| He reaffirms his innocence declaration |
Ted Loza defends himself
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| Tens community activists of the metropolitan area surround Ted Loza and his relatives to bear witness to his support, to the exit of the Court of DC. Photo: Alvaro Ortiz / Washington Hispanic |
Víctor Caycho
Washington Hispanic
The judicial process that DC contemplates the case of supposed bribe against Ted Loza, chief of the office of a prominent councilman of Washington, began with a brief preliminary hearing last Friday, the 16th in the Court of the District of Columbia.
Surprisingly, during this first appearance, the accusing district attorney John Crabb revealed the existence of a proposal directed in writing to Faience, which answer had to expire within a period of two weeks from Friday, the 16th.
The offer would raise a confession of guilt on behalf of Faience; this way there would be avoided a judgment – that might be bothersome, long and costly - in exchange for a more benign judgment.
Nevertheless, Faience, through his defense lawyer, Pleasant S. Brodnax, III, ratified the same evening that declares itself “a not culprit” of the accusations of having received bribes “in money and passages” to impel a legislation of the government of DC for the sake of the industry of the taxis in the capital of the nation.
Sources related to the defense of Faience confirmed that the proposal of the district attorney Crabb “was pushed back immediately”. They pointed out, also, that the term of two weeks was rejected that they were fixed, basing in that there is no minimal intention of doing a guilt declaration. “A big jury is the one that in the end will give his verdict on this accusation”, they added.
Faience for his part, in laconic declarations to Washington Hispanic to the exit of the hearing, affirmed: "I declare myself an innocent person of the accusation of bribe”.
They fix dates
The preliminary hearing of this famous case consisted of a rapid opinions exchange done before the judge Paul L. Friedman, for the defense lawyer and the district attorney, who fixed for the next November 23 the called “hearing of status”.
Also, March 30, 2010 as probable date was chosen by the beginning of the judgment in itself, then that designates the members of the big jury.
After this meeting of the parts and in the middle of a persistent drizzle opposite to the head office of the Court, the accused 44-year-old Loza flanked by his wife Ligia, his mother Julia Ventura and his five brothers, it received the support of an about thirty of community activists of the metropolitan area that were done give you in the court.
“ I want to be grateful to my friends and to the members of the community for the support and his shared prayers with me, my wife and family, in these difficult moments”, he said.
Then, with the broken voice for the emotion, he remembered to have dedicated “fifteen years of my life to the service of my community and of the residents of the District of Columbia, by means of my work in the DC government”.
At present Faience supports in the chief's charge of the office of the councilman Jim Graham, low administrative diet. Namely he does not exercise the charge but they keep on paying his emoluments to him.
THEY THROW CAMPAIGN OF SUPPORT
LEADERS OF THE COMMUNITY OBTAIN TESTIMONIES
Sonia Gutiérrez founder and director of the school Carlos Rosario:
“ We have come up to the Court of DC to say present to support Teddy, a tremendous fighter for the Latin community, for which it was employed vigorously at all the levels. I ask the members of the community to write to the Court testimonies documented of the work of Faience, so that the judges and the jury should see that the positive and valuable thing that he has done during his management in the District of Columbia exceeds everything negative that could have happened”.
Franklin García president of Caucus Latino of Washington DC:
“I give my support to the activist Ted Loza, who has dedicated more than 15 years of services to the community, whom the maximum Latin representation has represented in a lot of time in the Council of the city of Washington, DC, and who with his influence could have helped so many people, inside and out of the Hispanic community. Ted is a big friend of the community, and with his temporary absence it is still a source of support and motivation to continue the work of unit and strengthening that the Hispanic community of the area is doing”.
| They summon the community to discuss dramatic projection |
Fairfax's schools face hard budget clipping
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Mitzi Mace
Washington Hispanic
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| The governor of Virginia, Tim M. Kaine shares with children of an elementary school. Photo: AP. |
The public schools of Fairfax's county (FCPS, by his initials in English) are prepared for the worst budget clipping in the last 20 years for what they are summoning the parents of family and members of the community for a series of meetings and public hearings to report, but at the same time to analyze what services would be affected so that this way the impact between students, teachers used of the school system and parents is less abrupt.
Across a bulletin they informed that the Meeting of Education of the county is considering to cancel programs and to suppress 1.700 positions to face the deficit of the budget for 2011 estimated in 176 million dollars. With these reductions the schools would save 162 million dollars.
Between the clippings that they are considered they represent the cancellation of the summer programs, to discontinue the programs of kindergarden of the whole day, to eliminate the classes of foreign languages in the elementary schools, to increase the number of pupils for class and even the closing of some schools.
The schools in Fairfax have experienced clippings in his budgets for two consecutive tax years. For the year 2010 the budget was 18 millions less than the previous year and the restrictions included also teachers' dismissal, less educational programs and the freezing of wages. It is presumed that the latter measurement continues for the tax year 2011.
An official budget has not appeared yet, but the authorities are revealing a series of potentials courts and changes because they wish the residents to know in advance the severe crisis that appears for the next year. “What we try to do is that the persons understand the situation, that we all are in risk in these times”, said the member of the educational meeting Jane K. Strauss.
One of the biggest worries is that in spite of the students' increase-7.000 - for the next year the educational authorities will have to do without teachers and increase the number of students for classroom.
Community forums
At present the authorities of the FCPS are meeting to listen to suggestions of personnel, parents of family and members of the community across meetings and discussions in line. Also community dialogues have been programmed on the budget to initiate the communication process with the community. The next forums will be realized on October 29 and November 14.
The public hearings will realize next January (25 and 26) at 6 a.m. p.m. in the intermediate school Jackson, 3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church. For other community meetings to communicate with the office of the school meeting to (571 423-1075.
Potential clippings
° Increase of a pupil for class. One saves 19 million dollars.
° Elimination of classes of foreign language in elementary schools. Saving for 2 million dollars.
° to Cancel programs of kindergarden of the whole day. One saves 13 million dollars.
° to Eliminate summer school. One saves 8 million dollars.
° Elimination programmes that it assigns extra teachers in schools with a high need. Saving for 20 million dollars.
° Also it is evaluated to increase tariffs for special activities in the schools and to eliminate specialists in technology and social workers.
| In spite of the low number of registered persons they make sure that process was successful |
It finishes Bolivians' registration
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| Rodolfo Henrich, representative of the CNE in Washington DC. Photo: Alvaro Ortiz/WH |
Mitzi Mace
Washington Hispanic
With a whole of 9.702 registered persons it finished the period of biometric registration of Bolivians in the metropolitan area of Washington DC, what represents the electoral roll lowest in the exterior, but according to the representatives of the Electoral National Court of Bolivia it has been a process “successful without major mishaps”.
In a beginning it granted itself to the metropolitan area of Washington DC a quota to register 36.461 Bolivians with the target who could exercise his right to vote in the exterior, next December 6, then this number was diminished by decision of the Bolivian government to 17.080 in some weeks that initiated the registration process.
“ Bearing in mind the new quota we have managed to register 64 per cent of the required thing. I think that this process has been successful in spite of the limitations for the answer of my compatriots, the quantity will not have been great, but the quality of the process leaves a very good experience to us for the future”, made sure Rodolfo Henrich, representative of the Electoral National Court of Bolivia and responsibly for process in the metropolitan area of Washington DC.
According to Henrich there are several aspects that intervened in the number of Bolivians registered like having initiated the registration process with 15 days of delay and that many persons stopped for the last moment the civic commitment registering to vote. The fear of many Bolivians joined this for the migratory topic. Another situation that the number of registered Bolivians limited was that one of the requisites was to present a valid document of identity (certificate or passport), and many did not have it.
“ Our community is characterized for many years ago have come to the United States, they have become citizens and they did not worry about updating his Bolivian documents. Many came to the consulate, but it was not possible to satisfy the demand”, tells Henrich.
Also he added that a little time to register it was another factor and the numbers demonstrate it because the first day registered 200 persons, and last day achieved to register 1.571.
He denies accusation
On the accusation of Silvia Uriona, who denounced to a local way to have been dismissed like notarial electoral and that took the machines from him for having done criticism of the person in charge of the registration in the area, Henrich showed that the removal from office of missis Uriona never took place.
“ We have enough information to deny what he says. Uriona has not been dismissed but he refused to displace his unit and the Electoral National Court considered it to be a resignation because she for esrcrito said that he was not accepting to move it. In this sense he could not keep on attending in the notary's office and it delivered the team”, tells Henrich.
The second phase
To supervise and to face in the closing record there came from Bolivia vocal Fernando Castedo of the CNE, who showed Washington Hispanic that officially has not received any aberrations denunciation in the process and on the contrary he confirmed that quite had been realized by normality.
Castedo said that now there faces a new challenge that is to achieve that all the registered persons go out to be voted next December 6.
“ The registration was finished, but there stays the second phase that consists of choosing across a drawing who the table members will be and to assure us that receive the due training”, said Castedo.
| To create Hispanic agenda |
Conferee forms Latin Advice
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| Saúl Solorzano, executive director of CARECEN receives a recognition of conferee Norton. Photo courteousness. |
Mitzi Mace
Washington Hispanic
In the celebrations frame for the Month of the Hispanic Heredity, the democratic conferee Eleanor Holmes Norton, who represents to the District of Columbia named to a National Council of Latin Leaders “Congressional Latino Council” to be employed at the making of an agenda focused in the needs and worries of the Hispanic community.
“ Our approach has traveled the Hispanic community well, but since I came to the Congress I have been quickly surrounded by an agenda that affects my Hispanic electorate”, expressed conferee Norton.
“ These distinguished members of my advice will help me to prepare a more coherent and extensive agenda to serve to the Hispanics, who come from diverse countries and cultural baggage presenting different needs. I am very grateful for his good disposition to serve”, added the conferee.
In whole the advice is integrated by 12 representatives of the organizations that serve to the Hispanic community in the District of Columbia. They will have the task of preparing an engagement book focused in the Hispanics, which they will share with the conferee.
“This is the first time that presents to itself the opportunity to have a rapid access route with the conferee on the points that we are interested in. Although we do not have direct right to vote in the Congress it is important to have voice and he attends because our presepuesto is included in the federal budget”, expressed Saúl Solorzano, executive director of CARECEN. All those who integrate the advice are represented by them to the different services areas and they have experience in the different topics that atañen to the Latin community like education, health, civil rights, employment, between others.
“ With the shape of this committee, conferee Norton has given a very important step for the Latin Americans because it has demonstrated a real interest to learn on the problems that affect our families and of looking for solutions with who we know closely the problems of our community”, expressed Maria Gómez, the president of Mary's Center.
The official presentation of the Council of Latin Leaders was realized on Friday, the 16th of October during the so called celebration “A night of celebration by the Latin emergent leaders” realized in the Theater GALA, that it included the recognition delivery to the members of the advice and to other participants in the cultural and artistic area.
IRS helps pensioners
The Service of Internal Taxes (IRS) has created a new tool based on the Web to help the small-scale enterprises owners to determine what pension plan of favored in the taxes adapts itself better to his needs and how to support his plans inside the fulfillment. The Navigator of Plans of Retirement of the IRS http://www.retirementplans.irs.gov/ (in English) provides to the employers a handlebar easy to use that it centers on three areas: to choose a plan, to support a plan and to correct a plan.
Negotiation with contractors
The governor Martin O'Malley will join the leaders of the Union of Personnel of International Service (SEIU) to sign the first collective bargaining agreement with the contractors of the state of Maryland.
The governor express O'Malley that this is a transcendental day for Maryland, since the first collective bargaining agreement has been signed with the contractors of the state of Maryland. The SEIU professionals work very hard and they are vital for the healthy future of the residents of Maryland and they have the obligation to look over his rights like employed workpeople who are protected as the officials.
Mathematics levels
Mayor Adrian M. Fenty accompanied by the deputy mayor of Education Víctor Reinoso, the chancellor of Schools Michelle Rhee, and the state superintendent of Education Kerri Briggs, they announced that the schools of the District have achieved notable progresses in Mathematics during 2009, turned out of Evaluation National of Progress Educational (NAEP).
Well-being of the child
Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, together with Attorney general Peter Nickles, the Agency of Familiar Services and of the Child (CFSA) and the Director Gerald Roque, announced that the District has improved the services for the battered and godforsaken children. CFSA also has supported the high level of safety established at the beginning of 2009. Mayor Fenty expressed to feel satisfied of the work of the CFSA, which is advancing in giving the safety, the health and the general well-being of the most vulnerable children and the young people who need it and deserve.
Loan of the BID
The Dominican Republic will receive an emergency loan of US$500 millions of the Inter-American Bank of Development to support the public expenditure in social, key programs before the deceleration caused by the world economic crisis. The loan was approved by the Executive council of the BID and a fiscal sostenibilidad will allow to Dominican Republic to gain access and assure the fulfillment of the commitments of the government of protecting disadvantaged groups after the global crisis, which reduced drastically the demand of tourist services, in addition to the exports, the foreign investment and the remittances.
I am of benefit for unemployment
Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) has asked to the Senate to approve an integral proposal, to extend the unemployment insurance up to 14 additional weeks for the unemployed workpeople in the 50 states.
The fundamental measurement was stopped by the republican leadership, but one hopes that it should be recaptured further on in the Senate. In a proposal of the Chamber, only the states with unemployment valuations over 8,5 % might qualify for an extension of 13 weeks in the benefits for the unemployed men, what it excludes to Virginia and twenty-two other states that receive federal funds.
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