Ken
Ken L. Weatherbie, D.A.
Professor of History
Department of Social Sciences
Del Mar College
http://delmarhousekeeping.blogspot.com/2006/10/watt-will-happen-2-morrow-regents.htm
Czolgosz (1000+ posts) Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Thu Jul-06-06 11:26 AM
Original message
Danny Noyola Sr., Solly Ortiz Jr., Gloria Perez, or Roland Barrera?
Any thoughts on which is the progressive candidate in this bunch?
Regional Transportation Authority chair Roland Barrera is no progressive based on these comments to the Corpus Christi Smaller Crimes: "I think the conservative nature that this district has become, I would have the strongest chance of beating a Republican," Barrera said. "I'm not too far to the left or to the right I have respect from both sides of the aisle." Also, the notion that Barrera is associated with "both sides of the aisle" is bolstered by the fact that he is a regular contributor to the Texas Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors PAC, which is a PAC that contributes to candidates from both parties.
I also have my doubts about Gloria Perez because of her very close association with the GOP-controlled Chamber of Commerce. These concerns stem mainly from the anti-Democrat/pro-Republican nature of the Chamber of Commerce (as I mentioned in another thread) as reported by The Nation, Media Matters, and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics here:
In the absence of clarification about the political views of Barrera and Perez, I would have to lean toward Noyola or Ortiz. I'd like to know which of these two has a better record as a progressive Democrat.
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Replies to this thread
She is not running. theredstate Jul-06-06 11:30 AM #1
She seemed like a nice person even though she didn't seem like a hard-core Czolgosz Jul-06-06 11:35 AM #2
Man that was fast sonias Jul-06-06 01:36 PM #3
I am wary of the backroom deal too. theredstate Jul-06-06 01:43 PM #4
For anyone worried about backroom deals, here's a list of precinct chairs Czolgosz Jul-06-06 02:26 PM #5
Are you sure this is correct? susanr516 Jul-06-06 07:52 PM #6
I'm only sure it is as correct as the official Texas House website. Czolgosz Jul-07-06 12:32 AM #7
But District 32 shows 125, too susanr516 Jul-07-06 06:01 AM #8
I guess the Texas House's incompetence isn't limited to ruining the Texas Czolgosz Jul-07-06 08:16 AM #9
Can I vouch for the Ed Byrne Targeting of Little People????? dannoynted1 Jul-10-06 04:33 AM #10
HD #33 & #32 here is an issue to make or break your success Jaime Kenedeno Jul-18-06 03:31 AM #11
DMC Faculty Member Speaks Out on the DMC Clique's Abuse of Power Jaime Kenedeno Jul-27-06 10:52 PM #17
Per SOP: DMC Pres. Carlos Garcia Should Be Placed On Administrative Leave Jaime Kenedeno Aug-17-06 06:13 AM #28
Juan Garcia: Here is a HD # 32 victory of defeat in a nutshell. Jaime Kenedeno Jul-29-06 10:10 PM #19
Donate "JUAN HALF" to the GI Forum National Archives for the Restoration Jaime Kenedeno Jul-30-06 07:40 AM #21
Dear Ram Chavez, Jaime Kenedeno Aug-09-06 02:53 AM #27
Barrera Response Rzamber3 Jul-18-06 09:19 PM #12
Why not throw your hat in the ring Mr Barrera Jaime Kenedeno Jul-19-06 01:25 AM #13
Hat in???? Rzamber3 Jul-19-06 02:22 PM #14
Hey Roland Jaime Kenedeno Jul-19-06 11:15 PM #15
Deleted message Name removed Jul-20-06 05:58 PM #16
Why was this post deleted Jaime Kenedeno Aug-02-06 03:33 AM #24
Nueces De La Parra: Ram Chavez has been expelled from the GI Forum Jaime Kenedeno Jul-28-06 11:02 PM #18
I say this is where Lencho needs Mikal's Assistance? But Watt ... Jaime Kenedeno Jul-30-06 05:29 AM #20
Kenedeno's Political Pulse Jaime Kenedeno Jul-31-06 03:48 AM #22
Loyd Neal (Politician for Profit) tomorrow morning on El Defenzor Live Jaime Kenedeno Aug-01-06 02:41 AM #23
CCISD: Gotta Get Paid, that's just the way it is Jaime Kenedeno Aug-05-06 08:42 PM #25
Dear Roland Garza Jaime Kenedeno Aug-06-06 01:12 AM #26
Put the pit bulls and the skunks back in the cage and check em for rabies. Jaime Kenedeno Aug-20-06 08:47 PM #29
Solomon P. Ortiz Jr. Defeats Mikal Watts at his Own Game. Or Perhaps GOD i Jaime Kenedeno Aug-22-06 05:44 AM #30
Solomon Ortiz Jr is a progressive meg Aug-22-06 09:58 PM #31
WATT is a Progressive? Jaime Kenedeno Aug-23-06 01:00 AM #32
theredstate Donating Member (69 posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Thu Jul-06-06 11:30 AM
Response to Original message
1. She is not running.
I just got off the phone with Gloria and she said, "I am totally flattered and overwhelmed but this is not the right time for me to run. I am very grateful and thankful to all who considered me as a possible candidate."
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Czolgosz (1000+ posts) Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Thu Jul-06-06 11:35 AM
Response to Reply #1
2. She seemed like a nice person even though she didn't seem like a hard-core
Democrat. I hope she will run for some nonpartisan office in the future.
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sonias Donating Member (1000+ posts) Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Thu Jul-06-06 01:36 PM
Response to Reply #1
3. Man that was fast
I thought she was a real candidate, or at least we believed you theredstate. You did a good job of getting her name out there. I wonder if the politicos have already made a deal. Those kinds of backroom deals always disturb me.
Well she didn't say she would never run, only now is not the right time.
Sonia
Fight 'em till hell freezes over, then fight 'em on the ice. -David Van Os
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theredstate Donating Member (69 posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Thu Jul-06-06 01:43 PM
Response to Reply #3
4. I am wary of the backroom deal too.
That is why we must make sure we beat the weeds for good candidates. There are good people in the community who have never thought of running that would make a great representative. Having political dreams your entire life shouldn't be the only criteria for being a candidate.
I think we will see more of Gloria in the near future.
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Czolgosz (1000+ posts) Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Thu Jul-06-06 02:26 PM
Response to Reply #4
5. For anyone worried about backroom deals, here's a list of precinct chairs
and a list of the precincts in District 33:
precinct chairs:
dist. 33 precincts:
You have it in your power to make sure that this decision is made in the front parlor.
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susanr516 (35 posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Thu Jul-06-06 07:52 PM
Response to Reply #5
6. Are you sure this is correct?
The Nueces County Clerk shows Precinct 125 in Seaman's district. See http://www.co.nueces.tx.us/countyclerk/elections/pdf/di...
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Czolgosz (1000+ posts) Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Fri Jul-07-06 12:32 AM
Response to Reply #6
7. I'm only sure it is as correct as the official Texas House website.
Whether the official Texas House website page for District 33 is right or not, I cannot say.
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susanr516 (35 posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Fri Jul-07-06 06:01 AM
Response to Reply #7
8. But District 32 shows 125, too
see under Nueces County, at http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/par_rpts/current/house/d...
When I zoom in on the RedViewer and add precincts, 125 is color-coded for Seaman. I'll have to check this out later today--as if I needed another entry on the to do list. (Sigh.)
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Czolgosz (1000+ posts) Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Fri Jul-07-06 08:16 AM
Response to Reply #8
9. I guess the Texas House's incompetence isn't limited to ruining the Texas
public school system. I shouldn't be surprised the Texas House apparently can't manage to keep accurate information about which precincts comprise its districts.
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dannoynted1 (1 posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Mon Jul-10-06 04:33 AM
Response to Reply #9
10. Can I vouch for the Ed Byrne Targeting of Little People?????
www.kenedeno.com
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Jaime Kenedeno (21 posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Tue Jul-18-06 03:31 AM
Response to Reply #5
11. HD #33 & #32 here is an issue to make or break your success
This is a continuation of the ongoing Community Outreach Information Project @ Del Mar College provided by Kenedeno & Associates. We will be adding subsequent chapters and emailing as they are added daily.
Del Mar Electronic Anonymous Input Forum: A BLUEPRINT for POSITIVE CHANGE (In the order it was binded as recieved)
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Jaime Kenedeno (21 posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Thu Jul-27-06 10:52 PM
Response to Reply #11
17. DMC Faculty Member Speaks Out on the DMC Clique's Abuse of Power
http://delmarhousekeeping.blogspot.com/2006/07/dmc-facu...
Del Mar Electronic Anonymous Input Forum: DMC Faculty Member Speaks Out on the DMC Clique's Abuse of Power: "Dont Tread On Me"
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Jaime Kenedeno (21 posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Thu Aug-17-06 06:13 AM
Response to Reply #17
28. Per SOP: DMC Pres. Carlos Garcia Should Be Placed On Administrative Leave
http://delmarhousekeeping.blogspot.com/2006/08/del-mar-... ">Del Mar Electronic Anonymous Input Forum: Del Mar President Carlos Garcia, "opted not to renew the yearly contract for the former EEO officer, Ms. Theresa Cox"
“We do not want to hear rumors
that (Cox) was fired,” Garcia said.
“Mrs. Cox is on administrative
leave and her contract expires on
Aug. 31, 2006,” Garcia said. “DMC
has a restructuring of the administration,
and it is normal to have several
employees leave for several reasons,
such as retirement, offers for a new
employment or just moving out from
the city.
JK: By the time this article is published in the Foghorn, Gabriel Rivas and the Board of Regents are informed of the situation and the allegations against President Carlos Garcia.
JK: It is certainly valid to question the Board as to why Dr. Garcia has not been placed on Administrative leave as SOP mandates?
JK: Gabriel Rivas (en camera) represents and definitively concludes, when an employee is accused of Sexual Harassment; that employee is placed on Administrative leave.
JK: The Administrative Leave Requirement is an integral step in the Due Process and unequivocally applies to each employee the same. The act of discontinuing or modifying the JOB opportunities of one’s accuser, is a blatant act of retaliation. In the protection of DMC (all) preventing retaliation is an obvious reason the Due Process requires the placement of the accused employee on administrative leave.
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Jaime Kenedeno (21 posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Sat Jul-29-06 10:10 PM
Response to Reply #11
19. Juan Garcia: Here is a HD # 32 victory of defeat in a nutshell.
How you gonna act?
Get busy and show us some progress.
A lot can be accomplished before November.
Productivity with the center is productivity for YOU.
Here it is, I am handing your path to victory.
You can ignore it like you have everything else or you can go for it.
WATT have you got to lose?
Get busy and show us WATT Juan Garcia can do!
Flying around the district and uploadable IPOD videos will not bring victory.
Give us some video of the Clinic being restored give us some plans for the National Archives to start taking a lead in the historical Culrural and Public Policy Areas of our Educational Architecture.
Come on start making productive accomplishments right here right now.
We all win if this materializes.
In a final decision Ram Chavez has been expelled from the GI Forum
Today in his final appeal at the GI Forum National Conference in Kansas City, the National GI Forum Board of Directors voted to expel Ram Chavez. In doing so, this action begins the charter re-instatement of the Hector P Garcia Founding chapter and bars Mr Chavez from all GI Forum activities. GI Forum National Director of Civil Rights Joe Ortiz in confirmation from the Convention floor in Kansas City looks forward to the Founding Chapter bouncing back and working in a unified manor to restore the legacy and namesake of Dr Hector P Garcia and the building, at the corner of Morgan Avenue and Bright Street, where activists planned the strategy for the landmark 1968 case Cisneros et. al. v. CCISD, which set the stage for courtordered school integration in Corpus Christi from 1976 to 1982. The building has been under the care of the National Archives & Historical Foundation of the GI Forum, which was set up in 1978 as a fundraising arm of the larger GI Forum - which was established by Dr. Garcia.
http://laparra.blogspot.com/2006/07/in-final-decision-r...
http://laparra.blogspot.com/2006/07/g-i-forum-solution-...
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Who @ the Caller wrote this Editorial?
Unfinished business for Dr. Garcia's legacy
The Bright Street clinic is in better shape today, but it is a long way from becoming a living memorial to the late civil rights leader.
July 29, 2006
This week's well deserved recognition of the accomplishments of the late civil rights leader Dr. Hector P. Garcia was also a reminder of the unfinished business at the building that once housed the doctor's clinic.
The vacant clinic building is now in far better physical shape than it was a year ago, when its dilapidated condition signified by its overgrown, unkempt surroundings and vandal-scarred and neglected appearance, made it a shameful legacy for a noble and heroic career.
At one point the building was on the verge of being put on the auction block to pay off the mortgage debt to Garcia's widow.
Thanks to a $20,000 grant from the City of Corpus Christi, the building on Bright Street is now secured by fencing, its windows are boarded against vandals and its roof has been replaced.
The building has at least escaped the ignoble end of becoming a blight on the very neighborhood that Garcia so selflessly served.
What remains unfinished is turning to reality the ambitions of creating a living educational memorial to the late doctor.
Those hopes have revolved around a vision of a center where scholarly work on Dr. Garcia's papers could be done, where meeting places for conferences would be available and where the future generations could learn about the Garcia's fight on behalf of the poor and the victims of discrimination.
The chief vehicle for this has been the National Archives and Historical Foundation of the American GI Forum.
The Foundation has a line on a $250,000 grant and is looking for matching grants. But there's groundwork to be laid even before the first dollar is donated, and that's working on the transparency and accountability that the Foundation has long lacked.
The Foundation has in fact received thousands of dollars in the 10 years since Dr. Garcia died. None of that money has ever been accounted for, other than assurances from the Foundation chairman Amador Garcia, a cousin of the doctor, that it's been well-spent.
Almost a year ago, as the clinic building faced foreclosure, Garcia gave assurances to the Editorial Board that he would reach out to the community.
Shortly thereafter, an audit was promised; if that audit has ever been made public, we're unaware of it.
A year later the Foundation is still saying it needs input from community leaders.
To be fair, there has been some new blood on the board. Juan Garcia, a former Navy pilot who is no relation, has been added and is involved in the fundraising effort.
Accountability must be instilled before there will be the necessary trust for donors and the community at large to support the clinic vision. Absent accountability, the dream of a living memorial to a wonderful man will remain just that, a dream.
"when its dilapidated condition signified by its overgrown, unkempt surroundings and vandal-scarred and neglected appearance, made it a shameful legacy for a noble and heroic career."
If overgrown grass is a sign of dilapdation then it is still in the same dismal condition. JAG came out and had the grass mowed after the news focused it on the five o' clock news and by six it was being mowed. Transparency is a KEY issue here. Amador Garcia needs a lot of help as he was the one chosen by Dr Garcia to carry the torch. Amador is definitely deficient but this project now belongs to a whole South Texas due to the public influx of dollars. Let's get this thing going and implement it for our education and historical value. Quite griping and do something people! Let's get some proven leadership to help Amador Garcia. And to you Amador when somebody calls you up and offers a gallon of paint take it when they offer enough to paint the whole building accept it and call JAG to get the kids to help paint it. When somebody donates it is not to take away your thunder; it is to produce the lightning to go along with the thunder.
http://stxc.blogspot.com/2006/07/ram-chavez-out-of-gi-f...
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Jaime Kenedeno (21 posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Sun Jul-30-06 07:40 AM
Response to Reply #19
21. Donate "JUAN HALF" to the GI Forum National Archives for the Restoration
JK: Juan Garcia could donate "JUAN HALF" of his "war chest" to the Foundation (on which he sits as Board member) while personally managing the expenditures / projects / financials in a transparent operation. This act of good faith would single handedly restore the Doctor's name, restore the Landmark Building, produce a reaction of engagement in South Texas, and bring enormous masses of HD #32 Democrats to vote for him. He would blow a Sea Man completely out of the water. Pardon the pun?]
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Jaime Kenedeno (21 posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Wed Aug-09-06 02:53 AM
Response to Reply #21
27. Dear Ram Chavez,
http://hectorpgarcia.blogspot.com/2006/08/dear-mr-chave... ">Dear Mr. Chavez, The case regarding your disbarment from the Acting Texas AGIF Civil Rights Director Peter Vallecillo
It is my perception that you have misled the Garcia family and the membership of the Garcia Chapter. I have been involved in many circumstance in which I am directly involved in these type of investigations. The first question I raise, if they didn’t do anything wrong, what would be the problem in submitting the requested information? Through your actions, you have raised doubts regarding the Garcia Chapter’s integrity and have placed the Garcia Chapter and it’s membership in a very compromising and legal position.
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Rzamber3 (2 posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Tue Jul-18-06 09:19 PM
Response to Original message
12. Barrera Response
FYI, Some of my record
RTA:
*Worked for the largest single contribution to the RTA
employee’s pension plan than the last six years combined
totaling $1.4 Million dollars
*In the midst of doing a study to evaluate ADA needs to our
1450 bus stops.
*Financed the ADA accessibility improvements of the
surrounding pedestrian areas of MHMR.
*Recently completed and implemented a compensation study to
get employees pay up to standard.
*Have the one of the richest health insurance benefit plans
of any public agency in the Coastal Bend second only to the
Port of Corpus Christi. (Working towards finding the funding
for a Health Reimbursement Account for employees that will
limit out of pocket expenses.)
*Implemented a wellness program to help create a healthier
workforce. Health Risk Assessments are planned in the last
quarter of 2006 at no charge to any of the employees.
*Working and implementing systems to create awareness of Job
Access Reverse Commute Grant to get more people to work
utilizing the Van Pool who cannot afford transportation to
and from work.
Economic Development:
*Chaired Three Economic Development Conferences “Exploring
the Wave of Opportunity” in conjunction with Texas A&M
and the Texas Building and Procurement Commission. In each
case over 1 Billion dollars of contract opportunities were
announced to the small business community. Actual purchasers
were available to interact with small business to do business
with large state agencies.
*Served on the City of Corpus Christi Major Projects advisory
panel where in excess of 50% of monies utilized in building
the American Bank Center were awarded to minority and woman
owned subcontractors. (This amount is unprecedented; the
state average is less than 20%)
*Testified before the Texas Building and Procurement
Commission to fight a change in the Texas Administrative Code
that would adversely affect the way contracts are solicited to
minority contractors.
*Worked with Senator Truan’s office to author a bill that
allowed more small business the opportunity to bid TXDOT
projects by utilization of a bid bond in lieu of a cashiers
check.
*Currently working with Texas Legislators to write a bill to
require institutions of higher learning to have a bonding and
technical services program to educate small business on how to
grow, expand and do more work with their purchasing
departments.
*Currently working on securing a grant to complete safety
training in Spanish for construction companies to help reduce
fatalities among the Latino workforce.
Regarding my affiliation with the TAIFA PAC, I'm an insurance
agent that often has to fight for the rights of my clients
against the big insurance companies. The PAC is a non
partisan committee that fights for the "issues"
that not only support our livelyhood but our most important
asset the "customer". I'm proud to say that I have
been nominated to serve as the Regional VP for the PAC where
I will diligently serve my "Progressive Democratic
Values" and represent the issues that best serve my
customers.
Please feel free to call 361-299-7373 or e-mail
rbarrera@ciris.net
Best wishes,
Roland
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Jaime Kenedeno (21 posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Wed Jul-19-06 01:25 AM
Response to Reply #12
13. Why not throw your hat in the ring Mr Barrera
Politics??
Right?
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Rzamber3 (2 posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Wed Jul-19-06 02:22 PM
Response to Reply #13
14. Hat in????
I've thrown my hat in, and it's just been getting kicked
around. Too many votes already spoken for. Thanks for the
encouragement
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Jaime Kenedeno (21 posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Wed Jul-19-06 11:15 PM
Response to Reply #14
15. Hey Roland
Tour name got my attention as I played ball with Roland Barrera. He was #64 & I #63. I come to find you are not the same guy but nonetheless I have heard of the disswation to your hat being thrown in. Carlos was the one doing the dis swaying? Well we need some "good horses to run for the All American City Council and the DMC Board of Regents.
Hey read my plug for the B Bus.
Go On An Adventure; Take the B Bus
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Name removed (0 posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Thu Jul-20-06 05:58 PM
Response to Original message
16. Deleted message
Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.
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Jaime Kenedeno (21 posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Wed Aug-02-06 03:33 AM
Response to Reply #16
24. Why was this post deleted
I dont think it was me
If it was my article please email or explain?
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Jaime Kenedeno (21 posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Fri Jul-28-06 11:02 PM
Response to Original message
18. Nueces De La Parra: Ram Chavez has been expelled from the GI Forum
http://laparra.blogspot.com/2006/07/in-final-decision-r...
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Jaime Kenedeno (21 posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Sun Jul-30-06 05:29 AM
Response to Original message
20. I say this is where Lencho needs Mikal's Assistance? But Watt ...
will Lencho do for Mikal?
BND consultants facing prison time
Couple pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges
BY EMMA PEREZ-TREVIÑO
The Brownsville Herald
Consultants who took Brownsville Navigation District officials to China and paid U.S. Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz’s travels to the Far East are facing possible prison time after recently pleading guilty to an immigration plot involving Chinese nationals.
Sixty-four-year-old Kenneth D. Cohen, a Houston businessman and board member of the Marine Military Academy in Harlingen, and his wife, Ping Lee Cohen, 54, pleaded guilty in February to conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government in federal court in Houston.
“Mr. Ortiz was deeply disappointed that Ken and Ping broke the law, and the judge will decide the price they pay for that,” Ortiz’s spokeswoman, Cathy Travis, said Friday.
BND Deputy Director Donna Eymard said she was surprised to find out about the conviction.
“They were very professional people,” she said. “They always did a fine job for us,”
In a statement released earlier this year, U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg said between April 2000 and October 2005, the Cohens contacted Chinese citizens who paid up to $120,000 to enter the United States and ultimately obtain citizenship.
The Cohens would bring in Chinese citizens under the false pretenses of attending business seminars or conducting business negotiations.
Rosenberg said the Cohens would recruit the owners of small U.S. companies to offer jobs to Chinese citizens. This allowed the Chinese citizens to obtain employment-based visas to enter the country and remain here on a business visa.
“The defendants then created an illusory relationship between Chinese companies and U.S. companies by submitting forged stock certificates, stock transfer ledgers and financial records in support of petitions to the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), which were then filed with the Immigration Service on behalf of their clients,” Rosenberg stated.
The Cohens would use a law office to petition the INS for the Chinese citizens to enter and remain in the U.S. as executive-level employees of the various U.S. businesses.
“The affected U.S. business owners confirmed that the supporting documents had been forged, that they never employed the Chinese citizens and that their companies were never wholly or partially owned by the Chinese companies as required to obtain this class of visa,” Rosenberg said.
The Cohens face up to five years in prison and $250,000 in fines. They will be sentenced later this fall.
Doing Business with BND
The Cohens have numerous corporations, a review of public records show, but in Brownsville, they were known to BND as Asia Access Corp.
Eymard started working for BND in 2000. Present board member Roy de los Santos was already on the BND board as was former board member Carl “Joe” Gayman. Former board member Sidney Lasseigne was getting ready to join the board.
The late Raul Besteiro was BND’s chief executive officer.
BND’s first payment to the Cohens’ corporation was in March 2001 in the amount of $20,000 for “consulting fees,” public records show.
By November 2002, BND had paid Asia Access $91,108. Of this amount, records indicate that $15,510 was reimbursement for a stay at the Hotel Beijing, $80 for visas to China and $5,980 for airfare to Ningbo-Hong Kong in 2001.
BND paid Asia Access a service fee of $5,000 in 2001 for a trip to China and paid the firm a consulting fee of $40,000 in July 2002.
BND officials made three trips to China between 2000 and 2003.
“I know they arranged all the Far East trips, but how they came here, I could not begin to tell you. I don’t know,” Eymard said.
De Los Santos said he also didn’t know.
Gayman said Ping Lee Cohen was BND’s tour guide in China and arranged meetings with Chinese officials and companies.
“They would arrange the trips and work out the itinerary. I never did see anything suspicious,” de los Santos said.
“From the minute we arrived, all the meetings were set up,” Eymard recalled.
Getting Close to a Congressman
Travis said that Ortiz, D-Corpus Christi, has known the Cohens for more than a decade and became acquainted with them through mutual friends.
Travis said she doesn’t know if Ortiz or any member of his staff introduced the Cohens to BND and left the question to BND.
Gayman thinks Ortiz brought the Cohens to BND: “The congressman is the one that instigated the trips to China,” Gayman said.
Lasseigne recalled that Ortiz, his former chief of staff Lencho Rendon and Besteiro were close to the Cohens to “Madam Ping,” Ping Lee Cohen.
“She was very attractive, very, very, attractive, real sharp in business,” Lasseigne said of Ping Lee Cohen.
“I remember Lencho telling me that his ideal dream team (to help BND) would be (lobbyist) Randy DeLay, (Monterrey consult-ant) Esther Rodriguez and ‘Madam Ping,’” Lasseigne said.
The BND present and former officials said that to their knowledge, BND never assisted Chinese nationals in obtaining visas.
Asia Access also figures prominently in trips that Ortiz and Rendon made to the Far East, including China, Hong Kong, Taipei and Beijing.
The firm paid for four trips, a study by the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization, the Center for Public Integrity shows.
The organization recently tracked the travel of U.S. representatives and senators.
The trips were made at Asia Access’ expense by Ortiz and Rendon in 2000, 2003, 2004 and 2005 at a reported cost of nearly $48,000 combined.
Travis said Ortiz accepted the trips because he searches for ways to increase development in South Texas.
“One way to leverage that development has been to travel to Asia with South Texas business owners,” Travis said. “His presence with area businesses in the vibrant, dynamic Asian marketplace ensures their access to the decision makers at Asian companies, as well as to government offices there.”
And no, Travis said, neither Ortiz nor any staff member has facilitated the entry of Chinese nationals into the country.
Neither BND trips nor Ortiz’s trips have resulted in economic development here, Gayman said.
“We never got any business out of China,” Gayman added.
eperez-trevino@brownsvilleherald.com
Posted on Jun 11, 06 | 12:01 am
http://laparra.blogspot.com/2006/07/i-say-this-is-where...
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Jaime Kenedeno (21 posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Mon Jul-31-06 03:48 AM
Response to Original message
22. Kenedeno's Political Pulse
http://jaimepowell.blogspot.com/2006/07/kenedenos-polit... ">Political Pulse: Kenedeno’s Political Pulse
Local “Loophole Candidates” and Local “Loophole “Yanqui” Power Broker held Chair Massage Seminars this week.
Capelo Still In The Craw Of the Trial Lawyers
Local Politicos Rock & Roll on the Corpus Christi Bay
“that chair is already taken”
Some serious Partying goin down at the LULAC #1
Chair Massage cost Mikal much more than “TWO FER A NICKEL”
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Jaime Kenedeno (21 posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Tue Aug-01-06 02:41 AM
Response to Reply #22
23. Loyd Neal (Politician for Profit) tomorrow morning on El Defenzor Live
Expose’ on Loyd Neal (Politician for Profit) tomorrow morning on El Defenzor Live 1440 AM KEYS Radio From 7-9 AM
There's more
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Jaime Kenedeno (21 posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Sat Aug-05-06 08:42 PM
Response to Original message
25. CCISD: Gotta Get Paid, that's just the way it is
Gotta Get Paid, that's the way it is
I see no changes all I see is racist faces
misplaced hate makes disgrace to races
We under I wonder what it takes to make this
one better place, let's erase the haters
Take the evil out the people they'll be acting right
'cause both black and white is talkin smack tonight
and only time we heal is when we love each other
it takes skill to be real, time to heal each other
And although it seems heaven sent
We ain't ready, to see a black President, uhh
It ain't a secret don't conceal the fact
the penitentiary's packed
