I had first met Hilda Solis when she was a state legislator from the Los Angeles area. As that point I was the Regional Director of Amnesty International. It was exciting to see a good pro Labor Latina in the State Legislature…

Then she became a Congresswoman and I got to visit her several times in her office in our nation’s Capitol. And I would see her on television at the Democratic Conventions with UFW CO-FOUNDER Dolores Huerta.

And then finally I got to watch her be nominated and then finally confirmed as the Secretary of Labor. Now that was most exciting.

So there I am this past Friday arriving on a early morning flight from Seattle to Denver. I am in no hurry I have no one to meet and the family reunion does not begin until the early evening…

In Denver you have to take a train to the main terminal and baggage.. I am just starting for the escalator when I see someone who looks like Secretary Soliz.. Yep my minds computer confirms.. IT IS HER… I scoot around two men in dark suits.. And jump on to the escalator one step behind Hilda when I feel a strong hand on my left shoulder and a voice saying you can’t go there..

I AM JUST TRYING TO SAY HELLO TO HILDA SOLIS..

She turns and smiles at me .. Probably not recognizing me ..From so many other Latinos …

I thanked her for all the good work that the administration is doing especially the Labor Dept.

And she responded smiling… EVERYTIME WE TAKE A STEP FORWARD THE WACKOS COME OUT OF THE WOODWORK

OH BY THE WAY …I responded I APPRECIATE THE RECENT ACTION YOU TOOK ORDERING BUSINESSES TO GIVE GAY EMPLOYEES EQUAL TREATMENT UNDER A LAW  PERMITTING WORKERS UNPAID TIME OFF TO CARE FOR NEWBORNS OR LOVED ONES..

This law is the FMLA or Family Leave Act. And the expansion affects a partner or key friend or family who is not a spouse to qualify for this leave.(more on this act at the bottom of this AHORA)
YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT .. IT JUST CAME OUT .. She smiled

The announcement came out the 23 of June and today was the 24th

YES .. I replied.. IT WAS GREAT

ARE YOU HERE FOR THE NALEO CONFERENCE??

NALEO is the National Association for Latino Elected or Appointed Officials and I used to belong to it over 20 years ago..

NO … FAMILY REUNION… WOULD LIKE TO GO TO NALEO BUT GOTS TO DO THE FAMILY RENUION…

She turned to go in one direction once we got to the main landing and I waved and wished her well .. I hope to follow up with a card thanking her for all the work she is doing for the workers of this country.

NOW FOR MY VIEW OF THE NEWS

a.    Lebron
b.    Spies
c.    Cuba
d.    And many other interesting items.

HERE’S SOME BRIEF ITEMS

LEBORN JAMES

He has said that he is going to Miami, Riley has another feather in his cap and if he is happy then I am happy…

SPIES WHO CAME OUT OF THE COLD..OR TO RUSSIA WITH OUT JALAPENOS

We discovered some 10 Russian spies… and before you know it we have a prisoner exchange..This was magician quick.. And there were no Mexicans involved.. And none of these spies came to the USA through the Arizona border..There must be more spies.. I am looking under my bed tonight.. On second thought I will ask my cat Estrella to look under the bed.

Oh yes did you notice that none of them were Muslims… looked like White Folks to me… seems the best way to infiltrate is to get folks who look like the door keepers.. What a novel idea?

CUBA RELEASING PRISONERS

Now Cuba is releasing a number of prisoners to Spain.. Thank goodness they got involved.. Now when is our country going to normalize relations with the Cuban Government..We do business with China and Saudi Arabia … why not Cuba?

AND BP KEEPS POLLUTING

We must come up with a new name for the GULF OF MEXICO.. Perhaps the DEAD SEA OF MEXICO IS MOST APPROPRIATE…oh by the way the Dead Sea in Israel is almost dead.. I am told it is shrinking every day…
And  more misery is being placed on the residents and wild life of the gulf and its neighbors.

ELENA KAGAN

She seems to be very smart and should be confirmed.. I will welcome another smart woman to the court,,,,god knows we have enough dumb men on the court and we could use some more people who understand the constitution and legal history.

I went looking for Jesus and instead found a defensive player for the University of Washington  Huskies football team.

It was getting late and I needed to go to some place of worship so I went to NewBethany which is 5 minutes from my house… I got there and the service was in process.. They had made the church into a theatre in round setting and I couldn’t fine my natural place in the back of the church.. Plus it was full this Sunday so I found a young couple I knew and sat down next to them.

There was a guest minister from South Africa and a large Samoan Choir that sang some good and lively songs. Their voices were great and I loved looking into their island faces.

On my way out after church an older Samoan stopped to shake my hand and ask if I was a lecturer at the University Washington. I said that I did that on occasion. By then a younger tall Samoan came up and said aren’t you the guy who lectured in my Chicano Studies class. I smiled and we began talking about this young man. He is a Nose Guard on the Football team and a starter. He is a junior and looks very strong .. We had a brief conversation about the  football and academic sides of his life.

I found it interesting that he had listened to me when I spoke to his class and would be willing to reach out to me after church..I gave him my email and I hope that he will soon write… his name is Alameda Ta’amu..So now I need to find some tickets for the home games.

THE GIRL WHO PLAYS WITH FIRE

Just finished this book… i found it most entertaining… i was in bed a lot with an owwieee or gash on my leg that i was nursing… so i found time to read a lot …

BUGLEME

Now some of you are receiving some of my bugles and I hope that you are enjoying them and that you will get others to sign up.

LATINOS/HISPANICS AND THE DEATH PENALTY

More Latinos are ending up in prison and our numbers are increasing.. So I will be asking for your help in the days to come to help me organize my educational and outreach efforts..

THE AVILA FAMILY REUNION

The Family Reunion brought family from different parts of the country from Mississippi, California, Oregon, Oklahoma, Washington and various parts of Colorado.
It was and always is a great gathering of family, friends.. many blendings of races and ethnic groups.. The faces and people are all beautiful..

At these reunions we have a talent show where people sing, act dance, read, oral interpretation and some speech making…I am given the role as Emcee …as the night wears on more and more people ask to be given the opportunity to perform…it is wonderful and most inspiring.. I only wish that I had some good entertainment skills to offer…

It is good to be reminded that you have family who loves you more than the moon and cherish you…

As always I bring gifts and this time I taken more immigration shirts and bags and aprons..

It was a great time.. Filled with much love..

My Jalapeno best
leno



WASHINGTON – The Labor Department intends to issue regulations this week ordering businesses to give gay employees equal treatment under a law permitting workers unpaid time off to care for newborns or loved ones.
Labor Secretary Hilda Solis  planned to announce that the government would require employers to extend the option that has been available to heterosexual workers for almost two decades, two officials briefed on the plan said Monday. Neither was authorized to speak publicly ahead of the announcement

When the Family and Medical Leave Act was first passed in 1993, it was a huge step forward in establishing the flexibility and security that the American workforce needed to care for our future generations. It allowed employees to take unpaid leave to care for their kids without the fear of losing their jobs.

But while many are quick to point out that the workplace, workers, and indeed the concept of families have changed, the flexibility to apply FMLA to shifting conditions did not.

Well, the Administration took a major step in recognizing the need for such flexibility on Tuesday when the U.S. Department of Labor issued Administrator’s Interpretation No. 1010-3, which clarifies the definition of “son and daughter” under the FMLA. In doing, so we have expanded FMLA protections to cover loving caregivers that have traditionally been left out.

It’s called in loco parentis, a Latin phrase and legal doctrine that may require interpretation for those of us who are not lawyers: It means “in the place of a parent.” And when applied to the new realities of work and family, it means all employees who have assumed the responsibility for parenting a child, whether they have a biological or legal relationship with the child or not, may be entitled to FMLA leave.

What does that mean in the real world? It means that children can get the support and care they need from the people who love them and are responsible for them.

It means that we’re recognizing the importance of a partner who shares in the parenting of a child in a same sex relationship, and his or her right to FMLA leave. It means that we are recognizing the importance of “Tia” (Spanish for aunt) who steps in to care for her young nephew when his mother has been called to active military duty. And it means that a grandmother who takes responsibility for her grandchild can — when needed — take unpaid time off of work to do it.

It’s an important interpretation and it is a long time coming.

Perhaps shades of Larry Craig of Idaho…

This past Wednesday while attending a meeting of the MEDC/Minority Executive Directors meeting held at the library on Yesler that I had a most interesting experience. And it happened in the men’s room.
We were in a hot debate about the Police Chief selection process and I did not want to miss the debate.. and as I expected my bladder was calling out bilingually for relief. Finally I saw a break and ran out to the hall and asked the young man at the desk to buzz me ..

As I stepped in my right hand was already searching for the zipper.. it was then that I saw a young and small blond person standing there with a clip board and a plastic box.  This person just looked at me and as I got closer I noticed that it was a woman with her blond hair braided back.

I looked to my left to see if there were urinals and to ensure if I was in the right rest room.

We both just looked at each other for what seemed a long moment as it donned on me that she was wearing a police uniform

AM I BEING ARRESTED ?…I said as I smiled at

NO .. I AM JUST CHECKING ON SOME THINGS … and she returned my smile with her soft voice

GOOD.. NOW I FEEL BETTER … I said almost laughing

DO YOU WANT ME TO STEP OUT FOR A MOMENT.. she asked

YEP .. THAT WOULD BE GOOD..DO YOU MIND?… I responded with relief.. I was in fact having trouble holding back all the coffee that was trying to get out of my bladder.

OKAY… she said walking out the door. I could see a smile in her eyes

Later as I left the bathroom she was there outside about 10 feet from the door waiting with her box of materials.

THANK YOU… YOU KNOW YOU GAVE ME THE MOST PLEASANT SURPRISE ..I explained

YES I GUESS I DID ..smiling she went back into the bathroom as I held the door open.

Thank goodness that she did not arrest me … how would I be able to explain how I ended up in a public bathroom with a 115 lb 5 foot police woman who arrested this rather large Chicano and what did I do wrong?

I should have taken her photo with my i phone.. but me at the moment I was most worried about the potential headlines..

Just remember that no bathroom is safe..

NOW FOR MY VIEW OF THE NEWS

a.    Profiting from lies
b.    Violence from Oil
c.    A Chorus of Bartons
d.    Gardening
e.    Bugleme
f.    Leno’s travels

Profiting on Immigration by Repeating Lies..

Arizona politicians continue to tell a lie about a farmer being killed by immigrants who might be part of the drug smuggling.  And then going on to say how unsafe it has become. And the politicos and the media have used the murder of Robert Krentz a rancher as the face behind the violence and call for the awful actions being taken in Arizona.

Both are lies but the media does not question the validity of these incorrect right wing talking points.. Nobody ..yes nobody knows why the rancher or by whom he was killed.  Police and politicians should not make up information that does not exist. And to tell the truth… one would have to say the Arizona is relatively safe next to other serious hot spots.. and then they should admit to all the weapons sales being done by arms dealers in Arizona to drug runners. And they should admit that no police investigation ties Krentz’s murder to immigrants or drug runners.

But the media keeps repeating the lies.. Even the New York Times is guilty of this. In a article on Sunday June 20th..Randal C. Archibald continued to push these lies in his Times article on page 16.

And now we have Fremont Nebraska passing a anti immigrant law  yhsy punishes immigrants but refuses to address the meat packing plants that employ immigrants to cut up the meats that feed mainstream America.

If we could just get Comprehensive Immigration Reform then we could make a difference for everyone and stop this growing flood of lies and fear.

THE VIOLENCE OF THE OIL IN THE GULF

This is a most serious issue… for us all.. if we didn’t understand before we must now all become advocates for our environment.  We all  will suffer from actions taken by profiteers.. And in the end it is the poor that get the brunt of all criminal actions taken as these companies take lives and destroy jobs….
To be an human rights activist is to be an environmentalist. If you read ..please take the time to inform yourself about this horrific event .. and take some action .

A GOP chorus of Joe Bartons on the BP oil spill

By Eugene Robinson
Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Joe Barton is not alone. The Texas congressman’s lavish sympathy for BP — which he sees not as perpetrator of a preventable disaster but as victim of a White House “shakedown” — is actually what passes for mainstream opinion among conservative Republicans today.

The GOP leadership came down hard on Barton after he apologized to the oil company for the beastly way it was being treated by the White House, saying he was “ashamed” that BP was being pressured to put $20 billion into a “slush fund” to compensate victims of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Barton was reportedly threatened with losing his powerful position as ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee if he didn’t retract his words, and pronto.

But Barton was only echoing a statement that Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) had issued a day earlier in the name of the Republican Study Committee, a caucus of House conservatives whose Web site claims 115 members. The statement groused that there is “no legal authority for the president to compel a private company to set up or contribute to an escrow account” and accused the Obama administration of “Chicago-style shakedown politics.” Just to review: A group constituting roughly two-thirds of all Republicans in the House takes the position that President Obama was wrong to demand that BP set aside money to guarantee that those whose livelihoods are being ruined by the oil spill will be compensated. In other words, it’s more important to kneel at the altar of radical conservative ideology than to feel any sense of compassion for one’s fellow Americans. This, ladies and gentlemen, is how today’s GOP rolls.

To be sure, there are Republicans who realize that this is not the message the party should be sending as the midterm election nears. “I couldn’t disagree with Joe Barton more,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Party leaders insisted that there was nothing to see at the cliff where Barton went through the political guardrails and that everyone should just move along.
But no. Let’s slow down and crane our necks.

Barton’s remarks were no spontaneous gaffe. They came in a prepared statement and represent his genuine view of the situation: that the rights of a private company are absolute even when weighed against the clear interests of the public.

While the party leadership has managed to squelch members of Congress who might have been tempted to weigh in on Barton’s side, the conservative amen chorus can’t help itself. Rush Limbaugh called the agreement on the $20 billion escrow fund “unconstitutional” and accused the administration of acting like “a branch of organized crime.” Newt Gingrich said the White House was “extorting money from a company.” Stuart Varney of Fox News claimed — falsely — that Obama had moved to “seize a private company’s assets” and complained that the action was “Hugo Chavez-like.” Weekly Standard Editor Bill Kristol said that “I have no sympathy for BP,” but then proceeded to be sympathetic, offering that “it’s not helpful for the country, for the economy as a whole, for the president to bully different companies and different industries.” I’d advise these people to get a grip, but they’re just saying what they believe. It just happens that what they believe is absurd.

There is ample evidence that BP, one of the biggest and most profitable oil companies in the world, cut corners in operating the Deepwater Horizon rig that resulted in the worst spill ever to despoil U.S. waters. BP’s assertions about its ability to prevent, contain and clean up any oil leak turned out to be patently false. If we were not dealing with such a tragic situation, the company’s tin ear for public relations would be comic; the unforgettable line from BP’s chairman — “We care about the small people” — sounds like something Mel Brooks might dream up for a sequel to “The Producers.” Meanwhile, thousands of fishermen, shrimpers, oil-rig workers, restaurant owners and others along the Gulf Coast are suffering the economic effects of the spill. The environmental damage, still worsening, will be felt for decades. A mile beneath the surface, that noxious plume of gas and oil continues to billow.

Yes, President Obama used the power of his office to pressure BP to set money aside for compensation. If Republicans believe he shouldn’t have, then by all means they should speak up. Come November, the voters will be able to decide who’s right.

THE GARDEN PLANTS… moving slowly

As you might remember that I started my mini garden some weeks ago and have been very excited about being able to watch them grow. Except for the last couple of days the weather has been rather cool and rainy so we have not had much sun. At the same time some birds have gone after my pumpkin and squash plants.

In the near future I will plant some garlic .. Garlic does well and makes one a proud gardener. One of my chili plants has flowers as do two of my tomato plants.
I will be traveling for about 10 days so I have to ensure that the plants get watered while I am away.

Gardening is good for the soul .. so plant anything and care for it and it will help you to relax and heal.

BUGLEME

Some of you will begin receiving some calls and notices from a wonderful system called Bugleme.. you will get messages from me and my activities..it helps us to stay connected… I have signed some of you up for a 30 free test period.  If you are interested in getting my Bugles then please write to me.

Traveling with El Chicano .. leno

June 25-27 Colorado for Family Reunion
June 28th – July 2nd  Washington DC ..Vigil and Fast for Abolition
July 2-4th Washington DC family and friends

My best
leno