Democrat Nominee Ismael Luna From The 8th Assembly District Files Response To WI State Rep. Sylvia Ortiz-Velez's WEC Complaint Allagations About His Residency

Update: More questions raised about Democrat nominee Ismael Luna's actual address in the 8th Assembly District in Milwaukee 

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Wednesday, Democrat nominee Ismael Luna from the 8th Assembly District confirmed that he doesn't stay at 1423 W. Walker St. address from time to time and primarily on the weekends, and has rented another residence at S. 15 Place within the 8th Assembly District in Milwaukee.

Luna in a notorized statement on September 2, 2026, in response to Wisconsin State Representative Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (D-Milw) complaint filed with the Wisconsin Election Commission (WEC) alleging that Luna doesn't actually reside at the W. Walker Street address, disputes Ortiz-Velez's allegations. The 11-page Luna's response is attached in the Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) exclusive post.

Luna also states in his response that he split up from his male partner in November 2025, but still owned properties with his ex-partner.

Sources indicated that Luna and his ex-partner went on vacation to Mexico after the Primary Election 2026.

According to Luna, both Luna and his ex-partner leased out their S. Honey Creek Drive property in April 1, 2026 to other tenants, but Luna failed to address why his nomination papers (dated April to May 2026) included his W. Walker Street address including instructions to nomination paper circulators to return the documents to the S. Honey Creek Drive address at a certain post mark date, which the S. Honey Creek Drive address has a tenant's mailbox and a landlord mail box, according to Luna.

In March 31, 2026, a Luna For Assembly campaign amended registration statement was filed with the WEC stating that the campaign address was at the W. Walker Street.

Luna has recently decided to move out from the W. Walker Street address due to safety concerns (his lease at W. Walker Street address ends on September 30, 2026, which he indicated that he wasn't actually staying at the W. Walker Street address. Luna believes that his address should be private, but as a candidate in Wisconsin and if elected to office, the candidate's and elected official's actual address is public.

Luna failed to mention his ex-partner's current address, since according to Luna's response to the WEC, they don't live at S. Honey Creek Drive in Milwaukee and at the S. 35 Street in the City of Greenfield. 

Luna's 12-page response to the Ortiz-Velez's WEC filed complaint attached to this HNNUSA news post.

In addition: Rep. Ortiz-Velez announced on Wednesday, September 2, 2026 that she is a write-in candidate in the 8th Assembly District for the General Election in November 2026.

Posted on September 2, 2026

Source: Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

Whatever Happened To The Infamous $50,000 César E. Chávez Bronze Life-size Statue In The Southside Of Milwaukee, That Proudly Stood At El Rey Supermercado Property?

Who owned the César E. Chávez bronze life-size statue at the Supermercado El Rey Placita location in the Southside of Milwaukee, which was abruptly removed and scraped for money?

WI: Does anyone know who actually owned the $50,000 César E. Chávez life-size bronze statue that was removed from the El Rey Supermercado at the 900 block of S. 16 Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (formerly S. César E. Chávez Drive) in March 2026? 

In March, the owner of the Supermercado El Rey, located at 900 block of S. 16 Street told the mainstream media that the Chávez statue was taken down from his property and would be melted and then the copper/bronze metal would be sold as scrap, and the proceeds would be donated to the farm workers. 

First of all, who actually owned the Chávez bronze statue, since it was funded by community donations, El Rey Supermercado, City and other community donors including business donations.

Who decided to melt the Chávez bronze statue without any community input, also, if it has been melted already, and then sold as scrap metal to pennies to a dollar, how much was the scrap sold for and where did the money go too, or who kept the money from the melted bronze statue?

So far, no public information has been made available about the final outcome of the Chávez bronze statue, especially when the famous Chávez bronze statue was valued at more than $50,000.

Why wasn't the Chávez bronze statue put up for bid, or place in a museum since, César E. Chávez, the leader of the United Farm Workers (UFW) union died in 1993 an innocent man with no criminal record or police criminal investigations accusing him of allegedly molesting young girls.

Allegations that Chávez molested young girls were raised by the alleged victims 33 years in California after his death. To date, no actual proof has ever been made available that Chávez actually molested young girls. We will never know...

The only confirmed facts to date, was that Dolores Huerta, who worked closely with Chávez in the UFW movement confessed in a New York Times article that at the age of 21, she had a consensual affair with Chávez and had a child with him, which Chávez was married at the time, then she admitted that she had a second unconsensual affair with Chávez (while she was married to Richard, César's brother) and had a second child with César, but she decided to give both of César's children to other families to raise.

Huerta never told anyone about her consensual sexual affair with César and kept quiet until 33 years after his death when the NY Times reported in March that Chávez had allegedly molested young girls. 

Editor's note: According to Ramon Candelaria, the former Executive of the Clarke Square Neighborhood Initiative (CSNI) on Friday says that, his organization at the time secured the initial funding for the Chávez statue, but he left the org before it was unveiled at the El Rey Supermercado property in March 2016. The CSNI org ceased operations on August 2025, before the statue was removed by El Rey in mid March 2026. 

In 2015, The City of Milwaukee, Zilber Family Foundation and El Rey Foods had pledged $10K each, according to an itinerary flyer provided during a fundraiser for the Chávez statue held by the S. César E. Chávez BID 38.

So far, no one has claimed the ownership of the Chávez statue after the CSNI org ceased operations.

Apparently, the fiber glass replica of the life-size Chávez statue that was displayed annually at City Hall during the celebration of Chávez birthday was owned by the Journey House, according to sources. Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) hasn't been able to confirm, if the Journey House still owns the fiber glass replica of the Chávez statue.

According to additional sources, the actual owners of the Chávez bronze life-size statue are the Journey House and the Clarke Square Neighborhood Initiative (the CSNI ceased operations in August 2025 and the VIA Milwaukee CDC took over the service area of the CSNI after August 2025), the VIA Milwaukee CDC says, it does not have any ownership rights to the Chávez bronze statue.

Posted on August 28, 2026

Source: Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

Uriel López-Luz, Who Was Evicted Along With 5 Other Men From A Duplex At The 2800 Block Of W. Forest Home Ave., Ordered To Pay $4,350.00 To City Of Milwaukee

López-Luz failed to appear to an eviction and property forfeiture court hearing, a judgement was granted to the City of Milwaukee totaling more than $4,000, according to Milwaukee County court records.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

August 27, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Uriel López-Luz, who was evicted on June 25, 2026 from the duplex at 2818 W. Forest Home Ave. by an order of a Milwaukee County court failed to appear at a court hearing on August 25, 2026, and a judgement for $4,350.00 against López-Luz was granted to the City of Milwaukee c/o the Department of City Development.

The City of Milwaukee c/o the Department of City Development filed a small claims civil lawsuit against López-Luz on April 20, 2026 claiming that López-Luz owed rent to the City and the City was seeking compensation for damages caused to the duplex by López-Luz.

López-Luz and 5 other men were apparently evicted in mid June after the City of Milwaukee seized his property in a court filing for not paying property taxes. (HNNUSA article: https://hispanicnewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2026/06/6-latino-men-evicted-from-duplex-by.html?m=0)

According to information provided to HNNUSA, López-Luz is planning to file for bankruptcy in federal court. HNNUSA has attempted to contact López-Luz for comment, but was unsuccessful.

Mexican Fiesta 2026 Brawl (Assault) Reported At The Summerfest Grounds In Milwaukee, WI; 18-year-old Man Was Assaulted By Several Men And Woman

A graphic video was posted in social media of an 18-year-old man who was assaulted by several unidentified men and a woman at Mexican Fiesta 2026.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

August 25, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Sunday, around 9:05 p.m., Milwaukee police responded to the Summerfest grounds (Henry Maier Festival Park) for a battery/fight/assault incident at the Cultural Pavilion during Mexican Fiesta 2026. 

A video of the brawl was posted (released) on Tuesday in social media (Facebook) by Stephanie Ramirez in her personal account, indicating that her 18-year-old son was assaulted by several unidentified men and a female inside the Cultural Pavilion. Her son suffered injuries from the assault.

According to Ramirez, the suspects that assaulted her son are associated with another person who previously shot her son multiple times in February and is doing time in prison.

Ramirez asked Facebook users to share the video and to help identify the suspects. (Video post: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DAm5ZMgHw/)

Ramirez is seeking justice for her son.

No police, Summerfest security or Mexican Fiesta security were seen responding to the brawl (assault) during the 2 minute video.

Extreme Price Gouging Allegedly At Mexican Fiesta 2026, Food Vendors Blamed Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. (Summerfest Grounds Management Set Prices)

This year, the Mexican and Tejano population in Milwaukee including from neighboring states were economically stunned, food and beverage prices increased at Mexican Fiesta 2026 to the level that most visiting food consumers and beer drinkers had to limit their expenditures in order to economically survive the 3-day Mexican music Fiesta, known to be the largest in the Midwest.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

August 25, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Everyone that attended this year's traditional 3-day Mexican Fiesta 2026 at the Henry Maier Festival Park (Milwaukee's lakefront Summerfest Grounds) experience an extreme  price increase of food and beverages, which many alleged was equal to practicing price gouging. For example, a 16 oz cold can of beer, whether Corona or Modelo cost $12.00 each, compared to the same size can for Miller or Miller Light beer, which sold for $10.00 at the Miller Stage area, Micheladas (Mexican beer cocktail) were sold at $20.00, and the prices varied slightly at different locations at the Fiesta grounds. Taco dinners were sold at 10 tacos for $60.00, but had a smaller version of the traditional size tortilla. Combo hotdogs (2 quantity) were sold at $20.00 per order. Puerto Rican food, arroz con gandules y carne frita at $24.00, and pork pinchos at $20.00 each. Chilaquiles de asada sold at $21.00 per order. Plate of carnitas at $20.00. Quesabirria con consume (3 tacos) sold at $25.00 per order and the list goes on.

In addition, close parking to Fiesta cost between $40.00 to $50.00.

The delicious traditional Mexican and Puerto Rican food sold at the 3-day Fiesta might have caused some of the consumers to experience a temporary sour taste afterwards due to the high price they had to pay.

Many Mexican Fiesta festivalgoers say that Fiesta organizers, food and beverage vendors were price gouging this year. But many food vendors allegedly blamed Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. (Summerfest grounds management) at the Henry Maier Festival Park for setting food and beverage prices, others blamed Trumponomics.

Many Mexican Fiesta 2026 attendees complained in social media (Facebook), that they were disappointed that Los Guardianes del Amor was a "no show" on Sunday, August 23, 2026 at 8:45 p.m. at the Miller Stage. Mexican Fiesta actually reserves the right for entertainment subject to change without notice during Fiesta. 

Others in the senior age group that attend the 3-day festival indicated that all the popular bands and groups were scheduled late at night at Fiesta.

This year's entry cost at the gate was $28.00 and pre-sale tickets were $22.00.

The Wisconsin Hispanic Scholarship Foundation, Inc. (WHSF), that sponsors the 3-day Mexican Fiesta 2026 announced it gave monetary scholarships to more than 60 recipients, but the scholarship recipients have to work long exhausting hours before the Fiesta begins and during the 3-day Fiesta operation, which many alleged is indentured labor. In other words, WHSF recipients get a minimum of $500 or more in scholarships, which is not free, they have to work (volunteer labor force) for it, in order to get the scholarship. In WHSF's case, student recipients have to work for their scholarships, it's not like other traditional scholarships that the recipients get the award and have no mandatory requirements to volunteer as a labor force to earn the scholarship.

Congrats to WHSF and Mexican Fiesta operations team and all its volunteers (work force) for providing another successful 3-day traditional Fiesta full of culture, music, food, fun, folklore in a time where the Trump MAGA (Make Amerikkka Great Again) administration is indiscriminately targeting hard working immigrant workers for deportation and separating families without due process, including a MAGA White supremacy movement to erase our Mexican traditional culture and history in Milwaukee including Wisconsin and nation.

Since 1973, the Mexican Fiesta tradition is also attributed to preserving and keeping our Mexican, Tejano and Puerto Rican food and music alive in the Midwest.

No MAGA Gestapo USICE operations or kidnappings by ICE agents were reported near the Summerfest grounds during the weekend.

Also, the LULAC Councils that have partnered with the WHSF do provide matching funds to the WHSF scholarship recipients.

The WHSF 990's IRS filing reported in 2024, that its revenue was at $3,352,840, expenses were $2,949,564, and their net income was at $403,286.

WHSF 990's IRS filing tax forms from 2001 to 2024 for Wisconsin Hispanic Scholarship Foundation, Inc. at link: https://tinyurl.com/4x6h53mn

18-year-old Maraih Ruiz Charged With 1st-degree Reckless Homicide For The Road Rage Homicide Of Minerva Hernández López In The Southside Of Milwaukee

Ruiz has been criminally charge for the cold blooded road rage homicide of López.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

August 21, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Friday, Maraih Ruiz, 18, was  criminally charge with 1st-degree reckless homicide and use of a dangerous weapon for the cold blooded road rage murder of Minerva Hernández López, 44, at the 1000 block of W. Lapham Blvd in Milwaukee.

If convicted, Ruiz is facing up to 60 years in prison, with 40 years incarceration and 20 years supervision.

According to the criminal complaint, Ruiz turned herself in to police at Milwaukee Police District 2 Station. She was accompanied by her mother and a 16-year-old teen who was the passenger in Ruiz's vehicle and witnessed Ruiz fire a handgun at López.

The 16-year-old teen told officers that Ruiz and him were headed to El Rey Grocery store when Ruiz cut-off López in the street. López then told Ruiz that she's needed to drive. Ruiz yelled some obscenities to López while displaying a handgun, and she told López that she was going to call USICE on her.

López took out her cellphone and began video recording Ruiz.

López managed to brake check Ruiz at W. Lapham Blvd as Ruiz chased her, then López made a u-turn at the 900 block of W. Lapham, Ruiz pointed the gun at López's and the 16-year-old told Ruiz not to shoot, but Ruiz fired multiple times at López's vehicle striking López in the shoulder, the bullet went through the neck. López bled out and died at the scene.

Ruiz allowed police to search her vehicle and a .40 Cal. Model 23 Glock and 5 spent bullet casings were recovered from the vehicle.

Ruiz told police that she was having a bad day and had also fought with her mother, and she didn't intend  to shoot López, and that she didn't know why she shot at her.

Ruiz wrote an apology letter to the López family, according to the criminal complaint

24-year-old Angel Garcia Santibañez Charged With Felony Battery In The Brutal Beating Of Lawrence "Larry" Rauch, 43, At The 1200 Block

Garcia Santibañez is out on bail, he was charged for the brutal beating of Rauch in the Southside of Milwaukee.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

August 19, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Wednesday, Angel Garcia Santibañez, 24, was charged with one felony count for substantial battery for the brutal beating of Lawrence "Larry" Rauch Jr., 43, known as "El Paletero" (popsicle vendor) at the 1200 block of S. 16 Street near Beto's Pizza. 

If convicted, Garcia Santibañez is facing 3 years and 5 months in prison and up to $10,000 in fines, or both.

Jair A. Varela, the owner of Beto's Pizza previously released indoor and outside video surveillance camera footage showing Garcia Santibañez run up behind Rauch after he left the pizza place, and punched Rauch from behind, and repeatedly punched and kicked him multiple times causing serious injuries. (Videos of assault: https://youtube.com/shorts/uR5PD7ky0sQ)

Rauch's family members say that, he suffered a broken nose, he might lose his vision on his right eye, can't work because of his injuries and has a mental disability.

According to Varela, Garcia Santibañez walked into Beto's Pizza and began to disrespect the female workers, whistled at them, and spit on the floor (a indoor video showed: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19NZRuB8sT/). Rauch and another man escorted Garcia Santibañez outside of Beto's Pizza.

Garcia Santibañez then waited outside Beto's Pizza for Rauch to leave and then ran up behind him and punched him, Rauch collapsed and Garcia Santibañez continued to punch him and repeatedly kicked him in the face and body. Rauch could be heard in the video screaming in severe pain.