del 5 de junio. Si no está seguro(a) que está registrado(a), revise en internet en el sitio del Registro Electoral en, www.sdvote.com

“Si se cambió de casa recientemente, cambió su nombre o su preferencia de partido necesita llenar una nueva forma de inscripción”, dijo Deborah Seiler, Registradora Electoral. “Si entra a internet, el proceso es rápido, fácil y conveniente”. La forma de internet es proporcionada en inglés, español, Filipino, vietnamita y chino.

Aquí hay dos importantes fechas límites que se están acercando:

• Lunes, 21 de mayo – Fecha límite para inscri-birse: Los residentes pueden llenar su forma de inscripción en www.sdvote.com, imprimirla, firmarla y enviarla por correo al Registro Electoral. Las formas también están disponibles en la oficina del Registro Electoral, oficinas de correo de los EE.UU., oficinas del Secretario de la Ciudad, bibliotecas públicas y oficinas del Departamento de Vehículos Motorizados. Todas las formas deben ser marcadas por el correo o entregadas al Registro Electoral no más tarde de las 8 p.m. del 21 de mayo.

• Martes, 29 de mayo – Fecha límite para solicitar votar por correo: Electores pueden encontrar la solicitud en www.sdvote.com o en la parte posterior de la boleta electoral de muestra y folleto de información para el elector enviada a cada elector inscrito. Usted también tiene la opción de enviar una carta al Registro Electoral con su nombre, domicilio registrado, el nombre y la fecha de la elección, el domicilio donde la boleta debe ser enviada y su firma. Envíe las formas a Registrar of Voters, 5201 Ruffin Road, Suite I, San Diego, CA 92123 o por fax al (858)694-2955. Solicitudes deben ser recibidas para las 5 p.m. del 29 de mayo. Llegando después aún marcadas por el correo no serán aceptadas.

Para más información acerca de la elección del 5 de junio, visite www.sdvote.com o llame al (858) 565-5800.

Hace unos días participé en la ceremonia de graduación que decenas de inmigrantes de 18 países celebraron en el estado de Maryland. Los graduados eran trabajadores de todas las edades que invirtieron todo su empeño y sacaron adelante distintos cursos para superarse y mejorar sus condiciones laborales.

Verlos sonreír y recibir su diploma con la esperanza marcada en el rostro, me hizo volver a repetir para mis adentros que sí se puede. Que es cierto que el país atraviesa una etapa económica complicada y que la cosa no está fácil, pero también es cierto que cuando le ponemos ganas y decidimos actuar podemos alcanzar todo lo que nos proponemos.
Durante la ceremonia de graduación los estudiantes demostraron sus nuevas habilidades y tuvieron la oportunidad de reunirse con empleadores listos a contratar trabajadores en la feria de trabajo que siguió al evento.

“Yo personalmente me siento muy orgullosa de haber tomado este curso de ingeniería de edificios y cerámica”, dijo Ana Mejía, una de las estudiantes de origen centro americano, que se dirigió a la concurrencia a pesar de su timidez y de su marcada dificultad para hablar en público, agregando que todos los conocimientos adquiridos la están ayudando a mejorar sus posibilidades de empleo.

La joven, hizo un llamado a todos los hombres y mujeres para que “aprovechen la oportunidad de educarse y así puedan contribuir mejor al desarrollo de este país”.

“Debemos seguir estudiando y trabajando con honestidad y responsabilidad”, le dijo a los asistentes Fidel Motta, quien terminó el programa de jardinería.

El programa educativo ofrecido por Casa de Maryland, organización que trabaja en distintos niveles con las poblaciones inmigrantes, está especialmente diseñado para responder a los efectos de la crisis económica y ayuda a los estudiantes a enfrentar desafíos como el desempleo, el subempleo, la falta de habilidades, los malos trabajos y los pocos conocimientos del idioma inglés.

El programa cuenta con la colaboración de los colegios – colleges – comunitarios y representa un modelo reconocido a nivel nacional en el que los colegios de la comunidad llevan cursos fuera de sus campus a los centros comunitarios.

En la medida en que trabajemos por superarnos y aprender, estaremos mejorando nuestras posibilidades de mejorar nuestra calidad de vida. El conformismo no debe ser nunca nuestro aliciente. Si pensamos que satisfaciendo nuestras necesidades básicas estamos progresando, nos estamos equivocando y lo peor, estamos transmitiéndole a nuestros hijos – si los tenemos – un mensaje de conformismo y mediocridad.

Muy seguramente en su comunidad existen estas mismas posibilidades. No se quede de manos cruzadas, averigüe, infórmese. Busque la forma de mejorar sus habilidades actuales o de aprender otros oficios, además de divertirse estará ampliando sus posibilidades de ganar más dinero y vivir mejor. ¿Qué espera? Anímese. Usted también puede.

Jake Martinez passed away peacefully on May 10, 2012, with his wife of 53 years near his side. Born February 21, 1935, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, he moved to California in 1966 and became a resident of Poway in 2003.

Jake is survived by his wife Frances, daughter Katherine Nuernberger and husband Craig, son Jacob and wife Georgia, daughter Denise Kapitzke and husband Peter, son Michael and wife Stephanie; grandchildren Daniel and wife Marissa, Andrew, Brian, Kevin, David, Kristen, Julie, Scott and Steven; great-grandchildren Max and Milo; brother Joe and sister Prudence Chavez and husband Manuel. Services will be held at 2:00 p.m.on Monday, May 21, 2012, at St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church in Poway.

Prop. B is extensive in its wording but in reality it boils down to a couple of simple points: the initiative would give most new employees 401(k)s instead of guaranteed pensions and 2) it attempts to impose a five-year freeze on employees’ pensionable pay. Pretty simple right? And with the city of San Diego in deep, deep financial problems and as most people are themselves having to face harsh economic times, the initiative resonates with a lot of folks.

Like Prop. B we could be wordy and editorialize in length about this measure, but we will keep it simple: this pension reform plan will not work and it will not save the city the millions as promised.

The pension reform will not work because you cannot freeze public employee pay by vote and the 401(k) plan will only affect new hires. It does nothing to change the pensions or the payouts. And more than likely, if this proposition does pass, it will end up in court for a long time before it can be implemented.

This pension reform is not really about pension reform. It is not the employees or their pensions that drove the city to become the “Enron by the Sea.” At the root of the pension debacle is that elected officials and private sector corporations started the practice of diverting money from the pension fund to increase the city budget to pay for popular city initiatives, such as the ballpark, the convention center expansion, and for the cost of hosting the 1996 Republican National Convention.

During good times, when the stock market is booming, those expenses can be covered. But when stocks crash… well we all now know the results. The pension scandal itself arose when the pension board and then the city council voted to lessen funding requirements and increased benefits (including to several members of the pension board) and sold municipal bonds without disclosing the underfunding.

Nowhere in this $2 billion debacle was it reported that it was the employees who created this mess. Yet Prop B backers want to try and fix this mess on the backs of the employees by freezing employee pay, after years of pay cuts, layoffs, and furloughs???

We are not so naïve to say that there are no problems with pension payouts such as the DROP program, again another problem created by politicians. There needs to be reform. But let us not fool ourselves and blame the problem solely on city employees. If there is to be real interest in fixing the pension problem the politicians should start by reforming the pension board.

This pension reform is not about reform but is more of a political philosophical tug-of-war over who will control the city, corporate America or the workers and their Unions. DeMaio wants to continue feeding corporate America and minimize the impact of the Unions at city hall.

At La Prensa San Diego, we are going to side with the workers. After decades of work in the city, they deserve and earned a guaranteed pension. The work they do is not glamoures, nor is it high paying. The rank and file worker are not the ones abusing the pension system so let’s not make them scapegoats on this issue.

We recommend a No Vote on Prop. B.

The U.S. Marines carefully worked their way through the Iraqi village on foot towards their vehicles outside the village. On both sides of the road shops with metal corrugated roll-up doors faced the road. Iraqis stood outside their shops sullenly watching the Marines walk by; obviously disliking these invaders of their homeland. One of the Iraqi men started loudly cursing the Marines in Arabic. The squad’s interpreter, a United States Marine born in Morocco, verbally re-acted and their Arabic exchange grew more intense every second. The Marine was livid over the insults hurled at the Marines by the Iraqi.

There is an old Marine maxim: You can insult a Marine but not the Marines. Sergeant Nathan Fletcher approached the translator and calmed him down. Once calmed down, Fletcher started talking – through the interpreter – with the excited Iraqi man. After some minutes Fletcher got down on one knee talking to the man while the translator changed his English into Arabic. When done, Fletcher stood and the Iraqi man shook Fletcher’s hand. So says Tom Montero, the Miami-born Hispanic who was mayoral candidate Nathan Fletcher’s Commanding Officer in Iraq in 2004. Montero (CWO 5, USMCR ret.) says he never saw anything like what Fletcher did that day. Nor did Fletcher flinch during any of the many actions or firefights Montero said in which Fletcher was involved.

Montero says Fletcher worked well with him and the other San Diego Hispanic, Lou Orozco, in the unit as well as a Filipino American Marine Master Sergeant. In fact when Fletcher was elected to the State Assembly, Montero and Orozco flew to Sacramento to observe Fletcher being sworn into office as the Assemblyman’s guests.

Montero, a Rancho Bernardo resident is supporting Nathan Fletcher for Mayor.

La Prensa San Diego once asked why Fletcher waited till now to create a Latino coalition to work with. Interestingly, he has significant Latino/Hispanic support of 25% in a survey released May 14th. His Coalition consists mostly of young educated Mexican American business and professional men and women and it looks to this veteran political observer that they really like him.

He didn’t need such a coalition to help him in the old 75th Assembly district that he won twice because there weren’t that many Latinos in the district and he won the seat with percentages approaching 60%. Running in the City of San Diego, however, is a different story.

Unlike his three opponents, Fletcher is acutely aware that 51.4% of the city’s population is Hispanic (28.8%), 15.9% Asian and Black (6.7%).

This is proven by his widespread Hispanic support unlike his opponents; Carl DeMaio whose television advertising shows but one minority person out of dozens of supporters talking about his being “courageous.” Bonnie Dumanis has little if any “minority” support. Bob Filner has a cadre of hard-core Hispanic support and some Filipino support but that is not based on his 20 years in Congress, it is based on his labor union and Democrat Party support.

Most importantly, “Councilman Carl DeMaio voted against the (City Council censure on Arizona’s infamous anti-Mexican SB 1070)… because ‘We need to speak from a position of principle and a position of fact as well as a position of balance,’” DeMaio told the Union/Tribune, May 3, 2010.

Comparing Bob Filner’s 20 years in Congress to Nathan Fletcher’s four years in the State Assembly in Sacramento draws a good belly laugh. Fletcher has passed more bills into law in four years than Filner has in 20 years in Washington D.C. Fletcher has “Chelsea’s Law” as his shining moment. Bob Filner has what?

What should be clear to San Diego’s 376,532 Hispanics is that Fletcher is the only mayoral candidate who has worked in stressful situations with Hispanics, life or death situations. He really knows Hispanics, having put his life on the line for them and depended on them to protect his.

He is clear on Hispanics and their place in San Diego that no other candidate can possibly have. Fletcher works well with Hispanics as manifested by Tom Montero. But Montero is not alone.

“He is well respected in the Legislature for his willingness to work across party lines to find thoughtful solutions for California,” Democrat Speaker of the Assembly John Perez told the Associated Press.

Is there a Democrat alive that can say that about Carl DeMaio, or Bonnie Dumanis, or is there a Republican alive that can say that about Democrat Bob Filner after 20 years in Congress?

The four candidates for mayor each bring something to the race, yes. But three of them fall short in knowing Hispanics, in serving Hispanics and in having worked under the most stressful of circumstances with Hispanics.

The Marine Corps reports that in the Iraq/Afghanistan wars one in five, 20%, of all Combat Marines were Mexicans and Mexican Americans. Nathan Fletcher served with them in Iraq, at the Battle of Fallujah and many other engagements. He knows Hispanics.

Nathan Fletcher lives today because his back, literally, was covered by Hispanics and they live today for the same reason in that they trusted Fletcher, to cover their backs.

San Diego Hispanics can count on Nathan Fletcher when he is mayor of San Diego because he knows Hispanics better than most, maybe even better than me.