Global Girl is a certified project manager professional (PMP) at a Wisconsin Fortune 400 company, who in her free time works as an editor and proofreader for large- and small-scale projects.
Good for the Capital Times
Posted July 28th, 2008 by GlobalGirl
in
Update: Esperanza Unida's payroll problems continue under Miranda's administration
The Capital Times just corrected their editorial, “Van Hollen should act fast on petition fraud case” (July 25).
At issue is the nonsensical and internally incoherent assertions of some of Esperanza Unida's people that one of their two opponents for state assembly (whom they failed to knock off the ballot, making Esperanza Unida zero-for-two in this campaign) had improperly received legal counsel.
Ridiculous.
Editorializes the Capital Times today:
We have, as well, come to the view that the law firm and associates of attorney Michael Maistelman acted appropriately in this matter. ... We have been impressed with [attorney] Halbrooks' forthright and detailed responses to the concerns that have arisen. ...
Allies of [state rep.] Colon's challenger, Laura Manriquez, and others who claim to be uncommitted [:)] in this bitter contest noted that Maistelman had e-mail contacts with them and ... raised the question of whether those contacts might have created a conflict and undermined the legitimacy of the GAB process. - [smiley face mine] -
The issue rasied is without merit.
Good for the Cap Times' rapid response.
Well, that's another display revealing Miranda-Manriquez-Aleman's insistence on wasting everyone's time. It's what they do best.
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Please back your statement
Please back your statement: GlobalGirl
"At issue is the nonsensical and internally incoherent assertions of some of Esperanza Unida's people that one of their two opponents for state assembly (whom they failed to knock off the ballot, making Esperanza Unida zero-for-two in this campaign) had improperly received legal counsel."
- Please provide, in pdf or any format for that matter, any documented proof that Esperanza Unida is a PAC. What documented proof do you have that indicates Esperanza Unida is formally backing two candidates?
- I know Laura Manríquez is the chairperson of our board, but who is the other "opponent" of the "two opponents for state assembly" you speak of?
- The Manríquez campaign has nothing to do Esperanza Unida yet it appears that you have proof to contradict this. Can you provide me the proof that this agency is running "two opponents for state assembly"? Where is the evidence that shows that Esperanza Unida is listed as the formal campaign backer to the Manríquez candidacy?
I understand that you support Colon and that’s fine, but please refrain from just saying anything you want without evidence or proof. It goes to the integrity issue of the Colon campaign. Your misinformation breeds the notion that he and the people around him have none.
Response RE: Esperanza Unida
- I am not aware that Esperanza Unida is a PAC.
- I am not aware that Esperanza Unida is “formally” backing two candidates. Some facts and questions
- Atty Aleman’s listing his office phone as the same phone as Esperanza Unida’s during his attempt to knock the two opponents of Board Chair Manríquez off the ballot. What’s the explanation? “I will ask to have the information at the Wisconsin State Bar corrected by Atty. Aleman,” you wrote. Nice of you to do that, considering that you have no arrangement, but why would you do that?
- Manríquez and Aleman (you remember him, Mr. Miranda, he has represented you on occasion) tried to knock candidates Guzman and Colon off the ballot, representing some 650 signatures, efforts the GAB deemed “wholly insufficient” and unanimously rejected by the GAB.
- You write, “Can you provide me the proof that this agency is running "two opponents for state assembly"? You’re confused. Your attorney and your Board chair tried to knock off two opponents off the ballot. I guess you were in Turkey then, you know when your employees were upset about not getting paid, and had to petition the brass.
As for your assertion that the “Manríquez campaign has nothing to do (with) Esperanza Unida…”
Consider:
- That its attorney and Esperanza Unida renter (does he pay rent with his frequent legal services for the exec director and board chair?) lists Esperanza Unida’s phone as his office phone
- That Esperanza Unida’s chair, atty (and former Board member) and exec director have written 1,000s of words in support of Manríquez’ campaign, even attempting to disenfranchise district voters for such rejected trivial infractions as not spelling out the direction of a street on nomination papers.
- That Ms. Ortiz, after making baseless charges against Mr. Maistelman on behalf of Board Chair Manríquez, subsequently denied at this site and others that she is a supporter of Board Chair Manríquez
- That your atty (and former Board member) Aleman presented the unsuccessful challenge to Guzman and Colon to the GAB on behalf of Esperanza Unida board chair Manríquez
- That Chair and candidate Manríquez in a reportedly animated voice told a reporter (after her campaign’s efforts were shot down) that she filed the challenge because Colon voted against Esperanza Unida’s receiving a grant
- That you as executive director now have written numerous pieces on behalf of the Manríquez’ campaign
The facts speak for themselves. As for “integrity,” though I’m not part of the Colon campaign (never met him, never talked to him), it seems that if I have a lack of integrity I am in good company [Maistelman, Halbrooks, Colon campaign, mal contends, MJS writers], you know, anyone with whom you disagree.
Questions
Maybe you can help clear up perceptions regarding the entanglements of:
- your current Board Chair and candidate for office,
- Esperanza Unida’s executive director (you),
- and its former board member and renter and attorney
- How about releasing Esperanza Unida’s phone records for the last two years? Including an ID of destination numbers?
- Posting the phone records on your website?
- The website is still down for a few weeks, okay, why is that? Posting them here then in a response?
- What’s with Aleman’s listing his office phone as the same as Esperanza Unida’s?
- How about listing your current and former Board members for the last five years?
- ["He was acting as our lawyer," Sylvia Ortiz, a Manriquez backer, said of Maistelman. "He was telling us what to do. He was strategizing with us. He was helping us with the formulation of the challenge."] How about describing the relationship of Ortiz and Esperanza Unida?
- Former Board member (and your frequent attorney) Aleman (Board Chair Manríquez’ current atty) rents from you and does frequent legal services for the exec director and chair, so what’s the arrangement? Would you fully document the arragement? When has renter and atty Aleman represented you in legal actions previously? Would you post the itemized hourly billing records? - I bet you wouldn’t mind a full IRS audit of the arrangements with your atty Aleman, chair and candidate Manríquez, and your itemized personal expenses (including travel costs) as exec director of a non-profit?
Go back, say, three years. How about it? Will you agree to an IRS audit of your non-profit’s activity? I’m sure the communities of interest with legal standing can have someone contact the IRS for you in light of your 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and your asserted unsubstantial political activity. Would you agree to this?
I would urge caution, however, in what you say and do if you consent to such an audit; the current US Atty for the Eastern District of Wisconsin has little tolerance for fraud, so be careful, the entanglements described demand caution on the part of all parties.
GlobalGirl: "Nonsensical" issues?
"Nonsensical" issues
Colon voted against a $1 million dollar job training program being placed in the 8th Assembly District. He went against the experts at Milwaukee Area Technical College in support of having this program placed in his community. His reason for doing so, it was a "waste of money".
In a questionnaire prepared by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Rep. Colon, running for Milwaukee City Attorney, wrote: "...I will name a public safety czar to oversee crime fighting cooperation between all agencies and eliminate red tape." http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=730207
Colon, a member of the MATC board, voted to stop a $1 Million job training program from coming into his neighborhood. Months later, he runs for the office of Milwaukee City Attorney and promotes the idea of wasting tax-dollars to create a CZAR at the Milwaukee City Attorney's Office. Is this a progressive thing to do?
Colon has worked full-time at various law firms, vonBriesen most recent, Peter Earle Law now. Is Colon really putting in an honest days work for an honest days pay as an Assemblyman? In addition, he is a board member of the Metro Milwaukee Sewerage District (MMSD), collecting another $10,000.00. Let's not forget the $88 dollar per-diem he is entitled to as State Assemblyman. Yes, Colon's wealth has grown over the years; to bad his constituency hasn't seen such growth in wealth.
Is this progressive politics?
Here's your "Nonsensical" issues.
Robert Miranda
Puro Latino Activist
Speculation and Fishing
Our agency has an independent audit done every year, we have received a clean bill of health every year. No fraud, no corruption. As for your assertion for an IRS audit, I'm sure the Colon support community is already engaging in such an effort to have that done--no need for me to invite anyone.
Two years ago Esperanza Unida was in the middle of a contract with the state to do workman comp cases. EU subcontracted with Aleman and Associates, he resigned from the board and has never attended a board meeting other than to report on the cases. When the contract ended Atty. Aleman went private and has rented out a suite under an agreement made between his private firm and EU. He has not been formally part of EU business for the last year and half. He forgot to make a few minor changes on the WISBar directory after he went private. He’s corrected it now, look it over.
All the other conspiracy related matters you bring forward have no merit and I refuse to waste my time responding. Bottom line, Aleman and Manríquez have every right to conduct themselves as independent thinking citizens and in so doing, have proceeded to do what any good American would do—that is to change and question things. EU people in support of Manríquez; we have no private lives? Colon has on his financial sheets the names of many non-profit CEOs listing themselves and their organizations as contributors—SO WHAT!
Colon is the issue here, not Esperanza Unida. Good spin attempt however, but to question and change things is what citizens of this great land should do when we have issues like:
Colon voted against a $1 million dollar job training program being placed in his district. He went against experts at Milwaukee Area Technical College in support. His claim, it was a waste of money.
In a questionnaire prepared by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Rep. Colon, running for Milwaukee City Attorney, wrote: '...I will name a public safety czar to oversee crime fighting cooperation between all agencies and eliminate red tape.'http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=730207
Colon, a member of the MATC board, voted to stop a $1 Million job training program from coming into his community. He runs for City Attorney and promotes the idea of wasting tax-dollars to create a CZAR at the Milwaukee City Attorney's Office. A progressive thing to do?
Colon has worked full-time at various law firms, vonBriesen most recent, Peter Earle Law now. Is Colon really putting in an honest days work for an honest days wage as an Assemblyman? In addition, he is a board member of the Metro Milwaukee Sewerage District, collecting another $10,000.00--let's not forget the $88 dollar per-diem per-day he is entitled to as State Assemblyman. Yes, Colon's wealth has grown over the years; to bad his constituency hasn't seen such growth in wealth.
Is this progressive politics? Is this representation?
Inferiority complex?
Does that explain your bluster?
Personally, I think anyone who disagrees with you is an infidel, disbelieving in the Great and Holy Miranda, and must be treated as such, because they are in error and you are on the righteous path.
Good thinking...
It's best that Esperanza Unida not answer too many questions about their substantial political activity.
As for your comments about Colon, I'm sure the district voters will decide this September on whatever merit your charges have.
No doubt this year has been rough on you; maybe it's time for a paid vaca in Turkey again.
Rough year? Indeed.
"Rough year". That's what happens when real progressives question authority and challenge the establishment. It is expected to be attacked by irrelevant people who know nothing about struggle and shy away from loss causes. Stay in your safe zone. But don't get in the way of progressives willing to face power too speak truth to it.
Of-course
Global girl is a "irrelevant (person) who know(s) nothing...," she disagrees with you and believes your non-profit is run by liars.
But "don't get in the way of progressives willing to face power"?
Wow. You must be like a courageous knight fighting powerful forces. Well, good for a laugh, anyway.
So, as raised in several questions, how much money of Esperanza Unida's was used to fly you to Turkey five times? Anything? What was the sum?
Read http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=773593
Dear Global "Girl"
This issues seems intensely personal for you; as such, I have a hard time believing that you have "never met him, never talked to him" (meaning Colon).
Miranda is an egotistical jerk, and if you read his opinion columns, it comes through clear as a bell. BOTH his AND Colon's back and forth name calling over the past few years is childish and portrays BOTH of them in a very bad light.
However displeasurable Miranda happens to be, he has consistently stood up for his community-MY community, for I live in Milwaukee. I haven't seen that of Colon.
What I have seen is him expending CONSIDERABLE time and energy running for other elected positions while holding down several jobs: Father, Husband, State Rep, MATC Board, MMSD, silk-stocking lawyer--there may be more I'm missing. Something had to fall to the wayside and unfortunately it is the community.
You have a fellow blogger, a highly-respected political strategist, wondering what Colon has done for the community. I am sure he is not the only former Colon supporter watching this race.
As for your assertions that Miranda "put up" Manriquez as a candidate....I heard her speak on healthcare issues and addiction issues a few times. She is a highly sought-after speaker on these issues, and supported her huband through deacdes of addiction issues. I met her a few times also. She seems tough (apparently has all male children, so she would need to be), but definitely NOT the type of person who would be a puppet for any man, least of all someone like Miranda.
And if YOU, Global "Girl" have never met him or talked to Colon, I have. He's an affable guy, with so much promise - if he can focus. But it has been 10 years and he hasn't focused.
mal contends
Hmmm. That was cute. Got anything else?