Rafael Román Martel

West New York, before this administration, was one of the best places to live in New Jersey, something which is impossible to say today.

Vega and his “parasites”—there is no other way to refer to those who are bleeding our citizens dry—are destroying all the hope of a better future for our children and ourselves. Politicians like Vega begin their careers with dreams and ideals and end up becoming a nightmare for the voters that elected him.

Several people are living the consequences of his decisions through losing their homes or being in the process of losing them soon, due to the absurd increase in taxes. Several others experience the same through losing their jobs or being about to lose their livelihoods, as is the case with 22 of our town’s policemen. In fact, I happen to know that one of these police officers received his pink slip as a reward for returning from service in Iraq. This is the pinnacle of injustice!

When I speak of abuse, I refer to the way in which this mayor uses and abuses the millions of dollars in his budget to pay his cronies outrageous sums, extravagant salaries in nonexistent positions or unnecessary ones. When I speak of intimidation, I refer to the times in which I have seen his henchmen taking pictures and verbally threatening those of us who oppose the current administration. This is unconstitutional!

I have always been very proud of the liberties that those of us who have been given the opportunity to come to this marvelous nation possess, but Dr. Roque has awoken me out of this fantasy in which I live, not that of being in this country, but that of living in West New York, where these freedoms die in the hands of a quasi-tyrant like “Sal” Vega. This mayor has various people at his service, like slaves, slaves that are paid very, very well, in order to use them in his execution of his Machiavellian intentions. As his pseudonym suggests, this individual is the salt, the disgrace, and the curse of this town.

While his police commissioner earns an extra $65 thousand a year, and his secretary $140 a year- (an archetypal salary among his political cronies and dog walkers)- he has repressed more than 10 police officers that were present at Dr. Felix Roque’s fundraiser on July 19th, 2009. We are denouncing to Human Rights Watch the harassment and abuses of Mayor Silverio “Sal” Vega and his banana republic agents. We are also denouncing his abuse of power the Honorable Governor Jon Corzine, who has our full support, and our great Democratic Party, so they are aware of the abuse of power of Mayor Sal Vega and his political hacks, like his police chief. Oscar Fernandez, who is now under the loop by 22 police officers who were fired and the hard working people of West New York for going on vacation with the Union Representative.

“Together We Can” is an organization formed by non-political people who have taken on the “bully”, who are committed top restore the morale and fiscal; responsibility to Town Hall.

Dr. Roque’s “Together We Can” has a great task ahead: to reduce taxes and to restore fiscal responsibility, real leadership, and morale to Town Hall. Dr. Felix Roque and his followers have made a compromise to do just that: reclaim our streets, reclaim our future.

In the lead-by-example tradition of tennis, he gave props to Pete Sampras, the player he admired since he was very young, and whose record he broke today as Federer awaits the birth of his first son by his wife Mirka.

For all of us who have played the game and appreciate the talent required to achieved greatness in this tough sport, let the crowning of Federer be a part of our lifetime, a part of history in sports that we were privileged to witness.

La jefa de auxilio judicial de la Policía, la comisionada mayor Glenda Zavala, informó en una rueda de prensa de que Argüello, de 57 años de edad, utilizó una pistola calibre nueve milímetros para quitarse la vida con un disparo en el pecho mientras permanecía en su casa, 12 kilómetros al sur de Managua.

‘Atleta del Siglo XX’

Alexis Argüello nació en un populoso barrio de Managua el 19 de abril de 1952, debutó como boxeador profesional en 1968 y en 2001 fue designado por la Asociación de Cronistas Deportivos de Nicaragua como ‘Atleta del Siglo XX’ y miembro del salón de la fama del boxeo mundial.
Sandinista, político y deportista

Argüello, de 57 años, fue elegido alcalde de Managua por el gobernante Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional (FSLN) en noviembre de 2008 en unas cuestionadas elecciones denunciadas como “fraudulentas” por la oposición.

El tres veces campeón del mundo dejó una marca de 82 peleas ganadas, 65 de ellas por nocaut, y ocho derrotas, y vio frustrado su cuarto título mundial en 1982, ante el estadounidense Aaron Pryor, en la categoría de las 140 libras (63 kilos).

Estaba casado con Alicia Esquivel, con quien tuvo dos hijos. En total tuvo ocho hijos.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information, officials said.

The robbery took place at about 1 p.m. at the 6010 Park Ave. station, Postal Inspector Josh Shandler said.

The man displayed a handgun, Shandler said, adding that the clerk was not hurt.

The accident happened at 9:26 p.m. Wednesday on Boulevard East, south of Baldwin Avenue, in the vicinity of the Lincoln Tunnel entrance in Weehawken, Welz said.
Turner was driving the car, a Chrysler Sebring convertible, a Weehawken source said, with a passenger Welz described as a friend, but did not identify, at the time of the accident.

They were heading toward a local diner when the driver of another car attempted to switch lanes and collided with the car Turner was driving, Welz said. The other driver was charged with an improper lane change, Welz said.

The car is currently in a Weehawken police parking lot. The car is damaged on its front right side, and it seems the passenger-side air bag was deployed in the accident.

Murillo no informó sobre las causas de la muerte pero la emisora sandinista Radio Ya señaló que había indicios de un aparente suicidio. Su cadáver fue llevado al Instituto de Medicina Legal donde, según la misma emisora, se le realizaba una autopsia.

“Estamos consternados. Lo anuncio con dolor en el corazón. Era el campeón de los pobres. Un ejemplo de perdón y reconciliación”, dijo Murillo.

Radio Ya said coroners were conducting an autopsy on the 57-year-old mayor to determine the cause of death, but it appeared to be a suicide. The La Prensa newspaper reported he was found with a gunshot wound to the chest.

The Hall of Fame boxer was the top fighter of the 20th century in his weight class, according to a panel of experts assembled by The Associated Press in 1999.

The death of Arguello prompted President Daniel Ortega to announced he was canceling a trip to Panama for the inauguration of President-elect Ricardo Martinelli.

Arguello fought against the Sandinista government in the 1980s after it seized his property and bank account, according to the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

But he joined the party to win the mayorship of the capital in 2008, though opponents alleged the vote was fraudulent.

“We are upset,” said presidential spokeswoman, Rosario Murillo, who declined to give details about the death. “This is a heartbreaking announcement. He was the champion of the poor, an example of forgiveness and reconciliation.”

Born in 1952, the Hall of Fame boxer fought 14 world champions and in 1981 he became the sixth man in boxing history to win a title in three weight divisions — featherweight, super featherweight and lightweight — according to the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

El comité “Together We Can” anuncia aprobación al referendun en contra del Alcalde de West New York Silverio Vega.

Los residentes de West New York dicen “No más” a la corupción y alza en los impuestos de propiedades. El proceso del referendun ha comenzado hoy para traer claridad y justicia al pueblo.

Together We Can, West New York, NJ, June 30, 2009. El líder de la organización “Together We Can” Félix E. Roque, MD anuncia hoy la aprobación de la petición para el referendun en contra del Alcálde Vega y su junta de comisionados. En un comunicado enviado ayer por la secretaria del ayuntamiento Señora Carmela Riccie a la organización confirmando la aprobación de las peticiones sometidas el pasado Viérnes, 26 de Junio del 2009, autorizando el período de 160 días bajo las leyes que ampara un referendun el tiempo limite para colectar la firmas. La cantidad de firmas requerida para detronar al Alcálde Vega es de un veinticinco por ciento del total de votantes registrados en las últimas elecciones presidenciales, cifra que da un aproximado de 5,200 firmas válidas para que el referendun sea exitosamente logrado.

Esta es una noticia que sorprende a muchos incrédulos quienes pensarón que éste referendun era una imposibilidad.

El Dr. Roque, jefe de este movimiento expresó, “El pueblo de West New York a hablado unánimemente y demanda justicia inmediata para la administración que ha sido tan corupta e injusta. La administración fue entregada en bandeja de plata al señor Vega y él solo a contribuído a la destrucción de la misma.” Este ha sido un largo y difícil camino para la organización quien se ha enfrentado a numerosas intimidaciones, amenazas y oposiciones a lo largo de los últimos cuatro meses por haber expuesto la problemática que rodea éste pueblo. Hoy, es un día importante para todos los residentes de West New York para que salgan y hagan que sus voces sean escuchadas apoyando la recolección de firmas que estarán circulando en la ciudad comenzando esta semana.

Todos los miembros de “Together We Can” al igual que una gran mayoría de residentes y líderes comunitarios están comprometidos a mobilizar todo el esfuezo posible para recaudar las firmas requeridas;. ésto terminá con el abuso que está afectando a los contribuyentes de impuestos.

Together We Can Committee Announces the Approval to Recall Mayor Silverio Vega in West New York

The residents of West New York cried “No more” to tax hike and corruption. The recall process has begun today to bring justice and clarity to town hall.

Together We Can, West New York, NJ, June 30, 2009. The Leader of the organization Together We Can Felix E. Roque, MD announces today the approval of the petition to recall Mayor Vega and his commissioners. In a communication sent later yesterday by the towns clerk Ms. Carmela Riccie to the organization, confirmed the approval of the petition submitted last Friday, June 26, 2009 authorizing the 160 day period under the recall law and the time to start collecting signatures. The amount of signatures required to dethrone Mayor Vega is twenty-five percent of the total voters registered on the last Presidential election, approximately yielding 5,200 valid signatures for the recall to be successful.

This is shocking news to the non believers who were certain that this recall was impossible to reach this far. Dr. Roque, official head of the recall committee stated, “The town of West New York has spoken unanimously and demands recall NOW of an unfair and corrupt town administration” “The town was given to Mr. Vega on a silver platter and what he has done has contributed towards its destruction.” This long journey has been gruesome as the organization encountered numerous intimidations, threats and oppositions throughout the last four months of revealing the problematic issues surrounding this town. Today is an important day for all West New York residents as they can go out and make their voices be heard by signing the recall petition that will be circulating throughout the town this week.

All committee members as well as a great majority of residents and community leaders are committed to mobilize every possible effort to collect the signatures requested by the town clerk to end the unacceptable madness that is hurting our tax payers.