Alderman Pérez Opposed Liquor License For Business At Esperanza Unida Building

José G. Pérez, Alfonso Morales and Manuel Pérez

Alderman Pérez on Tuesday during a Licenses Committee meeting opposed a liquor license for Reynas Events at the Esperanza Unida building at 611 W. National Ave. because the city is taking action to foreclose it due to taxes owed.

By H. Nelson Goodson

September 10, 2014

Milwaukee, WI - On Tuesday, the Milwaukee Common Council Licenses Committee denied a liquor license to Reynas Events after Alderman José Pérez opposed and publicly disclosed that the city is taking action to foreclose the International Esperanza Unida building at 611 W. National Ave. in Milwaukee's Southside. The Licenses Committee Chair Alderman T. Anthony Zielinski told Ald. Pérez that the disclosure of the expected foreclosure of the Esperanza Unida had no influence in the committee and was not an issue during the hearing. Ald. Zielinski said, that a citation was given to Morales in August, but had not been included in the agenda or Morales had been notified that it would be an issue that Committee members wanted to discuss.
The Committee members moved to deny and hold the matter of granting a Class-B Tavern liquor licenses until the citation issue is resolved. Reyna Morales and Manuel "Manny" Pérez,  the executive director of Esperanza Unida were present at the hearing.
Ald. Pérez opposed the issuing of the liquor license until the ownership of the Esperanza Unida building was clarified. The building is currently owned by the Esperanza Board of Directors.
Ald. Pérez had previously withheld any action on a request and filing for a restaurant license by Reyna and Alfonso Morales from Reynas Events and Mexican Restaurant who recently negotiated a 10-year contract with an Oshkosh developer to operate a restaurant and hall establishment at the Esperanza building main floor.
In June, Callan Shultz,  of North Pointe Holdings ll LLC and President of Keystone Development from Oshkosh offered the Esperanza Unida Board $1.3M to purchase the building and the offer was accepted by the Board.
Morales had received an occupancy permit and was recently cited for having a family private party at the establishment. Alfonso Morales said, that someone had complained that a party was held in the building and 2nd District Milwaukee Police Officer Guadalupe Velasquez with the Community Prosecution Unit mailed him a $600 citation. Velasquez citation was also discussed at the Licenses Committee. The most interesting part of the issuing of the citation by Officer Velasquez was, that the officer was not actually present or investigated the matter when the family party was happening. Velasquez issued the citation eight days later on just hearsay, according to Morales.
Morales also told Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) that Alderman Pérez set a meeting on August 21 at 10:00 a.m. in City Hall.  When Morales arrived at the meeting with Ald. Pérez, there were at least 15 people including Ald. Pérez's administrative assistant. Apparently, Officer Velasquez and Erica Lewandowski, Special Enforcement Supervisor with the Department of Neighborhood Services were also present.
HNNUSA has sent an e-mail request to Ald. Pérez to explain the purpose of the meeting with the 14 city employees and Morales and to provide any information in discussion. HNNUSA also would like to know, if it is a common practice by an alderman or Common Council members to hold such meetings with every potential business owner seeking a license from the city before the actual official Licenses Committee meeting.
Ald. Pérez hasn't responded to HNNUSA request about the August 21 meeting. Why wasn't Morales told by Ald. Pérez during the August meeting that he was going to oppose a liquor license for Morales at the 611 building.
HNNUSA has also sent an e-mail request to Spencer Coggs, the Milwaukee City Treasurer regarding Ald. Pérez public disclosure that the city was taking action by Wednesday to move forward to foreclose the Esperanza Unida building after recently passing city building inspections to reopen after a 14-day shut down by the city.
When contacted on Tuesday, Manuel Pérez, the executive director of Esperanza Unida told HNNUSA that Coggs, the City Treasurer knows of the $1.3M purchase offer by an Oshkosh developer. The Oshkosh developer is planning to invest more than $7M to convert the 611 building into a 55-unit apartment complex.
Manuel stated, that Esperanza Unida will owe at least $210K in city taxes, about $150K for the 2011 and 2012 tax period and the rest for 2013. Why would the city move on a foreclosure when there is a bona fide offer by a developer to purchase the building for $1.3M, which would create jobs and tax revenue for the city?, Manuel questioned. The Esperanza Unida Board has not been notified of the foreclosure move by the city that Ald. Pérez disclosed on Tuesday.
Coggs has not responded to HNNUSA request concerning the expected city foreclosure of the Esperanza Unida building that Ald. Pérez disclosed during the Licenses Committee meeting.
HNNUSA learned that Ald. Pérez had attempted to buy the 611 building for some investors before he was elected Alderman. Ald. Pérez has not responded to repeated requests to comment about the allegation that he tried to purchase the building. The Esperanza Board and former executive director Robert Miranda had refused to sell it to José G. Pérez or his investors. Since then, Ald. Pérez seems to flex his influence to make sure the 611 building is closed. His opposition on Tuesday to Morales getting a liquor license at the 611 building is just unprecedented, since prior liquor licenses have been granted to other prior operators.
Morales operates the Reyna's Bakery and Ice Cream establishment on Chavez Drive for at least 10 years.
Manuel Pérez filed a complaint with the Ethics Board against Ald. Pérez through an e-mail, but the Board failed to act because it wasn't notarized. The Ethics Board and the City Attorney's Office has denied an open records request to release the Ethics Board complaint that Manuel filed.
The Ethics Board is also located in the same office section where the Aldermen have their offices indicating a conflict of interest.

Reynas Events Milwaukee Licenses Committee Hearing 9/9/2014: http://youtu.be/fVlFVXZmMJ0

Jorge Santiago Ramírez, A Milwaukee Wrong-way Driver Facing 45 Years In Prison

Santiago Ramirez drove almost a mile in the wrong-way and crashed head on with a BMW heading northbound on US-41 at the Miller Parkway interchange.

By H. Nelson Goodson

September 8, 2014

Milwaukee, WI - On Monday, the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) confirmed that Jorge Santiago Ramírez, 23, who allegedly drove the wrong-way about a mile of I-94 to Miller Parkway interchange is facing charges on Tuesday for Driving Under the Influence (DUI-2nd) offense/Cause Injury, Injury by Intoxicated Use of Motor Vehicle, Wrong Way on Divided Highway, Operating While Revoked/Cause Great Bodily Harm; Injury by Intoxicated Use of Motor Vehicle, and 2nd Degree Reckless Endangering Safety. If convicted of all charges, Santiago Ramírez faces up to 45 years in prison.

The MCSO news release stated that on early Sunday, the Milwaukee Police Department initially received a call about an abandoned white Nissan on N. 35th Street. Milwaukee Fire and a tow truck responded, but saw two occupants, Santiago Ramírez the driver and his fraternal twin, Chris Ramírez, 23, in the vehicle. When MFD personnel approached, Santiago Ramírez fled and entered I-94 at 35th Street in the wrong direction.

At about 2:30 a.m., the Milwaukee Fire Department called dispatch about a wrong- way driver traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of I-94 at 35th Street. At 2:36 a.m., dispatch aired that the wrong-way driver, Santiago Ramírez had crashed head-on with a vehicle that was traveling northbound on US-41 (Miller Parkway) on the southeast ramp.

Both Santiago Ramírez and Chris, his passenger of the wrong-way vehicle, a white Nissan, were unconscious. Deputies also found empty and full cans of beer in Santiago Ramírez's Nissan.
The female driver of the blue BMW was treated at the hospital for minor leg injuries. Chris Ramírez, who was in the Nissan suffered life-threatening injuries. They remained hospitalized, according to the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office.

Andy Olivares Becomes The New Play By Play Spanish Announcer For The Chicago Bears

Andy Olivares

Olivares, a popular former local Milwaukee Spanish baseball sport announcer for the Milwaukee Brewers games aired in Telemundo 63 and ESPN has now become the Spanish language Play by Play announcer for the Chicago Bears at WLEY FM radio.

By H. Nelson Goodson

September 6, 2014

Chicago, Illinois - On Saturday, Andy Olivares, a Spanish language baseball sport announcer confirmed that he has accepted a position with the Chicago Bears-WLEY as their new Play by Play Spanish language announcer. Olivares also operates Olivares Communications. WELY FM/La Ley 107.9 radio in 2012 became the official station to broadcast all Chicago Bears games in Spanish.

In June, Olivares who worked for the Milwaukee Brewers decided to turn over his press credentials after learning that Carlos Argelis Gómez Peña, "Go-Go" #26, an outfielder for the Milwaukee Brewers had made false statements about an incident at a Mexican Fiesta fundraising event. The event was to unveil the creation of the Carlos Gómez Hispanic Scholarship Fund by LULAC Council 333 and hosted by the Wisconsin Hispanic Scholarship Foundation/Mexican Fiesta. 

Gómez Peña donated $5,000 to the fund and the Wisconsin Hispanic Scholarship Foundation matched it with only $1,000. Adult attendees were charged $15 and students $10 to attend. 

Gómez Peña accused Olivares of being intoxicated and grabbing his shirt while inside Olivares' office at the Mexican Fiesta warehouse offices. Olivares denied Gómez Peña's allegations. 

Olivares had posted on his Facebook (FB) account that Teresa Mercado, the executive director of Mexican Fiesta had asked Olivares to allow Gómez Peña and other Brewer players to use his office. 

While inside, Olivares says, that Bobby Velez from Fiesta had requested for Olivares to watch his comments to Gómez Peña, but Olivares couldn't understand what Velez was trying to say. Velez wouldn't elaborate or explained to Olivares what he actually meant, according to Olivares FB posting. 

Olivares told Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) that he rented an office space at the Mexican Fiesta warehouse facility at 2997 S. 20th Street and that he had been invited to the event by the Brewers. He also had a prior agreement to interview Gómez Peña while at the Fiesta event in June.

According to Olivares, he had questioned how Mexican Fiesta officials and the local LULAC Council 333 had held the event and didn't provide a translator for those Spanish-speaking attendees. Apparently, Fiesta officials became upset because dozens of attendees were complaining that they couldn't understand what was being said. 

Gómez Peña, who will earn an estimated $36 million in a three-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers was helping to unveil a scholarship fund in his name in collaboration with LULAC Council 333 and the Wisconsin Hispanic Scholarship Foundation (WHSF), which operates Mexican Fiesta. At least 300 to 400 people were present, Olivares estimated.

Olivares criticized Gómez Peña for making false statements about him and confirmed to HNNUSA, that he was not intoxicated or disrespectful at anytime towards Gómez Peña during the event. Numerous people at the event could vouch for Olivares that he wasn't intoxicated and didn't touch Gómez Peña, according to FB comments.

Olivares stated, "I called Brewer games for quite some time. I learned a lot and have no regrets whatsoever. I have too much pride to listen to false accusations and do nothing about it. So I take my pride and dignity with me as I will not be calling Brewer games from now on. In this decision there are no losers but there is one big winner!!! --My family. I make this decision on my own and leave on my own terms."

Gómez Peña couldn't be contacted for comment. Mexican Fiesta couldn't be contacted as well for comment, since HNNUSA is not welcome at their facility for exposing their discriminatory policies to profile against Latinos who exhibit body art deemed distasteful to the Latino Peace Officers Association ( LPOA - Mexican Fiesta volunteer security), Milwaukee police and the WHSF during the three-day Mexican Fiesta last August. Those festivalgoers that were profiled were banned from attending the weekend event, even though they did not commit anything wrong or violated any laws while at the event. They are kicked out and no refunds are ever returned.

The WHSF and Mexican Fiesta is the only ethnic festival that discriminates against its own people. Some Latino festivalgoers have been profiled as active gang members and kicked out from the three-day festival, even though they are not gang members. Also, the WHSF had given $2.5M in scholarships and none were ever offered to DREAMers until this year after HNNUSA exposed their discriminatory policy, included LULAC National who matches their scholarships to students. They only accept scholarship applications from registered DACA DREAMers, but deny applications from DREAMers who are not registered or can't qualify for DACA and are long time residents in Wisconsin.

This year, Mexican Fiesta continued to kick out people who were profiled as gang members without any recourse to challenge the allegations at the festival. HNNUSA found that those kicked out from last year's festival were not gang members as Mexican Fiesta, LPOA and police profiled as gang members. HNNUSA has challenged LPOA, Milwaukee police and the WHSF, including Mexican Fiesta 2013 to prove those innocent victims were active gang members. One thing for sure, they can't and haven't made an effort to prove it, since no actual statistics of data was kept in 2013 or prior years. Those kicked out from last year's festival were not given any refunds, but this year, those who were kicked out received refunds, according to Milwaukee Police Officer Alexander Ayala who is also the president of the local LPOA chapter and head of the Mexican Fiesta security.

 Mexican Fiesta takes place at the lakefront Summerfest grounds, which are own by the City of Milwaukee. 

For your information:

Mexican Fiesta 2014 Giving Refunds To Victims Profiled As Gang Members http://bit.ly/1BS0Dyx

Camron Powell, 15, Was Unarmed And Not A Threat After Robbery When Shot By West Allis Man

Camron Powell

Milwaukee District Attorney's Office reviewing death of unarmed 15-year-old who was shot after returning to the crime scene for a backpack.

By H. Nelson Goodson

September 6, 2014

Milwaukee, WI - The police investigation into the death of Camron Powell, 15, has indicated that he was unarmed and not a threat when he was fatally shot by a 30-year-old West Allis man on September 1 at the Northeast corner parking lot on S. 2nd Street and W. National Ave. in Milwaukee's Southside.  Powell and his companions or alleged members of the Wild Hunnits gang around 5:30 a.m. on Labor Day had robbed a group of people. The gang had left the scene, but Powell shortly after returned because he had left a backpack. One of the victims, a 30-year-man took out his 9mm handgun and fatally shot Powell as he picked up the backpack. The shooter told police that Powell seemed to be reaching for something in the backpack, but as it turned out, no weapon was recovered. 

The victims were behind a vehicle in the parking hiding when one of them fatally shot Powell. Powell was unarmed and was not a threat, according to the preliminary investigation report. 

The 30-year-old man was arrested, but later released. The victims confirmed that Powell never held a gun when the gang robbed them. Another gang member had used a gun to rob the victims.

A surveillance camera is located near where the shooting took place and police are reviewing the footage.

Police say, the gang or group that was with Powell are accused of committing more than 30 armed robberies. A vehicle that was stolen (carjacked) from the North side of Milwaukee was found nearby. 

Two 15-year-old males; one each, 16 and 18 males and a 17-year-old female suspect have since been arrested and are alleged to have been involved in other robberies, Milwaukee police reported. Charges against the suspects are pending. 

Powell who was killed had a criminal record for armed robbery, auto theft, fleeing and theft. He was also a victim of a non-life threatening shooting on August 1.

On Friday, a Milwaukee Police squad car and its Rhino, a surveillance armored truck was parked at the corner where Powell was killed. 

Powell had more than 3,200 friends in his social media account and many have posted a photo of him holding an AK-47 to remember him. An account by the name of Jessica Mclan had been taunting and posting negative comments about Powell on his account.

Mclan posted on Powell's social media account, "Worthless waste of air!"
"And he's ugly!!"
"Deserves it!!"
"And he was shot before!? Should've happened then!"
"Another stolen car? Cuz u can't work for ur own shit!"

A makeshift memorial was set-up at Lincoln Park in the 1300 block of W. Hampton Ave. by Cam's tree, according to friends who say, Camron was not a gang banger as being reported.

Victim Reported Shot On W. Historic Mitchel Street In Milwaukee

A victim was shot just before 2:00 p.m. along W. Historic Mitchell Street on Friday.

By H. Nelson Goodson

September 5, 2014

Milwaukee, WI - On Friday, police just before 2:00 p.m. responded to a reported shooting along the 800 block of W. Historic Mitchell St. One 21-year-old male Afro-American victim was shot and the victim is critical condition, according to police.

Witnesses heard at least six shots fired and video taken by one of those who responded to the shooting shows one victim on the ground while others are trying to help.

Police continue to investigate.

Video: Historic Mitchell Street Shooting 9/5/2014: http://youtu.be/hq4GeznXYY0

Enrique Benjamin Solis Arzola, Mayor Of Silao Allegedly Sent Paid Thugs To Beat Up Heraldo Female Reporter

Karla Janeth Silva and Enrique Benjamin Solis Arzola

A group of thugs went to the Heraldo de Silao newspaper offices in Guanajuato, Mexico to beat up Karla Janeth Silva, a reporter.

By H. Nelson Goodson

September 5, 2014

Silao, Guanajuato, Mexico - On Thursday, the Heraldo de Leon reported that on Wednesday multiple thugs went to the offices of the Heraldo de Silao newspaper and assaulted (beat up) Karla Janeth Silva, a reporter and a newspaper office assistant. Silva filed a criminal complaint with the Public Ministry in Silao and alleged that Mayor Enrique Benjamin Solis Arzola of the Silao municipality or his administration had sent the thugs to beat her up. Silva says, she had received direct threats by the Solis Arzola administration to tone down her reporting about the mayor and his administration.

The thugs had gone to look for her earlier in the morning and she had sent a message to Carlos Martínez Vertti, a fellow newspaper associate that some men had gone to the newspaper offices to look for her. He advised her to go home. Then around 5:30 p.m., the thugs stormed into the offices of the Heraldo de Silao and assaulted Silva. 

Silva had criticized the Solis Arzola's administration for lack of transparency, public security, corruption and misappropriation of funds.

She was hospitalized and was treated for injuries sustained when she was attacked by the thugs. The thugs also destroyed or damaged computer equipment, according to the Heraldo de Leon.

Mayor Solis Arzola has not released any comments concerning Silva's assault by paid thugs.

Thomas Frenn Resigns From The Historic Mitchell Street BID#4 Board

First Historic Mitchell Street BID#4 Board member to also serve as a Board member with the Historic Mitchell Street Preservation Corporation has resigned after allegations of conflict of interest surfaced in June.

By H. Nelson Goodson

September 4, 2014

Milwaukee, WI - On Thursday, Rudy Gutiérrez, the president of BID#4 (Historic Mitchell Street Business Improvement Distric - BID) has confirmed that Attorney Thomas "Tom" Frenn had resigned in August as a Board member for BID#4. Frenn and other Board members from BID#4 are also Board members for the Historic Mitchell Street Preservation Corporation (HMSPC), which Board members from BID#4 say is a conflict of interest. Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) first broke the story in June when allegations of conflict of interest were raised by BID#4 members.

Frenn resigned shortly after the BID#4 August meeting. At the meeting, the issue of conflict of interest was brought up and all the Board members were put on noticed that members had to decide in which Board they would choose to stay in. Frenn then resigned from BID#4 and decided to continue as a Board member for the HMSPC.

HNNUSA attempted to get a copy of Frenn's resignation letter, but Nancy Bush, the executive director for the BID#4 denied the request and she would not comment on the matter. Bush did confirm, that Mayor Tom Barrett had received a copy of Frenn's resignation. HNNUSA also learned that Alderman José Pérez had also received a copy of Frenn's resignation letter. Ald. Pérez hasn't notified other business owners along Mitchell Street that Frenn had resigned as a Board member. Pérez had known of the allegations of conflict of interest that were raised by business owners along Mitchell, but it was HNNUSA that actually reported and exposed an alleged conflict of interest among Board members serving in the two entities. 

The next BID#4 meeting is scheduled for September 18, at noon and will take place at the BID#4 and HMSPC building 1635 S. 8th St., which both entities share office space.

When contacted Attorney Frenn stated, "My letter speaks for itself" and wouldn't comment anymore.