Bienvenidos otra vez a La Voz Newspaper. Hay mucho que decir y pocas paginas para compartir. Queremos empezar con un reconocimiento a todos voluntaries que han prestado su tiempo y esfuerzo ayudando a la gente que han sufurido en Houston por causa de Hurricane Harvey. The folks who have lost their homes and possessions to that
storm are going through some very hard times. Here in Central Texas there have also been tragedies in the form of
people who have passed away. We call to your attention, Anthony Ortiz, Jr., Jorge Guerra, Jessy Serrata, Dr. Ernesto Bernal and Paul Moreno. Each of them had made their mark in their respective fields and will be remembered for a long time to come.
La Voz wishes to welcome Dr. Laura Gutierrez who has signed on at the Interim Chair of the Mexican American and Latino Studies program at The University of Texas at Austin. She joins, Dr. John Moran Gonzalez and Dr. Deborah Parra-Medina who head up other components of the effort to bring Mexican American Studies to the forefront of
academia.
We have also included in this issue of La Voz a press release from the office of San Antonio City Councilman Manny Peláez regarding cockfighting. We thought it was interesting because it reminded us of the line in the movie Casa Blanca when the French police captain express shock and amazement that gambling is going on in Rick’s Café. He says this just as he is handed his winnings by casino employee.
Also coming out of San Antonio is the announcement that Dr. Tomás Ybarra-Frausto will given the Award of Literary Excellence by Gemini Ink. Dr. Ybarra-Frausto is truly one of the giants in academia and is very deserving of this recognition. Over in El Paso, at the University of Texas at El Paso, comes the first on-line bachelors program in Chicano
Studies. Poquito a poquito estamos viendo que la causa sigue moviendose adelante.
Here in Austin, the debate about the upcoming school bond issue is starting to heat up. The school district is caught in a difficult situation with having to repair schools that are in dire need while at the same time having to cough up millions of dollars to the state under the Robin Hood law. Those that oppose the current bond election argue that the proposed closure of school on the Eastside are unfair and deserve reconsideration. Peggy Vasquez, a long-time community activist has an open letter in this issue of La Voz where she expresses her concerns.
On page 12 of this issue of La Voz, you will find excerpts of an interview regarding why there is no such thing as “Chicken Fajitas.” I remember back in the 1970s, hearing about beef fajitas and then “chicken fajitas.” and then “shrimp fajitas.” This interview is a good synopsis of where fajitas came from. Also included in this issue of La
Voz is a short mention of the San Antonio Oldies Radio Show Breakfast Club which meets the first Thursday of each month at Texas Brews and Blues on Zarzamora Street in San Antonio. At this monthly event folks who were teenagers in the 1950 and 60s come together to hear and listen to musicians from their youth, share the memories and behind
the scenes stories of the songs that were the soundtrack of their youth.
Last but not least is the second installment of excerpts from Ernesto Calderon’s book, Mañana is Today. This is great
book for those who would like to know what it was like growing up in Central Texas. Mr. Calderon has done a very good job of going back in time and revealing his life and those who he has worked with during the years of the Chicano Movement.
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Copyright 2017 by Alfredo Santos. La Voz newspaper is a monthly publication which covers the area of Central Texas. You can subscribe by contacting Alfredo Santos at: la-voz@sbcglobal.net