Gentrification Looms In The Southside Of Milwaukee, Possibily Phasing Out Latino Political Empowerment

The near Southside has held its political empowerment for decades, but within the next five to ten years, Latino empowerment will no doubt be phaseout by gentrification.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 31, 2019

Milwaukee, WI – Within the next five to ten years, the Latino political empowerment will definitely be phaseout, as the near Southside continues to see gradual Hispanic flight to surrounding suburbs and Suburban Whites continue a steady streamline of relocating near downtown by buying and renting properties including lofts in Walker’s Point. Since the Near Southside Comprehensive Development Area Plan was approved by in Milwaukee City Plan Commission in 2009 under Chairwoman Patricia Torres Najera and was passed by the Milwaukee Common Council on May 27, 2009, gentrification has flourished in the Southside.
It has been 10 years since the city development plan was approved and major developments have occurred along the Menomonee Valley, Walker’s Point and the near Southside including the Harbor area, which has led to displacing a fraction of the Latino population that has relocated to West Allis, Oakcreek, South Milwaukee and other surrounding suburbs seeking affordable rents and properties to purchase.
When the plan was first introduced, it focused on mass development of the Southside area, which in ten years, it has led to gentrification, a process of renewal accompanying the influx of middle-class people into deteriorating areas that often displaces earlier poorer residents within the Southside. Properties were sold at below market price and later sold at higher prices making the Southside area a marketable land grabbing scenario. Downtown continues to expand to the Southside, as seen through the development of the Menomonee Valley where the new Harley-Davidson Museum, Miller Park is located on Canal St.
Today, the gentrification in the Southside has slowed down a bit and attributed to the influx of the African-American population relocating in the Southside including the Asian population, which city planners hadn’t count on.
Currently, Milwaukee Alderman José G. Pérez from the 12th Aldermanic District has yet to confront and address the gradual gentrification process taking place in the Southside, since major developers have contributed more than $90,000 to his re-election campaign, according to his campaign reports to the Milwaukee City Election Commission. Ald. Pérez could very well become the last Latino to be elected in the 12th Aldermanic District, if gentrification continues to swallow the Southside without assuring safeguards to keep affordable housing in the area. Also gradual gentrification is taking place in the adjacent 8th Aldermanic District in Alderman Bob Donovan’s district where a large portion of the Latino population resides.

Milwaukee City Building Inspector Tells Complaining Neighbor Facing Debris On His Walkway To Remove Damaged Gutter From Negligent Neighbor’s House

Milwaukee Southside resident left with no option to resolve neighbor’s rotting gutter, which has left debris on the walkway between homes.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 30, 2019

Milwaukee, WI – On Thursday, Ricardo Ruiz, a resident at the 1900 block of S. 12th Street is making his dilemma public after Alderman José G. Pérez from the 12th Aldermanic District has been negligent to assist appropriately including Milwaukee City Inspector Mike Scholar who has also failed to resolve a rotting gutter issue from Ruiz’s neighbor who has also failed to fix the gutter and remove debris that has fallen on a walkway used by children and the fallen gutter has damaged a fence as well. According to Ruiz’s daughter, Scholar told Ruiz to remove the damaged gutter from his neighbor’s home located at 1916 S. 12th Street, which if Ruiz does, could very well end up being sued by his neighbor for removing the gutter from the adjacent property. Ruiz had contacted Alderman Pérez and the local Neighborhood Services to get his neighbor to fix the damaged gutter, but to no avail.
Apparently, the owner of the home where the damaged gutter is located passed away and his surviving daughter has also failed to up keep the property as the City code requires.
Ald. Pérez seems to have his own priorities, but if Ruiz had lived in the 8th Aldermanic District, Ald. Bob Donovan, who is retiring would have quickly resolved the issue and would have forced Neighborhood Services to handle the issue fast.

ACLU-TX Filed A Federal Lawsuit Seeking $100M In Damages Agains t U.S. Border Customs Laredo Sector Claiming “unknown agent” (iden tified by HNNUSA as Border Patrol Agent Romualdo Barrera) Fatall y Shot Unarmed Guatemalan Immigrant Claudia Patricia Gómez González

The ACLU-TX has filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Border Customs Laredo Sector claiming that Border Patrol Agent Romualdo Barrera who has not been officially named in the lawsuit fatally shot Guatemalan immigrant Claudia Patricia Gómez González after crossing the border at the Rio Bravo vicinity in 2018.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 24, 2019

Laredo, Texas – On Thursday, the ACLU-TX filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Border Customs Laredo Sector including Border Patrol Agent Romualdo Barrera who has not been officially named, but has been identified as the agent that fatally shot Guatemalan immigrant Claudia Patricia Gómez González, 20, after crossing the border into the U.S. at the Rio Bravo vicinity on May 23, 2018. The lawsuit was filed by the ACLU-TX on behalf of Gilberto Gómez Vicente and Lidia González Vasquez, the parents of deceased Claudia Patricia Gómez González claiming $100M in damages. In the lawsuit filed by ACLU-TX and Kirkland & Ellis LLP, they claimed that Gómez González posed no threat to Border Patrol Agent Barrera and she was not carrying any type of weapon or anything that would be perceived as a weapon when she was killed.
Agent Barrera is named as “unknown agent” in the lawsuit. Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) has named Agent Barrera as the Border Patrol unknown agent who fatally shot Gómez González in cold blood, but he hasn’t been charged with her murder by the FBI who took over the death investigation in 2018.
A year has passed and the FBI including the U.S. Customs and Border Protection have yet to determine, if U.S. Border Patrol Agent Barrera committed cold blooded murder when he fatally shot Gómez González, as she ran in the heavy bush from him near the U.S. border in the Rio Bravo vicinity. Gómez González originally from San Juan Ostuncalco, Guatemala was fatally shot in the head by a U.S. Border Patrol Agent Barrera in Rio Bravo, which is about 13 miles South of Laredo in Webb County. Barrera is a 15-year veteran for the CBP. Agent Barrera in 2018 after killing Gómez González hired George Altgelt, a Laredo local attorney to represent him while the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Texas Rangers continued to investigate Gómez González’s death.
Agent Barrera’s name had been circulating in multiple Laredo protests organized by local immigrant right groups seeking justice for Gómez González.

Update: A federal lawsuit was filed on May 12, 2020 against U.S. Border Patrol Agent Romualdo Barrera who allegedly committed a criminal act and others claiming a wrongful death by using excessive force that claimed the life of Claudia Patricia Gómez González age 20 in Rio Bravo, Texas near Laredo on May 23, 2018. Lawsuit (17-page, PDF) link: https://bit.ly/3ip4iAz 

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Wisconsin Homicide Suspect Victor M. Cintron Jr. Arrested In California

The Madera Police Department in California reported that Cintron Jr. who was wanted in Wisconsin for the homicide of Jose Rodriguez-Castro in Milwaukee was taken into custody.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 21, 2019

Madera, California- On Monday, the Madera Police Department reported that Victor M. Cintron Jr., 23, wanted in Wisconsin for the homicide of Jose Rodriguez-Castro, 22, on May 3, 2019 had been taken into custody and was booked at the Madera County jail at 6:48 p.m. The U.S. Marshals Service tracked Cintron Jr. to the City of Madera where he was hiding to avoid arrest and prosecution.
Cintron Jr. surrendered to authorities without incident. He is expected to be extradited to Wisconsin to face one felony count for 1st-degree intentional homicide with the use of a dangerous weapon and attempted 1st-degree intentional homicide with the use of a dangerous weapon. If convicted, Cintron Jr. is facing life in prison without the possibility of parole for the homicide count and 60 years in prison for the attempted homicide count.
According to the criminal complaint, Cintron Jr. fatally shot Rodriguez-Castro at least 8 times and struck Rodriguez’s girlfriend who is pregnant once in the leg. Cintron Jr. used to date Rodriguez’s girlfriend before she broke up with him and began to date Rodriguez.
Rodriguez’s girlfriend identified Cintron Jr. as the suspect who killed Rodriguez-Castro in cold blood at the 2700 block of W. Forest Home Ave.

Rodolfo “Rudy” Martinez Fighting For Texas Latino Smokers Suffering From Tobacco-related Illnesses To Get A Piece Of The $15B Settlement

Martinez who is currently the LULAC Texas State Deputy for the Elderly and the current president of the Texas LULAC #9900 has been traveling throughout Texas communities disseminating information on Texas Senate Bill #1179, which he lobbied to create a study to investigate the allocation and expenditure of the tobacco 1998 settlement agreement of more than $15B.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 20, 2019

Austin, TX – On Monday, Rodolfo “Rudy” Martinez who is currently the LULAC Texas State Deputy for the Elderly and the current president of the Texas LULAC #9900 confirmed that he has been the advocate behind the newly created Texas Senate Bill #1179 introduced by Texas State Senator Jose Menendez (D), which would launch a study to investigate the allocation and expenditure of the tobacco 1998 settlement agreement of more than $15B, if the bill is approved by the Texas state legislature’s Health & Human Services Committee and moves forward. Martinez is fighting to make sure that Latinos suffering from tobacco-related Illnesses such as cancer, lung cancer, heart diseases and diabetes related to chronic smoking are able to get health related services paid by portions of the $15B in settlement monies.
According to Martinez, in the 1980’s the tobacco industry targeted the Latino market by specifically providing their tobacco advertising in Spanish to ensure they reached the Latino community by getting them attracted to smoking that later caused illnesses and harm through nicotine addiction, which for many was difficult to break the smoking addiction.

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28-year-old Undocumented Immigrant In Waukegan Held Illegally By Lake County Sheriff’s Office On An Alleged ICE Detainer Request

A 28-year-old undocumented man was held illegally on an alleged ICE detainer request after a Lake County judge dismissed a domestic case against him and ordered his released, but the Lake County Sheriff’s Office failed to abide by the judge’s order and held the man for more than 72 hours.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 19, 2019

Waukegan, Illinois – On Saturday, a mass mailing by Waukegan community immigrant rights advocate Margaret Carrasco revealed that the Lake County Sheriff’s Office failed to release Edgar Villalpando-Munoz, 28, from custody after a Lake County judge close a sex criminal case without charges involving a minor against him and ordered his release. Villalpando Munoz has two children and is married.
According to Carrasco’s e-mail to Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg, she claimed that, “…he is being ILLEGALLY detained at the Lake County Jail located at 29 S. County St Waukegan, Il. since this past Wednesday morning. His case was closed and the Judge ordered that he be released. However, he was not.
Edgar Munoz does NOT have an outstanding Deportation Order. His Attorney sent all his official immigration paperwork that same day to your office because your officials stated that he had an ” ICE HOLD ” however, this is incorrect.
Despite providing all the required documentation to prove this, he is still being detained. It has surpassed 72 hours that he has been illegally detained.
I contacted the Lake County Jail last night and spoke to the Commander on Duty ” Wilson “. She was very professional, helpful and pulled his file to review and stated that everything seemed in order but was going to talk to another commander since her shift was ending in 30 minutes and that I should call back in 1 hour regarding his release.
I called back MANY TIMES all night long and no one is answering the phone at the Jail. How can this be?? Are you aware of this occurring?
This is unacceptable. We are paying taxes to be provided services 24/7.
It is 5am Saturday May 18, 2019 and I am on my way to the Lake County Jail to personally speak to your staff and file a formal complaint demanding he be released immediately.
Question- Since taking office, have you sign a NEW 287(G) HOMELAND SECURITY agreement for your officers to act with the Authority of an ICE – IMMIGRATION office to DETAIN & DEPORT ” ALL ” IMMIGRANTS REGARDLESS IF THEY HAVE NO FELONY CRIMINAL CHARGES NOR OUTSTANDING DEPORTATION ORDER?
Whether they are undocumented, DACA, TPS, Temporary Legal Residents, LPR (legal Permanent Residents) or H1 or H2 worker or Visitor Visas, U Visas (victims of crime) or Political Asylum.
Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) checked the U.S. ICE 287(g) listing of partnerships and no county sheriff or police department in Illinois has a 287(g) agreement with ICE. ICE detainer request are deemed not legal, according to a federal court ruling and only a warrant signed a a judicial judge is legal to hold someone.
Villalpando-Munoz was finally released on Saturday before Carrasco arrived at the jail and after Carrasco and his attorney’s legal documents pressured the Lake County Sheriff’s Office to release him.
In June, all the partnerships with ICE under the 287(g) will decide whether to continue their partnership and lose millions of undocumented immigrant taxpayer dollars in their communities.
According to a previous Center for American Progress (CAP) analysis of 40 participating 287(g) jurisdictions, immigrant households in these localities contributed $24.4 billion in annual tax revenue and generated $65.9 billion in spending power. Localities signing up for this voluntary program are thus doing so at the risk of losing these vital economic contributions.

Update: On Monday, Anthony Vega, the Chief of Staff from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office e-mailed a response to Margaret Carrasco concerning her previous inquiry about Edgar Villalpando-Munoz being held more than 72 hours after his case was closed. According to Vega, Lake County Jail took custody of Mr. Villalpando-Munoz in September due to criminal sex charges involving minors. We took custody of Mr. Villalpando-Munoz from ICE’s Chicago facility. When we took over his custody there was a hold on him from the federal government.
In December 2018, a federal judge vacated the hold, but was still held in Lake County Jail due to his pending Lake County court proceedings. The federal government failed to notify Lake County Jail of the vacated hold. On May 15th, his case in Lake County was resolved. On May 16th, we received communication from his lawyers with a copy of the vacated hold. During this period of time, our staff reached out to ICE and our federal counterparts to (1) let them know the Lake County case was resolved, and (2) verify the status of the federal hold.
When we were finally able to communicate with our federal counterparts, Mr. Villalpaldo-Munoz was subsequently released on 05/18/2019 at 12:09 PM.
Furthermore, I want to be clear, Sheriff Idleburg does not honor ICE detainers (unless signed by a federal judge) nor do we participate in any 287(g) program.
Given the severity of the charges, our staff was doing their due diligence by obtaining confirmation from our federal counterparts due to the initial lack of communication from ICE regarded the December vacated hold.

Ivan A. Santiago Convicted, Facing Life In Prison For The Homicide Of Humberto Varela Caballero In Milwaukee

Santiago facing life in prison for intentional homicide without the possibility of parole plus 250 years in prison on 10 other felony counts.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 16, 2019

Milwaukee, WI – On Wednesday, a Milwaukee County Circuit Court jury found Ivan A. Santiago, 24, guilty on 11 felony counts including 1st-degree intentional homicide for the murder of Humberto Varela Caballero, 30, in October 2017. Santiago is scheduled for a sentencing hearing on July 19. He is facing life in prison without the possibility of parole for one count of intentional homicide including as party to a crime with a dangerous weapon charge, two counts of armed robbery with use of force (facing 40 years in prison and $100K in fines on each count), one count of attempted robbery as party to a crime, (facing 40 years in prison and $100K in fines), two counts of 1st-degree reckless endangering safety as party to a crime with a dangerous weapon (facing 12 years in prison and $25K in fines for each count), two counts of burglary while armed as party to a crime, (facing 40 years in prison and $100K in fines on each count), one count of possession to sell THC (200-1000g) (facing 6 years in prison and $10K in fines) and two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felony (facing 10 years in prison and $25K in fines on each count).
Rodolfo Pantojas-Juarez, 26, and Marco R. Felipe, 25, were also convicted of multiple felonies in connection with Caballero’s murder.

Pantojas-Juarez was convicted and sentenced to prison on March 22, 2019 for the following felony counts, one count for armed burglary with a dangerous weapon (sentenced to 10 years in prison and with confinement of 5 years and 5 years supervision), one count for felony murder (sentenced to 40 years in prison with confinement of 25 years and 14 years supervision), and one count of 1st-degree recklessly endangering safety (sentenced to 10 years in prison with confinement of 5 years and 5 years supervision), all counts to be served concurrently.
Felipe was convicted and sentenced to prison on April 29, 2019 for the following felony counts, one count of armed robbery as party to a crime (sentenced to 10 years in prison with confinement of 5 years and supervision of 5 years), one count of burglary as party to a crime with a dangerous weapon (sentenced to 4 years in prison with confinement of 2 years and 2 years supervision to be served concurrently with count of armed robbery) and 1st-degree recklessly endangering safety as party to a crime with a dangerous weapon (sentenced to 14 years in prison with confinement of 10 years and 4 years supervision to be served consecutively with the two previous counts).
According to the criminal complaint, the suspects, Santiago and Pantojas-Juarez were charged with fatally shooting Varela Caballero during an armed robbery just outside his Milwaukee Southside residence located at the 2100 block of S. 7th Street. Varela Caballero suffered four gunshot wounds to the chest.

The criminal complaint says, that police found a 9mm handgun at Santiago’s home and spent cartridges found at 5 separate crime scenes were connected to the same weapon including an armed robbery shooting on October 30th of a man seating in a vehicle near the 3200 block of W. Lincoln Ave. The 49-year-old victim survived, he was shot multiple times.

Also, Santiago had fired his handgun at several Parking Checkers with the Department of Public Works including one at the 1300 black of W. Orchard. A parking checker was going to issue a citation to Santiago’s vehicle when he fired his weapon over the head of the checker.
Another shooting incident happened when a parking checker noticed a home invasion and followed the suspect’s vehicle near the 1300 block of W. Waterford and Santiago fired gunshots at the checker.
Felipe confessed to police that he also participated in several home invasions.
Pantojas-Juarez was connected to a Mexican drug cartel, which he apparently owed money too after someone stole 15 kilos of cocaine from him and had about 50 to 70 days to repay the cartel, so he went on a crime spree targeting suspected drug dealers and other victims that included kidnappings, home invasions, robbery and torture of some victims along with Santiago and Felipe from October 11 to October 31 to get cash to repay his drug cartel debt, according to the criminal complaint.

Joaquin Altoro Appointed As Executive Director Of WHEDA By Wisconsin Governor Evers

Altoro has been officially appointed to WHEDA as executive director by Governor Evers.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 14, 2019

Milwaukee, WI – On Tuesday, Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) confirmed that Joaquin Altoro was officially appointed as executive director of the Wisconsin Housing & Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) by Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers (D). HNNUSA was the first Hispanic media source to report on the lack of Latinos/as on Governor Evers’ Cabinet nominations and continued to raise concerns in the Latino community about the lack of Hispanics on his administration staff as well. Latinos were instrumental in electing Governor Evers and ousting former Governor Scott Walker (R) from Office due to his anti-immigrant stance in the state.
“Access to affordable housing is another important part of how we think about economic development in a more holistic way and connect the dots to attract new businesses and encourage existing businesses to grow,” said Gov. Evers. “I’m proud and excited to have Joaquin Altoro serve in this critical role ensuring that the state’s commitment to housing remains strong and solid. With his background in commercial lending and community development, coupled with his track record of fostering effective, successful public-private partnerships, Mr. Altoro is a great fit to ensure the ongoing success of the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority.” Altoro’s position as executive director begins on June 3, 2019, according to Gov. Evers.
Altoro is the Vice-president of the Commercial Banking at Town Bank, a Wintrust Community Bank and Vice-president of Walker’s Point Association Board of Directors.

In April, Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele appointed Altoro to the MATC Board.

Israel Ramón Appointed As Milwaukee County Register of Deeds By Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers

Ramón, an attorney has been appointed to Milwaukee Register of Deeds.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 10, 2019

Milwaukee, WI – On Friday, the Office of Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers (D) announced that Attorney Israel Ramón had been appointed as Milwaukee County Register of Deeds by Governor Evers. Ramón who will serve the term ending January 4, 2021 replaced John La Fave, the former Register of Deeds.

Former Milwaukee Police Department Inspector Timothy Heier Becomes Chief Of Police In The Village Of Pewaukee

Heier served in the Milwaukee Police Department for nearly 28 years.

By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 10, 2019

Milwaukee, WI – The Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) announced in following press release that Inspector Timothy Heier, who recently retired from the MPD became the Chief of Police in the Village of Pewaukee, Wisconsin. According to the MPD press release, Inspector Heier began his career as a police officer with the Milwaukee Police Department on March 18, 1991. He was promoted to the rank of Detective in 1999 and served 9 years in the Homicide Division. He was promoted to Lieutenant of Detectives in 2009 and held supervisory positions in the Criminal Investigation Bureau, Organized Crime Division, and at Districts Two and Seven. From 2011 to 2014, he served as a supervisor in the Crisis Negotiation Unit that responded to incidents involving barricaded armed suspects and hostage situations.
Inspector Heier was promoted to Captain in 2014 and has commanded the Internal Affairs Division, the Investigation, and Intelligence Bureau, responsible for all criminal investigations in Districts 1, 2, 3, and 6 and commanded District Five of the Neighborhood Patrol Bureau. On June 22, 2018, Captain Heier was promoted to the rank of Inspector.

Inspector Heier graduated Summa Cum Laude from Concordia University Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice Administration. He is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy, session 253, in Quantico, Virginia and the Police Executive Research Forum – Senior Management Institute of Police (SMIP), Session 65, in Boston, Massachusetts. He also has special training from the Northwestern University Supervision of Police Personnel, the International Association of Chiefs of Police Leadership in Police Organizations and the Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation, Death Investigation School.