Ahora – Alex Sanchez Wins Bail
Written by magdaleno on January 14, 2010 – 6:30 pm -ALEX SANCHEZ WINS BAIL
By Tom Hayden For The Nation
LOS ANGELES. Jan. 13. U.S. Judge Manuel Real granted Alex Sanchez bail after a closed ninety-minute session with law enforcement and civic officials today. The former gang member and founder of Homies Unidos is expected to be freed in ten days after posting $2 million property and sureties.
NOW FOR MY VIEW OF THE NEWS
a. Alex Sanchez Wins Bail
b. Haiti
c. The Cat Wedding
d. The Mayor
e. Avatar
f. Make ‘em laugh
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ALEX SANCHEZ WINS BAIL
By Tom Hayden For The Nation
LOS ANGELES. Jan. 13. U.S. Judge Manuel Real granted Alex Sanchez bail after a closed ninety-minute session with law enforcement and civic officials today. The former gang member and founder of Homies Unidos is expected to be freed in ten days after posting $2 million property and sureties. Sanchez still faces conspiracy charges with 23 others rounded up by the FBI in a government blitz using federal racketeering laws against alleged Mara Salvatrucha [MS] members. The trial is scheduled for October in Los Angeles.
A beaming Oscar Sanchez, the younger brother of Alex Sanchez, praised the ruling by Real, which he said “underlines the judge’s finding that Alex is not a danger to the community nor a flight risk. We believe he is in fact a great asset to communities like ours across the country.” Supporters of Sanchez, organized as wearealex.org, were jubilant in many cities where pressure campaigns have been mounted.
The decision was seen as a victory for gang intervention workers, many of whom have attended the LA proceedings since June. The hearing was unprecedented in the memory of many courtroom experts. Former US prosecutor Robert Garcia, now head of the non-profit City Project here, could not recall a closed bail hearing in his decades of experience. Civil liberties attorneys were mulling a possible challenge to the nature of the proceeding.
But Sanchez chose to waive his rights to a public hearing. The transcript of testimony given in the proceeding is sealed, and the participants sworn to silence. Nevertheless, much of the story can be pieced together from independent sources. Judge Real changed course last week following an order from a 9th Circuit panel rejecting the grounds of his initial denial of bail. At the January 6th hearing he proposed a novel meeting of lawyers and law enforcement experts to discuss whether any evidence showed Sanchez to be an active gang member, danger to the community or flight risk over the past decade.
The prosecutors filed publicly its notice of available witnesses on Tuesday, identifying their slate as FBI Acting Special Agent Robert Clark, a former member of an MS-13, Mexican Mafia and 18th Street gangs task force, Captain Justin Eisenberg, a top officer in the LAPD’s gang and narcotics unit, who once was an officer in the Rampart Division gang impact team [known as CRASH until changed after the police scandal of the early Nineties], and Bruce Riordan, chief of the City Attorney’s gang division. The Sanchez defense of available witnesses were under seal.
So far it is publicly unknown what transpired in the courtroom. As the hearing ended, several witnesses left the building without press notice. Then Sanchez, wearing chains and white prison garb, surrounded by guards, walked quietly out, head down. Seeing him, NPR reporter Mandolit Delbarco said “hello Alex” and was sharply admonished by one of the security officers, who commanded “No communications!”.
The scene in the hallway was not a hopeful one. A minute later, Bensinger exited the courtroom, his face flushed with intensity. He rushed towards a side conference room with a trickle of Sanchez supporters following in suspense. Known for refusing any press interviews, he turned abruptly before disappearing into the privacy of the office. The NPR reporter was the lone reporter standing at the door. “Do you know what happened?”, Bensinger asked, then blurted out, “Alex got bail And I cannot comment further.”
EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI
(from the FAVACA website) A powerful earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.0, hit the country of Haiti on Tuesday. It has been reported that homes, hotels, hospitals, the presidential palace and countless other buildings have been damaged or collapsed. Preliminary reports suggest that much of the capital of Port-au-Prince has been destroyed. Rescue crews from across the globe are sending teams to help in the search and rescue efforts.
FAVACA is receiving numerous calls and communications from volunteers, organizations, and Haitian diaspora groups interested in helping. We continue to monitor the situation, determine what technical assistance is needed and importantly when volunteers can effectively and safely be utilized to help on the ground.
THE CAT WEDDING
Last weekend I performed my first cat wedding. Josefina a young 12 year old who along with her mother Maru share my house decided that my cat Estrella should get married. Josefina has adopted Estrella and felt the cat should get married. She found a girlfriend who had a male cat Colby… so they planned a wedding, made clothes for the cats … Estrella had a gown and veil. The house was decorated with a long red carpet aisle and the alter with an arch for this special couple to take their vows or meows … invitations had been sent out in advance, and there was a weeding register for the guests to sign in.
I have done weddings on the beach, mountains, prison, church, hotels, homes but never at my home and for cats. So this was a new event.
The wedding gathered about 6 twelve year old young ladies dressed very nicely and ready for the wedding. Food had been prepared along with a cake for all those attending…there was a cat wedding cake ..three layer made of canned cat food…
The wedding was going well ..the groom was cool and collected meanwhile Estrella the bride was growling through most of the ceremony…
I was relieved when I could finally say I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU MEOW AND MEOW MEOW.
THE NEW MAYOR FOR SEATTLE – MIKE MCGINN
Last Saturday evening I went with Rhonda Watson to an inaugural reception for the Mayor…it was a people’s reception not just something for the rich …finally we got to say hello to the mayor.
Leno…I used your line about the PROMISE OF SEATTLE for my speech to over a 1,000 who came to the open house of City Hall this afternoon.” The mayor said smiling.
Great I said , then we chatted a bit…
The Mayor has a staff member along with him who takes notes of his meeting so that he can follow up with the voters…
I suggested to the mayor that he establish a COMMISSION ON JALAPENOS AND GREEN CHILI..
The mayor said he could go that and then told his staff … “TAKE THIS DOWN A COMMISSION ON JALAPENOS AND GREEN CHILI AND LENO WILL BE THE CHAIR”
We all smiled shook hands and said good night …
So now you know there will be a new commission in Seattle.
AVATAR
In recent weeks I have read many of the thoughts of critics of this movie… people from the left, the right and even the Vatican has thrown a few punches.. the film must have touched a nerve with many to get so many writing about this.
The things said about Avatar could be said about a lot of the movies and television shows that we are exposed to… and in particular the major news and talk shows… don’t see many who look like me but then again most are not chubby Chicanos…
Our goal for representational entertainment is a long way off. I wish it was closer.. but we need to get our people from our community who have money and those other wealthy donors to fund good movies with a true message. Harder than one can imagine… but our day is coming when our stories will go beyond the documentaries.
I am happy that we are having this discussion about this film…perhaps some good will come of it.. .i want more representational entertainment
But I must admit that I am a science fiction buff… a junky ….and I enjoyed the film although the themes and story line were old… and now I plan to see it in 3-D …
I appreciate all the analysis done by so many and it makes you think some more.
MAKE THOSE AROUND YOU LAUGH
It is good to have a good laugh or smile .. I will go to today for a 4 day weekend conference of the NATIONAL COALITION TO ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY.
And there I will try to make these heroic workers for human rights laugh and celebrate
My best,
leno
Tags: ahora, alex sanchez, change, social justice
Posted in AHORA newsletters | 1 Comment »
January 15th, 2010 at 3:04 am
Congrats to Alex and his family!!! It’s about time that he be free…
Hope you’re well Leno.
carinos, krsitina