LatinoPoliticsBlog.com

Entries from May 2011

Illinois State DREAM Act Passes Today in Bipartisan Vote

May 30th, 2011 · 7 Comments

Illinois is quickly becoming a state that advances more progressive immigration solutions. This Memorial Day the Illinois House passed the state’s version of the DREAM Act in a 60-54 vote and is headed to the Governor’s desk, where Governor Quinn is expected to sign the bill this week. Earlier this month Governor Quinn notified the [...]

Share

[Read more →]

Tags: Education · Immigration

Two Tours in Iraq Don’t Kill Him – But the Local Swat Team Does

May 26th, 2011 · 4 Comments

A few weeks ago, I learned of the story of former Marine Jose Guerena, who is became a victim of the Pima County Sheriff’s Swat Team as part of an investigation over marijuana trafficking. This story is finally picking up more traction. Jose Guerena had no prior criminal record and possessed no drugs in his [...]

Share

[Read more →]

Tags: Crime · drug war · Iraq War

There are 91 women serving in the U.S. Congress. Only 8 of them are Hispanic. Here’s how the 2012 election could change that for the better.

May 23rd, 2011 · 3 Comments

Webmaster’s Note — The following is a guest piece by Milly Doolan of the 2012 Project. It is especially timely given this piece in today’s Los Angeles Times about the proportion of women officeholders flat-lining and slipping. The Times Reports: “The number of women sworn in to Congress this year fell for the first time [...]

Share

[Read more →]

Tags: community organizing and activism · diversity · Government Accountability · Rep. Nydia Velazquez

“Welcome to Shelbyville” on PBS Tomorrow

May 23rd, 2011 · No Comments

Last week I was contacted about a new documentary Welcome to Shelbyville, which will air on PBS tomorrow. The documentary is set in Shelbyville, Tennessee during the 2008 Presidential election and the economic turmoil the country was facing at the time. Shelbyville is a small town with changing demographics and is located about an hour [...]

Share

[Read more →]

Tags: African-Americans · diversity · Immigration · Media · racism

Cesar Chavez & the Military Industrial Complex?!

May 19th, 2011 · 4 Comments

Supposedly the two years Cesar Chavez spent in the Navy were the “two worst” years of his life, but the Navy went ahead and named a ship after him anyway. You can read my comments about that in a piece linked here. I’m rarely on the side of Rep. Duncan Hunter, but I have noticed [...]

Share

[Read more →]

Tags: Labor Relations · Latino History

Redefining the American Education Debate

May 18th, 2011 · 3 Comments

By Matt Stieglitz A few weeks ago, the Obama administration outlined its “steps” for improving Latino education, including: $4 billion school improvement grants; a request for additional Head Start and Early Head Start funding; and a program to train more Latino teachers. Most importantly, “mechanisms” are being put in place to significantly boost the college [...]

Share

[Read more →]

Tags: Barack Obama · Education · Supreme Court

Schwarzenegger’s Paternity Revelation Makes It Harder to Re-enter Politics

May 17th, 2011 · 2 Comments

For those of you who hoped that Arnold Schwarzenegger would permanently leave the political arena, early this morning you may have been granted your wish. The former Governator admitted that he fathered a child with a former household employee over a decade ago and continued to keep this under wraps as he privately supported that [...]

Share

[Read more →]

Tags: Uncategorized

Mayor Villaraigosa’s Deceptive Budget

May 15th, 2011 · 1 Comment

In a political climate where people are cutting back everywhere, articles like this contribute to the notion that government employees don’t share the burden, especially when a leader like Mayor Villaraigosa touts spending cuts and then doesn’t follow through. The LA Weekly has a pretty good piece describing the complexity of Villaraigosa’s budget and the [...]

Share

[Read more →]

Tags: Antonio Villaraigosa · Government Accountability