Attracting Latinos: Big Brothers Big Sisters

We're really excited to see the progress made by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound, a wonderful, established organization which has really made a big effort over the past year-plus to reach out to Latino kids and enhance its program to include "Bigs" that are more representative of our actual community.

This evening they're celebrating the Latino Mentoring Advisory Committee and we're looking forward to hearing from Ceci Lusardi, the Associate Director for Hispanic Mentoring of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

We encourage Latinos and other community members to get to know the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound organization, and get involved to help give our local kids a great start!

Sales Language = Contract Language

The consumer negotiated the purchase in a language other than English and ended up with products they didn't want and/or a bad deal ...

Those who know me know I'm a stickler on this subject!

A new coalition, Consumers Against Auto Fraud, is addressing some of the problems that may arise during a used car purchase. Now we need your help in making the used car buying process more transparent and fair for consumers across the state.

The legislature is considering a pair of bills that if passed will positively impact many low-income Washington consumers: SB 5675 sponsored by Senator Ed Murray and HB 1772 sponsored by Representative Brendan Williams. Links to both bills are attached below.

Please contact your Legislators about the importance of SB 5675 & HB 1772! Attached is a one page description of the problems these bills are designed to solve and more detail about what these bills would do. The legislation has four important elements:

(1) All used car dealers must inspect their cars and disclose significant known defects to consumers before purchase.

(2) If the used car dealer negotiates the deal in a language other than English then all vital documents must also be translated into that language for the consumer.

(3) The bond that car dealers must post to protect consumers from unscrupulous and fraudulent practices is increased.

(4) Certain misrepresentations during the sales and financing process are explicitly prohibited.


To find your legislative district go to http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx .

Friday pm at Neptune Coffee in Greenwood

Valentina Vitols, a supreme photographer and lovely lady from Venezuela, is celebrating the closing reception of her showing, Vagabunda por el Mundo.

Please join her!

Friday, January 30

6-8pm
at
Neptune Coffee

8415 Greenwood Ave N

Seattle WA 98103

She's got a cool SODO studio and a wonderful spirit! For more info on Valentina and her art, visit her site.

ENGLISH to Become Washington State's Official Language?

I realize this is a very controversial issue, but let it be known that our legislators are trying to make English Washington's official language. What does that mean? In effect, it means that any and all government agency documents need only be produced in English.

Before you start your comments that this is America, we speak English here, please put yourself in the place of a recent immigrant, one of many hundreds of thousands, in a country where English is *not* spoken. Language learning requires much time--many years, for some--but in the meantime should you be cut off from services?

Think about that.

The entire bill language follows.


HOUSE BILL 1645

_____________________________________________

State of Washington 61st Legislature 2009 Regular Session

By Representatives McCune and Haler

1 AN ACT Relating to designating English as the official language of

2 the state; and adding a new section to chapter 1.20 RCW.

3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

4 NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 1.20 RCW

5 to read as follows:

6 (1) English is designated as the official language of the state of

7 Washington.

8 (2) The official language is designated as the language of any

9 official public record and any official public meeting.

10 (a) An official public record is any record officially compiled,

11 published, or recorded by the state and any other document or record

12 subject to public inspection and copying under the public records act,

13 chapter 42.56 RCW.

14 (b) An official public meeting is any meeting required to be open

15 under chapter 42.30 RCW.

16 (3) Except as otherwise provided by law, no state agency or

17 political or taxing subdivision of the state may be required to provide

18 any documents, information, literature, or other written materials in

19 any language other than English. Nothing prohibits state agencies or

p. 1 HB 1645

1 political or taxing subdivisions from: (a) Publishing any official

2 public document or record in languages other than English at their

3 discretion, so long as the document or record is also published in

4 English; or (b) permitting a person who does not speak English to speak

5 or communicate at an official public meeting with the assistance of an

6 interpreter.

7 (4) This section shall not be construed in any way to infringe upon

8 the rights of citizens under the Washington state Constitution or the

9 United States Constitution in the use of language in any private

10 activity. No agency or officer of the state or any political or taxing

11 subdivision of the state may place any restrictions or requirements

12 regarding language usage in any business operating in the private

13 sector other than official documents, forms, submissions, or other

14 communications directed to government agencies and officers, which

15 communications shall be in the official language as recognized in this

16 section.

17 (5) The state of Washington recognizes the importance of

18 establishing and actively promoting English language classes, English

19 language training, or citizenship classes for nonnative speakers. The

20 institutions of higher education and community and technical colleges

21 are encouraged to offer such services and are encouraged to seek the

22 assistance of local political subdivisions, community-based agencies

23 and organizations, migrant worker groups, refugee resettlement

24 programs, schools, churches, and others in making nonnative speakers

25 aware of the availability of such classes and training and ensuring

26 their continuation and expansion.

27 NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. If any provision of this act or its

28 application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the

29 remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other

30 persons or circumstances is not affected.

Please attend public hearing on ethnic commissions in WA

Here's your opportunity to have a voice on SB 5589: the future of the Washington State Commission on Hispanic Affairs and other ethnic commissions in our state.

WHAT? Public Hearing, Government Operations & Elections
WHEN? Tomorrow! Tuesday, January 27 1:30pm
WHERE? Senate Hearing Rm 2, J.A. Cherberg Building, Olympia, WA

I talked to my colleague Ty Cordova, who's been very involved over the years. He explained it to me this way:

What the bill is proposing is for all ethnic commissions to be dissolved and an over-arching Minority Affairs Department be established. While a considerable cost saving measure is realized, it would significantly reduce access to all communities of color currently served.

PASS THIS ALONG: If you or others can attend the hearing it would bode well for all of our commissions in the state.

And if you cannot attend: I encourage you to CALL and voice your position!
Call the below phone numbers and tell committee staff that you are against SB 5589:

Sharon Swanson
Coordinator/Counsel
JAC 425
(360) 786-7447

Aaron Gutierrez
Counsel
JAC 412
(360) 786-7448

Edward Redmond
Research Analyst
JAC 413
(360) 786-7471

Catherine Nicolai
Committee Assistant
JAC 435
(360) 786-7430

Dana Sondergaard
Committee Clerk
JAC 432
(360) 786-7736

We Heart Gaudí

There's an opportunity for great Spanish wine tasting at Gaudí Restaurant, this Sunday starting at 5pm!

• There will be 6 wines from different regions of Spain for tasting and for sale by bottle or case. And of course Juan’s tasty food to pair with them.
• The cost per person is $30.00 plus tax & gratuity, to reserve a place or places please call 206 527-3400.
• ¿Dónde? 3410 NE 55th Street, Seattle WA 98105
  
  We Heart Gaudí...
  ...because over the years they have been very generous to the cultural arts community.
  
  Menu for the evening
  Pinchos Morunos - Marinated lamb kababs
  Bombas - Deep-fried balls of rice, potato, cheese & ground beef
  Pollo al Ajillo - Chicken pieces cooked in a trad. creamy garlic sauce
  Buñuelos de Bacalao - Cod fish fritters, Spanish style
  Champiñones Rellenos - Veggie-stuffed mushrooms
  Papas Bravas - Spanish-style fried potatoes with Brava sauce
  Paella de Monte
  
  See their website for more!

Indigenous Does Not Equal Latino

Funny, I was just reading an article in yesterday's Los Tiempos newspaper from Cochabamba, Bolivia, on the issue of indigenous immigrants in Skagit County and through the U.S. Today, that story's featured in our own Seattle Times.

Like others from Mexico and Central America, the indigenous have come to the U.S. looking for a better life. Many end up as farmworkers, right here in our own Skagit County.

Thing is, they're being told that they're "Latinos" and "Mexicans," - even those from Guatemala! Members of these indigenous are of an entirely different culture. Many don't even speak Spanish (instead, they speak their indigenous dialect) and don't come from a Latino culture. The U.S. Census groups them as Native Americans and Alaskan Natives.

For the story, click here.