California State University, San Bernardino CSUSB ScholarWorks Inland Empire Hispanic News Special Collections & University Archives 2-25-2004 February 25th 2004 Hispanic News Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/hispanicnews Recommended Citation Hispanic News, "February 25th 2004" (2004). Inland Empire Hispanic News. 420. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/hispanicnews/420 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Special Collections & University Archives at CSUSB ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Inland Empire Hispanic News by an authorized administrator of CSUSB ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A Publication of the Hispanic Communication & Development Corporation Wednesday, February 25, 2004 Volume 17 Number 13 0m Hispanic N The Inland Empire's only Hispanic-owned English la ewspaper San Bernardino ♦ Riverside ♦ Colton ♦ Rialto ♦ Fontana ♦ ley Ontario ♦ Corona ♦ Bloomington ♦ Rancho Cucamonga ♦ Hie jiands SAN BERNARINO COUNTY PRESENTED INLAND EMPIRE HISPANIC NEWS THE ACHIEVEMENT OF EXCELLENCE IN EMDORSEMENTS PROCUREMENT AWARD FOR 2003 President John Kerry U. S. Senator Barbara Boxer 43'^« Congressional District Joe Baca 61®* Assembly District Gloria Negrete McLeod 62"'* Assembly District David Roa Pruitt Assembly District Sylvia Robles Judge- Superior Court-21 Dennis Kottmeier 5*’’ District Supervisor Martin Valdez Proposition 55 Yes Proposition 56 Yes Proposition 57 No Proposition 58 No san BWBBTweasfo^ 62"“ Cnty Central Comm. Mark Alvarez 62"“ Cnty Central Comm. Lynda Gonzalez 62"“ Cnty Central Comm. Juan Lopez 62"“ Cnty Central Comm. Gil Navarro 62"“ Cnty Central Comm. Joseph Navarro 62"“ Cnty Central Comm. Lillie M. Houston Mr. Rix Skonberg, Chapter Chair achievement of organizational ex­ 63'“ Cnty Central Comm. Mark R. Shepherd for the Inland Empire Purchasing cellence in public procurement. For 63'“ Cnty Central Comm. Nancy Ruth White Group presented the Achievement the third year in a row. The Purchas­ 63'“ Cnty Central Comm. Timothy Prince of Excellence in Procurement ing Department has been selected Award for 2003 to the County of 63'“ Cnty Central Comm. to receive this award jointly pre­ Carol Robb San Bernardino Board of Supervi­ sented by the National purchasing 63'“ Cnty Central Comm. Viola DeLeon Munoz sors and Purchasing Department Institute, Inc; the California Asso­ 63'“ Cnty Central Comm. Jesus E. Munoz, Sr. during the February 10,2004 Board ciation of Public Purchasing Offic­ meeting. Purchasing Director ers (CAPPO); Florida Association Aurelio W. De La Torre thanked the . of Purchasing Officers; and the In­ HISPANICS MUST VOTE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE Board of Supervisors and County stitute for Supply Management, Inc. Administrative Office staff for pro­ (ISM). This award is based upon an The primary' election on March 2"‘* voters is expected to swell from six will be critically observed by local, million to 10 million. This is power viding the support and environment extensive rating system and is pre­ state and national political leaders to by sheer numbers, power by cultural to the Purchasing Department to sented only to those organizations determine what impact Hispanic vot­ influence, and the most important cri­ constantly improve internal and that demonstrate excellence in pro­ ers, their numbers and voting patterns teria, power by political clout. Can­ ■external procurement systems to curement practices. had in the aftermath of election. didates see this power and act accord­ provide the best services to its cus­ The County Purchasing Depart­ The more than 35 million His- ingly. tomers and the public. ment received high marks for its p’anic population representing 13 % The question is, do we, as Hispanic In 1995, the National Purchas­ continuous improvement program, of the national population, and in­ ! oters, see the mighty power of the ing Institute (NP) established a pro­ automation, utilization of electronic creasingly growing, is a prize#! the \ote that affects politicians, legisla­ gram designed to recognize the commerce, professional certifica­ political competition at every elec­ tion, policies and economic and edu­ tion, and environmental purchasing toral level. cation empowerment that can address MAKE A DIFFERENCE policy. A total of 100 awards were Recent census figures reflect His- solutions to meet our direct needs? given nationally in 2003,31 of those panics, mostly Mexican immigrants, If we, as Hispanic voters, (indi­ in our nation, will be denied the op­ in California, with San Bernardino growing in numbers in the southern, vidually and as a bloc) continue to be portunities that are available to the County one of only eight counties Midwestern and eastern area of the oblivious to the political reality of the more politically active groups. in California to receive the award. country. These numbers represent power of the vote, the Hispanic popu­ On March 2nd, we as voters are In addition, San Bernardino County future voters. lation, as the largest minority group given an opportunity to determine is one of only ten counties nation­ By 2010, the number of Hispanic Continued on right our future. ally receiving the award. Inland Empire Hispanic News Wednesday, February 25, 2004 BRACEROS CONTINUE FIGHT FOR DEDUCTED BENEFITS Ventura Gutierrez, right, national coordi­ Jose Jesus De Anda, right, was a worker nator for Bi Nacional de Alianza in the Bracero Program for 10 years. De Braceroproa, spoke on the ongoing ad­ Anda spoke of the harsh working condi­ vocacy forthe braceros' right to deducted tions that many braceros endured to al­ wages during the implementation of the leviate the worker shortage during World Bracero Program in the United States. At War II. Jose Jesus (Pepe) De Anda, Jr. left. Father Patricio Guillen, co-director of accompanied his father to the meeting the Libreria del Pueblo and Eva Loera, at the Librena Del Pueblo. Photo bylEHN local coordinator for BNAB. Photo by Workers in the Bracero Program (not identified) attended a meeting at the Libreria Del lEHN pened all the time, ’ De Anda said in Pueblo to be updated on BNAB advocacy for reimbursement of funds from wages Jose Jesus De Anda crossed the Spanish, becoming very emotional deducted during the Bracero Program. The advocacy has been ongoing for decades. United States border at Calexico in with tears in his eyes. “Nos trataban Photo by lEHN 1949 and was immediateh spra\ed eomo animales, sin humanidad.” their fEunilies. ficials have concurred to provide “Many braceros have been wait­ with DDT to ensure that he did not (They treated us like animals, with­ medical services to approximately ing for decades for a rightful share of have any diseases. De Anda was part out human feelings) 800,000 braceros or their descendents. their earnings,” Guitierrez sdid. “This of the bracero program initiated by De Anda, an American citizen liv­ Approximately 29 % of those braceros situation has to be resolved or else the United States and Mexico from ing in Rialto and former braceros re­ reside in the United States. A future there is going to be a political wave 1942 to 1964 to alleviate worker siding in the region gathered in a meeting with the officials is planned of protest.” shortages during World War II and meeting at the Libreria del Pueblo, a later in February. Gutierrez is opti­ decades later. communityrbaSed organization serv­ Jose Jesus De Anda has also waited mistic that negotiations with the to be justly rewarded for those ben­ ' Thousand of us worked picking ing immigrants in the Inland Empire, Mexican Government can expand to efits and for his contribution to the oranges, lemons and low-stooping to hear the latest update of negotia­ specific programs for braceros and work for 16 hours or more all over tions between the Bi Nacional de war effort. California and getting paid 75 cents Alianza Braceroproa (BNAB), an in­ an hour. Sometimes when we would ternational group advocating for try’ to stand up, foremen would curse braceros interests, and the Mexican us, telling us to continue working and Government. sometimes would beat us. This hap­ Ventura Gutierrez, coordinator of BNAB, briefly gave a historical per­ spective of the bracero program. The program allowed approximately 2.5 Sylvia Ann Robles HISPANICISEWS million Mexicans to work primarily Tb« Inland Empif»s only Hi^ai<ic-owncct iTgvaga n^ntspapf For 63rd State Assembly in agriculture and &e railroads. Un­ der the program agreement, 10 per­ District The Inland Empire Hispanic cent of worker’s wages would be de­ News is owned and operated ducted and transferred to Mexican by the Hispanic Communica­ banks, to be deposited in individual tion and Deveiopment Cor­ accounts for braceros to collect later. poration. Many of the Mexican banks have Publisher/Editor - Graclano Gomez since been restructured and operate American Dreams are about having a decent job Office Manager ■ Trini Gomez under new names. Design/Layout - Charla Paszkiewicz ■ Gutierrez stated that between $500 with good pay and benefits, providing for your Accounts Analyst - Stella Salazar to $1 billion dollars is owed to Advertising Executive - Cesar Sanchez family and educating your children, enjoying life Advertising Executive - Gaston Ochoa braceros, according to a federal law­ Distribution - Art Ramos suit filed in San Francisco in 2001. at a park, library or beach and knowing you are Writers - Pauline Jaramillo To date, the Mexican Government has safe from crime, fires or floods. Our American Esperanza Allende failed to distribute the funds. Angela Vasquez The irony of the situation for many character is about maintaining high hopes and a The Inland Empire Hispanic decades was that braceros were un­ News Is published every two aware that a percentage of their wages vision for the future. weeks and distributed in San Ber- were being deducted. nardino. Riverside, Colton, Rialto, Fontana, Moreno Valley, Efforts to negotiate with the Mexi­ Ontario, Corona, Bloomingtom, can Government have been ongoing V I will work to keep and increase manufacturing Rancho Cucamonga, Highland & for many decades.