Milwaukee County Sheriff Clarke Criticised Judge Wagner For Giving Illegal Immigrant Felon Work Release

Armando Rodriguez-Benitez

Illegal Immigrant convicted felon gets work release in Milwaukee County.

By H. Nelson Goodson
October 7, 2011

Milwaukee - On Wednesday, Armando Rodriguez-Benitez, 35, of West Allis was sentenced to 11 months in the House of Corrections and three years probation after pleading guilty for 2nd-degree recklessly endangering safety, a felony. Rodriguez-Benitez must pay almost $1,000 in court charges and probation costs. On September 12, Rodriguez-Benitez also pleaded guilty due to no contest for 1st operating while intoxicated and was fined $871.00.
Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke criticised and became outraged at Milwaukee County Judge Jeffrey A. Wagner, Branch 38 for giving Rodriguez-Benitez work release when he is an illegal immigrant and shouldn't be working. Sheriff Clarke contacted the Immigration and Customs Enforcement to get Rodriguez-Benitez off the streets and deported. Rodriguez-Benitez can be deported on a felony conviction.
In July, he was cited for operating a vehicle with prohibited alcohol concentration of .25, more than triple the legal limit. In Wisconsin, it's illegal to drive with a Breath and Alcohol Concentration of .08 or greater.
Rodriguez-Benitez was also cited with heading the wrong way on I-43. He drove into the freeway the wrong-way on W. Becher St. and I-43 and proceeded northbound on the southbound lanes.

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Ground Breaking Affordable Housing Project To Offer Year Round Farmer's Market On Mitchell Street

Photos: HNG

The Mitchell Street Market Lofts project will offer apartments to low income renters and will have a year-round farmer's market.

By H. Nelson Goodson
October 6, 2011

Milwaukee - On Thursday, the groundbreaking ceremony took place for construction of the Mitchell Street Market Lofts (MSML) at 1920 W. Mitchell Street. Impact Seven, Inc. announced the project will offer a rent to own program for two and three bedroom lofts, which would include 2 bath apartments, in-unit washer, dryer, dishwasher, stove, refrigerator and microwave. The 24-unit apartments building will include a community room, fitness room and accessible green roof, including an indoor year-round Farmer's Market Place.
Wisconsin Redevelopment, LLC and Growing Power were able to provide a farmer's market on the ground level of the MSML when it opens. Growing Power will manage the year-round farmer's market at MSML.
The MSML will house 24-unit apartments in a four-story building. Each unit will have about 1,000 to 1,600 square feet of space and ground level commercial space, which includes a garage will have at least a total of 2,000 square feet, according to the Department of City Development.
The Milwaukee Redevelopment Authority sold the 24,500-square-foot lot at W. Mitchell St. and Muskego Ave. for $110,250 with condition that a farmer's market will be housed in the MSML building.
The total cost of the MSML project is between $5 to $6.1 million. Part of the MSML financing was provided through federal affordable housing tax credits program allocated by Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA). J.P. Morgan Chase Bank financed a multi-million loan for the project.
Under the housing tax credits terms, MSML will have to rent to low income renters making no more than than 60 percent of the area income level. The average household maximum income level for two people can't exceed $32,520, but income level adjustments will be provided as the household increases, according to WHEDA.
The primary developer is Mitchell Street Market Lofts, LLC and other developers include, Impact Seven, Inc., Wisconsin Redevelopment, LLC and AndersonWebb, LLC.

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Captain Pixley Becomes First Woman To Head Police District Two Station In Milwaukee's South Side

Captain Rebecca L. Pixley

Photo: HNG

Personal contact between officers and community residents is vital for helping to prevent and reduce crime in the South side, according to Captain Rebecca L. Pixley.

By H. Nelson Goodson
October 5, 2011

Milwaukee - On Tuesday, 8th District Alderman Robert "Bob" Donovan held a district meeting with members of the community at the Walker Campus, 3100 block of W. Mitchell St. to introduce newly appointed Captain of Police Rebecca L. Pixley. Captain Pixley is the first woman to head Milwaukee's Police District 2 Station in the South side.
With Captain Pixley's appointment to the second district, she has accomplished to work on all six police district stations. Pixley has been a supervisor for 15 years out of 22 years with the department.
Current South side issues involve drug houses, gangs, prostitution, shootings, garage break-ins, graffiti and nuisance properties, according to Alderman Donovan. Residents at the meeting wanted more police on the street, but Donovan explained, the city is facing a lack of funds. He confirmed, 200 vacant police positions were available and 100 of those positions were eliminated citywide in the last budget by a stroke of a pen, leaving only 150 positions to fill.
Captain Pixley's approach for policing is quite different and innovative than prior second district commanders. Pixley strongly believes that district officers and residents should get to know each other in order to help prevent and reduce crime in the area.
Captain Pixley assured residents that she will continue to bring her entourage of officers and rank and file command from the second district to public gatherings dealing with crime safety meetings. At the meeting on Tuesday, she took charge and spoke to residents, heard their concerns, talked about crime prevention and how residents can actually contact second district officers and report suspected crime activity.
Another change within the second district, Captain Pixley has enjoined the Community Prosecution Unit (CPU), Anti Gang Unit (AGU), the Bicycle Patrol Unit and the Community Liaison Officer to work with each other and share information. Prior district commanders had each unit working separately from each other. The AGU is supervised by a sergeant.
The second district also has a city attorney, a Milwaukee County assistant district attorney, a Domestic Violence Advocate and a Probation and Parole agent at the police station. All six police district stations in Milwaukee have CPU teams, but Pixley worked directly with the CPU at district 5, which most likely become a model to follow at district 2.
Pixley while working as a Lieutenant at district 5, she was instrumental in making the CPU project a success by having them work collectively with other units in the district. She is currently applying the same concept at the second district.
In the South side, the CPU team is based out of the second district and deal with nuisance properties, land lords and complaints about drug houses.
Community Liaison Officer Jesus Gloria will get a partner, according to Captain Pixley. Officer Gloria, who is fluent in both English and Spanish has organized Community Block Watch programs in the neighborhood. Gloria and other officers along with community volunteers and released inmates from the Probation and Parole assigned to do community service work have removed graffiti and tagging in the area. The supervised inmates work four hours under the Operation Payback project.
Officer Gloria reported that last week, volunteers and supervised inmates had removed graffiti or tagging from 75 properties and this week from 64 properties, including tagging from the lower level of the Pabs Avenue Bridge at the 3200 block of W. Forest Home Ave.

Pabs Avenue Bridge hit by taggers at the 3200 block of W. Forest Home Ave.

Photo courtesy of Milwaukee Police District 2

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¡Ya Basta! Call For U.S. National Economic Protest Against Anti-immigrant Initiatives And Laws

Hispanics need to collectively learn how to manage their spending power to influence change in the U.S.

October 4, 2011

Milwaukee, Wisconsin (HNNUSA) - The recent ruling by U.S. District federal Judge Sharon L. Blackburn in Alabama to uphold certain key parts of HR 56. The HR 56 provisions require schools to register the legal status of students and for police to hold undocumented immigrants without bond indefinately, including ending the legal right for contracts involving undocumented immigrants be voided immediately is outrageous and contrary to our constitutional values.
These HR 56 provisions are currently in effect and are being implemented in the State of Alabama. The U.S. Department of Justice and civil rights groups have appealed Judge Blackburn's recent ruling.
Blackburn's decision has prompted H. Nelson Goodson, an immigration rights activist in Wisconsin to shout out ¡Ya Basta! to Hispanics nationally who are sick and tired of the growing anti-immigrant bashing that leads to a racial disparity trend in the U.S. fueled by Republican extremists. Goodson said, "Latinos should enage in a national economic protest. We should only buy goods and services from Hispanic owned businesses and businesses supporting communities in wake of Alabama's HR 56 and growing trend of anti-immigrant initiatives and laws against immigrants and their children. It's time to stand up for each other and show our economic empowerment once and for all. It's our given right to act.
Stop Republican conservative extremists and their anti-immigrant campaigns!"
Since 2006, Hispanics have been able to march in the millions against harsh anti-immigrant laws, have gained political strength and changed the political direction in the federal government, including building national networks to mobilized Latinos "La Raza." Now, we need to go further and accomplish our final step by crossing over to our next challenge, which is to learn how to manage our economic empowerment inorder to influence change in the country, Goodson explained.
America has benefited from immigrant contributions to our economy, whether in taxes, unclaimed taxes at the state and federal level, low wage labor and etc. Now, is the time to act by reaching deep into our pockets and then decide where to spend our hard earn money. Spend it where it benefits the most, Goodson said.

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Mexico Extradited Fugitives Wanted In The U.S. For Child Sexual Assault and Kidnapping Charges

Ignacio Contreras

Pedro Vicente Aguirre

Photos: PGR

Both fugitives were wanted for felony crimes in the U.S.

By H. Nelson Goodson
October 3, 2011

Mexico City - On Sunday, the Mexican Federal Attorney General's Office (PGR) reported that federal ministry agents turned over two fugitive Mexican nationals to the U.S. Marshals. The fugitives were extradited to the United States on Friday from the International Airport in Mexico City. The PGR identified both suspects as Ignacio Romero, aka, Ignacio Medina or Ignacio Contreras and Pedro Vicente Aguirre, aka, Bulle.
Romero is wanted in Baxter, Texas on charges for sexual abuse and assault of a female child. He repeatedly assaulted the child between 1999 to 2000 after he befriended a family and took advantage of their trust. Romero was arrested in Mexico on May 19, 2011.
Aguirre is wanted in Stanislaus County in California on charges for attempted homicide, kidnapping, assault, and sexual assault of a women and a female child on October 24, 1999. He forced both the child and the women to perform sexual acts separately and previously had sexual contact with the child, according to the criminal complaint.
Aguirre was taken into custody on September 16, 2009 by Mexican authorities.

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Open House Draws Residents To Milwaukee Police District 2 Station

(L-R) Zonia López, Alderman James Witkowiak and Captain Rebecca L. Pixley.

Photos: HNG

A teenager sat on a Harley-Davidson police motorcycle and turned on the red and blue lights during Open House.

Captain Pixley welcomed members from the local community to Milwaukee Police District 2.

By H. Nelson Goodson
October 1, 2011

Milwaukee - On Saturday, the Milwaukee Police District 2 command officials held an Open House for the local residents. The event provided residents with a unique opportunity to participate and experience the work environment that officers go through everyday to keep the locals safe and secure. District 2 is the only police station in the City of Milwaukee that has opened its doors to area residents for a second year in a row.
This year, residents had a chance to personally meet the newly appointed Captain of Police Rebecca L. Pixley. Captain Pixley during the event welcomed the visitors that toured the station from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The station has a capacity to hold more than 18 people during processing (booking), investigations, digital fingerprinting and criminal background checks.
At the event, popular crowd attractions included, a stationary full gear Major Incident Response Team (M.I.R.T.) officer that stood motionless and at first glance seemed to be made of wax. But the M.I.R.T. officer turned out to be a real person and drew plenty of photo shots from visitors. Other special attractions for visitors at the event were the Mounted Horse Patrol, Command Post, Tactical Enforcement Unit, Motorcycle Unit, Dive Team, Cadillac Police Truck, the Milwaukee Fire Department, Bell Ambulance, especially the "Police Rhino" known as the surveillance unit.
People were allowed inside the mobile Command Post, which seemed very confined with limited space to move around. Visitors were prohibited from taking photos inside the Command Post and its state-of-the-art communications technology.
Captain Pixley recently replaced former Captain Donald J. Gaglione from the Second District station. She was appointed by Police Chief Edward A. Flynn on August 23 to fill the Captain's vacant position, which became available on September 18. Pixley was a Police Lieutenant in Police District 5 and a member of the Tactical Enforcement Unit, before being promoted by Flynn.
James Witkowiak, 12th District Alderman took time from his busy schedule to meet Captain Pixley and to greet residents at the one day event. James Harpole, Assistant Chief of Police was also at the open house.
Police District 2 serves more than 87,000 residents.

M.I.R.T. officer stands motionless and on guard for a photo with open house visitors at Milwaukee District 2 Station. M.I.R.T. officers are assigned for crowd control and other major incidents.

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Zeta Leader Arrested For Ordering Attack At The Casino Royale In Monterrey

Roberto Carlos López Castro, aka, "El Toruño"

So far, 11 Zeta members have been taken into custody for the Casino Royale massacre.

By H. Nelson Goodson
October 1, 2011

Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico - On Thursday, Roberto Carlos López Castro, aka, "El Toruño" was arrested by Mexican federal authorities in Zapopan, Jalisco. López Castro, a known Zeta leader and alleged mastermind of the Casino Royale August 25, massacre that claimed at least 52 deaths was taken to Mexico City for processing.
López Castro's arrest totalled 11 of 18 suspects that are wanted for their connection with the casino mass murders. Federal Police and the Mexican Attorney General's Office are searching for the following Zeta suspects, Baltasar Saucedo Estrada, aka, "El Mataperros," Francisco Medina Mejía, aka, "El Quemado," and José Alberto Loera Rodríguez, aka, "El Voltaje" who are still at large. The suspects are considered the main masterminds of the casino attack.

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