Wisconsin Chase Ave. DMV Licensing Agency Posted Free ID Signs For Voting Purposes

The Chase Ave. DMV Service Center became to first to ignore state directive not to voluntarily notify people about free ID’s for voting purposes.

By H. Nelson Goodson
February 28, 2012

Milwaukee – A Wisconsin Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) station in Milwaukee’s south side has posted signs in both English and Spanish advicing people that free ID’s for the purpose of voting are available. The first DMV station to ignore Governor Scott Walker (R) and the DMV administration’s decision not to voluntarily let people know about the free voter ID’s was at the 2701 S. Chase Ave. agency located in the UMOS Center.
The Chase Ave. DMV agency began to ignore the directive about several months ago and the staff posted the signs up to notify people seeking ID’s to vote, that they were free and could be used for the Primary February 21 election.
The GOP controlled legislature allocated over $6 million to pay for the ID’s, especially for people needing them and couldn’t afford them. It is not known how many other statewide DMV agencies followed the Chase Ave. DMV to notify people by posting up signs.
A new Voter ID law went into effect this year.

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Photos: HNG

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Outgoing CA State Assemblymember Submits Several Bills To Grant Driver Licenses To Illegals

Two recent bills in the legislature aimed to granting driver licenses to undocumented drivers in California.

By H. Nelson Goodson
February 28, 2012

Los Angeles – Last week, State Assemblymember Gilbert “Gil” Anthony Cedillo (D-Los Angeles) submitted two proposed bills to reserve several legislative spots geared for unlicensed drivers . The Cedillo bills have yet to contain any exact wording pertaining to licenses, but has given the legislator enough time to draw up legislation allowing undocumented immigrants to apply for special driver license in California.
Assemblymember Cedillo was able to make last Friday’s deadline to submit bills for the year, especially when his final term ends in December. He won’t be able to get re-elected due to term limits.
Cedillo has a history of trying to authorized driver licenses for undocumented immigrants, but some of his bills have died in committee and others have been vetoed.
Last week, Cedillo told the Los Angeles Times that he was encouraged once again to submit bills by comments made by several law enforcement officials in support to allow undocumented drivers to get a license. The favorable comments came from both the Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck and Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca.
Cedillo told the LA Times, “As we are now hearing from the police chief and the sheriff public safety has to be primary and we have to take politics out of public safety. Unlicensed motorists are more dangerous, and we have an opportunity to make sure every motorist is licensed.”
Governor Jerry Brown opposes granting driver licenses to undocumented immigrants in California.
A statewide campaign to allow driver licenses for undocumented immigrants has recently surged in the state.
Undocumented drivers continue to drive without licenses and most that are involved in hit-and-run accidents flee the scene. Those drivers detained without documentation or licenses, had their vehicles confiscated and towed to lots costing them hundreds of dollars to recover, which eventually they decide to forego the recovery of the vehicle. Unlicense drivers face fines of more than $2,000 per infraction.
The proposed Cedillo bill’s has infuriated anti-immigrant groups who are launching an all out oppostion campaign to granting licenses to illegals.

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Gilbert “Gil” Anthony Cedillo

GOP Attorney Kelly Engaged In Lies And Deceit Claiming Latina State Legislator Supported Redistricting Maps

State Representative Zamarripa claims GOP attorney Kelly engaged in lies and deceit when he told a three federal judge panel that she supported the disputed GOP redistricting maps.

By H. Nelson Goodson
February 28, 2012

Milwaukee – On Friday,  GOP attorney Dan Kelly told a three federal judge panel during closing arguments in a redistricting map lawsuit case that State Representative JoCasta Zamarripa (D-Milw.) had actually supported the GOP redistricting maps by not opposing the redrawn maps. The state GOP controlled legislature and Governor Scott Walker (R) approved the maps in February, which actually splits up a Hispanic voter-age majority district in Milwaukee.
Friday’s testimony by Kelly brought harsh words and allegations of deceit and lies from Zamarripa on Sunday. Zamarripa said, she was scheduled to testify in the federal trial, but was cut as a witness when the trial was set for only two days. The approved GOP redistricting maps divided the south side predominately Hispanic 8th Assembly District, which Zamarripa represents.
Zamarripa’s press release stated that Republican attorney Kelly’s closing argument on the redistricting case highlighted a quote of Zamarripa out of context, and claimed that it displayed her support of the maps. They went on to falsely insist that Zamarripa supported the Republican maps because she did not testify during the two day trial.
Zamarripa in response stated, “I am outraged that the GOP attorneys would resort to potentially slanderous statements in order to defend the Republicans in their web of lies and deceit of the public.
“In fact, I was on the witness list to testify, but in a strategic decision by attorneys based on the court’s directive that the trial conclude in two days, I was not called to testify.
“This redistricting plan deliberately and cynically divides our Latino community. It is an abuse of power designed to marginalize Latino voters.
“I cannot state emphatically enough that I do not and never have endorsed the redistricted maps that were forced upon Wisconsin with no public input, no timeline, and no regard for our fellow Wisconsinites,” Zamarripa said.
The three federal panel of judges will take at least three weeks to decide on the case.
According to Zamarripa, Republicans in the state legislature decided to split the Latino community along S. Chavez Drive. The East side of Chavez Dr. will become the 9th Assembly District and the West side will become the 8th Assembly District.
The state approved redistricting SB 148 bill created a Hispanic voting-age majority population with 54% from the current 22.9% in the 9th Assembly District and the 8th Assembly District was cut to 60% of Hispanic voting-age majority. The Republicans cut Zamarripa’s majority and created the two Districts. Zamarripa said, they could have added a 68% to 70% Hispanic majority to the 8th District, but didn’t.
Zamarripa lives in the 8th Assembly District.
The Republican state redistricting process only held one hearing, withheld the maps from the public, kept the process secret, and Democrats were given one week notice before they were approved.
They disenfranchised the Latino community from actually participatiing in the process and by not providing more time to challenge the plan and rushing to approve their redistricting plan.
Democrats, Voces de la Frontera and the NAACP filed a federal lawsuit claiming the state GOP legislators violated the Federal Voting Act of 1965, affording minority populations majority Districts calculated by results from the U.S. Census every ten years.

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JoCasta Zamarripa

Wisconsin Republican Governor Walker Won’t Challenge Signatures From Recall Petitions

GAB to decide by March 19, whether there are enough signatures to proceed with the Walker and Kleefisch recall election.

By H. Nelson Goodson
February 27, 2012

Madison – On Monday, Governor Scott Walker (R) decided not to file a challenge on recall signature petitions. The Government Accountability Board has until March 19, to decide if there are 540,208 valid signatures to proceed with a Walker recall election.
Walker’s campaign spokeswoman, Ciara Matthews reported that they had reviewed about 400,000 signatures, which had a 15% margin of errors. But that simply, the campaign had ran out of time, thus deciding not to file a challenge by 5:00 p.m. on Monday against the 1 million signatures in recall Walker petitions submitted by Democrats on January 17.
The Walker campaign had previously reported that they had at least 13,000 volunteers going through 152,000 pages of recall petitions looking for errors. Walker has raised up to $10 million in campaign funds, since the recall began.
Governor Walker was given 30 days to review the petitions and a judge later denied extra time that was needed to complete the process.
Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch (R) is expected to follow as well and not challenge more than 850,000 recall petition signatures filed against her.
Democrats, grassroot organizations and state employees who lost union bargaining rights (Republican control legislature, including Walker eliminated union bargaining rights) are looking forward to oust Walker and Kleefisch from office.

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Governor Scott Walker

Photo: HNG

Ruiz Arrested For Tausan’s Homicide At Hells Angels Funeral In San Jose

Hells Angels murder suspect caught at a Fremont Hotel over the weekend.

By H. Nelson Goodson
February 26, 2012

San Jose – On Sunday, police reported the arrest of Steve Ruiz, 38, of San Jose for the alleged October 15, 2011 homicide of Steve Tausan, 52, at the Oak Hill Memorial Park Cemetery in San Jose. Homicide investigators learned that Ruiz was hiding out at a local hotel and executed a warrant. Ruiz was taken into custody on Saturday night at the Days Inn in Fremont without incident.
Both Ruiz and Tausan are members of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. Tausan was the sergeant-at-arms for the Santa Cruz chapter and Ruiz belonged to the San Jose chapter.
They were among the 4,000 mourners attending the funeral for San Jose Hells Angels chapter President, Jeffrey Pettigrew, 51, who was killed inside a Nevada casino during a bike rally.
Ruiz and Tausan got into an altercation at Pettigrew’s funeral and Tausan was fatally shot after he punched Ruiz at the funeral gathering. When police arrived at the scene, investigators found that evidence at the crime scene was tempered with and the scene was cleaned up by fellow Hells Angels. Police were able to get enough evidence to identify Ruiz as the alleged suspect who killed Tausan. Ruiz had been a fugitive since last October.
On September 23, 2011, Pettigrew was fatally shot four times in the back inside the John Ascauga’s Nugget Casino in Sparks, Nevada.
Ernesto Manuel Gonzalez, 53, a rival member of the Vago’s Motorcycle Club has been charged with Pettigrew’s homicide.

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Steve Ruiz

“Park It” On May 1st Expected To Shutdown Major U.S. Operations

Soaring gas prices by mid-summer to effect working class.

By H. Nelson Goodson
February 26, 2012

Los Angeles – This Summer, the U.S. will face its most challenging issue and is expected to effect most of its population, especially the working class, including suppliers of food and other items. As gas prices are expected to surpass the $6.00 mark per regular gallon and even higher prices contributed to gas price gouging, Americans in the mainland will be left with no alternative, but to park it (vehicles) and excercise other means to move around the city and country.
In Los Angeles, California within the last 36 hours, a Chevron gas station located on W. Olympic Blvd. and Figueroa was selling regular gas at $5.49 per gallon. The gas price was expected to go up even higher this upcoming week and the higher price for gas is likely to spread nationwide. By mid-summer, gas prices are expected to reach up to $6.00 per gallon of regular in the Midwest.
In a radical move by Americans, a Gas Revolution has been gaining popularity around the nation. Most Americans are being asked to park their autos or vehicles on May 1st for a week long protest against the soaring gas prices. Which the U.S. government has no control over the demand and supply of gas triggered by major oil companies cutting back on production or having difficulty with keeping up with demand. 
Will most Americans stop driving for a week? Some will, but others will sacrifice food and other family needs to buy gas and continue to move around.
Long ago, gas had become convenient when prices were affordable in the early 1960‘s when the price per gallon was between 14 cents to 24 cents and Americans could afford to travel.
Today, many working people and families have restricted travel and the use of their vehicles for work. The good old times for just getting into your vehicle to go cruising around and check out the urban scenery have perished for most Americans. To others, its an addiction without a cure, no matter how high the price of gas will get, they will continue to pay the price, regardless of the consequences it may have on their economic situation and families. Major oil companies know, what ever the price of gas will be decided, Americans will pay.
As an alternative to soaring gas prices, many Americans will turn to carpooling, jogging, walking, bicycling, motorcycling and using public transportation as an alternative means to move around the urban settings.
The solution, alternative energy source and better vehicles that get more mileage to the gallon, electric and hybrid cars and other means yet to be invented.

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Feds Arrested El Paso County Commissioner Gandara Jr. For Drug Trafficking And Money Laundering Charges

El Paso commissioner and an associated arrested for possession with intent to deliver marijuana.

By H. Nelson Goodson
February 24, 2012

El Paso, Texas – On Thursday, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigators, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Drug Enforcement Administration announced the arrests of Guillermo “Willie” Gandara Jr., 37, of El Paso, Texas and Juan Canales, 50, of San Elizario, Texas for federal drug-trafficking and money laundering charges. Gandara is the 3rd Precint El Paso County Commissioner who recently filed as a Democrat to run as a State Representative in the 75th District.
Both Gandara and Canales are charged in an indictment with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 kilograms or more of marijuana, and one substantive count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana. The federal indictment also charges Gandara with three counts of maintaining property for distributing marijuana.
The indictment alleges that from November 2010 until the present, the defendants conspired to possess and distribute over 50 kilograms of marijuana using property owned by Gandara located at 1000 Coker Road in El Paso County, Texas.
Gandara owns the Socorro Iron and Metal business in El Paso. The indictment also contains a notice of criminal forfeiture whereby the government is seeking to forfeit any and all proceeds derived from their alleged marijuana trafficking operation, according to feds.
Both Gandara and Canales are facing each up to 20 years for each count in a federal prison, if convicted.
The following agencies also assisted in the investigation: the Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Border Patrol, the El Paso Police Department, and the El Paso County Sheriff’s Department, according to a press release.

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Guillermo “Willie” Gandara Jr. and Juan Canales

Photos: El Paso County Sheriff’s Department

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Asian-American Voter In Arizona Mistakenly Identified As Latino By TIME Arizona Cover Magazine Editors

TIME magazine editors are apologizing for error in identifying Asian-American as Latino on their Arizona front cover magazine issue.

By H. Nelson Goodson
February 24, 2012

Phoenix – This week, TIME magazine editors apologized that Michael Schennum, an Asian-American was placed on the front cover behind the big “M” and mistakenly identified as a Latino voter on the latest March 5, 2012, Arizona edition. TIME was focusing on the emerging Latino vote and their possibility to becoming instrumental in picking the next U.S. President.
Fifteen portraits of Hispanic voters were placed on the cover, except for one who was later identified as a non-Hispanic. The headline read, “Yo Decido.” (I decide) on the cover, including a subtitle “Why Latinos will pick the next President.”
TIME’s editors says, that at least 151 photos (portraits) were taken and believed everyone was a Latino.
Schennum is employed as a staff photographer at the Arizona Republic. He told the Arizona Republic, that TIME staff never asked him, if he was Latino. But, Schennum, who is actually part Chinese, Norwegian and Irish was surprised to see his photo on the March edition of the TIME magazine.

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15-year-old Boy Waived To Adult Court For Vehicular Homicide

Teenager admitted of drag racing that ended in a deadly crash in the south side.

By H. Nelson Goodson
February 24, 2012

Milwaukee – On Thursday, Daniel Barrios-Pérez, 15, was waived to adult court and charged with one felony count for homicide by negeligent use of a vehicle and a misdeamenor charge for driving without a license causing death of another person. Barrios-Pérez is accused of crashing into Barbara McIntosh, 58, of Waukesha on November 22, while he drag race with another vehicle along the 3400 block of W. Forest Home Ave. Barrios-Pérez told police he took his mother’s vehicle without her permission, according to the criminal complaint.
McIntosh died of multiple injuries caused by the car crash with Barrios-Pérez. He remained at the accident and was taken into custody.
Barrios-Pérez remains free on a $10,000 cash bond and is expected back in court on March 5, for a preliminary hearing.

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Daniel Barrios-Pérez

Whitney Houston’s Open Casket Photo Published By National Enquirer

Readers for the National Enquirer got an exclusive view of Houston’s photo during Friday’s private family wake.

By H. Nelson Goodson
February 23, 2012

Newark, New Jersey – The U.S. tabloid, the National Enquirer gave its readership an exclusive open casket photo of Whitney Houston taken during a private wake on Friday. Houston’s front page photo appeared in the latest edition of the National Enquirer.
The Enquirer didn’t provide a by line for the photo and no information has been revealed for the cost of obtaining the picture. Enquirer’s headline read, “Whitney: The Last Photo!”
Houston’s wake took place at the Whigham Funeral Home in Newark, New Jersey. Funeral services were held on Saturday followed by private burial on Sunday.
She wore jewelry worth at least $500,000, according to family members. Houston’s family is keeping quiet about who took the open casket photo, which has raised criticism targeted at the National Enquirer.
Houston died on February 11 at the age of 48. Her body was found at a Hilton hotel room in the bathtub. Preliminary investigation results indicated Houston had died from a combination of mixing prescribed drugs and alcohol. The coroner’s report later confirmed, that Houston’s heart stopped after taking a combination of suppressants that included xana, valium and alcohol, which were found in her body system.

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