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LATINOS: PUBLIC, PRIVATE BOARD OF DIRERTORS, AND SOMOS EN BUFFALO

I was researching Joe Biden’s Infrastructure Bill and suddenly realized the number of non-profits involved would be getting a piece of the action to provide services to our local Latino community. Question: How many of these Non-profits, and there are MANY, include Latino representation on their board of directors, as well as on their administrative staff? I urge our Latino progressive groups, like Pushing Latinos Forward, the Buffalo Dominican Committee (BDC), and the Puerto Rican/Latino Committee (PRLC), to investigate this issue. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE HAVE LATINO BOARD REPRESENTATION; if not, our community will have little input, if any, on how the “infrastructure” money will travel throughout the city. Now is the time to reach out to our elected officials to advocate on the community’s behalf.  We need to also reach out to our local unions; they are going to play a leading and major role with the Infrastructure Bill.  SOMOS EN BUFFALO  Our NYS Governor, Hon. Kathy Hochul gave out some goodies during the “Somos” conference in Puerto Rico this past week. A conference is an annual event where Latinos — “elected and community leaders” — take a vacation with your hard-earned taxes under the disguise of a “legislative, public policy business activity. The Governor is going to need the downstate votes if she plans to be NYS governor. In that spirit, she wasted no time in trying to solidify the New York City vote by announcing the names of several Latinos to key appointments. Since I live in Buffalo, NY, I would love to know what “goodies” she has under the Christmas tree for Latinos from “upstate” NY, as well as Syracuse, Rochester, and other upstate communities with a sizable Latino population. I strongly recommend that our progressive Latino groups take the lead in reaching out to the Governor to help her develop an upstate “Latino plan.” I’m sure that some Buffalo Latinos are already working to attach themselves to her Christmas patronage tree; but to get the most mileage for our community, it’s vital to have the progressive and independent Latino voice at the table. “Pushing Latinos Forward” (PLF), which represents several progressive Latino groups, must not take this too lightly, or else, the only thing our community will receive is “tokenism” handouts. The Governor will be wise to listen to their voices. Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books Business Community Education Entertainment Food & Culture Health Interviews Military & Veterans Peace People Politics LATINO COLLEGE STUDENTS FACE INEQUALITY AND CULTURAL ISOLATION AT THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK at BUFFALO March 25, 2023/No Comments LACK OF COLLEGE SERVICES FOR LATINO STUDENTS: This is in response to a story by UB Spectrum reporter, Kayla Estrada, Read More “GETTING VERY LITTLE FOR THE WHOLE,  BUT GETTING A LOT FOR THE FEW” WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN 2023 January 25, 2023/No Comments While I might appear to be biased and selective, I strongly feel the four people in the photo are the Read More The Isaías González-Soto Branch Library (formerly Niagara Branch) is a member of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library System December 25, 2022/No Comments When the Hispanic Heritage Council (HHC) moved to rename the Niagara Branch Library several years ago, with the support of Read More Load More End of Content.

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COMITE NOVIEMBRE: MES DE LA HERENCIA BORICUA

COMITE NOVIEMBRE: MES DE LA HERENCIA BORICUA Celebrando la herencia de Puerto Rico y su legado pionero aqui en los Estados Unidos. El mes pasado recorde el legado de dos pioneras boricuas: Yvonne Carretero y Aurea Martinez, educadoras de la salud y edificadoras comunales a nivel global. Ambas siempre recordaban el legado de la Isla de Puerto Rico en sus platicas y charlas de salud publica–usaban sus experiencias para poder construir lazos con las comunidades urbanas e inmigrantes a las cuales servian. Puerto Rico, su historia, legado y cultura siempre estuvo presente en sus charlas con todos. No mi importaba quienes ,  Yvonne y Aurea siempre tomaban un minuto para educar a la comunidad acerca de Puerto Rico y lo que significaba ser boricua en la gran urbe de NY y en el mundo. Las luchas sociales y civiles y las contribuciones de Puerto Rico a la comunidad latina del estado de Nueva York siempre estaban presentes para motivar a todos a edificar comunidades y a ver la justicia social y la salud publica como dos alas de un mismo pajaro. Hoy en medio de una crisis global de salud public por el Covid 19 honro la memoria del trabajo de educacion publica comunal y familiar que hicieron esta pioneras boricuas! En el mes de la herencia y el legado del Puerto Rico ante el mundo, tomo un momento para pedirles que continuen la edificacion de sus comunidades como lo hicieron estas dos mujeres valientes  y visionarias. En el presente, vivimos momentos historicos y de gran incertidumbre. Pero a la vez podemos tomar como ejemplo, la valentia de muchos quienes forjaron un mejor futuro para nosotros a traves de su trabajo y amor por la comunidad. Hechos concretos que hoy nos encaminan hacia nuevos horizontes. Tenemos una gran diversidad de personas de Puerto Rico, Latinoamerica y el Caribe en Buffalo. Unamos nuestras fuerzas para manifestar un cambio en las urnas de votacion. Tu voz es tu voto.. Examina las plataformas de los candidatos del cambio y progreso! Pon en una balanza las promesas de aquellos quienes solo nos buscan cuando ‘quieren elegirse o reelegirse’–pero que estas ausentes en nuestras luchas y en nuestros derechos civiles y de crecimiento economico. Atrevete! y  motiva a tus seres queridos, amigos, y siempre vecinos a votar! Es hora de un cambio para todos: donde las necesidades de la comunidad Latina se escuche y se haga realidad para el progreso de todos! Tu voz es tu voto! Atrevete! No hay excusas, la definicion de un nuevo rumbo a la historia esta en nuestras manos. Adelante! Ni un paso atras…PODER LATINO! Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books Business Culture Education Entertainment Food Government Health Interviews Lower West Side Business & Economic Development Medical Military & Veterans Our Community Peace People Sports Who We Are COMITE NOVIEMBRE: MES DE LA HERENCIA BORICUA November 22, 2021/No CommentsRead More TRAILBLAZERS: LATINAS IN PUBLIC HEALTH, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY CENTENNIAL October 22, 2021/No Comments TRAILBLAZERS: LATINAS IN PUBLIC HEALTH, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY CENTENNIAL Aurea Martinez and Yvonne Carretero, public health educators and community empowerment organizers, Read More NECESITAMOS UNA REFORMA INMIGRATORIA: HUMANA, SENSIBLE Y COMPASIVA-YA! September 22, 2021/No Comments NECESITAMOS UNA REFORMA INMIGRATORIA: HUMANA, SENSIBLE Y COMPASIVA-YA! La crisis en la frontera sur es real. A diario cientos de Read More Load More End of Content.

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THE HOUSING TREE

“If you don’t use it – You lose it!” There are dangerous implications and consequences when the different objectives and end results between urban development and urban restoration are confused. DEVELOPERS are like termites eating away at the wooden foundations of community (you) to make room for something new (them). RESTORATION ADVOCATES are like exterminators or surgeons trying to cut out the cancer to save or restore the rest of the body. There is also a need to understand what’s meant by CIVIL AND CIVIC duties and responsibilities. Government is in the process of downsizing much of its responsibilities, obligations, expenses off through the process of privatization where “FOR PROFIT” is the goal:  Health Care, Law Enforcement, Prison system, and “watch out” even your friendly neighborhood post man/woman is under attack and on their way out. Remember that next time you turn to UPS and Amazon – Use it or lose it! Playing into urban development, public officials have been passing off abandoned/foreclosing property (potential public property) through periodic auctions rigged to out-price the common person/s in need. Furthermore, good public housing complexes are being turned into condos and co-ops. WOW! Buy your apartment (and still pay rent as a maintenance fee) or keep absent profiteering slumlords charging big rent with little maintenance oversight yet compensated with tax funded public voucher compensation. Then again, you can always double up families into single dwellings, find yourself a shelter, or prepare for a life of homelessness. All the while there are vacant lots and buildings waiting to be developed for profit or restored / renovated to offset the affordable housing crisis. Ask yourselves “Why can’t groups of homeless people willing to work for their housing take a seemingly abandoned piece of property and “Build a Home for themselves?” If income is a requirement “Why can’t the unemployed volunteer work to help bail out present shortcomings in city programs needing able bodies? There were/still are programs to do just that; homesteading and squatter rights, back to work for your benefits programs and repair and deduct laws to handle slumlords. Can it be done? It was done  during 70’s & 80’s. LOOK IT UP AND GET INSPIRED! YOU CAN DO IT TOO. Start holding meetings in local churches to research, document, organize, and petition plans for willing homeless and struggling residents to manifest their destiny. After all, didn’t Jesus say things like preach “The Kingdom of God is upon you and heal the sick (feed, cloth, shelter my people) NOW!” Yes, it’s a process, there are criteria’s to be met – SO GET EDUCATED and LEARN TO PLAY THE GAME “THAT AIN’T A GAME!” IT’S TIME TO SHAKE THE TREE to determine what good and bad apples fall out because the outcome is either your blessing or curse – USE IT OR LOOSE IT! Continue to read all my columns, by visiting: https://2bspoken.blogspot.com/ Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books & Poems Business Community Education Entertainment español Food & Culture Health Interviews Military & Veterans Peace People Politics BETTER LATE THEN NEVER: WHY NATIONAL WOMEN’S MONTH! April 17, 2022/No Comments BETTER LATE THEN NEVER: WHY NATIONAL WOMEN’S MONTH! Women! Ha! What are they good for? Ha! ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING! For starters, Read More “LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD” February 17, 2022/No Comments “LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD” Wow! February! Lovey dove time for couples to share flowers, chocolates, dinner, special gifts, and of Read More FOR WHAT’S ANOTHER NEW YEAR January 17, 2022/No Comments FOR WHAT’S ANOTHER NEW YEAR The New Year is a worldwide celebration mainly full of parties, costumes, drinking and resolutions Read More Load More End of Content.

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