Tejada Links Hispanics To Democratic Victories

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada spoke on Hispanic turnout in this week's elections, according to the Washington Post. "This election marked a political awakening among immigrants who are just starting to vote. Democratic Latino activists, for example, mounted major voter registration drives that they said paid off. "We are pleased with what we saw," said Democrat Walter Tejada, Arlington's first Latino County Board member, who led get-out-the-vote efforts in his county, Alexandria and Fairfax.

Fairfax, Washington's largest suburb went solidly blue, choosing Democrat John F. Kerry over Bush by 32,668 votes, the first time it did so in 40 years.

Tejada and CAFTA

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada's opposition to the Central American Free Trade Agreement, or CAFTA, was noted in the Washington Post. (The agreement is awaiting congressional ratification.) Tejada, a Salvadoran-born U.S. citizen, asked "Is this something that will benefit the neediest of the neediest in El Salvador? Those who will support CAFTA really want to be able to answer to the [Salvadoran] community."

The article also noted that Tejada met with Antonio Saca, the president of El Salvador, who inaugurated the second annual meeting of representatives of Salvadorans who live abroad at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Salvadorans are the biggest immigrant group in the Washington area, with more than 104,000 people.

Tejada Leads 'Civic Activists'

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada's leadership in the Community Role Models Program was profiled in The Connection in an article titled, 'Next Wave of Civic Activists.' The program's first organized event was a forum held at the Arlington Central Public Library last Wednesday to give young adults the chance to learn about volunteer opportunities in Arlington. More than 10 volunteer organizations were on hand to take new recruits.

Said Tejada, "I've always felt we have lots of talented young adults in Arlington that simply have not been asked to participate in civic life, and there are a lot opportunities in Arlington. We talk a lot about being diverse. Well, diversity is not just race, it is also age and interest. We have many young adults that go to Washington for volunteer work and internships, yet there are many other opportunities we can offer them right here."

According to Tejada, "Mentoring is a large focus of the program. One of the goals is to create a pool of mentors who can help our youth. I want our young adults to come up with their ideas and their own ways of doing things so the programs really have a life of their own."

School Board member Libby Garvey added, "This is exactly what we need to be doing more of here in Arlington, connecting young people with the community. Students identify more and in a different way with young adults than, say, volunteers who are older. It's a good way to get young people back into the community."

Among the organizations at the forum were the Argus House, a group home for young boys, the Arlington Community Action Program, Arlington Kiwanis Soccer and the Girl Scouts. Representatives from the Reading Connection, a literacy outreach program for children living in shelters and Arlington Refugee Services also attended to sign on tutors and volunteers for other work.

Tejada on Latino/Jewish Collaboration

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada participated on a panel on Latino and Jewish Participation at the Democratic National Committee according to the American Jewish Committee. The panel discussion was entitled 'Public Policy Concerns of the Latino and Jewish Communities' and held on July 27. In addition to Tejada, it featured presentations by Congressman Howard Berman (CA); Congressman Ciro Rodriguez (TX), Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus; Richard Foltin, Legislative Director of the AJC; Arturo Vargas, Executive Director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.

Earlier: Tejada on Latino/Jewish Collaboration (August 8, 2000)

Tejada Responds to HB 570 (cont.)

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada responded to a new Virginia state law that allows local police to detain some illegal immigrants, according to the Washington Post. Tejada declared that "This is the kind of law that makes a vulnerable community even more vulnerable. Immigrant communities are already reluctant to contact the police if they are victims of a crime or a witness to a crime. Now it will make the communities even more hesitant."

The paper noted that Tejada has been holding forums to educate Latinos on the law. The law, House Bill 570, "provides that all law-enforcement officers have the authority to enforce immigration laws and that a law-enforcement officer may, in the course of acting upon reasonable suspicion that an individual has committed or is committing a crime, arrest the individual without a warrant upon receiving confirmation from the Bureau of Immigration and Customs."

Tejada Responds to HB 570

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada spoke out against House Bill 570, according to the Washington Post and in the Associated Press. Joining a press conference with the Virginia Alliance for Sensible Community Police Efforts, Tejada said that "we are in favor of stopping terrorism, gang activity and drug trafficking, but what this law will do is make a vulnerable community" even more vulnerable." He also stated that misinformation about the law has caused fear among immigrants. A possible consequence, he said, is that immigrants "will not report crime."

The Virginia Alliance is "a coalition of advocates and community leaders [who] encouraged immigrants to continue to cooperate with local police departments on criminal investigations despite a new Virginia law allowing them to detain some illegal immigrants without a warrant." The Washington Post reported that "the law, which will take effect July 1, allows police to arrest and hold illegal immigrants who return to this country after being convicted of felonies and deported. Police will be able to hold suspects as long as 72 hours without bond while waiting for federal immigration agents to pick them up."

Tejada and Community Role Models

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada's efforts in the Community Role Models program was highlighted in The Connection. The program is organized by the county’s Volunteer Office to attract young, working adults who might be interested in volunteering, with a special focus on finding volunteers for youth services, environmental and community development programs. Last week, "county staffers and current volunteers gathered with 100 young adults at Whitlow’s on Wilson to celebrate the kickoff of Community Role Models, and to attract young volunteers to the program."

Sara Girovasi-Marron, a member of the Community Role Models task force organizing the program, said that the central idea is “to get people in their 20s and 30s involved … a lot of them may not be involved in civic life, and may not know how. Finding younger volunteers can help local programs. But the process can also let young adults know that they play a role in the community.”

Tejada worked with staffers and young working adults to form the Community Role Models task force and plan for the program last week. In addition, Tejada named the program and last week declared that “this county-wide program will tap into the one-third of Arlington’s population who may not otherwise be engaged in our civic life and seek to connect this valuable resource with youngsters who could benefit from a caring adult in their lives.”

Tejada Spearheads 'Public Defender' Office

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada was featured in an article on Arlington's need for a public defender's office in the Washington Post. Arlington and Prince William counties are the two jurisdictions in Northern Virginia without a public defender's office. The Post said that Tejada is "spearheading the effort" and that "officials in Arlington County will ask the state legislature this month to pass a law authorizing a public defender's office in the county, saying that Arlington's low-income and minority residents are often ill-served by court-appointed counsel.

Tejada said that "an increase in criminal cases in the county of 193,000 has overloaded Arlington's 30 or so court-appointed attorneys. A public defender's office with full-time attorneys on staff would be better equipped to handle indigent clients." He declared, "We do have a crisis" and noted that there is "broad community support" among minority and church groups for the measure. "The workload has increased substantially, and often private attorneys don't have the bilingual staff or resources to adequately represent these clients."

State Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple (D-Arlington), who will be co-sponsoring the legislation, said: "I think we have a pretty good case for it. The other Northern Virginia jurisdictions have public defenders, and that's the strength of our request."

Tejada At 'Housing Forum'

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada participated in the 'Housing Forum' to explore strategies about new lending initiatives and technology to increase Hispanic homeownership, according to a Fannie Mae press release. "More than 100 lenders, real estate professionals, builders and nonprofits active in Northern Virginia's Hispanic communities today joined Fannie Mae [and] focused on housing needs and challenges facing Hispanic families."

Said Tejada, "Northern Virginia is home to one of the largest Latino populations in this country. Increasing Latino homeownership will have a very positive effect on our communities and help Hispanic families build wealth for future generations." The purpose of the Housing Forum, convened at Northern Virginia Community College's Manassas Campus, was to examine opportunities to close the homeownership gap locally.

Also participating in the forum was U.S. Representative Jim Moran who stated, "Thanks to a dramatic increase in our Hispanic population over the past several years, the fabric of our community is changing in an exciting and permanent way. Encouraging Latino homeownership will strengthen our region and help these new American families build a solid financial foundation."

Another participant was Jorge Figueredo, executive director of the Hispanic Committee of Virginia, who said, "Homeownership is an intimidating process for most people, but it is particularly challenging for Hispanic families who may face language barriers or a lack of familiarity with the mortgage lending process. Today's forum brings together housing industry professionals who are actively serving our communities to help identify the most effective way to overcome these obstacles."

Tejada Sets Agenda in Campaign

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada has set an important agenda as he runs for his first full term in November, according to the Arlington Connection. "Tejada has run three campaigns this year, two of which gave him the chance to complete the term of late board chair Charles Monroe. On November 4, Tejada hopes voters will give him [his own] four-year term."

The article notes several of Tejada's priorities including:

• Education will be a top priority. That means ensuring adequate funding for public schools.
• Tejada also advocates creation of a “Community Role Models” mentoring program. “Eighty percent of the population does not have any connection to the schools,” said Tejada.
• He also considers himself an advocate of fiscal responsibility. That doesn’t mean he would advocate large tax cuts though. “At a minimum I would like to maintain the quality of services we enjoy in Arlington,” he said.
• Tejada also advocates establishing an office of the Public Defender, a move, he said, which would ensure that even the most economically disadvantaged residents get fair legal treatment.

Tejada was also included in a separate article on the annual League of Women Voters debate in this week's The Connection. "Throughout the campaign, Tejada has said bringing people together for a common cause is one of his strengths as a board member."

Tejada on the Living Wage

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada spoke out in favor of the Arlington County's new 'living wage' policy, according to the Washington Post. Tejada said that by contracting with firms whose employees are better paid, the county gets better service for its money, because workers will be more likely to have one job rather than two, be better rested and more likely to stay at the same job for a longer time. Tejada declared that "When employees are compensated well, there's a tendency to have continuity on the job. That leads to better performance. That's the bottom line for us."

According to the Washington Post, "Arlington officials said last week that they are moving quickly to implement the county's new "living wage" policy that will increase hourly wages of more than 200 of the county's lowest-paid laborers, but the possibility of a legal challenge to the new policy remains. Under the new policy approved by the County Board late last month, companies awarded county contracts must pay employees a "living wage" -- the hourly amount a worker must earn to pay basic living costs without resorting to public assistance. In Arlington, that figure is $10.98 an hour, more than twice the federal minimum wage."

Tejada Delivers Democractic Radio Address

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada delivered the Democratic Hispanic Radio Address today in which he discussed the tax-code changes favoring the wealthy, and the budget decisions that are unfriendly to families and to education.

Below is the text of his address in Spanish:

Mensaje Democrata Semanal Emitido por Walter Tejada, Miembro de la Junta de Gobierno del Condado de Arlington, Virginia

Hola, soy Walter Tejada, miembro de la junta de gobierno del condado de Arlington, Virginia. Estos son tiempos de cambio y desafio para todos nosotros. Nos vemos enfrentados con la amenaza de una guerra a nivel internacional y una corriente de malas noticias en el aspecto economico a nivel nacional. Perdimos 300,000 empleos solamente en el mes de febrero- eso es cerca de 10,000 trabajos diarios. El numero total de perdida de trabajos es de dos millones y medio en los ultimos 24 meses. Dos millones y medio de personas han perdido sus empleos, muchos de ellos empleos Hispanos. Nos vemos enfrentados a pagar mas dinero por la gasolina y el gas que usamos en las casas. Millones de trabajadores han perdido los ahorros que tenian para su jubilacion en la bolsa de valores. El resultado de todo esto es una nación nerviosa, una economia estancada y un momento crucial para que el Presidente y el Congreso de los Estados Unidos pongan de nuevo al pais por el buen camino.

Y que estan proponiendo el President Bush y los Congresistas Republicanos? La eliminacion de impuestos que solo benefician a los mas ricos, dejando atras a la gente trabajadora y las de escasos recursos. Ahora muchos economistas estan de acuerdo en que el plan del Presidente no estimulara la economia o ayudara a mejorar los mercados financieros - Pero si aumentara nuestra deuda nacional.

Y entonces quienes son los beneficiarios? Bueno aquellos que ganan $1 millon recibirian un recorte de impuestos de $27,000. Pero las familias de clase media que ganan unos $40,000 al año pueden esperar obtener un recorte de treinta dolares. Y aquellos que son dueños de acciones en cuentas de jubilacion o los fondos de retiro no recibirian nada — zero.

Esto es solo uno de los varios recortes de impuestos de los Republicanos. La ultima fue la de principios de mes, cuando el Presidente y su Partido detuvieron una medida de relevo de impuestos para los valientes hombres y mujeres que se encuentran sirviendo nuestro pais en el Golfo Persico. Ellos postergaron la legislacion de tal manera que pudieran añadir recortes de impuestos que favorecen a sus amigos en las grandes corporaciones. El total de los recortes de impuestos a estos amigos de los Republicanos fue de $ 300 millones de su dinero.

Esto no puede seguir asi.

El presupuesto del partido Republicano hace muchos recortes en programas que significan un cambio verdadero en nuestras comunidades. Por ejemplo nuestros bomberos y policias no van a recibir el dinero necesario para prepararse en caso de ataques terroristas. La educación va a sufrir. Este presupuesto corta fondos para programas para que nuestros profesores sean mas efectivos en los salones de clase y en los programas de ayuda financiera para los estudiantes universitarios. Por supuesto ya no queda dinero para un programa significativo de recetas medicas. De hecho, los republicanos planean cortar $200 mil millones de dolares. Y la lista continua.

Este es el momento para tener un liderazgo responsable. Por eso es que nosotros los Democratas proponemos un plan economico donde ponemos a las familias primero. Queremos poner el dinero en las manos de las personas que lo necesitan mas para asi estimular la economia. Nuestro programa no hace recortes en programas de salud y no afecta a las personas de la tercera edad. Los Democratas seguiremos luchando dia a dia para poner a este pais por un buen camino.

Soy Walter Tejada, miembro de la junta de gobierno del condado de Arlington, Virginia, gracias por escucharme.

Tejada is 'An Immigrant Dream'

Arlington County Board Member J. Walter Tejada is profiled in the Washington Post. "On Tuesday, Democrat Tejada handily won a seat on the County Board, beating longtime GOP activist Mike W. Clancy and becoming the first Latino elected to a governing body in Northern Virginia." The article quotes Arlington County Board member Chris Zimmerman saying that Tejada "has a broad understanding of what this community is about. He's taken on issues that other people wouldn't, and that's one of the key skills needed to be a County Board member."

In addition, the article states that "to many in Arlington's burgeoning Latino community, the Tejada story is an immigrant dream they know well." In addition, restaurateur Manfredo Mejia states, "When we think of Walter, we know he is somebody that has worked hard for our community, done a lot for us, whether it's a small business or working with community centers. We feel that he has lived what we have lived and can help us have our voices heard."

TEJADA RE-ELECTED!

Arlington County Board Member

J. Walter Tejada

is re-elected by a margin

of more than 2,100 votes.

The Washington Post acknowledged Tejada's historic victory in several photographs including:

• Congratulations from Isis Castro, Fairfax County School Board.

• Congratulations from Manfredo Mejia, owner of Atlacatl and Pupuseria on Columbia Pike

• Congratulations from Miguel Alvarez and Manfredo Mejia.

The Arlington Journal reports that "since moving to Arlington 11 years ago, Tejada has built a reputation as a community builder by organizing a breadth of projects such as a day-laborers' education and employment center and the annual Neighborhood Day. ... County Board Chairman Paul Ferguson said Tejada will open the door to Latino residents and other newcomers to join county commissions and get more politically involved. Tejada said, "I will be seeking essentially the folks I already know to participate in the political process. I think this is a victory for inclusiveness in Arlington and Virginia."

Falls Church News-Press Endorses Tejada

Walter Tejada was endorsed by a columnist in the Falls Church News Press today. Below is the editorial in full.

From the Thursday, March 6, 2003 edition
Our Man in Arlington
By Richard Barton

One of the multitude of themes in the column is that elections never end in Arlington. We have at least one a year for some office or another, and we often have more. Next week, Arlington will select a new member of the County Board to fill the seat of Charles Monroe, whose untimely death in January shocked us all. There are two candidates on the ballot: Republican Mike Clancy, who has run for County Board twice before, and Democrat Walter Tejada, a newcomer to electoral politics.

It will come as no surprise to those who know me that my nod goes to Walter Tejada. Tejada may be new to the candidates’ ranks, but he is no newcomer to community and political involvement. In the county government arena, he has served on the County Board’s Fiscal Affairs Advisory Commission, the Arlington Sports Commission, the Affordable Housing Task Force, and the Arlington Bicentennial Celebration Task Force. Until recently he was the Community Liaison staff member for Congressman Jim Moran.

In community affairs, Walter has been active in the local United Way, has served on the Arlington Community Foundation’s Scholarship Selection Committee, worked as an organizer for the highly successful Arlington Neighborhood Day Multi-Cultural Celebration, and was Hurricane relief co-leader for United Salvadorean Communities. For these and a host of other community efforts, Tejada was selected by the Arlington Jaycees as Outstanding Young Arlingtonian of the Year, and received the Spirit of Community Award from the Arlington Community Foundation.

Tejada’s commitment to education is underscored by the fact that his wife, Robin, was named the 2002 Arlington Teacher of the Year as wells as Virginia’s Region IV Teacher of the Year. Clearly, educational excellence is a Tejada family project. One aspect of Tejada’s community life is probably unique in Arlington politics. He is a member of D.C. Panache men’s soccer in the Northern Virginia Soccer League. He was named Most Valuable Player for the 2002 season. He looks the part. Fit and trim, he is in excellent shape to keep up in the fast track of Arlington County Board politics.

Walter has developed a broad platform supporting Smart Growth concepts, growing after-school and mentoring programs for Arlington children, promotion of neighborhood businesses; expanding Arlington’s supply of affordable housing, lowering property tax rates, enhancing Arlington’s open spaces, and expanding local transit opportunities. He is particularly supportive of Arlington’s efforts to revitalize the Columbia Pike corridor.

More important than any specific platform plank, however, is that Tejada helps widen the window to Arlington’s diverse and vital minority and ethnic communities. If elected, he will be the first Latino official in Arlington and one of the first in the state. His campaign slogan is "For All of Arlington or Para Todo Arlington". His candidacy is a good thing for us all.

Regardless of whether or not you agree with my choice, it is important that you vote next Tuesday, March 11. The County is counting on you.

Robin Liten-Tejada Honored By School Board

Robin Liten-Tejada, Walter Tejada's wife and a teacher in Arlington’s High Intensity Language Training at Gunston Middle School, was honored by the Arlington School Board and Superintendent Robert Smith for being named the county’s Teacher of the Year for 2002, according to the Arlington Connection. She also won National Board certification this year.

Tejada on SB925

J. Walter Tejada, Virginia director for the League of United Latin American Citizens, a national advocacy group, spoke out against Senate Bill 925, according to the Washington Post. The Bill would "give county code enforcers new authority to go after people whose homes have been turned into virtual hotels. But some civic leaders characterized it as a misplaced, hostile response to those struggling to pay for shelter in a county where the average rent for a three-bedroom apartment is $1,181 a month."

Tejada declared that "The last thing we want on the books are laws that seem to be aimed at some of the less advantaged members of our community." Tejada and other activists said communities neede to "add housing that new residents can afford, not laws that penalize them for trying to survive. Tejada added that in the Latino community, "allowing someone to go homeless is simply not acceptable. It's not part of the culture."

Tejada on Latino/Jewish Collaboration

Walter Tejada, the Virginia state director for LULAC, spoke on the collaboration between Virginia's Latino, Jewish and Asian communities in the Jewish World Review. "In recent years, , the Jewish and Hispanic communities are finding increasing common ground. Family, community, education, a strong sense of heritage, the right to immigrate in time of crisis these are some of the concerns that bind America's Jews and Latinos."

In the Washington area in particular, the Jewish-Latino relationship seems to have gained momentum. "A lot of national issues are local issues to begin with," pointed out Walter Tejada. "The Jewish-Latino relationship is now viewed as an absolute priority for our community," said American Jewish Committee Washington, D.C., Area director David Bernstein. "There are over 300,000 Latinos in the Washington area and we see them as increasingly active politically and more and more willing to work with coalition partners in achieving our collective goals."

This collaboration has been emerging during the past five to 10 years. Groups such as the AJCommittee and the Jewish Community Council of Greater Washington have been forming coalitions with organizations such as the National Council of La Raza and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC).