THINKING OUT THE BOX:  CALLE NIAGARA

Community /

Dear Buffalo Latino Community: Time to upgrade the imagination and creativity of the people leading our Puerto Rican/Latino community and move to develop a short and long-term plan for business and economic development on Calle Niágara.  We already have a small movement in that direction with HHC’s plans to build a cultural center. But unfortunately, that’s as far as they have planned, failing to see the business, arts, and cultural potential.  With the money that’s coming into Buffalo, thanks to President Biden, and the community leaders, including the emerging young progressive faction, what are the leaders able to do? We can plan and take Niagara Square up to Porter Avenue, just like the Cubans in Miami have “Calle Ocho.” Imagine Puerto Rican and Latino shops, stores, art galleries, restaurants, bookstore, entertainment outlets, a library, cultural center (HHC), as well as secure government and private funding to get groups like El Buen Amigo, Buffalo Online Latino Art Gallery, El Museo, Los Artistas del Bario, and El Batey Puerto Rican Center, to relocate to Calle Niágara.  This includes Panorama Hispano, La Ultima Hora, and the Latino Village to have office space, and other related individuals or groups not mentioned here.  El Batey Puerto Rican Center is the leading Puerto Rican Cultural organization, located in Riverside, we should be able to convince them to open a satellite center on Niagara Street, but also support their location on the upper west side; it’s an area with an influx of Puerto Rican/Latino residents.  This is the time to make it happen. Let us not be overlooked this time; we have been overlooked for too long. As a point of information, you should know that past Porter Avenue, Niagara Street has over twenty (20+) development projects in operation: bookstore, restaurants, housing, and more. What happened to our side of Niagara Street, from Porter to Niagara Square? Many of you have excellent relationships with Mayor Brown, State Senator Sean M. Ryan, Councilman David Rivera, Assemblyman Jonathan Rivera, State Senator Tim Kennedy, Congressman Higgins, and other elected officials. Put them to the test and see if they truly support our community. Utilize them! ¡Sí Se Puede! 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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2022: ENFOQUE HAICA DONDE VAMOS

español, Politics /

2022: ENFOQUE HAICA DONDE VAMOS  Se acerca el 2022. Nuestras comunidades se preparan para contiendas locales en diversos estados claves, los cuales definirian los asuntos domesticos e internacionles que nos preocupan y que pedimos que se resuelvan a nivel legistativo y ejecutivo. Leyes y acciones concretas, no promesas de calle! La Florida y Carolina del Norte junto a Pennsylvania seran estados claves hacia el 2024. Estamos en un punto clave con la llegada del 2022 para alinear y reenfocar los asuntos economicos, de vida civica, educationales y derechos civiles que necesitamos agendar y legislar para el bienestar de nuestra comunidad Latina. Necesitamos una solucion colectiva y global a la pandemia del Covid 19. Los estragos economicos y al apoyo gubernamental a los mas desvalidos, personas con necesidades especiales y nuestros cuidadanos de la tercera edad son primordiales. La narrativa de que aquellos con necesidades especiales se conforman solo con los programas basicos de ayuda no es cierto! Necesitamos apoyo legislativo para leyes y paquetes economicos que nos fortalezcan como individuos y comunidades.  Programas eficaces y viables, no solo frases para cautivar nuestro voto. Y que dicen del gran desafio de la inmigracion y de la legalizacion de millones de personas quienes han contribuido a la solvencia de nuestra nacion. Necesitamos una reforma de inmigracion sensible, humana y equitativa ya! No solo durante los tiempos de postulacion y de elecciones. La gran preocupacion de todos es la inflacion que estamos viviendo. Como podremos manternos sanos y salvos cuando la canasta familiar e individual cada dia esta mas lejos de nuestro bolsillo? Como hacer para poder reestructurar nuestras vidas? Hacia donde vamos con el desafio de la vivienda? Una de las soluciones viables, es inscribirnos en el padron electoral y ejercer nuestro derecho al voto. Continuar organizandosno calle por calle. El mensaje al principio y durante el 2022 es claro: nuestra voz es nuestro voto. A los politicos atrincherados y a los aspirantes a nueva representacion: nuestro voto no es algo que obtiene con solo promesas vacias y slogans. Nuestro voto lleva consigo convenios para el avance y el progreso de nuestras comunidades a traves del pais. Llego la hora de alinear nuestras prioridades y de elegir a representates con liderazgo y que respondan con acciones legislativas concretas a nuestro progreso. Tu voz es tu voto, aprecialo y hazlo contar! Este es nuestro regalo de Navidad a nuestra comunidad: Participacion civica real! Felicidades! 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 2022: ENFOQUE HAICA DONDE VAMOS December 23, 2021/No Comments POST TITLE (CAPITAL) Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus Read More COMITE NOVIEMBRE: MES DE LA HERENCIA BORICUA November 22, 2021/No Comments COMITE NOVIEMBRE: MES DE LA HERENCIA BORICUA Celebrando la herencia de Puerto Rico y su legado pionero aqui en los Read 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 Load More End of Content.

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YEAR IN REVIEW: FROM INSURRECTION TO WRITE-IN

Community /

YEAR IN REVIEW: FROM INSURRECTION TO WRITE-IN As we’re coming to the end of the year 2021, I wanted to do a quick year in review.  Insurrection at the Capitol Building, Murder Hornets, COVID-19 Vaccines and the delayed 2020 Olympic Games were just a few of this year’s headlines. With each passing month this year, there seemed to be a new “threat” or top story that was going to be a paradigm shift of sorts. January: On Three Kings Day, with the incoming inauguration of President Biden, Agent Orange’s cult members stormed the Capitol and thought they would overthrow the government in a desperate act of insurrection. Thankfully, the republic stood, and these traitors are now being held accountable for their actions. February: With the sad one-year anniversary of COVID-19 making its way to the United States, the country recognized the grim mark of 500,000 deaths due to the pandemic. If only Agent Orange and his administration took the warning signs the year earlier more seriously. March: COVID-19 Vaccines begin being made available in the US as those at the highest risk groups are given priority. The Biden Administration sets forth some pretty high expectations for the roll out of the vaccine as well as goals they would like to hit by July. Additionally. March 2021 also gave us the world’s largest traffic jam in the Suez Canal where one of the world’s largest container ships ran aground and got stuck for several days, delaying shipments throughout Europe, and causing all kinds of headaches to the world’s economy. April: Raul Castro, brother of the late Fidel Castro steps down as president of Cuba, bringing an end to the 62-year rule of the Castro brothers on the island. May: Violence breaks out in Israel and Palestine as their ever-ongoing crisis continues. Israel hits the Gaza Strip with airstrikes after violent protest  break out due to Israel’s continued push into Palestinian territories and displacing the Palestinian population.  June: Little known India Walton, self-identified Democratic Socialist wins primary for the mayor’s race in Buffalo, seemingly shocking the country and longtime Mayor and incumbent, Byron Brown.  July: Food and Medicine shortages force thousands of Cubans to the streets in Anti-Government protests. The delayed 2020 Olympic Games finally kicked off in Tokyo. Puerto Rico wins its second Gold Medal, its first in Track and Field.  August: After many months of guest hosts filling in for long-time host Alex Trebek who passed away the year prior, television game show “Jeopardy” announced its new host, Mike Richards. Richards acted as an executive producer on the show. Weeks later of course, Richards is forced to step down as host of Jeopardy due to problematic sexist language he used on podcasts from a few years ago resurfacing. Also in August, the United States ends the twenty-year war in Afghanistan as it pulls all troops out, creating panic in the war-torn country whose government fell to the Taliban within a few days after the US announcement.  September: El Salvador becomes the first country in the world to adopt Crypto Currency (Bitcoin) as legal tender. Bitcoin prices soar. COVID-19 Delta variant spreads and causes panic. October: The Atlanta Braves face the Houston Astros in the 2021 World Series. It is the first World Series the Braves have made since the 1999 season. November: Byron Brown seemingly holds onto his seat as Mayor of Buffalo, winning as a write-in candidate over Democratic Primary winner India Walton.  December: Still to be determined. These were just a few of this year’s headlines that stood out to me. With that said, I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and safe and Happy New Year. Read More From This Writer All Post Business Culture Food Government Health Interviews Lower West Side Business & Economic Development Medical Music Our Community Peace People Sports YEAR IN REVIEW: FROM INSURRECTION TO WRITE-IN December 18, 2021/No Comments POST TITLE (CAPITAL) Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus Read More FROM LOWER WEST SIDE TO CENTER STAGE November 18, 2021/No Comments FROM LOWER WEST SIDE TO CENTER STAGE As I’m celebrating the first year as a columnist with the Buffalo Latino Read More OUR CULTURE IS NOT A COSTUME October 18, 2021/No Comments OUR CULTURE IS NOT A COSTUME By the time you’re reading this month’s issue of The Buffalo Latin Village, we Read More Load More End of Content.

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