News (Noticias) for Connecticut

“The student-run newspaper at Central Connecticut State University is under fire for publishing a cartoon this week that critics call racist and sexist.

The three-frame comic, titled “Polydongs,” features two characters who mention locking a “14-year-old Latino girl” in a closet and urinating on her. It was published in Wednesday’s edition of The Recorder, a weekly newspaper distributed free on campus.

“We are outraged about this cartoon, which only dehumanizes women and especially Latino women,” said Francisco Donis, a psychology professor and president of the university’s Latin American Association.”

Here is another good blogger talking about this story: rachelstavern.com

“State officials are planning a Latino voting summit in an effort to increase turnout among the state’s Hispanic residents.

Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz and Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission Executive Director Fernando Betancourt said they will host the summit Sept. 22 at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven. “

“Race and ethnicity have long been a given in the city’s political scene, and they are widely expected to play a prominent role in the November election. Their impact this time could pose problems for Perez, who will face both a Latino opponent, state Rep. Minnie Gonzalez, and possibly a stronger challenge from Mathews, who garnered 29 percent of Tuesday’s vote.

Mathews, political observers said, could benefit if Barrows and fellow primary challenger Art Feltman opt to withdraw from the race. Both candidates are still weighing their options; their continued presence on the ballot would probably dilute what in Hartford’s political circles is called the “A.B.E. vote” - “Anyone But Eddie” - hurting Mathews’ chances.”

“THOSE acquainted with upscale Mexican cooking are in for a treat at Avenida. This stylish new spot, in the quarters of the former Bleu in Greenwich, features a sophisticated level of Mexican cuisine not to be found elsewhere in Connecticut and rare anywhere in the country (outside of Rick Bayless’s Frontera Grill and its clones in Chicago).

Avenida is no taco-enchilada-chimichanga parlor (nor are its prices!). Rather, it provides examples of the more elegant side of Mexican cooking.”

“The Puerto Rican and Latino Studies Institute at UConn will host an interdisciplinary conference to discuss the intersections of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, class, and sexuality on Oct. 11 and 12.

The conference, “Rethinking the Latin@ Intellectual Ecology” will take place in the Dodd Center and Rome Ballroom.”

“Judge John R. Downey’s nomination to the Appellate Court ran aground Tuesday over his comments about illegal immigrants — and a suspicion by some legislators that he was untruthful in explaining those remarks to them.

It is unclear if Gov. M. Jodi Rell will try to keep the nomination afloat or if key players in her own party will help. The two ranking Republicans on the judiciary committee, Sen. John Kissel and Rep. Arthur ONeill, say Downey has more explaining to do.”

“As a TV in the corner of Hartford’s Piolin restaurant showed CNN en Españols images of Peruvian earthquake destruction, the Velasquez family talked of the relief of learning that their matriarch had survived unhurt.

“My grandmother is in her 90s, and she slept under blankets in the cold last night,” Marina Velasquez said over dinner Thursday at the Peruvian restaurant near Trinity College. “She lives a little south of Lima, and the phone lines were down. We couldnt get through until this morning, so we didnt sleep much. But at least shes OK.”"

“Two immigrant advocacy groups have filed suit against a federal agency over recent raids that resulted in the arrests of more than 30 people in New Haven.

The suit, filed Friday in U.S. District Court, seeks to force the Department of Homeland Security to release records on how the agency’s Immigration and Custom Enforcement agents coordinated the June 6 raids.”

“A pilot program that was tried out in Waterbury for two years will be used by state officials to address the disproportionately high number of black and Hispanic kids in foster care.

The Department of Children and Families has figures showing that minority children make up the majority of children in the foster case system.

Black children make up nearly 36 percent of those in foster care, while making up just 11 percent of the states overall child population, according to DCF. “

“New Haven, Conn., can wait no more for Congress to enact meaningful immigration reform.

Tuesday, the city began issuing identification cards to provide a way for illegal immigrants to interact with government, banks and other institutions. The city is filling a need for these people who must live in the shadows and cannot get official IDs in other ways.

Immigration really is the proper purview of the federal government, not of the cities, counties or states. But who can blame them for acting?”

“New Haven, Connecticut, on Tuesday became the first U.S. city to issue identification cards to illegal immigrants, as opponents of the controversial cards booed the mayor and its backers cheered.

About 250 people gathered at the city hall as New Haven started issuing the cards that grant access to services such as libraries and parks, and give illegal immigrants a chance to open bank accounts.

Supporters say the ID cards, which are offered to all New Havens 124,000 residents, will improve public safety and give protections to its estimated 10,000 to 15,000 undocumented workers. Critics say they will invite illegal immigration, strain services and waste taxpayer money.”

“Starting tomorrow New Haven will be issuing ID Cards to illegal immigrants in the city.

The Elm City Municipal ID cards will let them open bank accounts, apply for library cards, and give them access to other city services.”

“By any definition, St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic church is bustling.

Masses are packed every Sunday, baptisms are up and its elementary school is holding its own.

But most importantly, according to its pastor, the century-old parish is continuing to serve as a bridge between and among cultures.
“

“It was like a mini Oscar night. The list of people to thank was long, recipients were all smiles and the reward recognized some hard work.

It wasn’t about a film however, but gritty reality as Angel Mendoza and Walter Hernandez Monday described their new lives in the city and the nightmare they found themselves in a year ago in Hartford.

“We are very thankful,” Mendoza said, for being able to escape the “chaos” they experienced last summer. “We feel like we have family here in New Haven.”"

“Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell vetoed a bill Tuesday that would have extended favorable in-state college tuition rates at Connecticut colleges and universities to children of illegal immigrants.

Rell said that while she is sympathetic to the plight of the students, they are living in the U.S. illegally and she does not want to encourage people to circumvent federal immigration laws.”

“This week, Hispanic community leaders will be going door to door in the South End and Willow/Plaza neighborhood to register voters for the November elections.

Recently, the leaders organized a special group to identify and register new Hispanic voters. The voter registration will continue up to election day.

Hector Riollano, a member of the group, anticipates the coming election will be very close.”

“More than 1,000 New Haveners marched in a spirited and peaceful parade demanding an end to federal raids like the recent sweep in New Haven and “justicia ahora,” justice now for immigrants.

Saturday afternoon’s rousing march through the rain featured a bilingual atmosphere, multi-state contingents, and wide spectrum of participation, ranging from labor unions to peace councils and politicians to a newly sighted group, Queers Without Borders. It all underscored that for organizers and participants, the show they were putting on was not only for the city, but for the country as well.”

“A federal sweep of 32 allegedly undocumented workers hasn’t dampened interest among some Fair Haven immigrants — including Carlos Jaime second from left, who was watching a ballgame in Criscuolo Park — from obtaining planned new municipal ID cards. But some express reserations based either on misconceptions that have spread through the neighborhood, or fear of the feds.

Those conclusions are drawn from interviews with immigrants in the neighborhood — some here legally, others not — in the wake of last week’s raids.”

“St. Joseph College in West Hartford will offer a graduate certificate program in Latino Community Practice beginning in September.

Offered in collaboration with the Puerto Rican/Latino/a Studies Project of the University of Connecticut School of Social Work, the program will provide a professional credential for those who work in bilingual health and human services practice serving the states Latino populations.”

“City officials urged federal authorities to halt additional raids targeting illegal immigrants, saying an operation last week violated the law.

New Haven Mayor John DeStefano said Monday he is filing a complaint with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and seeking an investigation into a raid Wednesday that led to about 30 arrests, including many in immigrants homes.”

“”This guy is really in a zone,” said Charlie Diaz. “I mean just look at the mans eyes, and his face. Oh yeah, those hands are playing the conga all by themselves. I can even tell you what make the conga is.”

Diaz should know. In his professional life as a musician he is called Charlie Conga Diaz, one of New Havens well known “congeros,” and the head of the group Sabor Latino. Over the weekend he was admiring the acrylic-on-canvas painting of the man standing to his left, Felipe Soltero, one of ten artists showing in “Latino Passages,” the most recent offering at ARTE, the three-year-old Latino cultural organization and gallery on Grand Avenue just before the bridge.”

“The Board of Aldermen overwhelmingly approved a plan Monday night that would allow the city to issue identification cards for illegal immigrants and others.

The card would be recognized as official identification within city limits, allowing illegal immigrants to open bank accounts. By a vote of 25-1, the board agreed to accept more than $250,000 in private funds from the First City Fund Corporation to implement the so-called “Elm City Resident Cards,” proposed by Mayor John DeStefano Jr.”

“Hispanic and other civil rights groups wrapped up plans overnight for immigration reform marches and rallies Tuesday in dozens of cities including New Haven, but conceded that a replay of last years huge turnout was unlikely. Organizers said they expect thousands to turn out for the noon rally on the New Haven Green

Still, organizers said the demonstrations reflect a robust movement determined to win a path to citizenship for the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the country.”

“Names are being gathered and multiple features considered as officials prepare a municipal identification card to be introduced this summer.

The card, which city officials believe will be a first for the nation, will be available to citizens and noncitizens, documented and undocumented.”

“Hundreds of foreign-language newspapers have flourished ”” and died””with immigrant enclaves in the U.S. The languages were different, but their fates were mostly the same: immigrants assimilate, the paper falls.

Today’s Spanish papers are springing up as more Latinos immigrate, but the new magazine-style newspaper Fusión is following the Latinos who are dispersing into the U.S. mainstream, said Brian Monroe, an advertising director for Meriden-based Record-Journal Publishing Co.

Fusión is an English-language publication aimed at Latinos – often the children of immigrants or those who came to the U.S. at a young age – who primarily speak English but feel strong ties to the Latino community. The first issue hit newsstands on April 13 in 34 Connecticut towns strung between Hartford and New Haven, and Monroe said the paper carves a new niche for itself.”