Wednesday, October 24, 2012

An Interview with Emanuel Pleitez, Candidate for LA Mayor


Emanuel Pleitez, a native of the inner city neighborhood of Los Angeles, El Sereno, and raised by a single mother, experienced life in one of the most underrepresented areas of the city. His story resonates with other Angelenos, especially those who come from similar communities. Emanuel’s inspiration and initiative of providing for the community and re-energizing Los Angeles come from the many hardships he knew growing up.
He graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School and was the first member of his family to graduate from college — Stanford University. In the upcoming election, he is one of the few Latinos running for mayor.
With a city that is undergoing a lot of financial turmoil, Emanuel has several ways in which he will improve the finances of Los Angeles, one being pension reform. Pleitez stated:
“We need to address specifically the pension fund liability issue, and it cannot be on the backs of workers. They have fought for certain contracts, and I want to make sure that, as Mayor, we are looking down the line and figuring out what are the things we need to do to ensure that the city can be solvent. We literally are on the brink of bankruptcy, and every year because the pension fund liabilities continue to grow as a proportion of the budget, we end up having to cut other services like parks and recreation, public works, and any other service that is of social safety net for our residents.”
One of the biggest proposals on Emanuel’s agenda is education. As a firm believer that education is an important tool in life, he plans on focusing on children and teens that have dropped out of school and implementing programs to strengthen Los Angeles’ school system for every age group. He plans on bringing several resources to the system, such as early childhood programs, afterschool programs, and parenting classes.
“We need to make sure that community colleges are better aligned with the economy, so that community college classes and trainings are more aligned with the jobs that exist today,” Pleitez said. “We need to make sure that any worker, in any stage of their career has an opportunity to take classes so they can have a better job later.”
Emily Satifka, a fellow on Pleitez for LA, remarked, “Emanuel has managed to unite such a diverse group of opinionated and hard-working individuals all passionate about so many different things. I became involved in this campaign because Emanuel and I had one conversation about mentorship programs and addressing the dropout rate in this city. Emanuel is a produce of this city, a success because of the people who believed in him. He brings a unique perspective to education of not replacing structures already in place but by giving extra support to those students who need it most.”
For many in Los Angeles, transportation and mobility issues are the biggest concern. In regards to expediting Measure R, a measure that was approved on the November 2008 ballot to commit on the improvement of Los Angeles’ public transportation system, Pleitez said:
“We need to find as many financing methods for infrastructure projects, we also need to open up the markets for private sector solutions to enter the mobility solutions market One of the funding methods to improve the city’s transportation issues would include, creating public-private partnerships with companies that are willing to invest in infrastructure services.
Some of Emanuel’s non-profit experiences include Latinos on the Fast Track (LOFT) Institute and the Latino Legacy Weekend, which works with Latino leaders of today. Emanuel’s past work also includes working for Los Angeles’ current mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa, by being his aide and personal assistant. After working at Goldman Sachs and being a member of the Obama-Biden US Treasury Review team, he ran for California’s 32nd Congressional District Election in 2009 with a grassroots driven campaign.
After running for Congress, Emanuel worked on the president’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board (PERAB) and later McKinsey & Company. He also served as the Board of Directors Chair for the Hispanic Heritage Foundation and the Salvadoran American Leadership and Education Fund (SALEF). He is also the founder and executive producer of INSPIRA, an organization that tells inspirational stories of Latinos.
Although Emanuel has never held a political position, he has experience with private and public sector jobs, a quality that is found useful by many. “I’m someone that’s unafraid of tackling the most difficult issues head on,” stated Pleitez.
“I sincerely believe that it is time that we (<35) start electing our ‘peers’ to achieve the change that we want to see in our cities,” said John Hill, a fellow on Pleitez’s campaign. “We are adults now and there is no reason to continue to elect our ‘political parents’, especially if they are going to rest on their laurels and continue to advocate for the same old solutions that have failed to work. What we need in Los Angeles and this country is innovation, creativity, and energy. Emanuel has what LA needs, which is why I am drawn to him. He represents something great: a positive change in the direction of politics.”
In keeping with the effort and spirit of engaging and energizing communities at a personal level, Emanuel’s mayoral campaign is also a grassroots driven campaign. Emanuel and his staff engage with voters to make sure their voices are heard. Team Pleitez covers every area of Los Angeles that are usually ignored or in the shadows, some which include Pico Union, South Central, and cities in the Valley such as Pacoima. Fellows and volunteers on Team Pleitez communicate on a daily basis with voters to hear what they would like to see improved in their community.
“This is my first campaign, but I can honestly say that it has been time consuming, rigorous and most importantly, rewarding. It is rare to meet a person as driven and compassionate as Emanuel. He is focused entirely on the progress of the City of Los Angeles and the development (personal and professional) of his staff,” added Hill.
Read the original article on the Independent Voter Network.

Presidential battle for the female vote - Los Angeles fights to end bullying - Court in N.Y. strikes down key factor of Defense of Marriage Act

By Gabriella Landeros

Presidential battle for the female vote
On Wednesday, President Obama and Mitt Romney battled to win the female vote, which essentially could be the determining factor for this race. With Mitt Romney proposing to end federal funding for Planned Parenthood and Obama continuing to support funding, there is no doubt that this can split the female vote. For Obama, women have played a key factor for his race to reelection. According to Christi Parsons and Seema Mehta from the L.A. Times, “Obama has been strongest among younger and single women, while Romney has been most popular among older and married women.” To read more, visit: Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles fights to end bullying
The Los Angeles Unified School District and the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center are in a partnership to end bullying. For the past two years, the district and center have been working together to find a solution for this unfortunate act, common among youth. Together, they have created Suicide Prevention Intervention Now (SPIN), which is a program to prevent the chance of suicide, a possible outcome when one is bullied. They are accomplishing this goal through training sessions for parents and students, administrators, and teachers. To read more, visit Los Angeles Times

Court in N.Y strikes down key factor of Defense of Marriage Act
The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) doesn’t give same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples, causing much controversy amongst the LGBT community. According to David G. Savage from the L.A. Times, a federal appeals court in New York became the first to rule that gays and lesbians deserve “special protection from discrimination under the Constitution.” This Manhattan court joins other courts throughout California and New England in a stand that same-sex couples deserve the same treatment, just as everyone else. To read more, visit: Los Angeles Times

News roundup for http://pleitezforla.tumblr.com/.

Gang violence in Central America impacting migrant youth - Immigration not the biggest concern for Latinos - Barack Obama brings it back in the second presidential debate

By Gabriella Landeros

Gang violence in Central America impacting migrant youth
Because of the gang violence in Central America, there has been a larger amount of unaccompanied minors crossing the Mexican border in search for a better life. According to Cindy Chang from the Los Angeles Times, “Most of the growth came from three countries: El Salvador, with 68% more unaccompanied minors; Guatemala, with 72% more; and Honduras, with the number more than doubling, from 1,201 to 2,477.” To read more, visit: Los Angeles Times

Immigration not the biggest concern for Latinos
Although illegal immigration is a hot topic for many Latinos, amidst this election cycle, there are more pressing issues that are of concern, such as education, jobs, the economy, and healthcare. This is not to say that immigration reform does not take a toll on Latinos, but there are other pressing issues hitting hard on the nation as well. “Though most Latinos do not have a direct stake in immigration reform, the issue is still a tone-setter for many, and actions or words that are perceived as unduly harsh toward immigrants without papers often resonate with Latinos,” stated Hector Becerra from the Los Angeles Times. To read more, visit: Los Angeles Times

Barack Obama brings it back in the second presidential debate
Polls have shown that Obama won the debate last night, and according to David Horsey from the Los Angeles Times, he delivered “the best debate performance of his political career.” Obama answered each issue with confidence, and was not afraid to attack Romney with a sting. To read more, visit: Los Angeles Times
News roundup for  http://pleitezforla.tumblr.com/.

City ID card for immigrants - Community college students forced to commute to different campuses - Prop. 30 inspiring voter registration among students

By Gabriella Landeros

City ID card for immigrants
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is proposing a plan for a city ID card to help accommodate undocumented immigrants who reside in Los Angeles. The card would not only be a photo identification card, but it will also double as an ATM card. Similar methods of accommodation have also been initiated by other city officials, such as Councilman Richard Alarcon who introduced a library card that can also serve as a debit card. Los Angeles also joins other cities, such as San Francisco and Oakland, who have already implemented immigration cards for anyone with proof of residency. To read more, visit Los Angeles Times
Community college students forced to commute to different campuses
Because of severe budget cuts, the amount of courses offered at community colleges has been limited. Students are forced to travel long commutes by bus, car, and train because classes are not offered at one single location. Due to budget cuts, some college campuses have taken off winter and summer sessions. Community colleges are feeling a harsh effect because they not only have to worry about budget cuts, but also have to worry about their students getting into the classes needed to transfer. To read more, visit Los Angeles Times
Prop. 30 inspiring voter registration among students
Governor Jerry Brown’s tax hike measure (Prop. 30), which primarily raises state sales taxes and income for ones earning a significant amount of money, is being used as an inspiration for student voter registration. According to Larry Gordon from the Los Angeles Times, “It’s being touted as the only way to avoid tuition increase this year at California’s public universities, and if it passes, Cal State students could get a tuition rebate.” To read more, please visit Los Angeles Times
News roundup for http://pleitezforla.tumblr.com/.

Monday, October 8, 2012

Nuevo programa de deportación

By Gabriella Landeros

Según el artículo, Illegal immigrant deportation flights to Mexico city scaled back por Richard Marosi en el diario Los Angeles Times, los Estados Unidos creo un nuevo programa que deportará inmigrantes indocumentados por avión a la Ciudad de México durante los siguientes dos meses.
Según Alejandro Poire, Secretario del Interior de México, hacerlo en esta manera mejorará la seguridad fronteriza porque ayudará a inmigrantes a regresar a sus comunidades por autobuses desde la capital. También ayuda para evitar que grupos delictivos en que se aprovechan de los deportados al sur de la frontera.
“Una vez en territorio nacional, se les dará comida y transporte terrestre a sus comunidades de origen o de residencia y en México,” dijo el Ministerio y el Instituto Nacional de Migración.
Hay una gran cantidad de inmigrantes, pero si los Estados Unidos quiere hacer algo para realmente afectar y reducir la cantidad de inmigrantes indocumentados, lo tiene que hacer en una manera segura y sin estrés para ambos participantes. No sabemos las implicaciones de esta solución, y a este punto solo podemos esperar y confiar en que el programa será un gran beneficio para los indocumentados quienes se encuentran en el proceso de deportación.
Para leer más, visite Los Angeles Times.

Read the original article on http://pleitezforlaS.tumblr.com/.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

News Roundup, Oct. 3rd

By Gabriella Landeros

Obama and Romney presidential debate
Tonight, President Obama and Mitt Romney hit their first presidential battle for a 90-minute debate. Most of the nation will be watching as this election is getting down to the wire. It will occur at the University of Denver, with a 6 p.m. PDT starting time. Read more in the Los Angeles Times.
Link to live streaming: YouTube Politics
Illegal immigrant deportation flights
A U.S. program announced in February to fly illegal immigrants to Mexico City will occur over a two-month period. It will involve 20 flights, and according to Richard Marosi from the L.A. Times, this method means “a significant scaling-back of what was billed as a humanitarian effort to avoid deporting people to violent border regions.” Read the full story in the Los Angeles Times.
Tomato prices and imports at risk for U.S. and Mexico
Some American farmers are cutting tomato imports from our neighbors down South, Mexico. This will mean higher prices for U.S. consumers and less business for Mexico. According to some farmers in the U.S. it’s a difficult situation because Mexico has created a higher production rate of tomatoes, causing competition for California’s tomato growing season. Read the full story in the Los Angeles Times.

News roundup for http://pleitezforla.tumblr.com/.

National Hispanic Heritage Month

By Gabriella Landeros

September 15th to October 15th is a special time when the nation pays tribute to the achievements, culture, and heritage of Hispanic Americans. Hispanic leaders have been prevalent in our nation for generations, but special remembrance of their contributions began in 1968, when President Lyndon Johnson specified a week to honor Hispanic Americans. President Ronald Reagan extended this tribute to a full month in 1988.
“Our Nation’s story would not be possible without generations of Hispanics who have shaped and strengthened the fabric of our Union,” said President Obama in his National Hispanic Heritage Month proclamation. “They have enriched every aspect of our national identity with traditions that stretch across centuries and reflect the many ancestries that comprise the Hispanic community. This month, we celebrate this rich heritage and reflect on the invaluable contributions Hispanics have made to America.”
César Chávez and Dolores Huerta, for example, are two of the most remembered Mexican Americans. They created the United Farm Workers (UFW) labor union, to fight for better treatment and wages for America’s farmworkers. Through boycotts, hunger strikes, and other nonviolent means, they gave a voice to an underrepresented part of our community.
César Chávez and Dolores Huerta join many other great Hispanic American leaders in making this month what it is. National Hispanic Heritage Month is not only a month to remember great men and women in history, but also to think of the unsung Hispanic heroes in our communities. As the biggest minority in the United States, we need Latino leaders who can stroke our young people’s ambitions, push them to chase their dreams, and teach the determination needed to succeed. So during this month, let’s pay tribute to not only the leaders of history, but also our leaders of today and tomorrow.

Read the original article on pleitezforla.com.