ROBERTO QUINTANA! SETTING THE RECORD

Politics /

“He who is without sin can cast the first stone.” The other day, I was thinking about Roberto Quintana and the history of his political involvement, including his descent from public service. I don’t have to go much into describing who he is as he is well known and recognized in the political and community arena. I became interested in Roberto Quintana when I got involved in his run for the assembly seat several years ago against the son of the Niagara District Councilman, David Rivera. I had an opportunity to get to know him, and I must admit, he has what the other Puerto Rican/Latino elected officials or community leaders do not have. He has charisma, personality, and an agenda for the growth and development of the community if provided the opportunity. I experienced the good and the ugly, the political system, or status quo went into the past and threw everything at him. They ganged up on him – bringing his past to life, the present. They were afraid of him and could not take a chance and allow him to come back to elected office. Regardless of his misdeeds, that was the past, and he should have been allowed to redeem himself. What happened to the concept of a “second chance.”  People need to read their bible.  Living in the community from 1970 to 1985, and from 2012 to the present, I know of the crimes committed by some of our leaders, but they have been well protected due to politics. If one did their research, you would find some of the hidden treasures. The political system gave them a “second chance.” Quintana deserves the same; he is a gift to our community. As an elected official, our community would regain the essential tools needed for the growth and development of our people – character, energy, imagination, and creativity.   Quintana will put our Puerto Rican/Latino community on the map. He does not take orders; he gives orders! He is progressive, independent, and has a strong character to represent the West Side, and with GANAS!  We all, or many of us, have done something in our lives that we are ashamed of, but we did not get caught. We were the lucky ones! Think about that when you criticize Quintana. Karna has a way of calling things to your attention. Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books & Poems Business Community Education Entertainment español Food & Culture Health Interviews Military & Veterans Peace People Politics Sports ROBERTO QUINTANA! SETTING THE RECORD October 4, 2023/No Comments “He who is without sin can cast the first stone.” The other day, I was thinking about Roberto Quintana and the history of… Read More  A COMMUNITY GIFT OR A TROJAN HORSE?  October 3, 2023/No Comments This past month, on Friday, September 15th, the beginning of what has become known as “Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15… Read More 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 Load More End of Content.

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 A COMMUNITY GIFT OR A TROJAN HORSE? 

1 Comment / Community /

This past month, on Friday, September 15th, the beginning of what has become known as “Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 to October 15), the Hispanic Heritage Council, along with a long list of who’s who in the political Kingdom, including the New York State governor, Gov. Kathy Hochul, did what they have long been waiting for, the ground-breaking ceremony for the Lower West Side “Hispanic Cultural Institute, on Hudson & Niagara Street, a center dedicated to arts, culture, history, and community service for the local Puerto Rican/Latino community. It is estimated that over 30 million will complete the project, which will begin within the next few weeks or sooner. The center is scheduled to be developed right on the corner of Hudson and Niagara on the Lower West Side, the heart and soul of the Puerto Rican community. This group makes up over 85% of the Latino population. It is estimated that over 70,000 Latinos live in western NY, with about 45,000 in the city of Buffalo, primarily Puerto Rican. The center, a three-story, 37,000 square footing building, plans to house an art gallery, museum, cafeteria, theatre space (Raices Theatre Company), gift shop, media program (radio, television & broadcast), and a 150-seating performing arts theater, among other community programs. The idea behind this institution came from Casimiro Rodriguez during 2019, a fixture in the community and founder of the Hispanic Heritage Council (HHC). To his credit, he convinced the city, state, and federal elected officials to support and help finance the project. Under his leadership, in 2021, HHC started an aggressive fundraising campaign to raise millions of dollars from the public (government) and private sector ($18 million). The local New York State legislators gave HHC about $12 million and nearly $2 million from the local federal elected officials. As of this writing, more tax money continues to pour in. While the Buffalo Latino Village gave thumbs up when the project idea was first revealed in 2018, and local Puerto Rican groups opposed it, we now have reservations. The support for the project comes mainly from HHC’s inner circle of friends or colleagues, including the politicians they support and donate for their political campaigns. There has also been a lack of transparency, and very few Lower West Side residents know anything about the project. Casimiro Rodriguez is articulate and a go-getter, a hard worker, and a long-time Buffalo resident with family roots. But we would like to see more transparency and communication with the grassroots community, open meetings, and press conferences with the public, not just the “chosen few.” Having said that, we keep our fingers crossed and hope the agenda is based on a passion for community and not political ambition or political theatre to advance the status quo at the expense of the Lower West Side community. Time will tell. For the sake of our community, we hope it is not a Trojan horse. Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books & Poems Business Community Education Entertainment español Food & Culture Health Interviews Military & Veterans Peace People Politics Sports ROBERTO QUINTANA! SETTING THE RECORD October 4, 2023/No Comments “He who is without sin can cast the first stone.” The other day, I was thinking about Roberto Quintana and the history of… Read More  A COMMUNITY GIFT OR A TROJAN HORSE?  October 3, 2023/No Comments This past month, on Friday, September 15th, the beginning of what has become known as “Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15… Read More 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 Load More End of Content.

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WE NEED PEACE IN UKRAINE WE’RE ALL AFFECTED!!

Peace /

“Que lastima que tengamos esta gran Guerra en Ucrania!! And we are all affected by it!” We are afflicted by the significantly increasing danger of Nuclear War and annihilation. Nuclear winter is now more likely than ever (and we’ve had devastatingly close calls before); The Doomsday Clock is now 90 seconds to Midnight: a worldwide grain shortage and associated shortages, the environmental catastrophes caused by the military activity; and the opportunity cost of vast money and efforts being poured into the terrible devastation and destruction. Please join us to vigil for Peace In Ukraine on Saturday, Sept 7, 12 Noon to 1 pm: Bidwell & Elmwood, Buffalo 14222. The gathering is organized by the WNY Peace Center and hosted by Women In Black WNY. Please bring signs! As members of the Peace In Ukraine Coalition, we call for: 1.  an immediate ceasefire. 2.  peace negotiations; and 3. an end to providing more weapons. Yes, Russia was so wrong in invading and has acted abominably. However, so has the USA!! The expansion of NATO despite US assurances to the contrary has posed military and nuclear threats to Russia. How would the US respond to Russian alliances with our neighbors Mexico or Canada? At least 15 countries were added to NATO, bringing the threat of military confrontation close to Russia. This added to Putin’s already apparent proclivity to aggression – with the war in Ukraine, at least in part, the result.  Now we have the two countries holding the vast majority of the world’s nuclear weapons locked in a proxy war and showing no inclination to diplomacy or negotiations.  The environmental impact of the war is terrible. Fighting has caused huge forest fires, devastation at Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines, and a massive number of bombed-out buildings. Furthermore, greenhouse gas emissions – said by Ukraine to be 33 million tons – from the war are astronomical. The opportunity cost of the $75 Billion (yes $75 Billion) being spent by the US on the war in Ukraine includes all the efforts that could have otherwise been undertaken. That figure includes US spending on military, financial, and humanitarian efforts in the war. How much could $75 Billion otherwise do to improve life on this planet? In the book “How to Spend $75 Billion to Make the World a Better Place,” economists showed even $12 Billion in nutrition support could reduce child under-nutrition by 36%l each $1 spent producing $59 in benefits (Limburg, Huff Post, 2013). Or $75 Billion could double the budget of 125 cities the size of Buffalo – or provide substantial funds for housing, healthcare, education – you name it. That’s #moneyforpeoplesneeds!!!  The US has refused to negotiate this ferocious proxy war, as has the Ukraine. Please come to the vigil on 10/7 (see above).  ask our reps and senators why they haven’t supported legislation requiring Biden’s administration to report on war strategy and use diplomacy; and urge our elected to push for a ceasefire, negotiations, and no more weapons. Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books & Poems Business Community Education Entertainment español Food & Culture Health Interviews Military & Veterans Peace People Politics Sports WE NEED PEACE IN UKRAINE WE’RE ALL AFFECTED!! October 2, 2023/No Comments Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. Read More… Read More A TRAGEDY July 4, 2023/No Comments LEADING TO AN ANTI-BULLYING CAMPAIGN (a Community Responders Pilot and a Peace Ship for a Nuclear-Free Future) Hola, mis Amigos!! … Read More CAMP PEACEPRINTS 2023: HEALTHY LIVES MATTER June 4, 2023/No Comments ¡Hola, Amigos! Pronto sera el tiempo por los ninos para ir a campamentos de verano. We are excited to present… Read More Load More End of Content.

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