El Semanario - Periodico para Hispanos en Denver y Colorado - Bilingual Latino newspaper:Economics

Latinos benefiting from Affordable Care Act

Obama for América released a report last week detailing how Latinos are already benefitting from the President's landmark health reforms and an online tool that helps Spanish speakers calculate the benefits they will receive under the Affordable Care Act. The report and health care calculator were

Grandparents relieve the foster care system

An accident landed seven of Rosie Cardenas� grandchildren on her doorstep -- and she hasn�t looked back since. Along with her husband, Jerry, Cardenas raised them when their daughter, a single mother, was seriously injured in a car accident. The Cardenases determined their daughter was unable to

Health coverage crucial to Latino grandparent caregiver

Researchers liken health coverage for grandparent caregivers to oxygen masks in an airplane. How can they look after the children when they�re not taking care of themselves? Yet, like so many grandparents, Maria Olvera, 51, neglected her health because she was caught between job obligations and

A closer look at the costs of E-Verify

This infographic explains the costs of E-Verify, the government�s Internet-based work authorization system. It highlights the system�s known costs, such as lost tax revenue and monetary burdens on small businesses, and estimates the costs of additional fiscal burdens�to individuals verified through

S-COMM: Wrong for nation, wrong for Colorado

Last week, the Denver Post published a story addressing the Secure Communities program in relation to the Denver Mayoral race. The data released regarding the program showed an alarming pattern of disproportionate impact, which has led the State of Illinois to rescind its memorandum of agreement.

Latinos who rely on Social Security feel threatened by cuts

Current proposals to change Social Security threaten to reduce the modest benefits that Latino senior citizens across the country rely on for nearly their entire livelihood. This was the message delivered recently at a town hall in Philadelphia that launched the Latinos and Social Security, �Tu

Call for investigation into questionable ICE practices

On April 22, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (CA-16) asked that federal immigration officials be investigated, claiming that they misled local officials about whether counties and states had the right to opt out of the Secure Communities program. According to the LA Times, a number of local jurisdictions have

Only way to fix immigration is through Congress

In a meeting in the State Dining Room on April 19th, President Obama and members of his Cabinet and senior staff met with a broad group of business, law enforcement, faith, and former and current elected leaders from across the political spectrum to hear their ideas and suggestions on how to tackle

The importance of unions for workers of color

Unions bolster opportunities for all workers in our country. They encourage political participation and offer access to the middle class, as a recent report from the Center for American Progress Action Fund explains. But unions and their benefits are especially important for communities of color,

UFW History: The Rise of the United Farm Workers

For more than a century, farmworkers had been denied a decent life in the fields and communities of California's agricultural valleys. Essential to the state's biggest industry, but only so long as they remained exploited and submissive farmworkers had tried but failed so many times to organize the

HUD Report: Low-income renters suffering

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recently released its biannual report to Congress on the housing needs of low income Americans. It shows an increased number of very low-income households have severe housing difficulties, particularly housing costs that far exceed what they can

Nationwide effort to silence working people

All eyes are trained on Wisconsin, but corporate-backed politicians are clearly gunning for working people in every state across the country. In a brazen new low, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder is on track to sign a new law under the guise of fiscal responsibility that will allow him to appoint

The high costs of immigration enforcement

A handful of communities across the country have attempted to and in many cases successfully enacted a series of immigration controls that stoke fear in Latino and immigrant communities. But a report from the Center for American Progress found that these communities spend millions of dollars

Dangerous Precedent

Tens of thousands of people have gathered in Madison, Wisconsin to denounce a bill that would reverse gains unions have achieved for workers over decades. The bill proposed by Governor Scott Walker seeks to address a 137 million budget shortfall by requiring state workers to increase their

Important role the Latino community

Denver�s former Mayor, Federico Peña, along with 14 other Latino leaders from across the nation, met with President Obama in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, to discuss a broad range of issues important to the Hispanic community and all Americans. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, Secretary of

Latin América divided over ties with China

�We do not want to be China�s next Africa,� Neil Dávila, head of ProMéxico, México�s federal agency to promote foreign commerce and investments, is quoted as saying in a diplomatic cable released by the whistleblower website Wikileaks. �We [Mexicans] need to be owners of our own

Devastating effect of repeal for Latinos

Rep. Xavier Becerra, Dr. Elena Ríos National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA), and a beneficiary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) held a press conference this week to discuss the adverse affects the Republican repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) would have on Latinos. Rather than focusing on

IRS Free File

IRS Free File opens today, Jan. 14, to start its ninth year of helping make taxes a little less taxing. Everyone can use Free File, the free way to prepare and e-file federal taxes either through brand-name software or online fillable forms. Individuals or families with 2010 adjusted gross incomes

A mixed year for Latinos across the US

Overall, 2010 was a tough year for Latinos. While it brought many hardships, there was also some hopeful news. The U.S. economy has stabilized over the last 12 months in the aftermath of the Great Recession. Nevertheless, millions of jobs lost over the past two years have not returned. This is

Confirmed!

After virtually a two-year process, attorney Bill Martinez was confirmed on Tuesday (Dec. 21) to the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. The vacancy Martínez will fill is one of two on the District Court for Colorado, both of which are rated as judicial emergencies by the

Construction: �What�s happening is unprecedented�

The day David Martínez found himself living in a car with his wife and infant daughter, storing the child�s milk in a small cooler with ice and asking local churches for food, he experienced a shame so deep that the remembrance of it still causes him to choke up. "The worst thing was seeing my

Sec. Solis seeks migrant worker partnerships

Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis recently met with Ambassadors from Central American and Caribbean countries to begin conversations about partnerships to keep workers safe and protect their rights under federal labor laws. She was joined by Mexican Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan, who described that

Call for Latinos to vote for respect on November 2nd

At a press conference last week, a coalition of national Latino organizations issued an urgent call to Latino voters�who are likely to be key factors in several highly contested elections across the nation�to participate in the upcoming midterm election. �We are urging Latino voters to take a

New poll highlights Latino voter influences

As Congress breaks and the 2010 campaigns heat up, political observers are wondering how the immigration debate in Washington, DC and across the country will impact the mid-term elections. Tracking polling by Latino Decisions is showing small but clear movement toward the Democrats, in the wake of

Eliseo Medina: New challenge

Recently, Eliseo Medina was unanimously elected as International Secretary-Treasurer of the 2.2 million-member Service Employees International Union. Medina is the first Latino to serve in the position. "Forty-five years ago tomorrow, I walked in to a church as a 19 year-old grape picker having no

Support for Military Homeowners

At an event last week at the Pentagon, Fannie Mae and the U.S. Army announced new initiatives to help service members who are struggling with their mortgage payments avoid foreclosure. The effort includes a mortgage payment forbearance of up to six months where the death or injury of a service

Latino heritage: A source of pride

Editor�s Note: U.S Department of Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis led a Presidential delegation to attend the Bicentennial of México last week. She along with guests, attended a number of cultural events and meet with México�s President Felipe Calderón. As part of her visit she recorded �diary� of

Where else can they survive?

Some days the only people she serves are wayward journalists and well meaning volunteers come down to south Louisiana after the nations worst oil spill. Some days not even the journalists or volunteers come. The locals have long since abandoned her restaurant. In the early afternoon Lois Salinas,

Katrina pain index: Five years later

It was five years since Katrina on August 29. The impact of Katrina is quite painful for regular people in the area. This article looks at what has happened since Katrina not from the perspective of the higher ups looking down from their offices but from the street level view of the people � a view

Secure Communities: �Governor has choice to make�

Last week, representatives of victims, law enforcement officers, human rights, and immigrant rights groups held a telephonic press briefing addressing their concerns with the implementation of the Secure Communities program in Colorado. Perhaps the most hard-hitting testimony came from Jasmine, a

Health care repeal will cost small business

Conservatives� efforts to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act would have dire consequences for small business owners and their employees. That�s because small businesses are big beneficiaries of health care reforms that will help make health coverage more affordable, thus

Why the broadband debate matters for you

So what�s the big deal with Google, anyway? Broadband and Internet regulation have been in the news a lot�and activists converged on the company�s headquarters recently to protest its recent proposal with Verizon. There are a lot of big, techy words in this debate and it can get hard to follow. So

Immigration lighting fire under Latino voters

A new summary of recent Latino voter polls highlights the way the immigration debate is influencing Latino political engagement in the run-up to the November mid-terms. The lack of action on comprehensive immigration could dampen enthusiasm among Latino voters at a crucial time. According to an

Resource to educate struggling homeowners

Fannie Mae recently announced the launch of KnowYourOptions.com, a new consumer education Web site that outlines the choices available to homeowners who are struggling with their mortgage payments, and provides guidance on how they can contact and work with their mortgage company to find solutions.

$79 million in grants for housing counseling

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced that $79 million is available for a broad range of housing counseling programs to help families find and preserve housing. The available funding is an increase of $21 million, or 27 percent, over last year. These grants will be awarded

Federal Reserve hears homeowners woes

After sitting through two hours of testimony at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, plumber Carlos Moreno can barely contain his anger. In January, he lost his home in Menlo Park to foreclosure, after his adjustable rate mortgage reset, and his monthly payments increased by more than $1,000

Green jobs put América on a path to stability, growth

The harsh realities of the BP oil disaster and ongoing unemployment from our national recession are driving an important conversation in Washington about our addiction to oil and the promise of a clean and green future. Simply put, this disaster must result in directing our nation toward policies

Immigration Reform:�Suing Arizona isn�t enough�

Jorge Ramos says that as long as Barack Obama fails to keep his promise to pass comprehensive immigration reform, Ramos will continue to remind him about it at every opportunity. Ramos�the journalist, author and host of Noticiero Univisión� said that Latinos are plagued by �disillusionment,

Work-share program assists workers, employers

"Would you share your hours with co-workers to avoid layoffs?" asked Rich Jones, director of policy and research at the Bell Policy Center. "Its a relevant question since Gov. Bill Ritter recently signed a work-share bill into law. Since the law is new there are a lot of questions about what it

Voters overwhelmingly favor humane solution

Leading public opinion researchers Drew Westen and Celinda Lake participated in telephonic press conference this week to analyze public opinion related to Arizona's controversial immigration law. With the Department of Justice announcing its lawsuit against the Arizona law, which followed a major

DOJ draws line on immigration authority

On Tuesday, the United States Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the state of Arizona in federal court. The lawsuit, prompted by passage of SB 1070 in the Arizona legislature, will argue that federal law trumps the state statute and enforcing immigration law is a federal responsibility.

Loan repayment program accepting applications

Primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, certified nurse midwives, licensed mental health professionals and oral health professionals may be eligible for significant educational loan debt forgiveness of up to $105,000. To participate in the Colorado Health Service Corps

Job opportunities for new grads

The Internal Revenue Service recently announced the availability of a new job search tool on YouTube dedicated to helping job seekers learn about employment opportunities at the IRS. �IRS is definitely a great place to make a professional career, whether you are a newly graduated from college or a

President Obama meets with Hispanic Caucus

President Obama met with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) on June 29th about the need to fix our nation�s broken immigration system. The President discussed his upcoming speech on comprehensive immigration reform with the members, and his desire to see a bipartisan process based on

Unfinished Business

The Great Recession’s reverberations will be felt in communities across America long after the unemployment numbers begin to subside. In addition to the havoc unemployment wreaks on individual families, long-term joblessness tears at the fabric of entire neighborhoods and communities. Children

Puerto Rico’s New Birth Certificate Law

The government of Puerto Rico has enacted a new law (Law 191 of 2009) aimed at strengthening the issuance and usage of birth certificates to combat fraud and protect the identity and credit of all people born in Puerto Rico. The new law was based on collaboration with the U.S. Department of State

Bennet website provides resources for homeowners

Michael Bennet, U.S. Senator for Colorado, has created an online resources page on his website for Colorado homeowners facing foreclosure. Help for Homeowners provides links to federal and state agencies that can provide assistance to individuals and families struggling with their mortgage payments.

Bennet website provides resources for homeowners

Immokalee tour highlights Labor Secretary visit

U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis visited Immokalee, Florida on May 17th, sent by President Obama to look first-hand into the human rights crisis in Florida's fields.

She made a point to visit the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) community center and was given a personal tour of the their

Civil rights, labor organizations boycott Arizona

Last week, leading civil rights and labor organizations gathered at the headquarters of National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, to call on people of conscience throughout the nation to join them in boycotting the

EEOC swears in first Latino General Counsel

David López, a 15-year agency veteran, was sworn in recently as General Counsel of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), in a ceremony at the agency’s Phoenix District Office. He becomes the first General Counsel to be appointed from the ranks of field attorneys, as well as the

Farmworker Freedom March targets Publix

A caravan of farmworkers from the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) – an internationally-recognized human rights organization based in Immokalee, FL – and hundreds of consumers from across the country will march for three days from Tampa to Lakeland on April 16-18 to demand that Publix join a

Relief efforts for México’s quake victims

A relief effort is being mounted to bring emergency aid to the Cucapa Indian nation, just ten miles from the epicenter of the 7.2 earthquake that devastated their homeland between Mexicali and San Felipe. March through May is the fishing season for these indigenous people, who rely on fishing to

Housing program offers additional options for homeowners

As part of its ongoing commitment to continuously improve housing relief efforts, the Administration recently announced adjustments to the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) and to the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) programs. These program adjustments will better assist responsible

Health reform’s lessons for immigration reform

Editor's Note: An estimated 200,000 people showed up at the National Mall on March 21st calling for immigration reform. But the march was overshadowed by the dramatic passage of health care reform. What are the lessons from health care reform for those pushing for a reform of the country’s

Jobless and foreclosed in communities of color

United for a Fair Economy recently announced that its annual report on racial economic inequality State of the Dream 2010: Drained - Jobless and Foreclosed in Communities of Color examines racial economic disparities in a range of areas including foreclosures, poverty, income and wealth.

Newly

Stimulus: Unclear funding for the job market Part 6 of 6

Infrastructure spending, namely in the sector of transportation, has received disproportionately large amounts of funding from the Recovery Act with the intent that this sector will spur vast job creation. According to recovery.gov, across the nation funding for transportation has surpassed $40

Stimulus: Balancing healthcare demand, funding Part 5 of 6

Along with the aforementioned issues created by the economic downturn, Colorado has been dealt difficult circumstances regarding healthcare across the state. According to the Colorado Community Health Network, over the past three years the state has seen a 45% increase in the caseload for Medicaid

A grandfather's love

As the sole care giver of three young grandchildren, Gilbert Roberts was faced with many obstacles, which he is gracefully overcoming with the help of ACCESS Housing. Alicia Aguilar, ACCESS case manager shared a brief conversation with Mr. Roberts.

Alicia Aguilar: What brought you to ACCESS

Stimulus: Inequitable assistance for housing crisis Part 4 of 6

One of the most crippling effects of the economic downturn has been foreclosures and a dwindling housing market. According to a foreclosure report from the Colorado Division of Housing for January through November, 2009, the state saw an increase in foreclosure filings (36,628) as compared to the

Stimulus money: Investing the education of our youth? Part 3 of 6

In recent years, students, parents and educators in Colorado have been faced with difficult situations: school closures, consistent tuition increases and overcrowded classrooms. These difficulties add strain on schools with dwindling resources and creates domino effects such as high drop-out rates

Grand jury targets illegal actions by sheriff

América’s self-proclaimed “toughest” sheriff Joe Arpaio is facing a grand jury investigation into allegations of abuse of power.

The Maricopa County sheriff has made national headlines because of his immigration sweeps on Latino neighborhoods and a pending investigation by the U.S.

Massive townhalls gaining momentum

On Wednesday, over a thousand Coloradans gathered for a Denver town hall asking Senator Michael Bennet for leadership on comprehensive immigration reform. The event was one of many being planned across the state this week, drawing faith leaders, state and local elected officials, farmers,

Immigration reform will ease economic decline

A new study by a leading academic researcher contends that legalizing undocumented workers through comprehensive immigration reform would yield $1.5 trillion to the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) over a 10-year period, generate billions of dollars in additional tax revenue, increase wages and

Stimulus money: Reaping the direct benefits Part 2 of 6

With all of the various parts that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 encumbers, a large portion of the money has been visible to the general public as a smaller portion has slipped under the radar for many Americans. Tax credits and provisions are examples of Recovery Act funds that

Latino labor leaders denounce wage violations

A comprehensive study surveyed workers to look at wage-law violations. The study provides the most thorough examination of wage-law violations in a decade. The report’s findings highlight that Latino workers have the highest rates of minimum and overtime wage-law violations of any racial/ethnic

Polis’ Visa reforms included in immigration bill

Colorado Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) announced that his initiatives to reform the EB-5 Visa program, making it easier for foreign entrepreneurs to invest in the U.S. and create jobs for American workers, have been included in the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for América's Security and

CIRC praises bill introduction, co-sponsors

On Tuesday, Representatives of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, The Congressional Asian and Pacific Americans Caucus, the Congressional Black Caucus, and Congressional Progressive Caucus joined Congressman Luis Gutiérrez, to introduce the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security

Job creation must reach Blacks, Latinos

While attendees at President Obama’s Jobs Summit last week discussed broad strategies to revive businesses, the latest unemployment data reinforce the need for targeted policies to create jobs in communities of color, according to National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Latino

Call to strengthen Latino homeownership

In a testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services, the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), on Wednesday called on Congress and the administration to strengthen the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to stabilize the housing market and bolster the nation’s

NAFTA: Who will pay for the crisis? Part 4 of 4

Interviews in the Mexican press with government officials reveal that the obliteration of the union was carefully planned for over six months. The Calderón government was just looking for the chance. Ironically, it was the profound economic crisis in México that provided the Calderón

NAFTA: Who will pay for the crisis? Part 2 of 4

President Barack Obama promised a renegotiation of NAFTA to incorporate the toothless labor side agreement into the text and integrate core International Labor Organization principles in defense of workers' rights. At the recent Summit of North American Leaders he said that the promise has been

México's union bust reveals flaws in NAFTA Part 1 of 4

Fernando López woke up on a Sunday morning out of a job. For the electrical worker, the feeling was terrifying.

"From one day to the next, they left us with no job—nothing," López said, as he marched alongside some 200,000 fellow workers and their supporters in downtown México City on

Denver ballot drop off locations

Denver voters will have the convenience of being able to drop-off their mail ballots for the November 3, 2009 election at a drive-through drop-off lane in front of the Denver Elections Division starting this week. Voter Service Centers -- Denver will have two full-service voter service centers

Voters to decide on Initiative 300

Over the course of the next few days Denver voters will decide the fate of all those who drive in the city of Denver, and possibly the future of all Colorado drivers, as they cast their vote on Initiative 300. Initiative 300, also known as the “impound initiative”, made its way on the Denver

Many unaware of stimulus opportunities

Americans’ opinions about the federal government’s $787 billion stimulus package and its impact on the mired economy vary sharply among racial and ethnic groups, according to a survey released earlier this month, with ethnic Americans more likely than whites to say it is a “good

América United Mural sends strong message

On Tuesday, as part of a series of similar events throughout the nation, Colorado residents gathered in front of the Aurora Municipal Building to call upon Congress to enact a just and humane immigration reform that keeps families together. The event drew local faith leaders, congressional staff,

Where do immigrants stand in healthcare?

Recently, the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) hosted a teleconference with key healthcare reform and immigrant advocates to discuss the policy proposals that are on the table in regard to health care and immigrants, and the potential consequences of these proposals if they are enacted.

As the

Latinos hopeful for change in flawed policies

Latino working families are standing at the edge of change, but at the same time we are confronting some of the biggest challenges in the nation: We now face the biggest housing crisis in American history, with foreclosures, repossessions and evictions at historic levels.

From 1992 to 2007, the