Even in “liberal” New York, it seems latinos have become fair game for racists and  those who in one way or another have bought into the dehumanizing of illegal immigrants.  And they are taking it out on the brown people!

In New York’s most “outer borough”….Staten Island…there have been a least 10 attacks since April on Mexican immigrants who were presumed to be illegals and were summarily set upon viciously. And who knows how many others who were punished for the “crime” of being Mexican, or Ecuadorian, or Guatemalan, or Honduran…or “looking like one”…never reported the attacks for fear of being deported?!

Of course, we know such attacks are taking place with increasing regularity in several areas of the country, pretty much in lockstep with the ugly rhetoric describing and directed at presumed-to-be illegal immigrants.

But,  again, we’re talking about “liberal” New York , a pioneer in passing so called “hate crimes” laws designed to stiffen penalties for assaults that are motivated by animosity toward a specific ethnicity, race, religion, or sexual orientation.

On INSIGHT NUEVA YORK two people who work diriectly with latino immigrants, both legal and illegal,  told us about the fear that is beginnig to take hold among them. GONZALO MERCADO of  El Centro del Inmigrantes on Staten Island and WALTER SINCHE, who heads the advocacy group Alianza Ecuatoriana and works mainly in Queens, both described the menacing cloud that many of these men feel hanging over their heads. Some are now reluctant to come to meetings at night for fear of being attacked. Others find it increasingly difficult to survive, what with the downturn in the economy and the sometimes open hostility they encounter.

In this climate, blind hate also gets directed at those who have “2 strikes” against them, such as JOSE SUCUZHANAY who was viciously beaten to death  with a baseball bat in 2008 as his assailants yelled racial and homosexual slurs at him.  And one of the 10 recent Staten Island attacks was on a latino gay couple .

On the same edition of INSIGHT NUEVA YORK, NYC Councilwoman ROSIE MENDEZ expressed her frustration that such a climate existed in the city despite its large latino population, liberal tradition, immigrant heritage and tough anti-bias laws. Even here, she said, much, much more education was needed to prevent a further spread of the hate virus.  Will even that be enough?

Quite recently “public housing”,…..which includes what we all know as “the projects”  PLUS directly subsidized housing for low income tenants in privately owned buildings…..has been “rescued” from significant threats in New York. A last minute reprieve from the federal government restored Section 8 vouchers for some 2,500 families who were about to lose them, and a creative but very controversial deal has all but saved the city’s Housing Authority from bankruptcy.

Combined, those two programs are the bottom line providers of affordable housing for low-income New Yorkers  (282,000 units) in a city where many feel “affordable” housing is a contradiction in terms. And conservatives in the Congress have been looking for some time now to get government–and in this case the federal government–out of the low income housing subsidy business. Their position is also that,  if there is to be any funding for low income housing, it should be in the form of Section 8 vouchers to individual families…ABSOLUTELY NOT in the form of support for “public housing” developments.

Actually, for years now there have been two types of low income “projects” in NYC. Those built by the federal government (the vast majority) and those built by the state and the city. The feds traditionally provided funds for  maintenance and operating deficits in the federally built buildings, and the city and state did for the ones they built. But the city and state some time ago st0pped supporting their own creations. And, as new NYC Housing Authority General Manager Michael Kelly explains, the Authority had been borrowing from Peter (the money for the federally supported projects) to pay Paul (the city and state projects.) Kelly says that in effect none of the “projects” were getting proper maintenance or badly needed capital improvements.

Enter a deal among the Housing Authority, the feds, the city and state and a newly created non-profit housing organization. The Authority “sells” those 21,000 units to the non-profit group, but retains ownership of them. That allows the feds to provide the subsidy to those developments.

But many in the public housing community fear this is all a prelude to the eventual “privatization” of that housing: the projects get fixed up and become condos! How likely is that? See and hear what Michael Kelly is telling the tenants of those buildings….on INSIGHT NUEVA YORK .

It is the marquee matchup of the Democratic primary in New York. A lion of the House, REP. CHARLIE RANGEL, being challenged by the scion of the most revered political figure in the electoral history of New York’s black community, ADAM CLAYTON POWELL IV.

There could be as many as half a dozen hopefuls looking to end Rangel’s  40-year (yes, 40 years!) run in the Congress. That’s because the challengers smell the blood pooling around an iconic figure wounded by  questions about his  allegedly ethical lapses–which have already cost him his chairmanship of  the most powerful committee in the House.  But none of  those opponents has a name that matches three-fourths of the name on one of  Harlem’s premier streets, namely ADAM CLAYTON POWELL JR. BOULEVARD.  And since IV also already has 16 years under his belt representing parts of the 15th Congressional District,  he is widely seen as the favorite among the challengers for the seat.

The “dynasty feud” angle stems from the fact that POWELL JR. was retired from Congress after 26 years by one CHARLIE RANGEL. And now it’s POWELL IV looking to return the favor! IV denies that there is any lust for revenge in his run against RANGEL, whose political legacy he acknowledges. He says it’s just time to “turn the page” on a still powerful RANGEL.

Interestingly, POWELL IV’s strategy takes advantage of something that is not widely known about both himself and RANGEL . RANGEL is half  Puerto Rican(father’s side), and while it’s not something he hides, it’s also not something he exaclty proclaims either. He’s always identified and been a key mover in Harlem’s black political structure. POWELL IV is also half Puerto Rican (his mother’s side). He was born and raised in Puerto Rico, is fully fluent in Spanish, and claims both his African -American and latino heritages.

How is it relevant in this epic battle? The 15th had traditionally been seen as a “black  seat” and its occupant often referred to as “the Harlem Congressman.” But today, the district’s largest group is latinos, numbering some 46% of the area, substantially more than the black population.  And the district extends well  beyond central Harlem. Is the 15th about to become a “latino seat?”

You can watch my interview with ADAM CLAYTON POWELL IV on INSIGHT NUEVA YORK on HITN. Or catch it at hitn.org

Let’s face it. New York City’s 15th Congressional district was conceived and has been universally considered a “black” seat since it was created. It’s political center of gravity was…repeat “was”…Harlem. And it’s only two incumbents have been ADAM CLAYTON POWELL JR., the original godfather of black electoral power in the city,  and CHARLIE RANGEL, who replaced him. Now, there’s a real possibilty that RANGEL could be unseated, a development that reflects both his ethical problems AND the changing demographics of that “Harlem seat.”

Today the district still includes Harlem, but it extends far beyond that community. And today the largest definable group in the district is latinos, who make up 46% or more of its population, while “non-hispanic” blacks account for some 37%. As well, there is a steadily growing inflow of upper income whites–and blacks–as Harlem is experiences gentrification and an economic renaissance. But…should the 15th now be considered a “latino” seat?

Into this demographic-poltical-economic equation have stepped in five challengers eager to finish off the wounded lion that RANGEL is these days,  4 Democrats and 1 Republican. INSIGHT NUEVA YORK islooking to interview all of them, of course including RANGEL. The most recent is VINCENT MORGAN, a “community banker” originally from Chicago. Check out his take on this historic Congressional district and why he thinks he’ got a shot to unseat what still remains a pretty powerful incumbent–available on our website. Let us know what you think about him, and about the larger political situation in that district.

During a Times Square ministry he’s worked with the homeless, at-risk youth and people infected with HIV-Aids, and played football with the big boys of the NFL. But Rev. Michael Faulkner’s current challenge is not any easier…by a long shot. Faulkner, who is black and a Republican is running for Congress in a historic district that is  heavily, I mean HEAVILY Democratic. Furthermore,  it’s  one that has been held for over 60 years by larger than life liberals, who also happened to be iconic figures in the African-American community: Rev. Adam Clayton Powell  Jr., and currently by Charlie Rangel.

But becuase of the ehtical cloud hanging over Rangel’s head since last year, a half-dozen challengers have jumped at the chance to replace him. All but Faulkner are Democrats. And most are at least partly African American. That Congressional district is popularly known as the “Harlem” seat, and many have for years consdiered it a “black seat.” In reality it now covers large areas beyond that community. And, in fact, these days there are about twice as many latinos than blacks in it. But so far, only one candidate directly claims a latino heritage. That’s Adam Clayton Powell IV. Yes, a son of the late Congressman, born to a Puerto Rican mother and raised on that island. Interestingly, Rep. Rangel also is part Puerto Rican, but he identifies much more decisively with his African American ancestry.

Into the mix enters the Rev. Faulkner. While a conservative leaning figure on things like the size of government,  the importance of private industry(especially small business), and tax rates, he favors immigration reform that gives a clear path to legalization and opposes the stop-and-frisk policies of NYC’s Bloomberg administration, which inmpact so directly on black and latino youth.

How much of a chance does he give himself in this election contest? He claims it’s a lot better than most people are willing to believe.  Listen to his take on things and tell us what you think.

There’s a new caucus in NY’s City Hall. One in which the “young blood” latino/as are playing a key role. It’s called the “progressive caucus” and it just might form the platform from which one or more latinos develop and project a citywide persona…..and, in turn, a real shot at citywide office in the next few years. One of those “possibles” is second-termer MELISSA MARK VIVERITO, who represents a district that includes “El Barrio” (East Harlem) and parts of the south Bronx, and who is the politico highlighted on this week’s INSIGHT NUEVA YORK. Viverito is co-chair of the new caucus.

Traditionally, latinos in the Council and the state Legislature have coalesced around race and ethnicity–specifically a latino/hispanic caucus, or a Black and Puerto Rican (or Latino) caucus. In either case, they are/were groupings that did not specify a particular political stance or ideology, or give focus to specific issue concerns. And, even more, they were self-limiting and did not connect symbolically or politically to other populations in the city with similar concerns.

The “progressive caucus” in the NYC Council is open to all shades of the rainbow who share “progressive” (read liberal) values. Take it one step further and, who knows, you may actually have an “affordabble housing” caucus someday that would bend ideological identity even further in favor of the one issue that ALL New Yorkers–except the wealthy–care about deeply.

So far, the Council’s new caucus is standing up to Mayor Bloomberg, demanding that the solution to the city’s gaping budget hole must include increasing taxes on those who make more than a half-million dollars a year, and not just cuts to social and educational programs.  Bloomberg opposes any such hit on the wallets of Wall Street and the rich. Says Viverito: ” We should be asking every body to provide their fair share. We really should be asking everybody to contribute to helping us through this crisis and not anyone sector should be immune to that or should be protected.”

Hear for yourself how Councilwoman Viverito sees the political landscape and the issues facing her district by clicking in to INSIGHT NUEVA YORK on this HITN website. Or you can watch the hour-long show when it is rebroadcast on Sunday morning, June 20, which will include the comments of guest analysts Professor Rodolfo de la Garza of Columbia University and Maegan Ortiz, managing editor of the sharp blog VIVIRLATINO.COM.  Either way, let us know what you think of their comments,  the vision of Councilwoman Viverito, and the prospects of a new caucus to push an issue agenda that helps latinos…and others.

Take this INSIGHT NUEVA YORK quiz. What do the following numbers add up to: $200,oo0/year, hundreds of thousands, ratios of 20 to 1 and 450 to 1, “million dollar blocks”,  44% , and 50th? The short and alarming answer is a very troubled present and future outlook for young latinos in New York.

Those figures represent

1. the average cost of incarcerating a young person

2.the numbers of latinos being stopped and frisked by the NYPD, and of which only about 6% are arrested or issued a violation

3. the ratio of staff to incarcerated young people in some upstate juvenile facilities which remain open as a form of economic development for those communities

4. the ratio of  students per counselors in some NYC high schools

5. the estimated cost per year of “jail migration” per some city blocks, meaning the pattern of arrest, out migration to jails and in migration back to the block, arrest, out migration to jails, back to the block….

6. the percentage of latinos between 16 and 24 who do not have a high school diploma, a rate higher than either blacks or whites,

7 and the dead last ranking of NY State among ALL STATES in percentage of people passing  General Euivalency Diploma exams!

Thanks to the Community Service Society and its General Counsel, Juan Cartagena and to Vanessa Ramos and Elba Montalvo of the Committee for Hispanic Children and Families for much of this data–and for seeing them as an integrated picture of the issues facing latino youth.  Think about what they say. And let us know how you see that picture and what needs to be done to change it!

John Liu..the first Asian-American elected to citywide office in the Big Apple…is sinking his teeth into some very controversial fruit. On INSIGHT NUEVA YORK he seemed to take new steps forward to challenge Mayor Bloomberg’s and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly’s highly controversialstop-and-frisk policies which round up hundreds of thousands of minority youths and adults in what critics call an ongoing violation of their rights. “It’s wrong” Liu said flatly. And when asked what he would do about it if he had the power  right now–as in, if he were mayor, which job it’s widely believed he will seek in 3 years–Liu said he would stop stop-and-frisk in its tracks.

And that wasn’t the only controversial and bold statement from the former city councilman. He also walked out on a very radical limb when he was pressed about what he believed had to be done with America’s illegal immigration problem. Watch for yourself on our webiste. And tell us what you think about his position on that tough problem…..and his thoughts about the agency New Yorkers love-to-hate (guess which one that is), and the huge budget cuts being proposed to solve the city’s gaping budget deficit

Did you know that immigrants who work in NY State…whether here legally or illegally…are entiteld to protections by certain labor laws?? On HITN’s INSIGHT NUEVA YORK we learned that one of the main abuses of new immigrants…especially those without legal status…is “wage theft.” That’s when employers either simply do not pay such workers, pay them less than the minimum wage, or fail to pay them overtime for hours that qualify. Enter the NYS Department of Labor’s BUREAU OF IMMIGRANT WORKER’S RIGHTS, whose job it is to prevent those abuses AND get back pay for workers who have been cheated.

That Bureau is headed by MARITERE ARCE,  who also announced on our show that seven (7) One-Stop offices have just been opened in various NY cities, inluding two in NYC, which will provide employment services  and job training for new immigrants and job seekers who don’t know very much English. You can find out more about them by going to www.labor.ny.gov

Two other people involved in helping immigrant workers in NY are VALERIA TREVES and GONZALO MERCADO. Valereria works for an organization called NICE in Jackson heights, Queens and Gonnzalo for El Centro de Inmigrantes on Staten Island. They offer various services without asking about a worker’s immigration status.  And FYI, they tell INSIGHT NUEVA YORK that those are services they could be arrested for providing under ARIZONA’S new laws!

What do you think? What abuses of immigrant workers do you know about? How much assistance should undocumented workers receive compared to citizens or legal residents?

It’s not like NY State Senator PEDRO ESPADA JR. hasn’t escaped allegations of corruption or shady dealings before. But what are his prospects of walking away unscathed this time, when he’s already been hit with numerous allegations of turning the health center he heads into a political club and slush funds–on the taxpayer’s dime (times millions) and at the cost of  services lost to needy constituents?

ESPADA was scheduled to face a lot tough and troubling questions on INSIGHT NUEVA YORK  about the laundry list of allegations against him, but  backed out at the last minute citing a scheduling conflict. So far, he’s only addressed the charges by accusing  NY Attorney General (and likely next Governor) l ANDREW CUOMO of a political witch hunt on the installment plan.

But as we examined the charges in detail, political observer and host of The Perez Notes, ROBERTO PEREZ, summed up his conclusion about Espada this way: “He’s in trouble!” Yet, PEREZ, along with former Detective and now lawyer EDGAR DE LEON, also saw the hand of politics in CUOMO’S civil suits against Espada  that accuse him of everything from ordering $20,000 in sushi with the health center’s funds to having his family-and-crony filled board voting him a $9 Million severance/retirement package.

How much trouble is ESPADA really facing? Attorney DE LEON believes the civil suits are the least of ESPADA’S problems. DE LEON believes a joint FBI and Internal Revenue Service investigation will likely lead to ESPADA’S indictment on federal fraud charges, which will supersede the civil suit.

Our three guests–which included JASON SMITH, Editor-in-Chief of IMPACTO Latin News–agreed that the biggest victims in this saga could wind up being not ESPADA, but the  clients of the health center in question, and the future of  Latino politics in New York.  Don’t forget that just a year ago ESPADA was being hailed by some Latinos for apparently taking on the leadership of the legislature and even shutting down that body in what he and his colleague, HIRAM MONSERRATE, termed a struggle for Latino empowerment.

That coup now looks much more like a device to enhance the individual fortunes of  PEDRO ESPADA JR. and others on the coup “team.”  MONSERRATE has since been kicked out of the legislature following a conviction in a domestic violence case. And now ESPADA, who got the  majority leader post out of the deal, is being charged with simply being another pillo politician! But,  of course, he has yet to get his “day” in court.

What do you think about ESPADA? Who or what will be hurt the most if he winds up being convicted?  Let us hear from you!