Boricua . com Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary
Celebrating 10 years for any business is a milestone , but for an internet website it is something more . Boricua . com first went online July 17 , 1996 - long before the “ Dot-Com Bubble ” was even beginning to inflate . The website was created by Co-founders John Kobel and Elizabeth Saldaña Kobel on a concept that was so new , no one even cared . The idea was to create an online community where Puerto Ricans living throughout the United States could find each other , locally as well as nationwide .
It was a tremendous struggle in the beginning . The first month , the website had three visitors and content was hard to come by . Now Boricua . com is a well established , worldwide website that covers information about events and organizations in communities throughout the United States . We have covered the National Puerto Rican Day Parade for the past seven years and have thousands of photos from events across the country .
EnLaComunidad
Adding a website store four years ago has contributed to the financial growth of Boricua . com . Selling everything from “ dulces tipicos ” y café Puertorriqueño to sneakers with the Puerto Rican flag , Boricua . com tries to bring ‘ un pedacito de la Isla ” right to your desktop .
Thank you , John y Liz Co-founders www . boricua . com
City Council of Avon Park Pushing for “ English-Only ” Law
By Rosa Mercado
An ordinance making English the official language of the city of Avon Park , FL was being put up for approval by the City Council on July 10th . “ English-Only ” would apply to all official city business , excluding privately-owned companies . Also under the ordinance , any landlord renting property to an illegal immigrant , and any business that employs one will be fined $ 1,000 . The controversial “ English-Only ” ordinance was recently introduced by Avon Park Mayor Tom Macklin and has sparked debate from both sides of the table - some call it racial profiling while others say it ’ s necessary .
Here is what local Latin Times Spanish speaking readers had to say about the issue :
“ It is a very complicated issue , which is why it is handled at a federal level ; this should not be handled at a state level . Every time race is an issue the matter becomes very delicate . Yes these individuals are illegal aliens , but they come here seeking an opportunity to succeed just like you and I and with the dream to become citizens of this great country .” – Noslen A . Rosario
Don ' t kid yourselves … You are not accommodating us ! You are NOT " trying to make us feel at home " by offering services in Spanish ... It ' s all about the money !! You are just trying to tap into the HUGE Hispanic Buying Power !! That ' s right ! That is why many companies do offer a " for Spanish press X button "... because they know . I say cutting Spanish is a very good idea - if you want to lose on the Hispanic power we bring to Tampa ! – Daniel Caballero
I cannot believe that a Spanish flyer or Spanish billboard is such a big deal . We are in the 21st century - this country is so diverse , what is a true American anyways ? We have pride of where we come from , that ' s all ! Yo soy Boricua , Pa que tu lo sepas !!!!!!!!!!” - Fralia Rosario
“ My grandfather worked in farm labor in the 40 ' s and 50 ' s . My tios and tias have worked in factories and in the textile mills of the Northeast . Today my cousins have careers in industries ranging from Computer Engineers to Taxi-cab Drivers . My hermanos and hermanas have fought in EVERY WAR this country has been in since 1889 . I am a college educated , working my way through school ; working overnight and sometimes three jobs at a time . I am a homeowner and have excellent credit .” - Naydelis Rivera Lebron
The President visits Orlando !
President George Bush with Latin Times Reporter Angel Pagan