Sotelo, El Piolin de la Mañana Allegedly Groped Male Co-worker's Groin

Eddie Sotelo, aka, "El Piolin de la Mañana" and Alberto Cortez

El Piolin has yet to admit he is gay, after allegations that he touched and grabbed a co-worker's groin.

By H. Nelson Goodson

August 1, 2013

Los Angeles, CA -As of Thursday, Eddie Sotelo, 43, aka, "El Piolin de la Mañana," a former popular Spanish speaking radio host at Univision has yet to publicly admit that he is gay and attracted to men. Despite, the latest allegations that he sexually and physically harassed  a co-worker for the last three years as other co-workers witnessed his gay behavior, according to the L.A. Times. The L.A. Times reported that Alberto "Beto" Cortez, a producer and writer for Sotelo's, El Piolin de la Mañana show through a lawyer sent a letter on April 16, to two Univision executives detailing and exposing Sotelo's sexual harassment. 

Cortez says, Sotelo had grabbed his groin and called him names pertaining to gay references. The sexual harassment continued for three years, despite Univision knowing about it and doing absolutely nothing to end the harassment by Sotelo.

Sotelo' attorney claims, Cortez is lying and attempting to extort El Piolin, but Univision found just cause to terminate Sotelo's contract and took El Piolin off the air from 50 syndicated Spanish language radio stations around the country.

El Piolin on his personal account has not tweeted since July 20 and is keeping his termination from Univision private. Sotelo last week released a combine brief statement with Univision admitting he was no longer with Univision after news of his alleged sexual harassment scandal broke.

He was taken off the air on July 22, according to Jose Valle, President of Univision Radio, Inc., one of the executives that received Cortez's letter.

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Univision Radio Cuts El Piolin de la Mañana From Its Spanish Speaking Programs Syndicated To 50 Stations

Eddie Sotelo, aka, "El Piolin de la Mañana" and Alberto Cortez

El Piolin cut from Univision Radio after ten years as a Spanish Speaking jockey.

By H. Nelson Goodson

July 30, 2013

Los Angeles, CA - On July 22, Spanish Speaking radio host DJ Eddie Sotelo, 43, aka, "El Piolin de la Mañana" aired his last program from Univision KSCA 101.9 FM radio in Los Angeles. Sotelo's contract was terminated and no explanation from Univision was made, but a spokeswoman confirmed that he was no longer with Univision and would not comment beyond confirming his termination.

Univision also released the following statement including a comment from Sotelo. The Univision statement said, "On Monday, July 22, 2013, Eddie "Piolin" Sotelo, longtime host of Univision's morning drive show, "Piolin por la Mañana," broadcast his final show on Univision Radio. After a ten-year run, Sotelo and Univision have agreed to part company."

"It's been a great run with Univision," said Sotelo, who was recently elected to the National Radio Hall of Fame and whose show was syndicated nationally on over 50 stations.
"We thank Eddie for the contributions that he has made while at Univision Radio," said Jose Valle, President of Univision Radio, Inc.

Sotelo has not made any further statements about his termination from Univision, but speculation from Univision sources indicate that low ratings and a personal matter not sanctioned by Univision led to his contract being terminated.
The L.A. Times reported that Sotelo was accused of sexual harassment by one his male co-workers. The co-worker was identified as Alberto "Beto" Cortez, a writer and producer who has worked with Sotelo for 10 years.
Cortez apparently wrote a letter to Univision executives on April 16, detailing and alleging that Sotelo had physically, sexually and emotionally harassed him for the last three years.
Univision executives knew about the continued sexual harassment, but failed to act since, Sotelo was popular and generating revenue for Univision.
Sotelo's attorney denied the allegations and is claiming an extortion attempt by Cortez, according to the L.A. Times.
In 1986, Sotelo at the age of 16 crossed the Mexican border into the U.S. without legal documents. He ended up in Santa Ana, California where his father worked. Sotelo is originally from Ocotlán, Jalisco.

Sotelo has not tweeted since July 20, according to his Twitter account.
Soleto in 2006 became the voice of the undocumented and was allowed by Univision executives to advocate for immigration reform and condemn Wisconsin's Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner's (R-WI) bill H.R. 4437 that was approved in 2005, but failed to pass the U.S. Senate. The bill criminalized undocumented immigrants and anyone that would help them.
Shortly after, Sotelo was barred from freely advocating for immigration reform while on the air due to Univision executives believing a loss of advertising dollars from anti-immigrant corporations would stop advertising with Univision. 

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Common Council Approves Cabrera's Appointment To Milwaukee Fire And Police Commission

 Marisabel Cabrera

Cabrera was approved to the Fire and Police Commission by the Milwaukee Common Council with a 14 to 1 vote.

By H. Nelson Goodson

July 30, 2013

Milwaukee, WI - On Tuesday, Carmen Cabrera, a well known Hispanic community activist confirmed to Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) that last week Tuesday, the Milwaukee Common Council voted 14 to 1 to approve the appointment of Attorney Marisabel Cabrera to the Fire and Police Commission.
Alderman Robert "Bob" Donovan was the only Council member that voted "No" while 14 other Common Council members voted to appoint Marisabel to the Fire and Police Commission. Last Thursday, she was sworn in as a Fire and Police Commissioner.
Carmen stated, "The appointment of Fire and Police Commissioner Marisabel is a great pride to our family and community. She will bring a perspective to the Commission drawing from her community involvement tempered with her legal background.

Marisabel will no doubt be a great role model for those other Latinas seeking to serve their community as well."

Mayor Tom Barrett appointed Marisabel to the Fire and Police Commission, but the Common Council had to approve the appointment.

Marisabel, is an immigration attorney, a Board member for the Council for the Spanish Speaking, also a member of Voces de la Frontera and American Immigration Lawyers Association.

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Palermo Villa To Rehire Eight Fired Pizza Striking Union Supporters

Fired Palermo Pizza workers will get rehired with back-pay after eight months of the National Relations Labor Board (NRLB) decision to reinstate them.

By H. Nelson Goodson

July 30, 2013

Milw., WI - On Tuesday, Voces de la Frontera (VDLF) announced that Palermo Villa, Inc. (Palermo's Pizza) under a settlement agreement with the fired striking workers, eight of 100 striking workers (union supporters) that were terminated for attempting to organize a union at the company will finally get rehired (reinstated) with back-pay totaling ten of thousands of dollars. "Palermo's Pizza has also agreed to post a notice to employees that they will no longer violate federal labor law," VDLF wrote in an e-mail news release.

VDLF reported that the settlement agreement, negotiated as a result of charges brought by the Palermo Workers Union, requires Palermo Villa, Inc. to immediately offer all eight employees the opportunity to return to their previous jobs; award a lump sum payment for back pay to all eight employees within two weeks; post a notice inside the factory explaining that Palermo's will commit to not breaking the law again when it comes to workers rights to form a union. The notice to current employees will also outline the terms of the settlement agreement, and must be posted in multiple languages for 60 days.
In a released statement, CEO Giacomo Fallucca said, "We have reluctantly agreed to this settlement, despite believing that the facts strongly support our position,” said Palermo President and CEO Giacomo Fallucca. “We do not admit to any fault in this negotiated settlement, but it’s time to move forward and let the voices of our workers be heard.” He noted that Palermo’s has long supported giving its employees the right to vote on this important issue and reiterated that the company will respect whatever decision the workers make in a fair and legal election.
There are at least another 92 fired striking Palermo Pizza employees who supported and signed a petition to form a union that Palermo Villa's administrators won't reinstate pending confirmation of their  legal status to work in the country. Further negotiations between the fired workers, VDLF, and a union representing the terminated Palermo workers who are mostly Hispanics is ongoing.

VDLF confirmed that there is a pending NRLB settlement with BG Staffing, a temp agency that was the employer for numerous fired union supporters.

The NRLB is currently investigating recent charges that Palermo's illegally fired an African-American employee who was engaged in pro-union activity at work.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is expected to open an investigation into Palermo's refusal to release federally mandated records of injuries which have been requested by a lawfully designated representative of numerous employees.
Palermo's has so far refused requests from elected officials to provide evidence that they fulfilled promises to create family supporting jobs with some of the $48 million in taxpayer money they have received in recent years, including loans they received via the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

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Teenage Girls Taken Into Protection After FBI Nationwide Prostitution Sting

100 suspects, mostly women were taken into custody for prostition operations using teenagers.

By H. Nelson Goodson

July 30, 2013

Milw., WI - On Monday, Acting Special Agent in Charge Patricia M. Ferrick for the Milwaukee FBI Division announced a nationwide recovery of teenage girls and young female adults that were lured into prostitution. At least 100 suspects, mostly women were arrested in Wisconsin during the federal sting called "Operation Cross Country VII" (OCC7).

Ten teenage girls from Wisconsin were recovered, 6 were from Milwaukee, 2 from Madison, 1 from West Allis and 1 from Oakcreek were taken off the streets. "All the women and girls were offered to be connected with a variety of services within the community, such as job training, housing, counseling, and medical and education assistance," according to Special Agent Ferrick.

The young female adults told authorities that they were lured and forced into prostitution as junveniles by women and handled by pimps who were included in the 100 arrests by feds and 21 local, county and state law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Attorney's Office in Eastern and Western Wisconsin, Milwaukee County District Attorney and the Wisconsin Department of Justice.

Other recoveries were in:

● San Francisco, 12 recoveries

● Detroit, 10 recoveries

● Denver, 9

● New Haven and New Orleans,  6 recoveries and

● San Diego, 5 recoveries. 

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Alleged Pacific Drug Cartel Queen Avila Beltrán Freed From A U.S. Federal Prison

Sandra Avila Beltrán

Avila Beltrán will be deported to Mexico where she is facing additional charges for using elicit drug money to operate a criminal organization, according to her attorney in Mexico.

By H. Nelson Goodson

July 29, 2013

Miami, FL - On Monday, a U.S. District Court of Southern Florida judge decided that Sandra Avila Beltrán, 52, aka, "Pacific Drug Cartel Queen" has served her time and ordered her release. Avila Beltrán was extradited to the U.S. in August and pled guilty to a plea agreement with federal prosecutors for harbouring her boyfriend, a convicted drug dealer.

The Milenio Newspaper reported that Avila Beltrán's Mexican attorney Jorge Alfonso Espino Santillan had said, Mexican federal authorities are expected to arrest his client for using drug money to operate an alleged criminal organization once she returns to Mexico. Mexican federal prosecutors have filed charges in a federal court in the state of Jalisco, according Santillan.
She is facing charges for using elicit drug money to buy multiple million dollar life insurance policies and at least three properties, the Milenio reported.
Avila Beltrán was previously indicted in the U.S. for alleged charges of organized crime and importing large quantities of cocaine to the U.S. for distribution. She was wanted in the U.S. for importing at least 9.6 tons of cocaine in 2001.

She was arrested in Mexico City in 2007 for organized crime and drug trafficking, but was acquitted in 2010 by a Mexican federal judge.

In 2001, she paid several million dollars in ransom for her son's release after he was kidnapped in Mexico drawing attention to the ransom playoff by Mexican federal authorities. 

Avila Beltrán also paid to have a cosmetic doctor perform botox treatments while she was incarcerated.

Avila Betrán was considered ruthless for her tactics used against rival drug cartel members. She is the niece of Miguel Angel Félix Gallardo, who is now serving a 40 year sentence in the U.S. for the homicide of a U.S. DEA agent in 1984.

In January 2010, her great uncle Juan José Quintero Payán, 69, was extradited to the U.S. for drug trafficing, using drug money to invest in U.S. real estate and laundering money, according to a federal indictment. 

In December 2011, Payán who was the founder of the Juarez Cartel was sentenced to 18 years in prison and fined $250,000 by a federal judge in San Antonio, Texas.

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Peruanos In Milwaukee Celebrate Their Independence Day

By H. Nelson Goodson

July 29, 2013

Milw., WI - On Sunday, Enrique Henry performed a typical Peruvian cultural dance during the one day Peruvian Independence Day Festival in Milwaukee's south side. The one day event at Wilson Park was sponsored by La Asociación de Peruanos en Milwaukee, WI.

Food, beverages, games, DJ music and other activities took place during the day.

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Kitchen Grease Fire Shuts South Side Honey Dip Donuts Down

Popular donut place in Milwaukee's South Side is closed until Monday, police say.

By H. Nelson Goodson

July 27, 2013

Milw., WI - On Saturday, the Honey Dip Donuts restaurant at the 800 block of S. Layton Blvd. was temporarily closed after a grease fire was reported just before 8:00 p.m., according to police. Police say, no one was reported injured and the grease fire was under control. Honey Dip Donuts is expected to open by Monday.

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Milwaukee's First Latino Carnaval 2013 Parade And Festival

Juan Carlos Ruiz

Photos: HNG/HNNUSA

More than a thousand participated in the First Latino Carnaval in Milwaukee's south side.

By H. Nelson Goodson

July 27, 2013

Milw., WI - On Saturday,  the First Latino Carnaval parade and music festival with more than one thousand participants began at the 1100 block of W. National Ave. and made its way eastbound to the lakefront, ending at the Wherehouse Night Club festival grounds, 818 S. Water St. At the Wherehouse grounds, food, music and other events continued until late afternoon.

The 58 degree and cloudy cool weather didn't keep the hundreds of festivalgoers from attending. Saturday's Latino Carnaval grand parade was part of a week long celebration of Latino cultures represented in Milwaukee, according to Juan Carlos Ruiz, this year's coordinator of the Latino Carnaval and Grand Parade. Ruiz said, the event was sponsored by 34 partners that included JCS Consulting Solutions, LLC and other institutions, organizations, businesses and community groups to present a diversity of cultures and a celebration of their rich folkloric cultures that includes a variety of flavors of food, music and dance combined to bring a "Carnaval" celebration setting from each of the Latino Amercian countries represented in Milwaukee. This year's Latino Carnaval honorary Queen title went to Maria Monreal-Cameron, according to Ruiz.
The Latino Carnaval (LC) held a Salsa and Bachata dance competition at the event and the 1st place winners were Beth Weinrich and Jason Weinrich who won a trip to Mexico, according to Daniel Balderas, an LC Committee member.
This year's organizing committee for the Latino Carnaval (Carnival) were, Amber Rivard, Jaime Bernabe, Karen Valeria V., Paul Mueller, Daniel Balderas, Toni Ordoñez-Hodge, Barbara Leigh, Kathleen End, Julio Pabon and Adam Smith.

Marisa Hernández, Erica Hernández and H. Nelson Goodson posed for the crowds during the Latino Carnaval festival at the Wherehouse Night Club grounds.

Photos: HNG/HNNUSA

Photos: HNG/HNNUSA

Photos: HNG/HNNUSA

Photos: HNG/HNNUSA

Photos: HNG/HNNUSA

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City Inspector Removed From Post After Humiliating Mexican Child And Stealing Cigarettes From Basket

Juan Diego López Jiménez, a city inspector is seen holding the child's basket, as the child is forced to throw his candy on the ground.

Juan Diego López Jiménez, Carmen Torres Díaz and Feliciano Díaz Díaz

A city inspector stole three packages of cigarettes from a child he humiliated and forced to dump candy on the ground at the Municipality of the Centro de la Zona Luz in Villahermosa, Tabasco.

By H. Nelson Goodson

July 26, 2013

Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico - On Thursday, city inspector Juan Diego López Jiménez was removed from his post a day after a news video showed him humiliating a child vendor, identified as Feliciano "Manuelito" Díaz Díaz, 10, and forcing him to throw his candy on the ground as he cried. Jiménez is now accused of stealing three packages of cigarettes from the child's basket and has been remove permanently from his job. Legal proceedings have been initiated against Jiménez and another woman, a city worker identified as Carmen Torres Díaz, according to Faustino Adolfo Torres Álvarez, the director of promoting Economic and Tourism in the municipality. 

Several other vendors within a four block area near the municipality building where Jiménez had worked have made public statements to state authorities that Jiménez and other city inspectors have been extorting between $50 to $100 pesos ($5 to $10 dollars) daily from 50 area vendors. The vendors also have alleged that the city inspector coordinator, Eduardo Miguel Osorio López has allowed the extortions to take place, according an initial investigation by the Tabasco State Justice Department. 

On Wednesday, a Youtube video posted by Channel TVX 16 shows Jiménez, a city inspector from the Municipality of Centro de la Zona Luz in Villahermosa forcing a child to throw his candy to the ground because Jiménez was going to confiscate his basket. A TVX news reporter caught the action in public.

The child was caught selling his candy in front of a bank and then was taken by Jiménez to the municipality building grounds where the child was forced to throw his candy away. Municipality officials says, that the child is a minor and shouldn't be selling candy in public. The Tabasco state government officials initiated an investigation to what some public officials are saying, is an abuse of authority by Jiménez, who is seen in the video.

The child is heard crying while Jiménez is laughing as a woman, identified as Carmen Torres Díaz another city worker looks on. Afterwards Jiménez left the basket and walks away with three packages of cigarettes when onlookers told the Jiménez "it's enough" and to leave the child alone.

Another unidentified man looking at what was going on decides to help the child pick up his candy, as the child is humiliated and continues to cry in the scene.

News anchor reporters alleged that Jiménez might have wanted a $40.00 dollars ($500 pesos) bribe from the child who is trying to earn an honest wage instead of engaging in criminal activities as some children are forced to do so.

Jiménez as he leaves the scene, shows no shame of what he did, according to reporters.
Both Jiménez and Díaz are facing charges for theft and abuse of authority.
On Friday, Arturo Nuñez, the Governor of Tabasco in a statement said, the state will give the child and his family "a scholarship, as well as all medical and psychological help for the boy."
The child has gone back to his Tzotzil Indian village in Chamula, Chiapas for fear of retribution by Villahermosa city officials, according to his aunt María Díaz Díaz. She brought the child to Villahermosa about a week ago after the child wanted to work for the summer to earn enough money to buy school supplies. He lives with his grandparents in Chiapas, according to his aunt.

TVX news video at link: http://youtu.be/EBadmTd4nHg


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Vásquez Selected As the First Ms. Mexican Fiesta Ambassador 2013

Vanessa Vásquez

Photo: Facebook

The new Ms. Ambassador title replaced the outgoing Miss Mexican Fiesta Queen title for the Wisconsin Hispanic Scholarship Foundation, Inc.

By H. Nelson Goodson

July 25, 2013

Milwaukee, WI - On Thursday, the Wisconsin Hispanic Scholarship Foundation,  Inc. (WHSF) announced that Vanessa Vásquez, 23, was selected as the first Ms. Mexican Fiesta Ambassador for 2013. Vásquez "will be responsible for the representation of the foundation promoting the importance of education and leadership within the Hispanic community...(Her) professional and educational experience complements the continuous commitment to bringing empowerment, resources and educational opportunities to the Hispanic community," WHSF wrote in a Facebook posting.

Vásquez was selected on July 20, but she will officially be recognized at the annual Mexican Fiesta three day Summerfest lakefront festival on Friday, August 23. 

Vásquez is currently an Admissions Counselor at Alverno College and is working on her Master's degree in Adult Education. She received her undergraduate degree in 2012 from Alverno. Vásquez is formerly Ms. Alverno 2011.

On May 25, 2008, Vásquez was crowned Miss St. Adalbert's (St. Adalberto) Catholic Church Festival Queen. Her parents are Esperanza and Salvador Vásquez who are originally from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.

The Ms. Mexican Fiesta Ambassador representative search was initiated three months ago, according Leticia Ramirez-Cervantes. Ramirez-Cervantes and Jasmine Medina both coordinated the new Ambassador program after a three year absence of the Miss Mexican Fiesta pageant. 

Ramirez-Cervantes stated, "Both Jasmine and I are grateful to have initiated such an empowering program for young Mexican women. Our primary goal is to showcase the impact that the Wisconsin Hispanic Scholarship Foundation has on our community, and open the door to resources that often times Hispanic students and their parents are not aware of. In order to develop strong Hispanic women leaders, we need role models who they can identify with. Both Jasmine and I have a graduate degree in Business from Alveno College and are strong advocates for the importance of higher education." To be considered for Ms. Ambassador, women have to range in age from 21 to 30 years old, be a least 25% of Mexican descent, enrolled in college or college graduate, bilingual, would like to become a role model, likes networking events, community service, public speaking and an aspiring professional in the Hispanic community, according to Ramirez-Cervantes.

In brief, Erica Hernández, was crowned Miss Mexican Fiesta in 2009. At the time, she was a student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee when she won the title. Her parents are from Zacatecas, Mexico. Erica was the last queen in 2009 to compete and reign as Miss Mexican Fiesta.

WHSF according to its mission statement, it "Provides a cultural and educational environment to enhance and improve academic success of the Hispanic Community while promoting a better understanding of the arts, history, literature, and perpetuation of Hispanic culture.
WHSF assists in opening opportunities for advancement of the quality of life among Hispanics."

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