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HAAB Minutes 04/26/2001 Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board Minutes April 26, 2001 HISPANIC AFFAIRS ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES OF MEETING of April 26, 2001 PRESENT: ABSENT: David Correa, HAAB Member Frank Loney, HAAB Member Sofia Pagan, HAAB Member Robert Pina, HAAB Member Elvin Santiago, HAAB Member Ramiro Maiialich, Chief Assistant County Attorney and HAAB Staff Liaison Leo Cardona, HAAB Member Pete Cade, HAAB Member Al so Present: Victor Valdes, Editor, Las Naciones News Yolanda Cisneros Susan Calkins The April 26, 2001 meeting of the Collier County Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board (HAAB) took place at the Golden Gate Community Center and began at approximately 7: 12 P.M. A quorum of six (6) members was present. A motion was made by Elvin Santiago to approve the minutes of the March 22, 2001 meeting and the motion was seconded by Frank Loney. A unanimous vote of 6 to 0 occurred in favor of approving the minutes with corrections to the names of Mr. Pina and Ms. Cisneros where mentioned in the minutes. The other correction in the minutes was to note that Elvin Santiago was absent at the March meeting. There was a discussion regarding Mr. Santiago's absence in March. A motion was made by Frank Loney to consider the absence an excused absence and the motion was seconded by David Correa. There was a 6 to 0 vote in favor of the motion. The excusal of Mr. Santiago's absence was based on a misunderstanding as to whether the meetings were to be held on the last or the fourth Thursday of each month. It was also clarified at this time that the intent was to have the meeting on the fourth Thursday of each month. Interview of Applicants for Membership on the Hispanic Affairs Advisorv Board The Hispanic Board proceeded to interview applicants for membership on the HAAB. The first was Yolanda Cisneros. Chairman Correa introduced her. She stated that she lives in Immokalee and is involved in organizations and in the community. Yolanda indicated that she wants to be an active participant in the HAAB. She commented that she had seen the HAAB do positive things. She has been a patient advocate of East Point Hospital. That job will not conflict with her services on the Board. Mr. Victor Valdes, Editor, Las Naciones News stated that he had known Yolanda for some time and that she works hard for Hispanics and for the community and recommended her for appointment to the board. A motion was made by Frank Loney to recommend Yolanda for the longer HAAB term now available. Elvin Santiago seconded the motion and a vote of 6 to 0 in favor of the motion occurred. Susan Calkins was the next interviewee. She explained that she has taught sociology and anthropology. Cultural and social diversity are part of those subjects of study. She stated that she is not Hispanic but that she has skills and perspectives which will be valuable to the Hispanic community. She wants the Hispanic community to be heard by the county and for the county to respond. She believes that there are issues of minorities and the institutions. She mentioned that she has previously organized forums in the community. She values multi-ethnic communities as a year-around resident. She speaks a small amount of Spanish. A brief discussion was held by the members regarding the role of the HAAB and prior activities of the HAAB. A motion was made by Elvin Santiago, seconded by Robert Pina, to recommend Ms. Calkins for an appointment. The vote was 6 to 0 in favor of the motion. Staff liaison, Ramiro Mafialich reminded the Board members of the attendance requirements in the HAAB ordinance. He explained that member Leo Cardona has had many absences due to schedule conflicts. David Correa commented that he believed that medical studies were interfering with Leo's attendance. David Correa stated that Leo Cardona is a good person, but that he must be replaced under the terms of the ordinance, as his presence is needed at the meetings. Elvin Santiago made a motion to declare a vacancy, which was seconded by Frank Loney. The vote was 6 to 0 to approve the motion. Cinco De Mavo Discussion The members discussed whether or not the HAAB should have a formal presence at the Cinco De Mayo celebration in Immokalee. Frank Loney mentioned that perhaps Las Naciones News could carry information about the HAAB to those in the community who will be interested in the celebration. However, he commented that he thought it was too late this year for the HAAB to attempt to organize a meeting at the festival. Yolanda Cisneros mentioned that there is a fee to set up a booth at the festival. Some HAAB members said that they might be able to attend the event individually. It was thought that 2 next year would be a better time to have a formal organized HAAB presence at the festival. Frank Loney thought that it would be appropriate to begin in January to organize for the May event. Yolanda Cisneros indicated that she would explore organizational efforts on behalf of the HAAB for next year. Farm Worker Issues HAAB members discussed past failed efforts to convince the Board of County Commissioners to become involved in the farm worker issues. Staff Liaison Ramiro Mafialich informed the Board members that Farm Worker Representative Lucas Benitez had indicated the continuing interest of his organization for having the assistance of the HAAB and of the Board of County Commissioners regarding the farm worker issues. Frank Loney thought that that the HAAB should send correspondence in support of the farm worker to the Board of County Commissioners. He also suggested that there be a meeting in Immokalee about this subject. It was decided by the HAAB members that on Wednesday, May 23, 2001, at 7:00 p.m. at the Immokalee Community Park that a meeting would be held to discuss farm worker issues. Elvin Santiago commented that he is aware that the growers face pressures from the Economic Free Trade Treaties which have recently been passed and the low overseas wages and lack of environmental controls which allow foreign countries to produce fruits and vegetables at lower prices. He also thought that there were some isolated situations where Hispanics are taking advantage of other Hispanics in this industry. Frank Loney commented that he had observed many inhumane conditions in the general community of Immokalee and in this particular industry. Robert Pina questioned why there are not strict housing standard regulations in Immokalee because such regulations exist in other states. Census/Elections A brief discussion was held by the Board members regarding the recent census data as it relates to Hispanics and the voting patterns for Hispanics in Collier County. Elvin Santiago mentioned that it is obvious that there is too small of a percentage of minority voting in the County. David Correa stated that there was a need to educate and get Hispanics to vote and participate in the political process. Frank Loney suggested using the churches to get voter registration efforts in place. However, he observed that such efforts have had very little success in the past. He mentioned that perhaps the availability of voter registration information at grocery stores would be of assistance. He also suggested that all minorities should work together on the voter registration efforts and not just concentrate on individual nationalities. The Board asked Liaison Ramiro Maiialich to invite the Elections Supervisor to discuss this topic at a future meeting. Robert Pina reminded the members that there is an affordable housing workshop at the Board of County Commissioners meeting room on May 15. 3 Valdes/Sheriff Issues David Correa asked the members if there were additional concerns regarding the previous months discussions and presentations by Mr. Valdes and the Collier County Sheriff. On this point, Mr. Valdes commented that he has many issues still pending with the Sheriff. He referenced the letter from the Governor's Office to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement regarding investigation of the Collier County Sheriff's Office. He says that the investigation was flawed because the investigator did not want to review exhibits or the entire list of witnesses that Mr. Valdes provided. In fact, Mr. Valdes claims that 90% of the witnesses were not interviewed. He says that the investigator only looked at issues regarding Deputy Edison and not the broader corruption and misconduct allegations which Mr. Valdes has raised in the past. Mr. Valdes commented that, in 1989, he presented allegations to the sheriff and offered proof. He says that Attorney Melinda Riddle and other community business people also approached the sheriff. Mr. Valdes mentioned that his upcoming forum would layout evidence previously presented to the sheriff. Mr. Valdes stated that he also has a lawsuit against the sheriff because of 12 arrests and 11 no action results stemming from those arrests against him. Mr. Valdes briefly mentioned the Federal Court trial which he has pending and a video which had been used to prosecute him. Mr. Valdes stated that he would defend himself against the video and peIjury charge which are pending against him. He said that his civil case is currently on hold. He says that the tape which is the subject of the perjury charge was suspiciously in the custody of the police officer at the officer's home for a period of five years. He says the tape was not produced in discovery. Mr. Valdes concluded by inviting the HAAB to attend his upcoming forum regarding civil rights violations in Collier County. He also requested that the HAAB review the information and proof which he has produced in the past and has summarized in his Las Naciones Newspaper. The bottom line, according to Mr. Valdes, is that the sheriff knew that the Edison corruption was going on and that the sheriff did nothing. Instead, Mr. Valdes claims that the sheriff's office harassed him. Commissioner Coletta Correspondence Liaison Ramiro Mafialich made the members aware of correspondence received from Collier County Commissioner Jim Coletta about the Hispanic Board. A copy of said letter is attached. In regard to Mr. Coletta's letter, member Pina clarified that his comments in the previous minutes referred to by Mr. Coletta's letter merely had to do with affordable housing. His point was since there was no funding from the county there were also no federal dollars being received. The HAAB requested Liaison Ramiro Mafialich to thank Commissioner Coletta for his interest in attending a future HAAB meeting and to coordinate for that to occur. The meeting of the HAAB adjourned at approximately 9:05 p.m. 4 Prepared by: Ramiro Mafialich, Chief Assistant County Attorney and HAAB Staff Liaison Approved by the Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board on this ~ay of :::Fvlf'l ~ 2001. CjJa4J~ David Correa, Chairman 5