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New York City Wakes Up to Four More Years of Bloomberg

12:17 pm By Maegan la Mamita Mala · New York City| Politics · 1 Comment

4 Nov 2009

It was a close one, 51% to 46%— a difference of less than 51,000 votes. For a moment I thought that New York City would have a new mayor but instead it looks like NYC’s billionaire mayor has won a historic and controversial third term. Certainly the fact that he reportedly spent $100 million, $15,000 an hour to Thompson’s $7 million over all, had nothing to do with it.

I was thinking about what bothered me so much about Bloomberg’s third term. Wasn’t the issue of third terms at the center of so many problems in Latin America, from Honduras to Venezuela to Colombia? Claro the fact that my politics differ is part of it but reality is a bigger part. In Latin America, at least the leaders in question attempted to have some sort of vote or referendum on the issue of additional terms, something Bloomberg did not do. Instead he went over the heads of the NYC people and went ahead and changed the term limits law. His justification, saying the city needed his help because of the economic crisis, makes no sense looking at how the economic conditions for Latinos in NYC has worsened. And it’s not just the economics that bother me. While Bloomberg doesn’t have the rabid personality of his predecessor, Giuliani, Latinos and other people of color have experienced some of the same “community policing” tactics but with a nicer facade.

Maybe I really do need to move out of NYC.

Via / The Daily Mail

NY’ers and Others : Don’t Forget to Vote Today

12:51 pm By Maegan la Mamita Mala · New York City| Politics · No Comments

3 Nov 2009

It’s election day in New York City (and in many other places I’m sure). If you can vote, please do with everything I said before last year’s presidential election holding true.

The biggest race here in my hood is for mayor, with wannabe third term Bloomberg and Bill Thompson as the top contenders and making sure they pander, er campaign to the Latino community. I have seen many more Bloomberg operatives in my immigrant ‘hood and much more of his trash lining the streets of my hood but he does have what, a few billion in his wallet? My mom’s phone has been ringing off the hook though with Spanish language robo-calls featuring former Bronx borough pres Fernando Ferrer telling us to support Thompson.

I won’t tell you who to vote for pero if going by any of the Spanish language campaign ads is any indication, I may have to vote for the Rent is Too Damn High Party (ok, ok I do like the Basta Bloomberg ad).

Tuesday Teatro : Brownsville Bred

7:43 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · New York City| theatre · No Comments

3 Nov 2009

If you are in NYC on any Monday evening this month, stop by the Nuyorican Poet’s Cafe to see Elaine del Valle’s award winning one-woman show, Brownsville Bred.

The autobiographical show takes the audience through an “emotional rollercoaster” that is uplifting, heartbreaking and powerful as they witness Del Valle recreate life in the tough projects of 1980’s Brownsville, Brooklyn NY. Amongst eight other characters, Del Valle narrates as herself from ages 11 to 17. Del Valle’s loving father, another empathetic character, leaves the family of five as he falls from stature as a talented musician to a defeated heroine addict. Not unlike most impoverished families, Elaine’s mother emerges as the loveable spirit that holds the family together and guides them to a hopeful future. Crime, Drugs and Poverty mix with the Joys of Family, Hope, Salsa and the Birth of Rap, as Del Valle’s innocence recounts a journey to womanhood, a neighborhoods crack & crime epidemic, Salsa rumbas, and her love of Run DMC, which often times help her verbalize a unique struggle and triumph that has audiences cheering and laughing through their tears while swaying to urban rhythms.

Monday Morning Musica y Moviemiento : All the Ladies Say

2 Nov 2009

The history of hip hop is often told in a male voice and from a male point of view. The role of mujeres, from MC’s to B Girls, is told as an aside. Enter the legendary Rokafella, a figure I knew growing up, as an example of fierceness, presenting a new documentary that highlights the lives of six street dancers exploring motherhood, sexual tension, femininity versus masculinity and the rap industry/mainstream images.

This coming Saturday at BAAD!, in the Bronx, NY you can catch a sneak peek screening of All the Ladies Say. The event includes performances by guest artists and photos by Vanessa Bahmani and Emily Lady Caprice. This event is a fundraiser to support the completion of the film and will be followed by an after party with an open jam.

Click here to RSVP

Queens, NYC State Senator : Once a Community Defender, Now an Attacker?

11:00 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Justice| New York City| Politics| Violence| Women · 2 Comments

30 Oct 2009

How do we deal with men in our communities who hurt the women in our community? And I’m not just talking about our physical communities like our neighbors or relatives. What of those who claim to represent us in public office.

I wrote about my discomfort surrounding the NYC State Senator Hiram Monserrate case when charges first surfaced against him, accusing him of attacking his girlfriend. It feels complicated for me on multiple levels. Monserratte was my local council person and he is my local state senator. That never has stopped me before. That wasn’t it. I had dealings with Monserrate before he was involved in electoral politics, when he worked with the Latino Police Officers Association here in NYC and he and his organization stood with the Latino families of those killed by police brutality and us organizers. As a Latina who has dealt with domestic violence both personally, politically, and professionally, how did this man whom I identified as a defender of the community suddenly become an attacker?
Read more…

New Study Shows that for Latinos in NYC, The Recession is a Depression

10:35 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Immigration| Money| New York City| Uncategorized| economy · 1 Comment

29 Oct 2009

empty-pockets Latino NY’ers are have been especially impacted by the current economic crisis according to a study released today by the Community Service Society (full disclosure, I worked for CSS many years ago).

-More than 1 in 4 Latinos lost their jobs. More than 4 in 10 low-income Latinos either had their hours, wages, and/or tips reduced, or lost their jobs—or both—in the past year.

-Low-income Latinos are more likely than Whites or Blacks to frequently worry about having enough money to cover expenses and bills. Latinos are more likely to worry about housing as well.

-Low income Latinos are more likely to have multiple workers in their household, but less likely to report that they have employer-sponsored benefits;

-For moderate to higher income Latino families, one in five fell behind in housing payments, and over a third had their health care costs increase;

- Latina and Black low-income working mothers are most worried about not being able to find or keep a job.

NYC Street Vendor Protest Tomorrow

9:28 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Activism| Justice| Labor| New York City · No Comments

25 Oct 2009

311430_height370_width560 In my hood street vendors are part of the landscape. I love that I can buy and eat elotes, tacos, ice cream, tamales, puerco, tacos and buy socks and flowers all on the same block. Pero the harassment of these vendors is also part of the landscape. I know when there are undercover police nearby when the mujer that sells water and the mujer that sells churros all cover their wares under garbage bags in an effort to make themselves look like normal shoppers and avoid being ticketed. I don’t have statistics but most of the street vendors I know and see are immigrants trying to survive. Tomorrow there will be a protest in the Bronx in support of street vendors, demanding that the city finally move on increasing the current caps and to temporarily stop the outrageous fines.

Date & Time: Monday, October 26, 2009 at 11:30 am

Location: Supreme Court House, 851 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY (Corner of 161st Street and Grand Concourse on the steps of the Court House)

Street Vendors From Across NYC Demand an Increase of the Caps and a Temporary Stop to Cruel Fines

Bronx, New York – Hundreds of Street Vendors will be gathering in the Steps of the Supreme Court House in the Bronx to demand that the city finally move on increasing the current caps and to temporarily stop the outrageous fines. Street vendors in the Fordham Road area in the Bronx have almost disappeared temporarily as the 46th and the 52 precinct increased their raids and fines. Relationships with both precinct deteriorated this summer as constant raids and absurdly high fines began being imposed on the street vendor community in the recent months.

The lack of permits has forced many vendors to sell without cart licenses which in turn causes arrests and summons of up to $3,000.00. With the upsurge of job losses in the past year, an increasing number of people have turned to street vending as a means of work. The result has been an intensified crackdown of street vendors that cannot access the cart permits by police and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Street vendors have had to face an upsurge of arrests, fines, and confiscations of merchandise.

“Street vendors are working families, we have been asking the Bloomberg administration to increase the current caps and to decrease the current fines for the past 3 years to no avail,” states Rafael Samanez, Director of VAMOS Unidos. “Their enforcement only solutions further criminalize working families trying to survive,” he added.

Street vendors organizations have began meeting with the offices of Melissa Mark Viveritto, Senator Serrano, Assemblyman Nelson Castro, Senator Squadron, and other high profile political figures in New York to begin addressing the current dire situation that street vendors have to face in a daily manner.

VAMOS Unidos, Street Vendor Project and Esperanza del Barrio, three street vendor organizations in New York City will be holding a succession of events to bring attention to this grave situation street vendors face.

Image Via/ MetroMix

Latino Events in NYC Today: Por la Justicia. Maximo Pueguero Presente.

7:09 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Activism| Justice| New York City| Violence · No Comments

24 Oct 2009

Maximo Pueguero Is Gunned Down by NYPD! Family, Friends and Community Demand Justice!

Family and friends have worked in conjunction with lawyers and eyewitnesses to gather information that points to the unjust fatal shooting of a non-documented young man in Washington Heights.

What: On July 22nd 2009, Maximo Peguero was killed by members of the NYPD.

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There was never a robbery, as the NYPD has stated
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He never stepped out of the car
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There were no weapons found in the car
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There were no illegal substances present in the car
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There were no charges made
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The other car passengers are all free of charges We are going to have a vigil and a march on 3rd month of his death

Who: Alianza Dominicana Inc., Democratic council member nominee Ydanis Rodriguez, Family and Friends of Maximo Peguero Movement, witnesses of the murder, outraged coummunity.

When: Saturday, October 24th, 2009 at 188th street between Amsterdam and Audubon at 3pm. In front of the altar where his life was taken away.

Press confrence to be held after march at the 34th Pct. @ 4pm.
If you have any information that could help our cases please call:

Ambrose Wotorson, PC Attorney at Law at 718-797-4861

NYC On the Clock : Lives at Work

7:34 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Labor| Media| New York City · No Comments

21 Oct 2009

Local NYC PBS station Channel 13 is highlighting how the city that never sleeps does it through videos featuring those that keep it moving.

New York on the Clock: Carlos, Coffee Man from Thirteen.org on Vimeo.

On the clock is a euphemism for on the job, working. Pero isn’t this how so many see Latino faces already in NYC and around the country? Immigrants who work? I guess I’m a little tired of what I see as the work personal divide. I want to know is Carlos making ends meet? Is he sending money back to Mexico? He works in a busy section of NYC catering to business types pero where does he live? Most likely in a community like where I live and that is the side that most people don’t see.

Via / NY On the Clock

NYC, Support Independent Rican Radical Films : Machetero

9:47 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Events| Media| Movies| New York City · No Comments

20 Oct 2009

Our own Bianca Laureano reviewed the independent film Machetero over on her site a few months ago. I haven’t yet seen the film (single mamis with toddlers and movies rarely mix) pero as Bianca’s latest review on VL demonstrates, popular support of independent films coming out of our communities is important. I got this email from Vagabond, creator of Machetero.

MACHETERO is back in NYC after the Irish premiere and award last month. It will be playing as a part of the New York International Independent Film And Video Festival Thursday, October 29th @ 8PM.

i just received word that if we sell out the MACHETERO screening on Thurs. Oct. 29th @ 8PM we will get a 2nd screening. However we need to sell out the theater by this Fri. Oct. 9th. The theater seats 150 people… Can we do it?

Let’s try! Buy your tickets now to this 1st screening and let’s gets a 2nd screening of MACHETERO scheduled! Let’s show and prove NYC that self-financed, independent, artistic, politically minded films about the de-colonization of a Latin American nation has an audience in NYC…

If 75 people could step up and bring someone else with them to the screening… (who likes going to the movies alone?) we could make this goal of selling out this screening (150 seats) of MACHETERO before Friday the 9th.

Purchase tickets here

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