MJS And Wisdems Want Jefferson County Republican Party Chair Gary Ellerman Fired

Both the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and the Wisdems are calling for Wisconsin Governor Walker to fire Jefferson County Republican Party Chair Gary Ellerman for posting racist comments and making false statements.

By H. Nelson Goodson
October 31, 2014

Milwaukee, WI – On Friday, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (MJS) editorial board and the Wisconsin Democratic Party (Wisdems) called on Governor Scott Walker (R) to fire the Jefferson County Republican Party Chair Gary Ellerman for making racist and false comments. The Wisdems released the following statement, Ellerman’s GOP fanaticism runs deep, as he reportedly had a Facebook page filled with racist, homophobic, bigoted postings about Democrats and President Barack Obama.
The MJS in its editorial on Friday asked the following question about Ellerman, “The problem is poor judgment, and Walker shouldn’t tolerate it in a party leader…Does Walker condone that in a county chairman of his party?” The MJS suggests for Walker to cut his ties with Ellerman who recently made false statements about Walker’s Democratic challenger Mary Burke being fired from her family Trek Bicycle Corp. business or does he condone Ellerman’s actions.
The MJS editorial board wrote, “Ellerman was the main source in a story in the conservative Wisconsin Reporter that claimed Burke was “fired” by Trek management…Walker should put some space between himself and his county chairman in Jefferson County.
And, he should demand that Ellerman resign.”
Trek Bicycle Corp. released the following statement Regarding Ellerman’s false allegations, “This last-minute attempt to disparage Mary’s contributions to Trek is attributed to Gary Ellerman, Chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party. Mr. Ellerman was fired from Trek in 2004. His politically motivated characterizations of Mary and her tenure at Trek are inaccurate. When Mary was in charge of Europe, she grew sales from $3 million to $50 million. In 1993, Mary decided that it was time for her to make a change and she left Trek. In 1995, John Burke asked Mary Burke to return to Trek to help with some key areas of the business. After she returned, Mary assumed the lead of Trek`s Global Forecasting department.”
Also from the Wisdems, “Scott Walker owes the people of Wisconsin answers to the questions posed by the Journal Sentinel editorial board today. For instance, does he agree with Gary Ellerman’s offensive, slanderous posts about both the President and First Lady of the United States?” said Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Mike Tate on Friday. “This is a close race, and desperate parties do desperate things, but this has no place in Wisconsin politics. Unless Walker agrees with Gary Ellerman’s views he should denounce Ellerman’s claims immediately and demand he resign from his leadership position in the Republican Party.”
On Thursday in an update of the 2011 DWD scandal in Walker’s administration, Manuel “Manny” Pérez, the former Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) confirmed to Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) that he briefed Walker’s administrative team, including Keith Gilkes, Walker’s Chief of Staff in 2011 about two top DWD administrators involved in an inappropriate relationship. Despite the information provided by Pérez, Governor Walker decided to appoint Scott Baumbach as the next DWD Secretary after Pérez resigned in May 2011. Baumbach was actually having an inappropriate relationship with Allison Rozek, an administrator for the Administrative Services Division.
Rozek had raised allegations that she was being sexually harassed by a top DWD administrator, but never filed a complaint probably because Governor Walker had learned of her affair with Baumbach. Baumbach and Gilkes who knew about the Rozek and Baumbach’s relationship while at DWD resigned in October 2011. It is not known, if Rozek resigned or was fired from the DWD in October 2011.

Keith Gilkes, Governor Walker’s Chief Of Staff In 2011 Knew About Baumbach And Rozek’s Inappropriate Relationship

Pérez has confirmed that he briefed Walker’s administrative team, including Keith Gilkes, Walker’s Chief of Staff in 2011 about two top DWD administrators involved in an inappropriate relationship.

By H. Nelson Goodson
October 30, 2014

Milwaukee, WI – On Thursday, Manuel “Manny” Pérez, former Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) in 2011 when contacted, if Governor Scott Walker (R) and his administrative leadership, including Keith Gilkes, Walker’s Chief of Staff in 2011 knew that two top DWD administrators were having a relationship. Pérez stated, “as the Former Secretary of Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, I am proud of my record as out of 110,000 jobs generated or filled in the last 4 years; 26,000 or approximately 23% were filled in the 5 months that I was Secretary of DWD via exceptionally coordinated efforts with Workforce Development Boards, Tech Colleges, and non-profit organizations. As a Secretary, I briefed other members of the administration leadership on many matters, including personnel. I do not know whether the administration leadership team shared the entire briefings with the Governor.”
Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) learned that Governor Walker appointed Scott Baumbach as Secretary of the DWD in 2011 after Pérez resigned in May as DWD Secretary. Governor Walker, Gilkes and his administration leadership had learned of an allegation that Baumbach and Allison Rozek, then administrator for the Administrative Services Division were in an inappropriate relationship before Pérez resigned. Apparently Walker knew of the relationship and still appointed Baumbach to the position. Baumbach resigned in October 2011, just four months after Pérez resigned.
Rozek had complained that she was being sexually harassed by a top administrator, but she later left her position and it is not known whether she actually resigned or was let go in October 2011. Rozek never followed through with the sexual harassment complaint, probably because Walker had learned of the relationship between both Baumbach and Rozek.
In October 2011, Gilkes, Baumbach and Rozek resigned from their positions indicating the scandal at the DWD took a toll on Walker’s administration. Pérez resigned four months before Gilkes, Baumbach and Rozek resigned for personal reasons.
Governor Walker should have never appointed Baumbach as DWD Secretary knowing that it would haunt him later in his political career for re-election.

Walker, Gilkes, Baumbach and Rozek could not be reached for comment.

GOP Leader Gary Ellerman’s Allegation That WI Governor Candidate Mary Burke Fired From Trek Is False

Ellerman’s allegation that Burke was fired by own family business is false, according to a Trek Bicycle Corp. statement.

By H. Nelson Goodson
October 29, 2014

Waterloo, WI – On Wednesday, Gary Ellerman, a former employee who was fired after working twelve years at Trek Bicycle Corporation and is the current Chair for the Jefferson County Republican Party is under fire for making false statements about Wisconsin candidate for Governor Mary Burke (D). Ellerman was quoted by the Wisconsin Reporter (WR) that Burke had been terminated from Trek, her own family business in the 1990’s for poor performance. In response, Burke called Ellerman’s false statement to the WR as “ridiculous” and “baseless.”
Trek released the following statement about Ellerman’s false allegation, “This last-minute attempt to disparage Mary’s contributions to Trek is attributed to Gary Ellerman, Chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party. Mr. Ellerman was fired from Trek in 2004. His politically motivated characterizations of Mary and her tenure at Trek are inaccurate. When Mary was in charge of Europe, she grew sales from $3 million to $50 million. In 1993, Mary decided that it was time for her to make a change and she left Trek. In 1995, John Burke asked Mary Burke to return to Trek to help with some key areas of the business. After she returned, Mary assumed the lead of Trek`s Global Forecasting department.”
Ellerman could not be reached for comment because he is out of the country, according the Jefferson County GOP office.
Tom Albers another former Trek executive who was let go in 1997 after serving three years as President and CEO of Trek Bicycle Corporation from 1994 and a supporter of Governor Scott Walker (R) told WISN 1130 radio that indeed Mary Burke, a Democrat who is challenging Walker was fired by her father Dick Burke and brother John Burke. Albers came forward after Ellerman mentioned him as a person who also knew that Burke had been fired. Ellerman has a history of running as a false Democrat in several state races, but is a true Republican.
Albers has contributed $500 to Walker’s campaign, according to WISN 1130.
Burke recently explained that her European position was eliminated after admitting she left Trek Bicycle Corp. when she felt burned out, which Albers believed was one of the reasons she was replaced, according to WISN 1130.
Trek Bicycle Corporation has denied that Burke had been fired and that Burke left by her own decision to do so. Albers told WISN 1130 that he hasn’t talked to Ellerman since 1997, but both are main GOP supporters who are worried that Burke could actually defeat Walker on November 4, according to some members of the WI GOP Party.
Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) learned that Governor Walker knew of an inappropriate relationship before he appointed Scott Baumbach as the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) in 2011 after Manuel “Manny” Pérez, had resigned in May as DWD Secretary. Governor Walker and his administration (chief of staff) had learned of an allegation that Baumbach and Allison Rozek, then administrator for the Administrative Services Division were in a relationship. Apparently Walker knew of the relationship and still appointed Baumbach to the position. Baumbach resigned in October 2011 four months after Pérez resigned.
Rozek had complained that she was being sexually harassed by a top administrator, but she later left her position and it is not known whether she resigned or was let go. Rozek never followed through with the sexual harassment compliant, probably because Walker had learned of the relationship between both Baumbach and Rozek.
Governor Walker should have never appointed Baumbach as DWD Secretary knowing that it would haunt him later in his political career for re-election.
Walker, Pérez, Baumbach and Rozek could not be reached for comment.

Mary Burke and Gary Ellerman

Immigration Reform Undocumented Activist Jaime Valdez Released On $15K Bond

The Valdez family announced that it has raised $15,000 with in-kind needed donations to free Jaime Valdez by posting his immigration bond.

By H. Nelson Goodson
October 29, 2014

Phoenix, Arizona – On Tuesday, the family of immigration reform activist Jaime Valdez announced that they had raised a total of $15,000 bond needed to secure his release yesterday from immigration detention while he challenges his deportation case. The Valdez family raised $9K and a Gofundme account has raised the balance through in-kind donations.
A YouTube video posted by Puente Movement in Arizona on Tuesday showed Valdez thanking his supporters from his residence in Arizona. Valdez is free on bond, but is continuing to challenge his unjust deportation from the U.S.
Valdez was deported in February 2014 after spending a year in detention. Soon after, he decided to present himself at the Nogales Port of Entry so he could continue challenging his deportation. He strongly believes that he was deported because his father and supporters were staging a hunger strike outside an ICE facility and ICE retaliated by deporting him the same day of the protest. The Puente Human Rights Movement created the Gofundme account on October 22 to help raise funds for Valdez freedom.

Thank You Video From Jaime Valdez: http://youtu.be/KXWakozlkTA

NASA’s Supply Rocket Explodes On Liftoff

October 28, 2014

NASA Antares unmanned supply rocket exploded 6 seconds after launch on Tuesday, carrying 5K of supplies including 1.3K of food for International Space Station. Posted by H. Nelson Goodson

43 Ayotzinapa Missing Students Bodies Discarded At Cocula’s Municipal Garbage Dump

Mexican federal authorities led to Cocula’s Municipal waste and garbage dump where the bodies of 43 Ayotzinapa missing students were discarded by local police and Guerreros Unidos.

By H. Nelson Goodson
October 28, 2014

Cocula, Guerrero, Mexico – On Tuesday, Jesús Murillo Karam, Mexico’s federal Attorney General arrived at the waste and dump in Puente del Río San Juan in Cocula where the bodies of 43 missing Ayotzinapa students were discarded. The scene, a massive clandestine grave smelled like death, according to investigators.
Four members of the Guerreros Unidos (GU), a criminal organization confessed on Sunday that two of them participated in the massacre of the missing students and two others were just lookouts for the GU.
On Monday, Karam announced that the four suspects taken into custody recently provided key information that led federal forensic authorities, federal police and military police to the massive crime scene in Cocula’s garbage dump site. One of the suspects, Andrés Apolinar Barrera, a Guerrero Ministry Police Agent confessed and told where the students were buried. Barrera and one of the suspects participated in the students massacre and two others were just lookouts for the GU.
Karam said, that those responsible for the Ayotzinapa student massacre have been detained including some of the leaders and masterminds of the killings. More arrests are expected Karam, confirmed.
So far, 58 suspects have been detained including 14 municipal police officers from Cocula, 22 municipal police officers from Iguala, 16 members of the Guerreros Unidos, including several of its leaders, Sidronio Casarrubias Salgado and Salomón Pineda, aka, “El Molón.”
Cocula Mayor César Miguel Peñaloza Santana was also arrested in connection with the missing students from the Raúl Isidro Burgos school in Ayotzinapa.
The federal attorney general’s office (PGRF) issued warrants for former Iguala Mayor José Luis Abarca Velázquez, his wife, María de los Ángeles Pineda and Felipe Flores Velázquez, Iguala’s Public Security Director who have disappeared and went into hiding after the students were kidnapped and some were brutally tortured and killed on September 26 and 27. Abarca Velázquez, Pineda Villa and Flores Velázquez have been implicated in multiple murders.
Guerrero Governor Ángel Heladio Aguirre Rivero resigned on Thursday over allegations that he was connected to the student murders and his political party was moving forward to oust him.

Iguala Municipal Police Officers arrested were;

1. Fausto Bruno Heredia

2. Emilio Torres Quezada

3. Baltazar Martínez Cosarrubias

4. Abraham Julián Aguado Popoca

5. Miguel Ángel Hernández Morales

6. Juan y/o Iván Armando Hurtado Hernández

7. Zulai Marino Rodríguez

8. Salvador Herrera Román

9. Osvaldo Arturo Vázquez Castillo

10. Juan Luis Hidalgo Pérez

11. Arturo Calvario Villalba

12. Rubén Alday Marín

13. Hugo Hernández Arias

14. Fernando Delgado Sánchez

15. Marco Antonio Ramírez Urvan

16. Margarita Contreras Castillo

17. Raúl Cisneros García

18. José Vicencio Flores

19. Mario Cervantes Contreras

20. Alejandro Andrade de la Cruz

21. Hugo Salgado Wences

22. Nicolás Delgado Arellano

iguala missing students reward2

iguala municipal police and officials

Reynas Events And Restaurant Opens At Esperanza Unida Building

The Reynas family provided complimentary breakfast as customer appreciation day on their first day of opening Reynas Events and Mexican Restaurant on Sunday.

By H. Nelson Goodson
October 26, 2014

Milwaukee, WI – On Sunday, Reynas Events and Mexican Restaurant opened after a long wait to get their food dealer license from the Milwaukee Department of Health and Alderman José G. Pérez, 12th Aldermanic District. Ald. Pérez ok’d the release of the food license after Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) first reported that Perez had withheld it. Pérez and an assistant city attorney told the Reynas family on October 9th during a meeting at city hall that the food license had been combined with a liquor license. Both licenses were supposed to have been brought before the Milwaukee Common Council Licensing Committee, Pérez told the Reynas. But according to the September 9th hearing only the Class-B Tavern liquor license request by Reynas Events and Mexican Restaurant, LLC was discussed and then placed on hold by Ald. Pérez request.
The minutes of the Licensing Committee hearing and a live television broadcast of the hearing that was recorded confirmed that only the liquor license was included in the agenda and discussed. Alderman T. Anthony Zielinski, the Chairman of the Licensing Committee confirmed that only the liquor license was discussed and placed on hold.
Alfonso Morales, owner of Reynas Bakery and ICE Cream on Chávez Drive and associate of Reynas Events said, that the city inspectors had approved everything needed to get a food dealer license and should have received the license back in July, about the same time Reynas Events had received an occupancy permit by the Department of Neighborhood Services.
Morales estimated more than 200 people had visited their restaurant between 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and many took advantage of the complimentary breakfast (delicious menudo) and others ordered from their menu.
Reynas Events is still looking forward to getting a Class-B Tavern liquor license from the city.
Reynas Events is the first Mexican restaurant to open at the Esperanza Unida International Building at 611 W. National Ave., since the controversy ignited after Ald. Pérez publicly assume during the Licensing Committee hearing that the Esperanza Unida building is owned by the city for just owing taxes. According to Morales, the Esperanza Unida property will be bought by developers in November allowing the Board of Directors to pay taxes owed to the city and avoiding a foreclosure. The developers plan to invest millions into the building and Reynas Events has an exclusive agreement with them to stay at the location for the next 10 years.
The 611 property is assessed at $1,948,000, but owes delinquent taxes for 2013, $66,556.24; for 2012, $64,103.63 and for 2011, $46,111.73, a total of $176,771.60, plus incurring tax delinquent penalties per month. The Treasurer’s Office says, Esperanza Unida has a redemption period of November 19, which the Esperanza Board has to pay at least $110,215.36 for delinquent taxes for both 2011 and 2012 to forgo foreclosure.
In June, Callan Shultz, of North Pointe Holdings ll LLC and President of Keystone Development from Oshkosh offered $1.3M for the Esperanza Unida property and is planning to invest more than $7M to convert the 611 building into a 55-unit apartment complex.

Groups Want Buckeye Police Department To Release Officer’s Name In Teodulo Sánchez Incident

Several groups and supporters of undocumented immigrant that was threatened to be killed by a Buckeye officer, if he moved during a traffic stop want officer fired.

By H. Nelson Goodson
October 26, 2014

Buckeye, Arizona – On Thursday, several groups, from Puente Movement, Dream Acton Coalition including supporters gathered in front of the Buckeye Police Department (BPD) to demand an independent investigation, the release of the officer’s name and for the officer to be terminated in the Teodulo Sánchez incident. More than a dozen people are seeking to learn the identity of a Buckeye Police officer who on October 10 during a traffic stop threaten to kill and shoot Sánchez, if he moved while being questioned.
The officer apparently made false statements to his department initial inquiry about the incident. The BPD in a press release when contacted by Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) stated that according to the officer, Sánchez was “uncooperative” and “making furtive movements.”
But, Sánchez’s video selfie contradicted the officer’s account of the incident. Sánchez began recording the incident with his cell shortly after he noticed the officer following him. During the first seven minutes before he was stopped, Sánchez was driving the legal speed limit and actually when stopped he followed the officers demands while the he pointed a gun at Sánchez. The officer involved is a Spanish speaking Latino officer, according to the BPD.
The BPD is conducting their own administrative department internal investigation and hasn’t identified the officer. The BPD has stated that “the officer used a poor choice of words, and does not condone the statement made during the stop.”

Multiple Shots Fired By South Division High School Residence

Milwaukee police investigating a call of multiple shots fired in the Southside neighborhood.

By H. Nelson Goodson
October 24, 2014

Milwaukee, WI – On Friday, police around 7:27 p.m. were called to the 1600 block of S. 15th Place to investigate a multiple shooting. Police recovered more than 16 spent bullet cartridges.
Several neighbors say, that a drug house is active just across from South Division. Last Summe, another shooting occured in the same block.
Police went door to door to see, if anyone was reported hurt. The shooting happened in the West side of South Division High School on W. ODell St. and S. 15th Place. No one was reported injured.

Ángel Heladio Aguirre Rivero, Governor Of Guerre ro Resigns During Protests Over 43 Missing Students

Rivero resigned of Thursday after weeks of unrest, protests and marches seeking justice for the 43 missing students from Ayotzinapa.

By H. Nelson Goodson
October 24, 2014

Chilpancingo, Guerrero, Mexico – On Thursday, Governor Ángel Heladio Aguirre Rivero, 58, of Guerrero during a press conference announced his resignation after weeks of protests and marches in the state and Mexico seeking justice for the missing 43 students from the Raúl Isidro Burgos school in Ayotzinapa. Rivero was accused of being involved in the disappearance of the students on September 26 in Iguala.
Rivero’s PRD political party was moving forward to oust Rivero in wake of unrest, protests and his alleged implication in the disappearance of the students. He has not been charged yet in connection with the September 26 murder of 6 people including students in Iguala.
Mexico’s federal Attorney General’s Office on Monday reported that a reward of $4.7M ($64.5M pesos) has been offered for any information leading to the whereabouts of the missing students.
So far, more than 50 suspects have been detained including 14 municipal police officers from Cocula, 22 municipal police officers from Iguala, 16 members of the Guerreros Unidos, a criminal organization including several of its leaders, Sidronio Casarrubias Salgado and Salomón Pineda, aka, “El Molón.”
Cocula Mayor César Miguel Peñaloza was also arrested in connection with the missing students from the Raúl Isidro Burgos school in Ayotzinapa.
The federal and state attorney general’s office are searching for Iguala Mayor José Luis Abarca Velázquez, his wife, María de los Ángeles Pineda and Felipe Flores Velázquez, Iguala’s Public Security Director who have disappeared and went into hiding after the students were kidnapped and some were brutally tortured and killed. Abarca Velázquez, Pineda Villa and Flores Velázquez have been implicated in multiple murders.

Ángel Heladio Aguirre Rivero