Milwaukee Common Council And Mayor Approved Sale Of The Former Forest Home Library Building To Voces de la Frontera For $450K

City records online confirmed that the Milwaukee Common Council and Mayor Tom Barrett have approved the sale of the former Forest Home Library building to Voces de la Frontera for $450K on early November.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

November 29, 2018

Milwaukee, WI - The Milwaukee Department of City Development (DCD) is currently awaiting for Voces de la Frontera's (VDLF) Board to authorize the final ownership signature of the former Forest Home Library at 1432 W. Forest Home Ave. The Milwaukee Common Council on November 5th, 2018 approved the sale of the vacant building to VDLF for $450K and Mayor Tom Barrett approved the sale on November 9th. The vacant library building was being offered for $650K by the City, but Lyon Realty, as a Broker agent representing VDLF in the negotiations managed to get the City to accept a lower proposed buying bid of $450K. VDLF was the only entity to offer a proposal to buy the one level building, which includes about 30 parking spaces.

VDLF is expected to close the deal by the end of the year and move into the former Forest Home Library building by the Spring of 2019, according to testimony at the City Planning Commission hearing by VDLF on October 22, 2018 and testimony provided (video minute 28:20) by Christine Neumann-Ortiz, the Executive Director of Voces de la Frontera to the Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee on October 30, 2018. Neumann-Ortiz also confirmed to the Committee that VDLF will rent out several office spaces to interested parties.

VDLF has said that it will spend at least $100K in renovating the interior of the building, according to the DCD. 

Laurene Gramling Lambach, CEO of UNISON Facing Charges For Embezzlement

Lambach was taken into custody by the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

November 22, 2018

Milwaukee, WI - On Tuesday, deputies from the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office arrested Laurene Gramling Lambach, 60, the President and CEO of UNISON, a non-profit organization that provides social services for the elderly. Lambach is facing charges for embezzlement including misappropriation of funds.

Lambach was suspended from her duties by the Board of Directors from the organization pending the outcome of the investigation by authorities.  

Unison released the following statement, "This came as a shock to everyone here at UNISON, and we're taking this matter very seriously. Laurie Lambach has been suspended from her role as President and CEO until all the facts have been gathered." 

"With the support of the UNISON board, Vice President of Program Services Cathy Young and Interim CFO Jessica Horning will serve as Acting co- executive directors. UNISON remains committed to its mission of fostering healthier communities and service to our clients and members will not be disrupted.
"We are committed to transparency and the integrity of our operation and mission."

Filed court documents: Link for affidavit and search warrants in the Lambach case: https://bit.ly/2FUcKqm

Theresa A. Plascencia, Waukegan Public School District 60 Superintendent Allegedly Makes False Police Report Against Community Activist Margaret Carrasco

Waukegan police investigated an alleged threatening and harassment complaint reported by Theresa A. Plascencia, the Waukegan Public School District 60 Superintendent against education community activist Margaret Carrasco, which apparently turned out to be false, according to police.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

November 16, 2018

Waukegan, Illinois - A Waukegan police life threatening and harassment incident report #18-64522 released to Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) on Friday indicates that Theresa Ann Plascencia, 48, the Waukegan Public School District 60 Superintendent allegedly accused education community activist Margaret Carrasco and her husband Thomas of making life threats and harassing her at the Canoa Restaurant on Wednesday night, which apparently turned out to be a false claim, according to police. Carrasco also released a photo of Waukegan police at her residence investigating Plascencia's allegations, which Carrasco denied Plascencia's accusations and told police that she and her husband did not make any such threats nor harassed Plascencia and her party of four, which included her son and Plascencia's boyfriend, Cyrus McGinnis at the table. Carrasco accused Plascencia of making a false police report.

According to Carrasco, police were ready to arrest her and her husband on Plascencia's allegations, but Carrasco managed to contact the owner of the Canoa Restaurant to get permission for her and police to review the restaurant video surveillance footage inside the restaurant. A Canoa Restaurant manager met police and the Carrascos at the restaurant to review the videos, which showed that the Carrascos never went to Plascencia's table to engage in a threatening or harassing manner towards Plascencia and her companions at the restaurant.

In one video released to HNNUSA, it shows several of Carrasco's female companions taking a photo and in the background you can notice Plascencia's party at a table. On the second video, Thomas in a red jacket went by the Plascencia's table while a person seating with Plascencia with no hair on the lower left side of the video images looks at Thomas and Carrasco including her party leaving their table without going close to Plascencia's table.

Carrasco confirmed to HNNUSA on Friday that she will be filing a complaint against Plascencia for making a false police report with the Illinois State Attorney's Office in Waukegan. Plascencia and the Waukegan Public School Board is facing criticism from Carrasco for raising property taxes and a Board meeting will take place next week to discuss the property tax approved proposal by the school district board.
Last Tuesday, the Waukegan School Board 60 (WSB60) voted 6-1 to raise property taxes with School Board member Miguel Rivera voting not to raise a property tax levy of $63.6M, including a $53.6M for operating expenses. The WSB60 also applied for its $6 3M share from the $50M set aside by the State of Illinois for the new property tax relief grant program. The state will decide in January 2019, which Illinois school districts will receive the tax relief grants.
Plascencia on Thursday filed an Order of Protection (Stalking No Contact Order - SNCO) against Carrasco, but a Waukegan judge denied her filing request, according to court records.

According to the SNCO, case #18OP00002153, Plascencia might have committed perjury because she wrote on the document dated 11/15/2018 and signed it, that the Carrascos had arrived at the Canoa Restaurant after she and her companions did, which inside video surveillance footage from the restaurant indicates that Carrasco had been inside the restaurant at least an hour before Plascencia arrived. Also Plascencia indicated in the SNCO that she had 4 witnesses to the incident including her 8-year-old son who apparently was crying all night and too traumatized to attend school. According to Waukegan Public School sources, Plascencia's son did actually attend school the next day. If Plascencia's witnesses actually verify what she falsely accused the Carrascos of doing, then they too could be facing felony criminal charges as Plascencia for making false allegations to police against the Carrascos.

Plascencia is currently under investigation by the state attorney's office for allegedly using the Waukegan Public School District 60 credit card account for personal purchases.

Update: On Friday, both Thomas Carrasco (police report #2018-64857) and Margaret Carrasco (police report #2018-64859) filed a complaint with Waukegan Police Chief Wayne Walles against Theresa Plascencia, Oscar Zepeda, Cyrus McGinnis and two other individuals in regards of making a false police report #18-64522 accusing Thomas and Margaret Carrasco of harassment and threatening Plascencia at the Canoa Restaurant. Thomas is requesting for Waukegan police to do a full investigation concerning the incident. Thomas wrote in the complaint, "I  request to file a criminal complaint against Waukegan Superintendent Theresa A. Plascencia for HARRASSMENT , FABRICATING EVIDENCE & WITNESSES and FALSIFYING POLICE REPORT #18-64522 on Wednesday November 14, 2018 at La Canoa Restaurant 50 S. Greenbay Road in Waukegan, Il. Plascencia’s allegations are completely false and the 4 security videos of the incident clearly prove this. Plascencia intentially lied to a Waukegan Police officer and should be charged with a criminal Class 3 Felony, be immediately arrested, imprisoned, and fined for illegally allocating City resources for hours. Several Police officers and squad cars were sent to my residence as a result of her false report. Police also stated to me that Plascencia stated she had several witnesses. The video shows Cyrus McGinnis, her son Cyrus McGinnis JR, another man and another women seated with Plascencia and appear to also be collaborating/fabricating the false report with her. If in fact this is true, they also should be charged for making false statements with the purpose to mislead a public official in performing his official function..."
The Carrascos also filed a complaint with the Illinois State Attorney's Office in Waukegan.

Thomas Carrasco included Plascencia's allegations in his filed complaint with the Waukegan Police Department. 

Below are her (Theresa A. Plascencia) accusations against me that she filed in her Order of Protection report :

November 15, 2018 - At 830 p.m., I was in La Canoa Restaurant in Waukegan with my family, and was joined by some co-workers who happened to also be dining at the restaurant. Ms. Carrasco arrived at the restaurant with her husband, and spotted us. While several tables in the restaurant were available, she and her husband I believe intentionally chose to sit directly behind my table, and began taking pictures of us eating. We asked if she would stop photographing us while we ate, but she began insisting loudly she was allowed to take pictures, and could do what I want. In addition to the photos, she began verbally harassing our group, at which time i decided to alert authorities, and contacted Deputy Zupec. Her husband then became'involved, walked over to the table and began staring and standing in close proximity or 4 feet) to the group, prompting my second call to Deputy Zupec, who then sent police over. Following the incident, my child was obviously traumatized, crying alt night, and was too scared to attend school the following day as a direct result of the Carrascos behavior. Filed Police Report #2018-54522

Tejano Female Singer Shelly Lares Claims 75-year-old Stuart Russell Is Obessed And Stalks Her On Social Media Including At Performance Events

Lares in a posted video in her Facebook fan page says she is not interested or in love with Russell and claims that he is dangerous, delusional and has some mental issues.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

November 9, 2018

San Antonio, Texas - On Wednesday, Shelly Lares, 46, from San Antonio, a popular Tejano female singer and song writer posted a Facebook video on her fan page days before her birthday on November 13th, claiming that Stuart Russell, 75, has been stalking her for years and wants her fans to be on the look out for him, especially at dance performance events because he is banned from attending. She told fans to share the video. Lares in several tearful moments on video says that she feels threatened and that Russell is dangerous, delusional who exhibits some mental issues and believes that she is sending direct messages to him when in fact she is just posting general Facebook comments to fans as a whole.

According to Lares, she first met Russell while she helped managed a restaurant and she treated him like any other customer with courtesy, but he apparently felt that she had feelings for him, which she confirmed on her video that she doesn't love him nor does she want anything to do with him. 

Lares says, that she has filed stalking complaints with various police departments in areas where she performs after spotting Russell at her public and paid entry performances at dances. So far, Russell hasn't done anything to hurt Lares, but she feels threatened and uneasy with Russell stalking her.

Russell of Wichita Falls, Texas has several Facebook accounts and has posted comments indicating his obsession for Lares, not as a fan, but what Lares claims to be a mere stalker.

In September 26, 2018, Russell posted in his Facebook account the following comments in response to Pachuco Pete Pena, a Lares fan who also posted "Stuart Russell you are very delusional to think she is talking directly to you she is talking to her Fans not to you Stalker!!!!!!"
Russell wrote in response, "Haven't seen or talked to her since 2013.
Was lured to Ft Worth into a trap several years ago and I didn't see her but had a great meal.
A year ago I quit following her FB and a few months later she lured me back, but I was half-hearted and skeptable and WONDERED when she would do what she did the past two days...but expected a more pleasant approach after all I did for her... I'm no STALKER;  been at arms length since since her girlfriend from FW came in 5 years ago.
All this sudden RANT is about that girl...looks like she is in jail, and cost SL a lot of business over the years... Pachuco Pete Pena I never expected or tried to communicate with her, but some of her fans did and it was positive.  I was well treated and my last minute change of mind was due to the CRAZY stuff going on in WF.
I had another vacation to San Antonio last month to attend PMA reunion.  She knew I was at both places.
It's been 5 years since I last saw her.  I don't stalk, I'm not a fan.
She is wrong about some of her facts and her conclusions are wrong.
She calls the shots so I won't look her up on her fan pages.
I did same last December as I couldn't stomach her girlfriend.
What happened to her girlfriend.???"

Alberto Maldonado Officially Becomes The Director Of The Roberto Hernández Center At U.W.M.

Maldonado is the former interim director of the Roberto Hernández Center at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

November 8, 2018

Milwaukee, WI - On Thursday, Alberto Maldonado announced that he officially became the Director of the Roberto Hernández Center (RHC) at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM). Maldonado became the Interim Director of the RHC in 2016 after Enrique Figueroa, Ph.D. resigned in August of that year after serving as a director since 2002. 

Maldonado released the following statement, "Its has never been about the title nor the fame. It has always been about the work, my community, and the students and families we serve. I have been blessed with a great RHC team, great colleagues & mentors throughout my 20 year career. I am proud and honored to follow in the footsteps of great leaders that came before me, and  to share the great news  that I am officially the DIRECTOR OF THE ROBERTO HERNANDEZ CENTER at UW-Milwaukee!  Thanks to all of you who have inspired and supported me in the last two years of my Interim role. Pa'lante y Si Se Puede!! I look forward to continue leading and serving!"

The RHC is an academic advisory center designed to help students adjust and succeed in their studies at UWM while pursuing their degrees on campus. 

In history:

The actual creation of the Spanish Speaking Outreach Institute (SSOI), which later became the Roberto Hernández Center at link: http://bit.ly/1hgQkaB

Actual news video, including the Roberto Hernández Center story at link: http://tinyurl.com/3e6odcb

Tony Evers, A Democrat Elected Governor Of Wisconsin

Barnes, a Democrat became the first Black Lt. Governor of Wisconsin.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

November 7, 2018

Milwaukee, WI - On Tuesday, Tony Evers (D) was elected Governor of Wisconsin and defeated two-term incumbent Scott Walker (R) by more than 28K votes (49.6% to 48.5%) with 99.0% reporting of votes cast in the State of Wisconsin. Also, Mandela Barnes (D) was elected as the first Black Lt. Governor of Wisconsin.

Evers ran on a platform to protect insurance coverage of those with pre-existing health conditions, for all Wisconsinites the buy into BadgerCare, funding public schools, would allow federal funding for healthcare and supported licenses for undocumented immigrants including instate tuition for DACA students. Milwaukee County gave Evers enough votes to oust Walker from office. Walker supported Trump's intent to revoke U.S. citizenship from children born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants when he ran for president in 2016, but failed to get the Republican nomination.
Wisconsin had a record breaking election, nearly 2.7M (2,671,347 cast votes) of Wisconsinites voted in the midterm elections in 2018, also a 140% increase of early voting was reported in the City of Milwaukee compared to the 2014 midterm elections.   Carmen Cabrera, the Milwaukee Election Commissioner confirmed on Monday, that on closing of the last day of early voting (In-person Absentee Voting- IPAV) in Milwaukee that ended on Sunday, a record breaking voting turnout was reported with 36,659 votes, a 140% increase compared to early voting of the 2014 midterm elections, which had 15,300 votes. In the 2016 Presidential Elections, early voting was reported at 52,373 votes.

The City of Milwaukee Election Commission on early Wednesday confirmed that 47K absentee ballots were counted and Evers received 38,000 votes and Walker 7,000 securing Evers a win as the Democratic newly elected Governor and defeating Walker, the two-term Republican incumbent.
The Latino and Black vote in Milwaukee was instrumental in getting Evers elected as Governor of Wisconsin and electing Mandela Barnes (D), as the first Black Lt. Governor in Wisconsin's history.
The following groups and organizations, Acción Ciudadana de Wisconsin (Citizen Action of Wisconsin), SOPHIA, Voces de la Frontera Action and allies campaigned tirelessly to get the Latino and non-Latino vote out during the early voting process and on election day.

The Democrats won control of the U.S. House of Representatives, but the Republicans maintained control of the U.S. Senate, which Trump will now be held accountable for his illegal acts and profiting as president.
Trump's federal tax returns will also be accessible to Democrats for review.

In other state races:

• Tammy Baldwin (D) was re-elected to the U.S. Senate

• Gwen Moore (D) was re-elected to the U.S. House of Representatives District 4

• Josh Kaul (D) was elected as Wisconsin State Attorney General

• Doug La Follette (D) was re-elected as Secretary of State

• Sarah Godlewski (D) was elected as State Treasurer

• JoCasta Zamarripa (D) was re-elected to the 8th Assembly District

• Jessie Rodriguez  (R) was re-elected to the 21st Assembly District

In Milwaukee County, Waukesha County and Kenosha County, the marijuana referendum on their ballots was approved by voters.

Update: Governor Scott Walker (R) concedes and released a statement that his administration will help in the transition of Governor elect Tony Evers (D) in taking office.
Walker stated, "Thanks to Tony Evers for his gracious comments on our call today. I offered the full support of my staff and our cabinet as he begins the transition process."

City of Milwaukee Breaks Record With 140% Early Voting Turnout Increase Compared To 2014 Mid-term Elections

Early Voting in The City of Milwaukee Breaks Record With 140% Voter Turnout Compared To The 2014 Mid-term Early Voting Elections

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

November 5, 2018

Milwaukee, WI - Tom Perez, the DNC Chair was in Milwaukee on Monday to greet members of the Latino community and to help bring out the vote for all the Democrats running for public office and to elect Tony Evers (D) for Governor of WI on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.
Carmen Cabrera, the Milwaukee Election Commissioner confirmed on Monday, that on closing of the last day of early voting in Milwaukee that ended on Sunday, a record breaking voting turnout was reported with 36,659 votes, a 140% increase compared to early voting of the 2014 mid-term elections, which had 15,300 votes. In the 2016 Presidential Elections, early voting was reported at 52,373 votes.