PUEBLO Update 2-5-10/Noticias de PUEBLO 5 de Febrero, 2010

Si Se Puede!



PUEBLO Update February 5th, 2010- - - Noticias de PUEBLO 5 de Febrero, 2010



1) A Reflection on Immigration and Immigrants in Our Community/Reflexion sobre inmigracion e inmigrantes en nuestra comunidad.

2) First California Citizens Redistricting Commission/ La Primera Comision de Ciudadanos Para Marcar los Limites de los Distritos

3) Mobile Home Owners Meeting in Santa Barbara

4) Rental Housing Roundtable/ La Mesa Redonda para Inquilinos

5) North County Update/ Noticias del Condado del Norte

6) Santa Barbra Immigration Commitee/ Comite de Migracion de Santa Barbara

7) Why and How to Get Involved in Local Boards and Commissions

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1) A Reflection on Immigration and Immigrants in Our Community

On January 22, FAIR (Federation for American Immigration Reform), an extremist anti-immigrant group, came to town to make a presentation to the Republican Party of Santa Barbara at the Yacht Club. The Republican Women of Santa Barbara organized the event. FAIR has long standing ties to white nationalism and they been designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

The meeting focused on three main issues: 1) The necessity for the Republican community of Santa Barbara to pressure elected officials to support anti-immigrant legislation and oppose any form of CIR (Comprehensive Immigration Reform) legislation; 2) Pressure local and state officials to push anti-immigrant policies at the local and state level; 3) Create new strategies for the Republican community to expand and energize their base.

Ira Mehlman, the Media Director of FAIR, was the facilitator.

PUEBLO's commitment to make this County friendlier to the immigrant community is more crucial than ever. With over 400 people attending the vigil in support of immigration reform on January 18 and thousands of letters sent to President Obama and Congresswoman Lois Capps, PUEBLO believes that the larger community of Santa Barbara County wants to make this county a better place for ALL.

As a community we cannot afford to ignore the contributions of thousands of undocumented workers that live and work in this county. PUEBLO hopes that local elected officials and community leaders will stand up for immigrants rights in the coming months as the Reform Immigration for America Campaign unfolds new strategies to push Congress to pass immigration reform in 2010. We will keep you updated on the activities PUEBLO Action Fund will be organizing in support of immigration reform, but we also need your presence at these events and your words to give a clear message to the anti-immigrant folks that we are NOT going to make Santa Barbara a hate zone for immigrants.

Local law enforcement agencies are adopting policies and programs that are harmful and discriminatory toward the larger immigrant Community and are not the real solution to the immigration problem of this community. Santa Barbara County is now one of 6 counties in CA that is participating in the federal program Secure Communities. This is a program that deports undocumented people who committed felonies. Despite targeting felons this program negatively affects entire communities; studies show that implementing this type of program at the local level increases racial profiling and discourages undocumented people from reporting crimes for fear of being deported (February 2009-University of North Carolina School of Law).

The Santa Barbara and Santa Maria Police Departments continue impounding thousands of cars annually from undocumented workers, not for traffic violations or drunk-driving, but solely for not having a valid driver's license. PUEBLO believes these programs further stigmatize and alienate the entire immigrant community of Santa Barbara County. PUEBLO agrees with Lieutenant McCaffrey of the SB Police Department and Sheriff Brown that a comprehensive immigration reform is needed soon (El Mexicano, 1.20.2010) because the current immigration situation is unsustainable. PUEBLO will continue working with the County and Cities to make them stand behind a comprehensive immigration reform and to ensure that our local law enforcement agencies focus their resources and time on making sure that our communities are safe from real criminals.

Here is a link to a summary of what FAIR is http://www.newcomm.org/pdf/CNC-FAIR

I look forward to working with all of you to protect and celebrate the diversity of our community.

In Solidarity,

Belen Seara, Executive Director

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1. Reflexion sobre inmigracion e inmigrantes en nuestra comunidad.

El 22 de enero pasado, FAIR (Federacion por una Reforma Migratoria Americana), un grupo estremista anti-inmigrante, hicieron una presentacion al Partido Republicano de Santa Barbara en el Club the Yates. Las Mujeres Republicanas de Santa Barbara organizaron el evento. FAIR tiene lazos muy fuertes con el movimientos nacionalista de la raza blanca y han sido designados un grupo de odio "hate group" por el Southern Poverty Law Center.

La reunion se enfoco en tres asuntos principales: 1) La necesidad de la comunidad republicana de Santa Barbara en poner presion a los politicos para que apoyen legislaciones anti-inmigrantes y se opongan a una reforma comprensiva de inmigracion. 2) Poner presion a los politicos locales y estatales para que apoyen medidas anti-inmigrantes a nivel local y estatal; 3) Crear nuevas estrategias para que la comunidad repblicana puefa energizar y expandir su base. Ira Mehlman, el director de comunicacion de FAIR fue el facilitador.

El compromiso de PUEBLO en hacer de esta comunidad un lugar mas amigable para la comunidad inmigrante es mas crucial que nunca. Con mas de 400 personas en la vigilia en apoyo a la reforma migratoria el 18 de enero y mas de 1,000 cartas enviadas al Presidente Obama y la Congresista Lois Capps, PUEBLO esta demonstrando que la comunidad de Santa Barbara quiere hacer de este condado un mejor lugar para TODOS.

Como comunidad no podemos ignroar las contribuciones de miles de trabajadores indocumentados que trabajan y viven en este condado. PUEBLO espera que los politicos locales y lideres de nuestra comunidad pelearan por los derechos de los inmigrantes en los meses que vienen mientras la Campana Reforma Migratoria Pro-America avanza en poner presion al Congreso para que se pase una reforma en el 2010. Los mantendremos informados sobre los eventos que PUEBLO Action Fund estara organizando para apoyar esta reforma, pero tambien necesitamos de tu presencia y sus palabras de apoyo para darles un mensaje claro a los anti-inmigrantes que nosotros NO vamos a permitis que Santa Barbara se convierta en una zona de odio para los inmigrantes.

Programas anti-inmigrantes han infiltrado nuestras instituciones locales. El Condado de Santa Barbara es uno de 6 condados en toda California que adopto el programa Comunidades Seguras. Este es un programa que deporta a gente indocumentada que cometieron delito. Varios estudios demuestran que este tipo de programas a nivel local aumentan la discriminacion racial por parte de las autoridades y desmotivan a la gente indocumentada a reportar crimenes por miedo de ser deportados (Febrero 2009-University of North Carolina School of Law).

Los Departamentos de Policia de Santa Maria y Santa Barbara tambien continuan reteniendo miles de carros anualmente por el solo hecho de no tener una licencia de conducir valida. PUEBLO cree que estos programas estigmatiza y ajenan aun mas a la comunidad inmigrante del condado. PUEBLO esta totalmente de acuerdo con el Teniente McCaffrey del Departamento de Policia de Santa Barbara y el Sherife Brown con respecto a la necesidad de pasar una reforma migratoria pronto (El Mexicano 20.1.2010) porque la situacion actual no es sustentable. PUEBLO continuara trabajando con el Condado y las Ciudades para que estas apoyen la reforma y aseguren que nuestras agencias de autoridad policial enfoquen sus recursos y tiempo es asegurarse que nuestras comunidades esten libres de criminales reales.

Para mas informacion sobre FAIR haga click: http://www.newcomm.org/pdf/CNC-FAIR

Espero continuar el trabajo con todos Uds. Para proteger y celebrar la diversidad de nuestra comunidad.

Solidaridad,

Belen Seara, Executive Director.



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2. First California Citizens Redistricting Commission

In 2010, a 14 member statewide commission will be selected to redraw the Statewide Assembly, Senate and Board of Equalization districts in 2011. Eligible CA registered voters have until February 12, 2010 to begin the application process. At this time, very few women and people of color have applied. In order to have a diverse commission, women and people of color are encouraged to apply.

50% of the central coast region are people of color, yet only 6% (46 of the 753 Applicants) of the central coast applicants are people of color.

Total female representation in our region is comparable with the state average, yet:

� No Female Latina Applicants in 3 Counties (San Benito, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara)

� No Female Black Applicants in 3 Counties (Monterey, San Benito, and San Luis Obispo)

Less than 10 days left to apply for the first Citizens Redistricting Taskforce. The deadline is Friday, February 12.

If you missed yesterday's Redistricting Commission Workshop, you can participate in one of several Redistricting Webinars presented by the Nat'l Assoc. of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO). These Redistricting Webinars are open to the public.

For more information contact Maricela Morales at Maricela@coastalalliance.com or 805-658-0810 x 203

To apply for the new CA Citizens Redistricting Commission: www.WeDrawTheLines.ca.gov

For redistricting fact sheets: www.commoncause.org/redistrictingCA

2. La Primera Comision de Ciudadanos Para Marcar los Limites de los Distritos.

En el 2010, una comision estatal de 14 miembros sera seleccionada para remarcar los distritos de la Asamblea y el Senado estatal y la Mesa Directiva de Impuestos en el 2011. Los votantes registrados en California tienen tiempo hasta el 12 de febrero del 2010 para aplicar. Hasta ahora, muy pocas mujeres de color se han postulado. Para poder tener una comision diversa, mujeres y gente de color deben de postularse.

50% de la region de la costa central son gente de color, pero solamente 6% (46 de 753 aplicantes) son gente de color de la costa central.

Representation total femenina en nuestra region es comparable con el promedio estatal, sin embargo:

No hay ninguna postulante Latina en 3 condados (San Benito, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara)

No hay ninguna postulante afro-americana en 3 condados (Monterey, San Benito, and San Luis Obispo)

Quedan menos de 10 dias para postularse. Manda tu aplicacion antes del viernes 12 de febero.

Para mas informacion cotacta a Maricela Morales at Maricela@coastalalliance.com or 805-658-0810 x 203

Para postularte para la comision: www.WeDrawTheLines.ca.gov Para informacion sobre la remarcacion de distritos: www.commoncause.org/redistrictingCA

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3) Mobile Home Owners Meeting in Santa Barbara

Mobile Home Owners are meeting Tuesday February 16 at 7 p.m. Email Sharon Rose for location info at laguna_sharona@yahoo.com.

Jim Richards will facilitate this meeting, Sharon Rose and Ken Tatro will report on Mobile Home statewide issues and discuss the video Jeff (a MH owner) is making of the story of Mobile Home Owners.

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4) Rental Housing Roundtable



The Rental Housing Roundtable (RHR) has been working toward social justice in our community to address the lack of legal protections for Santa Barbara renters. With over 25 endorsements from community organizations and concerned individuals, the RHR has been working to make current legislation, specifically Ordinance 4444, better in providing sufficient legal protections for tenants.

The proposed changes include: adding protections for tenants who are displaced because of condo conversions, rezoning of land and renovations; creating a county tracking system to document evictions; increasing relocation payments; and creating a system to enforce the Ordinance. The Rental Housing Roundtable hopes to see the amendments go before the board of Supervisors in March.

Some upcoming events include:

*Tenants Rights Workshop - February 12 at 6pm at the Isla Vista Teen Center
*Public Speaking Workshop - February 22 from 5-8pm (location TBA)
If you have any questions or would like to get involved with the Rental Housing Roundtable please email sbrentalhousing@gmail.com .

4) La Mesa Redonda para Inquilinos



La Mesa Redonda de Inquilinos ha seguido trabajando hacia la justicia social en nuestra comunidad, para eliminar la carencia de protecciones legales de los inquilinos de Santa Barbara. La Mesa tiene mas de 25 respaldaciones de organizaciones comunitarias e individuales. Ha estado trabajando para hacer que la legislacion actual, en especifico la Ordenanza 4444, se mejore en proveer protecciones legales suficientes para los inquilinos.

Los cambios propuestos incluyen: agregar protecciones para los inquilinos desalojados por conversiones de condominios, dividar la ciudad en zonas de nuevo y renovaciones, crear un sistema de archivar los desalojos del condado, aumentar los pagos por a los inquilinos cuando se tienen que mudar de sus casas por un desalojo y crear un sistema de enforzar la Ordenanza. La Mesa Redonda de Inquilinos espera que las enmiendas seran presentadas a la mesa de los supervisores en marzo.

Los siguientes eventos son:
*Taller sobre los Derechos de los Inquilinos
12 de Febrero a las 6pm en El Centro para los Jovenes de Isla Vista (IV Teen Center)
*Taller sobre Orar (?) en Publico
22 de Febrero, 5pm-8pm, La ubicacion sera decidida

Si tiene alguna pregunta o le gustaria involucrarse con la Mesa Redonda de Inquilinos, por favor mande un correo electronico a: sbrentalhousing@gmail.com

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5) North County Update

The Santa Maria Youth Committee is enthusiastically celebrating the success of their Libros sin Fronteras Scholarship. The committee just gave out 6 scholarships to low-income students on their way to a 4-year university.

Also the committee is making progress in their work on the Reform Immigration for America campaign as they collect petitions in support, plan house meetings and mobilize community members. Also the Housing Committee is mobilizing renters to speak to our County Board of Supervisors as part of our Justice for Renters Campaign.

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5) Noticias del Condado del Norte

El Comite de Jovenes de Santa Maria esta celebrando su exito con su beca Libros sin Fronteras. El comite ya distribuyo 6 becas a estudiantes de bajos recursos economicos que quieren ir a la universidad. Tambien el comite esta trabajando en la Reforma Migratoria. Los miembros han estado colectando peticiones en apoyo de la reforma, planeando visitas caseras, y mobilizando miembros de la comunidad.

El Comite de Viviendas esta mobilizando inquilinos para presentar sus casos a la Mesa de Supervisores del Condado como parte de nuestra campana de Justicia para Inquilinos.

6) Santa Barbara Immigration Committee

Despite Monday January 18th's heavy rain, hundreds of people gathered at the vigil organized by PUEBLO Action Fund to urge Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform this year. The community was also celebrating that Congresswoman Lois Capps is co-sponsoring the Luis Gutierrez's Bill "Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act" (C.I.R. A.S.A.P) . "To be standing there with hundreds of other community members, students and faith leaders made me really proud to be part of PUEBLO Action Fund and the Immigration Committe." Said Ana G. Cid new member of the Immigration Committee and UCSB student. The Santa Barbara event was in conjunction with 50 other California Actions and hundreds of other actions that happened across the country with the national campaign Reform Immigration for America. If you want to be part of the planning committee for our next big event in support of Comprehensive Immigration Reform come to our meeting next Thursday February 11th at 6:30 p.m. at the PUEBLO office.

To look at pictures from the event please go to our facebook page and if you are not a fan become a fan of PUEBLO. Also, check out Ricardo Rodriguez blogspot.

www.facebook.com/pages/PUEBLO/148705234275

ricardorodriguezphotography.blogspot.com/ -------

6) Comite deMigracion de Santa Barbara

Aunque hubo una muy fuerte lluvia el Lunes 18 de Enero, cientos de personas se reunieron en la vigilia organizada por PUEBLO Action Fund para emfatizarle al Congreso y al Senado que pasen una reforma migratoria comprensiva este ano. La comunidad tambien estaba celebrando que la Congresista Lois Capps esta apoyando la propuesta de ley por el Congresista Luis Gutierrez "Reforma Migratoria Comprensiva por la Seguridad y Prosperidad de America" (C.I.R. A.S.A.P.). "El ser parte del evento y estar parada junto a cientos de personas de la comunidad, estudiantes y lideres de las iglesias me hizo sentir muy orgullosa de ser parte de PUEBLO Action Fun y el Comite de Migracion" dijo Ana G. Cid nueva miembra del comite de migracion y estudiante de la UCSB. El evento de Santa Barbara fue parte de 50 otras acciones que sucedieron en California y cientos de acciones que sucedieron en todo el pais como parte de la campana Reforma Migratoria Pro-America. Si quieres participar en el comite de planeacion de nuestro proximo evento en apoyo a una Reforma Migratoria asiste a nuestra siguiente junta el Jueves 11 de Febrero a las 6:30p.m. en la oficina de PUEBLO.

Para ver fotos del event vallan a nuestra pagina de facebook y si no eres fan de PUEBLO convierte en un fan. Tambien chequen la pagina de internet de Ricardo Rodriguez.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/PUEBLO/148705234275

http://ricardorodriguezphotography.blogspot.com/

7) Why and How to Get Involved in Local Boards and Commissions:

Thursday February 11th
6:30pm-7:30pm
40 E. Anapamu St.

The Santa Barbara Women's Political Committee, PUEBLO Action Fund, CAUSE and ESPERANZA are organizing a series of workshops with the goals of building leadership in our community and diversifying the pool of candidates in local elections.

Come to the 3rd in series of workshops about Taking Activism to the Next Level: From Activism to Political Participation

At this workshop we will have a panel of speakers who will speak to their experiences of being on boards and commissions, and let you know why YOU should step up and take your activism to the next level by doing the same!

On the panel we will have:

Margaret Connell, Goleta City Council, formerly on the SB School Board

Janet Wolf, County Supervisor, formerly on the Goleta School Board

Debbie Aceves, member, County Human Services Commission; member County Historic Landmarks Commission

They will talk about the value of being on these boards and commissions, share their own experiences on the boards, and from the elected officials perspective, offer advice about how to prepare for selection.

Please join us! Great information and free food!