John Rodriguez

• Featured

  Can he or Can’t he? Sen. Marco Rubio announces intention to run for President, but could he face hurdles

  The United States Senator Marco Rubio of Florida announced on Monday that he will be trying to snag the Republican Party’s nomination to become the 45th President of the United States of America in the 2016 Elections. And while he is the lesser of two…candidates…compared to Ted Cruz, Rubio stands to have...

  John Rodriguez April 15, 2015
• News & Politics

  The Positive Effect: How the 7th Summit could make U.S. look good in Latin America

  Starting today and tomorrow, President Barack Obama will join the heads of state of 34 governments across Central America, South America, and the Caribbean in Panama City for the 7th Summits of the Americas. The summit is a panel where leaders come together in order to engage in an open discussion in-relation...

  John Rodriguez April 10, 2015
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  Summits of the 7 Americas: U.S. & Latin American Heads of Government & State come together to discuss important issues

  Every three years an event is held known as the The Summits of the Americas where the...

  John Rodriguez April 8, 2015
• Featured

  Friends with…Benefits? Sen. Robert Menendez charged with Corruption!

  Despite claiming his relationship to a Floridian ophthalmologist is merely a friendship and nothing more, New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez has been charged for corruption and eight counts of bribery due to possibly using his standing as Senator in dealings with Doctor Salomon Melgen. At a press conference on Wednesday, before being...

  John Rodriguez April 3, 2015
• Featured

  No Thank You, Cruz: Two Latino Groups Say No to Ted Cruz

  Last week started off with somewhat of a disappointment when Senator Ted Cruz of Texas announced that he would be seeking the Republican nomination to run for President of the United States of America in 2016. If all goes to plan for Cruz he could become the first Latino President of the...

  John Rodriguez March 31, 2015
• News & Politics

  How About No: Ted Cruz as First Latino President, an American Nightmare

  While it is always inspiring and encouraging when you hear about the accomplishment or success of other Latinos whether it be in education, entertainment, and/or politics, however this sentiment came to a somewhat halt on March 23, 2015 when learning of what one Latino in particular was looking to achieve. What should...

  John Rodriguez March 27, 2015
• Featured

  Getting Insured: Latinos are the highest group to get insured under the Affordable Care Act

  In a new report released by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) there are an estimated 16.4 million Americans who now have health insurance thanks to the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). And according to the report, Latinos are considered to be the highest within the...

  John Rodriguez March 20, 2015
• Featured

  What is funny and what is not? The possible racism on Latino television

  Last Wednesday, Rodner Figueroa fell under the spotlight after his comments regarding First Lady Michelle Obama were considered racist and earned him a swift firing from Univision’s popular television program El Gordo y La Flaca. However, aside from Figueroa earning sometime in the spotlight the incident has shown an ongoing, overlooked culture...

  John Rodriguez March 16, 2015
• Featured

  One Year Later: El Barrio honors those lost in Gas Leak Explosion

  Yesterday marked the one year anniversary since tragedy struck East Harlem after a gas leak led to an explosion that saw to the destruction of two buildings, the injuring of 70 people, and the deaths of eight. And to pay tribute to those lost, the residents and those wishing to honor the...

  John Rodriguez March 13, 2015
• Featured

  Meaning of Friendship or Meaning of Corruption: NJ Sen. Bob Menendez faces Corruption Charges

  He says he is not going anywhere, but if charges due prove he is just another corrupt senator a New Jersey senator may not be able to stand by his words. On Friday, controversy hit the garden state when it was revealed that the Department of Justice is planning on filing criminal...

  John Rodriguez March 9, 2015
• Featured

  Planning Ahead: City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito heads to Puerto Rico for Future Political Career?

  One year ago, Melissa Mark-Viverito became an even more well-known political figure within New York City when she became the 1st Latina City Council Speaker of New York City. Since her appointed, Mark-Viverito has become one of the prominent figures within Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration and it isn’t much of a...

  John Rodriguez March 4, 2015
• Entertainment

  Superhero Thievery: Michelle Rodriguez tells Actors of Color to stop stealing white characters

  Over the past year the issue of race has become an even hotter topic than it truly has been within the United States. After the tragic deaths of Michael Brown & Eric Garner, whose deaths are connected to racial discrimination, there’s been an ongoing debate on how the country should begin to...

  John Rodriguez March 2, 2015
• Featured

  Immigration Reform on Halt: Judge Blocks President Obama’s Executive Order on Immigration

  Three months ago, President Barack Obama announced his executive order regarding immigration reform in this country and while it appeared as a victory for millions of immigrants—who were also worried it wouldn’t go through—it seemed that the plans proposed by the president would eventually go through. Going so far as to tell...

  John Rodriguez February 18, 2015
• Entertainment

  The Latino Enrollment: Who are the Latinos enrolling or not enrolling to become Insured?

  For the last installment regarding Latinos and their part in enrolling and becoming insured due to the Affordable Care Act we’ll be looking at who among the Latino community are taking a part of or failing to sign up for the benefits offered by the ACA. So who are the Latinos to...

  John Rodriguez February 16, 2015
• Featured

  The Latino Enrollment: Where are Latinos the most Insured?

  Last week, LatinTRENDS began a three-part series on how the Affordable Care Act has impacted the Latino community within the United States of America. In the first part it was discussed how Latinos impacted ACA by enrolling and becoming insured through President Barack Obama’s healthcare initiative. When it comes to politics, particularly...

  John Rodriguez February 11, 2015
• Featured

  The Latino Enrollment: How did the Affordable Care Act benefit from Latino enrollment?

  Around this time last year, the Affordable Care Act (ACA)—or what has become widely known as Obamacare due to it being President Barack Obama’s healthcare law—was nearly at the precipice of becoming non-existent in the U.S. due to the enrollment rate not meeting the requirement to become law. But at its final...

  John Rodriguez February 4, 2015
• News & Politics

  Latino Cities: Top 10 Cities with the highest Latino Population

  From Jacksonville to St. Louis to Baltimore, do you know which cities across the United States of America are the top for Latinos doing the best economically? Well, Forbes magazine recently released a report compiling the top 10 U.S. cities where Latinos are reportedly finding economic success when it comes to entrepreneurship...

  John Rodriguez February 2, 2015
• Featured

  SOTU 2015: The Latino Outcome from the 2015 State of the Union

  Last week, President Barack Obama addressed the nation in the 2015 State of the Union in-which he covered several important topics that has had the country talking about the last few months. While he didn’t into great detail about them, the president did talk about his executive action regarding immigration, the recent...

  John Rodriguez January 28, 2015
• Entertainment

  SOTU 2015: The Days after the President’s State of the Union address

  Yesterday and Tuesday evening, Twitter, Facebook, and any other form of social media was abuzz with chatter. No, there wasn’t a celebrity arrest, marriage, or pregnancy but talk was on the 2015 State of the Union address. And this SOTU address is sure to be one of President Barack Obama most memorable...

  John Rodriguez January 22, 2015
• Featured

  What is IDNYC? And what could be behind New York City’s new municipal card?

  Over the summer, a plan was proposed to introduce into New York City a municipal identification card program which is a form of identification card that is not issued by the state or federal government but offered by the city itself. Municipality identification cards enable people who are immigrants or who have...

  John Rodriguez January 19, 2015
• Featured

  PATH, YAY; GOVS & PORT AUTHORITY, NAY: Plans to cut PATH Train overnight services stirs community outcry

  At the very start of the New Year, a proposal was announced that would address a growing issue regarding the operational services of the PATH and would save the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey an estimated $10 million a year. However, this plan it is being met with great...

  John Rodriguez January 14, 2015
• Featured

  Más Latinos en College: President Obama’s new plan for free College offered to Americans & how Latinos benefit

  It seems 2015 will possible be President Barack Obama year if the plans he are proposing are enacted upon. From his executive plans on immigration announced late last year earning him a favorable response among Latinos, the president has made another announcement that will possibly do him some good after earning himself...

  John Rodriguez January 12, 2015
• Featured

  Poverty Then & Now: Remembering Governor Cuomo’s words on poverty in America

  Sadly, New York lost one of its most influential people when former-New York Governor Mario Cuomo passed away on the first day of the New Year. Passing away on the day his son, the 54th Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo, the 52nd governor of New York from Queens, New York City...

  John Rodriguez January 7, 2015
• Featured

  Mayor de Blasio vs. the NYPD Pt.II: The tension continues

  Yesterday, mourning continued in the city as Police Officer Wenjian Liu was laid to rest. During the service, hundreds of police officers were in attendance to honor their fallen brother-in-blue along with Mayor Bill de Blasio. Unfortunately, the mayor’s appearance was not welcomed. With tension still present between the New York City...

  John Rodriguez January 5, 2015