El Pundit

Hispanics, Jobs, Recession…Que?

 Anyone who wants to say we are not in a recession is likely voting for Ross Perot this ticket….Either that or still stuck in that time warp from "Back To The Future"….but I digress… 

So, the economy resembles a crispy taco shell.  Sinking in the middle and crispy around the edges.  As for the jobs…I can start a social network right now with all the people I know who have lost jobs…gotten hours cut. You name it, we got it.  Dinero?  Well that goes hand in hand with the aforementioned subject.  I hear there's money growing on trees in Dubai…maybe we should all move there (buy an air conditioner…and you'll be fine.)

And who's suffering a big blow right now?  Why Hispanics…of course.

National data shows Hispanics have steadily been losing hundreds of thousands of jobs a month (and that's the reported number my friends). 

Why are we losing jobs folks?

I've read the news stories, looked at the statistics… Many of the news organizations I've been reading, are pinning it on the immigration step up.  But I beg to disagree.

It's plain and simple…and not immigration.

Americans and American businesses are cutting back – PERIOD.  People can't pay their bills, businesses aren't selling, factory lines are cutting back production, interest rates: business and personal are too high, homes are not being built, thus houses are not being cleaned, grass is not being mowed, thus people are not eating out, thus dishes are not being washed, thus no jobs…and no money. 

No money is being sent to Latin America as well…Remittances…money sent to Mexico was down 12% last month.  That's huge.  That means…at the same time a parallel universe in Mexico…less spending, less production…wow look…it's a spiral.

Welcome to your recession folks.  The good news is…after we hit bottom,  the only way out is up.

Cheers.

-El Pundit

Immigration Raids Coming Sooner Near You....Why?

4/27/08-  April 17^th- 317 illegal immigrants arrested at Pilgrim’s Pride Factory poultry plants in 5 states, April 16^th- 20 arrested at a donut factory in Houston, April 8^th-51 arrested at Landsdowne Resort in Virginia, March 21^st- 34 workers arrested at the Memphis International Airport….and the story just continues.

The raids are happening with much more frequency say immigration experts.

Why? 

We spoke to Andrea Black of the Detention Watch Network & Paromita Shah of the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild. 

Part of the issue is the law, part of the issue is a growing budget to fight illegal immigration, part of the issue is public attention on the matter….Experts say it seems to be a combination of many factors such as those above culminating in increasing immigration crackdowns.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement say Black and Shah is the 2^nd largest law enforcement agency in the country.  Black and Shah say ICE is working to enforce a U.S government mandate of removing all illegal aliens from the U.S. by 2012.  (Does this remind anyone of what Germany tried to do back in the mid 1900s?)

One of the concerns of the increasing crackdown by ICE is the separation of families, people, belongings, displaced children…..What happens after the immigration raids? Who is responsible for the abandoned cars in the parking lots…the children left at home. How do children find their parents?  What happens to the apartment buildings which have furniture and belongings of immigrants who are now being detained?

Experts say there is a growing “climate of fear” in the U.S. from the increasing spotlight on the immigration issue.  There have been arrests at Greyhound, Amtrak, on the streets, reports by teachers, reports by health clinics…

How much more can this country take?  It feels like a hunt for immigrants who are trying to make a better life for themselves and their families.   Why not devote the 1.2 Billion dollars that was spent last year on detaining immigrants to something more useful.  Scholarships for students in the U.S., fixing roads…something.

Instead, we are alienating a large part of people who are living here…whether we like it…or not.

-El Pundit

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Sergio Gomez of K-Paz's Body Viewing on Sunday in Indianapolis

12/9/07-Last week, hundreds of people lined up to view the hearse carrying singer Sergio Gomez, of the band, K-Paz de la Sierra in his hometown of Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexico. 

 

Gomez's body is on its way back to Indiana where he has been living in Avon since 2003.  There will be a viewing from 4-8 p.m. on Sunday the 9th of December at Stevens Mortuary, at 5520 W. 10th Street in Indianapolis. Link to K-Paz MySpace page.  There are  graphic pictures of Gomez's body posted, from Mexican papers.

 

Gomez had received threats about performing in Morelia, and in fact cancelled performances last year after receiving similar threats in Morelia. 

 

  We are told, after last Saturday's concert, Gomez's car was intercepted by 10 Chevrolet suburbans.  His body was thrown on the side of the road with signs of producing on his facts and abdomen, along with strangulation and burns on his legs.  The two bodyguards he was traveling with were released unharmed. 

 

The cartels have started making it a habit of kidnapping members of bands that sing about drug trafficking and showing videos executing them to the band's own songs.  The odd thing here is that Gomez did not sing about drugs but about romance.

 

Is this latest execution sending a message? What's next?

 

Gomez has lived an Indiana since 2003, before which he lived in Illinois.

 

-El Pundit

Illegal Immigrant Children Held in US Detention Facilities For Xmas

12/9/07-  You know, it's hard to write about this.  I feel pretty strongly about the immigration issue, but what really is sad here is how children are being made to suffer as well. (Info on Dec. 16th vigil below)

I recently learned that our government is detaining the children of illegal immigrants, along with their parents.  A group called Free the Children of Texas' Hutto Prison is publicizing their fate and collecting toys for the holidays for these kids-after all- it won't be much of a holidays at all for these kids.  They'll be locked up, and the detention facility. 

To learn more on how to contribute to the Free The Children of Texas' Hutto Prison fund, see their page.

I wonder if any of these US lawmakers passing and enforcing these silly immigration laws would allow their own children to grow up in a detention facility.

The group is having a vigil Dec. 16th 2 p.m. until dusk and prison in Taylor.

-El Pundit

Who Says You Have To Speak English At Work? Congress?

11/26/07-  I have to speak English at work.  But that's because that's what I signed up for and my job requires it.   But for folks in other jobs, for example:  gardening, cleaning, construction, folding clothes... I don't believe speaking English is always necessary.  Especially if the employer hires them knowing their English skills are limited if nonexistent.

 

Well the Salvation Army isn't an agreement.  They think, folks should be required to speak English at work, even if they are knowingly hired while speaking only Spanish.  

 

In fact, 2 people were fired from a Salvation Army store in Massachusetts, while sorting use clothing because they did not speak English. They'd worked there for 5 years before they were dismissed.

 

In the EEOC, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, sued the store for firing the 2 employees, The EEOC says that the ability to speak English is not relevant to the ability to sort used clothing.   Thus, the store violated the 1964 Civil Rights Act barring discrimination based on national origin.

 

So, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Republicans, Democrats, and the Hispanic Caucus have discussing (arguing) over this EEOC regulation.   EEOC rules have generally forbidden employers to create English-only policies in the workforce.  (Of course this rule can be waived it says, if there is a legitimate business or safety purpose to require English.)

 

You can guess, Pelosi, and many Other Democrats along with the Hispanic Caucus support the EEOC regulation.  It's the Republicans, led by Lamar Alexander who are supporting the English only requirement.

 

What is the business or safety purpose for speaking English, while sorting clothes?  Um, yeah- there ain't much... in fact, there is really no reason at all to speak English.   And the fact the women worked there for five years doing their job proves that English isn't required. (People sure don't mind when migrant workers pick the fruits and vegetables sold at local grocery stores. Food gets eaten no matter who picked it.)

 

I wish our lawmakers would spend their time doing something that really mattered -- like figuring out the war in Iraq, raising the graduation rates are children, or solving Social Security and welfare issues.  

 

No, instead they're going after people who are just trying to earn a gainful for living and just happen to speak another language.

 

Gimme a break.

 

-El Pundit

No Chavez Street for Portland

11/24/07-Imagine this: driving down Cesar E. Chavez Street, checking out the shops on the corner,   cruising down the street. 

 

Well, you're not in Portland, that's for sure.  Portland City Council just voted unanimously against plans to rename a street after the Mexican-American labor leader.  This street in question ran not only in front of City Hall, but also through Portland's Chinatown. 

 

A previous attempts to name a different street after Chavez failed, so the effort was changed to 4th Ave.  And now in the 4th Ave. plan failed.

 

Asian leaders and businesses protested the Chinatown 4th Ave. change, while other neighbors challenged plans for renaming streets in different areas. 

 

Latino community leaders would like to see a street renamed to honor the efforts of labor leader Chavez, but thus far, Portland isn't making it easy.

-El Pundit

Marriages: The Unseen Toll of Immigration Crackdown

11/23/07- I was talking to my friend, I'll call him Javier, the other day.  He's an immigrant from Honduras, and I really don't know how legal he is.  It's not something I've asked nor something he's ever volunteered.  I met him because he was a cleaning person in the building I used to work at.

 

We've been casual friends ever since, with me giving him cast off items and clothing over the years.

 

He was saying recently, that things had gone a little harder over the past few months for him and his wife.  He's been stressed, his hours have been cut back, his wife quit his 2nd job (for health reasons), and money just isn't as plentiful as it was before.   It's made getting by day to day just that much harder   They've also had to move in with his sister...rather--- his sister, her husband, and his sisters daughter. 

 

Why you may ask?  Money.

 

I've also heard about other immigrant marriages which are not having an easy time of it. 

 

Money.

Many men are considering returning to Latin America to obtain jobs, which are just harder and harder to come by here in the US.  Women have jobs which are not as conspicuous, i.e. outside, thus they in many cases -- are less conspicuous to immigration raids. 

 

Imagine ever knowing whether your husband will come home that evening.  And if he is deported, having no idea whether or not he will come home.

 

This fear is leading many immigrants to take even lesser paying jobs than they would have before -- again contributing to stressful anxieties about money, life, and living.

 

Would your marriage survive?

 

--El Pundit

It's Houston Taco Trucks, vs. The Law

11/28/07-It's the local corner showdown in Texas, and things ain't looking good for the little guys.  Judges want to make sure your quesadillas and gorditas are germ free.

 

I like my taco truck taco just as much as the next guy.

And apparently, a new ordinance is requiring taco trucks, and any other mobile food vehicles go to a certain location, 24 hours before serving food to get clean water and throw out waste. 

 

The owners of taco trucks tried to stall the implementation of the new ordinance by filing an injunction, but it failed.

 

Taco and food trucks used to be able to go at any time including after their shifts to go get water or throw out waste.  In this way, investigators found that many food trucks were just saying they would go later, and there was no way to gauge whether or not, the trucks actually complied.  The new rule will require taco trucks go before they open.

 

Taco trucks are saying, it's very inconvenient to comply with the rule because it requires extensive driving and is sometimes hard for female taco truck operators to perform heavy lifting, which is often required.

 

It's hard to say how I feel here.  Cause boy I sure do like grabbing a bite from those taco trucks.  Yet it would be nice to know that the trucks were operated in a sanitary manner. 

Tough call y'all.

 

-El Pundit 

Some Republican Candidates Agree to Univision Debate

11/11/07-So maybe we do need to go talk to some of those of Hispanic voters.  Several Republican presidential candidates have changed their minds and agreed to take part in Univision televised debates.  They're all set to happen next month -- December. 

 

So far the following have agreed to attend:

Fred Thompson

Gov. Mitt Romney

Rudolph W. Giuliani

Mike Hickabee

John McCain

 

It will be interesting to see how these guys will manage the illegal immigration issue when so many have taken tough stances against illegal immigration.  I'm guessing that there will be a lot of dodging, and changing of subjects.  In fact, that will probably make a highly amusing evening.  I'm planning on watching.  It's scheduled for December 9th.

 

And honestly, all kidding aside, I'm glad these gentlemen finally decided to put aside their differences and talk to Hispanic voters.  It certainly won't be an easy debate for the majority of them, given their hardline immigration stances, but at least I'll give them kudos are agreeing to the debate.

 -El Pundit

Sales Are Down: Does Your Business Count on Hispanic Clients?

11/11/07- So, I was reading the other day, and it seems just about every day to be honest, in newspapers and journals of all types….sales revenues are trending downwards for many businesses and especially for those who count on Hispanic customers. 

 

Many businesses have come out and said sales are hurting because Hispanics just aren't shopping.   Businesses which count on Hispanic clientele: restaurants, grocery store, check-cashing agencies, clothing stores…. even Wal-Mart has come out and said its business is hurting because Hispanics just aren't buying.

 

And the immigration backlash is just starting to hit several businesses and business owners in the pocketbook. I'll be curious to see how long this trend lasts.

 

I hear illegal immigrants as well as legal immigrants are just afraid to come out of the house, drive cars, use services... and businesses are just starting to see the effects, some of them at least. 

 

It'll be interesting to watch as receipts continue on a decline as immigrant Hispanics start returning to their home countries because of the immigration backlash.

 

In the meantime, I'll just continue watching as large corporations try to increase their domestic Hispanic marketing budgets, just as many Hispanics are starting to run out of the U.S..  How very paradoxical, no?

 

-El Pundit

Arkansas Governor Beebe: Hispanics Have a Disconnect with "Illegal"

11/06/07- I was browsing the web just today and read an interesting comment by Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe.  Interesting because of the following comment made at the Univ. of Central Arkansas late October:
 

“Beebe said he did not want to paint all Hispanics with one brush, but added, ‘one of the things that the Hispanic community has in effect a disconnect with, with the non-Hispanic community, is the whole issue of 'illegal.'"

                                                                                                      -Arkansas News Bureau

For someone who doesn’t want to generalize…sure sounds like another generalization to me.

I go back to my same stance as always – I wish folks both Hispanic and Non-Hispanic would look back in their own family trees – examine how their ancestors got here – then we’ll talk.

 

-El Pundit

Ever Feel Like You're Being Watched?...Or Amigo Shopped?

11/01/07-  So it seems immigrant "amigos" and "amigas" are under assault, for not a whole lot of cash.

 I've been hearing quite alot lately in the press about this recent phenomenon of "Amigo Shopping".

It's a new form of robbery targeting immigrant Latinos, because they are thought to be carrying cash...and not storing money in banks.  

The targets are day laborers, dishwashers, cleaning women, construction workers etc. of Latino origin who are walking home solo.  It's become such a problem in some regions of the country that police departments have formed task forces to stop the problem.

 It's really sad, when those who really have nothing are being targeted by others for crimes which might net little more than a few dollars.... if that.  Some immigrants have even been killed over just a day's wages....when you're making $6-8 an hour....a day's wages ain't much.

If you know anyone walking home alone, pass on a little advice to walk home with a friend or catch a ride.  These thieves are hesitant to attack groups of people, but can cause some serious injury to anyone walking alone.

 No matter what your opinion on illegal vs. legal immigrants, when a person's health is traded in for an honest day's pay - it is just sad.  Additionally- preying on those that have nothing, is just criminal.

-El Pundit 

Will Spotlight on Illegals Affect Hispanic Hiring?

10/30/07- Read an interesting article today saying where some businesses are becoming cautious at hiring Hispanics because of a fear of the illegal immigration crackdown.  And while there certainly there are plenty Hispanics around who are legal, the article questioned whether the continuing immigration crackdown would result in a backlash affecting Hispanic hiring in general...documented or undocumented.

Point taken.  Sometimes these days with all these issues, I wonder if I haven't skipped back in time to the civil rights era from last century where just recently African-Americans, and others were also fighting for respect and equal treatment.

-El Pundit

Mortgages For Undocumented Workers Remain Strong In Midst Of Failing Market

10/29/07-Ever heard of a ITIN?  It stands for “Individual Taxpayer Identification Number”….the IRS started using ITIN’s in 1997 and banks started accepting them to apply for mortgages in 2000.  ITIN’s are generally used by those who don’t have legal Social Security numbers to file income taxes. 

Well since then, selected generally smaller banks have been extending loans to immigrants with ITIN’s and the repayment on the loans bunks market trends.  According to the Wall Street Journal, ITIN’s hold one of the strongest repayment rates--- period.

Default Rates for Loans Over 90 Past Due

ITIN mortgages             0.5%

Prime mortgages          1.0%

Subprime mortgages    9.3%

Why do we not hear more about them?  Most of the larger national banks either don’t offer them, or don’t publicize them.  It’s generally smaller, local banks who are extending these loans.  And these banks say the market is holding strong, defaults are rare. 

Mitchell Bank out of Wisconsin, has put up 120 ITIN mortgages, and only 1 has gone into foreclosure.

That’s pretty big. 

One thing though, with all the hullabaloo and crackdown on illegal immigrants lately, this is creating a greater risk for banks offering the ITIN loans.  It’s a shame, because these ITIN loans are helping these American banks stay afloat.   I’m seeing articles on CNN.com talking about how there are 57% more empty homes today than 3 years ago, so obtaining a firm repayment on a loan, should be a real bonus.

And while ITIN mortgages are a tiny fraction of the overall mortgage market - these mortgages are helping immigrants live the American dream – and that should be respected. 

-El Pundit

Which Presidential Candidate Do Hispanic Congress Members Support? Here's The Scoop

10/28/07- So doing a little research, it seems like several of the Hispanic members of Congress have picked their candidates:

DEMOCRATS 

REPUBLICANS