Coalition will advocate for Latino population

[richardkelsey]

Coalition will advocate for Latino population

BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer
Individuals who advocate for various issues on behalf of the region’s Latino community have announced the formation of the Latino Coalition of New Jersey (LCNJ). The coalition, which is based in Monmouth and Ocean counties, is affiliated with the statewide Latino Action Network (LAN).

Frank Argote-Freyre, of Freehold, who is the coalition’s director, said the new organization was formed by the former members of the Monmouth County chapter of the Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey (LLANJ).

The LCNJ will maintain control of programs previously run by the Monmouth County chapter of the LLANJ. Those programs include the annual Latino Festival of Monmouth County that is held in Freehold Borough.

The LCNJ will also oversee the sanctuary program in Freehold Borough, which provides breakfast and lunch for families, the working poor, and immigrant laborers on Saturdays during the winter.

Argote-Freyre said the coalition will seek to develop new programs to assist the community.

“The members feel they can do more good for the community as an independent organization rather than as a chapter of another organization,” he said. “We remain committed to many of the same issues as the (LLANJ) and hope to work in conjunction with that organization to achieve common goals.”

He said the LCNJ will continue to monitor police and local government to ensure that the civil rights of all residents are protected.

“We believe the coalition will be a more effective strategy on a local level. We will be addressing the same issues, but on a more local level. We believe we can effect more autonomy this way,” Argote-Freyre said.

The coalition will be affiliated with the statewide organization LAN.




According to Argote-Freyre, LAN is aimed at uniting New Jersey’s diverse Latino communities and promoting a public policy agenda committed to economic and political empowerment.

According to the LCNJ’s Internet website, the organization was formed to provide one voice for Latinos in Monmouth County.

The website states that the needs of Latinos from all walks of life interconnect and that as a collective unit, members of the organization can work to shape the role of Latinos in New Jersey for years to come.

The executive committee of the LCNJ will include the same individuals who made up the leadership of the Monmouth County chapter of the LLANJ.

In addition to Argote-Freyre, the executive committee of the LCNJ includes Lazaro Cardenas, deputy director; Albert De Gracia, deputy director; Angel Matos, secretary; and Ann Bagchi, treasurer. The coalition is represented by attorney Anthony Monaco of the firm Gross, Truss and Herstik, Freehold.

newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2010-07-21/Front_Page/Coalition_will_advocate_for_Latino_population.html

[adefonzo]

“The members feel they can do more good for the community as an independent organization rather than as a chapter of another organization,” he said. “We remain committed to many of the same issues as the (LLANJ) and hope to work in conjunction with that organization to achieve common goals.”

“We believe the coalition will be a more effective strategy on a local level. We will be addressing the same issues, but on a more local level. We believe we can effect more autonomy this way,” Argote-Freyre said.

The coalition will be affiliated with the statewide organization LAN.

So...they're better off forming a group that's not a part of another group...but they're still affiliated with another group....

HUH??!!

Que?

[lisas84]

Andrew, it isn't so difficult to understand. After all, a year or so ago, who the F heard of "tea partiers." Same difference. Splinter group, more intense agenda. Like this!

[BrianSullivan]

Once the LLA, still the LLA. Still not a good group for this town, and IMO, the Latino population.

[admin]

I moved this thread out of the bilingual board for lack of bilingual communication in this thread.

I do hope that having a bilingual board will help bring in new participants from our community. This site is dedicated to giving everybody who cares about Freehold a place to participate comfortably.

[adefonzo]

Jul 21, 2010 20:04:26 GMT -5 lisas84 said:

Andrew, it isn't so difficult to understand. After all, a year or so ago, who the F heard of "tea partiers." Same difference. Splinter group, more intense agenda. Like this!

I certainly understand the concept of a "splinter group"...but typically, as with the tea party movement (by and large), these splinter groups cut ties with their "former selves" and truly go for autonomy.

I found it a bit ironic that Frank Freyre talked about this autonomy that they were seeking, but in the end, they are still tied to another group...thus possibly cutting into their ability to be truly separate.

Either way, I could care less. My opinions on these groups have been stated time and again on here. What I would really like to see is someone start up a group for "Concerned Leagal American Residents". Ooooo...we can call it CLeAR!!! That worked out nicely!!

Since the illegal immigrants have their lobby groups, it's time we saw a group that lobbies on behalf of the legal residents of America. An organized, ethical, strong group that presented facts about the detrimental effects of an illegal population on towns and cities across America. Since we only seem to hear about the "wonderful aspects that a Latino population" brings to towns such as Freehold, I think it's important that people also learn about the downside of illegal immigrants...then let people choose for themselves about which side of the issue they want to agree with.

Simply put...there should be two sides to every argument...and since there are countless groups in support of illegal immigrants (even though they refuse to use that word "illegal"), there should be a couple more groups in the public light who are opposed. Kinda like the National Organization for Women or Planned Parenthood who support abortion, and the Christian Coalition who opposes it.

Both sides of any issue should have their voices heard.

[richardkelsey]

Jul 22, 2010 18:20:03 GMT -5 adefonzo said:

Jul 21, 2010 20:04:26 GMT -5 lisas84 said:

Andrew, it isn't so difficult to understand. After all, a year or so ago, who the F heard of "tea partiers." Same difference. Splinter group, more intense agenda. Like this!

I certainly understand the concept of a "splinter group"...but typically, as with the tea party movement (by and large), these splinter groups cut ties with their "former selves" and truly go for autonomy.

I found it a bit ironic that Frank Freyre talked about this autonomy that they were seeking, but in the end, they are still tied to another group...thus possibly cutting into their ability to be truly separate.

Either way, I could care less. My opinions on these groups have been stated time and again on here. What I would really like to see is someone start up a group for "Concerned Leagal American Residents". Ooooo...we can call it CLeAR!!! That worked out nicely!!

Since the illegal immigrants have their lobby groups, it's time we saw a group that lobbies on behalf of the legal residents of America. An organized, ethical, strong group that presented facts about the detrimental effects of an illegal population on towns and cities across America. Since we only seem to hear about the "wonderful aspects that a Latino population" brings to towns such as Freehold, I think it's important that people also learn about the downside of illegal immigrants...then let people choose for themselves about which side of the issue they want to agree with.

Simply put...there should be two sides to every argument...and since there are countless groups in support of illegal immigrants (even though they refuse to use that word "illegal"), there should be a couple more groups in the public light who are opposed. Kinda like the National Organization for Women or Planned Parenthood who support abortion, and the Christian Coalition who opposes it.

Both sides of any issue should have their voices heard.

I have no problem with people advocating for their causes. Any group that advocates based on race or ethnicity -- to me -- in my opinion -- only furthers racial division.

Obviously, many of the names of these people are names we have seen associated with various open-borders, pro-illegal alien groups and organizations. Again, if you want to advocate to rip down our borders and provide free access to this country for aliens, have at it.

My central gripe with most of these groups is their deliberate attempt to blend and blur the issues of legal immigrants and "illegal immigrants." Indeed, this move to place this group under the name "Latino" is just another effort to blend tow groups that really should not be blended.

Legal residents, legal immigrants, and legal guests, of any race, color or creed, are more than welcome here. Indeed, it has been my pleasure to help many such members of such groups. This country allows over 1 million legal immigrants EVERY year. We are -- and I remain -- a pro legal immigration country. (I admit that some on the right are opposed to additional legal immigration at this time. That is because we allow 500K illegal immigrants in this country every year).

If Mr. Matos, and Mr. Freyre, et al were focused on helping legal immigrants from all communities -- I would see their collective efforts as heroic. However, because they openly advocate for illegal immigrants and because they purposely conflate legal and illegal, wrapping it into a race issue -- i see them for what I think they are -- political opportunists. But hey, we haven't outlawed that yet either.

[BrianSullivan]

Jul 22, 2010 18:20:03 GMT -5 adefonzo said:

Jul 21, 2010 20:04:26 GMT -5 lisas84 said:

Andrew, it isn't so difficult to understand. After all, a year or so ago, who the F heard of "tea partiers." Same difference. Splinter group, more intense agenda. Like this!

I certainly understand the concept of a "splinter group"...but typically, as with the tea party movement (by and large), these splinter groups cut ties with their "former selves" and truly go for autonomy.

I found it a bit ironic that Frank Freyre talked about this autonomy that they were seeking, but in the end, they are still tied to another group...thus possibly cutting into their ability to be truly separate.

Either way, I could care less. My opinions on these groups have been stated time and again on here. What I would really like to see is someone start up a group for "Concerned Leagal American Residents". Ooooo...we can call it CLeAR!!! That worked out nicely!!

Since the illegal immigrants have their lobby groups, it's time we saw a group that lobbies on behalf of the legal residents of America. An organized, ethical, strong group that presented facts about the detrimental effects of an illegal population on towns and cities across America. Since we only seem to hear about the "wonderful aspects that a Latino population" brings to towns such as Freehold, I think it's important that people also learn about the downside of illegal immigrants...then let people choose for themselves about which side of the issue they want to agree with.

Simply put...there should be two sides to every argument...and since there are countless groups in support of illegal immigrants (even though they refuse to use that word "illegal"), there should be a couple more groups in the public light who are opposed. Kinda like the National Organization for Women or Planned Parenthood who support abortion, and the Christian Coalition who opposes it.

Both sides of any issue should have their voices heard.

There are many nation wide groups for Americans, but do not expect it in Freehold. Dissent is dead and we are sanctuary. The questions and discussions that must take place are a bit different than they were a few years ago.