NE Dems host Labor Day Celebration @ VFW #76, 9-5

L-R: NE Democrats Banner, Northeast Bexar County Democrats Chairman John Courage, Democrats of all ages, VFW #76

The Northeast Bexar County Democrats hosted a Labor Day Celebration @ VFW #76 that included speakers: State Senator Leticia van de Putte, Congressman Lloyd Doggett, State Rep. Joaquin Castro, Mayor Julian Castro, Retired Army Major General & Senate candidate Ricardo Sanchez, Walker Report Publisher/Editor & (birthday boy & newest Medicare Recipient!!) Judge Steve Walker, September 5th.

Today we celebrate National Labor Day, September 5th, 2011

Today we celebrate our National Holiday, Labor Day, September 5th! It should be noted that the first Labor Day was also September 5th.(Always the first Monday in September)

Northeast Bexar County Democrats will host a NEBCD Labor Day Picnic Olde Tyme Politicial Rally @ historic VFW post 76 on 10th Street & Ave. B. from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Great Speakers: Mayor Julian Castro, Senator Leticia Van de Putte announcing her candidacy, Jim Hightower, national radio commentator, author & honored Union Leaders, Shelly Potter and Tom Cummins.

Editor's Note:
Labor Day birthday's include: Judge Oscar Kazen, local singer Erica Gonzaba, former Judge Laura Salinas's little daughter Isla & of course Walker Report Publisher/Editor & Judge Steve Walker (65) (newest Medicare recipient!) And then there are famous people born on this day to include: Infamous traitor Benedict Arnold, actress and model Raquel Welch, (71) comedian Bob Newhart, 60s singer Carol Lawrence, historical infamous figure Cardinal Richelieu, outlaw Jesse James, actor and bad boy, Charlie Sheen, and Movie Director Spike Lee's momma!

2nd Editor's Note: The hottest day on record in San Antonio was in 2001 @ 111 degrees!

"Ask the Judge" Column in Sunday's La Prensa of SA, 9-4

Ask the Judge: More on HB350
By Judge Steve Walker

With all the negative news out of the 82nd Legislature in education budget cuts, there are tidbits of positive news. In a previous column I cursorily touched on HB350

The Legislators passed HB350 that will allow Justices of the Peace to substitute mandatory tutoring or community service in lieu of paying fines if they are not able to come up with the money to pay those fines. The law is a “May” not “Shall” law that gives judges greater discretion assessing the disposition of unruly or truant students. Community Service is still in play as part of probation and tutoring can now substitute for community service as well.

HB350 reads in part: “You may require these defendants to discharge their fines/costs via community service or tutoring program.” My preference of choice is tutoring.

As a Justice of the Peace I now have an additional tool to address the problem of escalating truancy, disorderly students and the dropout rate.

In the past month I have overseen two heavy all-day long truancy dockets with truants and attendance officers from SAISD who stood before my bench reading the litany of missing days that each student failed to attend class. The dockets were in reference to last school year’s offenses.

Two of the attendance officers in the courtroom taught with me years ago in the Harlandale School District. Working off the same page, we assessed a minimum of 8 hours tutoring for each student. Those students who racked up large numbers of absences were assigned additional tutoring hours.

One of the truant students after the first heavy docket was overheard to say in the hallway “I expected community service. But this is better and I can do this.”

Jefferson High School Principal Joann Cockrell, has instituted tutoring classes four days a week from 4:30-5:30 p.m. She has made it clear to me that she doesn’t consider tutoring a punishment but a means to get students back on track, better prepared for graduation and a diploma in hand. I concur.

Together I believe Miss Cockrell and I will be able to make a major impact on her campus in reducing truancy and turning it around. Together we are committed to decreasing the truancy rate at Jefferson High School with the new tool the legislature handed to us. That applies for all the schools in Precinct 2 jurisdiction.
Despite our challenges, with the welcome addition of tutoring, let’s hope in this upcoming school year we will continue to improve the test scores and ensure our next generation of students a chance for a better life.

Lastly as always, if you are due in court, be sure to show up to court on time. It is in everyone’s best interest.

Justice of the Peace, Pct. 2 Steve Walker is a Vietnam Veteran and a former Journalist.

Updated Calendar for the months of September/October

See Sep. 10th calendar event on State Sen. Carlos Uresti
•Sep. 5th-The Bexar County Northeast Democrats will host an Old Tyme Political Rally, Labor Day, @ VFW Post 76 on Tenth Street on Broadway from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. to include State Sen. Leticia van de Putte's re-election announcement.
•Sep. 5th-Walker Report Publisher/Editor & Judge Steve Walker's 65th Birthday!!
•Sep. 6th-Latino National Republican Coalition of Greater Bexar County from 6:30-8 p.m. @ El Picante Grill, 3810 Broadway.
•Sep. 7th-4th Court of Appeals Justice Karen Angelini Fundraiser from 5:30-7:30 p.m. @ the Quarry Golf Club, 444 Basse Rd.
•Sep. 7th-Lt. Guv. David Dewhurst for Senate kick-off @ 11 a.m. @ VFW #76, 10th Street.
•Sep. 7th-Republican Presidential Debate Watch Party hosted by Young Republicans, Latino National Republicans Coalition of Bexar County & the Alamo Pachyderm Club from 6- 9 p.m. @ MoMak's, 13838 Jones Maltsberger.
•Sep. 7th-Avenida Guadalupe presents 16 Septiembre Ernie Awards Gala @ 6 p.m. @ El Progresso Hall, 1307 Guadalupe Street honoring La Prensa's Tino Duran.
•Sep. 8th-Fundraising for 4th Court Appeals Justice Marialyn Barnard @ the home of Dick Tips from 5:30-7 p.m.
•Sep. 8th-SA Armed Forces Parade meeting @ VFW Hall (Guadalupe Street) to discuss Diez de Septiembre Parade @ 6:30 p.m.
•Sep. 9th-CAIR sponsored Blood drive @ MCEEC, 5281 Casa Bella @ 2 p.m.
•Sep. 10th-Senator Carlos I. Uresti, Friends, and Family Cordially invite you to a memorable Night in "Monte Carlos" campaign for re-election, 7-11 p.m. @ Grand Hyatt San Antonio, 600 E. Market Street.
•Sep. 10th- LULAC meeting @ Luby's on N. Main from 9-11 a.m. Meet Congressional candidate & State Rep. Joaquin Castro.
•Sep. 10th-31st Annual Tejano Music Awards, @ the San Antonio Event Center, from 7-11:30 p.m. 8111 Meadow Leaf.
•Sep. 10th-San Antonio Museum of Art releases new children's book from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. with Mayor Julian Castro. 200 West Jones.
•Sep.13th-Fundraiser for Justin Rodriguez for State Rep. @ 5:30-7:30 p.m. @ the Giraud club, 707 N. St. Marys.
•Sep.15th-Fundraising Reception for Judge Juanita Vasquez-Gardner @ Aldaco's Mexican Cuisine Restaurant in Sunset Station, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
•Sep. 16th-Oak Hill Country Club, Friday, Dinner @ 7 p.m. Roast of Commissioner Tommy Adkisson @ 7:45 p.m. Individual tickets: $75. Hosted by the League of Women Voters.
•Sep. 17th-Celebrate the 20th Year of the George Gervin Youth Center, 6944 Sunbelt Drive South from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
•Sep 17th-117 Damas for Cortez, Fudnraiser for Phil Cortez for State Rep. 117 from 10 a.m.-noon, Don Pedro's 1526 SW Military.
•Sep. 22nd-Family Caregiver Training from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. @ Christus Heritage hall, 4707 Broadway on Incarnate Word University Campus.
•Sep. 24th-Stonewall Democrats of San Antonio Annual Award Banquet, "Unite and Conquer," Saturday @ the Hilton Palacio del Rio. Dinner & Program @ 7:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. Cocktail Hour. http://www.stonewallsanantonio.org/
•Oct. 15th-You and your guest are cordially invited to attend the City of Somerset's Dignitaries Breakfast featuring Kim's Catering @ Somerset City Hall, 7360 East 6th Street in Somerset, Saturday, @ 9 a.m.
•Oct. 24th-Paws on the Patio, Save the Date, sponsored by the San Antonio Humane Society from 4-8 p.m. at Canyon Cafe in Alamo Quarry Market.