Howard's Sermons and Article Clippings.

Howard's Sermons and Article Clippings.

About Me

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Im a Mainline protestant minister who loves serving in multicultural and urban contexts. I'm very interested in how liberation theology and existential-humanistic psychology are applied to the praxis of pastoral care and counseling. My most profound encounters with God come as we sojourn as brothers and sisters seeking the inbreaking of God's reign, here and now.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Bill Would Repeal In-State Tuition For Immigrants

Bill would repeal in-state tuition for immigrants

Published February 11th, 2011

The Education Committee heard testimony Feb. 7 on a bill that would repeal in-state tuition rates at Nebraska’s universities and colleges for children of illegal immigrants who are not lawfully present in the United States.

State legislation passed in 2006 offered in-state tuition to students who:

•resided with his or her parent, guardian or conservator while attending a public or private high school in Nebraska;

•graduated from a Nebraska high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma;

•resided in Nebraska for at least three years before the date the student graduated from high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma;

•have the bona fide intention to make Nebraska his or her permanent residence;

•are registered as an entering student in a state postsecondary educational institution no earlier than the 2006 fall semester; and

•provided to the state postsecondary educational institution an affidavit stating that he or she will file an application to become a permanent resident at the earliest opportunity he or she is eligible to do so.
Fremont Sen. Charlie Janssen, introducer of LB657, said children of illegal immigrants should not be considered residents of the state and therefore are not eligible to receive in-state tuition rates.

“Nebraska should not grant in-state tuition to illegal immigrants unless they do to all citizens,” Janssen said.

Giving a benefit or subsidy to someone who is not lawfully present and denying it to someone who is lawfully present is in direct violation of federal law, he said.

Dale Monsell, representing Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom, testified in support of the bill.

These students are not legally employable in the U.S. after they graduate, Monsell said, and their education should be the responsibility of their nation of origin.

John Wiegert, a resident of Fremont and supporter of the bill, said in-state tuition for illegal immigrants directly rewards people for their parents’ illegal acts.

Shirley Mora James, president of the Nebraska Hispanic Bar Association, testified in opposition to the bill.

According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Mora James said, granting in-state tuition to an undocumented student is not one of the benefits regulated by illegal immigration reform.

Individual states must decide whether or not to allow illegal immigrants to attend post-secondary institutions, she said, and the state of Nebraska has the authority to grant admission to undocumented students if it chooses to do so.

J.B. Milliken, president of the University of Nebraska, also opposed LB657.

The ability of undocumented young people to contribute to the state’s economy depends on their education, Milliken said in a letter to the committee.

The state claims that education is a priority, he said, so repealing a law that promotes education is counterproductive.

Rev. Howard Dotson of the Westminister Presbyterian Church testified in opposition to the bill, saying education plays an important role in the Latino community.

Nationwide, 50 percent of Latino youth fail to graduate high school, Dotson said. Having more Latino high school graduates in Nebraska who attend college will provide the community with invaluable mentors, he said.

The committee took no immediate action on the bill.

Immigration Bill Gets Mixed Reception in Lincoln

Immigration Bill Gets Mixed Reception In Lincoln

Senator Doubtful Measure Will Get Out Of Committee

POSTED: 2:35 pm CST March 2, 2011

LINCOLN, Neb. -- A Nebraska lawmaker who has introduced an Arizona-style immigration bill said he is doubtful the bill would even get out of the Judiciary Committee as state senators openly questioned it at Wednesday's public hearing in Lincoln.

Sen. Charlie Janssen, of Fremont, told the committee that his bill, LB-48, would help Nebraska get a handle on what he believes is a serious illegal immigration problem. Janssen testified lawmakers cannot ignore their obligation to taxpayers as health care and education costs rise.

Janssen was among the first to testify in a packed hearing room. Janssen said he was grilled by his colleagues during the hearing on everything from costs of enforcement to what constitutes reasonable suspicion.

Janssen said the bill is a cost-saving measure for a state that faces a nearly $1 billion shortfall.

The legislation would require police to confirm the residency status of suspected illegal immigrants who have been stopped for another reason.

"(LB-48) makes it open season on immigrant women and children -- putting targets on their heads."
- Shirley More-James, resident


LB-48 got a mixed reception at the hearing as lawmakers and residents spoke.

"I think you have to look at the overall picture of what LB-48 will do -- deter illegal immigration into the state of Nebraska," proponent Susan Smith said.

But residents opposed to the bill spoke about concerns of racial profiling.

"(LB-48) makes it open season on immigrant women and children -- putting targets on their heads," Shirley Mora-James, a resident who opposes the bill, said.

Lincoln Police Chief Tom Casady said he is also opposing the bill because enforcement costs would be too high and many who are arrested would just walk.

" It exposes the state and counties to serious liabilities and expenses in defending themselves." - Judge David Piester A retired federal judge also weighed in on the bill.

Judge David Piester said law enforcement agencies could end up paying the price in enforcing an Arizona-style immigration law if it's approved.

"It exposes the state and counties to serious liabilities and expenses in defending themselves," Piester said. "Equal protection and discrimination claims would almost certainly follow."

Community activists present at the hearing agreed and said they hope the bill never gets out of committee.

"Charity and reason will prevail," the Rev. Howard Dotson said. "It's a federal responsibility -- the senators understand that."

Arizona's bill has been suspended pending a court challenge.

Copyright 2011 by KETV.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved

Mayor Suttle's Focus on At Risk Youth

Day 14: Vote No because Mayor Suttle has focussed on at-risk youth
Posted on January 23, 2011

As an urban pastor, I have seen far too much poverty and violence. I serve on the Mayor’s Clergy Advisory Council and I’ve had the privilege of following his administration’s work over this past year.

Mayor Suttle has the vision and the strategy to bring peace and prosperity to our streets.

His three Es (education, employment and enforcement) and the From Poverty to Prosperity initiative will help keep our kids in schools and bring jobs to our under employed communities. We stop the bullets when more kids achieve their caps and gowns and have access to jobs.

Our law enforcement officers cannot suppress the violence on their own. It takes a village of concerned citizens to bring peace to our streets. We are One Omaha, and Mayor Suttle understands our commitment to educate and empower all of our citizens.

Mayor Suttle has made the difficult but necessary choices that have preserved our essential public services.

This recall will distract and detract us from the critical peacemaking work underway in our communities. The bottom line is that life is sacred.

Mayor Suttle’s vision will continue to help save lives and secure a brighter future for our youth. “Blessed are the peacemakers.”

Rev. Howard Dotson
Presbyterian Church (USA) pastor serving in Omaha

P.S. Join Mayor Suttle and Rev. Dotson tonight – From Poverty to Prosperity

Omaha Police and Illegal Immigration Omaha Crime Examiner

Omaha police and illegal immigration...is business the problem?
By Michael Ramon, Omaha Crime Examiner
December 27th, 2010 10:51 am CT

In a recent letter to the Omaha World-Herald the Reverend Howard Dotson, representing Equality Nebraska, opined that if an Arizona-type law became a reality in Nebraska the result would be disastrous for the immigrant community. He fears that local enforcement of immigration laws would result in immigrants being afraid to contact police if they become victims of crime, and suggests that such a law would encourage the targeting of immigrants since they would have no recourse in getting aid from the law enforcement community. Unfortunately, crime statistics (see www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/ucr) confirm his analysis.


What role, then, is appropriate for local law enforcement? The answer depends on your values. If you think anyone should be able to contact the police if they become a victim of crime, the answer is to leave the enforcement of immigration laws to ICE. If you believe that an immigrant's status is more important than their protection and you are frustrated by the ineffectivement of the federal government in controlling illegal immigration, you would probably be inclined to want the state and local authorities to get involved. Omaha police probably see things differently. Given their limited resources and the expense of putting someone in jail, most officers would prefer not to arrest immigrants who are otherwise law abiding; clogging the jails and courts with these cases in not an effective way to lower the crime rate. It may, in fact, help to do the opposite.

Given this conundrum, is there any way to control illegal immigration? The answer is simple: yes. Illegal immigrants come to the United States, Nebraska and Omaha because they find employment here. Take away employment opportunities and the illegal immigration problem will be solved. Of course than means holding businesses accountable. Our elected officials seem, for the most part, very reluctant to do that. The cynical might suggest this is because businesses and those who run them are politically powerful. Hiring illegal immigrants is a great way to increase profits; after all they will work for less money, they seldom complain about illegal working conditions and the American taxpayer has to pay their health insurance. Maybe we don't have an illegal immigration problem after all, we just have politicians who put self-interest and business interests ahead of our interests.

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Vigil Honors Five Dead Infants

Vigil Honors Five Dead Infants

By Martha Stoddard

WORLD-HERALD BUREAU
Metro/Region

LINCOLN — Candle flames flickered in the wind Tuesday at a vigil for five babies who have died since Nebraska cut off Medicaid prenatal care for more than 1,500 women.

A small group gathered on the steps of the State Capitol to call attention to the consequences of the policy change.

“Standing witness is important,” said Rev. Neal Jose Wilkinson, a priest who works with Omaha’s Hispanic community.

Health officials have told lawmakers that five infants — four stillborn in Columbus and one born premature in Omaha — died since the March 1 change.

A lack of prenatal care is believed to have contributed to at least some of the deaths.

Shirley Mora James, with the Equality Nebraska Coalition, said there likely are more deaths that have not been reported because women did not seek care from a public clinic.

Jim Cunningham, a lobbyist for the Nebraska Catholic Conference, said the new policy punishes unborn children for their mothers’ status.

Nebraska officials cut off government-funded prenatal care for women who had received the care based on the Medicaid eligibility of their unborn children.

About 1,600 women lost coverage because of the change, of whom about 840 were illegal immigrants. An unknown number could not get coverage in the months since.

Attempts to reinstate coverage failed this year in the face of staunch opposition from Gov. Dave Heineman and others, who objected to providing prenatal care to illegal immigrants.

Three state lawmakers have said they plan to try again in the 2011 Legislature.

Progressive Omaha Sep 11 2011

Highlights of presentation by Howard Dotson to Progressive Omaha meeting, Saturday, September 11, 2010, by Barbara van den Berg

I tried to take notes at Howard Dotson's presentation, but since so much of this information was new to me, I ended up with a lot of spaces for details that need to be researched at a later time. Never-the-less, perhaps it is useful to write down a few observations that could be used in a follow-up discussion at the next Progressive Omaha monthly meeting.

Reverend Howard Dotson's main objective was to inform us of the up-coming screenings of 9500 Liberty, a documentary about the explosive battle over immigration policy in Prince William County, Virginia. Go to http://www.9500liberty.com to see a trailer. Here is a short list of some of the first screenings in Nebraska.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010, 8:00 p.m, at Midlands College, Fremont, 2nd Level of the Student Center. Saturday, October 9, 7:00 p.m., at Creighton University, Harper Center Auditorium Wednesday, October 13, 7:00 p.m., McFoster's, 302 South 38th Street, (38th and Farnam),Omaha Saturday, October 16, 2:00 p.m. Filmstreams, Ruth Sokolof Theater, 1340 Mike Fahey Street, Omaha

This film is extremely relevant to the situation in Fremont, Nebraska, and its Ordinance 5165 requiring presentation of citizen documentation to police, that has the potential of fomenting a very damaging culture war.

Reverend Howard's analysis is that immigration law is being made into a distraction for the November elections. Instead of focusing on war, peace, economic growth, unemployment, health care, financial reform...in other words...the really big, important issues of the day, campaigns are distracting voters with fears about illegal immigration. This, however, is not going well. Several anti-immigrant laws are being held up because of their unconstitutionality. The national organization of police chiefs recognize that it is impossible to do their work which requires the trust of immigrant communities if they have to follow these new anti-immigrant laws requiring residents to show documentation of citizenship. Police departments around the country do not want to do the work of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement (US Department of Homeland Security).

Reverend Howard also emphasized the importance of informing voters of the kinds of people and groups who are behind Ordinance 5165, namely FAIR, the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which has been labeled as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Kris Kobach is FAIR's lawyer defending court cases against Arizona's anti-immigration law. Governor Heineman enabled Fremont to proceed with its ordinance and voters should call him on this. Reverend Howard feels that Heineman's opponent for governor in the November election, Mike Meister, should emphasize Heineman's anti-immigrant stand in campaigns and debates.

The kind of rhetoric that surrounds immigration debate started by these types of anti-immigrant ordinances shows little understanding of the immigration issue in general. Little is said about the demand side of the economy. Immigrants are consumers, business owners, homeowners, and renters, all contributing to the tax base of the local, state, and federal governments. When immigrant groups feel threatened and leave as they did in Prince William County, Virginia, the local economy suffers. Despite claims otherwise, large monopolistic transnational firms and big agriculture like an unending supply of labor that can be intimidated with arrest and deportation. Fomenting culture wars where neighbors turn on each other is a common tactic used by political parties in election years and this midterm election is no exception. Communities must resist being manipulated by our politicians and must stand up for constitutional rights of its residents. The culture wars started by anti-immigrant ordinances and funded by hate groups such as FAIR stir up racism, can lead to hate crimes, and social wounds that take centuries to heal.

Creighton Center for Health Policy and Ethics Roundtables

Wednesday, September 1, 3:30-4:30pm (CHPE Conference Room)

Prison Populations’ impact on Community Health – HIV as a case in point.
Discussants: Reverend Howard Dotson, Presbyterian AIDS Network, Ann Smolsky, Outreach Coordinator, Nebraska AIDS Project, Mark Foxall, PhD, Deputy Director, Douglas County Corrections, Mary Lou Flearl, MD, Omaha Correctional Center
Moderator: Mark Goodman
_________________________________________________________________

Wednesday February 9, 2011 “Mental Health Care for Crime Victim Families”

Wednesday, February 9, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Center for Health Policy & Ethics Conference Room
Panel:
Beth Croston Hansen, MS, LMHP, CCGC, OneWorld Community Health Centers
Daniel R. Wilson, MD, PhD, Professor and Chairman of Psychiatry, Creighton University
Pat Christopher, MPA, MS, LPC, NCC, Charles Drew Medical Center
Rev. Howard Dotson, Pastor, Westminster Presbyterian Church

These panelists represent an excellent cross section of our mental health service providers addressing the pressing concern of untreated Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and complicated grief present in families of crime victims in the Omaha community.

Moderator: Christy Rentmeester

Bibliography of sources related to this topic: Literature Review of Mental Health Concerns with Crime Victims

The Founder of Homeboy Industries is coming to Omaha

The Founder of Homeboy Industries is coming to Omaha this week

Cheril Lee (2011-02-22)
OMAHA, NE (kios) - Father Greg Boyle, Jesuit priest and founder of Homeboy Industries, will lead a consultation on microenterprises on Thursday afternoon and present a lecture Thursday night at Metro.

Reverend Howard Dotson is helping coordinate the events. He says Homeboy Industries began 20 years ago in East L.A. with the purpose of taking former gang members recently released from prison and helping rehabilitate them. Reverend Dotson says he hopes local intervention prevention and workforce development specialists are able to replicate the model in North and South Omaha where there are constant challenges due to gang violence. He says Homeboy Industries encourages gang members to, "remove the tattoos and helps puts them into workforce development, giving them job skills that match their skill level because the tagline for Homeboy Industries is 'Jobs, not Jail'. When these guys and gals come out of prison, if there's not a community and a sense of hope, many of them end up going back into prison because they end up being engaged in gang activity."

Father Boyle will lead a consultation from 1:00 to 4:00 at Creighton this Thursday. Additionally, he will give a lecture Thursday night at 7:00 at Metro Community College's South Omaha Campus. Reservations are not required.
© Copyright 2011, kios

Monday, January 3, 2011

Lack of Medicaid coverage hurting Nebraska babies

Lack of Medicaid coverage hurting Nebraska babies

BY JoANNE YOUNG / Lincoln Journal Star JournalStar.com |
Posted: Saturday, November 20, 2010 9:00 am


Rebecca Rayman described it simply: The change in Medicaid coverage for about 1,500 pregnant Nebraska women has drastically affected mothers, infants, doctors and medical clinics.

At Rayman's Good Neighbor Community Health Center in Columbus, four babies have died in utero, two in the final four weeks of pregnancy. In the previous six years, the clinic had not lost any unborn babies after five months gestation.

Until the Medicaid coverage change, no women getting prenatal care had ever inquired about abortion.

Andrea Skolkin, CEO of OneWorld Community Health Centers, said the full impact of the lost Medicaid coverage is just beginning to unfold.

One baby delivered at 20 weeks, whose mother did not have prenatal care, did not survive. The mother had come to the center fearful of going to the hospital, in case she was not in labor.

The center has had nine premature births to uninsured women, compared to five for those with insurance, she said.

While the health center used to see 85 percent of patients on Medicaid, they now see 9 percent on Medicaid and 66 percent uninsured, Skolkin said.

Moms can qualify for emergency delivery care, but it is a lengthy process, she said.

Rayman and others testified Friday at a Health and Human Services Committee interim hearing on the costs and effects to women and infants -- and the state -- of Medicaid not providing services to certain low-income women, including undocumented mothers, since March 1.

"I fear that in five to 10 years from now the state is going to have an ongoing expense it cannnot stop because of the decisions made," said Sen. Arnie Stuthman of Platte Center. "Children are going to be needing help for 20 years, and it's going to be an expense of the state."

Rayman, executive director of the Good Neighbor Community Health Center in Columbus, said that since the Medicaid change March 1 at her health center:

* The number of women seen per month has doubled, from 53 in January to 109 in October. Seven to nine pregnant women are calling each week for first-time prenatal appointments.

* In October, the clinic provided prenatal care to women from 13 counties, some of them driving as far as from 156 miles away. They say they cannot get care in their towns or counties without insurance and cannot afford to pay for it themselves.

* In 2007 and 2008, over 80 percent of patients entered prenatal care in the first trimester of pregnancy. In 2010, with Medicaid changes, 32 percent of women are being seen in the first trimester.

* The percentage of low-birth-weight babies has gone from 7.26 percent of all infants to 10 percent, with some months at 20 percent.

With the increase in prenatal patients, and the decrease in reimbursement from Medicaid, the clinic has had to shift away from mental health care. Rayman said the community has seen more mentally ill people getting in trouble and being arrested.

Dr. Paul Welch, an obstetrican-gynecologist in Columbus, said his practice is not getting reimbursed even for the emergency obstetric care it is providing, costing about $100,000, mostly because women are not able to fill out the paperwork properly.

Doctors also are facing increased exposure to malpractice because of the high-risk population they are treating.

Preventive care is the foundation of medicine, he said.

"And yet, inexplicably, the state of Nebraska has done just the opposite," he said. "And I believe that continuation along this course will result in a financial and human course that will make any short-term savings appear minor by comparison."

"It is mind boggling to me as a health care provider," he said.

John Cavanaugh, executive director of Building Bright Futures, said he had not heard one word of testimony on the positive impact of the Medicaid change in policy.

"This is very destructive in terms of consequences for the state of Nebraska," he said.

The Rev. Howard Dotson of Westminster Presbyterian Church in south Omaha came to the hearing to tell of his concern about women in his area considering abortion and the babies dying and suffering because of the loss of Medicaid coverage.

"Each life is sacred. And those four babies that we talked about in Columbus and the one baby in Omaha should break our hearts," he said. "These babies are innocent, and we're punishing them for the documentation status of their mothers."

Dotson said people need to stand up to the anti-immigration sentiment and racism in the state. These children are the casualties, he said.

Lincoln Sen. Kathy Campbell, who introduced the interim study resolution, said she and other senators who supported a bill in the last session to restore the coverage must gather more statistics on the effect of the loss of Medicaid for these women.

"Anecdotal information is important to the issue, but we need actual numbers" before any future legislation on the issue is introduced, she said.

Reach JoAnne Young at 402-473-7228 or jyoung@journalstar.com

Immigration reform hope shared

Immigration reform hope shared
By Sarah Reinecke
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

South Omaha's Tree of Life sculpture at 24th and L Streets is a symbol of immigrant heritage.

Gathering under that symbolic tree Tuesday were people of different races and ages who spoke, prayed and sang in Spanish and English, urging changes in federal immigration policy.

Omaha faith leaders joined in the national campaign of fasting and prayer for immigration reform. This week has been designated as Nebraska's week of action.

The campaign is a response to Arizona's new immigration law, which makes it a state crime to be in the country illegally.

It also comes just days before Fremont, Neb., residents vote on a proposed ordinance that would require businesses to take steps to ensure the identity of new employees and restrict landlords from renting to people without verified documents.

Maria Teresa Gaston, director of the Creighton University Center for Services and Justice, said the goal is to get federal leaders to create a new immigration policy that makes the legalization process easier for immigrants.

“If they are here, they should have a path to become citizens, and there is not a path for the majority of them,” Gaston said.

“We are not trying to say we shouldn't have borders and policies to regulate borders. We're talking about reasonable policy. ... We can work things out in humane and just ways.”

More than 50 people took part in the vigil.

Bright orange day lilies were held by many participating in the vigil. Gaston said the flowers were an expression of “what is blooming today” and represented how immigrants are helping Omaha and Nebraska to grow and flourish.

The Rev. Howard Dotson spoke of how much Latinos contribute to society and how everyone deserves dignity and human rights.

Immigrants “seek the American dream, but the reality is that dream has become a nightmare,” Dotson said. “We need to learn from our mistakes and turn a new page.”

Contact the writer:

444-1543, sarah.reinecke@owh.com

Fremont City Council Suspends Illegal Immigration Ordinance

Fremont City Council Suspends Illegal Immigration Ordinance
Posted: Jul 27, 2010 10:02 PM CDT

FREMONT (KPTM) – The Fremont City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to delay implementing a new illegal immigration ordinance.

The council also voted to appoint well–known, national immigration attorney Kris Kobach to defend Fremont against two pending lawsuits in federal court. Kobach, one of the architects of the Arizona immigration law that has sparked widespread debate, is said to be offering his services pro–bono. He would be the lead attorney for Fremont on the case.

The votes by the council are just the latest chapter in an illegal immigration debate that's captured national attention and divided the community 25,000.

It comes just five weeks after Fremont voters passed the ban on hiring or renting to illegal immigrants and some see it as another attempt by the city to block the ordinance altogether.

It was council members who initially narrowly rejected a similar ban in 2008 and it took supporters circulating petitions to get the measure on the ballot.

The ordinance requires employers to use a federal online system to check if someone is authorized to work in the United States. Landlords who knowingly rent to illegal immigrants could also be fined $100.

Supporters say it's necessary because the federal government isn't doing its job when it comes to illegal immigration. "This idea of everything printed in Spanish as well as English, I think it's a bunch of baloney. It's not right and we need to take our country back," said Fremont resident Leon Rabe.

Headed into the meeting, some were already angry with the council's action. "It's very frustrating to know that they are taking our voices away from us and people who live here, work here and voted and it's just not the American way, it's really isn't," said Fremont resident Johnny Pry.

Others are greeting the news with relief. The ACLU, one of two groups who will argue the ban is unconstitutional in federal court, says the council has made a "responsible decision" that will prevent additional hostility until the matter is resolved in court.

Some say discrimination against Latinos has already scared folks in the community. "There hasn't been confirmed reports, because no one will come forward to file a report. A house was shot with BB guns, and another person had a person knock on their door screaming, 'The ordinance is in effect, you need to move now,' and people don't know someone's documentation status," said Rev. Howard Dotson.

Brian Hendrickson asked: "Why can't we have two Catholic churches in this town? Why can't have Latinos and others living side by side? Instead of building walls, we need to be creating more bridges."

Support boosts spirits at clinic

Support boosts spirits at clinic
By Cindy Gonzalez
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER


It won't be a cure-all, but the moral and financial support flowing into a south Omaha clinic has buoyed staff spirits and should temporarily help fill a gap in prenatal services to illegal immigrants.

Just days ago, staffers at OneWorld Community Health Center were feeling a bit beleaguered and disappointed, said medical director Dr. Kristine McVea.

They were even fielding some threatening calls from people angry that OneWorld was urging state officials to restore government-funded prenatal care for poor and illegal immigrant women.

“It's an odd position to be put in as a physician,” McVea said. “You don't usually think of caring for pregnant women as being controversial.”


The governor and state lawmakers have not restored the Medicaid coverage.

OneWorld staff, however, has been re-energized by other recent events.

Members of the public have donated $20 here, $100 there to help the clinic continue prenatal services to those who lost them.

A group of churches is organizing a June 13 fundraising concert. The Nebraska Association of Social Workers also is raising money.

“It can be disheartening, so you've got to find constructive channels to be part of the solution,” said the Rev. Howard Dotson of Westminster Presbyterian Church, who is helping coordinate the concert.

Fremont Suspends New Law

Fremont suspends new law
By Cindy Gonzalez
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER


FREMONT, Neb. - The Fremont City Council voted Tuesday night to suspend its controversial immigration ordinance until lawsuits challenging it are resolved.

No council debate or sparks preceded the 8-0 vote that took place before a packed council chamber holding about 80 spectators. Several police officers were stationed at entrances.

Council President Scott Getzschman said the decision does not mean the council is disregarding the results of the June 21 public vote to ban the housing and hiring of illegal immigrants in the city.

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Rather, he said, the council is anticipating a court order to temporarily block enforcement of the law anyway. He said suspending the ordinance could hold down legal fees.

“Truly, the temporary restraining order was imminent,” Getzschman said after the vote. “We were advised that if we actually suspend the ordinance ahead of those legal proceedings, we’d have an opportunity to possibly reduce costs.”

When pressed on how much might be saved, he said, “Costs are costs, and it’s saving money we don’t have.”

If the experience of other cities facing similar legal challenges is any indication, the Fremont ordinance that was to take effect Thursday now could be up in the air for years.

The cities of Hazleton, Pa., and Farmers Branch, Texas, both adopted similar ordinances. Their laws have yet to be enforced because they’ve been in costly court battles for four years.

Pointing to Hazleton and Farmers Branch, Fremont officials have estimated that it would cost taxpayers up to $1 million a year to defend the law. They said the city would have to spend $200,000 annually to cover the staffing to enforce it.

Two civil rights organizations the American Civil Liberties Union and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) have filed federal lawsuits against the Fremont law.

The groups say the ordinance usurps the federal government’s authority to make immigration laws and discriminates against Latinos and renters.

But supporters of the law say it is needed because the government has been lax and selective on immigration enforcement.

While several people testified against suspending the ordinance, even a man who led the petition drive in favor of the measure urged the council to delay implementing it.

“We should delay it and get it done the right way,” said John Weigert.

He noted that Kansas City attorney Kris Kobach, who helped draft the Fremont ordinance and the Arizona immigration law, had recommended suspension as well.

Kobach told The World-Herald earlier that a delay would save money and some legal maneuvering. It also would allow the court to move more swiftly to a judgment on the full merits of the case.

Terry Flanagan of Fremont told the council that it should not ignore the voters’ wishes.

“We put you in charge of the store,” he said. “But you don’t own the store.”

As the Fremont ordinance is written, every potential renter must give personal information and $5 to the Police Department to obtain an occupancy license.

Police then would submit information on noncitizens to the federal government or check federal databases themselves.

If a renter’s legal status is found to be in question, the landlord is notified. If not remedied in two months, the occupancy license would be revoked.

Employers would be required to check the immigration status of applicants by using E-Verify, an electronic verification system.

Despite the City Council’s decision, attorneys say a hearing Wednesday in federal court to temporarily block enforcement of the ordinance was still on.

Shirley Mora James, a Lincoln attorney who is co-counsel of MALDEF, said the group can’t be assured that the Fremont council won’t vote later to implement the ordinance.

“They could pass a resolution next week to change their mind,” said Mora James.

The ordinance has divided this town of 25,000 west of Omaha ever since the City Council first considered the measure two years ago.

After the council’s vote, a group of about 20 people led by an Omaha Presbyterian minister and a police escort walked 11⁄4 miles to a trailer park inhabited by mostly Latino residents. They delivered roses of “compassion and solidarity.”

The Rev. Howard Dotson said he had learned of a few incidents of alleged harassment since the ordinance was approved by voters. He said a house was shot at by a BB gun. Someone knocked on another Latino resident’s door and said they were not welcome in town.

“This is ground zero for anti-immigrant sentiment in Nebraska,” Dotson said.

Arizona law hinders safety

Midlands Voices: Arizona law hinders safety
By The Rev. Howard Dotson

The writer, of Omaha, is faith community liaison for Equality Nebraska.

Some people may wonder why I, as an urban Presbyterian minister, am so opposed to the Arizona immigration enforcement legislation possibly coming to Nebraska.

Over these past five years, I have seen the urban violence that gang members have afflicted on many of my Latino brothers and sisters — shell casings, crime tape and caskets.

As urban churches, we seek to preserve public safety in our communities by fostering good community relations between our neighbors and law enforcement. This Arizona law threatens to compromise this relationship.

When people are too afraid to interact with the police, the gang members in our midst will use this to their advantage. Gangs will feel emboldened to act with impunity. They will prey on my Latino brothers and sisters who live in the shadows.

Even in Los Angeles, which is officially a sanctuary city, the LAPD struggles to foster good community policing relations with its Latino residents.

On one fateful night in L.A. in September 2008, blocks from the church I was serving, an 18th Street gang member wanted to make a lesson out of a street vendor who refused to pay his rent to the gang. Shots rang out and baby Garcia, a 23-day-old infant, was struck and killed by a stray bullet as he rested in his stroller.

To date, this remains my most difficult days in ministry: Walking his tiny casket down the church aisle as a pallbearer. Holding up his mother, Daniella, at the grave site as she convulsed with sobs of grief.

I stand opposed to this Arizona immigration enforcement law as part of our legacy to preserve the memory of this precious baby I buried. The tears of these bereaved Latino moms are what drive me to stop this Arizona law from coming to Nebraska.

Many Latinos have moved to Omaha from Los Angeles seeking better lives for their children. How tragic it would be if this same violence that we saw in Los Angeles came to the streets of Omaha.

Community policing is our best measure of crime prevention. We need for there to be a healthy relationship between our Latino community and law enforcement. This Arizona-style immigration enforcement law will compromise our peacemaking efforts in our streets.

Anything we can do to prevent another mom from having to bury her child is worth our time and effort.

Lake Phalen: Ugly bat attacks raise fear and resolve

Lake Phalen: Ugly bat attacks raise fear and resolve

As police look into the two Lake Phalen beatings, East Siders vow "to take back the park."

By ANTHONY LONETREE, Star Tribune

Last update: August 5, 2008 - 11:06 PM



When the assailants swung their bats, they meant business, aiming for the head in two attacks that occurred three days apart at St. Paul's normally peaceful Lake Phalen.

"Wannabe gangsters" targeted a 49-year-old woman battling cancer -- hoping to live long enough to see her son graduate in two years -- and an 18-year-old man out walking with his wife, police said Tuesday.

Seven people were in custody Tuesday, but no one is charged yet, as investigators from three police units explored possible connections between the assaults -- the second of which occurred Monday night as a vigil was held for the first victim.

"It's not just brazen and cold, it's worse. It's sick," said Sue McCall, a block club coordinator for the city's District 2 Community Council during a National Night Out gathering Tuesday at a Boys and Girls Club near the lake. "You just don't understand that type of behavior."

Charges could be filed today, a spokeswoman for the Ramsey County attorney's office said.

Police spokesman Peter Panos said Tuesday that investigators had yet to determine whether any of the suspects were involved in both assaults.

As the investigation continued, police weighed sending additional patrols to the area and park security officers stepped up their rounds of Lake Phalen.

"Neighbors want to take back the park," said Brad Meyer, a Parks Department spokesman.

Panos said that despite the back-to-back nature of the attacks, police consider the attacks to be "very isolated" incidents.

Safety in a community

At Tuesday's National Night Out event at the Boys Club, Police Chief John Harrington, whose family lives near the lake, said the area is safe.

"The more we're out together as a community, the safer we are," he said.

Earlier, two friends sitting under a tree near where the first attack occurred said they never felt unsafe at Lake Phalen. "It's real cool riding around here," said Sarah Boedigheimer, 18, of St. Paul, whose mountain bike lay in the grass nearby. "Real calming."
But her friend, Shawn Trudeau, 34, also of St. Paul, was a bit unnerved to learn that it was behind that tree where three assailants allegedly hid about 12:30 a.m. Friday, each with a bat. They left the 49-year-old victim, identified only as Tammie, with her hands and left forearm broken, and her left middle finger torn off.

Said Trudeau, "It may be the first and last time I stop at this tree."

Pam McCreary, St. Paul's National Night Out coordinator, said the attack "brought a lot of fear out of people. They're asking, 'What can I do to make this place safer?'"

Exploring gang ties

Just to the south of Lake Phalen, the East Side has witnessed new investment in the form of the Phalen Boulevard transportation and economic development initiative. There is new housing, as well as a new Cub Foods store under construction.

At Arlington Hills Presbyterian Church, people gathered before 7 p.m. Monday, preparing to march from the parking lot to the bent tree where Friday's attack occurred.

Then, sirens wailed.

About that time, a married man and woman, both of them 18, were walking on the east side of the lake, Panos said, when a youth ran by them, with four others chasing him. One pursuer continued on, he said, but the other three stopped and asked the married man whether he was a member of a specific gang.

He told them he wasn't, Panos said, but a fight ensued during which both the man and woman were punched, and a bat raised. The man managed to prevent the bat from striking his head, Panos said, but he was struck on the upper body. The injuries were not serious.

When police sirens sounded, the three suspects ran, and they eventually were nabbed on a path in a nearby wooded area. An aluminum bat was recovered, Panos said.

The remaining four suspects were arrested after witnesses said they believed a white minivan was connected to the incident. That van was stopped about three hours later, and three juveniles and a 22-year-old adult were arrested.

All seven suspects are associated with a gang, Panos said.

Among the witnesses to the second attack was Tammie's sister, who with her four children was headed to the vigil.

The Rev. Howard Dotson, who organized Monday's vigil, said traumatic incidents can either force people inside their homes or "bring them together to be productive."
He's hopeful, he said, that the East Side will be coming together.

At the National Night Out party on the East Side with five of his kids, James White, 50, echoed a similar sentiment.

"We all live here," he said. "We can't be scared."

Staff writers Terry Collins and Tim Harlow contributed to this report. Anthony Lonetree • 651-298-1545

Peacemaking in St Paul (2008-2009)

Another violent attack along the shores of a popular Twin Cities lake



Authorities are investigating the attack of a runner at a popular Twin Cities lake, and whether it's related to other assaults.

The latest attack happened around 6:30 last night. Maplewood police say a woman was running along the west side of Lake Phalen when a man came up from behind and knocked her to the ground.

The suspect began beating the woman, hitting her in the face and grabbing at her clothes. The suspect was eventually scared off when other people walked towards them. Fortunately, the victim was not seriously injured.

The suspect is described as:

•black male
•approximately 5'11"
•170 lbs
He was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and jeans.

Authorities want to hear from anyone that may have witnessed anything last night.

Police say they do not have any evidence to connect this attack to other recent assaults along Lake Phalen over the course of several months. Still, they have not completely ruled out a connection.

On March 11th, two attackers kicked and punched a 25-year-old woman who had been jogging and stole her iPod. One week earlier a 45-year-old man was attacked while walking his dog.

Last August, a couple and a woman were assaulted by groups of teens with baseball bats. One of the victim's fingers was severed, and she suffered multiple broken bones in her hands and a wrist.

All of these crimes have motivated a couple community leaders. Rev. Howard Dotson and Larry Simpson are actively trying to organize community walk groups. They say it's critical to keeping the community safe.

"I just worry that folks on the East Side are going to get demoralized and they're going to stay inside, and that's the last thing we want to happen," Dotson said.

The police can't do it all, bless their hearts," Simpson said. "Citizens have to take to the streets, but they have to do it in an effective and safe way."

Simpson and Dotson encourage anyone interested in joining a patrol group to attend a meeting, at 6:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of every month, at the headquarters of the St. Paul Police Department's Eastern District, located at Payne and Minnehaha Ave..

Meantime, police encourage people to be aware of their surroundings and to consider running or walking with a friend.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Maplewood Police through the Ramsey County Emergency Communications Center at 651-767-0640.