Mexican masticators decide - spit or swallow?

Apparently Mexico City’s government is giving up on its efforts to curb kidnappers and murderers and is instead targeting the real criminals: gum chewers.

Now Mexico is responding with innovations ranging from expensive sidewalk steam-cleaners to natural chewing gum that breaks down quickly. It's even telling its citizens (gulp!) to swallow their gum.

The general in the war on discarded chewing gum is Ricardo Jaral, Mexico City's director for conservation of public spaces. He bemoans the blackened gobs that mar the newly restored 700-year-old downtown area and litter the lovely but porous hand-chiseled sidewalks along the city's main boulevard.

He has purchased a fleet of German machines that clean sidewalks with steam and chemicals, and is looking at launching a public-awareness campaign.

Methinks señor Jaral is trying a little too hard to emulate Rudy Giuliani’s campaign against “quality-of-life” crimes during his time as New York City mayor. (Is it no coincidence that Giuliani served years ago as a consultant in a mostly failed attempt to lower crime in the Mexican capital?)

Image- Univision
Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, MSNBC, CBS News

Video of the Day: Obama en español

It was bound to happen:

In the above ad, Congressman Luis Gutierrez does most of the Spanish-language narration calling Obama a “leader of immigration reform” who will “construct a better future”.

Obama isn’t the only hopeful to issue Spanish-language ads; Hillary Clinton aired a radio ad last year and soon-to-be former candidate Rudy Giuliani issued this commercial.

(Hat tip: The Daily Dish).

Sources- The Daily Dish, The Border Line, Associated Press, Guanabee

Florida Latino Republicans Choose McCain

Republican Senator John McCain won the Republican Florida primary yesterday, taking all of the state's 57 delegates. Mitt Romney came in second, and former NYC Mayor Rudolph Giuliani came in a sad third, despite focusing all his recent campaigning there.

With 73 percent of precincts reporting, McCain had 36 percent of the vote, compared to 31 percent for Romney.

With it's large Cuban community, all eyes were on the Latino vote. Half of voters who self-identified as Cubans voted for McCain and 10 percent voted for Romney. The Latino vote made up 10 percent of the vote in the GOP primary.

Source : CNN

GOP hopefuls seek Cuban exile support in Florida

Several Republican presidential hopefuls have eyed the Cuban exile vote in Florida as critical in winning the state’s primary a week from today. Though the national Latino vote leans towards the rival Democrats, the Cuban-American voting bloc has been strongly Republican and they are expected to make a difference during the closed primary.

Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani has focused most of his resources to winning in Florida and he has been actively campaigning there for weeks. He appeared in a Spanish-language ad being played across the state despite his October campaign appearance at a Philadelphia “English-only” steak stand. While other candidates stumped in New Hampshire and Michigan, Giuliani spoke at a Hispanic evangelical Christian church in Miami and held a campaign rally at a Three Kings Day Parade in the Little Havana neighborhood.

Senator John McCain appeared in Little Havana yesterday while flanked by Cuban-American legislators Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Lincoln Diaz-Balart. As he sipped a cortadito at the famed Versailles restaurant, McCain called Hugo Chavez “a threat” to the Americas and said that he would open an investigation against Fidel Castro. However, McCain was ambiguous when asked about the possibility of changing U.S. travel restrictions on Cuba.

Recent poll numbers have given ex-Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney a slight lead in Florida over McCain and Giuliani. Yet Romney is also courting the Cuban exile vote via his bilingual son Craig who narrated an ad in Spanish.

Unlike the other Republican candidates mentioned above, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee has placed little emphasis on Florida and is campaigning elsewhere.

Image- New York Daily News (John McCain drinks Cuban coffee during an appearance in Miami yesterday)

Sources- South Florida Sun-Sentinel, MiamiHerald.com, Guanabee, Wonkette, CBS News, Baltimore Sun, Associated Press, The Latin Americanist, New York Daily News

Video of the Day: Rudy vs. Romney

Wednesday evening’s CNN/YouTube Republican debate featured a contentious quarrel over immigration between presidential hopefuls Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney. Conservative blogger Andrew Sullivan observed the exchange as “great theater” and bemoaned “the anti-illegal immigrant anger - the tone of it more than anything else.”

(Video link):

Sources- Associated Press, The Daily Dish, YouTube

Giuliani repeats call to end illegal immigration

Presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani reiterated his promise to halt all illegal immigration in the U.S. According the former New York City mayor during a visit near the U.S.-Mexico border on Monday:

“If we had the national will, we could end illegal immigration and expand legal immigration,” he said.

Giuliani’s remarks were very similar to those made in August at a campaign appearance in Iowa.

While in Texas, the Republican candidate also expressed his support for building a “virtual fence” along the U.S.’ southern border which would be “open to people who come in, who have identified themselves and want to participate in building America.” He also hit back at allegations that he has taken a hypocritical stance on immigration in that the Big Apple was a “sanctuary city” during his tenure as mayor.

As we’ve noted previously, numerous political and business leaders in border towns have opposed the construction of a border fence and believe that there are more feasible alternatives.

Sources- Brownsville Herald, The Latin Americanist, New York Daily News, AHN, KGBT, International Herald Tribune

Image- KVEO

Has “Giuliani time” worked in Mexico City?

Last week an estimated 15,000 street vendors in Mexico City were forcibly removed to be relocated to anther part of the city. Despite claims of losing their businesses, the measure was done as Mayor Marcelo Ebard’s plan to “improve quality of life” throughout the city.

Four years ago former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani was hired as a consultant to lower crime in Mexico City. One of Giuliani’s main claims to fame as Big Apple mayor was promoting a “civility campaign” against jaywalkers, panhandlers, and street vendors. From an NPR report in 1998:

“(Mayor Giuliani’s) targets have moved from squeegee men, to jay walkers, to sex shops in Times Square, to taxi drivers...and now to food vendors. Some New Yorkers think the mayor is targeting immigrant groups out of national political ambitions... others say it's about time New York had a strong mayor who's unafraid to take charge.”

Since the implementation of “Plan Giuliani” some capitalinos have been unimpressed. Crime rates have diminished by about 8% though a 2006 safety report observed that the categories of murder, rape and robbery are 3-4 times greater than those indices in New York City or Los Angeles.

Ebard’s initiatives on street vendors seem to indicate that he has taken Giuliani’s advice to heart. Whether this means a significant improvement to daily life in Mexico City remains to be seen.

Sources- AFP, BBC News, New York Times, NPR, The Latin Americanist, Seattle Times, Overseas Security Advisory Council

Image- BBC News (Rudy Giuliani during a 2003 visit to Mexico City)

Giuliani at Geno’s to denounce illegal immigration

Presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani visited Philadelphia cheesesteak stand Geno’s yesterday as part of a campaign stop. While at Geno’s the former New York City mayor condemned illegal immigration while defending ongoing accusations of flip-flopping on the issue.

Yet Giuliani’s appearance at Geno’s was far from coincidental; in June 2006, stand owner Joey Vento controversially entered the immigration debate:

“A sign in a landmark Philadelphia restaurant asking customers to order in English is sparking controversy in the metropolis known as the "City of Brotherly Love."

The owner of Geno's Steaks said...that the sign, "This is America -- when ordering speak English," is intended to encourage immigrants to learn the language and assimilate into U.S. society.”

A discrimination case by Philly's human relations commission is pending against Geno's, though Vento has claimed that no customers have been turned away on the basis of language. In the meantime, the stand has turned into a “right-wing rallying ground” attracting the likes of former Senator Rick Santorum.

Geno’s is located in the South Philadelphia area which has had a rapidly growing Mexican population over the past decade.

During a speech in Iowa in August, Giuliani promised to “end illegal immigration” should he win the presidency.

Sources- New York Daily News, CBS News, VivirLatino, Associated Press, Philadelphia Daily News, The Latin Americanist, citypaper.net

Image- Philadelphia Daily News (Joey Vento and Rudy Giuliani engage in a warm embrace at Geno’s)

Road to the “Casa Blanca” – Tidbits on the U.S. presidential candidates

* In an editorial piece in the Miami Herald, Barack Obama advocated modifying the U.S. embargo towards Cuba by easing restrictions on travel and remittances. "The primary means we have of encouraging positive change in Cuba today is to help the Cuban people become less dependent on the Castro regime in fundamental ways," wrote Obama while also criticizing the Bush administration’s “posturing” towards the island.

* Mitt Romney strengthened his anti-immigration stance in a new radio ad that will air in Iowa and New Hampshire. In the ad (which can be accessed here), Romney takes aim at Rudy Giuliani by calling New York City one of several “sanctuary cities... that encourage illegal immigration and undermine secure borders.”

* Speaking of anti-immigration rhetoric, Tom Tancredo encouraged the families of three teens killed on August 4^th to sue the government of Newark, New Jersey. Much like Romney’s ad, Tancredo blamed Newark as a “sanctuary city” for illegal immigrants after at least one of the suspects in the slayings was without papers.

* So far only one of the Republican candidates has confirmed his presence to a Spanish-language debate next month: Senator John McCain. As we mentioned in June, the televised debate will air on Univision on September 16th for Republicans and one week before that for Democratic candidates.

* An aid for Bill Richardson quit last week after it was revealed that she used to work for a Nevada brothel. "We did not know about all of this," admitted a spokesman for the Latino governor of New Mexico.

Sources- AHN, USA TODAY – On Politics, CNN, Asbury Park Press, NJ.com, USA TODAY, The Latin Americanist, Modesto Bee

Image- Destination360

Daily Headlines: August 20, 2007

* Follow-up #1: Puerto Rican reggaeton musicians Calle 13 (image) and Voltio released a song last week condemning the death of an unarmed man at the hands of police on the island.

* Follow-up #2: New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg refused to comment on ex-mayor Rudy Giuliani’s recent remarks to “end illegal immigration” if elected president.

* Which is the better form of ethanol: that which is derived from sugar or corn?

* Trade, sovereignty claims, and drugs are some of the main topics that will be discussed during a two-day mini-summit starting today between the heads of state of Canada, Mexico, and the U.S.

* Financial difficulties have led to the shutdown of Puerto Rico’s prestigious winter baseball league.

* Delegates at an Amnesty International conference in Mexico support changing the human rights group’s neutral stance on abortion.

* Chinese officials confirmed that a summit between business leaders from China and Latin America will take place this November in Chile.

Sources (Spanish)- El Diario/La Prensa

Sources (English)- The Latin Americanist, SI.com, BBC News, SignOnSanDiego.com, International Herald Tribune, People’s Daily Online, Newsweek

Image- Batanga

Giuliani vows to “end illegal immigration”

During a campaign appearance yesterday in Iowa, presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani promised to “end illegal immigration.” The former New York City mayor made the statement as he unveiled his plan to control illegal immigration that would include expanding on Congress’ plans to build a barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border and creating a national database of all noncitizens.

Giuliani’s stance on immigration has attracted criticism, particularly from fellow candidate Mitt Romney who accused Giuliani of leading a “sanctuary city” for illegal immigrants during his time as mayor. While Romney has his own issues with flip-flopping over abortion he may be on to something with Giuliani’s immigration position:

“‘Some of the hardest-working and most productive people in this city are undocumented aliens,’ Giuliani said in 1994. ‘If you come here and you work hard and you happen to be in an undocumented status, you're one of the people who we want in this city.’

Two years later, when asked his view of a Suffolk County bill to make English the official language, he responded, ‘There's no reason to pass a bill like this, except maybe to exclude people, insult people or offend people.’”

Giuliani was opposed to a bipartisan Congressional compromise bill over immigration that has so far been defeated.

Sources- ABC News, Newsday, Guardian UK, Washington Blade, New York Daily News, The Latin Americanist

Image- El Diario/La Prensa

Daily Headlines (bulldog edition): July 19, 2007

Note: Sorry for the lack of posts on Wednesday; today’s heavy thunderstorms around The Latin Americanist HQ wreaked havoc on our internet connection.

In the meantime, here’s an expanded bulldog edition of tomorrow’s “Daily Headlines” while fellow contributor Alison takes over most blogging duties for Thursday and Friday.

* Obviously, the lede story in the Americas has to do with Tuesday night’s deadly crash of TAM Airlines flight 3054 in Sao Paulo, Brazil which may have killed an estimated 200 people. The airliner- which carried 170 people- skidded on the runway upon landing at Congonhas National Airport before crashing into a warehouse and gas station (image).

While investigators look over the wreckage, blame is spreading as to who is at fault for the crash:

• The pilot of the ill-fated flight may have tried to abort the landing before eventually going through with it.
• Folha Online has audio clips of the confused and chaotic scenes surrounding the first responders to the crash.
• On Monday (one day before the crash) another airliner nearly skidded off the same runway at Congonhas and a civil defense official dismissed any blame on the supposedly short runway.

* Argentines solemnly recalled today as the 13^th anniversary of the Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires. 85 people were killed in the explosion which has been blamed on Hezbollah and the Iranian government.

* Presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani focused on Latin America during a speech in South Florida. He saved his most harsh remarks for Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez despite former ties by Giuliani’s law firm to Chavez-controlled Citgo Petroleum.

* One of the negative consequences of the lack of immigration reform is the large pool of underemployed immigrants working in the U.S. That is, highly skilled immigrants working in menial jobs.

* Lawyers for a former altar boy are preparing their case against Mexican Cardinal Norberto Rivera who has been accused of covering up abuse allegations. Also named in the lawsuit is Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahoney who agreed to a $660 million settlement with abuse victims.

* The Vatican continues its criticism of Roman Catholic bishop Fernando Lugo’s candidacy for president of Paraguay. However the so-called “Bishop of the Poor” easily leads all the other candidates according to recent poll numbers.

* Mexico’s government wants the U.S. to take a more active role in preventing gun smuggling across the border. This includes arms such as a semiautomatic weapons colloquially called “police killers.”

Sources (English)- Bloomberg, The Latin Americanist, Gothamist, International Herald Tribune, ABC News, Reuters, Guardian UK, Yahoo! News, Catholic World News, Monsters & Critics, MSNBC, Latina Viva, CNN, Wikipedia, Christian Science Monitor

Sources (Portuguese)- Folha Online

Image- BBC News

Mexico City residents unhappy with Giuliani plan

In 2003, a security firm run by former New York City mayor and current presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani was hired by Mexico City businessmen to help combat crime there. He even traveled to Mexico’s capital (image) under great hype and declared that:

“‘Although there are differences [between Mexico City and New York]... the situation in some ways is very similar’. But, he said, ‘this is still the beginning of a long process.’”

Fast forward four years later and “capitalinos” are upset with the lack of progress against crime in Mexico City and see Giuliani as one of the reasons for that. According to a report today in NY1, crime is one the rise in Mexico City and doubts linger over Giuliani's impact despite the promise anticipated by business leaders and civilians alike. One criminologist interviewed for the report claimed that “what Giuliani sold was a myth.”

Mind you, the displeasure with Giuliani’s company is not a new development; as early as 2005, former Mexico City officials were disappointed with Giuliani Partners:

“‘They were not prepared, not at all,’ said another former Mexico City police official who worked closely with the Giuliani team, Antonio Rendon. ‘They weren't consultants, they were retired policemen. And they were trying to organize another police force, but not with a methodology or a clear idea.’”

Image- USA TODAY

Sources- BBC News, NY1, New York Sun

Giuliani opposes immigration compromise

Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani (image) broke his silence on the bipartisan congressional proposal on immigration and expressed his opposition to it. The former New York City mayor believed that the deal is misguided in its goal:

“We need to know everyone who's in the United States who comes here from a foreign country. That has to be the goal of our immigration law. If you make that the objective of your law, you will clear up a lot of the confusion that presently exists both in our present immigration law and in what Congress is trying to do right now, which kind of goes in 10 different directions without any central focus.”

Despite rumors of flip-flopping on immigration, Giuliani joins others such as Newt Gingrich and Lou Dobbs in their opposition to the deal.

Not all Republicans have shared Giuliani’s disagreement; President George W. Bush and Senator John McCain, have led the push behind the immigration compromise.

Update: The Senate has just approved an amendment to the compromise which would reduce the cap on a possible guest worker program.

Sources- Guardian UK, The Latin Americanist, San Jose Mercury News, FOX News, CNN, ABC News, Boston.com, Houston Chronicle

Image- New York

Daily Headlines: May 22, 2007

* Miss Jamaica Zahra Redwood (image) aims to go “against what (the general public) developed as a stereotype” of Rastafarians in the week before next Tuesday’s Miss Universe pageant.

* The U.S. needs to boost its military aid to the Americas according to a senior defense official.

* “Ethnic Democrats, wherever they are, are going to be attracted to Rudy (Giuliani).” Oh really?

* Sex workers in Peru want the government to regulate their industry due to safety and health reasons.

* Leftist intellectual Noam Chomsky gives his two cents on Venezuela in this interview.

Image- Jamaica Gleaner

Sources- Sydney Morning Herald, Reuters AlertNet, Gothamist, VenezuelaAnalysis.com

Pope canonizes saint, blames media

Earlier today Pope Benedict XVI canonized Brazil’s first saint during an open-air mass in Sao Paulo attended by approximately a million followers. Saint (nee Friar) Galvao was an 18th-century Franciscan monk who was believed to have made “miraculous pills” out of prayers inscribed on bits of paper.

Reuters reports that aside from exalting Galvao, the Pope also criticized Brazilian media for “undermining family values and glamorizing sex”. Said he:

"It is necessary to oppose those elements of the media that ridicule the sanctity of marriage and virginity before marriage."

Meanwhile, remarks the pontiff made over excommunicating Mexico City politicos that back decriminalizing abortion have reverberated north of the border. U.S. presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani has tried to clarify his stance on abortion in order to “avoid a head-on confrontation” with the Pope.

Links- BBC News, CBS News, Monsters & Critics, The Latin Americanist, Newsday, Reuters AlertNet

Giuliani blasts Chavez, defends Venezuelan lobbying links

In a speech to The Latino Coalition yesterday, Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani deemed Hugo Chavez as a “dangerous” leader who would have “little power” if it weren’t for oil revenues. However, the former New York City mayor echoed previous statements defending his law firm’s ties to Citgo, which is controlled by Venezuela’s state-run oil company.

In the same speech, Giuliani rejected claims that he has taken a more right-wing stance on immigration compared to his time as mayor. According to NBC's Carrie Dann, Giuliani was:

“careful to portray the immigration debate through the prism of national security -- his strongest issue by far”.

Links- Guardian UK, Newsday, The Latin Americanist, New York Sun, New York Daily News, MSNBC- First Read

Image- FOX News

Weekly Debate: Immigration and the U.S. presidential hopefuls

Elections for the next U.S. president may be over a year away, but that doesn’t mean it’s too early to speculate. How do the main candidates stand on the immigration debate? Let’s take a look at what some of them said on their official websites and links to a few other sources.

Hillary Clinton

“I believe the Bush administration is failing to meet what should be the basic requirements of immigration policy: continuing our American tradition of welcoming immigrants who follow the rules and are trying to build a better life for their families, while strengthening national security in a post 9-11 world.

Our current immigration laws need to be reformed: we need a better solution to the question of illegal immigration which recognizes the conflict between the need to enforce the law, and the reality that too many employers are using undocumented workers today”.

(Source)

Additional links- “Immigration Debate is Shaped by ’08 Election” and “Sen. Clinton Slams GOP Immigration Bill”

Rudy Giuliani

Unfortunately, Giuliani’s website does not mention his stance on immigration. Hence, we will use the following brief analysis from OnTheIssues.org:

“Supports Senate guest worker plan & path to citizenship. (Nov 2006)”

(Source)

Additional links- “Giuliani Flip-Flops on Immigration” and “Giuliani campaigns in Newport Beach”

John McCain

“This Nation is calling for our borders to be secured and for an overhaul of our immigration system, and that it be done in a humane and comprehensive fashion. Vote after vote after vote taken in this body reaffirms that fact.

The new policies as provided for under [the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006] will increase border security and provide for a new, temporary worker program to enable foreign workers to work legally in this country when there are jobs that American workers won't fill. And, it will acknowledge and address in a humanitarian and compassionate way the current undocumented population.”

(Source)

Additional links- “Kennedy-McCain partnership falters” and “McCain modifies immigration position”

Barack Obama

“The Department of Homeland Security recognizes that identifying and deporting the 11 million undocumented workers currently in this country would be both logistically impossible and highly disruptive to the American economy. Instead of mass deportations, Senator Obama believes that Congress must pass comprehensive, compassionate reform that reaffirms the rule of law and brings the undocumented population out of hiding”.

(Source)

Additional links- “What Are the Candidates Saying About Immigration Reform? Senator Barack Obama” and “Obama: Immigrants need chance to become citizens”

Bill Richardson

“A nation of laws cannot allow millions of undocumented immigrants to live in the shadows and hundreds of thousands more to enter the country illegally every year. For decades politicians have passed laws on immigration with a wink and a nudge, with no intent of following through and making sure those laws were enforced.

For far too long, the immigration debate has been about electoral politics, not about policy. We need more honest leadership than that. We need to stop exploiting the immigration problem, and start solving it. We need to pass realistic laws and then enforce them rigorously”.

(Source)

Additional links- “Richardson Speaks Against Border Fence” and “GOP resists Bush’s immigration pitch”

Mitt Romney

“Immigration has been an important part of our nation's success. The current system, however, puts up a concrete wall to the best and brightest, yet those without skill or education are able to walk across the border. We must reform the current immigration laws so we can secure our borders, implement a mandatory biometrically enabled, tamper proof documentation and employment verification system, and increase legal immigration into America”.

(Source)

Additional links- “Mitt Romney on the issues” and “Giuliani, McCain neck and neck in SC”

So who do you think is the best candidate on the topic of immigration? Vote in our poll below and/or feel free to leave a comment. (Note: the poll closes on May 5^th).

Rudy Giuliani defends ties with Venezuela’s Citgo

Rudy Giuliani- the former mayor of New York City and front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination- defended his law firm’s ties to Venezuelan-owned petroleum firm Citgo. “What (Citgo is) doing is lawful and honorable and helping to protect jobs for more than 100,000 Americans,” said Giuliani yesterday which refuted a campaign statement made last week regarding how Giuliani’s law firm will earn as much as $250,000 lobbying for Citgo.

On a related note, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney committed several embarrassing faux pas during a speech in Miami.

Links- Guardian UK, Wonkette, Reuters

Image- CNN (Rudy Giuliani and Hugo Chavez side-by-side)