 Edición Semanaria de Noticiero Latino |
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April 2004
April 2nd | Listen to the program
YZAGUIRRE RETIRES - Raul Izaguirre, leader of the National Council of La Raza for more than 30 years, announces he will retire as head of the Latino organization with the most affiliates. Speaking with Patricia Guadalupe, the renowned civil rights leader says that even though he is retiring from day-to-day duties, he will continue to offer continuous assessment to the incoming director, Janet Murguia.
SCHOOL REFORM - New York City government pushes for an education reform, as part of the national "no child left behind" act. In a controversial decision, authorities decided to flunk 15,000 third graders that will now be forced to repeat the grade after failing to pass reading and mathematics exit exams. Politicians and mentors classified the measure as costly and authoritarian and also of having electoral intentions. On the other hand, half of all city council members are opposed to the plan and threaten a veto in June, when the fiscal budget is up for a vote. Marco Vinicio Gonzalez offers details from New York City.
AGJOBS, GALLO & MORE - During the week of celebrations commemorating the birth date of the legendary union leader, Cesar E. Chavez, his successor at the head of the United Farm Workers union is optimistic. Arturo Rodriguez, President of the union, says that there are good possibilities for the approval of the AgJobs bill, that would offer legalization for farm workers. Rodriguez also announces the renewal of talks this week with the winery giant, Gallo of Sonoma, seeking to extend benefits to the majority of their workers. Arturo Rodriguez spoke with Executive Producer, Samuel Orozco on these and other topics.
April 9th | Listen to the program
RICE TESTIFIES - There were no specific alarm signals that pointed out to terrorist attacks on American soil before September 11, 2001. These were the words on her defense, that Condoleezza Rice, President Bush's National Security Advisor, said before the independent commission that investigates such attacks. Critics of the President said that her testimony shines little light on the September 11 attacks. Patricia Guadalupe attended the hearing at the Nation's Capitol.
STREET VENDORS AND POLICE - In New York, street vendors who say to have been suffering harassment and police abuse for years, are finally happy to be heard. Lawyers and community organizers have negotiated a meeting with high profile police representatives and concrete compromises in favor of the street vendors. Marco Vinicio González files this report.
MEXICO CITY'S DOWNTOWN - Mexico City's government tries to capture the eye of the international tourists by promoting its historical downtown's new image. The Metropolitan Cathedral, The Downtown's Square and other historic monuments were remodeled with a multi- million dollar investment. However, as Citlali Saenz reports some ask what will happen to the street vendors who have been asked to leave the area.
April 16th | Listen to the program
MENDEZ VS WESTMINSTER - “No Mexicans allowed” was the answer that little Silvia Mendez received in 1944, when her aunt took her to school at Westminster Elementary in Southern California. Immediately after, her parents, Gonzalo and Felicitas, began the first legal battle that would end segregation in California public schools. The lawsuit paved the way for the successful landmark legal case “Brown vs. the Board of Education” that ended segregation in the public school system of the United States. Mendez vs. Westminster is celebrating its 57th anniversary this week. In this interview with Samuel Orozco, Silvia Mendez tells her story, which only recently has been included in some history books.
WHITE HOUSE PROTEST - Activists and soldier’s relatives protested in front of the White House this week. The demonstrators urged the President to bring soldiers back from Iraq, and to get the United Nations’ assistance in that country. This act took place a day after the Bush administration announced the extension of military operations in Iraq. Patricia Guadalupe was at the protest in Washington.
OVERWEIGHT TEENS - Lack of exercise and the obsession over fast food among teenagers have contributed in a big way to increase the epidemic levels of youth obesity, according to scientists. Two of the key reasons behind this fact, according to experts, are that young people are the main targets of fast food chains advertising campaigns, and that passive entertainment such as video games and television programs easily gains them over.
April 23th | Listen to the program
GOLDMAN PRIZE - Libia Grueso Castelblanco received this week in San Francisco the Goldman Prize, considered by many the Green Nobel Prize. Grueso is an afro-Colombian social worker who for many years has fought for the civil, cultural and territorial rights of her country’s black population. One of her most recent victories has been to secure 6 million acres of land for these communities displaced by the war, rapacious growth and the narcotics industry. Libia Grueso talks about her work with Samuel Orozco.
NEW YORK RAIDS - Alarm and anger among New York’s Latino community after the Department of Homeland Security arrested last week, 170 people at the Newark airport in New Jersey. Community groups say that detentions were solely based on racial profiling, but immigration authorities argue that the arrests are part of their routine to fight smugglers. Marco Vinicio Gonzalez files the report.
BORDER POLLUTION - The environmental problems that NAFTA’s promoters promised to fix more than ten years ago, when the treaty entered into effect, still unresolved. In Ciudad Juarez, border with El Paso, Texas, many residents complain about health problems that, they say, are consequences of their water, air and soil’s pollution. Kent Patterson files the report, voiced by Guadalupe Carrasco.
April 30th | Listen to the program
INDEFINITE DETENTIONS - This week, the U.S. Supreme Court considers whether Puerto Rican, José Padilla, accused of plotting to detonate a radioactive or dirty bomb, can be held for indefinite amount of time. The Supreme Court Justices also deliberate the case of another U.S. citizen declared to be a terrorist suspect and enemy combatant by the Bush Administration. Patricia Guadalupe attended the Supreme Court hearings in Washington.
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS - In the past two weeks, nearly 100,000 New York City residents have received social security number verification letters. The state’s Department of Motor Vehicles says that it is a measure to crack down on identity documents fraud. Immigrant groups and political leaders plead that those honest individuals without legal documentation not be affected. Marco Vinicio Gonzalez shares the details from New York.
JUNK FOOD ADS - California Senator, Sheila Kuehl sought a method to reduce the outrageous spending for treatment programs for children with diabetes and obesity. It was then that the legislator discovered that without affecting soda, candy and junk food consumption, cost of treatment plans would not go down. In order to cut down consumption, something had to be done to decrease the avalanche of commercials that hook children. Sara Shakir reports.