Acción Ciudadana de Wisconsin Gets Federal Funding To Train Latino Employers And Employees On Workplace Safety

Latino employers and employees will now have bilingual workplace safety training available at no cost to them, according to Acción Ciudadana de Wisconsin.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

December 5, 2017

Milwaukee, WI - Acción Ciudadana de Wisconsin (ACW - Citizen Action of Wisconsin) has announced that federal funding has been awarded to help provide bilingual workplace safety training for Latino employers and employees in Milwaukee and Wisconsin. ACW received $155,000 in federal grants, $55K for WisCOSH and $100K for Citizen Action of Wisconsin (CAW) to fund the work safety project, which includes the cost of materials and reaching out to the community.

Luz Sosa, the Community Organizer for ACW told Hispanic News Network U.S.A. that ACW will have an open gathering on December 13 at Candela's Banquet and Conference Facility at 2537 W. National Ave. at 6:00 p.m. to officially announce the workplace training project and to provide an opportunity for Latino employers to register for the training and schedule a date for employees to get the training for work related safety.

Citizen Action of Wisconsin is an issue focused coalition of individuals and organizations committed to achieving social, economic, and environmental justice, according to their website. ACW is the Latino affiliate (caucus) of CAW.

Open Carry Armed Men Doing Street Repairs Near Phillis Wheatley Public School Work For American Sewer Services

Armed men with handguns doing concrete street repairs near a public school work for American Sewer Services, Inc., according to Poblocki Paving Corporation.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

December 4, 2017

Milwaukee, WI - On Monday, the Poblocki Paving Corporation confirmed that the three men shown doing some concrete street repair in a undated photo that was posted on Facebook while armed with handguns including one who had his handgun drawn actually work for American Sewer Services, Inc. and not for Poblocki. One of the men in the photo is wearing a Poblocki Paving vest.

American Sewer Services, Inc. (ASS), N2768 County Road P in Rubicon, Wisconsin is owned by Dennis Biondich. The company makes more than $3M a year and has about 20 employees. ASS was contracted by the City of Milwaukee to do some sewer repair near the Phillis Wheatley Public School at N. 19th Street and W. Meinecke Ave. when employees were spotted with open carry handguns including one of them who had his handgun drawn. 

The City of Milwaukee Firearms and Dangerous Weapons policy prohibits general workers and contractors from wearing or having weapons at a worksite while doing work for the City regardless, if a worker has a valid conceal carry permit. The workers were within the 1,000 feet from a public school, which is prohibited, especially when a handgun is drawn without justification.

Wisconsin State Senator Lena C. Taylor (D-Milw.) released the following statement in her Facebook account, "I confirmed 4 things about the law today.

1) If they were Open carrying - they can’t be w/in school zone and it is a violation of the law BUT is NOT a crime to violate the law it is ONLY a forfeiture up to $1,000.

2) If they had a CCW permit then they CAN be in school zone;

3) Regardless it is  still in violation of the city’s policy and can be grounds to terminate the contract if the city pursues it.

4) The contractor could request an opportunity to cure the contract depending on what the contract says.

To cure they could honor the request by letting the workers not work on any city contracts.

Three Members of the Milwaukee Common Council became outraged and released statements about the Facebook photo showing an employee of a subcontractor hired by a company (American Sewer Services. Inc.) working for the Department of Public Works openly brandishing a handgun next to two coworkers open carrying holstered handguns, at a worksite near N. 19th and W. Meinecke Streets.

Alderman Russell W. Stamper, II, in whose 15th District the photo was taken, said he is shocked and angered by the image. “Behavior as dangerous and disrespectful as this is appalling and has no place in any neighborhood and by any city contractor, subcontractor or representative,” he said.
“If this is a real, untouched photo I would like this individual and that crew removed immediately from the site and barred from any future city projects,” said Alderman Stamper, chair of the Common Council’s Community and Economic Development Committee.
“I will be working with my colleagues on possible legislative measures to make sure this type of behavior will not happen again on any future city projects,” Alderman Stamper said.
Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton said he has been told the owner of the contracting company has been summoned to meet tomorrow (Tuesday, December 5) with DPW Commissioner Ghassan Korban. “I will be immediately following up with Commissioner Korban to see what was discussed and to determine future worksite requirements and supervision with this contractor,” he said.
Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs, chair of the Finance and Personnel Committee, said the photo reflects poorly on the subcontractor and is now being shared widely on social media.

“The behavior exposed in this photo is something we do not tolerate or dismiss or condone in any way with individuals who work with or for the city,” she said.

“I and other members of the Council appreciate it when the public steps up and shares information about city projects and city work in general that we may not be aware of,” Alderwoman Coggs said.
“This is a prime example of public input and information-sharing that can help us do our work more effectively and that could actually lead to important changes in city policy,” she said.

Update: One of the American Sewer Services, Inc. workers who had his weapon in his hand in a photo has been fired and two other workers who had open carry handguns while concrete paving a City of Milwaukee street are facing discipline.

Concrete Street Paving Workers Open Carry Guns Near Phillis Wheatley Public School In Milwaukee

Concrete street paving workers open carry handguns, one is wearing a Poblocki Paving vest and another one is seen brandishing his handgun near public school.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A. 

December 3, 2017

Milwaukee, WI - On Saturday, a photo posted on Facebook showing at least three street paving White workers, one wearing a Poblocki Paving vest with open carry handguns including one of the workers who can be seen holding his handgun out near the Phillis Wheatley Public School at N. 19th Street and W. Meinecke Ave. has been circulating on the social network. The photos were posted by Zuniga Jesse, Van L. Mayes, Earl Ingram Jr. and Tory Lowe, but no date was provided when the photo was actually taken and where it originated.

The City of Milwaukee contracts companies to do some street paving in the Northside where the predominantly African-American community resides and it is not clear, if city officials allowed the contracted workers to open carry while doing city work. In the State of Wisconsin, people can open carry legally, but state law prohibits handguns or firearms to be carry with 1,000 feet from school grounds and inside school property.

So, far city officials and Milwaukee police have not made released and comments about why the workers were open carrying and one worker had his handgun out near a public school while paving a city street.

Poblocki Paving posted the following statement in their Facebook account, "They are not wearing Poblocki Paving Uniforms. One happens to have on a vest that has our name on it  None of our employees are allowed to wear bluejeans and all are required to wear vests anytime they are working. These are not our guys." 

The unanswered questions remain, who were they, who authorized them to wear Poblocki Paving vests, why did one of them take his gun out, was he facing a life threat, did City of Milwaukee officials know when contracted these workers that they would carrying firearms on the job and would the City be liable, if a shooting occurs, does OSHA allow workers to wear handguns while working in these type of jobs as a safety measure and do they open carry in none African-American neigborhoods?
According to the City of Milwaukee firearms and dangerous weapons policy revised date February 27, 2012, it has zero tolerance for firearms in the work place, which firearms are prohibited and applies to all general workers and contractors.

Trump, Democrats And Republicans Betrayed The People: Vote Them Out Of Office In 2018

Letter to Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

By (name withheld by request)

December 3, 2017

With the recent Trump Tax Scam approval by the U.S. Senate Republicans with a vote of 51-49, the public outcry to oust corrupt career politicians ignite protests before the bill actually reaches Trump for his signature to make it law.

Trump ran on a campaign promise to help the middle class and workers. Trump and the Republicans faced losing their jobs in 2016, today they want to make it look like they are helping workers and the middle class. But make no mistake...this is just an appearance to keep their jobs and status quo.

But, CNN indicates that "It's not really because investors think the proposed tax overhaul would unleash enormous growth by creating new jobs and stronger wages. Most established economists have thrown water on that theory. That's because there's no guarantee companies would use their savings from lower corporate tax rates and repatriated foreign profits to create jobs. In fact, few CEOs have publicly made any such promise. In fact, according to CNN, Markets are betting that companies would use their new spare cash to help investors: by purchasing boatloads of stock and beefing up their dividends (http://cnnmon.ie/2kmOhj7). In contrary, companies already have indicated that much of the benefits they get from tax cuts won't go directly to growth-related activities (http://cnb.cx/2zCOMMN).

Not only that, nearly half the American population opposed the tax bill (http://cnb.cx/2ArESwY).

In a political play, the Democrats did not even bother to present to the American public a tax plan that would help the workers, middle class and the private sector. The most likely and foremost reason, they want people to vote Democrat in the next Midterm elections in 2018, so they can impeach Trump and go back to the same corruption status quo they are acustomed in office, just as Republicans. In Milwaukee, under Democratic Mayor Tom Barret's governance, African-American poverty has increased and segregation remains stagnant with no change for the better and President Barack H. Obama's presidency, he failed to reduce African-American poverty in Milwaukee. Why? Because they actually need the African-Americans on poverty and destitute, so they can be easily manipulated to vote Democrat with complicity of local Democratic leaders.

In Wisconsin, Governor Scott Walker (R) and the Republican Assembly utterly failed to fulfill the Walker campaign promise of creating 250,000 jobs. According to a Politifact report, Democratic Representative Mark Pocan stated that "Seven years later, (Scott Walker) has not hit his first campaign promise of creating 250,000 jobs" (http://bit.ly/2sYbjij).

So, it looks like Trump, the Republicans, and Democrats see the people as slave tools who can be easily manipulated and are shackled to their payroll checks, which live check by check or those in poverty and depend on a public assistance check to live with no escape to become independent from government assistance, while Trump, GOP and Democrats highjack the big money and give the middle class and workers breadcrumbs (pennies to a dollar) from their table in comparison to the trillions of dollars available for the billionaires and corporations as known by many as corporate welfare.

What are we to do? People from Wisconsin and nationally should elect Independent governors, State Assembly and Senate representatives, U.S. Representatives and U.S. Senators in 2018. People in Wisconsin should vote Independent and vote all the Republicans and Democrats our of office and elect Independent candidates and profesionals with knowledge of issues and conflict resolution solving to stop the corruption.

Editor's note:

It's not a democracy when federal Senate Republicans in the U.S. pass a Trump tax scam bill without reading it, having public imput and released a 500-page version of it an hour before approving (vote: 51-49).
Their next goal, to raise the retirement age for Social Security while making cuts and cut Medicare.
Time to oust them from political careers.

Tony Baez, Former President And CEO Of The Centro Hispano Milwaukee Claims No Head Start Funds Were Diverted For Other Programs

Centro Hispano Milwaukee responds to allegations that financial mismanagement led to relinquishing federal funding for Head Start and Early Start programs operated by the non-profit organization.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

December 1, 2017

Milwaukee, WI - On Thursday, Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) contacted the Mueller Communications, LLC who is handling any statements that are released from Centro Hispano Milwaukee (CHM) concerning a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (MJS) article alleging that the non-profit organization had relinquished Head Start and Early Start programs funding after it was deemed a "high-risk agency due to financial mismanagement" in 2014. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), a federal agency in October 30, found that it couldn't ensure that head start funding was solely used for the program due to "ongoing and repeated pattern of inaccurate and delinquent financial reporting" and the CHM maintained a negative bank balance and failed to pay Head Start vendors for services in a timely manner.

The ACF cited a 2015 fiscal year audit of CHM and found that Head Start pragram funds were diverted for other purposes. An estimated $726,000 was listed by CHM in accounts payable and accrued expenses at the end of the year, which a large amount of funds drawn from the Head Start program was not being used to pay "current expenses which the drawn was based". Also Toni Rivera-Joachin, the President and CEO of the CHM indicated that the prior CHM administration under former President and CEO Tony Baez (2006 to 2014) was unable to provide documentation to address the ACF review on how Head Start (HS) program funds were used, according to the MJS article. The ACF indicated it would extend its review and investigation to determine how the HS funds were actually used.

An Internal Revenue Service filing of 990's by CHM indicated that it was operating in a deficit for the last six years.

Baez released a statement to HNNUSA, "In my tenure, never were funds diverted from HS to other programs, and it is absolutely not true that the 2015 audit even suggested that. Take a look at the audit... Gracias!" 

Here's Baez full statement to HNNUSA, "It is very unfortunate that the Milwaukee Sentinel Journal chose such a negative title for their article regarding Centro Hispano Milwaukee. It suggests that fiscal mismanagement has caused the lost of one of its most important programs, Head Start, which Centro Hispano sustained and grew for more than four decades, and is still the largest and most successful dual language program in the state --in spite of the financial difficulties confronted by its parent agency. 

"It is a sensationalist way of creating an image of an agency that since 1964 has been able to serve well the most needy of Milwaukee's Latino community. Unlike other agencies serving Latinos in the city, this agency chose the difficult route of serving as a safety net in the public realm in those areas of greatest need, ensuring that our Latino children, parents and elderly had the support systems in place that institutional agencies were not able to provide. 
"Centro Hispano served the community at a time when no other entity dare take on racism and neglect, and it open doors for others creating other agencies and organizations (UMOS, UCC, Esperanza Unida, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee, etc), agencies and organizations that then helped shape various responses to that racism and neglect. Almost every single agency in Milwaukee that served Latinos was either born out of the Council for the Spanish Speaking and or was supported and grown until it reached its independence, contributing to the quality of life of the Latino community in Milwaukee today --which this city cannot be without, because it depends on us!

"The financial difficulties of Centro Hispano date back to the mid 2,000. They were not unlike the difficulties faced by other social service agencies in other parts of the country. They were the result of social and government policies that sought to destroy community-based agencies that did not join the choir of those who embraced an ideology of competitiveness and what we call today neoliberal thought that claimed that the problems of the poor and the working people were created by their own failure and unwillingness to succeed in the US. Funding, whether governmental or philanthropic came with the condition that those helped had to join the workforce, and funds for the future preparation of the children of these groups went almost exclusively to private entities or organizations that sought to prepare for the future the oppressors and exploiters that would take the place of those of today. It became almost impossible for community-based agencies offering social service and immigration services to attract any funds that would sustain the ongoing struggles against isolation, racism, anti-immigration and inequality. 

"Centro Hispano was no exception. It became more difficult than ever before to secure funding, yet this was not the case with agencies that espoused the agendas that sustain social classes and unfortunately prepare those who may occupy the role of the oppressors --very much as was the case in colonial and neo-colonial regimes in Latin America and the African continent.  Again, I re-emphasize, this was happening all over the US, not just Milwaukee. It was a new way of extending the already pervasive Jim Crow strategies that kept African Americans segregated, poor and unequal to Latinos, the new growing ethnics who are today the largest group of people of color in the nation. This is not a new thing! It is actually part of the strategy of those who control power and influence. By using a narrative of "efficiency" and a narrative of "we can succeed in a capitalist America," and by drawing on the notions supported by a pseudoscience of opportunism, government and the agencies that became an extension of government, played the game and placed the blame on those who fought this thinking. To bring it to the present, it smells of Trumpism. When ever you want to create an the believe in failure, you just blame someone or something else, diverting from the real issue. 

"Centro Hispano was perhaps the only agency in Milwaukee's Latino community that fought against a narrative of enslavement and the maintenance of the poor and working people of color. It kept trying and trying, but the thinking of neoliberalism was and is very powerful, especially in this city --and the growing Latino entrepreneurship class continue its ascent into such thinking, some hoping to be eventually the colonials that would sustain this unequal, unfair, racist, and undemocratic society. 
"The national Head Start office started its shift to neoliberal efficiency-based approaches in the Bush administration. It was made even worse under the Obama administration (although it attempted some progressive efforts, it was clearly "efficiency" driven and even perfected strategies that made life even harder on people of color and immigrants). It was under the Obama administration that Head Start started a program of "unannounced" visits to now mostly African American and Latino Head Start Centers all over the country. When less expected, a community-based agency with a Head Start program would receive a team of "efficiency" and accounting "experts" that would review every single curricular and fiscal practice in the organization, often spending more than a week doing this, regardless of the costs. Centro Hispano, like many others in the US, went through many of these, and never, never was their a finding of fraud, fiscal neglect, use of Head Start funds for other purposes or failure to deliver a sound educational program. Independent from regional offices (like the arbitrary and difficult office in Chicago), these teams kept recommending that Centro Hispano's program, in spite of the fiscal difficulties of the agency attracting more funds, had to be supported. Actually, in one of the independent reviews, the team confronted the regional office reminding them that it was there obligation to figure a way to support and work with Centro Hispano. When the Chicago office, in what many still consider a racially motivated action, took the Head Start program from the Social Development Commission, the program at Centro Hispano was expanded, even when it did not asked for it. But the Milwaukee Journal did not hear about this. They only focused their so-called investigation on the fiscal instability of Centro Hispano (caused by the context described above), and they called it "fiscal mismanagement." 

"Head Start also instituted a practice of designating agencies as "at-risk." This was usually a function of the independent audits submitted by the agency (like Centro Hispano would do every year). But the audits of Centro Hispano never showed fraud or the use of Head Start funds for other purposes. The agency's 990 did show a slight deficit, but not unlike any other major financial institution in this country (I guess it's OK for Chase, Wells Fargo and other banks to be fined billions of dollars for fraud and abuse while maintaining so-called fiscal stability and balance ledgers--but how dare a small community-based organization show a small deficit). That is simply bull. 

"An agency was designated "at-risk" when the audits revealed a financial forecast that suggested to Head Start financial instability. Surely, in spite of extremely difficult struggles to continue to provide services to the poor and working class, your financial forecast had to appear very promising (with large reserves, etc) for Head Start officials (by the way, this was not the case with HUD funded programs). Thus, an "at-risk" status designation is no more than a "we-are going-to-watch-you-folks-of-color-very-closely. The interesting thing is that once you received that status, there was no way for an agency to divert funds to other programs, because only Head Start related expenses were reimbursed. Mismanagement is a designation that carries a hugely negative stigma, but that typically, and in this case, only exist in the minds of those who used that to end contracts (which sounds very much like what we have coming down today from the hostile and racist minds in Washington, DC).

"In conclusion, what has happened to Centro Hispano is no fault of those who tried to keep this agency alive and serving poor and working class Latinos. There will be attempts by some to claim it was a "problem of mismanagement."  Not so! It is a problem of outlook and ideology intent on doing away with all social, education and immigration services that are liberating, while eliminating safety nets, and reducing limited services to just that:"services" to those less-deserving people, services which are no longer about connecting people to each other and organizing in the public realm against inequality. 

"In the case of Head Start, it must be noted that the agencies who are assigned to "save" services for poor children are typically for profit entities run by members of a privileged group (mostly White sprinkled with some Blacks or Latinos --enough to justify their so-call commitment to diversity). That is what happened with the Head Start program run by SDC and now with the one run by Centro Hispano. Go figure!," Baez stated.

Rivera-Joachin, President and CEO of the CHM (Council for the Spanish Speaking) released the following statement to HNNUSA as well, "When I started in the February of 2015 as interim CEO, the Federal Government had already deemed Centro Hispano Milwaukee a financially "at-risk" Head Start provider in November of 2014. However, Centro Hispano Milwaukee still successfully received the Head Start grant from the Federal Government every year since.

"In recent years, the board and I have made steady progress in our efforts to improve the financial standing of Centro Hispano Milwaukee. Since 2015, Centro Hispano Milwaukee has improved current assets, decreased current liabilities, and paid down debt. However, there is still more work to be done to update our financial management and reporting systems.
Because of this, Centro Hispano Milwaukee voluntarily relinquished the Head Start grants to the Federal Government to allow us time to complete the updates to our financial systems. This is necessary as it is a challenge to maintain program operations while implementing changes to the financial systems. Voluntarily relinquishing the grants does not prevent Centro Hispano Milwaukee from being a grantee or subgrantee in the future. We fully intend to resubmit for the Head Start grant once the updates have been completed.
"The Federal Government has chosen Community Development Institute Head Start (CDI HS) as the interim provider of Head Start services. Beginning on December 1, 2017, CDI HS is responsible for providing Head Start/Early Head Start services to our families.
"During this time, Centro Hispano Milwaukee will continue its commitment to the community through the other programs we provide, including: adult education & workforce development, elderly housing, immigration community social services," Rivera-Joachin stated.

U.S. Taxpayers Should Rise, Protest, Resist And Stop Trump's Tax Cuts & Jobs Act

The Trump and GOP Tax Cuts and Jobs Act should be stopped from putting the taxation burden on the working class instead of assuring fair taxing that would include the 1% of the wealthy in the U.S.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

November 30, 2017

Washington, D.C. - Trump's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act bad for Puerto Rico's economy, it includes a 20% tax excise provision for goods imported to the U.S. mainland from the island, which would have a devastating effect and assure the island's economy won't recover.
If passed, 60% of the benefits of Trump's tax bill will go to the top 1% of the wealthy who will pay less taxes than the working taxpaying class in the U.S.

Also Manuel "Manny" Perez, the former Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development under Governor Scott Walker (R) and the highest appointed Hispanic Republican in the Walker's administration (effects) released the following information to Hispamic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) on Trump's tax act is expected to have on the U.S.

Perez's statement to HNNUSA, "While I appreciate the President's desire to pass a tax plan, in the effort to pass a Tax Plan by the end of the year, important items are not receiving due consideration...a few examples...

1. The tax plan does not appear aligned to long term U.S. economic strategy and no strategy appears to have formulated.
2. CEOs have already told Gary Kohn that reducing rates does not imply increased investment and jobs.
3. The first in first out, directly hurts Americans.
4. Does not address student loan debt nor future workforce development needs."

Perez also agreed with HNNUSA that the Trump and GOP tax act should be stopped to ensure taxpayer interests accross the board are met including provisions for the 1% of the wealthy and corporations to pay their fair share of taxes.
At least 5.2M senior citizens will see an increase in taxes, if Trump's tax act is approved by the U.S  Senate, according to the AARP.
The GOP tax act or tax scam won't generate enough revenue to cover the tax cuts for the 1%, but will reduce the deficit by $408B by 2027, it will cost taxpayers $1.4T on the long run, it also removes the healthcare mandate automatically repealing Obamacare affecting 13M people who would be removed from receiving healthcare, according to a report by the Joint Committee on Taxation.
U.S. Senator Marco Antonio Rubio (R-FL) explained that structural changes are needed to cover the huge tax cut handouts to billionaires and corporations by cutting Medicare and extending the retiring age for Social Security.
The New York Times reported that, “By 2027, people making $40,000 to $50,000 would pay a combined $5.3 billion more in taxes, while the group earning $1 million or more would get a $5.8 billion cut, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation and the Congressional Budget Office.”

Howell E. Donaldson III, The Alleged Seminole Heights Serial Killer Admitted He Owned Handgun Connected To Four Homicides

Donaldson was taken into custody after a McDonald's female employee tipped an officer that the suspect had left a weapon with the her.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

November 29, 2017

Tampa, Florida - On Wednesday, Brian Dugan, the Chief of Police for the Tampa Police Department confirmed that the suspected Seminole Heights serial killer Howell Emanuel Donaldson III, 24, who was arrested in connection with four homicides has admitted that he owned the Smith and Wesson .40 Cal handgun used in the four murders. Donaldson hasn't confessed to committing the homicides, but Chief Dugan and investigators are confident that Donaldson is the serial killer who within 51 days had randomly targeted four victims as they walked and in cold blood shot them to death. Donaldson has not revealed why he killed the four victims who he didn't even know, according to the ongoing police investigation.

Donaldson was booked at the Hillsborough County jail with four counts of premeditated 1st-degree murder, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

According to the criminal complaint, a female McDonald's employee contacted police after Donaldson left a bag with her and she managed to look inside and discovered a handgun. The McDonald's employee gave a police officer the bag and then arrested Donaldson shortly after on Tuesday around 2:30 p.m. at the 400 block of Franklin Street N as he was returning to the McDonald's restaurant in Ybor City.

The murder victims were identified as Benjamin Edward Mitchell, 22,  who was killed on October 9; Monica Caridad Hoffa, 32, was killed on October 13; Anthony Naiboa, 20, was killed on October 19 and Ronald Felton, 60, was killed on November 14. A $100,000 reward had been offered by Crime Stoppers Tampa Florida involving multiple law enforcement agencies for any information leading to the arrest of a murder suspect.