Hispanic Chamber Moving to Bethlehem

From the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: ) - Alvaro A. Diaz, Executive Director of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of the L.V. (HCCLV), announces partnership with the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce and the move of the HCCLV office from Allentown to a new location in Bethlehem, as of February 1, 2012. The office is located at the Main Street Commons Building, at the heart of the Bethlehem business district. The move was facilitated through the strategic partnership that HCCLV established this year with the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce (GLVCC), which allows HCCLV tapping on resources and logistical expertise from GLVCC and enhances the diversity footprint of GLVCC in the Valley. The Hispanic Chamber is in the process of launching a new website to help better serve its members. The office move “places us literally at the center of the Lehigh Valley with easy access to our current members, as well as to potential new members in the bustling Southside of Bethlehem”, Diaz commented. A press conference will be held on Monday, February 27th at the Hotel Bethlehem, 437 Main Street, Bethlehem, PA at 3:00 PM and following a ribbon cutting at the new Chamber office at located at 561 Main Street, Suite 245, Bethlehem, PA. at 3:30 pm.

HCCLV was created with the purpose of advancing the commercial, industrial and professional interests of all its members, especially its Latino members, in the Lehigh Valley. Founded in 2003 as a separate and independent chamber of commerce, HCCLV accomplishes its mission by focusing on three key principles: Advocacy, Business Development and Community Development. HCCLV, through its Fe Foundation, provides entrepreneurial training and internships to high school students in the Lehigh Valley.

HCCLV to Offer Lowest Costing Health Insurance in Lehigh Valley

Over the last five years in Pennsylvania, health insurance costs have skyrocketed 75% while our average wage has only gone up 13%. Northampton County has been hit hard; 15.4% of all adults are uninsured. That's almost twice as high as neighboring Lehigh County. Throughout the state, 767,000 adults have no insurance, even though 77% of them have jobs.

The pols all point fingers at each other and do mass mailings and robo calls. But things just get worse. Fortunately, Lehigh Valley's Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (HCCLV) is actually doing something for its members. Tomorrow, HCCLV and Aetna Insurance will announce the area’s most comprehensive healthcare plan at the lowest cost for businesses in the Lehigh Valley. Broker of record for this new healthcare alliance is The Equinox Agency, a longtime HCCLV member.

HCCLV, now chaired by Lina Garcia , is the largest Hispanic organization in the state, serving 334 businesses with 3,000 employees. My thanks to board member Lázaro Fuentes for making me aware of this attempt to provide health care coverage.

LáZorro, Latino Border Fox, Lashes Out at Pawlowski

He calls himself LáZorro (with an á, damn it!).

He's the Latino Border Fox. Last night, he crashed through my window and into my estate, slicing gigatic Zs over all of my servants. When he finally reached me, he pinned this essay to my chest, and demanded that I publish it today ... or he'll return with illegal immigrants!!! ¿Que no?

It's his reaction to yesterday's post about Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski, who takes free meals from at least one publicly subsidized restaurant, while stiffing their servers.

LáZorro (with an á, damn it!) even wrote it in English!

The Mayor’s snub of two waitresses is a perfect metaphor for his snub of the entire community who put him in office. That includes us - the Latino community. He promised his administration would diversify - from its police force to its public services - to reflect the community. But he continues to appoint the same people who have failed to solve Allentown's problems. When we have taken him to task, his response is “I cannot find anyone”.

When he enlisted my help - very early in his tenure - I sent him a list of names. But he instead installed political lackeys. He has mistreated even those closest to him during his campaign. His “unnamed” Latino lawyer buddy, who went to bat for him throughout the campaign, was passed over as solicitor. And how about his buddy Fred Bañuelos (that’s with an ñ, damn it!). He worked with him for years with the Alliance for Building Communities, but the mayor threw him under a LANTA bus, like a professional bowler.

I won’t even go into how he lobbed the whole community under the bus, no pun intended (it is intended actually), when he would not speak up for them or do anything about LANTA’s disruption of necessary bus services. Of course, he flip-flopped when the tide turned after a steady barrage of criticism (with a little help from your friends, ;-). Pawlowski is a legend in his and his contractor buddies' minds, but is no hero to Allentown's working poor. In the words of the young girl in distress in the Latin series El Chapulin Colorado, “Y ahora quien podra ayudarnos” or “Now who will come to our rescue...”
Who will come to Allentown’s rescue when the next election comes around? What Democrat has the Chutzpah to take on the Butz’ of the world who have gained so much with their wonderboy?

Who is this masked man? LáZorro (with an á, damn it!) is also known as Lázaro Fuentes, a venture capitalist who chairs the Lehigh Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Pennsylvania's largest Hispanic organization. It includes 318 businesses that employ over 2,550 people with over 12,500 family and extended family members right here in the Lehigh Valley.

PBS 39 Offers Special Programming For Hispanic Heritage Month

PBS 39 has sent me a press release announcing special programming during Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 to October 15, 2007. let me share it with you.

(Lehigh Valley, PA) September 12, 2007-- From comedian George Lopez to artist Diego Rivera, PBS will present a number of broadcast premieres and encore presentations that recognize the cultural, historical and societal impact of America's growing Hispanic community. The programs air during Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated each year from September 15 - October 15.

AMERICAN MASTERS, which pioneered the television biography genre, continues to offer insightful profiles of important figures in America's artistic and cultural life.

"Orozco: Man of Fire," Wednesday, September 19, 2007, 9 - 10 p.m.
This is the vibrant story of an artist whose dramatic life, iconoclastic personality and dynamic painting changed the way we see art and politics.

"Rivera in America," Wednesday, September 19, 2007, 10 - 11 p.m.
Considered the greatest Mexican painter of the 20th century, Diego Rivera had a profound effect on the international art world. In a series of visits to America from 1930 to 1940, Rivera brought his unique vision to public spaces and galleries, enlightening and inspiring artists and laymen alike.

BROWN IS THE NEW GREEN: GEORGE LOPEZ AND THE AMERICAN DREAM
Friday, September 28, 2007, 10 - 11 p.m.
Latinos, the nation's largest and fastest-growing minority group, are big business. This smart, fast- paced program examines how efforts to profit from this group are shaping the contemporary Latino identity. The documentary's focal point is George Lopez, an icon and advocate for Latinos' move into the mainstream.

MAYA & MIGUELMonday thru Thursday, continuing series with NEW episodes, 7 - 7:30 a.m. In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month and the launch of their highly anticipated fourth season, MAYA & MIGUEL and Scholastic Media are declaring the month of October MAYA & MIGUEL'S "Latin Fun Fiesta." Beginning Monday, October 1, a new episode of the returning series will premiere each day through October 10.

Mayfair Unfair to Allentown's Low Income Population

Driving through the heart of Allentown to attend Mayfair, I was impressed by its large and lively Latino population, who seemed to enjoy the warm Saturday evening. Families promenaded along Hamilton Street, and a "gang" of about 5 kids pelted each other with buckets of water.

Well, those kids had more fun than me. Like Team Bush, Mayfair officials seem intent on keeping out the very Latinos I saw in inner city Allentown. Team Bush wants to build a 7 million mile fence around the US, and Mayfair officials surrounded their fair with an ugly chain link fence. They also charged $5 admission. I can't tell you whether they made you speak a few English phrases or produce citizenship papers because I hopped the fence as well as Jim Gregory, not too shabby for an old fart. I'm used to evading metal detectors at Easton's courthouse, so this was a snap!

I walked from one end of the fair to the other, saw about 7 or 8 Latinos, and they were the ones picking up garbage. Way to go, Allentown! In the spirit of diversity, "English only" Allentown was serving tacos served by cute blue-eyed blondes and did have a Caribbean stand with fake palm trees. Now you're going to say, "Wait a tic! There was a Latino radio station on Friday night!" To this, I respond, "Yeah, and some of my best friends are black."

The National Guard was one of Mayfair's heralded "artisans," with a rock-climbing wall for the kiddies. I think they were setting up a machine gun firing range as I left. For some reason, no stands were set aside for the artisans from LEPOCO, our local peace group. They probably couldn't afford the entrance fee.

In its heavy coverage of this event, the normally progressive Morning Call failed even to hint this festival might discriminate against Allentown's large low-income population, much of which is Hispanic. Well, its reporters may not have noticed. But as The Morning Call itself acknowledged in an editorial promotion, it's also a corporate sponsor, which explains its heavy positive spin. And let's face it, Allentown's Hispanic population reads some Spanish paper anyway.

What really kills me is that, not only did The Morning Call sponsor an event that was fenced to keep out the peasants, but the state also kicked in $50,000, thanks to two state reps. anxious to keep their jobs.

If Mayfair officials want to make money next year, I have a suggestion. Charge people who want to leave; they'll pay anything.

TUESDAY UPDATE

Mateo Braccili, who owns the Lehigh Valley's only Hispanic radio station, WHOL 1600 AM, was kind enough to assure me that, at least on Friday night, Mayfair had a large Hispanic contingent.

"As the owner of the largest and only full-time Spanish media, WHOL "Hola 1600am," I wanted to respond to your comments. MayFair dedicated an entire day to Hispanic's on Friday. Our radio station was the host for several Latino acts beginning at 4:00 pm - 10:30pm. Even though the weather did not cooperate, we managed to attract nearly 1,000 local Hispanics to our main concert event. MayFair also reached out to us to coordinate other events for the weekend as well.

"MayFair was at risk of not happening at all this year. It has become too expensive for the city and festival coordinators to present. The difficult decision of charging admission was necessary in order to continue the event. This was the case last year as well. Our radio station was among only a few chosen to help MayFair with entertainment.

"My suggestion for you is to attend MayFair next year on the day they dedicate to Hispanics. You will feel much better!

"I appreciate your thoughts and concerns. You obviously share the same passion about the Hispanic culture as we do."

I thank Mr. Braccili for his comments.