Magdaleno

DEAR SISTERS AND BROTHERS

There is more surging going on with the additional troops in Iraq. There is a surge of more people being arrested and held in prisons and there is a surge in the number of people fleeing the war in Iraq.  At the same time there is no surge in political unification of the Government of Iraq.

We know that Bush and company will claim on Sept. 11^th that Iraq was connected to 9-11 and will say that progress on the ground is being made.  If the surge was a student or the work of a CEO the grade given would be an F. Failure for NOT GETTING THE JOB DONE.  Watch to see how this administration will try to change the definition of the bench marks..

NOW FOR MY VIEW OF THE NEWS

            a Elvira Arellano

            b. Guatemalan workers

            c. don’t re-write history

            d. poem los jornaleros

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Elvira Arellano

            Please look at these two links and learn more about her stand as a person who sought sanctuary.

http://www.hispaniclink.org/HeadlineStory.asp

http://www.myspace.com/elvirassong

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GUATEMALAN UNIONS AND MAQUILADORAS

                                    Here is some important information.

 Dear Leno,

 

 That video of Dick Cheney is very powerful. It reminded me of another

 powerful video, which was put together by my students, who are working

 in solidarity with two unions of maquiladora workers from Guatemala. I

 was wondering whether you might consider sending the link out over

 your email list/blog:

 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_jv8aGgDlk

 

 People should know about the case, and watch the video to hear the workers’

 own words. Thanks to union-busting, these people have lost their jobs (and are unable to find other jobs) because they spoke up about their rights. These women used to make clothes for Liz Claiborne, Talbots, and Macy’s; Liz

 Claiborne has now shifted its orders to a non-union shop owned by the

 same Korean company, currently operating in Nicaragua. The factory

 closed in June, and workers were dismissed in flagrant violation of

 the collective bargaining agreement, and of the most basic terms of

 Guatemalan and international labor law. Workers speaking out about the

 situation have been threatened with death; all are blacklisted at other factories, so are now unable to find work. Their situation is dire.

 

 I have spoken with representatives of Liz Claiborne, and they told me

 they were unaware of what was happening in Guatemala. (Talbots and

 Macy’s didn’t even return my calls.) My students made the video, and

 are hoping to share it as widely as possible, so that no one in these

 companies could continue to claim ignorance about what is happening to

 the people who make their clothes.

 

 Thanks for anything you can do to help get the word out.

 

 Angelina Godoy

Professor University of Washington

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Don’t Re-write History

 

A friend Juan Jose BocaNegra reminded me the other day that we must remember our history..don’t hide from it …don’t re-write …don’t sugar coat it …

I guess that means that we must understand our past so that our future might be better…

 

In my past I have been almost perfect…. If you don’t believe me …

POEM LOS JORNALEROS

Attached is a poem that I wrote for those Day Laborers who help to make our cities and towns better because of their work and their dreams… The poem is in Spanish but I am sure you can get it translated.

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This past week I have had additional visitors here in Miami who have graced my doorsteps. Maru Villapando, her daughter Josefina and Heriberta Leiva all of Seattle came to Florida to partake in the humidity the beach and the pool. I love having visitors

From the Northwest..

 

My best

leno

 

 

DEAR SISTER AND BROTHERS

I know that some folks are working to get me out to speak to their college, university and/or conferences and I appreciate their support. This speaking events give me the opportunity to spread a vision of human rights and hope. It also gives me a chance to visit old friends…and stir the waters a bit.

Please continue looking and pushing and events will come up…and you can get me invited…

Lots of news these days about this war…The CASA BLANCA (white house).. ………some call it LA CACA BLANCA…  is up to NO GOOD…… I smile at the humor and then weep silent tears for all the misery that those in that white house have created both at home and in the Middle East. It is painful to know how many are suffering. My tears join the rivers of tears by those directly affected by these inhumane policies…

How long will this go on?

And I am almost out of tears…

NOW FOR MY VIEW OF THE NEWS

            a. vice president tells the truth?

            b. Puerto Ricans speak up

            c. the new surge is suicides

            d. the cost of the war vs. education

The vice president and the truth

This weekend, we came across a pretty remarkable snippet of video online. You’ve really got to see it to believe it.

Just click here to check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YENbElb5-xY

And if you’re as amazed, saddened, and angered as we are-pass it on to a friend, neighbor, or co-worker and help make sure people all over the country see it.

Thanks for all you do.

-Nita, Laura, Eli, Justin and the Moveon.org Political Action Team
Wednesday, August 15th, 2007

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PUERTO RICANS …they say no to the war and no to leave no Puerto Ricans behind

  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NetworkAztlan_News/message/29344 ?

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THE NEW SURGE ..Military suicides hit 26 year high…

 

One third those  taking their lives did it while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.. 99 suicides  during 2006 and  70% under age of 25

Another 948 attempted suicide.. Highest since 1980…This is a serious problem.

 

We all seem to understand that the mental health support for those serving and coming home is crucial…but never ever have we really done what is needed for the men and women who serve in the military…

 

The thought that our soldiers are supporting this war is ridiculus..This suicide rate is not good for our country and for these soldiers….With this military surge and suicide rate there is too much mental anguish.. and that damages way too many families..

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The War In Iraq Costs

$453,052,866,273

Instead, we could have provided

21,963,004

students four-year scholarships at public universities.

Census Bureau Reports Jump in Number of College
Students Who Receive Financial Aid

About 7.1 million full-time college students receive some form of financial aid to help pay for their education, according to the most recent findings from the Commerce Department’s Census Bureau.

“About 6-in-10 full-time students got help from outside their families in paying for college,” said Camille Ryan, co-author of Financing the Future Postsecondary Students, Costs and Financial Aid: 1996-97, which was released today.

• “That’s 1.5 million more full-time students receiving aid than we found in previous reports.
About 7-in-10 full-time students under age 25 were claimed as dependents on their parents’ income tax returns.

THE NEW SANCTUARY MOVEMENT (NSM)..Needs your support

Breaking news

LOS ANGELES (AP) — An illegal immigrant who sought sanctuary in a Chicago church for a year to avoid deportation and separation from her 8-year-old American son was arrested Sunday, the church’s pastor said.

Elvira Arellano was arrested before 3 p.m. outside Our Lady Queen of Angels church on L.A.’s historic Olvera Street where she had been speaking to reporters, said the Rev. Walter Coleman, pastor of Adalberto United Methodist Church in Chicago where she sought sanctuary.

Coleman said he was with Arellano when she was detained, but declined to provide other details.

“We’re trying to determine her situation right now,” he said.

It was unclear what law enforcement agency had taken Arellano into custody.

A call to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was not immediately returned.

The 32-year-old Arellano arrived in Los Angeles on Saturday, leaving her sanctuary for the first time in a year to campaign for immigration reform.

Arellano has become a symbol of the struggles of illegal immigrant parents and a source of controversy. She had said Saturday she was not afraid of being taken into custody by immigration agents.

“From the time I took sanctuary the possibility has existed that they arrest me in the place and time they want,” she said in Spanish. “I only have two choices. I either go to my country, Mexico, or stay and keep fighting. I decided to stay and fight.”

Arellano came to Washington state illegally in 1997. She was deported to Mexico shortly after, but returned and moved to Illinois in 2000, taking a job cleaning planes at O’Hare International Airport.

She was arrested in 2002 at O’Hare and later convicted of working under a false Social Security number. She was to surrender to authorities last August.

She sought refuge at the storefront church on Chicago’s West Side Aug. 15, 2006. She had not left the church property until deciding to be driven to Los Angeles, Coleman said.

# # #

 

PAUL HOFFMAN visits leno

Paul Hoffman attended a Florida ACLU conference in the Keys and on the way back to the airport stopped to visit and tried to have serious discussions about major issues   Since Paul is an excellent Human Rights Lawyer and part of Leno’s legal defense team along with super attorneys Carol Sobel, Malcolm Greenstein, Dick Ginsburg and others Leno had to be careful and not be too argumentative. Instead leno decided to share his humor with Paul. It is good to see an old friend who does such great and important work. As we talked we ate a big breakfast and then talked about our need to diet… and then Leno whisked Paul off to the airport.

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The Kaweah Indian Nation in Nebraska …sells membership to immigrants

Manuel Urbina the tribes high chief has said that his tribe The Kaweah Indian Nation sold memberships to the tribe to at least 10,000 immigrants for $50.00…  this has also happened with the Pembina Nation Little Shell Tribe has sold about 2,000 memberships at $150.00. Home Land Security is not happy with this situation.

PRAYING AND ACTING…found this in a book of prayers..

Pray as if everything depended on God

Act as if everything depended on you

 

Praying and acting

leno

Dear Sisters and Brothers

 

I want to thank all of those who work so hard to end violence in this country and around the world. 

 

There is a lot of work being done in our communities in this country. And a lot of this work is with youth and that is most important. Not to mention family violence which needs to be addressed.

 

Another awful form of violence that is practiced by the state is called the death penalty.  I want to honor all those who daily work to end this heinous form of torture and humiliation.  One day we will end this form of punishment.  And at least get the state out of violent practices that cause death.

 

And we just might want to use the money saved to help our youth. And thus eventually make our communities safer

 

NOW FOR MY VIEW OF THE NEWS..

          a. homies unidos

          b. would your government lie?

c.  cnn loves lou who preaches hate

d.  my other job

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HOMIES UNIDOS

          Luis is honored

 

Please watch this video about the head of Homies Unidos in El Salvador.  Luis Romero Gavidia better known as PANSA LOCA (Crazy Stomach) is the office director there and continues the good work of Homies and we are proud of him.

 

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2007/07/24/cnn.heroes.romero.cnn

 

In 1996 I founded Homies Unidos with the help of El Pajaro of 18^th Street and El Negro of La Mara SalvaTrucha . Homies began in El Salvador and soon we had an office in Los Angeles which today is headed by Alex Sanchez who is a good leader and some one I recruited.

 

I am looking for a researcher/writer to help me write the history of Homies Unidos so if you are interested contact me.

 

 My work with gang members and Homies Unidos taught me a lot about these young men and women and I learned a lot about life and myself…

 

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YOUR GOVERNMENT JUST MIGHT BE LYING TO YOU

          Be careful…. this milk and cookies just might build a fire you can’t put out.

 

http://www.milkandcookies.com/link/64513/detail/

 

 

 

It is amazing that this major news agency continues to host him and other personalities who foment hate and gives out a strong bias which is not balanced by other voices. CNN is but another right wing tool and forgets what news really should be..They need to get some voices which can offer a different perspective

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ONE OTHER JOB

          That I do in the community

 

I have on occasion participated in a process or in processes that have helped people deal with loss, pain, divorce and fears. Life teaches you how to listen and share… and if you want we can do a healing ceremony …this process is not what I bring to the gathering but instead what you are wiling to bring… we heal each other in the process ….some day I will tell you of events and individuals who have helped me with my crazy life.. A friend Patricia reminded me that I need to talk about these kinds of events which are also most important. In effect these can and should become celebrations of life…

 

So add this to my list of weddings, speeches, workshops and funerals that I do…this additional set is LISTENING AND SHARING THROUGH THE HEART…CALL THEM HEALING CIRCLES.

 

GET THEM TO JOIN UP              

 

You should suggest to friends and family that they could join this Ahora e mail  list of visit my blog www.magdaleno.org.  That way they could get MY VIEW OF THE NEWS….if they want to be on the list they just need to drop me a line…

 

My Miami best

leno

DEAR SISTERS AND BROTHERS

 

Got to send this out given so many deadlines ahead..

 

NOW FOR MY VIEW OF THE NEWS

a.      Venus

b.      Support the arts

c.       bad immigration regulations

d.      republican hypocrisy

e.       the utah mine

f.        my other duties

 

Vote for Venus

Hi – I just wanted to remind you that this year’s Primary Election is on Tuesday, August 21 and to encourage you to join me in supporting Venus Velázquez for Seattle City Council position #3. We need new and different leaders in our city.

I’m supporting Venus because she is the most experienced and qualified candidate, and has proven her ability to bring together diverse groups with differing agendas and get results.

Venus has the experience and perspective to help lead our city into the future. And her perspective is missing: if elected, Venus will be the only city council member raising a young family in Seattle — and she will bring this critical perspective to city decision making. Venus has a strong track record of getting things done and a solid commitment to issues that are important to me and our city. She has worked on public school challenges, environmental issues and is an advocate for safe and stable neighborhoods.

Venus has earned the endorsements of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, The Stranger, City Councilmember’s Richard Conlin and Peter Steinbrueck, the National Women’s Political Caucus of Washington, democratic organizations and many community leaders. And she has earned my support too.

You can learn more about Venus, her accomplishments, ideas and endorsements at www.Venus4Seattle <http://www.Venus4Seattle> .

I hope you will join me in voting for Venus by Tuesday, August 21st.

Venus Velazquez

(206) 390-5597

http://www.venus4seattle.com

 

thanks for voting

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: AUGUST 10, 2007

BUSH ADMINISTRATION IMMIGRATION PROGRAM WOULD LEGALIZE RACIAL DISCRIMATION

 

Planned Enforcement Actions Threaten To Disrupt Innocent Workers And Communities

Statement from the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union

(Washington, DC) – On a hot, quiet August morning in Washington, DC – when the President is on vacation and Congress at recess – the Bush Administration announced an immigration reform package that essentially mandates federal racial discrimination.

The Administration’s guidelines would throw the doors open to racial discrimination to whole classes of people by placing an undue burden on workers who sound foreign, look foreign and particularly, on the tens of millions of Hispanic and Asian-Americans who would face greater scrutiny in the workplace.  It is irresponsible to toss out civil rights for the sake of political gamesmanship.

Considering the circumstances, today’s announcement smacks of nothing more than a publicity stunt aimed at terrifying immigrant workers.  Further, this program lacks the support and mandate of the American people who have been demanding humane, comprehensive immigration reform that addresses the root causes of illegal immigration.  This program offers no solutions, only punishments to workers.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has proven by its past behavior that it is not beyond their scope to traumatize innocent workers, including U.S. citizens, under the guise of immigration enforcement.  During its raids at Swift meatpacking plants last December, all workers, including citizens, legal residents, were held by ICE agents and subjected to unlawful search and seizure.  Law enforcement must uphold and defend the Constitution, not violate it.

Congress and the President promised the American people it would work toward solutions to these problems but both parties have failed.  It is time for our elected leaders to get back to work – not with unauthorized, sweeping gestures like this Bush enforcement program.

More than 250,000 members of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) work in the meatpacking and food processing industries.  Many of our workplaces include immigrant workers.  Enforcement actions aimed strictly at workplaces like these accomplish nothing in terms of stemming the flow of workers entering the U.S. seeking the American Dream.  Instead, they create huge turmoil in communities, significantly disrupt the otherwise stable production in the plant and violate the civil rights of all workers in the workplace.

The UFCW will continue to fight for reform that ensures that all working people—immigrant and native-born—are able to improve their lives and realize the American dream.  

 

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SUPPORT THE ARTS

 

Tencha Avila

1625 Larimer St., #501  Denver CO 80202

Tel. (303) 623-1515    e-mail: tenchaavila@yahoo.com

NEWS RELEASE                                                                 AUGUST 5, 2007

Playwright Tencha Avila of Denver will present a dramatic reading of her play “Kiss Bessemer Goodbye” at the new Crossroads Theatre in Denver on August 13, 2007,

at 7 p.m.

 

Avila, born in Las Animas, is daughter of the late Carmen Avila and the niece of Silverio Saldana, Sally Sosa and Evelyn Trejo, all of Pueblo. She was keynote speaker at the Latino Chamber of Commerce of Pueblo in 1987.

The play is set in ”Bessemer, “ a fictional small city like Pueblo, in 1970. It is the story of Lupita, who is just graduating from Colorado University.  Her proud family wants to control her life by arranging for her to return home, teach school and stay within family traditions.

But Lupita shocks them by revealing she has a Japanese American boyfriend who is a medical student and plans to join him when he sets up a clinic in the “San Miguel Valley.” The family’s turmoil is made worse by the depression of her uncle, a steel mill worker who is severely depressed by a prolonged strike.

“This play, about a Mexican American family in Colorado, explores the universal themes of loyalty and conflict within families undergoing generational and social change,” said Avila. “It’s also about ethnic prejudice.  In the end, all works out for the best.”

While the play is a drama with serious themes, Avila said, the complex characters with all their contradictions are as hilarious as their serious predicaments. “I believe the audience will find this play entertaining, provocative and consoling,” she said.

Avila, who has worked as a playwright, producer, director and actor, returned to Colorado last year after working abroad for several years, primarily in China and Mexico.

Her plays “My Life with Mary/Mi Vida con Maria” and “Vallarta Impromptu,” were produced at the Centro Cultural Cuale of Puerto Vallarta. “La Pepsi Cola” was produced at the Cleveland Playhouse, and “Oh, Honey” at Ohio University.

She is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America and the Colorado Theatre Guild.

REPBULICANS and Hypocrisy

            How can so many preach one thing and do just the opposite.

Over the past months numerous republicans have been found guilty or a charged with some serious accusations. What makes this most outrageous is how they and their party preach to every one about morality and how they bash the LGBT community..

If these acts were being committed by Democrats it would be big news on CNN, Fox and right wing radio …but because it is the Republican Party they are silent. That’s why we need alternate radio and television so that we might get all the news.

That’s not to say I just want to hear about these scandals… I want real news about the war, the economy, race, education, health and many other important issues.

The Utah Mining disaster

They continue digging in hopes of saving these men

A friend sent me this note…

Leno,

 

Did you see that 3 of the 6 miners buried in the UT mine collapse are Latinos?  They should send Lou Dobbs & Tancredo because I am sure they could dig much faster with their bare hands.  And, then, they would deport them for being limited English-speakers.

 

The mining company has not identified the miners, but The Associated Press has learned they are a crew of veterans and novices. According to family and friends, they are: Carlos Payan, in his 20s; Kerry Allred, 57; Manuel Sanchez, 41; Brandon Phillips, 24; Luis Hernandez, 23; and Erickson, 50.

 

Christy

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MY OTHER DUTIES

Speaking, Funerals and Weddings.

Over the years I have done a lot of speaking and in the last years I have been asked to do weddings and funerals.. All these gatherings are celebrations and most interesting to do. I love people and this helps me to communicate my sincere admiration and affection for those present at these events. .After one funeral a woman came up and said I WANT YOU TO DO MY FUNERAL…and I responded CAN WE WAIT UNTIL YOU DIE…she smiled and held onto my hand a bit longer.…

 

 

DRINK MORE FLUIDS      

It is warm and we need to keep fluids in out bodies.. so drink more fluids…water is the best and then juices…tequila is way at the bottom of the list like other alcoholic beverages…

 

Drinking and smiling

leno

 

 

 

 

 

DEAR FRIENDS

 

I want to thank those of you who have begun to send your checks in to support my work and the dreams of those who would defend low income workers in South Miami.  Please know that you can also help by getting me booked as a speaker at some university or conference.

 

NOW FOR MY VEIW OF THE NEWS

            a. day laborers

            b. al Qaeda not need apply           

            c. steve earle

            d do it now

                        like voting for Venus

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AHORA …NDLON National Conference August 9, 2007 

 

National Day Laborer Organizing Network

 

Last weekend I attended parts o this important conference in Rockville Maryland at the George Meany Labor Center… I did not like Meany when he headed the AFL-CIO so I bit my tongue and went to the center anyway. Meany would never have allowed a group like NDLON to get close to the AFL-CIO…so in a way it is good that he is gone from this earth…

 

It was a great conference and I got to see some strong leadership from the workers and community organizers..

 

South Florida was well represented by Jonathan Fried and some wonderful workers from his up and coming center..

 

Then I also got to be with folks from CASA LATINA of Seattle. Attending from Casa were Hilary Stern, Pedro Jimenez and Araceli Hernandez… I got to see them working and talking of human rights. One night I had dinner with Araceli and recalled the first time I heard her speak at EL COMITE’S annual meeting in Seattle in 2004. I was then and am still impressed by the work of this woman. I feel at times that I am a part of Casa Latina .… Actually I am still on their advisory committee.

 

On the cultural night two workers from south Florida gave great speeches and Pedro and I read poems….below is a link to an article on the cultural night. This article has a link to a video of the night’s activities and you just might see me attempting to dance.

 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/05/AR2007080501597.html?hpid=artslot

 

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al-Qaeda not need apply

          Destruction of our infrastructures on going

 

For years now we had been told that al-Qaeda would attack our infrastructure and try to bring America to its knees… In the mean time we have done nothing to protect these systems… we don’ invest in our most important infrastructure and we are afraid to raise taxes for this purpose.

 

At this point al-Qaeda need not apply ….this job had been taken over by politicos who won’t raise a tax nor invest in this infrastructure of ours .… just look at recent events, OLD STEAM PIPE BURSTS IN NEW YORK CITY ( more to come I am sure), BRIDGE COLLAPSES IN MINNEAPOLIS, and MINE COLLAPSES IN UTAH… and yesterday the subway system was flooded in New York City cause there isn’t a proper drainage system…

 

Wit h our systems failing due to neglect and investment we don’t need to be attacked …we are imploding on our own…

 

We couldn’t respond to Katrina and I doubt that we could respond to a real attack by terrorist given that most of our military assets are in the Middle East…

 

In the mean time we will continue to fall apart on our own.

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WHY DID THEY GO ON VACATION ????   

    While our soldiers and Iraqis are dying elected officials go on vacation

 

Almost everyone has been quick to criticize the government of Iraq because they have gone on a one month vacation with a war going on, people dying and no compromise at hand .. HOW DARE THEM GO ON VACATION TO JORDAN AND OTHER SAFE COUNTRIES WHERE MANY OF THEIR FAMILIES ARE NOW LIVING….how dare them??

 

Well …the Iraqis  must have looked at the vacation calendar of our congress and saw that they too were taking the month of august as vacation while death was being served up in Iraq on a daily basis. So if a summer vacation for an established democracy then it might be good for a so-called up and coming democracy.

 

I am sad that both elected bodies are out on vacation having fun.. relaxing while others are dying because of their decisions or lack of decisions.

 

STEVE EARLE

            A strong voice for a revolution …

 

Steve has been one of the great voices for years in the music industry. He has used his music to tell the truth about people he wants to protect and the dream he has of a better world…

 

I once introduced Steve at a public gathering outside death row in Texas by saying that I had taught him how to play the guitar… (That was a big fib but it was funny) Steve is a teacher of human rights and a strong  voice for revolution and loves Mexican food ……

 

A friend Mike Radelet of Boulder recently caught a concert of Steve’s and his note to me is listed below.

 

   I went to a Steve Earle concert last night.  Listen to his new song “City of Immigrants”

http://www.myspace.com/steveearlemusic

He dedicated it to Lou Dobbs.

 

Mike Radelet.

 

 

Do it now

 

If you have something that you need to do, then do it now …you might not be her tomorrow ….or it may be to late …so do it now …don’t wait …the world can’t wait.

 

For those of you in Seattle please vote for VENUS VELAZQUEZ for city council. Please vote for her on August 21^st.  This is the primary and important… so vote.

My best

leno