Author Archives: Jose Calderon

About Jose Calderon

Jose Zapata Calderon is Emeritus Professor in Sociology and Chicano/a Latino/a Studies at Pitzer College and President of the Latino and Latina Roundtable of the Pomona Valley and San Gabriel Valley.

Noncitizens Having the Right to Vote

This should be the new campaign in cities and school boards, particularly in cities where undocumented immigrants comprise a substantial part of the population.  They pay taxes and contribute immensely to local economies.  This is taxation without representation — and they should have the right to vote.

As this op-ed relates, a number of jurisdictions have taken the lead and made it a reality.

“There are now a handful of U.S. jurisdictions where noncitizens have a right to vote in some elections. In six towns in Maryland since the 1990s, all residents (except felons serving sentences or those judged mentally incompetent by a court) can vote in local elections. Chicago permits all noncitizen parents of schoolchildren to vote in school district elections. In California, all parents can participate in “parent trigger” votes to change the administration of their children’s schools.

Next year, the New York City Council will take up a bill — which has broad political support — that would allow noncitizens lawfully residing in the U.S. to vote in local elections. In March, Burlington, Vt., voters will decide on a similar ballot proposition to let legal permanent residents vote in local elections. The District of Columbia has a similar bill pending.”

 

http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-hayduk-let-noncitizens-vote-20141223-story.html

Supportive work on 43 Students and Ferguson in La Nueva Voz

SUPPORTIVE WORK OF THE LATINO AND LATINA ROUNDTABLE IN RECENT WEEKS:

ARTICLES ON “POMONA COUNCIL APPROVES RESOLUTION CALLING FOR INTERNATIONAL INQUIRY INTO DISAPPEARANCE OF 43 STUDENTS IN MEXICO” AND

“MARCHERS IN POMONA TURN OUT IN SUPPORT OF UNREST IN FERGUSON, NEW YORK” IN LA NUEVA VOZ NEWSPAPER

http://www.lanuevavoz.net/Issues/141225_issue_dec.pdf

 

Next System Economy

I recently attended a conference of academics and activists that began a conversation on a “Next System economy,” how some examples already are developed or developing, and how our collaboration can lead to future research and application on the building of “alliances between issues in order to put a real menu of alternatives on the table that counters the exploitation, extraction, and other ills induced by unregulated capitalism.”

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