RESERVE LA FECHA: 2da Cumbre Anual del Liderazgo Dominicano en Puerto Rico e Islas Virgenes – 25 de Agosto del 2012

Reserve la Fecha e Inscríbase aquí

Quedan 109 Dias Para Celebracion 100 Mil Dominicanos en Washington, DC

-Espanol-

Acentuacion Omitida

Washington, DC (10 de abril del 2012).– Quedan 109 dias para la gran celebracion historica de 100 Mil Dominicanos en Washington, DC.

 

“La fecha es sabado 28 de julio del 2012 a las 11:00am”, dijo desde su despacho en Washington, DC, la Dra. Maria Teresa Montilla, Presidente de la Mesa Redonda Dominico Americana, la unica organizacion sin fines de lucro y no partidaria que representa mas de 2 millones de dominicanos en los Estados Unidos y sus territorios, incluyendo Puerto Rico y las Islas Virgenes Americanas.

 

“Mas de 100 mil compatriotas dominicanos se reuniran en el corazon de Washington, DC para celebrar mas de medio siglo de presencia dominicana en USA y para destacar sus logros”, enfatizo la Presidente Montilla.

 

El evento es coordinado por cientos de organizaciones, lideres y voluntarios en USA, incluyendo La Mesa Redonda Dominico Americana, el Concilio Nacional Dominico Americano, Hispanics Across America, Voxxi.com, Comite Provincial Puerto Plateno USA, The Institute for Latino Studies, the New Jersey Latino Leadership Alliance, Quisqueya International, El Instituto Duartiano, Concilios Dominico Americanos de Puerto Rico, and among others, the New Jersey Conference on Dominican Affairs.

 

Para mas informacion e inscribirse, pulse aqui.

 

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 English Note

 

Washington, DC (January 4, 2011).– For the first time, thousands of like-minded Dominicans and Dominican Americans, their families, friends and supporters from the U.S. Latino diverse communities will join DANR, the National Dominican American Council, hundreds of local organizations and leaders on the National Mall in Washington, DC, for a massive national gathering to celebrate Dominican contribution, accomplishments and over fifty years of continuous presence in the United States of America.

This historic national gathering is slated to take place on Saturday, July 28, 2011 at 11:00 AM on the Washington Monument.

Organizers advise to make early transportation and lodging arrangements.

Those who prefer traveling in groups are encouraged to sign up for affordable bus ride to Washington, DC.  Reserve your bus round trip by sending an e-mail to nationalcouncil@danr.org.

The program will feature a comprehensive report about the State of Dominicans in the US, a wide variety of speakers, including scholars, dignitaries, leaders and students, special audio visual presentations, music and well-known entertainers.

To register visit www.danr.org or click here.

Video message from DANR President Dr. Maria Teresa Montilla, click here.

For more information contact 202-238-0097 or via e-mail at nationalcouncil@danr.org.

Dr. Maria Teresa Montilla, President of the Dominican Community in USA, Discusses Redistricting on ABC Channel 7

Washington, DC (March 31, 2012). Dr. Maria Teresa Montilla, National, DANR President of the Dominican community in USA, was interviewed by Television Anchor Joe Torres on ABC Channel 7. The interview will be broadcast in “Tempo,” a weekly round-table discussion television show about topics affecting and relating to Hispanic citizens.

The interview will be aired this Sunday morning, April 1, 2012 on ABC, Channel 7, and will be available online at http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news&id=5790398

Following, more information posted on ABC Channel 7 website about Tempo and interview with DANR President.

NEW YORK — Concerned about the Hispanic community? If you are, be sure to tune into “Tiempo.”

“Tempo” is a weekly round-table discussion show about topics affecting and relating to Hispanic citizens.

Please join us for “Tempo” on Sunday mornings, only on ABC-7!

CONTACT US: Click here to send us an email.

This week on Tiempo: Sunday, April 1st, 2012

Joe Torres will share the critical role Latinos will play in the upcoming elections. He’ll have information on two Hispanic groups that have partnered with LULAC, the League of United Latin American Citizens, to get out the vote. Their effort is called “Latinos for democracy,” part of “movimiento Hispano,” that educates voters about key issues and helps Latino immigrants become citizens. Torres will be joined by Ralina Cardona, the New York State Director of LULAC, to talk about the push to register voters.

Later on, Torres will speak to Maria Teresa Montilla, president of the Dominican American National Roundtable; and David Birdsell, dean of Baruch College School of Public Affairs, to talk about the topic of redistricting. The changing demographics have led to a push for a new district that properly represents the growing Latino population. While the map was redrawn last week, it did not create a new district. Instead, it has enlarged an existing one increasing the number of latino constituents. This will play a big role in whether or not another Latino is voted into Congress.

ABOUT MARIA TERESA MONTILLA

Dr. Maria Teresa Montilla (Washington, DC)
President

mtmontilla@danr.org

Founder and president of the Institute For Latino Studies, Inc., whose mission is to research, disseminate and celebrate Latino Heritage in the United States. Maria Teresa seeks the development of Latino Leadership, and defining of the role Latinos play in this society. She does work in this area through radio and television programs, publications in periodicals, public forums, conferences and workshops.

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Maria Teresa is the president of the Dominican American National Roundtable, the only national organization representing and advocating for the interests and rights of Dominicans in the United states and its territories; as well as the president of the Conference on Dominican Affairs of New Jersey, which gathers over 500 leaders annually to analyze and evaluate issues affecting the growth and development of this community and design action plans to address them.

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Her educational background includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Thomas Edison State College, Trenton, NJ; A Master’s Degree in Administrative Sciences from Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ; A Masters and Doctorate Degree in Christian ‘counseling from Universidad Nuevo Pacto Internacional, Florida.

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Professionally, she has an established career in management with the New Jersey Judiciary, possessing strong organizational, interpersonal and communication skills. She has extensive experience in training and teaching, and is an accomplished communicator.

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She has authored numerous teaching manuals in behavioral sciences. Her book, Latina y Evangélica in the United States, an analysis of the religious and cultural factors that converge in gender oppression, is a text book at The Christian University de New Jersey, New Covenant University in Florida, and Latin University of Theology en Bridgeport, Connecticut, where she is an adjunct professor.

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Her established record of community outreach, organizing and activism spans 25 years, and has earned her accolades and service awards from organizations, agencies and elected officials.

 

ABOUT JOE TORRES

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/bio?section=resources/inside_station/newsteam&id=5771942

Tags: DANR President Dr. Maria Teresa Montilla to Discuss Redistricting on ABC Channel 7 in New York City

U.S. Senate Confirms Dominican from the Bronx as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States to the Republic of Uruguay

Washington, DC (March 30, 2012).  The U.S. Senate confirmed attorney Julissa Reynoso, born in the Dominican Republic and raised in the Bronx, New York, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Oriental Republic of Uruguay in South America.

 

“This appointment in Uruguay, makes Julissa Reynoso the first Dominican to occupy the position of United States Ambassador in the history of this country; it is a further sign of our integration into the fabric of this society,” said Dr. Maria Teresa Montilla, President of the Dominican American National Roundtable.  “To have a person with her professional background, character and humanity serving as U.S. Ambassador speaks well of the United States of America.”

 

Reynoso was nominated by President Obama on October 17, 2011.

 

She was born in January 1975 in Salcedo, Dominican Republic. In 1982, she emigrated with her family to the United States. Her U.S. immigration experience started in the South Bronx in New York City where she attended Catholic schools, and learned English.

 

Her high school guidance counselor encouraged her to apply to top schools. Reynoso earned a B.A. in Government from Harvard in 1997, an M. Phil. in Development Studies from the University of Cambridge in the U.K. in 1998, and a J.D. from Columbia University School of Law in 2001.

 

After law school, she clerked for Federal Judge Laura Taylor Swain of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York from 2001 to 2003, was a fellow at Columbia Law School in 2005, and practiced international arbitration and antitrust law at the New York law firm of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett from 2006 to 2009. She served as Deputy Director of the Office of Accountability at the New York City Department of Education in 2006, and was a part-time legal fellow at the Institute for Policy Integrity at New York University School of Law from August 2008 through July 2009, when she received her first State Department appointment.

Prior to her appointment, Reynoso served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Central America and  in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs.

Reynoso has published widely in both Spanish and English on a range of issues including regulatory reform, community organizing, housing reform, immigration policy, and Latin American politics for both popular press and academic journals. She is a member of the Council of Foreign Relations.

 

For more information about her confirmation by the U.S. Senate, visit:

 

http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/legislative/one_item_and_teasers/nom_confc.htm

The Dominican American National Roundtable Appears Before The Three-judge Panel on Redistricting

Washington, DC (March 15, 2012). –  On Thursday, March 15, 2012, the Dominican American National Roundtable appeared before a Three-Judge panel on redistricting at the United States District Court Eastern District of New York to follow up on proposed DANR Latino Majority Congressional District.(DANR map proposal prepared by Glaction, Inc.)

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The panel consists of U.S. District Judge Dora Irizarry and 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judges Reena Raggi and Gerard Lynch.

They heard comments from several members of the public.

“The Hispanic community has risen in population, contribution and influence,” said Dr. Maria Teresa Montilla, President of the Dominican American National Roundtable. “It is timely and appropriate the Court be receptive and willing to grant what’s right and just: A NEW LATINO MAJORITY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.”

The Judges have until March 20th, date when candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives are required to begin obtaining signatures for their petitions to appear on their parties’ primary ballots.

DANR President Maria Teresa Montilla submitted and testified at the hearing regarding a legal objection to the congressional maps proposed by Magistrate Roanne L.Mann.

For more background information on the hearing and court proceedings, visit: http://www.nyed.uscourts.gov/

Following is a printable copy of the DANR Objection letter presented to the United States District Court Eastern District of New York.

 

DANR(1)-objection March 13, 2012

For a list of all DANR documents submitted to the Court, click the following link: https://ecf.nyed.uscourts.gov/dropbox/panel/non-party/

 

March 13, 2012

 

The Honorable Reena Raggi

United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

Thurgood Marshall U.S. Courthouse

40 Foley Square

New York, NY 10007

 

The Honorable Gerard E. Lynch

United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

Thurgood Marshall U.S. Courthouse

40 Foley Square

New York, NY 10007

 

The Honorable Dora L. Irizarry
United States District Court
Eastern District of New York
225 Cadman Plaza East Brooklyn, NY 11201

 

Re: Favors v. Cuomo, 1:11-cv-05632-DLI-RLM; Objections to the Report and Recommendation

Dear Judges Raggi, Lynch and Irizarry:

We represent the Dominican American National Roundtable (the “DANR”) and write pursuant to the Order of the Special Master dated March 12, 2012 to object, in part, to the Special Master’s Report and Recommendation and Proposed Redistricting Map (the “Report”).

By way of background, on March 2, 2012 the DANR timely filed a map for a proposed congressional district linking the Spanish speaking areas of northern Manhattan, the west Bronx and the Corona/Jackson Heights areas of Queens. At the same time, the DANR filed a letter submission in support of the propriety of this proposed district. Copies of the map and letter are included as part of this submission. In accordance with the March 6, 2012 Order of the Special Master promulgating proposed statewide maps, on March 7, 2012, the DANR timely filed an objection, in pertinent part, to those maps, a copy of which is also included as part of this submission.

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The Report did not adopt a district consistent with that proposed by the DANR. Indeed, it did not even acknowledge the proposal. Accordingly by this letter, the DANR respectfully objects to the Report, and in support of that objection states as follows:

1) The Report Creates an Ex Post Facto Requirement of Statewide Rather than District Specific Maps.

The lions’s share of the Report is based on the Affidavit of Nathaniel Persily, the Court appointed expert to the Special Master. In Paragraph 65 thereof, commenting on district- specific submissions, Dr. Persily states:

Partial and individual district plans cannot be adopted wholesale while fulfilling
the requirements that we create a plan of 27 districts. Furthermore, especially with respect to proposed individual districts, a proposal cannot be inserted into a plan while ignoring the population “needs” of the surrounding districts. Moreover, adopting an individual district proposal risks ignoring the necessary tradeoffs between districts, and can raise [Voting Rights Act] problems if one district’s configuration leads to race-based dilution or retrogression in another district.

In Paragraph 67, Dr. Persily makes substantially the same statements regarding submissions by non-parties.

Respectfully, this wholesale marginalization, if not exclusion, of partial and district-specific plans constitutes an impressible changing of the rules after the game has been played, and an inappropriate dismissal of access to that portion of the population that has typically been excluded from meaningful participation in the redistricting process.

Specifically, there is nothing in the Orders of this Court or the Special Master requiring the submission of statewide maps (and only statewide maps) as a condition precedent for meaningful consideration of that party’s position. To the contrary, numerous persons and groups submitted partial or individual plans, believing they would be given serious consideration. Instead, the treatment by the Court appointed expert borders on the dismissive.

If it was the intention of the Special Master to require the submission of a statewide plan as a condition precedent to meaningful consideration of any individual district map, this should have been stated specifically at the outset. Upon information and belief, many of the participants– and certainly the DANR — would have altered their conduct in light of this.

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2) The Court Should Require Meaningful Consideration of Partial and/or District Specific Plans.

However, the Court should not require the submission of statewide plans as the price for consideration of district-specific proposals. While appreciative of the Herculean task faced by the Special Master and this Court, if the public is to have meaningful input into the redistricting process, interested persons must be permitted to submit partial or district specific plans.

The DANR is a good example of why this is true. Its specific interest is in ensuring fair representation in the Spanish speaking communities of New York that have traditionally been denied such representation. It has limited resources and cannot seriously be expected to utilize those resources to map and argue the propriety of congressional districts on the Canadian border. Similarly, partial plans were proposed by the Democratic County Chairmen of The Bronx and New York Counties. These individuals each represent a defined constituency. Should the price of having the voice of that constituency heard be the expenditure of funds to map Erie or Wyoming County? If so, then that voice will be silenced, as will the voices of those whom the DANR represents; and these are precisely the voices that, historically, have not been heard, because of artificial impediments to, and manipulation of, the process.

Finally, we note that in Paragraph 67 of his Affidavit, Dr. Persily states with respect to the partial plans submitted by the public: “For the same reasons the partial plans of the parties were rejected but given consideration, these plans were accorded the same treatment.”

Unfortunately, in the same paragraph, Dr. Persily purports to list the non-party members of the public who submitted partial plans. Although the DANR did precisely that, and provided testimony at the hearing before the Special Master on March 5, 2012, and submitted an objection to the Special Master’s Proposed Plan two days later, Dr. Persily fails to mention the DANR. This, at a minimum, calls into question exactly how much “consideration” was given to these plans, if any was given at all.

3) The Court Should Not Accept a Plan that is Rushed Rather Than Reasoned.
This Court, and the Special Master, have not only been asked to discharge the duties the state legislature shirked, but to do so in an unrealistically compressed timeframe. The timeframe is driven by the commencement of the petitioning process, now scheduled for March 20, 2012. The Court should revisit whether adherence to this timeframe is commanding too great a price.

At issue here is the most fundamental constitutional right of the citizenry- – the right to vote. And this Court’s decision will pertain not transiently, but for the next decade.

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The DANR has no doubt that if more time were available, the Special Master and Dr. Persily would not have diminished the partial plans submitted by the parties and other interested persons, and would not have made other errors that crept in to the Report and Affidavit- – errors which, while not necessarily material, highlight the risk of sacrificing reflection for rapidity.1

By abdicating its responsibilities, the legislature may be able to require this Court to undertake the thankless task of redistricting, but it should not be able to force the Court to a rush to judgment. For the reasons stated in the Rose Intervenors’ Brief in Response to Magistrate’s Order to Show Cause dated March 7, 2012 (Docket #191), the Court should order a judicial “time-out” and provide a timeframe for comment and analysis more compatible with the importance of the task, whatever the ramifications may be for the legislature.

4) There are Significant Problems with the Special Master’s Plan
So that the Court may put the DANR’s concerns into concrete context, the DANR has proposed a district uniting the Spanish speaking neighborhoods of northern Manhattan, the west Bronx and Corona/ Jackson Heights into a single congressional district. The explication for why this district is the most appropriate one from the standpoint of conventional redistricting criteria is set forth in our March 7, 2012 letter of objection to the Special Master and incorporated by reference herein.

The DANR proposal was sub silentio rejected by the Special Master in favor of a district that essentially fuses Harlem, historically an African-American neighborhood, with the Kingsbridge section of The Bronx, a largely Hispanic community. This was done despite the fact there has been a dramatic growth in the Hispanic population throughout the relevant area, and the existence of a discernable community of interest linking the Kingsbridge neighborhood to adjacent Spanish speaking neighborhoods in northern Manhattan and The Bronx.

By so doing, the Special Master has conjoined “disparity not community”. See Miller v. Johnson, 515 US 900, 908 (1995). Thus, the district proposed by the DANR is united by a common language; the district proposed by the Special Master is not. The district proposed by the DANR shares a common culture; the district proposed by the Special Master does not. The district proposed by the DANR is economically homogeneous; the district proposed by the Special Master is not.

It is telling that NewYork County Democratic Leader Keith Wright, as well as Dr. John Flateau, in their respective responses to the Special Master’s Proposed Plan, referred approvingly to the DANR proposal, and noted that the Special Master’s 13th congressional

1 For example, in paragraph 88 of his Affidavit, Dr. Persily states that the Marble Hill- Inwood neighborhood “is part of New York County but is adjoined to the [sic] Bronx.” In fact, Marble Hill is adjoined to The Bronx, but Inwood is not.

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district (the Harlem/Kingsbridge district referred to above) actually diluted both Black and Hispanic voting strength.

Factors such as these merit more time and study than the Special Master, working under impossible constraints, could afford to give them. Accordingly, the DANR respectfully requests this Court adopt the DANR’s proposed district (in lieu of Districts 13, 14 and 15 as recommended by the Special Master), or that, in the alternative, it remand to the Special Master for further proceedings appropriate in light of the foregoing.

We thank the Court for its consideration of this matter.

Respectfully,

/s/
Lance Gotthoffer,
Becker & Poliakoff
Attorneys for Dominican American National Roundtable

Asociacion de Mujeres Honra Presidente de Mesa Redonda en Día Internacional de la Mujer: Ella Hace Un Llamado Urgente a Parar la Violencia en Contra de la Mujer en RD

English

Washington, DC (11 de Marzo, 2012). – La Asociación de Mujeres Progresistas rindió homenaje a la Dra. María Teresa Montilla, Presidente de la Dominican American National Roundtable, en conmemoración del Día Internacional de la Mujer.  El evento tomo lugar el domingo 11 de marzo a las 4:30pm en la Biblioteca del Centro Geriátrico Isabella, ubicado en Washington Heights.

El programa incluyó la presentación de una placa a la Licenciada Ángela Fernández, Jefe de la Oficina de Personal del Congresista José Serrano  y también una charla sobre trasplante de riñón por la Dra. María Abreu-Goris .

Miembros de AMP presentes y que emitieron comentarios incluyeron a Georgina Sánchez, Milagros Méndez, María Sierra, y entre otras, Miosotis Muñoz.

Después de recibir una placa destacando su liderazgo y contribuciones en los Estados Unidos,  la Presidente María Teresa Montilla pronunció el siguiente discurso:

“Muchas gracias por el honor que me conceden hoy.  En el año 1975, durante el Año Internacional de la Mujer, las Naciones Unidas estableció el 8 de marzo como Día Internacional de la Mujer. Dos años más tarde, en diciembre de 1977, la Asamblea General aprobó una resolución que proclama el Día de los Derechos de la Mujer y la Paz Internacional a observarse en cualquier día del año por los Estados Miembros,  conforme a  su historia y tradición nacional

“Yo pregunto, ¿por qué dedicar un día exclusivamente a la celebración de la mujer en el mundo? Al aprobar la resolución sobre la observanción del Día de la Mujer, la Asamblea General mencionó dos razones: reconocer el hecho de que garantizar la paz y el progreso social y el pleno goce de los derechos humanos y las libertades fundamentales exigen la participación activa, la igualdad y el desarrollo de la mujer; y  reconocer la contribución de la mujer a la consolidación de la paz y la seguridad internacionales.

Para las mujeres del mundo, este día tiene un significado más amplio: es una oportunidad de examinar cuán lejos han llegado en su lucha por la igualdad, la paz y el desarrollo. También es una oportunidad para que se unan  y movilizar para cambios significativos”.

En conclusión, la Presidente María Teresa montilla hizo un llamado urgente a detener la violencia contra la mujer en la República Dominicana, donde según las estadísticas, del 2000 al 2011, más de 2.168 mujeres fueron asesinadas. En 2011 solo y antes de terminar el año, más de 110 mujeres fueron asesinadas por sus parejas, en actos de violencia doméstica dejando huérfanos a más de 265 niños.

“Si me permiten unos minutos, quiero llamar la atención a una situación que debemos considerar y de hecho, manifestarnos sobre ella lo más pronto posible. Me refiero al feminicidio que esta tomando lugar en la República Dominicana, mientras nosotros estamos aquí celebrando el Día Internacional de la Mujer. Cientos de mujeres en la República Dominicana están muriendo a manos de sus agresores bajo el fenómeno de violencia doméstica”.

“El problema no es solamente que esas mujeres mueren a diario y constantemente, sino que el gobierno, el sistema judicial no considera este problema como un crimen lo suficientemente serio o grave para que los agresores, quienes por lo general son hombres, vayan a la cárcel”.

“Se debe formalizar un movimiento fuerte para que se establezcan leyes que respondan y remedien el problema. Aquí en los Estados Unidos ya hemos superado de manera significativa esa situación, sin embargo en países tan cercanos como en nuestra querida República Dominicana, este problema se ha tornado en una plaga. Y en un día como hoy, me gustaría  pensáramos un poquito sobre este problema y sobre todo en cómo podemos enfrentar esta situación de manera que se tomen medidas serias para proteger a las mujeres; porque después de todo, nosotras somos más de la mitad de la población del mundo y parimos la otra mitad”.

About the Asociacion de Mujeres Progresistas

Conceived in Washington Heights on November 11, 1993, the Asociacion de Mujeres Pregresistas, Inc., is a 501c3, not-for-profit organization founded by a group of dedicated women who volunteer their time to work on behalf of the communities of Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights and Inwood. The organization was created to meet the needs of thousands of families, particularly, women who, today more than ever, are the heads of households, single working mothers in need of assistance and referrals in areas, such as, educational opportunities, English as a Second Language (ESL), domestic violence, housing, health, immigration, as well as legal issues. For more information visit: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Asociaci%C3%B3n-de-Mujeres-Progresistas-New-York/126316104053237

Women Group Honors DANR President on International Women Day: She Makes a Call to Stop Ongoing Violence Against Women in the Dominican Republic NOW

-Espanol-

Washington, DC (March 11, 2012). – Asociación de Mujeres Progresistas honored Dr. María Teresa Montilla, President of the Dominican American National Roundtable, in observation of the International Woman’s Day. The event took place on Sunday, March 11th at 4:30pm at the library of Isabella Geriatric Center located in Washington Heights.

The program also included presenting a plaque to Ángela Fernández, Esq., U.S. Congressman Jose Serrano’s District Office Chief of Staff, and a lecture about kidney transplant by Dr. María Abreu-Goris.

AMP members in attendance, that delivered remarks, included Georgina Sánchez, Milagros Méndez, María Sierra, and among others, Miosotis Muñoz.

After receiving a plaque highlighting her many contributions and national leadership in the United States, President María Teresa Montilla delivered the following remarks:

“Thank you very much for honoring me today. In 1975, during the International Women’s Year, the United Nations began celebrating March 8th as International Women’s Day. Two years later, in December 1977, the U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by Member States, in accordance with their historical and national traditions.”

“I ask, why dedicate a day exclusively to the celebration of the world’s women? In adopting a resolution on the observance of Women’s Day, the General Assembly cited two reasons: to recognize the fact that securing peace and social progress and the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms require the active participation, equality and development of women; and to acknowledge the contribution of women to the strengthening of international peace and security.

“For the women of the world, the Day’s symbolism has a wider meaning: It is an occasion to review how far they have come in their struggle for equality, peace and development. It is also an opportunity to unite, network and mobilize for meaningful change.”

In concluding her remarks, President Maria Teresa Montilla made an urgent call to stop ongoing violence against women in the Dominican Republic, where according to statistics, from 2000 to 2011, over 2,168 women were killed. In 2011 alone and before the year ended, over 110 women were murdered by their partners due to domestic violence leaving orphan more than 265 children.

“If you would allow me a few minutes, I would like to draw your attention to a situation that we must consider and in fact, express our views on it as soon as possible. I am referring to the situation of femicide, the preventable homicide of women that is taking place in the Dominican Republic, while we are here celebrating International Women’s Day. Hundreds of women in the Dominican Republic are dying at the hands of their attackers under the phenomenon of domestic violence.”

“The problem is not just that these women are dying daily and constantly, but that the Dominican government, and the judicial system do not consider this problem as a crime serious enough that the perpetrators, who are usually men, go to jail.”

“There should be a strong movement to establish laws that respond and remedy the problem. Here in the United States, we have already overcome this situation, however, in countries as close as our beloved Dominican Republic; this problem has become a plague.

And on a day like today, I would like for us to consider this issue and how we can deal with this situation in a way that serious steps are taken to protect women; because after all, we are more than half of the world’s population and give birth to the other half.”

About the Asociacion de Mujeres Progresistas

Conceived in Washington Heights on November 11, 1993, the Asociacion de Mujeres Pregresistas, Inc., is a 501c3, not-for-profit organization founded by a group of dedicated women who volunteer their time to work on behalf of the communities of Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights and Inwood. The organization was created to meet the needs of thousands of families, particularly,  women who, today more than ever, are the heads of households, single working mothers in need of assistance and referrals in areas, such as, educational opportunities, English as a Second Language (ESL), domestic violence, housing, health, immigration, as well as legal issues. For more informacion visit: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Asociaci%C3%B3n-de-Mujeres-Progresistas-New-York/126316104053237

NOTED & QUOTED: “SORRY, CHARLIE”

NOTED & QUOTED:

Washington, DC (March 11, 2012). The following article titled “Sorry, Charlie” by Glenn Blain was published today on page #2 by the New York Daily News. Article is also available online at: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/state-sen-adriano-espaillat-challenge-charlie-rangel-seat-congress-article-1.1036857?print

For a printable copy of this article, click the following link: Sorry, Charlie by Glenn Blain

To read the online version of this article, click: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/state-sen-adriano-espaillat-challenge-charlie-rangel-seat-congress-article-1.1036857?print

 

 

NOTED & QUOTED: Cómo afecta el nuevo mapa distrital a la comunidad hispana?

ACENTUACION OMITIDA

Tres representantes de la comunidad comentan sobre el nuevo mapa distrital creado por una juez para el estado de Nueva York, y expresan dudas de que beneficie a la comunidad hispana de la Ciudad. Juan Manuel Benítez entrevista a Néstor Montilla del Concilio Nacional Dominico Americano, María Teresa Feliciano, de la Mesa Redonda Dominico Americana, y Lucía Gómez Jiménez, del Instituto Nacional Política Latina.

 

Siga la discusión en Twitter y Facebook.

 

Dominican American National Roundtable, Joined by a Coalition of Leaders, Files Legal Objection to U.S. District Court’s Proposed Redistricting Plan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Version Espanol al final

Press release in English and Spanish: DANR Files Legal Objection

Washington, DC (May 7, 2012)- The Dominican American National Roundtable, joined by a coalition of leaders, filed today a legal objection to the congressional redistricting plan released by Federal Judge Roanne L. Mann of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.  (For a printable copy of DANR Objection, clickDANR-Objection.

The Court released its proposed draft redistricting plan on March 5, 2012. Interested parties were given 24 hours to respond and show cause, in writing today by 9:00 a.m., and particularly to explain why the Court Proposed Plan should not be presented to a Three-Judge Panel as Federal Judge Roanne L. Mann intends to do.

In the afternoon at 2:00pm today, the DANR held a press conference in front of the United States District Court Eastern District of New York 225 located on Cadman Plaza East Brooklyn, NY 11201.

“Judge Mann’s proposed maps violate the most fundamental principles of redistricting,” said DANR President Maria Teresa Montilla. “Communities of interest have been denied their right to fair representation.”

The draft Coalition objection note submitted to the court reads: “We represent a broad coalition concerned with protection of the voting rights of residents of New York City.”

Members of the Coalition include the Dominican American National Roundtable, NY County Democratic Leader Keith Wright, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, Hazel Dukes, President NAACP NYS, Carl Heastie, Bronx County Democratic County Leader, NYS Senator Adriano Espaillat, NYS Assemblyman Robert Rodriguez, NYS Assemblyman Herman Denny Farrell, NYS Assemblyman Guillermo Linares, NYS Assemblyman Nick Perry, NYC Council Member Robert Jackson, NYC Council Member Inez Dickens and NYC Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez.

For a printable copy of the Broad Coalition Objections, click here.

While sincerely appreciating the enormity of the Court’s task and the tireless work that underlies the Proposed Plan (as defined in this Court’s March 6 Order), the Coalition members believe that their interests were not adequately represented by the parties and interveners, and that the Proposed Plan is deficient in several material respects. As a consequence, the Proposed Plan unduly fragments and dilutes minority voting strength and raises serious constitutional and other legal issues.

For example, the Proposed Plan, in pertinent part, appears to give little weight to the principle of community of interest, despite the general consensus that this doctrine is one of the most significant factors to be taken into account in the redistricting process.”

“This is obviously a fight for our fundamental right to have taxation with representation,” said Miosotis Muñoz, a community activist. “What’s being proposed clearly does not allow a voting group to cohesively remain within a specific congressional district.”

The Dominican American National Roundtable maintains that the community of interest that spreads over Washington Heights, West Bronx, and Corona Queens, must be kept together in one congressional district and have the ability to elect a candidate of their choice.  It asserts that this is an opportunity for voters to stand up for their rights and not allow the establishment to violate the fundamental premise behind the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

About the DANR

The Dominican American National Roundtable is the only non-profit, non-partisan 501 (c) (3) Corporation based in Washington, DC advocating for the educational, socio-economic and political development of our diverse communities and all people of Dominican origin in the United States of America, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. www.danr.org

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Espanol

PARA ENTREGA INMEDIATA: 7 De Marzo, 2012
Contacto: DANR Press: 202-238-0097  info@danr.org

La Mesa Redonda Dominico Americana y Delegación de Funcionarios Someten Objeción Legal al Plan de Redistribución de Distritos del Tribunal Federal  

Washington, DC (7 de Mayo, 2012)- La Mesa Redonda Dominico Americana y una delegación de dirigentes sometieron hoy una objeción legal al plan de redistribución de distritos congresionales  publicado por la Juez Federal Roanne L. Mann, del Tribunal  Federal de Estados Unidos en el Distrito Este de Nueva York.  DANR-Objection

 

El tribunal publicó su propuesta de plan de redistribución de distritos congresionales  el  5 de marzo de 2012. A las partes interesadas se les instruyo mostrar causa por escrito hoy antes de las 9:00AM, y en particular, explicar por qué el plan propuesto por el tribunal no debe ser presentada al Panel  de Tres Jueces como la Juez Federal Roanne L. Mann intenta hacer.

 

Hoy en la tarde a las 2:00pm, la Mesa Redonda y un grupo de lideres convocaron una rueda de prensa al frente de la Corte Federal en el 225 Cadman Plaza East Brooklyn, NY.

 

“El mapa publicado por la Juez Mann viola los principios fundamentales del proceso de Redistribución de Distritos”, dijo María Teresa Montilla, Presidente de la Mesa Redonda Dominico Americana. “A comunidades de interés se les ha negado el derecho a justa representación”.

 

La moción en objeción sometida al tribunal dice: “Representamos una amplia coalición preocupada por la protección de los derechos de votante de los residentes de la ciudad de New York”.

Específicamente, los miembros de la Coalición son Dominican American National Roundtable, NY County Democratic Leader Keith Wright, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, Hazel Dukes, President NAACP NYS, Carl Heastie, Bronx County Democratic County Leader, NYS Senator Adriano Espaillat, NYS Assemblyman Robert Rodriguez, NYS Assemblyman Herman Denny Farrell, NYS Assemblyman Guillermo Linares, NYS Assemblyman Nick Perry, NYC Council Member Robert Jackson, NYC Council Member Inez Dickens and NYC Council Member Ydanis Rodríguez.

 

Si bien apreciamos y entendemos la enormidad de la tarea del tribunal y la incansable labor que conlleva el plan propuesto (tal como se define en la orden del Tribunal fechada  6 de marzo), los miembros de la Coalición consideran que sus intereses no están debidamente representados por las partes y coadyuvantes, y que el plan propuesto es deficiente en varios aspectos importantes. Como consecuencia de ello, el plan propuesto indebidamente fragmenta y diluye el poder del voto de las minorías y plantea serias cuestiones jurídicas y constitucionales.

 

Por ejemplo, el plan propuesto, de manera pertinente, parece dar poca importancia al principio de comunidades de interés, a pesar del consenso general de que esta doctrina es uno de los factores más importantes a considerar en el proceso de redistribución de distritos”.

 

“Esta es obviamente una lucha por nuestro derecho fundamental representación en proporción a contribución”, dijo Miosotis muñoz, un activista de la comunidad. “Lo que se propone claramente impide que un grupo de votantes, permanezca cohesivamente  dentro de un determinado distrito congresional”.

 

La Mesa Redonda Dominico Americana sostiene que la comunidad de interés que se extiende por Washington Heights, West Bronx, Queens y Corona, debe mantenerse unida en un distrito congresional de manera que pueda elegir al candidato de su preferencia.  Afirma que esta es una oportunidad para que los electores defiendan sus derechos y no permitan  que el establecimiento viole la premisa fundamental detrás de la Ley de Derecho del Votante 1965.

 

Para mas informacion visite www.danr.org

 

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