Four Latinos To Serve In The Wisconsin State Assembly Legislature In 2019

Wisconsin has gained at least four Latino State Representatives in the State Assembly for 2019, while no Latinos have been elected to the State Senate.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

December 28, 2018

Madison, WI - In January 2019 when elected state legislators get sworn in to take office, there will be three Latino State Assembly Democrats and one Republican in the Assembly. The Latino descent State Assembly Representatives are JoCasta Zamarripa (D-Milwaukee), Marisabel Cabrera (D-Milwaukee), Jimmy Anderson (D-Fitchburg) and Yesenia Eldermira Rodriguez "Jessie" Rodriguez (R-Franklin). There are no Latinos elected to the State Senate.

In February 2018, the joint Black and Latino Caucus was created for Latino and Black state legislators, but with the increase of Latinos in the State legislature,  expectations have risen that two separate Caucuses could be a benefit for both the Black and Latino legislators in the Assembly and Senate to increase empowerment as well as having representation at national Latino Caucus conventions.

State Representative Rodriguez has not taken the initiative to join the Black and Latino Caucus to date. But, Rodriguez has faced ridicule by a fellow male Republican that identified her as a Latina who he wouldn't have or share a drink with during a gathering. Rodriguez when she was first elected to the State Assembly made it clear, that she was not elected solely as a Latina and on several occasions did not support a proposed bill by Representative Zamarripa for an optional Cesar E. Chavez holiday for state employees. 

Rodriguez who was re-elected in November 2018 has also voted and supported anti-immigrant bills along Republican party lines. Rodriguez was outed by Zamarripa during a debate in the Assembly in March 2016 as being an undocumented immigrant when she entered the U.S. illegally with her parents as a child fleeing from El Salvador. Rodriguez later became legalized in the U.S.

Lame-duck Bill Signed By Wisconsin Governor Walker Limiting Early Voting Challenged By Citizen Action And Partners In Federal Court

Lame-duck session bill signed into law by Governor Walker limiting early voting is being challenged by Citizen Action of Wisconsin and partners.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

December 17, 2018

Milwaukee, WI - On Monday, Citizen Action of Wisconsin (CAW) announced that their organization including partners will file a joint legal challenge in a federal court to prevent the lame-duck session bill limiting early voting signed into law by outgoing Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (R) from becoming law. According to a press release by CAW it says, as one of the lead plaintiffs in the federal court case that struck down early voting restrictions in Wisconsin, Citizen Action of Wisconsin Education Fund and our partners are filing a motion today with federal district Judge James D. Petersen asking the court to stop enforcement of early voting restrictions signed into law by Governor Walker on Friday. The motion will be filed this afternoon in U.S. District court in the Western District of Wisconsin.

Citizen Action is joined in the lawsuit by One Wisconsin Institute and other individual plaintiffs, including Citizen Action staff member Anita Johnson. The legal action is being supported National Redistricting Foundation, a 501(c)(3) affiliate of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee. The law firm Perkins Coie is representing the plaintiffs in the case.
"In the original case Judge Peterson found that the early voting restrictions imposed by Scott Walker and conservatives in the Legislature constituted deliberate racial discrimination and violated the democratic rights of all Wisconsin voters," said Robert Kraig, Executive Director of Citizen Action of Wisconsin. "It is shocking that without any legal rational, the Legislature and Governor Walker have has decided to ignore the ruling of a federal judge by again seeking to limit early voting. We are optimistic that this latest attempt to disenfranchise Wisconsin voters will blocked in time for the spring 2019 elections."

The lame-duck bill also limits the newly elected Governor Tony Evers (D) from reforming and appointing the director of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) and conducting an audit of its corporate welfare tax incentives to corporations, which it also prohibits Evers from withdrawing Wisconsin from a multistate lawsuit of the Obama Affordable Health Care Act. The bill also limits the authority of newly elected Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul (D) in certain legal representations.

Citizen Action of Wisconsin honró y reconoció a miembros hispanos como campeones comunitarios en la reunión anual del 2018

Los miembros latinos de Citizen Action of Wisconsin fueron entre los honrados y galardonados con Community Champion Awards (Premios por ser campeones (líderes y luchadores) de la comunidad) por sus contribuciones y esfuerzos para ayudar a promover cambio progesivos de los problemas sociales y la atención médica en Wisconsin.

Por H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

15 de diciembre del 2018

Milwaukee, WI - El sábado, Carmen Cabrera, miembra de Citizen Action of Wisconsin (CAW) / Acción Ciudadana de Wisconsin (ACW) y la Comisionada de Elecciones de la Ciudad de Milwaukee; Rebecca Arrichiello; Marisabel Cabrera (D), la recién electa  Representante del Estado de Wisconsin (WI) y Jesús Barbosa, el Supervisor de Sistemas de Salud de la Sociedad Americana del Cáncer fueron honrados y recibieron el Premio Campeón Comunitario 2018 por sus contribuciones y esfuerzos para promover soluciones progresivas para combatir los  problemas sociales, además la injusticias, sobre todo promover la atención para que todos puedan ser incluidos para la atención médica como Badger Care en Wisconsin y además, Virginio Miranda de ACW recibió el Premio de Liderazgo Progresivo Doctor Farley 2018.

El Dr. Robert Kraig, Director Ejecutivo de CAW durante la reunión anual confirmó que 49 miembros de la organización habían sido elegidos para cargos políticos locales, del condado y del estado, incluyendo al nuevo Gobernador electo Tony Evers (D) y el Vicegobernador Mandela Barnes (D) y que 21 miembros de CAW se postularon para cargos públicos en las elecciones del pasado noviembre.

De acuerdo con el informe de elecciones intermedias del 2018 de CAW, la audaz Reforma de salud fue el problema número 1 entre los votantes de Wisconsin, cual los miembros de CAW ayudaron a establecer en la agenda electoral de 2018 que exige la protección de condiciones preexistentes, la aceptación de dinero de Medicaid federal y la creación y opción de un BadgerCare Publico, y también para abogar por un salario mínimo de $15 dólares en el estado. Al menos 21 miembros de la cooperativa organizadora de CAW fueron capacitados como candidatos para cargos federales y estatales en 2018.

Los miembros de CAW tocaron en 31,150 puertas para promover la agenda progesiva, hicieron 13,241 llamadas telefónicas, se enviaron 131,230 mensajes de texto, también tocaron en 13,582 puertas en Milwaukee para un programa no partidista de participación de votantes, recolectaron 1,224 tarjetas de compromiso y registraron 223 votantes.

CAW también ayudó a elegir a la miembra de CAW Sarah Godlewski (D) como Tesorera Estatal de WI; también Evers como el nuevo Gobernador y Josh Kaul (D) como el nuevo Fiscal General del Estado de Wisconsin. El organizador de CAW Jeff Smith (D) fue elegido para el Senado del Estado de Wisconsin, la miembra de CAW Marisabel Cabrera (D-Milw.) fue elegida para la Asamblea del Estado de Wisconsin y Robyn Vining (D) también fue elegida para la Asamblea del Estado de Wisconsin. JoCasta Zamarripa (D-Milw.), Ganó la reelección a la Asamblea Estatal de Wisconsin.

En abril del 2018, Sylvia Ortiz-Velez, miembra de ACW, fue elegida para formar parte de la Junta de Supervisores del Condado de Milwaukee, incluido el Supervisor del Condado de Milwaukee, Steven Shea, miembro de CAW

El exitoso modelo cooperativo CAW también se está extendiendo a otros estados, según Kraig.

El licenciado Willie Green fue nombrado miembro de la Junta de CAW el sábado. Green hizo una campaña activa para la elección del Gobernador Evers y el Vicegobernador Barnes, incluidas las campañas electorales para elegir a Cabrera para la Asamblea Estatal de Wisconsin, Ortiz-Velez para la Junta del Condado de Milwaukee y Tony Báez para la Junta de Escuelas Públicas de Milwaukee.

Citizen Action of Wisconsin Honored And Recognized Hispanic Members As Community Champions At Annual Meeting

Latino members from Citizen Action of Wisconsin among those honored and awarded Community Champion Awards for their contributions and efforts to help promote progressive social issues and health care in Wisconsin.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

December 15, 2018

Milwaukee, WI - On Saturday, Citizen Action of Wisconsin (CAW)/Acción Ciudadana de Wisconsin (ACW) members Carmen Cabrera, the City of Milwaukee Election Commissioner; Rebecca Arrichiello; Marisabel Cabrera (D), the newly elected Wisconsin State Representative and Jesús Barbosa, the Health Systems Supervisor from the American Cancer Society were honored and awarded the Community Champion Award 2018 for their contributions and efforts to promote progressive social issues, justice, health care and etc. Also, Virginio Miranda from ACW was awarded the Doctor Farley Progressive Leadership Award 2018. 

Dr. Robert Kraig, the Executive Director of CAW during the annual meeting confirmed that 49 members from the organization had been elected to local, county and state political positions including Governor elect Tony Evers (D) and Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes (D) and that 21 CAW members had ran for public office in the November elections.

According to the CAW mid-term election report 2018, bold Health Reform was the #1 issue with Wisconsin voters, which CAW members help set the 2018 election agenda calling for protecting pre-existing conditions, accepting Federal Medicaid money, and creating a BadgerCare Public Option including advocating for a $15 minimum wage in the state. At least 21 CAW organizing cooperative members were trained as candidates for federal and state office in 2018.
CAW members knocked at 31,150 doors, made 13,241 phone calls, 131,230 text messages were sent, also knocked at 13,582 doors in Milwaukee for a non-partisan voter engagement program, collected 1224 pledge cards and registered 223 voters.
CAW also helped elect CAW member Sarah Godlewski (D) as WI State Treasurer; also Evers as the new Governor and Josh Kaul (D) as the new WI State Attorney General. CAW organizer Jeff Smith (D) was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate, CAW member Marisabel Cabrera (D-Milw.) was elected to the WI State Assembly and Robyn Vining (D) was also elected to the WI State Assembly. JoCasta Zamarripa (D-Milw.), won re-election to the WI State Assembly.

In April 2018, Sylvia Ortiz-Velez, a member of ACW was elected to the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors including Milwaukee County Supervisor Steven Shea, a member of CAW.
The CAW successful co-op model is spreading to other states as well, according to Kraig.

Attorney Willie Green on Saturday was named to the CAW Board. Green actively campaigned for the election of Governor Evers and Lt. Governor Barnes including the election campaigns to elect Cabrera to the WI State Assembly, Ortiz-Velez for Milwaukee County Board and for Tony Baez for the Milwaukee Public School Board.

Las tarifas de membresía del Club de Migrantes Nueva Visión generan miles de dólares solo en Milwaukee para el servicio de procesamiento de visas

La organización sin fines de lucro conocida como Familia Club de Migrantes Nueva Visión está cobrando y atrayendo a un gran número de miembros que pagan entre $100 y $500 de dólares cada uno para unirse a la organización con la esperanza de obtener una visa para familiares que viajen a los Estados Unidos como turistas.

Por H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

9 de diciembre del 2018

Milwaukee, WI - El domingo, cientos de latinos comenzaron a formarse alrededor de las 7:00 a.m. en 16 grados, condiciones secas de invierno fuera de las instalaciones para banquetes y conferencias de Candela's en la cuadra 2500 de W. National Ave. para inscribirse en una membresía del Club de Migrantes Nueva Visión (CMNV) por $100 a $500 dólares cada uno con la esperanza de obtener una visa para familiares que puedan ingresar a los Estados Unidos. La actual presidente de CMNV es Christian "Chris" Palacios, una abogada de México. Palacios y su grupo viajan por los EE. UU. para promocionar sus servicios a su membresía, lo que incluye el procesamiento y la solicitud de visas para que ciertos familiares obtengan visas de turista para viajar a los EE. UU por su membresía pagada.

Palacios informó a aquellos que se reúnen en las reuniones programadas y que desean pagar una membresía por un servicio que no garantiza que un miembro de la familia de la membresía pagada realmente obtenga una visa. Además, se requiere una tarifa de $50 dólares en la parte superior de la tarifa de membresía de $100 dólares, que está orientada para el empaquetado del documentos informativos enviado a CMNV, según Palacios.

Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) asistió a la reunión de CMNV en Milwaukee el domingo y estimó que se generaron más de $45,000 mil dólares en efectivo de las nuevas membresías de CMNV, cual incluye la tarifa de $50 dólares adicional para el envío de paquetes de información por Servimex. Aquellos que soliciten membresías deben estar presentes en las reuniones programadas para poder unirse al club CMNV pagando por adelantado.

El costo de la membresía es de $100 para México y $500 para Guatemala, El Salvador y Honduras por cada persona registrada por el miembro con la esperanza de obtener una posible visa. Si la persona o personas no califican, no hay reembolso de la membresía, pero aquellos que se convierten en miembros obtienen ciertos descuentos en algunos negocios locales participantes.

Entonces, ¿cuál es la tasa de éxito de CMNV para cada reunión programada para cobrar las tarifas de membresía de aquellos que se unen a la organización y les gustaría que sus familiares o miembros de las familias obtuvieran una visa? Las siguientes son las estadísticas de la cuenta de la página CMNV Facebook (FB).

• El 18 de mayo del 2018, CMNV informó en su página de Facebook que entre octubre de 2017 y mayo de 2018, al menos 350 familias se unieron.

• El 14 de octubre de 2018, CMNV informó que se aprobaron entre 842 visas entre julio de 2017 y octubre de 2018.

• El 11 de octubre de 2018, CMNV informó que al menos 121 visas fueron aprobadas por los EE. UU. Para personas de Michocan, Jalisco y Morelos, cuyos destinos eran a Missouri, Washington, Minnesota, Chicago y Wisconsin.

• El 19 de octubre de 2018, CMNV informó que al menos 40 personas de Veracruz y Oaxaca tenían sus visas aprobadas para viajar a Milwaukee como turistas.

• El 6 de octubre, el CMNV informó que un Cónsul en una Embajada de los Estados Unidos aprobó 195 visas para personas de diferentes estados mexicanos que viajaran en enero de 2018 a Minnesota, Chicago, Carolina del Norte, Washington, Wisconsin y Missouri por un total de 1,225 visas aprobadas desde 2017.

• Los miembros de CMNV que pagan tarifas con la esperanza de obtener una visa para miembros de la familia también tendrían que pagar $2 mil dólares  adicionales en costos de vuelo, pasaporte mexicano requerido para miembros de la familia, transporte, seguro médico y vitrinas de reunión familiar en diferentes estados y ciudades. Palacios confirmo que "...que ese dinero es de los gastos de los familiares, no es un cobro para nosotros."

La reunión de Milwaukee el domingo en Southside atrajo a al menos 1,000 personas, la mayoría de las cuales se registraron como miembros del CMNV. Los totales reales de cuántas personas se registran en cada reunión alrededor de los Estados Unidos no están disponibles por CMNV ni se publican en la página de FB.

Según Palacios, CMNV no está afiliado a ninguna agencia gubernamental y su personal en reuniones está trabajando como voluntarios.

CMNV dice que otros grupos cobran más de $5 mil dólares por el mismo servicio de solicitud de visas.

CMNV como una organización sin fines de lucro registrada en Minnesota, sus miembros tienen el derecho de pedir transparencia y rendición de cuentas de los fondos generados en el comportamiento de la organización.

Página de Facebook del Club de Migrantes Nueva Visión: https://bit.ly/2EkZuJD

Video: Chris Palacios explica las cuotas de membresía y el proceso de visa https://youtu.be/tdBGEHoh7Ns

Club de Migrantes Nueva Visión Membership Fees Generate Thousands Of Dollars In Milwaukee Alone For Visa Processing Service

Non-profit organization known as Familia Club de Migrants Nueva Visión is cashing in and attracting large numbers of members who pay between $100 to $500 each to join the organization in the hopes of getting certain family members a visa to travel into the U.S. as tourists.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

December 9, 2018

Milwaukee, WI - On Sunday, hundreds of Latinos began to line up around 7:00 a.m. in 16 degree Winter dry conditions outside of the Candela's Banquet and Conference Facility in the 2500 block of W. National Ave. to sign up for a Club de Migrantes Nueva Visión (CMNV) membership for $100 to $500 each in the hopes to get certain family members a visa to get into the U.S. The current president of CMNV is Christian "Chris" Palacios, an attorney from Mexico. Palacios and her group travel around the U.S. to promote their services, which includes the processing and applying for visas for certain family members to get tourist visas to travel to the U.S. for its paid membership.

Palacios does inform those that gather at the scheduled gatherings and who want to pay a membership for a service that is not guarantee that a family member of the paid membership will actually get a visa. Also, a $50 dollar fee is required on top of the $100 membership fee, which is geared for info document packaging send to CMNV, according to Palacios.

Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) went to the CMNV Milwaukee gathering on Sunday and estimated that more than $45,000 dollars in cash of new CMNV memberships including the $50 additional fee for sending info packaging by Servimex was generated. Those applying for memberships have to be present at the scheduled gatherings in order to join the CMNV club by paying up front.

The membership cost is $100 for Mexico and $500 for Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras for each person that is registered by the member in the hopes that they will get a possible visa. If the person or persons don't qualify, there is no reimbursement of the membership, but those that become members do get certain discounts at some local participating businesses.

So, what is the success rate of CMNV for each scheduled gathering to collect fees for membership by those joining the org who would like their relatives or families members to get a visa? The following are stats from the CMNV Facebook (FB) page account.

• On May 18, 2018, CMNV reported on their Facebook page that between October 2017 thru May 2018, at least 350 families were united. 

• On October 14, 2018, CMNV reported that between 842 visas were approved between July 2017 thru October 2018. 

• On October 11, 2018, CMNV reported that at least 121 visas were approved by the U.S. for people from Michocan, Jalisco and Morelos, which their destinations were to Missouri, Washington, Minnesota, Chicago and Wisconsin.

• On October 19, 2018, CMNV reported that at least 40 people from Veracruz and Oaxaca had their visas approved to travel to Milwaukee as tourists.

• On October 6, CMNV reported that a Consul in an American Embassy approved 195 visas for people from different Mexican states traveling on January 2018 to Minnesota, Chicago, North Carolina, Washington, Wisconsin and Missouri totaling 1,225 visas approved since 2017.

• CMNV members who pay fees in the hopes to get family members a visa would also have to pay $2K extra for flight costs, required Mexican passport for family members, transportation, medical insurance and family reuniting showcases in different states and cities. Palacios confirmed that "... this money is the expenses of the relatives, it is not a charge for us."

The Milwaukee gathering on Sunday in Southside attracted at least 1,000 people, which most registered as members of the CMNV. Actual totals of how many people do register at each gathering around the U.S. are not available by CMNV nor posted on the FB page.

According to Palacios, CMNV is not affiliated with any government agency and their staff at gatherings are working as volunteers.

CMNV says that other groups charge more than $5K for the same visa application service.

CMNV as a non-profit registered in Minnesota, its paid members have a right to ask for transparency and accountability of funds generated on behave of the organization.

Club de Migrantes Nueva Visión Facebook page: https://bit.ly/2EkZuJD

Video: Chris Palacios explains membership fees and the visa process https://youtu.be/tdBGEHoh7Ns

Emmanuel Sanchez Found Guilty For The August 2017 Homicide Of Crystal Leopold

Sanchez had a four year restraining order against him before stabbing Leopold to death in 2017.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

December 2, 2018

Milwaukee, WI - On Thursday, Emmanuel Sanchez, 28, of West Allis was found guilty for one felony count of 1st-degree intentional homicide and a misdemeanor for violating a no contact restraining order for the August 11 stabbing death of Crystal Leopold, 24. Sanchez is facing life in prison with no parole when he is sentenced in February 2019.
According to the criminal complaint, Leopold filed a restraining order against Sanchez and Sanchez was ordered to stay away from Leopold for four years. Apparently, Sanchez couldn't stay away and became jealous when Leopold began to date. Sanchez went to Leopold's apartment near the 2500 block of W. Orchard St. and began to attack Leopold with a butcher knife.
A male witness who moved in with Leopold heard her screams coming from the bathroom and when he went to check, he saw Sanchez on top of Leopold. He pulled Sanchez off Leopold and took him out of the apartment. Sanchez then fled from the scene and when the male witness went back to check on Leopold, he saw a butcher knife stuck to her chest. He attempted to help Leopold, but she died at the scene, according to police.
The male witness told police that he and a woman recently moved in with Leopold to help her out.
Sanchez was later arrested near the 3800 block of W. Lincoln Ave. by police after his brother called 911 when Sanchez told him that he had stabbed Leopold with a butcher knife.
Leopold and Sanchez had a history of domestic violence in their relationship, at one time Sanchez tried to strangle Leopold.

Jose Aviles Among Ten Inducted To The Wisconsin Soccer Association Hall Of Fame

Aviles from Aviles Plastics is a successful entrepreneur and has been coaching soccer for more than 17 years, which he was inducted among 10 other recipients to the Wisconsin Soccer Association.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

December 1, 2018

Milwaukee, WI - On Saturday, Jose Aviles, a long time soccer enthusiast and a coach for more than 17 years was recognized and inducted to the Wisconsin Soccer Association (WSA) Hall of Fame Inductees during the WSA 104th Anniversary on their 36th Annual Hall of Fame Banquet dinner at the Buena Vista Hall. Aviles is the former Club Latino (1979-1986) Youth Teams U-7, U-10, also coached for the St. Mary's Academy (1989-1999), St. Roman's Catholic Church soccer team,  and was the assistant coach at the St. Thomas More High School, according to the WSA.

Other inductees to the WSA Hall of Fame in 2018 are Jim Bishop, Wladyslaw Drobny, Alan Firth, Mirko Jakircevic, Mihailo Jovanovic, Kris Klassen, Bohdan Nedilsky, John Riccardi and Milan Vucicevic, were selected by the WSA Hall of Fame Committee.

Recipients for the 2018 Meritorious Award were Dave Faulds Jr., Richard Firth and Ivan Jakircevic.

The late Mike Dillett Family received the 2018 Mike Kabanica Memorial WSA Club/Family Recognition Award.

The current President of the WSA is William Sandoval who in 2007 was inducted to the WSA Hall of Fame. The WSA was established in 1914.

In history, Paulo Borda from Chile was the first President of the Club Latino, which joined the WSA in 1970 in order to participate in soccer game competitions and major league championships in Wisconsin.

The following are Club Latino WSA Inductees to the Hall of Fame since 1999:

• Enrique Barbosa Perches (1999)

• William Sandoval (2007) and current WSA President 

• Fernando Campos (2012)

• Jesus Santos (2013)

• Ramiro Alvarez (2014)

• Rodrigo Diaz and Cipriano Sanchez (2015)

• Fredy Canales and Hernan Quintero (2016)

• Antonio Lopez and Luis Veloz (2017)

• Jose Aviles (2018)