NOTED & QUOTED: Dominican group eyes gains in redistricting

Article is also available online at: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/uptown/2011/09/01/2011-09-01_dominican_group_eyes_gains_in_redistricting.html#ixzz1WkJDANcZ

For a printable copy of the article, click the following link: Dominican group eyes gains in redistricting in ‘Silk Stocking District’

Para leer artículo en español, pulse aquí.

Dominican group eyes gains in redistricting in ‘Silk Stocking District’

BY FRANK LOMBARDI

DAILY NEWS UPTOWN POLITICAL COLUMNIST

Thursday, September 1st 2011, 4:00 AM

Advocates who dream of electing the country’s first Dominican-American member of Congress want to do it at the expense of upper East Side Rep. Carolyn Maloney.

Known as “the Silk Stocking District,” Maloney’s 14th Congressional District (CD) currently represents portions of Manhattan and Queens. Its population is 65.7% white to 13.7% Hispanic, based on new Census figures.

A redistricting plan crafted by the Dominican American National Roundtable would radically change the 14th CD’s lines to take in Dominican-heavy Washington Heights and Inwood and then range through a Hispanic-friendly Bronx corridor into south Yonkers, Westchester County, with a growing Dominican population.

Just like that, the new 14th CD’s population would flip, becoming 60% Hispanic to 16.2% white.

While Maloney, who was first elected in 1993, could still run in such a new district, she presumably could lose to a Dominican.

A spokesman for Maloney said, “Congresswoman Maloney has not seen the plan and therefore can’t comment.”

The Dominican Roundtable, a national advocacy group for the country’s 1.4 million Dominican-Americans, will present its plan next Thursday at Bronx Community College to the state’s Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment.

The proposed Maloney mauling is coupled with a major – but largely benign – redrawing of the 15th CD, long represented by Harlem Rep. Charles Rangel.

Currently, Rangel’s district is virtually all within upper Manhattan, and includes Washington Heights and Inwood. The district has undergone a demographic transformation over several decades, and is now: 26.5% black; 46.1% Hispanic; 20.9% white and 4.2% Asian. At least half of the Hispanics are Dominicans, according to Census data.

Up to now, the Dominican Roundtable had favored a redistricting of the 15th CD that would have picked up some additional Hispanic constituents in the South Bronx. But that version had the potential of pitting blacks and Hispanics against each other for political control.

Nestor Montilla, chairman of the Dominican Roundtable, said the new redistricting plan would preserve the 15th CD as an African-American district, while also crafting a new Hispanic-majority district with the 14th CD.

The 15th CD’s new lines would pick up neighborhoods along the southern crescent of the Bronx to roughly Interstate 678, at the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge. The lines would then proceed north through a corridor of Bronx turf along I-678, and pick up a chunk of the northeast Bronx (including Co-op City) and much of Mount Vernon in Westchester County, all areas with sizable African-American populations.

Again, just like that, under the Dominican Roundtable’s proposed new lines the 15th CD’s demographics would become 41.2% black, 23.7% Hispanic, 27.9% white and 4.7% Asian.

Ostensibly, the new lines would be more favorable to a post-Rangel African-American candidate. Rangel hasn’t commented, but is said to view the proposal as basically a nonstarter.

Maria Teresa Feliciano, president of the Dominican Roundtable, said that based on population gains by Hispanics one or more additional new Hispanic-majority districts are warranted.

The state will lose two of its current 29 seats due to reapportionment after the new Census.

“We have two seats; we’ve had two for the past 20 years,” Feliciano lamented. “Based on demographics, the Task Force will be hard-pressed to come up with a map that doesn’t include at least one additional Latino-majority district, whether it’s our or some other proposal.”

flombardi@nydailynews.com

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/uptown/2011/09/01/2011-09-01_dominican_group_eyes_gains_in_redistricting.html#ixzz1WkJDANcZ

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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.

ABOUT the National Dominican American Council (NDAC)

NDAC is the national civic-engagement-community relations organ of the Dominican American National Roundtable.

NOTED & QUOTED from NY DailyNews: In line for nation’s 1st Dominican Rep?

For a printable copy of the Daily News article -In line for nation’s 1st Dominican rep? by Frank Lombardi click here

Following is a transcript of Frank Lombardi’s article “In line for nation’s 1st Dominican Rep?” published today Thursday, August 4, 2011 by the New York Daily News.

In line for nation’s 1st Dominican rep?

by Frank Lombardi

UPTOWN POLITICS

Daily News NYDailynews.com

BRONX NEWS

Thursday, August 4, 2011 (page 40)

In these dog days of summer there’s not much urgency among uptown politicos about the impending redistricting of state legislative and congressional districts.

But that doesn’t mean there’s not much interest in what could happen, especially to the 15th Congressional District, which for 65 years has been represented by just two African-American men.

Incumbent Charles Rangel (D-Harlem) has held the seat for 40 years, ever since deposing Adam Clayton Powell Jr., who held the seat for 25 years, going back to 1945.

Though commonly referred to as the Harlem seat, and mistakenly believed by some to be a majority black district, the 15th CD’s demographics long ago tipped in favor of Hispanics, predominantly Dominicans in this case.

According to the 2010 Census, the Dominican population of Manhattan – which is largely concentrated in Rangel’s district -grew by 14% since 2000.

There are 155,971 Dominicans in the borough now, compared to 107,774 Puerto Ricans and 41,965 Mexicans. And the raw numbers distinctly show that if redistricting were strictly based on demographics, and not politics and incumbency, the 15th CD’s lines could be adjusted to provide a shot for electing the country’s first Dominican congressional representative.

Consider: the 15th CD’s population was 48% Hispanic in the 2000 Census, compared to 30.5% black, 16% white and 3% Asian. Based on the 2010 Census, the Hispanic share has decreased slightly to 46%, but the black population decreased even more, to 26.5%. The white share has increased to 21% and the Asian to 4%.

The are 125,824 more Hispanics than blacks in the 15th CD than 10 years ago. And by voting age population, Hispanics outnumber blacks nearly two to one.

Moving the district’s lines north into Dominican-populated sections of the Bronx, such as Kingsbridge, the percentage of Dominicans would grow considerably.

“The numbers are there to make the case,” said Jose Ramon Bello, the former executive director of the Dominican American National Roundtable (DANR), which advocates nationally for more than 1 million Dominicans.

Because of reapportionment tied to the new census, the state is losing two of its 29 congressional seats. One is likely to be eliminated upstate and the other in the city, which now has 13 districts. All surviving districts will have to be redrawn to encompass an average of 717,707 constituents, compared to 654,372 currently.

That means the 15th CD will have to grow, one way or another. Rangel, who intends to run for a 22nd term next year, has said he wants to keep his district within Manhattan.

The redistricting is to be completed next year before candidates file for the fall elections. Albany legislative leaders who normally control the process have largely ignored Gov. Cuomo’s call for an independent redistricting commission. Cuomo has vowed to veto any plan that prioritizes “partisan and incumbent interests,” which would force the courts to do the redistricting.

Hearings by the New York State Legislature Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment are underway, with one scheduled in each of the five boroughs next month.

The DANR’s proposed redistricting of the 15th CD and several other city districts will be presented to the task force at those hearings, said DANR President Maria Teresa Feliciano. She stressed the intent is to “facilitate the creation of a district that reflects the changes in demographics.”

flombardi@nydailynews.com

ESTUDIANTES INMIGRANTES EN MARYLAND PROGRESAN CON UNA VICTORIA CLAVE PARA LOS DERECHOS CIVILES

NOTE & QUOTED

Comunicado de Prensa: Para su publicación inmediata.

12 de abril, 2011

Contactar a Susana Flores, sflores@casamd.org 240-706-2624

ESTUDIANTES INMIGRANTES EN MARYLAND PROGRESAN CON UNA VICTORIA CLAVE PARA LOS DERECHOS CIVILES

 

CASA DE MARYLAND LE PIDE AL GOBERNADOR QUE FIRME LA LEGISLACION RAPIDAMENTE

 

Annapolis MD- Anoche la asamblea general de Maryland paso una legislación para darles a estudiantes indocumentados acceso a pagar la matrícula estatal, una medida que, si ratificada por el Gobernador O’Malley, haría que Maryland sea el 12avo estado en el país en pasar la reforma.  La legislación 167 en el Senado le permite a estudiantes que han atendido al menos 3 años de secundaria en Maryland, recibieron un diploma de Maryland, atendido un colegio universitario comunitario en los últimos 4 años, luego una universidad de 4 años con su licenciatura de asociado, y que puedan comprobar que ellos o sus padres han declarado impuestos en Maryland para cada uno de esos años.

“Palabras no pueden expresar lo orgullosa que estoy de Maryland en este momento,” dijo Jackie, una estudiante activista del la secundaria High Point y líder del comité de jóvenes de CASA.  “El gobierno federal aun no reconoce lo valioso que somos, pero hoy día la asamblea general de Maryland lo hizo, y ahora tenemos una oportunidad de probar que somos una buena inversión para el resto del país.”

SB167 paso ambas cámaras tarde anoche, después de un día de incertidumbres, en el cual las cámaras estuvieron ida y vuelta con distintas versiones de la legislación.  La medida ha sido introducida durante 5 años, desde el 2002.  En el 2003 fue aprobada por la asamblea general solo para que esta sea vetada por el Gobernador Ehrlich.  En el 2007, una legislación similar también paso la cámara de representantes solo para ser detenida en el Senado.

“Esta victoria tiene muchos años haciéndose y cada año que esperamos estábamos perdiendo el talento de nuestros próximos cirujanos, trabajadores sociales, y profesores – habilidades y compromisos que ningún estado se puede dar el lujo de perder,” dijo Gustavo Torres, Director Ejecutivo de CASA de Maryland, la organización más grande del estado para los derechos de los inmigrantes.  “Pero aun mas importante, este pase demuestra que en Maryland estamos comprometidos en confrontar de manera más humana las fallidas acciones federales sobre inmigración y otras crisis de derechos civiles, que las acompañan; reconociendo la dignidad básica de todas las familias inmigrantes.”

La legislación recibió apoyo político tempranero, de los ejecutivos de los condados Rushern Baker (Prince George’s) y Isiah Leggett (Montgomery), también de la ciudad de Baltimore.  El gobernador O’Malley declaro desde el comienzo de la sesión que firmaría la legislación para hacerla ley, y la elección del primer senador Latino en el estado, Víctor Ramirez, el patrocinador de la legislación; con la condición que haya un apoyo en conjunto de la cámara que era lo que faltaba cuando mataron a la legislación en el 2007.  Pero, la organización en el campo fue considerada por observadores políticos al igual que apoyadores, de ser la fuerza que logró la meta.

La campaña este año fue apoyada por una gran red de estudiantes, activistas inmigrantes, fe, derechos civiles, y lideres sindicatos, e instituciones educacionales.  Activistas llegaron de colegios, incluyendo: Annapolis High School, Anne Arundel Community College, Baltimore City College, Baltimore City Community College, Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, Bladensburg High School, Broadneck High School (Annapolis), Chesapeake High School (Essex), Community College of Baltimore County, Digital Harbor High School (Baltimore), Dundalk High School, Glen Burnie High School, Goucher College, Hampstead Hill Academy (Baltimore), Highlandtown Middle School (Baltimore), High Point High School (Beltsville), Kennedy High School (Wheaton), Montgomery College, Morgan State University, Northwest High School (Pasadena), Owings Mills High School, Patterson Park High School (Baltimore City), SouthSide Academy (Baltimore), Springbrook High School (Silver Spring), Stevenson University, St. Paul Episcopal School (Brooklandville), Towson University, University of Maryland Baltimore County, University of Maryland College Park, y Wheaton High School. 

Estudiantes se involucraron en actividades desde tocando puertas hasta urgir a residentes que llamen a legisladores claves, grupos que hacían llamadas telefónicas y faxes, presentaciones frente a potenciales aliados, y más.  Juntos con el personal de CASA, jóvenes tocaron en 1493 puertas de constituyentes de legisladores claves, 53% de los cuales inmediatamente llamaron para solicitar que aprueben la legislación.  El 7 de marzo, mas de 1000 personas inundaron Annapolis para la Noche de Acción de Inmigrantes, que se dedico a las voces de los estudiantes, donde participantes y políticos oyeron de un coro de motivados estudiantes de varios rincones de todo el estado.  Finalmente, ola tras ola de estudiantes inundaron Annapolis para atender las múltiples audiencias que culmino con el drama sine dei, de todo el día.

Apoyo clave también fue proveído por Fundación de Afiliados Industriales de Áreas de Maryland (IAF): Accion en Montgomery (AIM), Baltimorenses Unidos en Desarrollo de Liderazgo (BUILD), y Personas Actuando Juntas en Howard (PATH), Conferencia de Católicos en Maryland, Asociación de Colegios de Maryland, y muchos más.  Pueden encontrar una lista completa de aliados: http://bit.ly/hvzRQp.  Estas organizaciones, junto con CASA, enviaron más de 45,000 emails, e hicieron miles de llamadas telefónicas, e hicieron presión política de los rangos más altos para asegurar el pasaje de la legislación.

Para coordinar entrevistas con estudiantes, organizaciones, y mas, contactar a Susana Flores, al 240-706-2624 o sflores@casamd.org.

2011 Women to Watch: Claritza Abreu, a DANR MA Board Member

NOTED & QUOTED

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

By Jim Schakenbach, Special to Mass High Tech

Available at: http://www.masshightech.com/stories/2011/03/14/weekly27-2011-Women-to-Watch-Claritza-Abreu.html
Claritza Abreu, DANR State Vice President/MA, is the first Latina to hold a senior technology position with the city of Boston and the commonwealth of Massachusetts. She has assumed numerous leadership roles in her professional career and her private life, dedicating time and energy to the health and well-being of Massachusetts residents as well as to a variety of Latino, women’s, and community causes. Abreu has spent her professional career in various positions within public agencies. She is responsible for a $13 million budget and an IT department with more than 75 staff members and the support of 33 sites across the state, including five large mental health hospitals.

Education: Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in computer science from Santo Domingo Institute of Technonoloy and Boston University, respectively, and graduate studies from New York University (NYU) and Suffolk University.

Getting started in technology: “My math teacher in high school back in the Dominican Republic actually inspired me to go into an engineering career. I was 16 years old, one of the top students in his class, and he said I’d make a great engineer. I was going to be the first to graduate from college in my family, and I’d never even met a woman engineer.”

Her toughest challenge: “Coming here to the U.S. in my 20s, speaking just a little English, was tough. More than just the language, I had to learn the culture and how to get ahead to where I needed to be. As a recent immigrant with a college degree, I just had to work harder.”

Mentor: “While I was in college I had an internship in computer science working with a professor of systems and computer engineering at the University of the Andes, Joaquin Oramas. He took the time to encourage students like me to pursue advanced degrees and achieve our goals. He said technology was useless unless it was used to improve people’s lives.”

What accomplishment she is most proud of: “I helped adapt digital pen technology that the Boston Public Health Commission used to collect data from at-risk families in our Healthy Baby, Healthy Child program. This device made it faster, safer, and more efficient to gather data, reducing time, paperwork and cost while helping mothers provide the data necessary to help their children stay healthy.”
 

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Robert Peterson, retired director of application development, Massachusetts Department of Mental Health 

“She really cares about people, that’s her main concern. She’s a self-starter and has worked extremely hard. She’s very motivated to help people.

“She has natural leadership ability. It’s hard for her to sit back, she naturally likes to volunteer. She comes from a background of strong values — she would get to work at 7 o’clock in the morning and leave at 8 at night and still have time for her kids. People look up to her.”

Embajador Dominicano en USA Participará en la 11ava Conferencia Para Asuntos Dominicanos en NJ

NOTED & QUOTED FROM THE INSTITUTE FOR LATINO STUDIES

http://thelatinoinstitute.org/

Embajador Dominicano en USA Participará en la 11ava Conferencia Para Asuntos Dominicanos en NJ

El programa incluye dignatarios, líderes, políticos, estudiantes y expertos en diversas áreas

Newark, NJ. (17 de febrero del 2011).– Su Excelencia Roberto Saladin, Embajador de la República Dominicana en Los Estados Unidos, confirmó su asistencia a la 11ava Conferencia Para Asuntos Dominicanos en New Jersey a llevarse a cabo de 8:30 am a 4pm el domingo 20 de febrero del 2011 en Rutgers School of Law localizada en el 123 Washington Street Newark, NJ.

El Embajador Saladin fue nombrado por Su Excelencia Dr. Leonel Fernández Reyna, Presidente de la República Dominicana, como Embajador en Los Estados Unidos de América el 20 de marzo del 2009.  En mayo del mismo año, el Embajador Saladin presentó sus credenciales al Presidente Barack Obama.

El programa de la 11ava Confencia Para Asuntos Dominicanos (CODA) incluye dignatarios, líderes, políticos, estudiantes y expertos en diversas áreas (para una copia del programa visite  http://thelatinoinstitute.org/).

El Senador del Estado de New York Adriano Espaillat será el orador principal y pronunciará el discurso titulado “Trabajando con Nuestros Líderes para Fortalecer Nuestras Comunidades”.

La lista de oradores e invitados incluye Su Excelencia Roberto Saladin, Embajador de la República Dominicana en Los Estados Unidos, Malín Falú, comunicadora por más de 30 años; Gloria Bonilla-Santiago, Ph.D., Catedrática y Experta en Dinámica de Grupo de Rutgers University; la Dra. Geanilda Vasquez, Secretaria de Organización del Partido Revolucionario Dominicano (PRD); la Sra. Peggy Cabral de Peña del PRD; Dra. Dilcia Granville, la primera inventora dominicana en los Estados Unidos; Dr. Jorge Piña, Decano Escuela Periodismo Digital; el Dr. Alberto Correa, Matemático e Instructor en Liderazgo de la Universidad de Puerto Rico; el Dr. Ramón Antonio Veras, escritor y panfletero sobreviviente; y entre otros, la Dra. Irma Nicasio, socióloga y catedrática de la Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo y asesora del Excelentísimo Señor Presidente de la República Dominicana, el Dr. Leonel Fernandez Reyna y el Dr. Hugo M. Morales, Síndico de la Universidad de la Ciudad de Nueva York (CUNY).

La conferencia presentará además, una feria del libro y talleres de profesionales de la salud, liderazgo femenino, liderazgo juvenil, escritores y periodistas, re-distribución de distritos electorales en EEUU, y el tema del 4% del presupuesto de la República Dominicana para la educación.

Este año, CODA se une a la Dominican American National Roundtable para publicar el libro Cuatro Décadas de Migración Femenina y su Impacto en la Economía Dominicana por la Dra. Irma Nicasio. En su investigacion academica la Dra Nicasio postula que las mujeres dominicanas ha contribuido más que los hombres dominicanos a la economia del país. El libro estará disponible en la Cumbre.

La Recepción de Apertura del 11avo. Aniversario de CODA tomará lugar el sábado 19 de febrero a las 12:00 pm, en el Passaic Community College’s Paterson Room, localizado en One College Boulevard Paterson, NJ 07505.

Inmediatamente después de la Recepción, a la que asistirán los oradores y panelistas de este año, se presentará y se pondrá a circular en DVD el documental original Los Panfleteros de Santiago, en el teatro del Passaic Community College.  Estará disponible para adquisición. Esta presentación incluye la participación del Dr. Ramón Antonio Veras quien viajará desde República Dominicana para testificar sobre el caso de los Panfleteros y el significado histórico del documental.

Para ver y escuchar su testimonio, pulse aqui

Avance del documental Los Panfleteros de Santiago.

La Presidenta de CODA María Teresa Feliciano homenajeará Merijoel Duranl, quien recientemente celebró sus veinte años de carrera en comunicación. Actualmente labora como presentadora en UNIVISION.

La Conferencia es posible gracias a la generosidad de UNIVISION, Cibao Meat Products, HealthFirst, Merengue Restaurant, The Common Roots Project, y TD Bank, entre otros amigos y auspiciadores de CODA.

Para más información e inscripción, pulse aqui o visite  www.thelatinoinstitute.org, envíe un correo electrónico a thelatinoinstitute@gmail.com, o llame al 973-345-3624.

About CODA

Established in 2000, The New Jersey Conference on Dominican Affairs (CODA) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that serves as the state forum for analysis, strategic planning and project development on behalf of over 250,000 Dominicans in New Jersey. It has held ten annual conferences and implemented the following programs and projects:  Dominicans: a Community on the Move, the first visual exhibit of New Jersey Dominicans at the Newark Public Library; The First Socio-Demographic Study of New Jersey Dominicans; Tu Cuentas! Naturalization Project; Youth Leadership & Mentoring Program (LAMP); The Latino Leadership Academy (LALEA); The Book & Documentary Los Panfleteros de Santiago (Santiago’s Pamphleteers), and the first research study film documentary and book entitled New Jersey Dominicans: A Decade of Accomplishments. The most recent book published in partnership with the Dominican American National Roundtable is Cuatro Decadas de Migracion Femenina y su impacto en la economia de la República Dominicana por Dra. Irma Nicasio, catedrática de la Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo. All publications and documentaries will be available at this year’s conference at the Rutgers School of Law on Sunday, February 20, 2011, 8 am to 4 pm.

Noted & Quoted: Free Training on Redistricting and How Local Data Count to Reshape Halls of Power in the US

 

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Washington, DC (January 10, 2011). Following is a note from the US Census regarding upcoming free training on “Redistricting Data” and on how local data count to reshape the halls of power in the United States.  Such type of Webinar training sections are free to the general public.

DANR and its National Dominican American Council (NDAC) encourage everyone interested, including community based organizations, to participate on free Webinars and pass the word on particularly about the training section slated to take place on Monday, January 24, 2011 at 2:30pm, Est.  

Following is the U.S. Census note:

Census National Partners,

We invite you to check out our recent releases and join us for an upcoming free training.

Check out the latest release of the government’s best-selling reference book: 130th Edition of the Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2011.  With statistics from all across the public, private, and nonprofit spectrum, there are over 1,400 tables that collectively describe the state of our nation and the world.  Included this year are 65 new tables, covering topics such as insufficient rest or sleep, nursing home occupancy, homeschooling, earthquakes, organic farmland, honey bee colonies, crashes involving distracted drivers and cities with the highest transit savings. 

Monday, January 24, 2011 @ 2:30 p.m. EST: Redistricting Data Webinar — Save the date to hear Cathy McCully, Redistricting Data Office Chief, explain the details of how the local data counts help reshape the halls of power.  She’ll speak about how we deliver data to the states to enable their redistricting efforts.  We’ll forward on the webinar logistics once available. 

Keep watch for future updates and contact us by phone (800-923-8282), email (clmso.2010.census.partners.list@census.gov), or on the web at www.census.gov.  We look forward to a continued, sustained partnership with you throughout the decade, providing all the data you need to help make informed decisions.

Thank you.

US Census Bureau

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Questions? Contact Us

Census Bureau to Release 2010 Census Data!

 

 

Washington, DC. (Monday, December 20, 2010).–The United States Census released the following note regarding the release of its 2010 Census Data:

Census Bureau National Partners,

Tomorrow marks the first release of 2010 Census data!

Like many of you did with our 2010 Census Day countdown web widget, we encourage you to embed our

apportionment interactive map widget on your website. It’s been designed to help educate your communities about the redistribution of the house of representatives every ten years.  This innovative tool allows you to track your state’s population, and seats in the House of Representatives, throughout the past century. The widget offers a unique historical perspective on apportionment and the nation’s changing population. It can be embedded on your website and will be updated when the 2010 data is released on Tuesday, Dec. 21.

We also encourage you to check out some new lesson plans on the apportionment process thro

ugh our Census In Schools program.

Keep watch for future updates and contact us by phone (800-923-8282), email (clmso.2010.census.partners.list@census.gov), or on the web at www.census.gov. We look forward to a continued, sustained partnership with you throughout the decade, providing all the data you need to help make informed decisions.

Thank You.

DECLARACIONES DE LA SECRETARIA DE SEGURIDAD NACIONAL JANET NAPOLITANO SOBRE EL ESTATUS DE PROTECTION TEMPORAL DE LOS HAITIANOS EN USA

 

 Oficina de Prensa

Departamento de Seguridad Nacional de los Estados Unidos

 

 

Comunicado de Prensa

 

15 de enero, 2010

Contacto: Oficina de Prensa de DHS, (202) 282-8010

 

 

DECLARACIONES DE LA SECRETARIA DE SEGURIDAD NACIONAL JANET NAPOLITANO

 

“Como parte de los esfuerzos en curso del departamento para prestar ayuda a Haití tras el devastador terremoto del martes, estoy anunciando la designación de Estatus de Protección Temporal (Temporary Protected Status o TPS) para los ciudadanos de Haití que estaban en Estados Unidos el 12 de enero, 2010. Ésta es una catástrofe de proporciones históricas, y esta designación permitirá que los ciudadanos de Haití en Estados Unidos que cumplen con los requisitos continúen viviendo y trabajando en nuestro país durante los próximos 18 meses. Proporcionar refugio temporal a los ciudadanos de Haití que actualmente se encuentran en Estados Unidos y cuya seguridad personal se pondría en peligro si regresasen a Haití es parte de los esfuerzos continuos de este gobierno por contribuir a la recuperación de Haití.

 

“En este trágico momento en Haití, las personas que sufren tras el terremoto se pueden ver tentadas a buscar refugio en otro lugar. Pero tratar de salir de Haití ahora sólo creará más dificultades para el pueblo y la nación haitiana. La comunidad internacional se ha unido para enviar ayuda a Haití. Ya ha llegado gran parte de ella, y mucho más está en camino. Los haitianos son resistentes y decididos, y su desempeño ante esta crisis en su territorio nacional será esencial para el futuro de Haití.

 

“Es importante señalar que el TPS se aplicará solamente a las personas que estaban en Estados Unidos el 12 de enero, 2010. Quienes traten de viajar a Estados Unidos después del 12 de enero, 2010 no reunirán los requisitos para el TPS y serán repatriados.

 

“El Departamento de Seguridad Nacional continúa extendiendo sus condolencias a nuestros vecinos haitianos y apoya de todas las maneras posibles la campaña mundial de socorro que está en marcha. Cuatro escampavías del Servicio de Guardacostas han llegado a Haití, además de una variedad de activos del Servicio de Guardacostas que ya estaban en la zona para apoyar el control de tráfico aéreo militar, evaluar daños y rescatar a las personas que necesitan ayuda. La Agencia Federal de Manejo de Emergencias (Federal Emergency Management Agency o FEMA) continúa trabajando estrechamente con la Agencia para el Desarrollo Internacional (U.S. Agency for International Development o USAID) y el Departamento de Estado —los cuales encabezan la respuesta de las agencias federales de Estados Unidos— mientras coordina la movilización a Haití de equipos de búsqueda y rescate urbano provenientes de estados y municipalidades de todo el país y está en alerta para proporcionar alimentos, agua y otros recursos según se requieran. La Oficina de Aduanas y Protección Fronteriza (Customs and Border Protection) ha proporcionado aeronaves para apoyar los esfuerzos de respuesta.

 

“Los haitianos en Estados Unidos que reúnen los requisitos para solicitar TPS deben visitar www.uscis.gov o llamar al USCIS gratuitamente al (800) 375-5283”. 

 

 

 

 Press Office

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

 

 

Press Release

 

January 15, 2010

Contact: DHS Press Office, (202) 282-8010

 

STATEMENT FROM HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY JANET NAPOLITANO

 

“As part of the Department’s ongoing efforts to assist Haiti following Tuesday’s devastating earthquake, I am announcing the designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals who were in the United States as of January 12, 2010. This is a disaster of historic proportions and this designation will allow eligible Haitian nationals in the United States to continue living and working in our country for the next 18 months. Providing a temporary refuge for Haitian nationals who are currently in the United States and whose personal safety would be endangered by returning to Haiti is part of this Administration’s continuing efforts to support Haiti’s recovery.

 

“At this moment of tragedy in Haiti it is tempting for people suffering in the aftermath of the earthquake to seek refuge elsewhere. But attempting to leave Haiti now will only bring more hardship to the Haitian people and nation. The international community has rallied to deliver relief to Haiti. Much has already arrived and much more is on its way.  The Haitians are resilient and determined and their role in addressing this crisis in their homeland will be essential to Haiti’s future.

 

“It is important to note that TPS will apply only to those individuals who were in the United States as of January 12, 2010. Those who attempt to travel to the United States after January 12, 2010 will not be eligible for TPS and will be repatriated.

 

“The Department of Homeland Security continues to extend sympathy to our Haitian neighbors and support the worldwide relief effort underway in every way we can. Four Coast Guard cutters have arrived in Haiti, in addition to a variety of Coast Guard assets that were already in the area to support military air traffic control, conduct damage assessments and rescue people in need of assistance. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continues to work closely with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the State Department—the lead U.S. federal agencies in the response—while coordinating the deployment of state and local Urban Search and Rescue Teams from across the country to Haiti and standing by to provide food, water and other resources as requested. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has provided aircraft to support response efforts.

 

“Haitians in the U.S. who are eligible to apply for TPS should go to www.uscis.gov or call USCIS toll-free at (800) 375-5283.” 

 

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Hostos Community College President Congratulates DANR for Its Successful 12th National Conference in Walt Disney World

“I congratulate DANR on a very successful conference.”

 - Dr. Felix V. Matos Rodriguez -

 

President Nestor Montilla presents the National Guanin Educator Award to President Felix V. Matos Rodriguez.

Following note was published by Eugenio Maria de Hostos Community College and is available online at:

http://www.hostos.cuny.edu/news/press/fvmrDANRconference.html

This past weekend (December 4-6, 2009), I had the great pleasure of participating in the Twelfth Annual Conference of the Dominican American National Roundtable (DANR), which was held at the Walt Disney World’s Coronado Springs Resort in Florida.  Hostos has very strong ties with this organization, and the college was well represented at the event.

Néstor Montilla, our Director of Public Relations and the current President and Chairman of DANR, deserves a large measure of credit for the success of this year’s conference.  In his speech on the state of the Dominican American population (estimated at over two million), he identified three major areas that DANR must address during the next decade: education, economics, and political representation.  After recognizing state contingents in the audience, Montilla concluded his address by declaring: 

“We are the stars of our own story.  We are defining the role we play.  We are occupying our place in the American society.  We are the Dominicans in the United States!” Speech is available online atwww.danr.org

Other Hostos family members who participated in the conference were Ana I. García Reyes, Special Assistant to the President for Community Relations and Director of International Programs (and herself a former President of DANR); Professor Angulo Nieves of the Mathematics Department; Professor Julie Bencosme of the Dental Hygiene Unit; Stefan Bosworth Assistant Director of the New Stars Program; Aldrin Bonilla, Site Administrator of CUNY in the Heights; Lisanka Soto, Assistant Director in the Office of Admissions and Faculty Advisor of the Dominican Student Club, and club officers Franklyn Correa (President),  Araya De La Cruz (Vice President), Katelyn Canales (Treasurer), and Ms. Karinel Santana (Secretary).

At the awards ceremony, I was deeply honored to receive DANR’s Guanín Award as National Educator.  Even so, I know that this recognition is more deserved by Hostos Community College as a family than by any individual member.  Therefore I am glad to share with all the students, faculty, staff, and administrators who have made Hostos what it is today.

I congratulate DANR on a very successful conference and look forward to taking an active role in its ongoing efforts for the advancement of the Dominican American community.

Felix V. Matos Rodríguez, Ph.D.
President