A lot riding on census count for Dallas area

Saturday, January 30, 2010

By: Mercedes Olivera / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/localnews/columnists/molivera/stories/DN-olivera_30met.ART.State.Edition1.4bbe7b3.html

Texas could gain between three and five congressional seats after the 2010 census is tallied – more than any other state.

Besides more representation, additional seats would mean a bigger slice of federal resources and funds – more than $400 billion is doled out each year based on population data. And Texas certainly could use its share for hospitals, schools and roads.

But we need an accurate count to make it happen.

Unfortunately, Texas also ranks second behind California among states with hard-to-count populations, according to a study of census data by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. More than a quarter of Texas' population lives in hard-to-count areas, according to the study.

And Dallas and Harris are among the top 10 counties with the greatest number of people living in hard-to-count areas. They also happen to be counties with large Hispanic populations.

The data has spurred several national Hispanic organizations to mobilize to ensure an accurate headcount of all Latinos by April 1. Next month will see a flurry of activity by local and national organizations and officials...Read More

© 2010, The Dallas Morning News, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
[Posted by Michael Felix]

Rep. Gutierrez in Los Angeles - "Love Thy Neigboor Means Not Tearing Families Apart"

(Posted By Uriel Rivera)

More than 1,000 Angelenos packed Our Lady of Angels Church downtown Los Angeles this evening to hear Representative Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) talk about immigration reform. Mr. Gutierrez accompanied by his wife spoke about the moral imperative to approve immigration reform. "No man, not even the President of the United States, can break what God has created," stated Mr. Gutierrez, referring to families torn apart by deportations and raids. Others in attendance included, Rep. Roybal-Allard, Rep. Chu, Maria Elena Durazo, Angelica Salas, Father Estrada, Eddie Sotelo "El Piolin", LAPD Chief Beck, Gloria Saucedo, Sister Gail Young, Father Giovanni, Father John, Rev. Eric Lee, and many others. Below, some photographs taken during the two-hour celebration and rally.

http://www.chirla.org/en/node/838

Army extends immigrant recruiting

Recruiting offices from the pilot program will begin taking applications from some foreigners who are here on temporary visas or who have been granted asylum. Offices are looking for recruits with special language and medical skills and once accepted will get an expedited path to citizenship in return for their service.

Jesse

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-immigrant-recruits4-2009may04,0,5003914.story

Leaders join together to encourage Latinos to prepare for and run for public office Esteban

Lulac plans to hold conferences across the nation to bolster the amount of Latinos participating in politics. They are working alongside grassroots organizations to convince Latino elected officials to run for office. This call to action occurd because although the amount of elected officials did increase, there are still not enough to accomodate the Latino population.

Here's the Link
http://www.lulac.org/advocacy/press/2009/latinosunited.html

Immigration activists plan May Day rallies

Tens of thousands are expected to protest for reform, such as legalization, though policy differences push groups to separate their events into seven marches. Four will be held in downtown L.A.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-rallies1-2009may01,0,7459575.story

BROAD COALITION URGES SWIFT PASSAGE OF LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT HATE CRIMES PREVENTION ACT ON THE EVE OF EXPECTED HOUSE VOTE Esteban

Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act will cause local law enforcement to take hate crimes more seriously. The federal government will become involved in hate crime cases if they feel the local law enforcement is not able to deal with it adequately. This act will also urge victims to report any hate crimes to law enforcement.
http://www.nclr.org/content/news/detail/57028/

A chance for the U.S. to renew ties to Mexico

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20090415_A_chance_for_the_U_S__to_renew_ties_to_Mexico.html


By Eric Zolov
President Obama's visit to Mexico tomorrow is an opportune moment for a new strategic vision of U.S.-Mexican relations. As Arturo Sarukhan, Mexico's ambassador to the United States, recently put it, "It's time for the U.S. and Mexico to stop playing checkers and start playing chess."

That will require more American honesty about our role in issues such as immigration, as well as acknowledgment of Mexico's strengths as a newly vibrant democracy.

From 1938 to 1968, the United States and Mexico built what proved to be one of the most durable partnerships in the hemisphere. It began with the Mexican expropriation of foreign oil companies in 1938, which prompted a cry for U.S. intervention from Standard Oil and other American business interests. But President Franklin D. Roosevelt recognized that broader strategic interests - namely, retaining Mexico as an ally on the eve of war in Europe - trumped the narrower interests of big business.

.................................

Anabel Arrazola