Magdaleno

Last night I went to an event at an Ethiopian Restaurant called HIDMO where many activist meet….This night it was an evening of Fandango.. Latina American, music, dancing and some rappers integrated to this wonderful event.

I love the dancing and decided to go alone (which means I couldn’t get a date).. And enjoy myself.. Before I knew it a young man was sitting down at my table and soon he began to unravel his story. Turns out that his father is Anglo and mother Lebanese. An interesting combination.

Then he looks at me ..And says I HAVE SEEN YOU SOME PLACE
WHERE ?.. I ask

YOU TESTIFIED AT CITY COUNCIL ON THE TUNNEL

The tunnel is this huge project to direct traffic under the city and I was raising financial concerns about costs over runs.

Later this young man Deric was telling me about how he traveled on a bicycle through Africa.. I was impressed. Then he told me that the other day as he was peddling across a bridge in Seattle when he saw a woman who was going to jump. Deric stopped, stayed and talked with her until the authorities arrived. Now I was very impressed. What a great act of humanity!!

He would have never noticed her if he had been in a car and was driving by to his meetings… Something to be said about riding a bicycle.

NOW FOR MY VIEW OF THE NEWS

a. Johnny Cash
b. Why expand the death row in California
c. Leno’s Write-Tirement
d. Alex Sanchez update
e. Johnny Cash … when I wear all black…

On occasion I dress in all black.. I sort of like this costume.. I think it could be an image of a minister, a sinister or perhaps Johnny Cash. When folks mention Johnny Cash I respond by saying in my best CASH VOICE….. HELLO I’M JOHNNY CASH.. And then begin singing .. I HEAR THAT TRAIN A COMING… COMING ROUND THE BEND… I AINT SEE NO SUNSHINE SINCE I DON’T KNOW WHEN …I AM STUCK IN FOLSOM PRISON AND TIME KEEPS ROLLING ON…

Editorial: What price is too high for death row?

The Sacramento Bee

Published Sunday, Aug. 15, 2010
In a twisted sense of timing, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has placed the exorbitant cost of California’s theoretical death penalty squarely before the public again.

The Schwarzenegger administration announced last week that it plans to borrow $64.7 million from the state’s cash-strapped general fund to accelerate construction of a new death row at San Quentin State Prison.
The administration’s call for bids to build new digs for condemned inmates comes as the governor’s lawyers seek court approval to furlough state workers and cut their pay to minimum wage, and as he pushes to end safety net services for some of California’s poorest and most vulnerable citizens.

Schwarzenegger needs to reconsider his priorities and focus on what is truly important as his time as governor ends – such as engaging in negotiations with legislative leaders to resolve the budget impasse.
The $64.7 million is merely a down payment. Construction would cost about $360 million. Interest payments on 20-year bonds the state ordinarily would sell to finance the construction could add another $150 million or more to the final price tag.

The state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation wants to borrow the $64.7 million because the state is prevented from selling the bonds. Like so much else in the death penalty system, there is litigation. In this instance, a suit by Democratic lawmakers has tied up the bond sale.

We cannot imagine the governor decided to press ahead with the construction out of spite or because he is upset with Democratic legislators. That would be extremely petty. We prefer to think the administration is being driven by its vision of what is best for the state, although its priorities are seriously askew on this one.

Administration officials note that lawmakers authorized a new death row in 2003. Prison officials want to move forward now because contractors are hungry for work, which is cutting construction costs.

Officials say the $64.7 million will be repaid once the state can issue the bonds. But that assumes the governor will win the lawsuit. As Schwarzenegger ought to know by now, it’s foolish to second-guess courts.
The plan to build a shiny new 541,000-square-foot death row within San Quentin’s boundaries underscores fundamental problems with capital punishment. So long as there is a death penalty, the state will need to house, clothe and feed the inmates at huge costs.

San Quentin sits on prime bayfront property in Marin County. It could be sold for a fortune and turned into housing, a transit hub, a ferry port and much more.
However, lawmakers cannot agree to close San Quentin. Nor are they prepared to abolish capital punishment, given that Californians support it by a wide margin. The U.S. Supreme Court and California Supreme Court seem willing to permit the process to continue, knowing that it is more likely that someone will be struck by lightning than die by lethal injection or gas.

California has 706 condemned inmates, by far the largest condemned population of any state. Since capital punishment was reinstated in California in 1978, 13 men have been put to death at San Quentin. Another 73 others have died of suicide, drug overdose and natural causes, including one last week.

The longest serving inmate, Douglas R. Stankewitz, has been on death row since Oct. 13, 1978. The oldest, David J. Carpenter, the “Trailside Killer,” became an octogenarian this year. There hasn’t been an execution since January 2006, and there’s no certainty there will be any executions any time soon.

In California, the death penalty is conceptual. There simply are too many smart attorneys who can mount too many arguments that will persuade too many judges to place executions on hold. So long as we retain this broken system, taxpayers will be condemned to pay the price – in this instance, about $500 million for a new death row.

© Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.

WRITE-TIREMENT

JUDGE POSTPONES ALEX SANCHEZ GANG TRIAL TO FEBRUARY 14, 2011

By Tom Hayden

In a surprise development Friday, US Judge Manuel Real delayed the start date of the gang conspiracy trial involving Alex Sanchez until next Feb. 14. Until now, the trial was scheduled to begin on October 15. No reason was given for the four-month delay but the parties are swamped by some 20,000 wiretaps that must be translated, transcribed and evaluated. Only 800 transcripts have been delivered to defense counsel thus far.

At a previous hearing July 28, Judge Real several times accused defense lawyers of “sandbagging” him, “playing games”, and going on “fishing expeditions” in their demands for documents, and planning “vacations in El Salvador” under the pretext of research. When he accused them of “playing games” at Friday’s hearing, he met a strong rebuke from an exasperated defense attorney, Ellen Barry, who enumerated the documents yet to be translated and asked the judge, “where is the gamesmanship in that?” The judge, who has received the most reversals of any federal judge, told those present that he’d “heard it all.”

Rhetoric aside, the judge on Friday for the first time asked the attorneys when they might be free in the first six months of 2011. He also has granted Alex Sanchez’ attorney, Kerry Bensinger, funding for a trip to El Salvador this week to take depositions and conduct interviews.

Some of the issues contained in court documents, but not yet reported, may be the most explosive yet in revealing the government’s globalized war on gangs. See www.The Nation.com next week for the new developments. #



KISS THE MOON WIND AND SUN

Enjoy the beauty of the world and give up a kiss now and then

My best
leno

THE WHO DAT NATION IS STILL CELEBRATING

It was uplifting for New Orleans and for many of us. Since Katrina the city has embraced the team and they their city. So for many it was more than a football game… in the past months Drew Brees Saints Quarter back for the Saints and other Saints players have given personal tours to visitors of both the devastated areas and areas where life is coming back.

At the end of the first quarter many saints fans were wringing their hands but suddenly in the second quarter the Saints went to ball control…REMEMBER THAT OBAMA HAS JUST FINISHED HIS FIRST QUARTER … THREE MORE TO GO….

Taking calculated risks like going for a touch down on the goal line and failing, then going for two point conversion and then producing the on-side kick at the start of the second half.. and then that most amazing interception and defensive stand all seemed to part of an aggressive strategy to do all that it takes to win.

I gots to tell you …this was a most enjoyable game.. .

Two good teams playing their hearts out.

My older sister Tencha called the morning of the Super Bowl to tell me that she was not watching the game due to reports of head injuries to players.. I laughed.. told her not to worry that I was no longer playing…LOL.. head and other injuries are serious issues and Over  the years the players union and others have pushed to protect players.Sometimes it is not fast enough and the Owners are the last to come on board.

There was a player on each team that was of Haitian heritage and now the money derived from the sale of the Champions T-Shirts will go to Haiti.

NOW FOR MY VIEW OF THE NEWS

a.    White face with a Japanese name
b.    Tea baggers convention
c.    Who taught Steve Earle to play guitar
d.    Illuminated ball
e.    Salute a film of the fists of the 68 olympics
f.    Cartel boss tried in Denver
g.    Alex Sanchez calls.

Japanese Names, White Faces

February 9th, 2010 by Curzon

Marmot has a post titled “Funny, You Don’t Look Like a Mr. Fujita…” that looks at the case of Scott Fujita, a 6′5″ 250 pound white football player with a Japanese name who plays for the New Orleans Saints. He’s not ethnically Japanese, or even Asian, but was adopted by a family with a Japanese-American father born in the World War II detainment camps. He reportedly feels Japanese in his heart and is a fan of mochi ice cream and Pocky. He also stood up against Guantanamo and the war given what had happened to his family and he also supported a national LGBTQ march.

THE TEA BAG CONVENTION..Nashville.

The Tea baggers rolled out Former Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo and former short term Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. It seems their crowd was lively and most supportive of their ranting and raving.

There were many racists moments from Tancreado as he blamed again immigrants for everything but Sarah Palin took the cake..
Wow.. and then there was Sarah’s speech … not an ounce of progress…

Many a sixth grader in this country can handle the facts and issues better than this woman who is so far out of her element that she may need a good GPS to get her feet back in reality.

And then she is busted on Fox News with her notes written on her hand when the day before she had bad mouthed President Obama for using a teleprompter. Watching her on Fox News looking down at her left hand where she had written her notes is so sad… Children do that in grade school to cheat on an exam…but there she was the princess of hate looking at her hand.
While we can laugh at the dumbing down of politics, I must warn you these kind of individuals are most dangerous.. and can incite others to do strange things. If you can stomach 4th grade English and bad jokes then you must go on the web and listen to this woman’s speech.

At this event they had around 600 tea baggers there as opposed to what some originally expected as thousands that they had bragged about earlier.…

Tea Baggers are giving Tea a bad name. And by the way the so called original citizens who dumped the tea in the Boston Harbor dressed as Mohawk Indians and demanded a stop to TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.. and these folks today are disguised as regular citizens (while controlled by major utra rich corporations) and are demanding REPRESENTATION WITHOUT TAXATION.

WHO TAUGHT STEVE EARLE HOW TO PLAY GUITAR????

Years ago when introducing Steve to an Audience at an event in Huntsville Texas where death row is located, I told a large gathering in a hall that evening that I had taught Steve how to play guitar.  While this is not true many in the audience that night were convinced.

And today thanks to Beth Ansheles and Mike and Lisa Radelet I received a photo which had me, Sister Helen and Steve .. and Steve signed the photo TO MAGDALENO WHO TAUGHT ME HOW TO PLAY GUITAR..LOL AND LMAO..

So there you have it folks.. proof that taught Steve Earle how to play guitar.

THE 2010 ILLUMINATED BALL IN OLYMPIA.

I went to the most incredible show in Olympia this past Saturday with Lisa Seifert, and Jennifer Brooks to see another friend Karen Crown who sang and danced . This is a wonderful event with dancing, singing, and wonderful plant puppets was enhanced  with lights. The audience was dressed on wonderful clothing and most were decorated with lights. I was able to leave my problems of the moment and go into a fantasy land of my own.

There was a wonderful musical group that helped to create the wonderful mood. Later in the night there was a great blues band that made you want to dance and smile.

This event was a fund raiser for activities to take place on Earth day when there will be another wonderful event called the parade of the species. I look forward to this parade on March 24th.

Salute a film about the politics of change at the 1968 Olympics

The Social Justice Fund along with The Northwest Federation of Community Organizations brings you the award winning documentary SALUTE in celebration of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver and Black History Month.

1968 was one of the most difficult years for those who worked in behalf of social justice in America. This was the year when the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.  And Robert F. Kennedy were assassinated. It was a time of turmoil in our land which gave birth to many new activists and movements.

Today as we seek to Deliver on Change and stand up for the rights and dreams of common people, it is documentaries such as SALUTE that directly speak to the racism that exists and the building of coalitions and community that today is most needed.

SALUTE is about the iconic moment of political solidarity displayed by three Olympic athletes in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. The film explores the events surrounding these historic Olympic Games and describes how Australian sprinter Peter Norman and his fellow medal-winners, John Carlos and Tommie Smith, took a daring stand against oppression. All will remember Smith and Carlos raising their fists with black gloves when receiving their medals…

We hope you will join us to learn the story behind one of the most significant and touching images of the 20th century. Former SJF Board Member and Human Rights Activist Sharon Gary Smith (sister in law to Tommie Smith) will be speaking after the film

Please join us Thursday, February 18th at 6:00pm. This is a free community event! Donations will be accepted at the door and refreshments will be served.

Please join me on this special night.

Time: 6:00 p.m.

Location: Southside Commons

3518 S, Edmunds Street

Seattle, WA 98118

If you would like to preview this film for a showing in your community please contact leno.

Cartel Boss tried in Colorado

Miguel Angel Caro Quinteros, fromer Sonoran Cartel leader was recently tried and convicted in Denver. Okay now here is a man whose Cartel did more violence and organized close to our Southern Border and he was tried successfully,,not to worry folks .. major so called terrorist can be tried in the USA and all are safe.

ALEX SANCHEZ CALLS

Today I got a call from Alex Sanchez who was recently released from jail thanks to the help of many. He had tried to connect with me the night he got out but we never connected and he got busy with his family and his many supporters.

It was great hearing his voice and able to give him some love … and advice… his cell mate Wilmer is an immigrant who is fighting for his and others rights.. Alex has asked him to write me and we are now communicating and share our mutual hope for a better world.

Alex has suggested to him that he use his knowledge to teach while he is incarcerated. I will be putting up some of Wilmer’s thoughts on my AHORAS and I will soon see Alex when I am next in LA.

BE STRONG MY FRIENDS

Leno
Chicano Ambassador of the WHO DAT NATION

This past week my travels took me to Los Angeles and then on to Tijuana. On Saturday I performed a special wedding for artist Tito Sturcke’s sister’s wedding, visited my niece Carmel and her family and found out her son Davis is a runner … I qualified for the state track meet my senior year in high school in the mile and Davis runs the 400. When I was running the mile I was much slimmer and had a better diet.

Spent a great time staying at the home of my family Rafe and Laura in Santa Monica … had great conversations and spent quality time with Steve their cat. They took me to a vegan restaurant and my pasta and corn bread were super.

On Sunday I convinced Beverley Beverley, who is an old friend and handles my 
Ahora emails, to run with me to Tijuana… we got there and she put me on a forced march through Tijuana as I did some mini shopping. The streets were pretty bare due to the economy and the violence around the drug war. But there were some large groups of Japanese Tourists.

Some years ago outlet malls were placed in what was a barren grass area next to border on the USA side.  Now that area was packed … Lots of shoppers and many from Mexico.  There were lots of police at the entrance to the border, and in Tijuana, and when you left. Getting through the immigration desk was easy. They barely looked at my passport and did not ask what I had in the bag. All bags had to go through a big x-ray machine that passed bags rather quickly and it is doubtful that any person managing this machine could have seen a contraband item.

The most interesting part of being in Mexico was a different sense of freedom and lack of fear. And just so you know the Mexican government and the drug lords have oppressed the border citizens. But at the same time they were not shy about talking, shouting, laughing and singing in loud voices on the streets and shops. In the USA immigrants are more subdued and don’t want to bring attention to themselves for fear of police and ultimately immigration.

A special treat that Sunday night was a late snack and drink with Alireza Azizi a great activist with Amnesty International. He handed me a copy of the video of an event we helped to organize a human rights even at the Pasadena Auditorium in 1992 with about 2,500 Iranians from the Los Angeles Area. This is the largest event produced with people of color for Amnesty International. This production was seen across America, Europe and was broadcast to clandestine outlets in Iran… eventually I will have copies for all to see.  Ali is one of the best human beings in my circle.

I was surprised as I entered my Virgin American plane to hear someone shouting my name … LENO LENO ( in recent months I have flown close to 8 Virgin America flights and my virginity has not yet returned)  I was shocked there on the plane was Lillian Hewko a smart Latina, law student at the University of Washington. She has the most wonderful voice and smile.  It was great to see her. Later that day I saw her again at a program and reception at the Law School. She happily informed me that she had been a Peace Corps volunteer in Paraguay where I served as Country Director. And it is good that we have another connection to explore.

There are five Latinos at the Law School and soon we will all meet together to share stories and learn from each other. Meeting people is the best part of this journey through life.  I had several opportunities to go to law school but never did it … but throughout my life I have met so many good lawyers who do incredible work to help others pursue their dreams.

A. ALEX SANCHEZ IS OUT
B. LOUISA CRAIG BENSON
C. VALENTINES DAY February 14th..what to do
D. And this brings us to the Abolition of the death penalty.
E. GOING TO PORTLAND

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ALEX SANCHEZ IS OUT

Thursday night Alex Sanchez Director of Homies Unidos in Los Angeles walked out of the Federal Detention Center last night into the arms of his wife Delia and their children.

Alex soon began his rounds of phone calls to start calling supporters to thank them.

In the last weeks WEAREALEX was supported by individuals who upfronted the money to process the property bonds. Now we can all help to raise the money to repay these funds. Please go to wearealex.org for more information about how you can help.

We also want to continue our support for Alex since this trial will be a long process. And while we know that the truth will come out, we will need to work hard to ensure it comes to the surface.

We still need your help…

LOUISA CRAIG BENSON

A longtime human rights activist passes away.

Louisa a Burmese woman from the Karen Ethnic group over the years became a key voice and organizer for human rights for Burma and for our world.

She was my introduction to Burma and Aung San Suu kyi.
I also had the pleasure of performing the wedding of one of her daughters.

Louisa was known around the world and respected for all that she did for so many.

A memorial service and reception will be held in her honor on Saturday, February 27th at 10am at First United Methodist Church in Pasadena, California, located at 500 East Colorado Blvd.

If you plan to attend the memorial service, please send a message to Bradford Craig at bcraig77@gmail.com indicating how many will attend.

VALENTINES DAY February 14th..what to do

Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday? The history of Valentine’s Day ― and its patron saint ― is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine’s Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred.

One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men ― his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

Today there are people who are being killed in many parts of our world and we need to defend their right to their beliefs… and in fact no government should kill any of its citizens.

And this brings us to the Abolition of the death penalty.

So when you give a valentine, flowers, candy, gifts or express your love you should remember that your statement on this day can have more meaning if you understand from where it came.  Just like MLK day celebrations don’t always get it right and forget that MLK was killed and that his life was more difficult struggle because some of us stood on the sidelines and did not push hard enough to protect the human rights of others. And just so you know MLK and his family are abolitionist.
In the Days ahead remember that as you celebrate this wonderful day of St. Valentine that there is much more to this part of the history…

GOING TO PORTLAND

I am going south about 180 miles to the Portland area for some wonderful meetings in behalf of my agency the Social Justice Fund and will get to see some wonderful friends… and perhaps make new friends.. as some of you know I have my INTROVERT SIDE so making new friends at times is hard for me…

My best
leno

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

——————————————————————————————

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

The other day–about two weeks ago–I did the most absent-minded thing of the year. I had so many things on my mind, and I forgot what I was doing. I went to Starbucks needing a large coffee, when I got to my office as I was setting things down at my desk. I dropped my bag on the floor and then this huge thermos of half and half fell out of my bag with a tinging metal sound. I had walked out of Starbucks with their half-and-half thermos. The next thing I know is that half-and-half is spilling out all over the carpet in my office, and somehow my coffee has spilled all over my keyboard and desk. I must have bumped it as I tried to move things around …

I hurriedly tried to clean up some of the mess.

I was going nuts. I had an international conference call waiting for me, and immediately after that a meeting with a donor.

I had ruined a lot of cards I was mailing to members, ruined my key board and both my floor and desk were a super mess.

We called our landlord, and they said that they would look after the carpet and during the day I continued to clean my desk, so that half-and-half morning was most interesting.

I finally got enough courage and took the creamer back to star bucks and they thought it was funny.

I can turn a normal day into a disaster…

NOW FOR MY VIEW OF THE NEWS

a. The Judge Gets Real, But Why?
b. Death penalty kills budgets
c. Honor the heroes.
d. NCADP conference JAN.14-17
e. MLK DAY JAN. 18
f. The New Year
————————————————————



January 6, 2010

The Judge Gets Real, But Why?

Tom Hayden

The federal judge’s order means that LA’s top gang reduction officials will be subpoenaed to state what they know of Alex Sanchez.

After weeks of protests alleging judicial bias, the gang conspiracy case against Alex Sanchez was transferred to the jurisdiction of a new federal judge.

In an unexpected turn, federal Judge Manuel Real today ordered prosecutors and defense attorneys in the Alex Sanchez case to request that top LA city and police officials advise the court about the gang peacemaker’s public activity over the past decade in a special hearing on January 13. Real repeatedly questioned the prosecution’s evidence for the first time in the proceeding’s six-month history.

Lawyers and advocates scrambled to make sense of the judge’s order, which must be met in six days. Professor Beatriz Cortez, coordinator of the nation’s first Central American Studies program at Cal State Northridge, was among the skeptics. “How will this hearing be conducted, will it be secret, will the community be left out?” she asked. Others claimed the judge was going through the motions in response to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ recent admonishing. The Sanchez family and official defense team expressed guarded optimism about the development.

Taken literally, the judge’s order means that the city’s top gang reduction official, Guillermo Cespedes, and a top LAPD gang expert appointed by the new Chief Charles Beck would be asked, or even subpoenaed, to state what they know about Alex Sanchez from the past decade. Since city and police officials have often collaborated with Sanchez in the past, the public record might place them at odds with former CRASH officer Frank Flores, the prosecution’s expert witness.

While no one expects that to happen, no one is making predictions.

The day at the federal court house began on a new note. Rather than the iron chains and prison garb previously worn by the defendant, Sanchez was wearing a casual green shirt and slacks. An artist from Univision was sketching the defendant for the evening news as some 45 supporters and family entered the courtroom. At first they were ordered by armed security to sit at the far side of the chamber where eye contact with the defendant (described as forbidden “communications”) was virtually impossible. As those seats overflowed, however, the large Sanchez family arrived and sat as a bloc closer to the defendant without being impeded.

The point of the new bail hearing was to respond to the order of a Ninth Circuit panel last week admonishing Judge Real to more carefully consider the evidence presented claiming that the 37-year old Sanchez would be a danger to the community and a flight risk if released on bail. Sanchez is a former member of the Mara Salvatrucha gang, who dropped out of active membership to become a founder of Homies Unidos a decade ago. The work of Homies Unidos includes peace-seeking intervention and mediation in the dangerous world of street gangs. Sanchez was targeted by LAPD gang units a decade ago, but won unprecedented political asylum at a federal immigration hearing. The controversy over illegal police tactics, known as the Rampart scandal, resulted in costly reforms of the LAPD supervised by a federal judge until just weeks ago.

For critics, the Sanchez case smells like revenge by elements of the LAPD and the FBI for the Ramparts scandal that tarnished LA law enforcement’s reputation globally. For the prosecution and their lead police witness, officer Frank Flores, it is a case of Alex Sanchez leading a “double life” for ten years, enriching himself on drug deals, and actively participating in MS conspiracies to kill gang rivals.

At stake is the public image of so-called gang prevention and intervention programs, in which former gang members often are employed as peacemakers to lessen violence and channel young people to constructive alternatives. The program is touted as a national model by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and relies in part on the street work carried out by advocates like Sanchez. Up to 125 street-based peacemakers are being hired by the city this year. The LAPD has gradually come to endorse the program for reducing violence and reaching the unreachable, but some officers and city officials are made nervous over the role of former gang members.

The indigent Sanchez is represented by a court-appointed attorney, Kerry Bensinger of Pasadena, who began the morning by responding to the Ninth Circuit’s list of factors to be considered in determining bail. Bensinger agreed that the nature of the offense is serious, but argued that the weight of evidence bearing upon the strength of the government’s case is weak.

The wiretap transcripts from May 2006, for example, a gang member in El Salvador questioning why Sanchez is on the line since he was no longer active in the gang, a piece of evidence which contradicts the claim that Sanchez was a shotcaller and therefore responsible for any and all crimes committed by gang members. This evidence was omitted in the analysis of the wiretaps by Officer Flores and submitted by the prosecution.

Second, the fact that Sanchez was on the phone calls is offered as proof of gang membership by the prosecutors. The defense contends he was on six of many thousand intercepted conversations because, according to an affidavit, he was invited to join the phone calls because they concerned threats to his life and accusations that he was an FBI collaborator.

Third, the defense has submitted evidence that the voice of one “Zombie” on the phone calls is a different individual altogether than the “Zombie” that the prosecutors claim carried out a Sanchez order kill another gang member in El Salvador. No evidence whatever has been introduced that such an order was given by anyone during the calls, which is why Officer Flores claims that lengthy multi-party conversations are carried on in secret code.

Fourth, the judge refused to hear the 20-page testimony of Fr. Gregory Boyle, who heads one of the nations most well-known gang intervention programs, and who attempted to refute Officer Flores point by point.

Fifth, against the government claim that Sanchez has a secret tattoo on his chest, the defense produced an affidavit by a tattoo removal specialist, Rosemarie Ashamalla, that tattoo removal programs like that which treated Sanchez only eliminate tattoos on the face, neck, and hands that can be barriers to re-entry programs.

Sixth, the defense simply dismissed as irrelevent ten-year old photos of Sanchez smiling and throwing a gang sign, and a poem by Sanchez found during a search of a gang members drawer.

Finally, Bensinger pointed to more than one hundred letters attesting to Sanchez’s good work and character, leading the judge to intervene for the first time, saying such letters are merely hearsay, not given under oath. When Bensinger offered to put the authors of the letters on the stand, the judge was silent.

This was a judge who had interrupted Bensinger at least 20 times when the attorney tried to present the same information at the original bail hearing, often caustically, deriding the testimony of Fr. Boyle as “irrelevent.” This was the same judge whose behavior has been described as “problematic” by a Ninth Circuit panel, and as “surreal” by this Nation correspondent.

The judge apparently was stung by criticism appearing in The Nation, since he several times referred to a person “who knows absolutely nothing about the law.” For whatever reason-the Ninth Circuit’s admonishment, The Nation’s criticisms, or his own reflections and consultations–the new Judge Real bore down on the prosecution with key questions.

As in previous sessions, the prosecution made little effort to buffer its arguments, perhaps assuming the judge would simply rubber-stamp their proposed order and send it back to the Ninth Circuit. The prosecution claimed, for example, that other wiretaps from 2000, 2001 and 2008 have been proffered, while ignoring the fact that the proffers have never been accepted and the evidence never submitted. As the prosecution rested its brief case, the judge began his questioning.

Where would the defendant go if he fled the country? the judge asked. El Salvador, replied the prosecutor. But wasn’t he granted political asylum by another court precisely because he would be at great risk of torture or death in El Salvador? That was a decade ago, but we have him on phone calls to El Salvador more recently, was the reply. Were the calls inviting them to El Salvador? (The judge didn’t mention that the parties in El Salvador were in prison or on the run.) No, the calls show that the defendant has “networks” there able to receive him. But wouldn’t the INS hearing have considered this information?

Bensinger reminded the bench that Sanchez’s wife, three children, parents and family all live in Los Angeles, that $2.5 million has been pledged in sureties against his leaving.

But, the prosecutor claimed, Sanchez does not believe he will get a fair trial, and therefore will flee the country before his sentencing. Thats being said by “someone who knows absolutely nothing about the law,” answered the judge. It’s reasonable that the defendant shares that view, your honor. Has the defendant or his lawyer made any such statements, asked the judge? Stepping back, the prosecutor admitted they had not.

Assuming El Salvador is out of the question, the judge resumed, where else would he go? To Latin American countries that have no extradition treaties with the US, came an improvised reply, with no explanation of how Sanchez would escape the tight restrictions that inevitably would come with bail.

A further element requiring scrutiny by the Ninth Circuit panel was Sanchez’s previous criminal record. Bensinger noted that Sanchez had one previous felony conviction, dated 15 years previous, and nothing since. The prosecutor leaped in to cite a May 2009 “encounter” with the LAPD. The judge wanted to know whether there was any result of the encounter, such as an arrest. No, your honor, came the admission, the defendant was questioned by the LAPD officer when he was found talking and drinking on a streetcorner with four other individuals, one of whom was a known MS member.

Seemingly exasperated, the judge then proposed his unusual next procedure. According to this analyst’s extemporaneous notes: “You and Mr. Bensinger should get together, with the head of the gangs program for the City and let us ask him what he knows about Alex Sanchez and this gang. Get the person in charge at the LAPD and ask if there have been any recent gang activities of a public nature involving this defendant. Get them here to perhaps a closed hearing, to talk to them,” about the bail-related questions of being a danger to the community or a flight risk.

With no further discussion, the “hearing” was set for 10am Tuesday, January 13, to be followed by the resumption of the bail hearing which was remanded to Judge Real by the Ninth Circuit. There is no predicting whether this represents an unprecedented approach to conflict resolution, or merely a step by the judge to prove to the critics that he is holding an exhaustive hearing, and armor-plating himself against a future appeal, before denying Sanchez bail once again.

In peace & justice,

We Are Alex
WWW.WEAREALEX.ORG

————————————————————————

Death penalty kills budgets

Gary Crooks
The Spokesman-Review
Perhaps one good outcome of tight budgets will be the death of the death penalty. Fifteen states have rescinded capital punishment since the U.S. Supreme Court revived it in a 1976 ruling, with the latest being New Mexico. The Connecticut Legislature passed a similar bill last year, but the governor vetoed it.

Washington was one of 11 states where legislatures considered abolishing the death penalty last year but didn’t. However, as lawmakers in Olympia get ready to kick people out of vital safety-net programs to close a huge budget gap, they ought to revisit the issue.

The Death Penalty Information Center’s annual report spotlights the sheer waste in spending. Though death sentences declined by 60 percent and executions have also dropped over the past decade, it still takes a lot of money to maintain a capital punishment system.

California, which is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, is spending $137 million a year on the death penalty and hasn’t executed anyone in 3 1/2 years, but it is pondering whether to spend $400 million to build a new death row. Florida spends $24 million per execution. Maryland has executed five people in 20 years at a cost of $186 million.

Before abolishing the death penalty, New Jersey spent $250 million over 25 years and didn’t execute a single person, which prompted West Orange, N.J., Police Chief James Abbott to say, “Give a law enforcement professional like me that $250 million, and I’ll show you how to reduce crime. The death penalty isn’t anywhere on my list.”

For most chiefs, it isn’t a priority. When asked which items are the biggest impediments to efficient law enforcement, most police chiefs mention lack of resources, alcohol and drug abuse, a dearth of programs for the mentally ill, crowded courts, too many guns and gangs, according to the center’s report.

Even Texas, once the hotbed of executions, has chilled the pace ever since its legislature passed a law allowing jurors to consider life in prison without the possibility of parole, which is a far cheaper option.

If the death penalty recently became available, it’s hard to fathom any state jumping at the chance. As is, politics and emotions keep it alive.

Since 1976, there’s been an average of 19,000 murders per year in the United States, yet 41 of 50 states have either executed nobody or averaged less than one per year. Only Texas has averaged more than three executions per year.

Washington state has executed a grand total of four people in that time frame. Idaho has done it once.

It’s time to put this punishment out of its misery.

Rest in pieces. Though the article hasn’t garnered much attention, the New York Times recently reported that the American Law Institute is walking away from the death penalty. That might sound like a snoozer of a story, but the institute, which is made up of 4,000 judges, lawyers and law professors, had been responsible for the intellectual heavy lifting that got the death penalty off the ground and kept it operational after it had been sidelined by the U.S. Supreme Court.

As the Times reported, “A study commissioned by the institute said that decades of experience had proved that the system could not reconcile the twin goals of individualized decisions about who should be executed and systemic fairness. It added that capital punishment was plagued by racial disparities; was enormously expensive even as many defense lawyers were underpaid and some were incompetent; risked executing innocent people; and was undermined by the politics that come with judicial elections.”

That’s the conclusion of longtime supporters. So what does this mean for capital punishment? It’s a dead man walking.

HEROES

I have watched over 8 years how we honor those in uniform. Primarily the military and on occasion police and firemen/women. And in their deaths they are called heroes, and in life they are considered to be patriotic.

But for some reasons those who oppose unjust government actions such as the wars in Viet Nam, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the torture of prisoners are never called heroes or patriots. I have yet to see the statues and pictures to the protesters.

I have yet to see a President during the State of the Union address have several protesters seated there next to the First Lady. And, at any sports events I have never seen these folks honored. Just the other day I went to our local county offices and saw on a long wall of a tunnel some wonderful photos of those in military service. I would have proposed that they put the advocates for piece on the opposite wall to show that these also are good American heroes.

Finally I decided to go to the famous internet to seek definitions for what is a hero, and you can see THAT MANY ARE CHAMPIONS FOR A CAUSE.

Definitions of hero on the Web:
- a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength; “RAF pilots were the heroes of the Battle of Britain”
- the principal character in a play or movie or novel or poem
- champion: someone who fights for a cause
- Greek mathematician and inventor who devised a way to determine the area of a triangle and who described various mechanical devices (first century)
- (classical mythology) a being of great strength and courage celebrated for bold exploits; often the offspring of a mortal and a god
- (Greek mythology) priestess of Aphrodite who killed herself when her lover Leander drowned while trying to swim the Hellespont to see her
- bomber: a large sandwich made of a long crusty roll split lengthwise and filled with meats and cheese (and tomato and onion and lettuce and condiments);

different names are used in different sections of the United States 
what must we teach our children and their children … that a hero is can be anyone not just someone in a uniform …that a hero can be a person who stands up for the truth no matter the price one has to pay…

People who risk everything to stop violence and killings are surely heroes…

We need to honor all of our heroes…all of the time.

NCADP CONFERENCE JAN. 14-17

This year the conference for the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty will hold its conference in Louisville Kentucky…this is a great gathering of abolitionist including Sister Helen Prejean, Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, Exonerated Death Row Inmates, activists and of course me..I will emcee the awards dinner…hope to see you there

MLK JR DAY JAN. 18TH

This is an important day to recognize all that King did but also recognize the work of so many others who made progress in Civil Rights possible.. I hope that you will take this moment to celebrate those who have done so much for all of us.

THE NEW YEAR

It’s time to organize ourselves to do more and do it better in the New Year.

At the same time we must make time in the year ahead to celebrate

My best
leno

Talking To Alex Sanchez

In recent weeks I have received calls from Alex who, as you know, is in prison. We laugh and talk about the food and the other prisoners, especially those who were charged with him in this absurd roundup.

Alex wanted to let you all know that he is okay but that he needs you to help him make bail so that he can work with his lawyer on his defense and to be with his family. While Alex knows how to do time, it is nonetheless hard and him and his family.

We need a FAIR TRIAL for Alex and that begins with him getting BONDED OUT … so please help in whatever way you can. Visit Alex’s website for more information.

JUSTICE = BAIL FOR ALEX

A fair trial for Alex starts with bail.

 As a community, let’s think positively in the days ahead, as we are reminded of Alex’s comittment to our youth and families and his impact on our communities.

Alex brings out the best in all of us. 

Let’s show the media and court that the community is behind Alex at his next hearing. Our presence matters! 

Join us at this historic moment and spread the word! You can download flyers and info here.

Date: Monday, October 19th, 2009
Time: 12 pm til ruling is announced
Place: Fletcher Bowron Square
 (Corner of Main and Temple 
Downtown LA
)

Alex needs our support NOW and our community needs him more than ever. Please join us.

Stepping Off The Ledge Into The Unknown

Most of us want to know that we are eating healthy food and that our hotel are disease free. Some of us even go so far as to buy and eat organic fruits and vegetables. And, in that regard I want us all to eat healthy and be healthy …

But there is just one little problem. Those who harvest our food, butcher the animals, prepare our food, clean our hotel rooms, clean our homes, perhaps cook for us at home, or take care of our children and who clean our hotel rooms may not have access to health services.

It seems to me that we are only hurting ourselves by not  insuring everyone and taking the risk that our children or another person we care about (perhaps us) could become seriously ill because of a small amount of bacteria that could have been eliminated. We can wash our hands all we want but if those handling our food, care for our families and care for the hotel rooms dont have good health and no amount of soap can keep the bacteria away.

If we want to be healthy then we must make sure that all around us are healthy.

Now that seems to make sense.

Took A Bold Step For My Feet

Early Saturday two weeks ago I snuck my large body into a NAIL salon.

Nope, this was not a manly hammer and nail hardware store, this was a place for PEDICURES AND MANICURES

“Can I help you?” the manager asked.

“a pedicure” I whispered.

she smiled and shouted in Vietnamese … “PEDICURE FOR THE MAN!”

anyway, I think that’s what she said.

a young woman came out with her plastic tool box. she motioned me towards a chair where she was filling a mini pool with water.

I took off my sandals and settled into a red chair, immediately I noticed the warm water on my feet and that the chair was giving me a back massage.

Before you know she had cleaned my nails clipped them and then gave me the most wonderful ankle and calf massage. Now that was the best part.

Before you know it had all ended and it was most relaxing.

… and I found out that you can do the unexpected.

Trick Or Vote

Voting for Human Rights in the State of Washington

Trick or Vote is coming straight at you like a runaway train!

Join the Bus, Approve Referendum 71 and No on I-1033 on Saturday, October 31st to Trick or Vote in support of equality and a better Washington. Like equal rights for domestic partners? Us too. We’re going to be telling voters all about R-71.

And like a state that can actually fund little things like education, Health care and environmental protection? We’re going to be making sure everyone knows about the impacts of I-1033.

Trick or Vote 2008 saw over three hundred young people in costume, knocking on doors all across King County, and making sure young people voted in the election. This year, we’re going even bigger. And, dare we say, better.

So what do we need? You! And your friends. In costume. Ready to knock on some doors, get some candy and remind folks to turn their ballots in.

We’ll be meeting up in our awesome (and dare we say spooky) Georgetown location (the Old Rainier Cold Storage – 5840 Airport Way South) in the afternoon, going out to Trick or Vote, and then returning for the  afterparty. Yes, it’s free. Yes, it’s all ages. And yes, you get to eat all the candy you can handle! That’s what we call real politics.

To reserve your slot, email mollie@washingtonbus.org or rsvp online here.

We’ll see you there!

office: 206.325.1889 cell: 206.679.1107
www.washingtonbus.org
washingtonbus.wordpress.com

NFL Says No To Rush Limbaugh

It is great that players, owners and the NFL office said no to having Rush be an investor in an effort to purchase the Rams.

I would suggest that Rush and others form their own football league, and I wonder how many would buy tickets to go see all WHITE TEAMS play against each other.

I think it’s some what difficult to play football in a white sheet … look forward to the WHITE IS RIGHT FOOTBALL LEAGUE coming to your town soon.

My Best,
Leno