Albuquerque, NM – The national headquarters of Alianza have moved to downtown Albuquerque. Under new executive leadership, the organization is embarking on strategic communications, training, and Men and Boys campaigns to ensure program longevity. In fall of 2009, it will launch their cookbook of various Latino recipes submitted by DV shelters, programs and many numerous Latino organizations nationwide. In addition,plans are currently underway for Alianza’s Annual Conference for March 2010 in Miami, Florida. We will start the conference with its first-ever National Brides March event and will offer keynote speakers, various workshops and public events.
Santa Fe, NM – In June, the Santa Fe District Attorney’s Office ruled that Marino Leyba will only be tried for two counts of murder, rather than three. Although Leyba was initially indicted for one count of criminal abortion along with two counts of murder for killing his pregnant girlfriend, Sarah Lovato, and her father, the DA’s office has had a change of heart. "There are specific legal reasons why (criminal abortion) is not an appropriate charge to go forward on," District Attorney Angela Pacheco explained. The main reason, she said, is that the statute deals with the death of the mother, which could interfere with the prosecution of the murder charge for Lovato, 17, and, thus, constitute double jeopardy. However, Santa Fe police Capt. Gary Johnson and Detective Tony Trujillo have said they believe Leyba targeted the fetus when he shot Sarah Lovato.
(See: http://domesticviolencenews.blogspot.com/2009/07/everyone-knew.html)
New York, NY – The body of Eridania Rodriguez, a Manhattan cleaning woman who disappeared during her work shift on July 7, has been found in the air conditioning duct at her workplace. The building’s elevator operator, Joseph Pabon, has been arrested on charges of second-degree murder. Rodriguez wasa 46-year-old mother of three who won the green card lottery and emigrated from the Dominican Republic in 1987. The case has shed new light on the plight of cleaning personnel in New York City highrises, many of whom work after hours and in isolation.
(See: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/20/nyregion/20cleaner.html)
Phoenix, AZ – A local car wash has raised $1,500 to assist the children of Sabrina Alcantar. Authorities said Alcantar's estranged husband, Manuel Alcantar, slashed her throat, then left her body in the middle of the street in the afternoon of June 3. Several days later, Alcantar himself was later found dead, hanging from a highway overpass in an apparent suicide.
(See: http://www.yourwestvalley.com/news/community-6691-carwash-family.html)
Washington, DC – Department of Justice’s Office for Violence Against Women (VAWA) will be up for reauthorization. The reauthorization includes proposals for programs. This year, the reauthorization proposal passed both the House and the Senate. VAWA also received upwards of $2.5 million for expansion of its STOP programming in particular.
Washington, DC – The current executive branch has a history of supporting domestic violence and prevention measures, as evidenced by Lynn Rosenthal’s recent appointment as White House Advisor on Domestic Violence. Ms.Rosenthal has been an outspoken and visible advocate for victims, especially as President of the National Network to End DomesticViolence. She has also served as director of the New Mexico and Florida Coalitions Against Domestic Violence and in the trenches as director of a Tallahassee shelter. She, along with then-Senator Joseph Biden, was instrumental in drafting legislation and securing support for VAWA’s creation in 1994.
