Puerto Rico's Popular Democratic Party Seeks Independence At United Nations

The $72 billion economic crisis in Puerto Rico has awaken several political parties to begin working in a united effort to seek independence from the U.S. failure to bail them out.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 17, 2016

New York, New York - On Friday, Carmen Yulín Cruz Soto, the Mayor of San Juan in Puerto Rico along with Marco Antonio Rigau, the President of San Juan Municipality and Carlos Ávila Pacheco, the Vice-president of the San Municipality will present their petition for independence from the United States of America at the United Nations. The petition for independence would request decolonization from the U.S. as the initial first step and then would be recognized as the Associated Republic of Puerto Rico allowing the people of Puerto Rico to decide on what the United Nations accepts for recognizing Puerto Rico's independence. Soto and the petitioners for Puerto Rico's independence are members of the Popular Democratic Party and will most likely joined the Puerto Rico Independence Political Party in seeking independence from U.S. control. Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives approved by a vote of 297-127, the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economically Stability Act (PROMESA), 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. President Barack H. Obama wants the U.S. Senate to approve the PROMESA Act as soon as possible.  The bill helps to protect the 3.5 million Americans living in Puerto Rico from further reductions in critical public services while giving Puerto Rico the tools it needs to restructure its debt, according to Obama.  

The Senate should act expeditiously to review and vote on this measure, so the President can sign the bill into law ahead of the critical July 1st debt payment deadline.

PR has until July 1 to make a $1.9 billion 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. PR can't file for Chapter 9 bankruptcy under a U.S. colony status.

Puerto Rico's elected officials, the governor including local and municipal governments oppose the PROMESA Act because it creates a JUNTA of seven members to work with corporations that Puerto Rico is in debt with and the Puerto Rican officials have no authority to challenge any financial decision made by the JUNTA.
On Saturday, June 25, citizens from Puerto Rico will hold a mass gathering and rally against the PROMESA Act of JUNTA at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

In November 2012, Puerto Rico in a two part non binding referendum asking if voters wanted change or status quo, 54% of Puerto Rican voted for change while 46% wanted to remain as status quo. About 61% of Puerto Ricans voted for statehood, while 33% voted for a Sovereign free association and 5% voted for independence.
The U.S. Congress would have to approve statehood for Puerto Rico making it the 51st state, but has not acted.

Congress in the past gave $700 billion to Wall Street for an economic bailout, but won't approve a $72 billion bailout for Puerto Rico. 

Puerto Rico is going through an economic crisis and virtually most of its education and medical institutions are facing closures or have been shut down, Puerto Rican Police are not getting paid and the government has a huge debt.

Update: On Monday, June 20, the UN Committee for Decolonization approved a resolution for Puerto Rico's right for independence or decolonization presented by Humbert Rivera Rosario, the Ambassador from Cuba with the co-sponors, Bolivia, Edcuador, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Syria and Russia.
The Puerto Rico UN Decolonization resolution will go before the United Nations Organization General Assembly for approval.

FLAC Wants Milwaukee Mayor Barrett To Replace 70K Home Lead Toxic Pipe Laterals

Milwaukee Mayor Barrett facing controversial hazard dilemma over toxic lead pipe laterals affecting 70,000 homes and a local coalition wants those lead pipe laterals removed as soon as possible.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 16, 2016

Milwaukee, WI - On Thursday, the Freshwater for Life Action Coalition (FLAC) called on City of Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett to suspend all street and sidewalk construction in areas where 70,000 homes with lead pipe laterals are still being used for fresh water flow into residential areas. FLAC request that city officials test those areas with lead pipe laterals where construction is taking place to see, if a protective phosphorus compound introduced into the water flow to serve as a protective cover to prevent lead from getting into the fresh water flow is still intact and has not been loosen causing a health lead toxic hazard. 

During a press conference on Thursday, FLAC released the following news release, that in January 2016, before the Guardian released its report citing over 30 cities, including Milwaukee, were identified as water testing "cheats" for lead in water FLAC members questioned Superintendent Carrie Lewis' statement at the January 2016 Rules and Steering committee meeting in which she gave a power point presentation indicating her department used "end of line" water testing method for lead in our water. During this same presentation the superintendent of Milwaukee Water Works (MWW) told members of the committee that residents were instructed to flush out their pipes before taking samples of water to test for lead. FLAC members have stated publicly for weeks before the Guardian article was released that "end of line", "pre-flushing" or "pre-stagnation" method of testing is unacceptable.

Running water to test for lead is not a mandated method of testing water for lead by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA guidelines were suggestive methods of testing, according to EPA officials from Region 5 Office in Chicago, which serves Wisconsin.   
For over twenty years Milwaukee has added a phosphorous compound to its drinking water. The compound coats pipes to control lead corrosion, but recent concerns regarding heavy construction around the city has brought to light that this protective phosphorous compound is being loosened by the pounding of machines breaking apart sidewalks and streets in which many of these toxic lead pipes are located.
We call on the Mayor of Milwaukee to suspend construction in the city where lead laterals are concentrated, and to send city engineers to inspect if in fact the vibrations from the construction work taking place are loosening the phosphorous compound from the inner lining of these hazardous lead pipes.
We also seek from the mayor a directive ordering MWW to go to the neighborhoods impacted by the street and sidewalk construction work and test the drinking water for lead spiking caused by the heavy construction in their neighborhood.
In light of the recent Guardian report, FLAC is calling upon the Mayor of Milwaukee to test the water of homes identified as having lead lateral pipes by using "front draw" method of testing.  This method of water testing takes samples from the faucet as soon as the water pours after sitting in the lead pipes for 6 hours or more.
In February 2016 the EPA released new recommendations for testing lead in our drinking water. By following the new recommended Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Guidelines regarding lead water testing the city will be undertaking a proactive approach to ensure the safety of our drinking water.
The results of the water sampling and engineering assessment should be made public immediately upon return. 

In addition, FLAC calls upon Mayor Barrett to initiate a comprehensive strategic removal and funding plan designed to remove these 70,000 lead pipes over using a progressive time schedule to get it done.
The City of Milwaukee cannot be considered the "Freshwater Capitol of the World" or the "Fresh Coast City", if they will not provide lead-free drinking water to the people that live in its own backyard. 

Find City of Milwaukee properties with lead pipe laterals by address at http://goo.gl/poY5yv

Members of the coalition are:

Fred Royal - NAACP, Milwaukee Branch
Rev. Willie Brisco - WISDOM
Dr. Pat McManus - Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin
Student Minister William Muhammad - Justice or Else Local Organizing Committee (LOC)
Brenda Bell-White - Justice or Else Local Organizing Committee (LOC)
Laura Manriquez - Southside Advocates For A Better Environment (SAFE)
Former Alderwoman, Atty. Larraine McNamara McGraw – Horizons Law Group, LLC
Rodney Washington - Environmental Activist
Robert Miranda - Editor of the Wisconsin Spanish Journal
Chris Johnson – KINGFISHmke

Four Mexican Nationals Dead And One Wounded During Pulse Gay Nightclub Massacre

Four Mexican nationals among the dead and one wounded during the Pulse gay nightclub massacre.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 15, 2016

Méxito City  - The Mexican Secretary for Foreign Affairs (SRE) confirmed that four Mexican nationals were reported killed and one 33-year-old victim was wounded during last Sunday's Pulse gay nightclub massacre. One of dead victims and one that survived, but in stable condition are undocumented immigrants residing in Florida.

The two undocumented immigrants were identified as Joel Rayón Paniagua, 32, from the State of Veracruz who died at the Pulse Gay Club, he worked as a construction worker and Javier Nava Coria, 33, originally from Mexico City who survived after getting shot in the abdomen. 

The other three deceased Mexican nationals were Juan Chávez-Martinez, 25, Miguel Ángel Honorato, 30, and Luis Sergio Vielma, 22.

The SRE reported that they are working with family members help repatriate the bodies back to Mexico. The cost to repatriate a body to Mexico for funeral and burial services is around $6,000. The Mexican Consulate in Florida will most likely pay half for transporting a Mexican national body to Mexico.

In wake of the massacre at the Pulse gay nightclub on Orlando, the dead toll reached 49 people who were killed and more than 52 people were wounded by a lone U.S. born gunman, Omar Mir Seddique Mateen, 29. Mateen apparently shot his way into the Pulse nightclub around 2:00 a.m. injuring several security guard's who were off-duty police officers. Mateen took hostages, but was fatally shot just after 5:00 a.m. during a gunbattle with a nine men SWAT Team. Mateen apparently called 911 about 20 minutes into the attack and told the operator that he was pledging allegiance to ISIS, according to police.

Mateen was outed by friends and his ex-wife that he was gay as well and frequent the Pulse nightclub before the deadly attack and used a gay dating app too. He also had four Facebook accounts.

Most of the deceased victims were Puerto Ricans who were celebrating Latin Night at the Pulse Club.

President Barack H. Obama confirmed that Mateen had no connection to any terrorist group as previously reported by the mainstream media.

49 deceased victims from the Pulse nightclub in Orlando have been identified as

● Stanley Almodovar III, 23-years-old

● Amanda Alvear, 25-years-old

● Oscar A Aracena-Montero, 26-years-old

● Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33-years-old

● Antonio Davon Brown, 29-years-old

● Darryl Roman Burt II, 29-years-old

● Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28-years-old

● Juan Chávez-Martínez, 25-years-old

● Luis Daniel Conde, 39-years-old

● Cory James Connell, 21-years-old

● Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25-years-old

● Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32-years-old

● Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31-years-old

● Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25-years-old

● Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26-years-old

● Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22-years-old

● Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22-years-old

● Paul Terrell Henry, 41-years-old

● Frank Hernandez, 27-years-old

● Miguel Ángel Honorato, 30-years-old

● Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40-years-old

● Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19-years-old

● Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30-years-old

● Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25-years-old

● Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32 years old

● Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21-years-old

● Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49-years-old

● Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25-years-old

● Kimberly Morris, 37-years-old

● Akyra Monet Murray, 18-years-old

● Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20-years-old

● Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25-years-old

● Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36-years-old

● Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32-years-old

● Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35-years-old

● Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25-years-old

● Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27-years-old

● Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35-years-old

● Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24-years-old

● Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24-years-old

● Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34-years-old

● Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33-years-old

● Martin Benitez Torres, 33-years-old

● Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24-years-old

● Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37-years-old

● Luis Sergio Vielma, 22-years-old

● Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50-years-old

● Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37-years-old

● Jerald Arthur Wright, 31-years-old

City of Milwaukee Facing Controversy Over Lead Lateral Service Pipe Hazard

Lead lateral service pipes in 70,000 homes deemed a potential hazard to the health of children and adults, if not replaced by City.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 15, 2016

Milwaukee, WI - The Freshwater for Life Action Coalition (FLAC) announced it will hold a press conference tomorrow, June 16th, at the Wisconsin African American Women's Center located at 3020 W. Vliet Street at 12:00 p.m.
According to a press release, the Milwaukee - FLAC will be issuing a statement regarding the status of the City of Milwaukee lead lateral service pipe hazard.
The coalition was created earlier this year to address the hazard of lead which threatens the health of Milwaukee families' drinking water.
Members of this coalition have been at the forefront of the lead lateral service pipe dilemma in the City of Milwaukee since the announcement of over 70,000 homes with lead lateral service pipes was publicized.
"Testing the water and blood lead levels is only the tip of the iceberg. Our coalition over the past few months has been on a fact finding effort we shared with other groups and now we will share with the public", said Robert Miranda, FLAC spokesperson. 

Currently, street and sidewalk construction is taking place in Milwaukee's Southside and residents along South 13th Street between W. Rogers and W. Becher have not been notified of the potential hazard and the City hasn't tested the water for lead levels during the construction, according to Miranda. The hazardous toxic lead pipes can spike dangerous levels of lead when construction and vibration loosens spikes of lead in the water flow to homes.

Recently, the Riverside neighborhood underwent street and sidewalk construction and residents weren't warned by the City or their alderman about the potential water lead spikes during vibration and their water wasn't tested for potential dangerous lead levels as well.

Members of the coalition include:
Mr. Fred Royal - NAACP, Milwaukee Branch
Rev. Willie Brisco - WISDOM
Dr. Pat McManus - Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin
Student Minister William Muhammad - Justice or Else Local Organizing Committee (LOC)
Ms. Brenda Bell-White - Justice or Else Local Organizing Committee (LOC)
Ms. Laura Manriquez - Southside Advocates For A Better Environment (SAFE)
Former Alderwoman, Atty. Larraine McNamara McGraw – Horizons Law Group, LLC
Mr. Rodney Washington - Environmental Activist
Mr. Robert Miranda - Wisconsin Spanish Journal
Mr. Chris Johnson – KINGFISHmke

For more information about the FLAC press conference, Robert Miranda can be contacted at 414-469-4182 or info@kingfishmke.com

Former Milwaukee Police Detective Rodolfo Gomez Jr. Pleads Guilty In Federal Civil Rights Violation Case

49-year-old former Milwaukee police detective facing up to 10 years in federal prison for assaulting handcuffed prisoner in interrogation room.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 15, 2016

Milwaukee, WI - On Tuesday, former Milwaukee Police Detective Rodolfo Gomez Jr., 49, pleaded guilty in federal court for assaulting a man that was handcuffed in a interrogation room at the downtown Milwaukee County Jail. U.S. Attorney Gregory J. Haanstad reported that Gomez, Jr. pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Pamela Pepper of the Eastern District of Wisconsin to depriving an in-custody suspect of his civil rights under color of law in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 242.

In connection with his guilty plea, Gomez admitted that he repeatedly punched the victim in the face and head and kneed him in the torso, all while one of the victim's hands was handcuffed to a wall in an interview room. Gomez stopped punching and kicking the victim when a police lieutenant who heard yelling entered the room.  In pleading guilty, Gomez acknowledged that the force used was unreasonable and that the victim suffered bodily injury.

According to the federal indictment, Gomez Jr. was accused of beating Deron Darnell Love on August 14, 2013  while handcuffed during an interrogation. Gomez Jr. was caught on video surveillance in the interrogation room punching Love in the upper body. Gomez Jr. was removed from the room by another officer who witnessed the beating. Gomez Jr. came back in with several Milwaukee County Sheriff deputies to move Love into another cell.

18 Alleged Drug Dealers Indicted By Feds For Distribution Of Heroin In Wisconsin And Chicago

The drug distribution suspects were arrested in Milwaukee, Kenosha, Wisconsin and Chicago, Illinois, according to feds.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 15, 2016

Milwaukee, WI - On Tuesday, Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced in a press released the unsealing of a federal indictment charging eighteen defendants with conspiring to distribute 1 kilogram or more of heroin.  If convicted, the defendants face a maximum term of life imprisonment, as well as a mandatory minimum term of ten years.

The defendants charged in the indictment are:

● Edgardo Q. Rivera, age, 45

● Edgar Velez, age 51

● Carlos David, age 47

● Eddie Rivera, age 34

● Justo Capeles, age 45

● Jose E. Deanda, age 34

● Omayra Rivera, age 40

● Edgardo S. Rivera, age 27

● Jorge Fontanez-Masso, age 28

● Jose Santos-Marti, age 23

● Isaac Elena-Leonardo, age 25

● Ramon Elizondo, age 44

● Brenda Fontanez-Masso, age 43

● Carlos Velasquez, age 44

● Luis Diaz, age 23

● Emerito Quiles, age 64

● Jason Rivera, age 35

● Jaime M. Vega, age 19

Federal, state, and local law enforcement agents and officers on Tuesday arrested seventeen of these defendants, who had been residing in Milwaukee, Kenosha, and Chicago.  The other defendant named in the indictment, Eddie Rivera, is still at large.
The agents and officers also executed a number of search warrants in the Milwaukee and Kenosha areas, resulting in the seizure of distribution quantities of heroin and cocaine; sixteen firearms; and approximately $150,000 in cash.
United States Attorney Haanstad said, "There is a heroin epidemic in Milwaukee and the surrounding areas.  The dangers of heroin trafficking and abuse have been escalating and present an urgent public safety and public health crisis.  Investigations and prosecutions like this one are an integral component of the collaborative effort among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to deal with that public safety and public health crisis."           
The suspects got heroin, cocaine and marijuana from Chicago, Philadelphia, Florida and Puerto Rico, according to the federal indictment.

Grieving Milwaukee Parents Collecting Donations Using Internet Fetus Photos To Claim It's Their Child

Several Milwaukee Southside residents are questioning the use of internet fetus photos that were used by a couple and their daughter who claimed the child has died.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 15, 2016

Milwaukee, WI - On Tuesday, several Milwaukee Southside residents are having doubts about a 9-month pregnancy that a couple claimed to be enjoying until the child apparently died recently due to an accident. In the parents separate Facebook (FB) accounts, it showed them at a baby shower event in May where the alleged expectant mother along with her husband posed with photos of the baby gifts and a poster of the baby called "Pepito".

The Southside residents became suspicious about the claim of the pregnancy when the photos used in FB by the family, Jessica Perla Ruby Camacho Rodriguez and Pepe José Rodriguez claiming to be having a child actually turned out to be copies from Internet photos found on tineye dot com. The Rodriguez family was contacted on Tuesday, Balmares Kuka, the daughter responded by saying she doesn't have to say anything and none could explain where the baby photos including one where a baby is in an incubator originated from letting to believe what the Rodriguez family are claiming, is in question today. Pepe José claimed, that they have not asked for any donations, when asked about the photos of the fetus used, he did not respond. Jessica Perla commented via FB, that Rodriguez was not her real name on FB and she failed to confirm whether the photos of the fetus was her actual baby. She also indicated that no donations were collected. Why would they use Internet fetus photos to claim it's their child and a baby in an incubator that died?

Allegations have been raised by some Southside residents that the Rodriguez's have been asking for donations at a local bar La Carreta Vieja located at the 1300 block of W. Greenfield Ave. The amount of donations collected has not been determined. 

Milwaukee police have been contacted about the alleged claim by the Rodriguez family and when the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office was contacted on Tuesday, it was confirmed that they have no information about any death reported of a child belonging to the Rodriguez family as of yet.

The extended Rodriguez family members and friends are grieving the alleged loss of a child to both Jessica and Pepe José. Has a child actually died, if so then why are Internet photos being used instead to claim that it is the deceased child? The Rodriguez family hasn't been able to explain the photos used of a child on their FB accounts at the moment.

9-month fetus photos in Internet https://goo.gl/KK4R8x and https://goo.gl/CEKuO1