jessica olivas Paz Fellowship, Promise AZ

Francisco Diaz Fellow with Promise Arizona

Promise Arizona at ASU, Tomas Karmelo Sings

Republican Greed Says Hell No To Dream Act, Don't Ask Don't Tell

Tax Cuts For Millionaires

The Injustice Of Democracy

When senate Republicans signed a "No Vote Pact" in which they refused to vote for social issues during the Lame Duck session until tax breaks were given for multi-millionaires, they defined a party far out of touch with the rest of American culture.  While many middle class couples could see how a $250,000 joint income can qualify as "middle class", not many can see how an income of a million dollars qualifies as the same.  Clearly, Republicans don't represent the middle class anymore.

At stake are three critical bills.  The repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, the Dream Act, and a Start treaty to reduce nuclear proliferation.  None of these issues are as important to Republicans as getting an extension of Bush era tax cuts on incomes from $250,000 to $1,000,000.  It is the sign of the new ugly American.  The super wealthy pushing their weight around until they have sated their greedy appetites on the backs of the tax paying public.  Once they get what they want, which appears to have happened today, then perhaps they will consider the "other issues".

Jessica Olivas, an immigrant rights activist, helps the local students organize in San Antonio, Texas.  15 students were arrested.  Some have been on hunger strike for 27 days.

After securing more money for opulent lifestyles, it looks as if the Republicans will never share.  Don't Ask Don't tell might come up for serious consideration.  The Start treaty to prevent the world from being blown into a billion pieces is most likely to get attention.  Alas, the Dream Act, in which children of undocumented immigrants ask for a chance to go to school, is the least likely to get the Republican nod.  Those who have more than enough are not willing to let others have anything, lest in some remote way, it cost them a centavo.

Attorney Nehrig Guilty Of Fraud

Attorney client privilege violated

Attorney Brian L. Nehrig guilty

Brian Nehrig, a Fishers Indiana attorney, violated the solemn attorney client privilege between himself and his client.  According to information, He used confidential client information to make money at his client’s expense. 

Nehrig pled guilty to mail fraud and received a light sentence.

"Nehrig took advantage of inside information"

Nehrig is a foreclosure attorney representing CitiFinancial in their foreclosures. Nehrig took advantage of inside information, specifically the bid price Citifinancial was prepared to bid at foreclosure. Nehrig arranged for associates to buy properties at super low prices and then put them back onto the market to make a profit. Even though the profits were small, a few thousand per deal, Nehrig had the obligation to see to it the client made the money, not Nehrig. If the disgraced attorney needed to make more money he should have raised his rates.

"Most attorneys are closed mouthed

about the lender's bid"

The foreclosure and real estate investment strategy is simple and popular. Buy at foreclosure sale, fix up if needed, then sell for a profit. The problem is, one cannot use inside information at the cost of the client in the process. That is why most attorneys are closed mouthed about the lender’s bid. It is the lawyer’s job to get the most bang for the buck for the bank, not to use confidential information for their selfish greed.

The attorney client privilege is a confidential arrangement between the client and the attorney. The lawyer has the obligation to keep all confidential communication to himself. He also has the obligation to advocate for the client, which means help him make the best of the client’s situation. In the case of Citi Financial, Nehrig’s obligation was to maximize the bank’s profits.  Nehrig in counter intelligence blog

The court determined the loss to CitiFinancial was $66,000 bucks. An insurance claim has made the bank whole. It is unknown whether the insurance company will seek repayment for their loss through subrogation.

Nehrig got off with a light sentence. He was ordered to do six months of in-home confinement and 8 hours of community service each month. He is also on 3 years probation. During his probationary period he may not work as a self employed person. Judge Sarah Barker ordered Nehrig to disclose his felony conviction to all employers he works for. The fine was small, only $2,500 dollars.  Why Assistant U.S. Attorney Gayle Helart, who prosecuted the case against Nehrig, went along with such an easy deal for Nehrig is unknown.  Thanks to the FBI for investigating.  FBI annonces guilty plea for disbarred attorney brian nehrig, breach of attorney client priviledge

"He must disclose his felony conviction"

When a lawyer violates the attorney client privilege he is likely to lose his license to practice law. That happened with Nehrig. Since he cannot practice law and he cannot be self employed and he must disclose his felony conviction, finding work could be difficult. Likely, the dishonest attorney will have to pay his fines prior to the end of his probation.

Disclosing lender bid prices, inside dealing, violation of the attorney client privilege, making money by buying real estate at the client’s expense, using associates to cover up low bid prices during foreclosure sales, these are the actions of a dishonest and fraudulent lawyer. Attorney Brian Nehrig got off easy after he cheated Citifinancial during foreclosure deals. One can only hope six months of in-home confinement and 36 months of probation is adequate to send the message. 


Harry Reid promises lame duck Dream Act Vote.

Donchak, Piekarsky, Indicted - Beating Death Of Undocumented Immigrant

A teenager testified two friends, Donchak and Piekarsky, charged in the beating death of an undocumented worker in Shenandoah, Pa., delivered the fatal blow to Luis Ramirez, and undocumented immigrant from central Mexico.  The teen then plotted to lie about it with co-conspirators that night and again the next morning.

Is there enough evidence against the pair and a third suspect to send the case to trial?



Ben Lawson, who is 17, said Ramirez was fighting with one of the suspects, Derrick M. Donchak, when friend Colin Walsh, sucker-punched the victim.  With the undocumented worker out cold on the ground, Brandon Piekarsky  kicked Ramirez in the head in a foot ball style field goal kick. 

Walsh,  who was 17, and Piekarsky, who was 16, were charged as adults with homicide and ethnic intimidation. Donchak, 18, was charged with aggravated assault, ethnic intimidation and other offenses.

The teens were football players at Shenandoah Valley High School.  Donchak was the quarterback.

The group encountered Ramirez, who was 25, and a teenage girl in a park.  Another teen, Brian Scully, goaded the girl, saying, "Isn't it a little late for you to be out?"   In other words, why was she with Ramirez.

Ramirez began making phone calls in Spanish and Scully began yelling racial slurs at Ramirez.  A fight started.

As Ramirez was fighting with Donchak, Walsh punched Ramirez in the face. He fell to the ground and hit his head on the pavement leaving him unconscious.  Piekarsky kicked Ramirez in the head, Lawson said.

The boys met that night and again the next day. 

"We made up a plan that we we're going to tell the cops that nobody kicked him, that there were no racial slurs, there was no booze, and Brian got hit first," Lawson said.


Ramirez, who entered the U.S. illegally about six years ago, picked strawberries and cherries.  His 24-year-old fiancee, a white girl who spent her childhood in Shenandoah, said Ramirez local bullies often called Ramirez ugly names and told him to "go home to Mexico". The couple had two children together.


Read more:  http://immigrants2bfree.blogspot.com/2010/11/piekarsky-donchak-guilty-of-hate-crime.html

 

Jessica Olivas, Organizer Promise Arizona

Jessica talks about why she came to Arizona and what she hopes to accompish!

Paz Fellowship changes lives!

Jessica later was moved to organizer and has been very effective in reaching Latino voters in Arizona.  What an opportunity to change lives and find personal growth!

Private Prison Pushes for SB 1070 Arizona Fruad

 PRIVATE PRISON ADVOCATES FOR PASSAGE OF SB 1070

RUSSELL PEARCE IN BED WITH CORPORATE JAILER

SB 1070, the most vicious anti-immigrant law in the history of the nation, was supported by a private company which makes money by jailing undocumented workers.  The conflicts of interest in passing a law which puts people in prison for money is an assault to the freedom of every person.

An Arizona law targeting illegal immigration had its roots in a business venture proposed by prison companies, according to a report by National Public Radio .

NPR reported they found a "quiet, behind-the-scenes effort to help draft and pass Arizona SB 1070 by an industry that stands to benefit from it: the private prison industry."

GEO is one of the largest private prison companies in the world.  They have facilities in Colorado, Arizona and many other locations.  They are constantly seeking approval for new sites.  Their record of human rights is abysmal!

"The law could send hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants to prison, meaning hundreds of millions of dollars in profits to private prison companies responsible for housing them," according to NPR.
The law was proposed by Arizona state Senator Russell Pierce and passed in April. Governor Jan Brewer signed it into law.  It became law in July, with protests and support.

There were massive protests in Phoenix as a result of the law.  

NPR says Pierce made a presentation in Washington, D.C. last December with a "membership organization of state legislators and powerful corporations and associations, such as the tobacco company Reynolds American Inc., Exxon Mobil and the National Rifle Association. Another member is the billion-dollar Corrections Corporation of America — the largest private prison company in the country."

"In the conference room, the group decided they would turn the immigration idea into a model bill. They discussed and debated language. Then, they voted on it," according to NPR.


Meanwhile, Proposition 200 was declared illegal.

This is the Arizona law which required extra I.D. in order for voters to register.

As the right wing seeks to keep immigrants from voting, Promise Arizona, a membership organization has been working to register new voters.  They registered 13,000 new voters this season alone.  Promise Arizona will change the political landscape in Arizona.

The fanatical right is manipulating voter conscience while placing pressure on undocumented workers.  The injustice is beyond the pale.



Read and listen to the full NPR report