Puerto Rico Not For Sale, What Happened To $72B?

Thousands of Puerto Ricans including Luis Guzmán, a movie actor are asking what happened to $72B, which the U.S. Congress is claiming that Puerto Rico owes.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 9, 2016

San Juan, Puerto Rico - The U.S. Congress has confirmed that Puerto Rico owes the U.S. government at least $72,000,000,000 but the Puerto Rican government and the U.S. can't explained where the money was spent or what happened to it. In response, Luis Guzmán, 59, a popular Puerto Rican actor has joined thousands of other Puerto Ricans in asking what happened to the money. No one including Puerto Rican elected officials, members of the U.S. Congress or a Congressional fiscal budget provided an explanation about what actually happened to the $72 billion. 

Guzmán says in a personal Facebook account video going viral, "Puerto Rico is not for sale."

Luis Guzmán video: Puerto Rico is not for sale https://goo.gl/xyVs4z


Update:
The Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economically Stability Act (PROMESA) passed by the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 297-127, which creates a federal financial control board with no oversight and accountability by Congress itself. The bill now goes before the U.S. Senate for approval.
On Thursday, U.S. Congressman Luis V. Gutiérrez (D-IL) opposed the PROMESA Bill, which creates a federal financial control board (Junta) of seven people to oversee the future of Puerto Rico with broad powers that can meet in close session and won't be accountable to the government of Puerto Rico or the U.S. Congress. Gutiérrez offered ten amendments in the Rules Committee and none were discussed or taken up for debate on the floor of the House.
One of Gutiérrez' amendments would have provided for the U.S. government to allocate $370M to fund the Junta operating cost, according to the Congressional Budget Office and not be the fiscal responsibility of Puerto Rico (PR), which already has a $72B debt. Another amendment would allow PR to ratify approval of the federal Junta.
PR has until July 1 to make a $1.9B debt payment to the U.S. government. PR has a 45% poverty rate, high unemployment rate and schools around the island will begin closing due to the debt crisis.
The House did approve under the PROMESA Act that federal taxpayer investments would be protected. But many public, health care (hospitals) and police services will be virtually affected and cease service to the population. PR workers are expected to be paid less than the minimum wage under the bill, which adds no protection for a living wage.
The PROMESA Act failed to address the debt crisis, provide oversight and accountability by Congress, according to Congressman Gutiérrez who opposed the Act. The Governor of PR and the island legislature opposed the PROMESA Act as well.
PR can't file for Chapter 9 bankruptcy under a U.S. colony status.

Sunfair 2016 Draws Thousands To W. Historic Mitchell Street Fest

The current president of the W. Historic Mitchell Street Business Improvement District #4 confirmed that the Sunfair will be bigger in 2017.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 8, 2016

Milwaukee, WI - The 3-day W. Historic Mitchell Street Sunfair 2016 drew thousands of people to the Milwaukee Southside four blocks long street event. A variety of music including Spanish local singers El Cuervo de Jalisco, Blanca Estrada, Tony Garnica de Michoacan, El Gavilán de Veracruz, Margarito Corona, Hermanos Villarreal, Nalani, JcMunguia and the Charles Thomas Band entertained crowds at Sunfair. Also, amusement rides for adults and kids, a variety of food vendors and a beer booth attracted a diverse community to the weekend 6th Annual Sunfair.

Jesús Enrique Nañez Pérez, the current President and Chairman of W. Historic Mitchell Street Business Improvement District 4 (BID #4) and Sunfair 2016 confirmed that in 2017, the event will be bigger to reflect the "exciting business growth and development happening on W. Historic Mitchell Street." Nancy Bush, the Executive Director of Bid #4 on Saturday told Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) that the 6th Annual Sunfair attracted large crowds to the event and the event was running smoothly with no incidents reported by police. Bush indicated that the Forest Home Library will be relocating to the Hills Building soon, the Historic Mitchell Street Market Place recently opened, the Modjeska Theater has opened for venues and the relocation of the Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center to W. Historic Mitchell Street are some strives of economic growth that the historic street is experiencing today.

Last August, Bid #4 also moved to W. Historic Mitchell Street as well.

Daniel C. Cabrices Found Fatally Shot In Milwaukee's Southside

Police are investigating the homicide of a 53-year-old man who was fatally shot in the abdomen just outside of a Milwaukee Southside residence.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 7, 2016

Milwaukee, WI - On Tuesday, Daniel C. Cabrices, 53, was found deceased at the 2200 block of S. 15th Place around 5:45 a.m. in Milwaukee's Southside. Police are looking to question a known female in connection with the case. A video that police obtained showed Cabrices with a female, then an Afro-American male showed up and both the female and male are seen fleeing from the scene.

Both the female and a male suspect are being sought for questioning in connection with Crabrices homicide.

Cabrices had just recently moved to the Southside area about several months ago and was staying with a woman who shared a son with him. She told police that Cabrices had left the home around midnight and didn't return home. A man in a bicycle going by noticed the body of Cabrices nearby and notified police. 

Cabrices was in a divorce process with his wife and had been staying in Wauwatosa before relocating to the Southside of Milwaukee.

A neighbor heard gunfire just after 2:00 a.m., but didn't report the shooting to police.

Cabrices is survived by two daughters, a blood son and a family adopted son.

Several Men Found Shot Behind An Alley In The North Side Of Milwaukee

A resident discovered a vehicle riddled with bullets and two deceased men behind an alley in the North side of Milwaukee.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 4, 2016

Milwaukee, WI - On Saturday, police discovered several deceased 31-year-old men just before 5:00 a.m. behind an alley near the 2100 block of W. Atkinson Ave. including a vehicle riddled with bullets, according to police. The two men have not been identified by police, but friends and family members identified them by their aliases, Prince Diamond actual name Diamond Romell Webb and Thadd or Tso Crispy actual name Westley Thaddeus Barksdale also known to use Moore as a last name as well. Both men were shot multiple times and one of the victims was inside a garbage container and the other nearby.

No arrests have been made and police continue to investigate the double homicide.
Both Webb and Barksdale will have a shared funeral service, according to family members. The two victims are survived by children.

In an unrelated case, Milwaukee police are investigating the death of Marlaina Brown whose body was found near the the 8700 block of W. Silver Spring Drive on Saturday morning. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner was called to the scene.

Janesville Police Department Engaging In Illegal Activity To Suppress Anticipated Crime In Wisconsin

Janesville police reported it had visited 103 homes of suspected local gang members and outlaw motorcycle members believed to be gang members in an attempt to suppress anticipated crime.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 4, 2016

Janesville, WI - On Friday, the Janesville Police Department (JPD) sent out an advisory to the public that it had visited at least 103 homes of 63 confirmed gang members and 43 outlaw motorcycle gang members in an attempt to suppress anticipated crime. In the police advisory, it described that in order to suppress, interrupt, deter and successfully prosecute criminal gang activity, a task force composed of the Gang Abatement Team, Street Crimes Unit, and patrol have worked cooperatively with Department of Corrections agents conducted a series of home visits with confirmed gang and motorcycle outlaw members that reside within the City of Janesville.

Janesville police are hoping that their gang suppression operation will reduce gang related crime against citizens in the city. Police began to identify and document specific dates and times of individuals wearing gang colors, displaying gang tattoos, and claiming affiliation to a particular gang without committing a crime.

It seems that the JPD is just engaging in illegal activity to suppress crime and should first start to suppress illegal activity within their own department. It is not illegal to belong to a gang or an outlaw motorcycle club in the U.S. and especially in Wisconsin. It is not illegal to wear body art or motorcycle club colors (logos) even, if deemed gang related in Wisconsin. 

The Department of Corrections agents do have legal authority to supervise those on parole only, but not to intimate citizens just because they belong to a motorcycle club.

The U.S. Department of Justice and the ACLU should look into the alleged illegal activity that the JPD seems to be engaging in today.

In May 2015, the Waco Police Department officers in Texas killed at least four of nine bikers at the Twin Peaks Restaurant and arrested nearly 200 bikers and charged them with the same frivolous crime. The McLennan County District Attorney's Office knew of the Waco police frivolous charges and proceeded to prosecute innocent bikers. Video's later released of the brawl between the Cossacks and Bandidos Motorcycle Clubs showed that most bikers including members from others groups who were attending a meeting were just running from the scene or trying to protect themselves from the police shooting. But, all of the bikers arrested at the scene wearing motorcycle colors on leather vests were charged with the same frivolous felony crime and illegal $1M cash bonds were set by a Texas Justice of the Peace, which in Texas, a Justice of the Peace can not preside over felony cases.

In California, the feds lost a federal case that attempted to confiscate the Mongols Motorcycle Club logo (colors) and tried to label the group as a criminal organization. The Mongols are considered an outlaw biker club.

In Wisconsin, the dominant motorcycle club are the Outlaws Motorcycle Club, which any motorcycle group wanting to wear an MC for motorcycle club with their colors would have to get their approval. The Hell Lovers MC, another outlaw club affiliated with the Outlaws, provide approval to Afro-American motorcycle groups for members to wear the MC on their colors.

Motorcycle associations or riding groups like the Latin American Motorcycle Association (LAMA) based in Chicago, the Independent Riders, a motorcycle riding group based in Milwaukee and other groups not deemed as MC's don't need approval to wear colors by the Outlaws or Hell Lovers in Wisconsin.
In the U.S. today, anyone registering a motorcycle with a U.S. state motor vehicle department, their registration gets automatically filed with the FBI motorcycle gang data files. The FBI has also been known to engage in illegal activity as well, since they provide Stingray phone tracker antenna devices to police departments to fool cellphones in a targeted area to connect to the fake mini mobile antenna tower network for unauthorized tapping of cellphone conversations.

State Representative JoCasta Zamarripa, Files Nomination Papers For Re-election Bid In Wisconsin

Zamarripa filed nomination papers for re-election.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 1, 2016

Madison, WI - On Wednesday, State Representative JoCasta Zamarripa (D-Milw.) announced that she is has submitted her nomination papers to get on the August 9 Primary Election and is running for a fourth term in office. Rep. Zamarripa, the incumbent for the 8th Assembly District is well known for her advocacy against the Republican controlled legislature anti-immigrant sentiment and has challenged anti-immigrant bills targeted at the growing Latino community in the state.

Zamarripa made news when she exposed State Representative Jessie Rodriguez (R-Franklin) as a former undocumented immigrant from El Salvador who co-sponsored SB 533 (Wisconsin Act 374), an anti-immigrant bill that would prevent Milwaukee County from creating an ID for those who can't get a state ID for identification purposes only. Governor Scott Walker (R) signed Wisconsin Act 374 into law.

Zamarripa also made national news when she spoke about Leon's Frozen Custard discriminatory English only work policy that prevented bilingual employees from speaking Spanish between them and customers. Ron Schneider, the owner of Leon's admitted that just English was the rule and later modified his policy after it was learned that it was a violation of U.S. labor laws and Latinos began to boycott Leon's ice cream custard.

Zamarripa advocated for same sex marriages, which became legal in Wisconsin and believes in allowing the transgender population to use women bathrooms.

Zamarripa will most likely face Laura Manriquez in the Primary Election. Manriquez filed her nomination candidacy papers on Tuesday to run for the 8th Assembly District. Manriquez has tried unsuccessfully to unseat State Representative Zamarripa in the last three elections, 2010, 2012 and 2014.
Manriquez released the following statement to Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA), "I have utilized my time tirelessly with accomplished tasks related to quality of life issues for all people. Just to name a few, but not limited to.   From treatment for those with the illness of addictions, to helping folks gain employment, as well as helping the homeless getting their needs met and taking students to get reinstated in school when their parents were unable to.  I have followed what I call my trinity of action. 1. Economic development and employment with livable wages, 2. Quality education and Healthcare, 3. Safe streets and a clean environment.  As the next State Representative, I would continue to do what I know, but in a more impact full way by seeking cooperation, not confrontation to find resolution."

Laura Manriquez Enters Race To Unseat State Representative JoCasta Zamarripa

State Representive Zamarripa will most likely face challenger Laura Manriquez in the Primary Election.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 1, 2016

Milwaukee, WI - On Tuesday, Laura Manriquez announced in her Facebook page that she has acquired 286 nomination signatures to be place on the ballot for the August 9 Primary Election and filed her candidacy papers to unseat Democratic State Representative JoCasta Zamarripa. Zamarripa is running for re-election in the 8th Assembly District in Wisconsin.

Manriquez challenged Zamarripa as a write-in candidate in 2010 after being defeated in the primary election and in 2012 and 2014, Manriquez attempted once again to unseat Zamarripa, but Zamarripa defeated Manriquez again.

Manriquez attributes her prior unsuccessful attempts to unseat Zamarripa due to personal obstacles and tragedy in her life. According to a press release, Manriquez says that in 2010, the Manriquez campaign was derailed by a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (MJS) report falsely identifying her for having state warrants against her for back taxes. The false report clearly hurt her chance of winning the campaign that year. MJS recanted the story issued a correction and public apology to Manriquez for the false report.  However, damage to Manriquez' reputation was done and there was no way to recover because the report was released weeks before the election.

In 2012, tragedy befell Manriquez when her son was tragically killed by a hit and run driver. "The loss of my dear son was more than I could bear that year", said Manriquez. The campaign was suspended.
In 2014, despite having broken her ankle in three places, while working as a city forestry division trainee, Manriquez filed once again to run for the 8th Assembly seat. Walking around in crutches with a metal plate and screws affixed to her ankle and nursing a broken rib, Manriquez filed her nomination papers after collecting the required signatures to be placed on the ballot. 
But once again tragedy struck. Walking down a flight of stairs Manriquez lost her balance and fell down 15 steps hitting her head causing a major concussion, swelling to her brain, hemorrhage and a blood clot to the brain.  After two weeks in the hospital to be stabilized, Manriquez returned home unable to care for herself and function as individuals normally do, therefore the campaign was once again suspended.  "I really wanted to be out there. Knocking on doors. Meeting with the voters. Surrounding myself with my community like I usually do. But I was unable to even care for myself", said Manriquez

Zamarripa has been re-elected multiple times and has been an advocate against the Republican controlled legislature anti-immigrant bills targeted at the Wisconsin immigrant community.