Where is State Rep. Cheryl Coakley Rivera?

After learning of the recent closing of Luvas and Rein's Deli in downtown Springfield, my first reaction was, well it was the power of the market force, there was simply no demand for the product they were offering. However, as I drove through downtown recently on a weekday in the middle of the afternoon, I was suddenly confused? Is this Springfield downtown? The Cultural hub of Western Massachusetts? There was virtually little to no pedestrian foot traffic, and the car traffic seemed to be in a rush to get out of the area. Sure, there is probably a couple of factors that might have contributed to these two good restaurants demised, but I am sure that the lack of foot traffic did not help. We need foot traffic for the downtown business, in fact for any local business to succeed.

The Western part of the city, from Forest Park to the North End is in a business staleness that is very worrisome. There is real crime issues in the Forest Park neighborhoods, the South End in plague by drugs and prostitution and in the North End, well to say it simply, no one wants to stop. State Rep. Coakley Rivera has been silent, almost absent in these past year or so. This is a dangerous situation for the City and the neighborhoods. We need a State Rep. to actively work and promote the area, not to be feature in the local paper planting a tree every so often. Grandstanding, does not translate into Economic Development. State Rep. Cheryl Coakley Rivera has been in office for about 10 years, I wonder how much more effective, if ever, she can possibly be? Oh, by the way I can see the campaign slogan now," give me one more term and I will show you how much more effective I can be ". Luvas and Reins Deli did not have the luxury to ask for more time.

I am in Complete Dismay

It seems that School Committee members, Mr. Shea, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Rodgers and Mr. Collins would like us to believe that the school committee authority surpasses that of the control board. In a recent article by The Republican, these four gentleman would like us to believe that their symbolic vote extending Dr. Burke's three year contract is valid. Now I ask you this question. If the Control Board intended to extend Dr. Burke's Contract, why did the Control Board authorized a national search? Obviously the Control Board as many parents through out the city, were not fully satisfied with Dr. Burke's performance. I am extremely agitated to see that Dr. Burke has been openly and care free applying to other superintendent pistons elsewhere. This seems the actions of a person who is ready to leap out of the City at a moments notice. As a parent and as a citizen of Springfield, I want people who are willing to invest their time and future here with us in Springfield. In the private sector this behavior will not be tolerated, so why are we the residents of Springfield expected to tolerate it?
As for these four gentlemen, this kind of back door politics are exactly the ones that we the residents of Springfield do not need or will no longer tolerate.

I wrote a letter to the Editor of The Republican expressing the above opinions.
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Letter to the Editor:

I am completely in dismay to see the complete and total disregard to the process of law that School Committee members, Mr.Shea, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Rodgers and Mr. Collins have demonstrated by claiming that their symbolic vote to extend Dr. Burke's contract as valid. These gentlemen would like us to believe that the Control Board, did not rescind their symbolic vote. The control board, in essence, did not extend Dr. Burke's contract by authorizing a national search for a new superintendent. This kind of back door politics are exactly the ones that we, the citizens of Springfield, do not need and will no longer tolerate.

Victor Davila Springfield, Ma

El Comandante won't Accept Nomination

" My elemental duty is not to cling to positions, much less to stand on the way of younger persons, but rather to contribute my own experiences and ideas"

President Fidel Castro in a resignation letter to the Cuban people, Feb. 19, 2008

After battling health ailments Cuban President Fidel Castro in an open letter to the Cuban people stated that he " will not seek nor accept nomination of President of the State Council and its Commander in Chief" Fidel Castro has become a polarizing world wide figure, and is often the focus of inspiration to younger people. Castro, developed a one party system and a socialist economic model after gaining power in 1959. In that year his group of guerrilla fighters overthrew the corrupt dictatorship government of President Fulgencio Batista. The Batista government had made Cuba America's backyard play ground. During the Batista government the richer got richer and the poorer got poorer. U.S. mob families dominated the casino industry. The U.S. began an embargo against Cuba in 1961 after Castro nationalized many U.S. corporations in Cuba. The embargo is still in effect today, despite world protest to the U.S. over the embargo. It is expected that the National State Council elects a new president this weekend.

There were scenes of joy among many Cuban exiles in Florida after learning of the resignation of Fidel Castro, and presidential contenders continue their tough stand on the conditions for U.S. assistance to Cuba, The Democratization of Cuba. While the US presidential contenders keeps up the tough rhetoric on Cuba, The US continues to trade with China, a communist country with possibly the worst Human Rights record in the modern world. In fact, China is the fastest growing US exports, outpacing exports to the rest of the world. It has often being rationalized that an open trade policy with China will help to open up the country to Western models of government and increase compliance with Human Rights. If this is the case, then, Why doesn't the US lift the embargo and begin immediate trade relations with Cuba? As former Springfield City Councilor candidate Clodo Concepcion, A Cuban Native and retire US military, stated in a WHYN interview, " This is an opportunity for the US. The US should put aside its pride and begin open trade with Cuba"

As for Fidel, may he have peace and quiet in his retirement days. My Friends, This is history in the making.

Gov. Patrick Top Aide Arrested

According to the Boston Herald, Carl Stanley McGee, a top aide in Gov. Patrick administration has been arrested in Florida for sexually assaulting a 15 year old boy in a steam room at the Gulf Coast Resort. Carl Stanley McGee is Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning under Gov. Patrick's administration. Carl Stanley McGee was instrumental in the efforts to defeat overturn same sex marriage in Massachusetts and and is currently the point person in the efforts to bring casinos to Massachusetts. Carl Stanley McGee has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. According to Florida police reports, McGee is charged with masturbating and performing oral sex on the teenager.



I am deeply concern with the constant scandals that seem to develop under Gov. Patrick administration. First, the luxury drapes in the corner office, upgrading the official Governor's vehicle to a luxury model, the seventy first fund, a special fund created by the Democratic Party to help streamline donations to the Governor's campaign committee, leaving the State to stump for Sen. Barrack Obama and God knows what else there is or is yet to come.

All of this on his first year in the Corner Office. As for Carl Stanley McGee, well, the Governor should immediately terminate his employment. As a top aide, Carl Stanley McGee works at the pleasure of the Governor. It will be interesting to see what the Governor does.

Viva Hillary

Hillary Clinton received 50% of the Democratic vote in Springfield and Barrack Obama received 47% of the Democratic vote in Springfield. The Hispanic vote, went to Hillary Clinton and the Afro-American vote went to Barrack Obama. As many political analyst have noted, the Democratic race has become an issue of race and gender. I find this unfortunate as I believe that we should vote for the person that you believe to be most qualified for the job. No, this doesn't mean that I will vote on the Democrat side !!!


I can't help to point out the stereotype that Hispanic males face in the U.S. We are often referred to as "Machistas", Chauvinist, etc.. yet, Hispanics including Hispanic males voted for Hillary. In the Hispanic culture family roles are traditionally well defined, We know what to expect from each other. I also argue, that in the US, including Massachusetts, conservatism is not dead.

Here is your check back...What??

Photo by Victor Davila

I recently received my vehicle excise tax bill. As many other people in the city, I didn't have the full amount to send in right away. So, what did I do? No, I didn't pull a State Rep. Ben Swan move and pretended that I didn't have a civic responsibility to pay my taxes !! I send the city a partial payment. A couple of days later, I received the check back with an explanation that the city could not credit partial payments. What!! I send the City money and they wouldn't take my money?? I put this annoyance in the back burner and a few weeks later I called the agency in charge of tax collection for the City of Springfield, Deputy Tax Collectors based in Milford, Ma. After, a series of questions to the clerks, I got a snotty, Who are you, are you a reporter? I promptly answered, no, I am a tax payer inquiring why the City of Springfield is not taking my money. After being placed on hold for a few minutes(which seemed to be forever ) the clerk came back with a miraculous new attitude. The clerk emphasized to me several times that the reason the city couldn't take my money, was because it was the law. Oh, boy what an explanation!! I reminded the clerk that just because it is the law, it is not necessarily a good law, or that it makes sense. I posed this question to the clerk. Would you rather a million dollars today or a year from now. The clerks answer? That's right, the clerk answered, I rather have a million dollars now. AHHH, exactly my point. Money has time value. A million dollars today is not a million dollars a year from now. Interest rates, inflation, consumer confidence are among some factor that affect money flow.This law doesn't make any sense to me. The City of Springfield could be using partial payments to swell the city's revenue and help to improve or expand city services. In the meantime, I will have to send in the whole amount. Really, I will.

Adios Rudy

Photo by Laura Victoria Burke

Mayor Rudy Giuliani, America's Mayor, came in third place during Florida's GOP primary elections. Giuliani capture roughly 15% of the Floridian vote. Maverick Senator John McCain won the primary race with approximately 36% of the vote and Mitt Romney capture roughly 31% of the vote. According to media outlets Giuliani is set to quit the race and throw his support behind Sen. McCain. The Hispanic vote in the Florida elections proved to be a highly sought price. All candidates appeared in the Spanish station of Univison claiming to be the right candidate for the job. Among the Florida Hispanic community, Sen. McCain captured roughly 50% of the Cuban vote and 51% the Non-Cuban Hispanic vote. So, what does this say about the Hispanic vote? For one thing, it says that not all Hispanic think alike. Second, that Hispanics continue to be socially conservative. One of the paramount issues among the older exile Cuban community is US-Cuban relations. Advocating for nearly complete isolation for Cuba and any other tool necessary to bring down Fidel Castro's government. According to an univision article, Cuba is not the front and center issue among second and third Cuban generation. The Cuban community has had a long and arduous road in front of them and need to be admire as the pinnacle of the American Dream. I am positive that Giuliani's liberal social views send him packing in Florida. The severe distrust among the Hispanic community with the Democrats should awaken the Republicans to pay more attention tot eh Hispanic vote.

Hillary Clinton Stumps in Springfield

Hillary Clinton made a campaign stop in Springfield at the Springfield College Blake arena. Hillary addressed the crowd of approximately 3,000 people. There were several hundred people outside that were not able to get into the arena. There were people complaining of waiting outside for hours just to be turned away at the last minute. Several people suggested that the event should of been held at the Mass mutual center. Hillary made the theme of health care, ending the war in Iraq and rebuilding the middle class the center of her campaign message. Pretty safe topics in this Democratic Bastion state. However, as Hillary was blowing her own horn in Springfield, Sen Edward Kennedy, D-Mass was in Washington endorsing Barack Obama for President. After the event, I went to school to find many people discussing Hillary's visit to Springfield. The consensus was that Massachusetts had suddenly become a battle ground state for its 6 delegates. Of course, Hillary's visit to Springfield comes as no surprise. Her visit was probably for strategic reasons. No only is the State up for grabs, but there are the neighboring states of Connecticut and Maine. I would not be surprise at all if Obama makes a visit to Springfield or Massachusetts's to, at the very least, keep up the pressure on Hillary. Actually, Obama has been doing well in fundraising in Western Massachusetts with approximately $3 million Dollars raised and has tapped the endorsement of Gov. Patrick. As I stood in line, I saw a procession of local officials parading their way to pay homage to Hillary. They all were shining and in an excellent mood. Stay tune as we will examine the Hispanic impact on Presidential elections.