Commentary

<p><strong>New America Media</strong></p>
<p>Given the jockeying that goes on to get mentioned in a State of the Union speech, it is not surprising that insiders pushing the immigration reform agenda celebrated success. Their issue made it into the speech, reaffirming that the president’s commitment remains alive and well.</p>

<p><strong>78th District</strong></p>
<p>To anyone living in California it should come as no surprise that now, perhaps more than ever, we are faced with immense challenges to our higher education infrastructure. As a lifelong educator I know this isn’t simple rhetoric but a candid assessment of a daunting future that lies ahead not only for our state’s education system, but for California’s economic future.</p>

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<p>To add insult to injury to working America, in came the earnings reports from Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase. At these mega banks, balance sheets are healthy, profits are up and bonuses for top executives are bigger than ever. JPMorgan Chase just reported $11.7 billion in profits and $26.9 billion in compensation and bonuses. Goldman Sachs made a record-high profit of $13.4 billion in 2009 and is slated to hand out $16.2 billion in compensation and bonuses.</p>

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<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; For months, pundits in Washington have been dying to write the obituary for comprehensive immigration reform. Predictably, they’re using (last) Tuesday night’s special election in Massachusetts as a chance to do just that. But what they overlook is that immigration may well be one of the few issues where a bipartisan breakthrough is possible.</p>

Commentary:
By: Jessica J. Gonzalez and Parul P. Desai

   We all seem to agree broadband is vital to the success of the Latino community. Broadband Internet access allows people of color to tell our own stories fairly and accurately, and to pursue educational, occupational and social opportunities that are only available over the web.

<p><strong>New America Media</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; Children Now’s recently released 2010 California Report Card: Setting the Agenda for Children assigned the state a “D” for K-12 education. As we all know—whether as parents, students, teachers or employers—a D is unacceptable and should be met with a clear plan for intervention and improvement.</p>

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<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; A recent Field poll found that for the past three years, Californians have reported being worse off financially than the previous year. This latest finding is a reflection of concerns about the Golden State’s general direction as well as the state of its economy.</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; Indeed, as Sacramento’s 2010 budget negotiations get underway, lawmakers are again looking for ways to bridge yet another $20 billion chasm.</p>

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<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; The heartbreaking devastation of Haiti shows again that as deadly as Mother Nature can be when acting alone, she is far more lethal when she conspires with poverty. The immediate cause of the deaths of the hundreds of thousands Haitians was the earthquake, but most of those people might be alive today if Haiti weren’t poor. And why is Haiti poor? Because for centuries foreign and domestic tyrants exploited the Haitian people and blocked their routes out of poverty.</p>

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<p>Mexican Americans made political history 40 years ago when, on Jan. 17, 1970, they founded their own independent political party in Crystal City, Texas. They called it “La Raza Unida Party” — or, translated, “The United People’s Party.”</p>
<p>A look back at this party can give us clues about where we need to go today.</p>

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<p>Imagine secret jails.</p>
<p>People crowded together with no place&nbsp;to sit.</p>
<p>Denied showers for weeks.</p>
<p>Forced to sleep on the floor.</p>
<p>No water.</p>
<p>Desperate families unable to locate their loved ones.</p>
<p>Legal assistance almost impossible to access because lawyers don’t know where their clients are.</p>
<p>Government officials bragging about disappearing people.</p>