Milwaukee's Nfoque Latino Spanish Radio Program Aired Segment In Support Of The DREAM Act

(Front row: L-R) H. Nelson Goodson, Christine Neumann-Ortiz, Eddiza Valadez and Zonia Lopez
(Back row: L-R) Joel Ramirez and Angel Cartegena

Photo by Fernanda Paniagua

DREAM Act student advocates and executive director of Voces de la Frontera push for passage of the bill

December 5, 2010

Milwaukee, WI (HNNUSA) - On Saturday, the popular Nfoque Latino radio Spanish talk show on WJTI 1460 AM aired the first special program to generate calls to both Republican Congressmen Paul Ryan and Tom Petri to push for their swing vote to approve the DREAM Act. The Democrat majority House of Representatives are expected to revive a vote on the DREAM Act by the middle of next week before the Republican control House takes office in January.
The Nfoque Latino program was hosted by H. Nelson Goodson and Zonia Lopez. Lopez says the show can be viewed live in Ustream and previous recorded talk shows concerning important issues affecting the Wisconsin Hispanic community. Lopez is the business owner of Flylda Travel Agency in Milwaukee giving her an opportunity to be involved with community issues such as immigration rights, education, economic and the spiritual growth of the Hispanic community.
Nationally, Goodson is one of the foremost respected immigration rights and reform journalist. Goodson made the following statement on the radio, "With the billions of tax dollars that have been collected by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from undocumented workers throughout the last 20 years and the billions of dollars contributed into the Social Security (SS) account, which undocumented taxpayers don't even file for refunds or for Social Security when they retire, only adds to one colossal amount of money in both the IRS and SS accounts. Undocument parents tax contributions have already paid for their childrens education and Congress should pass the DREAM Act. I only ask one question, why hasn't Congress or the CBO provided a report on the total amount undocumented taxpayers have contributed to the IRS and SS accounts? The Latino community should demand accountability of the total, which would only prove that undocumented taxpayers have actually paid for the DREAM Act."
Christine Neumann-Ortiz, the founding Executive Director of Voces de la Frontera (VDLF) made a guest presentation informing and advocating for the DREAM Act to the predominately Hispanic South side community and surrounding metropolitan vacinity. Three students from various educational backgrounds also accompanied Neumann-Ortiz in the show. The students, Eddiza Valadez, Joel Ramirez and Angel Cartegena who are members of Youth Empowered in the Struggle (YES) are also part of Voces action group promoting the passage of the DREAM Act.
YES is a multiracial group dedicated to promoting social justice in Southeastern Wisconsin through youth led action. YES currently has chapters or affiliates at 7 Wisconsin high schools and one University, according to VDLF.
Valadez became involved in the movement to help create awareness for the need to provide educational opportunities for undocumented students in Wisconsin and nationally. She gave testimony about her experience with a close family member who is bright and could succeed in college, but her undocumented status has prevented her from working to support her way through college.
Ramirez was at Nfoque Latino to help encourage other youths to stand up for their rights and to join in the struggle to help pass the DREAM Act. He recited a powerful Rap style poem motivating everyone in the production studio and radio listeners at the end of the show.
Cartegena told listeners that he became involved in the struggle to pass the DREAM Act when he began to see friends trying to seek a higher education, but were kept from achieving their dreams just for having an undocumented status.
The DREAM Act would provide a pathway to citizenship for undocumented students who were brought to the U.S. at a young age of 16, and complete at least two years of college or military service, according to Neumann-Ortiz. The DREAM Act would actually effect more than 2 million undocumented teenagers.
Valadez told the Nfoque Latino radio listeners to call both Congressmen Tom Petri at 202-225-2476 and Paul Ryan at 202-225-3031 and urge them to support the dreams of the students of their districts.
On Thursday, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report indicated that the approval of the DREAM Act would help cut the federal deficit by $1.4 billion, and generate $2.3 billion in corporate and social insurance taxes within the next ten years. http://bit.ly/fk6B3N
The CBO report contradicted Congressman Steve King's (R-Iowa) notion that the DREAM Act would actually cost $20 billion to fund. The CBO report also contradicted an estimated study made by the Center for Immigration Studies that reported The DREAM Act would cost at least $6 billion per year.
The Center for American Progress reported that it would cost the federal government more than $48.6 billion to deport 2 million undocumented teenagers (students).
On Friday, the White House posted 10 Reasons We Need The DREAM Act, Internet link. http://bit.ly/gWFjGy
Next week Saturday, Nfoque Latino will focus on Comprehensive Immigration Reform and Wisconsin's Republican intend to introduce an anti-immigrant bill legalizing local authorities to detain for 48 hours suspected undocumented immigrants in order for them to prove their legal status in Wisconsin or in the country. The bill could lead to racial profiling and discrimination in the state.
Neumann-Ortiz, Valadez, Ramirez and Cartagena have been invited once again to discuss the issues.
Nfoque Latino Spanish radio talk show can be heard on Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., at WJTI 14.60 AM radio, La Nueva Ritmo (live on Ustream http://bit.ly/c1VwGx) in the Milwaukee and surrounding area.

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Latino Business Growth In Milwaukee's South Side

New Chupi's Beef food stand opens despite economic stagnation

November 9, 2009

Milwaukee (HNNUSA)-Last Friday, November 6, Eduardo and Leslie Velez owners of E&J Records, 1242 S. Cesar E. Chavez Dr. opened a portable Chupi's Beef food stand in front of their business. The new addition adds flavour to the S. Cesar E. Chavez Dr. predominately Mexican business district by offering hot dogs, tamales, Polish sausages, bratwursts, and pop corn along the strip.
Eduardo began his E&J Record business about 15 years ago with his brother Joselito Velez on the 1100 block of W. Greenfield Ave. After five years in business they bought a new building at the 1200 block of S. Chavez Dr. Joselito later sold his half of the partnership to Eduardo and since then, both Eduardo and Leslie who have their roots in Puerto Rico have been managing their growing business.

The predominately Hispanic South Side district is one of the primary districts for generating tax revenue, including fees for licenses, permits, violations, etc., for the City of Milwaukee. City officials cited, "the Near South Side consistently showed signs of robust investment, business, and property value growth. Between 2002 and 2006, sales price per building square foot increased each year and rose from $39 per square foot to $61 per square foot. The annual value of all construction investments increased from $37.8 million to $124.1 million and averaged $56.3 million. The value of land per square foot for residential, commercial, mixed, and industrial use increased and exceeded that for the City of Milwaukee as a whole," according to the City of Milwaukee market study.
A city economic study reported that the south side households in the predominately Latino community located inside Postal Zip Code 53204 in Milwaukee spend more than $91 million annually in retail goods, according to the 2006 Department of City Development statistics. In one day, they spent approximately $249,315.06. The biggest tax-generating base for the city comes solely from the south side.
In Milwaukee, over 850 Hispanic owned businesses generate more than $225 million in annual sales. It is abundantly clear that the immigration of Hispanics and undocumented immigrants to Southeastern Wisconsin is tied to a large degree to the available resources that Hispanics have in the area.
In Wisconsin, over 3,000 Hispanic owned businesses generate more than $800 million in annual sales, creation of jobs and available employment resulting in population growth as well as business growth. The Hispanic population increased by more than 4%, greater than the national Hispanic growth rate, and more than 271,000 Hispanics lived in Wisconsin in 2007. The population of Hispanics has grown by 40% since 2000, according to the U.S. Census report.
H. Nelson Goodson representing Taxpayers for Immigration Reform says, "Taxpayers for Immigration Reform based in Milwaukee has been advocating nationwide since last Summer for Latinos and supporters of immigration reform to continue to shop at Latino owned businesses and businesses which support our community." The Velez family business is a good example of small business growth, which depends on its area residents, businesses, immigrants, and tourists visiting the near South side to succeed. Goodson says immigrants spent their hard earned money on food, shelter, retail goods, and support small businesses like the Velez E&J Record business, and as taxpayers do pay taxes on just about everything on a daily basis. Taxpayers are not required to be U.S. citizens to pay them.
"We as Latinos and immigrants do have an economic impact in this nation, especially in the City of Milwaukee, and we need an effective strategy for financial management of our economic purchasing power which totals in the billions of dollars to influence immigration reform.
We should continue to invest, shop and spend our money in businesses and entities in our communities that respect us, do welcome us, and support immigration reform like the Velez E&J Record business," said Goodson.
There are three major factors for the 890 billion dollar boost of our economy that is generated by undocumented immigrants. Their economic contributions is a major boost to the U.S. economy with the combined value of their labor, their stimulus on our economy, and the taxes they pay, according to a University of California-Los Angeles study by Raul Hinojosa.
Undocumented immigrants from Mexico alone contributed between $154 billion and $220 billion to the Gross Domestic Product of the United States in 2000, and undocumented immigrants paid up to $20 billion in Social Security taxes between 1990 and 1998.
Immigrants paid $80,000 per person more in taxes during their lifetime than they received in public benefits as of 1998; due to immigrants' younger age profile compared to the "native" population, immigrants will contribute up to $500 billion to
Social Security from 1998 to 2022, according to a report by the Office of Migration and Refugee Policy and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
U.S. born children to undocumented immigrants are included and considered illegal in most studies.
However, they do contribute to our economy by paying taxes, working and buying homes, goods and services adding to the stimulus on our economy just as their parents do.
The City of Milwaukee continues to draw small Latino business growth along S. Cesar E. Chavez Dr. despite an attempt by some city aldermen in the Licensing Committee who were trying to pass a citizenship ordinance 090411 in late September. The ordinance was put on hold after three prominent Latinos, Tony Baez, CEO of the Spanish Speaking Council, Christine Neumann-Ortiz, Executive Director of Voces de la Frontera and H. Nelson Goodson, of Taxpayers for Immigration Reform from the South side protested the ordinance during the committee hearing. Alderman T. Anthony Zielinski moved to put the ordinance on hold that would require anyone applying or reapplying for a professional or commercial license or permits to have legal alien status in the country. The ordinance remains in committee while the City Attorney's office and Common Council President Willie Hines complete their fact finding concerning the ordinance. Hines confirmed that the Common Council will make another attempt to introduce the measure once again at a later date.
Mayor Tom Barrett said he opposed the ordinance, but Hines says the Common Council doesn't need Barrett's approval to pass the citizenship ordinance. Also, Maria Monreal-Cameron, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has sent a letter to Alderman Hines and the Milwaukee Common Council opposing the citizenship ordinance.

Milwaukee Mayor To Keep Current Practice To Provide Licenses To Business Applicants

More than 2,000 people marched for immigration reform, state driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants, and to protest the proposed City of Milwaukee citizenship requirement for professional or commercial licenses or permits

By H. Nelson Goodson
October 10, 2009

Milwaukee - Immigration reform march organizers released a statement from Mayor Tom Barrett during a rally held at Mitchell Park earlier today saying the mayor will keep the current practice to provide professional licenses to applicants. Mayor Barrett on Friday wrote, "The regulation of immigration is exclusively a federal power, and the City of Milwaukee is not the appropriate jurisdiction to enforce the 1996 law enacted by the federal government. The City currently provides licensing services that support business operations, are efficient and provide adequate protections for the public. It is my intention that these services will continue to be provided to the public in the future as they are today." Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director of Voces de la Frontera read Barrett's statement to those attending Saturday's rally.

Rally participants cheered and celebrated Barrett's decision to keep Milwaukee from supporting anti-immigrant policies that would create division among Milwaukeans. More than 2,000 people marched for immigration reform, state driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants, and to protest the proposed City of Milwaukee citizenship requirement for professional or commercial licenses or permits. March organizers are currently collecting signatures from voters in State Senator Tim Carpenter's district in support of driver's cards (licenses) for undocumented immigrants.

On September 29, the Licenses Committee members unanimously decided to postponed a proposed ordinance (090411) that would require proof of U.S. citizenship and legal alien status to obtain a professional or commercial licenses or permits in the City of Milwaukee. The ordinance would have required new applicants and those applying for renewal to prove their legal status in the country. City Attorney Grant F. Langley proposed the citizenship ordinance to comply with the U.S. Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.
Ald. Tony Zielinski moved for the proposed ordinance to be placed on hold to give various community groups, and constituents more time to review the proposal and to comment on it. The committee agreed and voted to postpone the measure.

Milw., WI: Legistar posted video on line of Licenses Committee Sept. 29 hearing of citizenship ordinance 090411 requiring legal status in the country for issuance of professional or commercial licenses or permits, click the following link and then on video http://bit.ly/YywZO

Immigration Reform March To Include Protest Opposing Milwaukee Citizenship Requirement For Professional And Commercial Licenses And Permits

March organizers to protest City of Milwaukee proposed Business citizenship ordinance

Milwaukee (HNNUSA)- On Sunday, October 4Th, Immigration reform march organizers were visiting and campaigning for support at local businesses against the proposed City of Milwaukee citizenship ordinance requiring legal status in the country for new and renewal applicants for professional and commercial licenses and permits. Organizers say, next Saturday's, October 10Th march will incorporate a protest against the business citizenship oridnance. Protesters will meet in front of Voces de la Frontera's office at 11 a.m. and will march along the South side to Mitchell Park located in the 2500 block of W. Pierce St. in Milwaukee.
Chritine Neumann-Ortiz, Executive Director of Voces de la Frontera, 1027 S. 5th St., personally delivered a letter to business owners inviting them to a special meeting being held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 6Th at Voces. Neumann-Ortiz is calling for unity and for Latino businesses to support the Voces march opposing the city citizenship ordinance.
Last week, September 29Th, the License Committee members unanimously decided to postponed a proposed ordinance (090411) that would require proof of U.S. citizenship and legal alien status to obtain a professional or commercial licenses or permits in the City of Milwaukee.
The ordinance would have required new applicants and those applying for renewal to prove their legal status in the country.
Two executive directors from several community based organizations, and a South side resident testified during the meeting in opposition of the measure. Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director of Voces de la Frontera, an immigrant rights organization, said her organization did not learn of the proposal until Monday night. "This is very disturbing... Such an ordinance would reduce the tax base and increase poverty," Neumann-Ortiz said. She also criticized J.B. Van Hollen's decision to enforce the U.S. Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 with the state Department of Regulation and Licensing. In October 2007, Van Hollen wrote that federal requirements applied and that Secretary of Regulation and Licensing Celia Jackson should begin enforcing the measure, but was not mandatory to do so. Nevertheless, Jackson began enforcing the measure.
H. Nelson Goodson, an immigration rights advocate and a member of Taxpayers for Immigration Reform told the committee, a class action lawsuit is pending on appeal in a Pennsylvania federal court concerning a similar enforcement of the measure. The Lozano vs. City of Hazleton lost the first round when a judge ruled the anti-immigrant measure was unconstitutional. Hazleton city officials have appealed the case and a decision concerning the case is expected soon, according to Goodson. Goodson also advised the committee, that passing such an ordinance, the city could face a legal challenge costing taxpayers thousands of dollars when the city is facing a 90 million dollar deficit.
If the ordinance is imposed, the city would decrease business growth and eliminate a substantial amount of taxes and revenues generated from licenses and permits. The Common Council salaries come from these type of revenues, property taxes, and it wouldn't make sense for them to cut revenues by passing an ordinance limiting business growth. Especially, when Mayor Tom Barrett is proposing budget cuts from the Police Department, city services, and Fire Department. I don't see the Mayor and his staff or the Common Council proposing cuts to their own salaries, Goodson added.
"City Clerk Ron Leonhardt and Asst. City Attorney Bruce Schrimp who favor the citizenship ordinance have yet to produce a directive from Eric Holder, U.S. Attorney General stating that the City of Milwaukee is in federal violation of the law or the city is facing punitive measures by cutting Block Grant funding from the federal government. The 1996 Act hasn't been enforced by the city for the last 13 years and I doubt the city would face any action from the federal government, if they decide to ignore enforcement of the Act. It's an immigration issue and it should be resolved at the federal level," Goodson said.
Tony Baez, president and CEO of the Council for the Spanish Speaking, questioned the city attorney's opinion, which cited the opinion from Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen concerning the 1996 Act.
"Why wait so long?" Baez asked the committee, and said the city hasn't enforced the 1996 Act for the last 13 years. Baez told the committee that time was needed to get other groups and advocates involved in this particular measure.
Leonhardt and Schrimp advised the committee that the city is expected to enforce the 1996 Act, but did not provide a recent decision by the current U.S. Attorney General that the measure is en-forcible.
Ald. Tony Zielinski asked for the proposed ordinance to be placed on hold to give various community groups, and constituents more time to review the proposal and to comment on it. The committee agreed and voted to postpone the measure.

Milw., WI: Legistar posted video on line of Licenses Committee Sept. 29 hearing of citizenship ordinance 090411 requiring legal status in the country for issuance of professional or commercial licenses or permits, click the following link and then on video http://bit.ly/YywZO

Licenses Committee Postponed Decision On Citizenship Requirement For Issuance Of Professional And Commercial Licenses Or Permits

Milwaukee (HNNUSA)- On Tuesday, the License Committee members unanimously decided to postponed a proposed ordinance (090411) that would require proof of U.S. citizenship and legal alien status to obtain a professional or commercial licenses or permits in the City of Milwaukee. The Common Council committee members are Aldermen(woman) James A. Bohl, Comm. Chair, Milele A. Coggs, Vice Chair, Ashanti Hamilton, T. Anthony Zielinski, and Nik Kovac.
The ordinance would have required new applicants and those applying for renewal to prove their legal status in the country.
Two executive directors from several community based organizations, and a South side resident testified in opposition of the measure. Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director of Voces de la Frontera, an immigrant rights organization, said her organization did not learn of the proposal until Monday night. "This is very disturbing... Such an ordinance would reduce the tax base and increase poverty," Neumann-Ortiz said. She also criticized J.B. Van Hollen's decision to enforce the U.S. Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 with the state Department of Regulation and Licensing. In October 2007, Van Hollen wrote that federal requirements applied and that Secretary of Regulation and Licensing Celia Jackson should begin enforcing the measure, but was not mandatory to do so. Nevertheless, Jackson began enforcing the measure.

H. Nelson Goodson, an immigration rights advocate and a member of Taxpayers for Immigration Reform told the committee, a class action lawsuit is pending on appeal in a Pennsylvania federal court concerning a similar enforcement of the measure. The Lozano vs. City of Hazleton lost the first round when a judge ruled the anti-immigrant measure was unconstitutional. Hazleton city officials have appealed the case and a decision concerning the case is expected soon, according to Goodson. Goodson also advised the committee, that passing such an ordinance, the city could face a legal challenge costing taxpayers thousands of dollars when the city is facing a 90 million dollar deficit.
If the ordinance is imposed, the city would decrease business growth and eliminate a substantial amount of taxes and revenues generated from licenses and permits. The Common Council salaries come from these type of revenues, property taxes, and it wouldn't make sense for them to cut revenues by passing an ordinance limiting business growth. Especially, when Mayor Tom Barrett is proposing budget cuts from the Police Department, city services, and Fire Department. I don't see the Mayor and his staff or the Common Council proposing cuts to their own salaries, Goodson added.
"City Clerk Ron Leonhardt and Asst. City Attorney Bruce Schrimp who favor the citizenship ordinance have yet to produce a directive from Eric Holder, U.S. Attorney General stating that the City of Milwaukee is in federal violation of the law or the city is facing punitive measures by cutting Block Grant funding from the federal government. The 1996 Act hasn't been enforced by the city for the last 13 years and I doubt the city would face any action from the federal government, if they decide to ignore enforcement of the Act. It's an immigration issue and it should be resolved at the federal level," Goodson said.
Tony Baez, president and CEO of the Council for the Spanish Speaking, questioned the city attorney's opinion, which cited the opinion from Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen concerning the 1996 Act.
"Why wait so long?" Baez asked the committee, and said the city hasn't enforced the 1996 Act for the last 13 years. Baez told the committee that time was needed to get other groups and advocates involved in this particular measure.

Leonhardt and Schrimp advised the committee that the city is expected to enforce the 1996 Act, but did not provide a recent decision by the current U.S. Attorney General that the measure is en-forcible.
Ald. Tony Zielinski asked for the proposed ordinance to be placed on hold to give various community groups, and constituents more time to review the proposal and to comment on it. The committee agreed and voted to postpone the measure.

Milw., WI: Legistar posted video online of Licenses Committee Sept. 29 hearing of citizenship ordinance 090411 requiring legal status in the country for issuance of professional or commercial licenses or permits, click on the following link and then on video http://bit.ly/YywZO