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confidential memorandum VR Research 405 14th Street, Suite 350
Oakland, California 94612 vrresearch.com 1
CONFIDENTIAL
DATE Tuesday, October 16, 2012
TO Interested Parties
FROM VR Research
RE Two Countries One Voice
This memorandum details our research findings on Andres Ramirez,
Juan Jose Gutierrez, Two Countries One Voice
and Vamos Unidos.
A N D R E S R A M I R E Z
Andres Ramirez is a 34 year old Las Vegas, Nevada based
political consultant. Ramirez got his start in politics as a
legislative aide to U.S. Senator Harry Reid and as deputy
director of Governor Bob Millers Washington D.C. Office.
After a brief stint as a federal lobbyist for U.S. Strategies,
Ramirez returned to Nevada and embarked on a campaign
consulting career. Ramirezs primary focus has been field
operations with extensive work on voter registration and
outreach. Ramirez has consulted for the Obama re-election
campaign this election cycle on Latino outreach issues.
Ramirez is currently the president of the Ramirez Group, a
Nevada based corporation, vice chair of the DNC Hispanic
Caucus and a partner with Democracy Partners, a full service
political and public affairs firm. Democracy Partners
claims to have consulted for many Democratic elected officials,
progressive organizations and unions, including the
Communications Workers of America.
Ties to Grupo Salinas
In May 2008, Ramirez appeared at an issues forum sponsored by
Grupo Salinas which was broadcast on its
Spanish language channel in Colorado.
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confidential memorandum VR Research 405 14th Street, Suite 350
Oakland, California 94612 vrresearch.com 2
Union Ties
In June 2011, Campaigns & Elections reported that Ramirez
would be a partner in a new Democratic consulting firm, Democracy
Partners, along with Robert Creamer, Heather Booth, Renee
Schaeffer, Marc
Cerabona, Brett C. Di Resta, Carla Engle, Jeffrey Garcia, Ken
Grossinger, John Hennelly, Jackie Kendall, Mike
Lux, Dan Manatt, Donald McFarland, Josie Mooney, Braidy O'Neal,
Linda E. Saucedo, Joel Silberman, and
Cheri Whiteman.
According to its website, Democracy Partners clients have
included Democratic elected officials, unions
(including SEIU, AFSCME, AFL CIO and CWA) and progressive
organizations.
Political Professional
From 1999 to 2000, Ramirez lobbied the U.S. Congress on behalf
of the City of Las Vegas and Palm Beach
County as a lobbyist for U.S. Strategies, an Alexandria,
Virginia based governmental relations firm.
On January 22, 2011, Ramirez incorporated Ramirez Group in
Nevada. Ramirez listed himself and his wife,
Jacqueline as the corporations officer. Ramirez Group is active
and in good standing.
On January 24, 2001, Ramirez incorporated Ramirez &
Associates in Nevada. Ramirez listed himself and his
wife, Jacqueline, as the corporations officers. The entities
status is permanently revoked, indicating that
the business is no longer active in Nevada.
In May 2012, Roll Call reported that Ramirez was a democratic
strategist, working on Hispanic outreach for Democratic Nevada U.S.
Senate candidate Shelly Berkley.
In April 2012, as the spokesman for Nuestro Rio, Ramirez called
on policy makers and utility companies to
protect the Colorado River by raising its water flows and
introduced a corrido written to honor the river,
unveiled on the 85th anniversary of Cesar Chavez birthday.
In February 2012, Ramirez maintained that the Colorado River was
not just a river, its our river,
noting its historical and cultural importance.
In October 2011, Politico quoted Ramirez in an article on voter
registration and mobilization in Nevada and described Ramirez as a
Nevada-based pollster.
In August 2011, the Washington Post, on its website, reported
that Ramirez had met with Obama Administration and campaign
officials to discuss Hispanic outreach and noted that Ramirez
maintained that
a hyper obsession with immigration issues had resulted in many
Hispanic voters overlooking Obamas
positive Latino accomplishments like appointing Sonia Sotomayor
to the U.S. Supreme Court.
In August 2011, Ramirez said that Hispanic voter frustration
with the Obama Administration was
understandable and warranted but manageable for the
campaign.
In July 2011, The New York Times reported that Ramirez was the
leader of the Nevada Latino Redistricting Coalition which sought to
ensure that the states new Congressional seat would be competitive
for a Latino
candidate and that Ramirez had said that Latinos were in a
pivotal position with redistricting.
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confidential memorandum VR Research 405 14th Street, Suite 350
Oakland, California 94612 vrresearch.com 3
In December 2009, Roll Call reported that Ramirez worked on
immigration issues while working for Senator
Harry Reid and that Ramirez had defended Reid as a long time
advocate for immigration reform.
In November 2009 when Lou Dobbs left CNN, the Washington Post
reported that Ramirez, who helped
organize the CNN boycott to pressure the network to remove Dobbs
from its lineup, claimed that CNN
realized that Dobbs was not consistent with CNNs brand.
In September 2009, the DNC announced that Ramirez had been
elected Vice Chairman of the DNC Hispanic
Caucus.
In August 2008, the Las Vegas Review Journal reported that
Ramirez splits time between Las Vegas and Washington D.C.
In 2008, Ramirez worked for the Nevada Democratic Party as its
Caucus Outreach Director educating Latino
voters about the states caucus system, an effort which Ramirez
characterized as the most significant and
aggressive outreach effort in Nevada History.
In November 2004, the Las Vegas Review Journal reported that
Ramirez had spent the 2004 election cycle as Nevada State Director
of Voices for Working Families, a voter registration effort. Voices
for Working
Families was part of an association of 33 organizations
registering voters.
In February 2004, India Abroad reported that Ramirez had been
hired as the campaign manager for Ro
Khanna who was challenging sitting Congressman Tom Lantos (D CA)
in the Democratic primary.
In March 2004, Maad Abu-Ghazalah, another of Lantos and Khannas
opponents in the Democratic
primary filed a formal complaint against Khanna alleging that
Khanna offered him a quid pro quo
arrangement to get out of the race so that the two would not
split the Indian vote.
In February 2004, the Las Vegas Review Journal reported that
Ramirez firm had developed a voter drive strategy for People for
the American Way.
In November 2002, the Las Vegas Review Journal reported that
Ramirez ran the Neighbor to Neighbor get out the vote campaign for
the 2002 general election.
In April 2002, the Associated Press reported that Ramirez was
serving as chairman of the Hispanic Democratic Caucus.
In July 1997 speaking as the information manager for Nevada
governors office in Washington D.C.,
Ramirez noted that nobodys a native in Nevada.
Political Candidate
In June 2005, Ramirez lost his bid to unseat North Las Vegas
Mayor Michael Montandon 59% to 41%. The
race was nonpartisan.
The Associated Press reported that despite the races nonpartisan
nature, the Nevada Democratic Party spent $34,280 on Ramirez
campaign.
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In May 2005, Montandon filed a criminal complaint against
Ramirez and Ramirez was questioned by
police after Montandon alleged that Ramirez stole his yard
signs. Police found 48 Montandon yard signs
at Ramirez house.
In March 2005, Democracy for America, a group run by former
presidential candidate Howard Deans
brother, Jim, announced that it was endorsing Ramirez race for
North Las Vegas Mayor, noting that
Ramirez had done organizing for Howard Deans campaign and that
Ramirez had union backing..
In 2002, Ramirez ran for a place on the Nevada Board of Regents
but came in third of three candidates
running.
The Las Vegas Review Journal reported that Ramirez was working
as a political consultant and pursuing his undergraduate degree in
political science from UNLV.
J U A N J O S E G U T I E R R E Z
Juan Jose Gutierrez is a 55 year old Los Angeles based
immigration rights activist. Gutierrez has a law degree but is
not licensed to practice law in California; an article from the
mid 1990s noted that he had not yet taken the bar.
Gutierrez has dedicated his professional life to immigration
issues. In the 1990s, Gutierrez ran One Stop
Immigration, a nonprofit organization that provided services to
immigrants including citizenship classes. This
organization was controversial, losing city and state funding,
teetering on the brink of insolvency and refusing to
comply with an NLRB order to rehire two unionized workers. In
the NLRB decision, the judge noted that she did not
believe Gutierrezs version of events surrounding the labor claim
and the decision noted that Gutierrez had been
accused of sexual harassment. Following his work with One Stop,
Gutierrez worked as an activist organizing pro
immigration marches and protests and starting several advocacy
organizations. Many of these efforts have been
union funded, and Gutierrez even served as the political
director of SEIU for a period of time. Gutierrez has been a
guest on many TV programs, including several appearances on FOX
shows in which he argued for legalization of
most immigrants in the U.S.. Gutierrez is extremely liberal. In
2011, he joined a protest outside of an Obama
fundraiser at which he said that he was very disappointed with
the President. Gutierrez began operating Vamos
Unidos in 2009. The organization provides legal and immigration
services and appears to sell legal plans as a kind of
insurance in the event of the need for immigration services.
Vamos Unidos currently has open state tax liens totaling
at least $13,000.
Vamos Unidos
On August 19, 2009, a DBA was filed in LA County to conduct
business as Vamos Unidos USA Inc.
According to is website which is entirely in Spanish, Vamos
Unidos USA provides immigration law
services. Gutierrez bio is the only one contained on the
website. Vamos Unidos provides legal protection
plans with individual and family legal plans costing from $799
to $1,600 annually.
On April 20, 2009, Gutierrez filed incorporation papers for
Vamos EUA Moving Forward USA with the
California Secretary of State and listed himself as president.
The corporation is currently active and in good
standing.
According to a Nexis business search, the State of California
has filed three tax liens against Vamos Unidos
USA and Vamos EUA totaling at least $13,000. We will confirm
these liens with the LA County Recorder.
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confidential memorandum VR Research 405 14th Street, Suite 350
Oakland, California 94612 vrresearch.com 5
In December 2009, Vamos Unidos organized a rally at a Los
Angeles Salvation Army store in response to a
news report that the Salvation Army in Houston, Texas was
requiring recipients of Christmas toys to provide
social security numbers.
In response to the rally, LA Salvation Army spokesman Robert
Brennan said that the organization would
not require social security numbers and that the information
requested was only to detect fraud or
duplication.
Gutierrez called on the Salvation Army to compromise on its
identification policy, maintaining that the
policy was intended to intimidate.
One Stop Immigration Centers
In February 1999, Administrative Law Judge Mary Miller Craft
found that Gutierrez and One Stop had
engaged in unfair labor practices by retaliating against and
threatening employees engaged in union
activities. In December 1999, a three member panel of the NLRB
considered an appeal of the decision and
affirmed Judge Crafts decision in the matter.
The decision affected two cases, each brought by a former
employee of One Stop Immigration Center who
claimed he was fired for engaging in union organizing
activities. One case was filed by the International
Union of Electronic, Electrical, Salaried, Machine and Furniture
Workers, AFLCIO, District Eleven on
behalf of Gumaro Oviedo Flores and the other was filed by Hector
Alvarado.
In her decision, Judge Craft noted three instances in which she
could not credit Gutierrezs testimony,
including on the issue of whether Gutierrez promised to give a
job back to one of the employees if he
ceased union activities.
The case decision noted that Alvarado and 22 other employees had
petitioned One Stops board to
consider workplace issues including allegations of sexual
harassment by Gutierrez and union issues.
Judge Crafts decision detailed anti union actions taken by
Gutierrez including asking employees to
identify union organizers, threatening employees engaged in
union activities and attempting to coerce an
employee to cease union activities.
In affirming Crafts decision, the NLRB affirmed her original
order requiring that One Stop reinstate the
employees to their old positions or an equivalent position,
provide the employees with back pay and
benefits and post a notice to all employees informing them of
the NLRBs decision and stating their right
to organize.
In January 2000, the Los Angeles Times reported that One Stop
had defied a NLRB order to rehire two workers whose terminations
were found to be in violation of union agreements and noted that
the
organization had ties to prominent labor leaders including LA
County Federation of Labor political director
Fabian Nunez who served on the organizations board.
In response to questions of his ties to One Stop and its
defiance of the NLRB order, Nunez claimed that he
had told Gutierrez to settle with the union and that a decision
from the NLRB is as good as a document
signed by God.
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In response to questions from the paper, Gutierrez said that he
was not at liberty to discuss the issue but
claimed that One Stop was not an anti labor organization.
Nunez told the Los Angeles Times that One Stop was nearly
bankrupt due to state and city funding cuts
and that the organization would have to negotiate a settlement
with the terminated employees in order to
avoid insolvency.
In July 2000, Gutierrez, speaking as the director of One Stop
Immigration, claimed that there was high
demand from Latinos for services to assist with becoming
citizens, but little available funding for nonprofits
like One Stop.
In May 1998, the Orange County Register reported that One Stops
class rosters, financial and employee records had been subpoenaed
by the Clinton Administration and that Gutierrez had confirmed the
request
for the records.
In July 1994, One Stop Board Member Stephanie Lopez resigned
claiming that Gutierrez had denied her
access to financial records and that the board had not voted on
many of the funding decisions including
center closures that had occurred over the previous 14
months.
In response to the accusations from Lopez, Gutierrez claimed
that One Stop was going through a very
difficult period, citing funding cuts which required center
closures.
In February 1997, Gutierrez said that he could not in good
conscience recommend to his clients that they
apply for new identification numbers required by the IRS because
he was unsure whether the information
would be shared with the INS.
Political & Union Activist
In June 2012, Hispanically Speaking News reported that Gutierrez
was the coordinator of the National
Regeneration Movement of Mexicans Abroad, an effort to ensure
that Mexicans living outside of Mexico had
the opportunity to vote in the countys elections.
In June 2012, the Los Angeles Times reported that Gutierrez was
supporting Andres Manual Lopez Obrador for president of Mexico,
claiming he represented true change.
In September 2011, Gutierrez protested with hundreds of other
activists outside a West Hollywood Obama
fundraiser, maintaining that he was disappointed with the
president.
Gutierrez has long been an organizer of annual May Day marches
in Los Angeles and Washington D.C.,
protesting the treatment of immigrant labor and calling for
citizenship for illegal immigrants. These
marches have varied in size and tone through the years.
In April 2011, the Los Angeles Times reported that the annual
May Day rally turnout could be suppressed due to a dispute between
the Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition, backed by the L.A. County
Federation
of Labor and the Southern California Immigration Coalition over
who would organize the march and
noted that Gutierrez was the coordinator of the larger,
union-backed group.
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Oakland, California 94612 vrresearch.com 7
Gutierrez has served as an attorney for braceros, workers who
came to the U.S. legally as temporary workers
from 1942 to 1964 and who had a percentage of their paycheck
deducted and deposited into Mexican banks
but were never refunded the money after returning to Mexico.
Some braceros fall under a settlement with
the Mexican government dealing with payments to workers who were
in the U.S. during and immediately
following the World War II.
In November 1999, the Orange County Register reported that
Gutierrez had been involved with the
braceros lawsuits since the early 1980s when he petitioned the
Mexican government to return the funds
to the braceros.
In June 2007 after the U.S. Senate failed to pass an immigration
reform bill, Gutierrez said that he was
deeply disappointed and said that the bill failed due to
racism.
In March 2007, Gutierrezs Latino Movement USA organized an anti
war protest with Act Now to Stop War
and End Racism (ANSWER) and Gutierrez stressed that the
immigration and anti war movements are
connected, noting his own nephew who was killed in Iraq after
immigrating from Mexico and joining the
U.S. military.
In a June 2006 appearance on Scarborough Country, Gutierrez said
that a Philadelphia restaurant owners
decision to put a sign in his window saying speak English and to
require customers to order in English was
outrageous racism.
In May 2006 while the U.S. Senate debated a bill providing a
path to citizenship for some illegal immigrants
and also authorizing a border fence, Gutierrez, as a leader of
the National Capital Immigration Coalition,
organized and attended a protest of the militarization of the
border.
In May 2006, Gutierrez, representing Latino Movement USA helped
to organize a large scale protest by
illegal immigrants and other immigration reform supporters,
asking them to stay home from work that day
and to attend rallies in support of full legalization of
immigrants in the U.S.
Some immigrants rights supporters disagreed with the idea of
asking immigrants to boycott work, citing
concerns that they might be fired, a position Gutierrez
described as paternalistic.
In April 2006, the Washington Times reported that ANSWER, a
group with which Gutierrez organized
immigration protests in 2006, had ties to the Marxist World
Workers Party.
In October 2004 in response to California Governor Arnold
Schwarzeneggers veto of an illegal immigrant
drivers license bill, Gutierrez organized a protest of
Schwarzeneggers office and called on immigrants to
make all their currency in red ink with 100 percent immigrant
and to boycott Red Bull products, which he
errantly said were made by a company that Schwarzenegger
owned.
In March 2001 in an interview on NPR, Gutierrez, described as a
senior organizer for SEIU, maintained that it
was in the best interest of unions to organize illegal
workers.
In October 1996, Gutierrez was one of the organizers of the
Coordinadora 96 March in Washington D.C.,
which drew between 20,000 and 30,000 people of Latino decent, a
result which Gutierrez characterized as an
unprecedented success.
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The Los Angeles Times reported that unions, including the
electrical and electronics workers union
provided funding and office space to plan the event.
Gutierrez founded Latino Movement USA after the success of the
Coordinadora 96 March and told the
Washington Post that his plan was to make it a membership
organization similar in size to the NRA or Christian Coalition.
In October 1996, the Washington Post reported that Gutierrez was
a recent graduate of Loyola University Law School, which he had
attended at night and that Gutierrez had not yet had time to take
the Bar.
In October 1996, the Washington Post described Gutierrez as a
man of contradictions, noting that while calling for unity with
African Americans, Gutierrez characterized the traditional civil
rights movement as
exclusionary.
In October 1994, Gutierrez led an anti Proposition 187 March in
Los Angeles which was later blamed for
mobilizing support for the proposition due to the wide spread
carrying of Mexican flags and other signs of
Mexican nationalism.
Political Candidate
In 1999, Gutierrez came in fourth in the primary for L.A. City
Council District 14.
Gutierrez campaign consultant Rick Taylor maintained that
targeted mail, not money would determine the
winner in the race.
In April 1999, LA Weekly, while extolling Gutierrezs skills at
community organizing and bringing
important issues to the forefront, declined to endorse Gutierrez
for LA City Council citing his erratic
political judgment and controversies with One Stop.
T W O C O U N T R I E S O N E V O I C E
In May 2012, Ramirez and Gutierrez announced the creation of Two
Countries One Voice. The first press release
from the organization included a press contact who is a former
Republican Party operative. Two Countries One
Voice has claimed that it is a coalition funded by about 50
member organizations; the coalitions website list 47
members (mostly individuals) including three Democratic members
of the New York State Assembly. Most the
members of the coalition are associated with immigration rights
groups based in Las Vegas or Los Angeles which
have worked with either Ramirez or Gutierrez. Several of these
groups are work in conjunction with or are funded by
unions. In August 2012, the coalition claimed in a press release
that Yo Soy 132 and the Occupy movements were
members of the Two Counties One Voice coalition but both
organizations contradicted the statement. One report
claimed that Yo Soy 132 did not join because of the involvement
of Democratic Party operatives, in the coalition.
In May 2012, Two Countries One Voice announced its own formation
by a coalition of Latino leaders and
described its dedication to exposing Carlos Slim, the worlds
richest man, and the alleged predatory,
monopolistic methods with which he has amassed his fortune.
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The press release invited interested parties to a briefing on
Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at the National Press
Club with speakers from the coalition including Andres Ramirez,
Juan Jose Gutierrez, Arturo Carmona
with Presente.org and Ricardo Juarez with Mexicanos Sin
Fronteras.
The press release contact, Yohana de la Torre, is a Florida
based media consultant with extensive
Republican and media ties. According to her firms website, De la
Torre is currently the owner of YDT
Media, a media consulting firm and the owner and managing editor
of Gulf Coast Times LLC, a monthly
32 page magazine. De la Torres media clients include
Conservative Political Action Conference and the
Hispanic Leadership Network. De la Torres past work experience
includes serving as deputy press
secretary at the Republican National Convention (2008), serving
as a communications specialist for U.S.
Senator Mel Martinez (2005 to 2006), serving as deputy director
of specialty media at the Republican
National Convention (2004), serving as a freelance associate
producer for Univision (1999 to 2004),
serving as an on air reporter for the Don Strock Show on WTVJ
NBC (2002) and serving as a reporter for
the Miami Herald (2001 to 2002).
In August 2012, Reuters reported that Ramirez and Gutierrez had
claimed that the coalition was made up of
about 50 organizations which funded its activities. According to
the groups website, the coalition has 47
members, most of which are activists in Los Angeles and Las
Vegas who have worked with Ramirez or
Gutierrez. Several of the groups affiliated with the activists
work in conjunction with or are funded by
unions.
New York State Senator Adriano Espaillat (D-31) participated in
the August 2012 Two Countries One
Voice protest at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City. Espaillat
was first elected to the New York State
Assembly in 1996 and served there until he won a seat in the New
York State Senate in 2010. Espaillat is
originally from the Dominican Republic. In 2012, Espaillat
challenged New York Congressman Charlie
Rangel in the newly drawn 13th Congressional district. Espaillat
lost the Democratic by a slim margin,
resulting in court action and Espaillat claiming illegal voter
suppression. Espaillat ultimately dropped his
challenge. The new district is a majority Hispanic district.
Since 1998, Espaillats top donor for his
campaigns has been unions, including the CWA. He has received
very little money from the
telecommunications industry.
New York State Assemblyman Nelson Castro (D-86) participated in
the August 2012 Two Countries One
Voice protest at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City. Castro was
elected to the New York Assembly in
2008. Prior to his election, Castro worked as chief of staff for
Espaillat. Castro is originally from the
Dominican Republic. Since 2008, Castros top donor for his
campaigns has been unions, including the
CWA. Castro has received very little money from the
telecommunications industry.
New York State Assemblyman Robert J. Rodriguez (D-68)
participated in the August 2012 Two Countries
One Voice protest at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City.
Rodriguez was elected to the New York State
Assembly in 2010. Since 2010, Rodriguez received the most
contributions from real estate industry
sources, with unions second with $15,600 in contributions.
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New York City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez (D-10) participated in
the August 2012 Two Countries One
Voice protest at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City. Rodriguez
was elected to New York City Council in
2009. Rodriguez has been active in the Occupy movement and was
arrested in November 2011 in Zuccotti
Park. Rodriguez was born in the Dominican Republic. During his
2009 campaign for City Council,
Rodriguez received significant contributions from 6 labor unions
totaling $16,000 (each gave the
maximum contribution of $2,750).
In August 2012, Reuters reported that in response to Slims
son-in law Arturo Elias Ayubs claim that GWU
protesters were paid to be there, Ramirez maintained that
participants were not paid to protest but that some
were reimbursed for transportation and food expenses.
On August 2, 2012, Two Countries One Voice announced a four day
protest in front of Saks Fifth Avenue and
announced that Yo Soy 132, Occupy Wall Street and Occupy DC had
joined the Two Countries One Voice
Coalition.
The contact for the Saks Fifth Avenue protest press release was
Melisa Diaz, who has her own Hispanic
media consulting firm where she provides communications advice,
event planning and translations. Diaz
previously worked for TMG Strategies (now McGinn and Company),
served as director of Hispanic media
for the Democratic National Committee (2004), served as the
Washington correspondent for El Vocero,
Puerto Ricos largest newspaper, served as communications
director for Congressman Jose Serrano (D NY),
served as deputy communications director for the House
Democratic Caucus, served as Hispanic outreach
coordinator at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
(DCCC) and worked on Hispanic
outreach for President William J. Clintons second Inaugural.
After the press release went out, Yo Soy 132, a Mexican student
movement, denied that it had agreed to be
part of the Two Countries One Voice Coalition and a blog on The
Nations website noted a report in La Jornada which claimed that Yo
Soy 132 decided not to participate due to the involvement of
Democratic
party operatives.
Occupy organizer Aaron Black emphasized that he planned to
attend the protest as an individual, noting
that the Occupy movement would not be part of any coalition with
elected officials.
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ANDRES RAMIREZ 18
Vital Statistics 18
Federal Lobbyist 19
WORKED FOR U.S. STRATEGIES AS LOBBYIST; CLIENTS INCLUDED CITY OF
LAS VEGAS, PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA (1999-2000) 19
Corporate Affiliations 20
Ramirez Group 20
INCORPORATED RAMIREZ GROUP IN NEVADA (2011); CORPORATION ACTIVE
AND IN GOOD STANDING (2012) 20
Ramirez & Associates 20
INCORPORATED RAMIREZ & ASSOCIATES (2001) 20
Politics 20
HAS WORKED ON HISPANIC OUTREACH FOR SHELLEY BERKELY IN NEVADA
SENATE RACE (2012) 20
SPOKESMAN FOR NUESTRO RIO, GROUP CALLING ATTENTION TO NEED TO
PROTECT COLORADO RIVER (2012) 20
Said Not Just a River, Its Our River, Noted Historical and
Cultural Importance 21
POLITICO REPORTED RAMIREZ AS POLLSTER (2011) 21
REPORTEDLY ADVISED OBAMA CAMPAIGN ON LATINO ISSUES, SAID
HISPANICS OVERLOOKING POSITIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS DUE TO
HYPER-OBSESSION WITH IMMIGRATION ISSUES (2011) 21
Said Hispanic Voter Frustration Understandable and Warranted but
Manageable for the Campaign 21
LED NEVADA LATINO REDISTRICTING COALITION (2011) 22
REPORTED WOULD BE PARTNER IN DEMOCRACY PARTNERS, DEMOCRATIC
CONSULTING FIRM (2011) 22
Firms Clients Include Democratic Elected Officials, Unions
Including the Communications Workers Union and Progressive
Organizations 22
CLAIMED WORKED ON IMMIGRATION ISSUES FOR REID, SAID REID ALWAYS
IN FAVOR OF REFORMS (2009) 26
CLAIMED TO HAVE HELPED ORGANIZE BOYCOTT OF LOU DOBBS (2009)
26
ELECTED VICE CHAIR OF DNCS HISPANIC CAUCUS (2009) 26
ARTICLE SAID RAMIREZ SPLIT TIME BETWEEN NEVADA AND D.C. (2008)
26
APPEARED AT ISSUES FORUM SPONSORED BY GRUPO SALINAS (2008)
26
TOOK JOB WITH NEW DEMOCRAT NETWORK (NDN) (2008) 26
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SERVED AS CAUCUS OUTREACH DIRECTOR FOR NEVADA DEMOCRATIC PARTY,
SAID OUTREACH WORK MOST SIGNIFICANT AND AGGRESSIVE OUTREACH EFFORT
IN NEVADA HISTORY TO GET HISPANICS TO THE CAUCUS POLLS (2007-2008)
27
LOST NONPARTISAN RACE FOR MAYOR OF NORTH LAS VEGAS (2005) 27
Despite Race Being Nonpartisan, Nevada Democratic Party Spent
$34,000 on Ramirez Race 27
Opponent Filed Criminal Complaint Against Ramirez for Stealing
Yard Signs (2005) 28
Endorsed by Group Run by Howard Deans Brother, Ramirez Had Done
Organizing for Dean Campaign, Endorsement Noted that Ramirez Had
Union Backing (2005) 28
WORKED AS STATE DIRECTOR FOR VOICES FOR WORKING FAMILIES DOING
VOTER OUTREACH (2004) 28
SERVED AS CAMPAIGN MANAGER FOR INDIAN AMERICAN WHO CHALLENGED
SITTING DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN IN PRIMARY (2004) 28
In Formal Complaint Primary Opponent Claimed Ramirez Candidate
Offered Quid Pro Quo If He Dropped Out of Race 29
DID VOTER ANALYSIS FOR PEOPLE FOR THE AMERICAN WAY (2004) 29
RAN NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR GET OUT THE VOTE PROJECT (2002) 29
RAN FOR UNIVERSITY REGENT POSITION, CAME IN LAST (2002) 29
Reportedly Working as Political Consultant, Pursing
Undergraduate Degree in Political Science While Running for Office
29
SERVED AS CHAIRMAN OF HISPANIC DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS (2002) 29
AS INFORMATION MANAGER FOR GOVERNORS OFFICE, SAID NO ONES A
NATIVE IN NEVADA (1997) 29
JUAN JOSE GUTIERREZ 30
Vital Statistics 30
Vamos Unidos/Vamos EUA 30
DBA FILED IN LA COUNTY TO CONDUCT BUSINESS AS VAMOS UNIDOS USA
(2009) 30
Website is Entirely in Spanish, Says Vamos Unidos Provides
Immigration Legal Services, Includes Legal Protection Plans Costing
as Much as $1,600 Annually 30
GUTIERREZ FILED INCORPORATION PAPERS FOR VAMOS EUA MOVING
FORWARD USA, INC. (2009) 31
STATE OF CALIFORNIA HAS FILED THREE TAX LIENS AGAINST VAMOS
UNIDOS USA, VAMOS EUA (2011-2012) 31
VAMOS UNIDOS ORGANIZED RALLY AT LA SALVATION ARMY IN RESPONSE
NEWS STORY THAT SALVATION ARMY IN TEXAS REQUIRED RECIPIENTS OF
CHRISTMAS TOYS TO PROVIDE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS (2009) 31
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LA Salvation Army Spokesman Said Would Not Collect Social
Security Numbers, Only Information Collected to Detect Fraud or
Duplication 32
Gutierrez Called on Salvation Army to Compromise on
Identification Policy, Said Intended to Intimidate 32
One Stop Immigration Centers 32
CLAIMED LOTS OF DEMAND FOR IMMIGRATION SERVICES BUT LITTLE
FUNDING (2000) 32
ONE STOPS RECORDS SUBPOENAED BY U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
(1998) 32
ACCUSED OF MISMANAGING FUNDS AT ONE STOP (1994) 33
Gutierrez Claimed Organization Going Through a Very Difficult
Period, Cited Funding Cuts Requiring Center Closures 33
SAID COULD NOT ADVISE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CLIENTS TO COMPLY WITH
IRS REQUIREMENT THAT THEY OBTAIN TAX NUMBERS, SAID NOT SURE
INFORMATION WOULD NOT BE SHARED WITH INS (1997) 33
NLRB Action 33
NLRB AFFIRMED DECISION OF ALJ WHO FOUND GUTIERREZ AND ONE STOP
HAD VIOLATED FAIR LABOR LAWS BY THREATENING AND RETALIATING AGAINST
EMPLOYEES ENGAGED IN UNION ACTIVITIES (1999) 33
Cases Brought by Two Employees, One Employees Case Filed by the
International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Salaried, Machine
and Furniture Workers, AFLCIO, District Eleven (1997-1998) 34
In Decision, Judge Noted Three Instances in which She Could Not
Credit Gutierrezs Testimony 34
Case Included Allegations of Sexual Harassment of Employees by
Gutierrez 34
Judges Decision Detailed Anti Union Action Taken by Gutierrez,
including Asking Employees to Identify Union Organizers,
Threatening Employees Engaged in Union Activities and Attempting to
Coerce an Employee to Cease Union Activities 35
FINAL DECISION ORDERED ONE STOP TO REINSTATE EMPLOYEES, PROVIDE
BACK PAY AND BENEFITS AND POST NOTICE TO EMPLOYEES INFORMING THEM
OF NLRB DECISION AND STATING THEIR RIGHTS TO ORGANIZE (1999) 35
ONE STOP DEFIED ORDER BY NLRB TO REHIRE LAID OFF WORKERS (2000)
36
Board Member Claimed Told Gutierrez to Settle with Union, Said
Decision from the NLRB is as Good as a Document Signed by God
36
Gutierrez Claimed Not at Liberty to Discuss the Issue, Said One
Stop Not an Anti-Labor Organization 37
Nunez Said One Stop Nearly Bankruptcy Due to City and State
Funding Cuts, Said Would Need to Settle With Employees to Avoid
Insolvency 37
Litigation 37
Politics 41
COORDINATOR OF NATIONAL REGENERATION MOVEMENT OF MEXICANS
ABROAD, EFFORT TO ENSURE MEXICANS LIVING IN U.S. CAN VOTE ABSENTEE
IN COUNTRYS ELECTIONS (2012) 41
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Supported Lopez Obrador for Mexican Presidency Said Represented
True Change (2012) 41
PROTESTED AT OBAMA FUNDRAISER, SAID DISAPPOINTED WITH PRESIDENT
(2011) 42
LONGSTANDING ORGANIZER OF MAY DAY MARCHES IN L.A., WASHINGTON
D.C. 42
While Serving As Coordinator for Full Rights for Immigrants
Coalition, Organized March Backed by L.A. County Federation of
Labor; Dispute with Another Group Over Policy Threatened to Dampen
Turnout for March (2011) 42
LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR EX BRACEROS FIGHTING TO GET PAYCHECK
DEDUCTIONS REMOVED FROM CHECKS (2008) 43
Involved in Braceros Lawsuits Since Early 1980s 43
SAID FAILURE OF SENATE TO PASS IMMIGRATION REFORM BILL RACISM
(2007) 43
HELPED ORGANIZE ANTI WAR PROTEST, SAID IMMIGRATION AND ANTI WAR
EFFORTS CONNECTED, CITED OWN NEPHEW KILLED IN IRAQ AFTER
IMMIGRATING FROM MEXICO AND JOINING MILITARY (2007) 43
SAID BUSINESS OWNER REQUIRING CUSTOMERS TO ORDER IN ENGLISH
ENGAGED IN OUTRAGEOUS RACISM (2006) 44
ORGANIZED DEMONSTRATION AGAINST BORDER FENCE BY NATIONAL CAPITOL
IMMIGRATION COALITION (2006) 44
LED WORK BOYCOTT PROTEST BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS (2006) 44
Said Opponents of Boycott were Paternalistic (2006) 44
WORKED WITH GROUP WITH TIES TO WORKERS WORLD PARTY (2006) 45
TOLD IMMIGRANTS TO MARK CURRENCY WITH RED INK TO DEMONSTRATE
ECONOMIC POWER, ERRANTLY TOLD THEM TO BOYCOTT RED BULL DRINKS
BECAUSE OF TIES TO SCHWARZENEGGER WHEN SCHWARZENEGGER DID NOT OWN
SHARES IN COMPANY (2004) 45
AS SENIOR ORGANIZER FOR SEIU, SAID UNIONS INTEREST SERVED BY
ORGANIZING ILLEGAL WORKERS (2001) 45
RAN FOR LA CITY COUNCIL, CAME IN 4TH IN PRIMARY (1999) 46
Consultant Said Gutierrez Council Race about Targeted Mail, Not
Money (1999) 46
LA Weekly Did Not Endorse Gutierrez, Cited Issues With Workers,
Erratic Political Judgment (1999) 46
LEADER OF COORDINADORA '96 MARCH IN D.C., CALLED MARCH
UNPRECENDENT SUCCESS (1996) 46
Unions Provided Funding and Office Space to Plan the March
47
LATINO MOVEMENT USA FOUNDED AFTER 1996 MARCH ON WASHINGTON, SAID
PLAN TO BECOME A MEMBER ORGANIZATION SIMILAR IN SIZE TO THE NRA OR
CHRISTIAN COALITION (1996) 47
ATTENDED NIGHT SCHOOL AT LOYOLA UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL, SAID HAD
NOT HAD TIME TO TAKE BAR (1996) 47
WHILE CALLING FOR UNITY WITH AFRICAN AMERICANS, CHARACTERIZED
THE TRADITIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AS EXCLUSIONARY (1996) 48
LED MARCH AGAINST PROP 187, MARCH BLAMED FOR PROPOSITIONS
PASSAGE (1994) 48
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TWO COUNTRIES ONE VOICE 49
Activism 49
TWO COUNTRIES ONE VOICE ANNOUNCED COALITION, SAID DEDICATED TO
EXPOSING CARLOS SLIM (2012) 49
Said Briefing Would Include Presentations by Coalition Members
Including Ramirez, Gutierrez, Arturo Carmona and Ricardo Juarez
49
Press Contract Yohana de la Torre Runs Media Firm in Florida,
Has Ties to Republican Organizations and Politicians, Former Worked
for Univision 49
IN RESPONSE TO SLIMS SON IN LAWS CLAIM THAT GWU PROTESTERS WERE
PAID TO BE THERE, RAMIREZ CLAIMED THEY WERE NOT PAID TO PROTEST BUT
THAT TRANSPORTATION AND FOOD COSTS WERE COVERED FOR SOME (2012)
49
ANNOUNCED PROTEST AT SAKS FIFTH AVENUE TARGETED DUE TO SLIMS
HOLDING IN SAKS STOCK, NOTED YO SOY 132, OCCUPY WALL STREET AND
OCCUPY DC HAD JOINED TWO COUNTRIES ONE VOICE COALITION (2012)
50
Press Release Contact Former Spokesperson for Hispanic Media for
Democratic Party Organizations, Worked for Communications
Consulting Firm 51
Coalition Members 51
TOLD REUTERS THAT TWO COUNTRIES ONE VOICE FUNDED BY ABOUT 50
ORGANIZATIONS MAKING UP THE COALITION (2012) 51
TWO COUNTRIES ONE VOICE WEB SITE LISTS 47 COALITION MEMBERS,
MOSTLY INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN LATINO ACTIVISM IN NEVADA AND
CALIFORNIA WITH TIES TO RAMIREZ OR GONZALEZ 51
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Javier Trujillo, Chair, Latin Chamber of Commerce (Nevada)
51
Mario Cardenas, President, COFEM 52
Miguel Barrientos (NV), Radio Host, Asi se Habla Radio 52
Vicenta Montoya (NV), Founder, Si Se Puede Democratic Caucus
52
Edgar Flores, Familias de Juarez Project 52
Marco Antonio Pacheco, President, Casa de la Cultura Maya 52
Adelita Grijalva (AZ), Board Member, Tucson Unified School
District 53
Juan Ortega, President, Dream Big Vegas 53
Art Terrazas, New Mexico State University / Hispano Chamber of
Commerce 53
Antonio Garcia, Organizacion Duranguense 53
Francisco Morales, Hispanic Student Union UNLV 54
Luz Mosquera, Executive Director, Hermandad Mexicana 54
Stavan Corbett, President of the Board, Luz Coalition 54
Margarita Rebollal, Executive Director, Community Services of
Nevada 54
Jose Melendrez, Co-Founder, Nevada Alliance for Latino Education
and Justice 55
Leo Murietta, President and Co-Founder, Nevada Youth Alliance
55
Fernando Romero, President, Hispanics in Politics 55
Michael Flores, Southern Nevada Director, Nevada Reform
Immigration for America 56
Francisco Pacheco, Day Labor Program (East Coast Coordinator)
56
Bessy Blanco, President, Association of Salvadoran Attorney from
DC 56
Camilo J. Quila, Legal Aid Justice Center 56
Jose Artiga, Director, SHARE EL SALVADOR 57
Reveriano Sanchez, Las Americas News 57
Gil Lopez, SOL UNLV 57
Loamy Diaz, MeCHA CSN 57
Roberto Bravo, Director, CBO Comunitarias (Asociacion de Puebla)
57
Rosa Posadas, Director, Union de Emigrantes Guatemaltecos (UGE)
58
Francisco Rivera, President, Mesa Redonda Centroamericana 58
Leoncio Velasquez, President Hondurenos Unidos (HULA) 58
Daniel Morales, Director, Collective Space 58
Josefina Herrera, President, Club Juarez, Chihuahua 58
Baldomero Capiz, President, Asociacion de Ex-Braceros de Los
Angeles 58
Sonia Zaldivar, Treasurer, Salvadoran Corridor 59
Ricardo Amado Castillo, George Washington University Student
Alumni Association 59
Raul Murillo, Hermandad Mexicana Nacional 59
George Martinez, Representative of Occupy Wall Street and
Adjunct Professor of Political Science at Pace University 59
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Lucia Gomez Jimenez, Executive Director, La Fuente, Inc. 60
Nieves Padilla, Community Organizer, Make the Road NY 60
Too Little Information Provided, Not Possible to Identify
Details on 8 Coalition Members 60
YO SOY 132 CLAIMED HAD NOT JOINED COALITION, REPORT SAID GROUP
DECIDED NOT TO JOIN DUE TO INVOLVEMENT OF DEMOCRATIC PARTY
OPERATIVES (2012) 61
Occupy Organizer Also Said Organization Not Official Part of
Coalition, Said Not a Part of Any Coalition with Elected Officials
61
Elected Officials 62
NEW YORK STATE SENATOR ADRIANO ESPAILLAT (D-31) 62
Espaillat Challenged New York Congressman Charlie Rangel in
Primary, Lost (2012) 62
Espaillat Has Received Significant Funding from Unions
(1998-2012) 62
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLYMAN NELSON CASTRO (D-86) 63
Unions Are Castros Top Campaign Contributor (2008-2012) 63
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLYMAN ROBERT J. RODRIGUEZ (D-68) 64
Largest Contributor Real Estate Industry, Second Largest Unions
(2010-2012) 64
NEW YORK CITY COUNCILMAN YDANIS RODRIGUEZ (D-10) 64
Received Significant Contributions from Unions (2009) 65
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ANDRES RAMIREZ
Vital Statistics
F U L L N A M E
Andres Ramirez Jr.
D A T E A N D P L A C E O F B I R T H
March 1978
Richmond, Texas
S O C I A L S E C U R I T Y N U M B E R
466 47 -XXXX
F A M I L Y
Spouse: Jacqueline Ferreiro
Marriage Date: August 5, 2000
Daughter: Victoria
C A R E E R T I M E L I N E
YEARS AND LOCATION EMPLOYER AND POSITION
2011 to Present Ramirez Group, President 2009to Present DNC
Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chair 2008 to 2011 NDN, Senior Vice President
2011 to Present Democracy Partners, Partner 2007-2008 Nevada
Democratic Party, Caucus Outreach Director 2004 Voices for Working
Families, State Director 2001 to unknown Ramirez & Associates,
President 1999 to 2000 U.S. Strategies, Legislative Affairs Analyst
Governor Bob Miller, Washington D.C. Office, Deputy Director U.S.
Senator Harry Reid (D NV), Legislative Aide
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O R G A N I Z A T I O N S A N D M E M B E R S H I P S
Ramirez claims affiliation or membership with the following
organizations:
YEARS ORGANIZATION AND POSITION
2011 Nevada Latino Redistricting Coalition, Leader 2001 Latinos
for Equal Representation 2004 North Las Vegas Committee, Vice
President
Federal Lobbyist
WORKED FOR U.S. STRATEGIES AS LOBBYIST; CLIENTS INCLUDED CITY OF
LAS VEGAS, PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA (1999-2000)
From 1999 to 2000, Ramirez lobbied the U.S. Congress on behalf
of the City of Las Vegas and Palm Beach County as a
lobbyist for U.S. Strategies, an Alexandria, Virginia based
governmental relations firm. The chart below provides
details on Ramirezs lobbying activities and compensation to U.S.
Strategies.
CLIENT SPECIFIC ISSUES LOBBIED BRANCHES
LOBBIED
PERIOD
COVERED
AMOUNT
City of
Las
Vegas
HR 2684 VA HUD Appropriations
HR 2084 Transportation Appropriations
House, Senate,
US DOT, US
HUD
July 1, 1999-
December
31, 1999
$0 to
$9,999.99
City of
Las
Vegas
Multiple bills characterized as
Labor/Antitrust/Workplace, Housing,
Transportation, Urban
Development/Municipalities, Real
Estate/Land Use/Conservation, Law
Enforcement/Crime/Criminal Justice
House, Senate,
US DOT, US
HUD
January 1,
2000 to
June 30,
2000
$40,000.00
Palm
Beach
County,
FL
Multiple bills characterized as Housing,
Urban Development/Municipalities, Real
Estate/Land Use/Conservation, Clean Air
and Water Quality, Agriculture
House, Senate,
US DOT, US
HUD Dept. of
Agriculture,
Dept. of Interior
$40,000.00
TOTAL $80,000 to
$89,999,99
(Year End Report, U.S. Strategies, Filed February 9, 2000; Mid
Year Report, U.S. Strategies, Filed August 14, 2000)
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Corporate Affiliations
Ramirez Group
INCORPORATED RAMIREZ GROUP IN NEVADA (2011); CORPORATION ACTIVE
AND IN GOOD STANDING (2012)
On January 22, 2011, Ramirez incorporated Ramirez Group in
Nevada. Ramirez listed himself and his wife,
Jacqueline as the corporations officer. Ramirez Group is active
and in good standing. (Nevada Secretary of State
Web site, NV SOS Entity Search: Ramirez Group,
www.nvsos.gov)
Ramirez & Associates
INCORPORATED RAMIREZ & ASSOCIATES (2001)
On January 24, 2001, Ramirez incorporated Ramirez &
Associates in Nevada. Ramirez listed himself and his wife,
Jacqueline, as the corporations officers. The entities status is
permanently revoked, indicating that the business is
not longer active in Nevada. (Nevada Secretary of State Web
site, NV SOS Entity Search: Ramirez & Association,
www.nvsos.gov)
Politics
HAS WORKED ON HISPANIC OUTREACH FOR SHELLEY BERKELY IN NEVADA
SENATE RACE (2012)
In May 2012, Roll Call reported that Ramirez was a democratic
strategist, working on Hispanic outreach for Democratic Nevada U.S.
Senate candidate Shelly Berkley. (Roll Call, Key to Senate Seat
Lies in Battlegroundsville,
May 17, 2012)
SPOKESMAN FOR NUESTRO RIO, GROUP CALLING ATTENTION TO NEED TO
PROTECT COLORADO RIVER (2012)
In April 2012, as the spokesman for Nuestro Rio, Ramirez called
on policy makers and utility companies to protect
the Colorado River by raising its water flows and introduced a
corrido written to honor the river and unveiled on
the 85th anniversary of Cesar Chavez birthday. According to
Ramirez:
If we do nothing, the price of water will spike, agriculture and
rural communities will become less viable, and
households will be forced by utilities and governments to make
drastic changes in how they use water.
(Colorado Independent, Latinos Celebrate Cesar Chavez Holiday
with Song Calling for Colorado River
Conservation, April 13, 2012)
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Said Not Just a River, Its Our River, Noted Historical and
Cultural Importance
In February 2012, Ramirez maintained that the Colorado River was
not just a river, its our river, noting its
historical and cultural importance. According to Ramirez:
It's not just 'a' river; it's 'our' river. It has a historical
and cultural importance to many groups of people. The
Colorado River is the lifeline of the Southwest, and not only
does the river need to be preserved for generations
to come, but also the cultural heritage of the river basin. (Las
Vegas Sun, Latino Group Expands Efforts to Preserve Colorado River,
February 2, 2012)
POLITICO REPORTED RAMIREZ AS POLLSTER (2011)
In October 2011, Politico quoted Ramirez in an article on voter
registration and mobilization in Nevada and
described Ramirez as a Nevada-based pollster. (Politico, Western
Dems: Go Down the Middle, October 18, 2011)
REPORTEDLY ADVISED OBAMA CAMPAIGN ON LATINO ISSUES, SAID
HISPANICS OVERLOOKING POSITIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS DUE TO
HYPER-OBSESSION WITH IMMIGRATION ISSUES (2011)
In August 2011, the Washington Post, on its website, reported
that Ramirez had met with Obama Administration and campaign
officials to discuss Hispanic outreach and noted that Ramirez
maintained that a hyper obsession
with immigration issues had resulted in many Hispanic voters
overlooking Obamas positive Latino
accomplishments like appointing Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S.
Supreme Court. According to the paper:
Andres Ramirez, a Las Vegas-based Democratic strategist who met
this month with administration and
campaign officials to discuss Hispanic outreach, said a
hyper-obsession with immigration issues has led
many voters to overlook other accomplishments - including the
appointment of a Puerto Rican woman to the
Supreme Court.
Most people forget that he appointed Sonia Sotomayor and how big
of a deal that was," Ramirez said.
(Washingtonpost.com, Obama Team Targets Hispanic Voters, August
22, 2011)
Said Hispanic Voter Frustration Understandable and Warranted but
Manageable for the Campaign
In August 2011, Ramirez said that Hispanic voter frustration
with the Obama Administration was understandable
and warranted but manageable for the campaign. According to
Ramirez:
The frustration is understandable and ... warranted. "But it's
also manageable. [Ellipses in original] (Las Vegas
Sun, Obama Backers Express Frustration But Are Still Committed,
August 21, 2011)
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LED NEVADA LATINO REDISTRICTING COALITION (2011)
In July 2011, The New York Times reported that Ramirez was the
leader of the Nevada Latino Redistricting Coalition
which sought to ensure that the states new Congressional seat
would be competitive for a Latino candidate and that
Ramirez had said that Latinos were in a pivotal position with
redistricting. According to Ramirez:
There is consensus about one thing: that one of these districts
is going to give the best opportunity yet for
Latinos to elect a candidate of their choice, and that puts us
in a very pivotal position. (The New York Times,
New Faces, New Maps, New Battles, July 15, 2011)
REPORTED WOULD BE PARTNER IN DEMOCRACY PARTNERS, DEMOCRATIC
CONSULTING FIRM (2011)
In June 2011, Campaigns & Elections reported that Ramirez
would be a partner in a new Democratic consulting
firm, Democracy Partners, along with Robert Creamer, Heather
Booth, Renee Schaeffer, Marc Cerabona, Brett C. Di
Resta, Carla Engle, Jeffrey Garcia, Ken Grossinger, John
Hennelly, Jackie Kendall, Mike Lux, Dan Manatt, Donald
McFarland, Josie Mooney, Braidy O'Neal, Andres Ramirez, Linda E.
Saucedo, Joel Silberman, and Cheri Whiteman.
(Campaigns & Elections, Consulting Firms Formed on Left and
Rights, June 2011)
Firms Clients Include Democratic Elected Officials, Unions
Including the Communications Workers Union and Progressive
Organizations
According to its website, Democracy Partners clients have
included Democratic elected officials, unions (including
SEIU, AFSCME, AFL CIO and CWA) and progressive organizations.
All representative clients listed on the firms
website are listed below.
Access Living of Chicago
21st Century Democrats
ActBlue
AFL-CIO
AFSCME Council 31, Illinois
AIDS PAC
Alliance for a Better Minnesota
Alliance for Excellent Education
Alliance for Retired Americans
(ARA)
America Coming Together
American Families United
American Federation of State
County and Municipal
Employees (AFSCME)
American Heart Association
American Small Business
Alliance
Americans Against Escalation in
Iraq
Americans for Financial Reform
(AFR)
Americans for Small Town
Values
Americans United for Change
Americans United to Protect
Social Security
AMOS, Jewish Social Justice
initiative
Anne Sumers for Congress (D-
NJ)
Arizona Leadership Institute
Arts PAC
Association of Community
Organizations for Reform Now
(ACORN)
Association of Trial Lawyers of
America (ATLA)
Atlantic Philanthropies
Benny Kiester for Delegate (D-
VA)
Bill Curry for Governor (D-CT)
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Blog PAC
BlueAmericaPac
Bobby Rush for Congress (D-IL)
Brady Campaign
Brian Baird for Congress (D-WA)
Campaign for a Progressive
Future
Campaign for America's Future
(CAF)
Campaign for Quality Care,
Illinois
Campaign to Renew and Rebuild
America NOW!
Carol Moseley Braun for U.S.
Senate (D-IL)
Center for American Progress
Center for Community Change
Center for Community Change
(CCC)
Center for Democracy in the
Americas
Change To Win
Chet Edwards for Congress (D-
TX)
Citizen Action/Illinois
Citizens Information Service,
Chicago
Citizens Utility Board of Illinois
Coalition for Comprehensive
Immigration Reform
Coalition for Democratic Values
Communications Workers of
America (CWA)
Communities for Quality
Education
Community Renewal Society of
Chicago
Congressman John Carney
Congressman Tim Bishop
DailyKos
David Cain for State Senate (D-
TX)
David Phelps for Congress (D-IL)
David Scott for Congress (D-GA)
David Wu for Congress (D-OR)
Democracy Alliance
Democratic Congressional
Campaign Committee (DCCC)
Democratic Governors
Association (DGA)
Democratic National Committee
(DNC)
Democratic Party of Colorado
Democratic Party of Illinois
Democratic Party of Maryland
Democratic Party of Nevada
Democratic Party of
Pennsylvania
Democratic Party of Slovakia
Democratic Party of South
Carolina
Democratic Party of Texas
Democratic Party of Virginia
Democratic Party of
Washington
Democratic Senatorial
Campaign Committee (DSCC)
Demos
Dick Cranwell for Delegate (D-
VA,
El Tinklenberg for Congress
(MN-06)
Elaine Bloom for Congress (D-
FL)
Elijah Cummings for Congress
(D-MD)
Emergency Campaign for
America's Priorities (ECAP)
EMILY's List
Fair Taxes for All (FTFA)
Families USA
Florida Consumer Action
Network Foundation (FCANF)
Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund
Generation Green
Gerry Schipske for Congress (D-
CA)
Governor Jennifer Granholm
Governor Tim Kaine
Health Care for America Now
(HCAN)
Howard Dean for Governor (D-
VT)
Illinois Coalition for Immigrant
and Refugee Rights (ICIRR)
Illinois Coordinated Campaign
Illinois Joint Council
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Immigration Reform for
America
Jan Schakowsky for Congress (D-
IL)
Jim Maloney for Congress (D-
CT)
Joe Garcia for Congress (D-FL)
Joe Moore for 49th Ward
Alderman (D-Chicago)
John O'Connor for Congress (D-
MA)
Joseph Mario Moreno for Town
President (D-Cicero, IL)
Lane Evans for Congress (D-IL)
Larry Suffredin for County Board
(D-Cook, IL)
Lauren Beth Gash for Congress
(D-IL)
League of Conservation Voters
Lt. Governor Jim Folsom (AL)
Maine Peoples Alliance
Mark Dayton Recount
Committee
Mark Green for Mayor (D-NY)
Maryanne Connelly for
Congress (D-NJ)
Mayor Washington Campaign
(Chicago)
Media Matters
Michigan Citizen Action
Education Fund
Midwest Academy
Mike Easley for Governor (D-
NC)
Minnesota DFL Party
Mobilize for Women's Lives
MoveOn.org
NAACP
NAACP National Voter Fund
NARAL
National Indian Gaming
Association
National Organization for
Women
National People's Action
Natural Resources Defense
Council
New Jersey Citizen Action
New Mexico Democratic
Coordinated Campaign
New York Citizen Action
New York Democratic
Coordinated Campaign
North Dakota Health Care
Reform '09
Ohio Democratic Party
One Nation Working Together,
Senior Advisor
Oregon NARAL
Palm Beach County Democratic
Party, Florida
Pat Casey for Congress (D-PA)
People for the American Way
Phillip Randolph Institute
Planned Parenthood
Progressive States Network
Rebuild and Renew America
Now Campaign
Reform Immigration for
America
Richard M. Daley Campaign
Committee (D-Chicago)
Schiff for Congress (MN-05)
Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL)
Sen. Dan Akaka (D-FL)
Service Employees International
Union (SEIU)
Sheila Jackson Lee for Congress
(D-TX)
Shelley Berkley for Congress (D-
NV)
Southwest Electric Cooperative
of Illinois
Stephanie Tubbs Jones for
Congress (D-OH)
Steve Kagan for Congress (D-WI)
Student Environmental Action
Council
The Bulgarian Association for
Fair Elections
The Campaign for Competitive
Electric Rates of Illinois
The Chicago Housing Authority
The Committee for Ukrainian
Voters
The Environmental Law and
Policy Center
The Illinois Association of Social
Service Executives
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The National Committee to
Preserve Social Security and
Medicare
The National Democratic
Institute for International
Affairs (NDI)
The National Women's Political
Caucus
The Red Cross of Illinois
The World Learning Center,
Washington DC
Union of Concerned Scientists
United Auto Workers CAP
Council
United For A Fair Economy
(UFE)
United Steelworkers Union of
America (USWA)
USAction
Violence Policy Center
Violence Prevention Campaign
Voices for Illinois Children
Voices for Progress
Voters for Choice
We Are America Alliance
Wisconsin Citizen Action
Women Voices/Women Vote
Women's Voices. Women Vote.
Working Assets
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CLAIMED WORKED ON IMMIGRATION ISSUES FOR REID, SAID REID ALWAYS
IN FAVOR OF REFORMS (2009)
In December 2009, Roll Call reported that Ramirez worked on
immigration issues while working for Senator Harry
Reid and that Ramirez had defended Reid as a long time advocate
for immigration reform. According to the paper:
This is an issue Reid has believed in for years ... even before
political advantageousness became involved,"
said Andres Ramirez, senior vice president and director of
hispanic programs at the New Democrat Network.
Ramirez, who worked on immigration issues for several years in
Reid's office, argued that while Reid's interest
in immigration reform may have actually hurt him in previous
elections, the changing face of Nevada has
turned the issue into a critical one for the Democratic leader.
(Roll Call, Reid Sees Votes in Immigration, December 7, 2009)
CLAIMED TO HAVE HELPED ORGANIZE BOYCOTT OF LOU DOBBS (2009)
In November 2009 when Lou Dobbs left CNN, the Washington Post
reported that Ramirez, who helped organize the
CNN boycott to pressure the network to remove Dobbs from its
lineup, claimed that CNN realized that Dobbs was
not consistent with CNNs brand. According to the paper:
The campaign's organizers, who sought Dobbs's removal from the
air, claimed success claimed success
Thursday. CNN realized its brand was being damaged, said Andres
Ramirez, who helped organize the effort.
It realized that Lou Dobbs's brand of journalism is not
consistent with CNN's brand. (Washington Post, As King Enters, CNN
Says Dobbs Seeks Freer Forum, November 13, 2009)
ELECTED VICE CHAIR OF DNCS HISPANIC CAUCUS (2009)
In September 2009, the DNC announced that Ramirez had been
elected Vice Chairman of the DNC Hispanic Caucus.
(PR Newswire, DNC Announces Newly Elected Hispanic Caucus
Leadership, September 15, 2009)
ARTICLE SAID RAMIREZ SPLIT TIME BETWEEN NEVADA AND D.C.
(2008)
In August 2008, the Las Vegas Review Journal reported that
Ramirez splits time between Las Vegas and
Washington D.C. (Las Vegas Review-Journal, Nevadans Want End to
Illegal Residency, August 25, 2008)
APPEARED AT ISSUES FORUM SPONSORED BY GRUPO SALINAS (2008)
In May 2008, Ramirez appeared at an issues forum sponsored by
Grupo Salinas which was broadcast on its Spanish
language channel in Colorado. (PR Newswire, Grupo Salinas,
Fundacion Azteca America and Azteca America
Colorado Present The State of Latinos: 2008 Colorado Town Hall
Meeting, May 29, 2008)
TOOK JOB WITH NEW DEMOCRAT NETWORK (NDN) (2008)
In February 2008, the Las Vegas Review Journal reported that
Ramirez had accepted a position as vice president of the New
Democrat Network, a policy and strategy think tank.
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SERVED AS CAUCUS OUTREACH DIRECTOR FOR NEVADA DEMOCRATIC PARTY,
SAID OUTREACH WORK MOST SIGNIFICANT AND AGGRESSIVE OUTREACH EFFORT
IN NEVADA HISTORY TO GET HISPANICS TO THE CAUCUS POLLS
(2007-2008)
In 2008, Ramirez worked for the Nevada Democratic Party as its
Caucus Outreach Director educating Latino voters
about the states caucus system, an effort which Ramirez
characterized as the most significant and aggressive
outreach effort in Nevada History. According to Ramirez:
We have conducted the most significant and aggressive outreach
effort in Nevada history to educate Hispanic
voters about the Nevada caucuses. (Arizona Republic, Nevada Vote
to Gauge Latinos Influence, January 18,
2008; Targeted News Services, State Democrats Roll Out
Presidential Caucus Web site, April 5, 2007)
LOST NONPARTISAN RACE FOR MAYOR OF NORTH LAS VEGAS (2005)
In June 2005, Ramirez lost his bid to unseat North Las Vegas
Mayor Michael Montandon 59% to 41%. The race was
nonpartisan. (Las Vegas Review-Journal, Week in Review: Rebate
Checks on Way But Will Take Awhile, June 12, 2005)
Despite Race Being Nonpartisan, Nevada Democratic Party Spent
$34,000 on Ramirez Race
The Associated Press reported that despite the races nonpartisan
nature, the Nevada Democratic Party spent $34,280 on Ramirez
campaign. (Associated Press, North Vegas Mayor Wins Easy
Re-Election Over Democratic Activist,
June 8, 2005)
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Opponent Filed Criminal Complaint Against Ramirez for Stealing
Yard Signs (2005)
In May 2005, Montandon filed a criminal complaint against
Ramirez and Ramirez was questioned by police after
Montandon alleged that Ramirez stole his yard signs. Police
found 48 Montandon yard sides at Ramirez house.
According to the paper:
Ramirez said police called him in for questioning about the
incidents. Ramirez said he told police he took
Montandon's signs down after getting permission from property
owners to erect his own signs.
A lot of people said, 'You can put yours up if you take the
other sign down, Ramirez said.
Police recovered 48 signs from Ramirez's home. (Las Vegas
Review-Journal, Campaign Sign Warfare Becomes Police Matter, May
20, 2005
Endorsed by Group Run by Howard Deans Brother, Ramirez Had Done
Organizing for Dean Campaign, Endorsement Noted that Ramirez Had
Union Backing (2005)
In March 2005, Democracy for America, a group run by former
presidential candidate Howard Deans brother, Jim,
announced that it was endorsing Ramirez race for North Las Vegas
Mayor, noting that Ramirez had done organizing
for Howard Deans campaign and that Ramirez had union backing..
According to UPI:
A North Las Vegas, Nev., mayoral candidate won the endorsement
Tuesday of a group headed by Democratic
National Chairman Howard Dean's brother, Jim.
Andres Ramirez, a former volunteer in Iowa and New Hampshire for
the Dean for president campaign, is
described as a first-time office seeker with union backing.
He's one of the first three candidates in 2005 to win the
backing of Democracy for America, which says its
mission is to rebuild the Democratic Party from the bottom up.
(UPI, Dean Group Announces First
Endorsements, March 29, 2005)
WORKED AS STATE DIRECTOR FOR VOICES FOR WORKING FAMILIES DOING
VOTER OUTREACH (2004)
In November 2004, the Las Vegas Review Journal reported that
Ramirez had spent the 2004 election cycle as Nevada State Director
of Voices for Working Families, a voter registration effort. Voices
for Working Families was part of an
association of 33 organizations registering voters (Las Vegas
Review-Journal, Political Notebook: Politicians Ponder Future
Races, November 29 2004; Atlanta Journal Constitution, Rivals Roll
Dice in Nevada, September 19, 2004)
SERVED AS CAMPAIGN MANAGER FOR INDIAN AMERICAN WHO CHALLENGED
SITTING DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN IN PRIMARY (2004)
In February 2004, India Abroad reported that Ramirez had been
hired as the campaign manager for Ro Khanna who
was challenging sitting Congressman Tom Lantos (D CA) in the
Democratic primary. According to the paper:
In the meantime, he has assembled a strong team headed by
campaign manager Andres Ramirez who had
earlier managed the state of Colorado for the Gore-Lieberman
Democratic ticket in the last Presidential
election. (India Abroad, Howard Deans Support Boosts Rohit
Khannas Congressional Campaign, January
9, 2004)
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In Formal Complaint Primary Opponent Claimed Ramirez Candidate
Offered Quid Pro Quo If He Dropped Out of Race
In March 2004, Maad Abu-Ghazalah, another of Lantos and Khannas
opponents in the Democratic primary filed a
formal complaint against Khanna alleging that Khanna offered him
a quid pro quo arrangement to get out of the
race so that the two would not split the Indian vote. (San Mateo
County Times, Race is Over, But Campaigns Far
from It, March 6, 2004)
DID VOTER ANALYSIS FOR PEOPLE FOR THE AMERICAN WAY (2004)
In February 2004, the Las Vegas Review Journal reported that
Ramirez firm had developed a voter drive strategy for
People for the American Way. (Las Vegas Review-Journal,
Political Power: Hispanic Influence Growing, February
16, 2004)
RAN NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR GET OUT THE VOTE PROJECT (2002)
In November 2002, the Las Vegas Review Journal reported that
Ramirez ran the Neighbor to Neighbor get out the
vote campaign for the 2002 general election. (Las Vegas
Review-Journal, Election 2002: Hispanic Woes Survive, November 10,
2002)
RAN FOR UNIVERSITY REGENT POSITION, CAME IN LAST (2002)
In 2002, Ramirez ran for a place on the Nevada Board of Regents
but came in third of three candidates running.
(Associated Press, Poor Performance by Nevadas Hispanic
Candidates, September 5, 2002)
Reportedly Working as Political Consultant, Pursing
Undergraduate Degree in Political Science While Running for
Office
The Las Vegas Review Journal reported that Ramirez was working
as a political consultant and pursuing his undergraduate degree in
political science from UNLV. (Las Vegas Review Journal, Board of
Regents District 12,
August 22, 2002)
SERVED AS CHAIRMAN OF HISPANIC DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS (2002)
In April 2002, the Associated Press reported that Ramirez was
serving as chairman of the Hispanic Democratic
Caucus. (Associated Press, Parties Court Nevadas Growing
Hispanic Constituency, April 17, 2002)
AS INFORMATION MANAGER FOR GOVERNORS OFFICE, SAID NO ONES A
NATIVE IN NEVADA (1997)
In July 1997 speaking as the information manager for Nevada
governors office in Washington D.C., Ramirez noted
that nobodys a native in Nevada. According to the Times
Union:
Nobody's a native in Nevada,'' said Andres Ramirez, an
information manager in the Nevada governor's office
in Washington, D.C. 'Nevada is made of people who move to
Nevada.' (Times Union [Albany, NY], Thousands Gamble on Nevada,
July 4, 1997)
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JUAN JOSE GUTIERREZ
Vital Statistics
F U L L N A M E
Juan Jose Gutierrez
D A T E A N D P L A C E O F B I R T H
1957
Jalisco, Mexico
C A R E E R T I M E L I N E
YEARS AND LOCATION EMPLOYER AND POSITION
2011 to Present Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition 2009 to
Present Vamos Unidos, President 2006 to Present Act Now to Stop War
and End Racism (ANSWER) 1996 to Present Latino Movement USA 1986 to
2001 One Stop Immigration Centers
Vamos Unidos/Vamos EUA
DBA FILED IN LA COUNTY TO CONDUCT BUSINESS AS VAMOS UNIDOS USA
(2009)
On August 19, 2009, a DBA was filed in LA County to conduct
business as Vamos Unidos USA Inc. (LA County Registrar Recorder Web
site, Fictitious Business Name Search, www.lavote.net/clerk)
The company is located at 501 West Pico, Los Angeles, CA 90015.
(Vamos Unidos USA Web site, Contacto, www.vamosunidos.net)
Website is Entirely in Spanish, Says Vamos Unidos Provides
Immigration Legal Services, Includes Legal Protection Plans Costing
as Much as $1,600 Annually
According to is website which is entirely in Spanish, Vamos
Unidos USA provides immigration law services.
Gutierrez bio is the only one contained on the website. (Vamos
Unidos USA Web site, Conocenos,
www.vamosunidos.net)
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Vamos Unidos provides legal protection plans with individual and
family legal plans costing from $799 to $1,600
annually. (Vamos Unidos USA Web site, Legal Protection
www.vamosunidos.net)
GUTIERREZ FILED INCORPORATION PAPERS FOR VAMOS EUA MOVING
FORWARD USA, INC. (2009)
On April 20, 2009, Gutierrez filed incorporation papers for
Vamos EUA Moving Forward USA with the California
Secretary of State and listed himself as president. The
corporation is currently active and in good standing. (Nexis
Business Search, Vamos Unidos, www.nexis.com; California Secretary
of State, Business Entity Search: Vamos
EUA, www.kepler.sos.ca.gov)
STATE OF CALIFORNIA HAS FILED THREE TAX LIENS AGAINST VAMOS
UNIDOS USA, VAMOS EUA (2011-2012)
According to a Nexis business search, the State of California
has filed three tax liens against Vamos Unidos USA and
Vamos EUA totaling at least $13,000. We will confirm these liens
with the LA County Recorder. The chart below
provides detail on the liens.
CREDITOR FILING DATE DETAILS AMOUNT
State of California 9/2/2011 State Tax Lien $9.264.-00
California Employment
Development
Department
3/8/2012 State Tax Lien Not Given
State of California 6/24/2011 State Tax Lien $3,778.00
(Nexis, Business Search: Vamos Unidos, www.nexis.com)
VAMOS UNIDOS ORGANIZED RALLY AT LA SALVATION ARMY IN RESPONSE
NEWS STORY THAT SALVATION ARMY IN TEXAS REQUIRED RECIPIENTS OF
CHRISTMAS TOYS TO PROVIDE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS (2009)
In December 2009, Vamos Unidos organized a rally at a Los
Angeles Salvation Army store in response to a news
report that the Salvation Army in Houston, Texas was requiring
recipients of Christmas toys to provide social
security numbers. Alicia Molina, a Vamos Unidos attorney,
decried the practice:
No borders should be placed upon happiness for children at
Christmastime. (Los Angeles Times, Rally Aims at Charity, December
3, 2009)
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LA Salvation Army Spokesman Said Would Not Collect Social
Security Numbers, Only Information Collected to Detect Fraud or
Duplication
In response to the rally, LA Salvation Army spokesman Robert
Brennan said that the organization would not require
social security numbers and that the information requested was
only to detect fraud or duplication. According to
Brennan:
The Salvation Army is in the business of helping people, not in
the business of informing on them. (Los Angeles Times, Rally Aims
at Charity, December 3, 2009)
Gutierrez Called on Salvation Army to Compromise on
Identification Policy, Said Intended to Intimidate
Gutierrez called on the Salvation Army to compromise on its
identification policy, maintaining that the policy was
intended to intimidate. According to Gutierrez:
The question for us is, if they were willing to register
families without identification from the get-go, and they
were clear about discouraging fraud, why institute the policy to
begin with? As far as we're concerned, it's
simply to intimidate. (Daily News of Los Angeles, Salvation
Armys ID Policy is Denounced, December 3, 2009)
One Stop Immigration Centers
CLAIMED LOTS OF DEMAND FOR IMMIGRATION SERVICES BUT LITTLE
FUNDING (2000)
In July 2000, Gutierrez speaking as the director of One Stop
Immigration claimed that there was high demand from
Latinos for services to assist with becoming citizens, but
little available funding for nonprofits like One stop.
According to the Washington Post:
In California, the organization One-Stop Immigration once had 56
centers across the state helping
immigrants become citizens by filling out forms and offering
English and civics classes. Now, it has five. The
demand is out there, but the resources aren't, says Juan Jose
Gutierrez, the group's director. I can guarantee
that if we had more money, we could help more people become
citizens. (Washington Post, Naturalization:
An Unnatural Process, July 4, 2000)
ONE STOPS RECORDS SUBPOENAED BY U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
(1998)
In May 1998, the Orange County Register reported that One Stops
class rosters, financial and employee records had been subpoenaed
by the Clinton Administration and that Gutierrez had confirmed the
request for the records.
According to Gutierrez:
They asked us for the master list of all our citizenship
students, our adult students, along with their
identifying immigration number. They want all the financial
records related to the citizenship education
program. (Orange County Register, Groups Serving Hispanic
Immigrants Subpoenaed by Department of
Education, May 2, 1998)
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ACCUSED OF MISMANAGING FUNDS AT ONE STOP (1994)
In July 1994, One Stop Board Member Stephanie Lopez resigned
claiming that Gutierrez had denied her access to
financial records for the struggle service centers and that the
board had not voted on many of the funding decisions
including center closures that had occurred over the previous 14
months. (Orange County Register, Head of
Immigrant Service Centers Defends Record, July 7, 1994)
Gutierrez Claimed Organization Going Through a Very Difficult
Period, Cited Funding Cuts Requiring Center Closures
In response to the accusations from Lopez, Gutierrez claimed
that One Stop was going through a very difficult
period, citing funding cuts which required center closures.
According to Gutierrez:
We're going through a very difficult period. The reason why One
Stop is more visible in the face of these
(funding) problems is we did things to try and maintain our
level of services that are affecting us now.
[Parenthesis in original] (Orange County Register, Head of
Immigrant Service Centers Defends Record, July 7,
1994)
SAID COULD NOT ADVISE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CLIENTS TO COMPLY WITH
IRS REQUIREMENT THAT THEY OBTAIN TAX NUMBERS, SAID NOT SURE
INFORMATION WOULD NOT BE SHARED WITH INS (1997)
In February 1997, Gutierrez said that he could not in good
conscience recommend to his clients that they apply for
new numbers required by the IRS because he was unsure whether
the information would be shared with the INS.
According to Gutierrez:
I cannot in good conscience recommend that people apply for this
number based on flimsy assurances that
the information will not be turned over to the INS. This is
creating mass panic. (Los Angeles Times, IRS Tries to Ease
Noncitizens Fears of New ID Numbers, February 23, 1997)
NLRB Action
NLRB AFFIRMED DECISION OF ALJ WHO FOUND GUTIERREZ AND ONE STOP
HAD VIOLATED FAIR LABOR LAWS BY THREATENING AND RETALIATING AGAINST
EMPLOYEES ENGAGED IN UNION ACTIVITIES (1999)
In February 1999, Administrative Law Judge Mary Miller Craft
found that Gutierrez and One Stop had engaged in
unfair labor practices by retaliating against and threatening
employees engaged in union activities. In her decision,
she stated that One Stop had violated the law:
1. By interrogating employees about their union activities,
threatening employees with unspecified reprisals
unless they ceased engaging in union activities, and offering to
reinstate an employee if the employee stopped
engaging in union activities, Respondent has engaged in unfair
labor practices affecting commerce within the
meaning of Section 8(a)(1) and Section 2(6) and (7) of the
Act.
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2. By discharging Gumaro Oviedo-Flores and transferring and
discharging Hector Alvarado, Respondent has
engaged in unfair labor practices affecting commerce within the
meaning of Section 8(a)(3) and Section 2(6)
and (7) of the Act. (NLRB Decision and Order, One Stop
Immigration and Education Center, Inc. and
International Union of Electronic, Electri-cal, Salaried,
Machine and Furniture Workers, AFLCIO, District 11
and Hector Alvarado, Cases 21CA32068 and 21CA32280, December 30,
1999)
In December 1999, a three member panel of the NLRB considered an
appeal of the decision and affirmed Judge
Crafts decision in the matter. (NLRB Decision and Order, One
Stop Immigration and Education Center, Inc. and International Union
of Electronic, Electri-cal, Salaried, Machine and Furniture
Workers, AFLCIO, District 11 and
Hector Alvarado, Cases 21CA32068 and 21CA32280, December 30,
1999)
Cases Brought by Two Employees, One Employees Case Filed by the
International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Salaried, Machine
and Furniture Workers, AFLCIO, District Eleven (1997-1998)
The decision affected two cases, each brought by a former
employee of One Stop Immigration Center who claimed
he was fired for engaging in union organizing activities. One
case was filed by the International Union of Electronic,
Electrical, Salaried, Machine and Furniture Workers, AFLCIO,
District Eleven on behalf of Gumaro Oviedo Flores
and the other was filed by Hector Alvarado. (NLRB Decision and
Order, One Stop Immigration and Education Center, Inc. and
International Union of Electronic, Electri-cal, Salaried, Machine
and Furniture Workers, AFLCIO,
District 11 and Hector Alvarado, Cases 21CA32068 and 21CA32280,
December 30, 1999)
In Decision, Judge Noted Three Instances in which She Could Not
Credit Gutierrezs Testimony
In her decision, Judge Craft noted three instances in which she
could not credit Gutierrezs testimony, including
on the issue of whether Gutierrez promised to give a job back to
one of the employees if he ceased union activities.
According to the decision:
Gutierrez denied that he said he would take Alvarado back if he
would quit his union activities. I credit
Alvarado, Martinez, and Gonza-les regarding the meetings events.
(NLRB Decision and Order, One Stop Immigration and Education
Center, Inc. and International Union of Electronic, Electri-cal,
Salaried, Machine
and Furniture Workers, AFLCIO, District 11 and Hector Alvarado,
Cases 21CA32068 and 21CA32280,
December 30, 1999)
Case Included Allegations of Sexual Harassment of Employees by
Gutierrez
The case decision noted that Alvarado and 22 other employees had
petitioned One Stops board to consider
workplace issues including allegations of sexual harassment by
Gutierrez and union issues. According to the
decision:
By memorandum of May 19, Alvarado and 22 other employees
petitioned the board of directors for specific
solutions to various work place problems. One of the solutions
sought was a collective-bargaining agreement
with the Union. Another was a full investigation of allegations
of sexual harassment by Gutierrez. (NLRB
Decision and Order, One Stop Immigration and Education Center,
Inc. and International Union of Electronic,
Electri-cal, Salaried, Machine and Furniture Workers, AFLCIO,
District 11 and Hector Alvarado, Cases 21
CA32068 and 21CA32280, December 30, 1999)
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Judges Decision Detailed Anti Union Action Taken by Gutierrez,
including Asking Employees to Identify Union Organizers,
Threatening Employees Engaged in Union Activities and Attempting to
Coerce an Employee to Cease Union Activities
Judge Crafts decision detailed anti union actions taken by
Gutierrez including asking employees to identify union
organizers, threatening employees engaged in union activities
and attempting to coerce an employee to cease union
activities. According to Craft:
I find that Gutierrez questioned employees about the identity of
union organizers, twice threatened Alvarado
with unspecified reprisals in retaliation for his union
activity, and agreed to reinstate Alvarado only if he
eschewed union activity. These findings are based on the
credibility resolutions set forth above.
In addition, I find that counsel for the General Counsel has
adduced substantial credible evidence that the
discharge of Oviedo-Flores and the transfer and discharge of
Alvarado were motivated by union animus.
(NLRB Decision and Order, One Stop Immigration and Education
Center, Inc. and International Union of
Electronic, Electri-cal, Salaried, Machine and Furniture
Workers, AFLCIO, District 11 and Hector Alvarado,
Cases 21CA32068 and 21CA32280, December 30, 1999)
FINAL DECISION ORDERED ONE STOP TO REINSTATE EMPLOYEES, PROVIDE
BACK PAY AND BENEFITS AND POST NOTICE TO EMPLOYEES INFORMING THEM
OF NLRB DECISION AND STATING THEIR RIGHTS TO ORGANIZE (1999)
In affirming Crafts decision, the NLRB affirmed her original
order requiring that One Stop reinstate the employees
to their old positions or an equivalent position, provide the
employees with back pay and benefits and post a notice
to all employees informing them of the NLRBs decision and
stating their right to organize. In full, the notice was
ordered to state:
NOTICE TO EMPLOYEES
POST