Four environmental justice experts discussed their views on January 19 in “Media Roundtable to discuss pressing California Environmental issues,” holding California oil industry polluters accountable and limiting pollution in communities of color and Senate Bill 1137. They were Senator Lena A. Gonzalez (D-Long Beach), author of the bill that is now law; nterim co-director of California Environmental Justice Alliance, Mabel Tsang; Amee Raval, policy and research director at the Asian Pacific Environmental Network; and Catherine Garoupa, executive director of the Central Valley Air Quality Coalition.
Category: Equity
Posted inNews
EL NAYARIT, former Echo Park eatery, hub for undocumented, queer Latinos
In 1922, Natalia Barraza immigrated to the United States alone. In 1922, Natalia Barraza immigrated to the United States alone. She had grown up in Tecuala, a small town in Nayarit, Mexico. Although she immigrated not being able to write, read, or speak English, Barraza opened up El Nayarit, a Mexican restaurant formerly located in the Echo Park community Los Angeles. With time, the restaurant became a well-established community hub for immigrants, the LGBTQ community, and women.
Posted inNews
OLIVER JIMENEZ, founder of leadership club and toy drive
As the president and founder of the Montebello Youth Leadership Club (MYLC), Oliver Jimenez has been leading the Christmas Toy drive in Montebello for the past 10 years. In partnership with Montebello’s YMCA, the organization has distributed 10,000 toys every year to kids and families in need. In addition to toys, food baskets are also distributed.
Posted inNews
JESSE MELGAR and CIELO FUND, serving Latinos in the Inland Empire
The Cultivating Inland Empire Latino Opportunity Fund was launched last weekend at the Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF). The CIELO Fund is dedicated to empowering the lives of Latinos by elevating and investing in organizations that are led and served by Latinos in their region and was founded by Melgar.
Posted inEquity
THOMAS A. SAENZ, MALDEF president and general counsel on Latino leadership
Currently, the LA City Council consists of 14 council member: three Blacks, two Asian-Americans, four Whites, one Armenian-American, and four Latinos. District 6 is currently vacant after the resignation of Nury Martinez. Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense Education Fund shares how common it is for Latinos to face under-representation when it comes to positions of leadership in LA.
Posted inEquity
INGRID RIVERA-GUZMAN, works for justice for BIPOC communities in LA
Rivera-Guzman migrated to South Central Los Angeles with her mother and siblings to escape the 12-year war that was occurring in El Salvador. Years later, with hard work and dedication, Guzman received a scholarship to attend the College of the Holy Cross located in Massachusetts, where her interest in politics began. Today, Guzman is the president of the board of directors for Latino Coalition of Los Angeles and continues to help communities thrive in LA.
Posted inRepresentation
JORGE NUÑO, political activist on what needs to be done about LA scandal
During the 1980s and 90s, Nuño grew up in a house nestled near Vernon and Main street in South Central Los Angeles with his sister and their two immigrant parents from Jalisco, Mexico. “I grew up adjacent to the [LA] Coliseum,” Nuño said. “When you grew up in the hood, you’re like, ‘Where you live?’ ‘Ah, I live by the Coliseum,’ so that you can give people some context of what part of LA you live in.” Nuño founded The Big House, a small business incubator housed in the 10-bedroom mansion that Nuño purchased in South Central, where nonprofits can have physical offices in their community.
Posted inEquity
JOSE TRINIDAD CASTAÑEDA, first Latino on Buena Park Council
History has been made in Orange County this midterm election as Castañeda is the first Latino, Native American and LGBTQ person to be elected to the Buena Park City Council. Castañeda beat out his other opponents, winning 43.4% of the vote in a three-way race, according to the Orange County Registrar of Voters. He will fill one of the two open seats on the Buena Park City Council board representing District 2.
Posted inBusiness
COMMENTARY: Support legislation to help Latino small businesses
The National Retail Federation reported that three of the top ten cities for organized retail crime are in California: Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento. It’s no wonder, just this past May, California authorities recovered over $700,000 in stolen merchandise during an arrest of a suspect in connection with a smash-and-grab retail theft ring. These crimes are having devastating effects, particularly on small businesses. Latino small-business owners, who are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the U.S. are especially impacted.
Posted inPolitics
COMMENTARY: Will Latinos win in California Congressional races?
What’s at stake for California Latinos running for Congress.
Posted inLA Elections
CALÓ RECAP: LA City Hall scandal, BLM, Oaxacans react and more
It’s been two weeks since the nation’s second-largest city was overshadowed by the audio recording that captured openly crude and racist remarks involving former Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez, LA Labor Federation president, Ron Herrera, and councilmembers Kevin de León and Gil Cedillo. It is still unknown who recorded the private conversation that took place last October while discussing the redrawing of districts. CALÓ NEWS has gathered important updates and events that have occurred and been brought to life amidst the content of the audio, which was first published by the LA Times.
Posted inmedia
COMMENTARY: Latino/a/x diversity in U.S. media is crucial
Félix Gutiérrez spoke at the book launch for “Reporting on Latino/a/x Communities: A Guide for Journalists.”