Conexión Miami / Obama’s ‘true’ race

According to data published by the Pew Research Center, most Americans described their president Barack Obama, as being “of mixed race.” Only 24 percent of the white respondents said that Obama is black — against 52 percent that said he was “of mixed race.” The response deserves attention, since whites continue to be the most widespread racial group in the U.S.

For their part, 55 percent of blacks opined that, no, Obama is, like them, decidedly black. But 34 percent stated the opposite, i.e., the president was not technically a black, perhaps because he was the son of a white woman from Kansas. Among Latinos, in turn, Obama is basically (61 percent) someone “of mixed race.”

Like any other study, this survey by the Pew Research Center is likely to be debated, even rebutted. The data, to be fair, could be superficial. Some wiseguy might ask: What’s the use of knowing Obama’s true race if his political race hasn’t been the best?

Can one row from Europe to Florida?

Polish adventurer Aleksander “Olek” Doba, 67, set a record when he arrived in Florida from Portugal Thursday night (April 17) in a kayak. Doba completed the 8,000-kilometer journey in more than 5 months, because he left Lisbon on Oct. 5, 2013. The Polish seaman, who once rowed around the Baltic Sea, was euphoric as he arrived in Cape Canaveral, waving his arms from his white-and-yellow, 6-meter-long kayak. According to his website, Doba has rowed a total of 64,000 kilometers.

Two Miami institutions will receive new funding

The Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science and the Bass Museum of Art, both in Miami Dade, were recognized by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation for programs that encourage family engagement in early childhood education. According to The Miami Herald, the Michigan-based foundation decided to grant a total of $13.7 million not only (and reasonably) to these two institutions but also to the 28 others that were recognized nationwide.

It was also learned that the Bass Museum of Art, in Miami Beach, was the only art museum to deserve the prize. According to Silvia Karman Cubiñá, its executive director, the amount for that institution — about $500,000 — will permit an expansion of the efforts involving children in the community, thus reaching a more diverse public.

With its $450,000, the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science will support the Early Childhood Hands-on Science (ECHOS) Family Engagement program, which will help pre-school teachers and the families themselves to feel more comfortable with the teaching and learning of science.

Ros-Lehtinen supports Jeb Bush for president. And Marco?

The renowned Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen made public her support for Jeb Bush in case he decides to run for president in 2016. “I am with him,” said Ros in an interview with The Hill, even if Senator Marco Rubio, a former ally of hers in Congress and someone with whom she shares many political viewpoints, is a presidential candidate in the next election.

Neither Bush nor Rubio have announced if they’ll be candidates. However, it is clear that, in Ros’ opinion, if the former decides to run, the latter probably won’t. As for Rubio, he expressed that his decision for next year will be based on himself, not on anyone else. And he added: “That’s true for everyone, including Bush.”

Hillary Clinton comes out for immigration reform

Hillary Clinton, former U.S. Secretary of State, recently defined herself as “a huge supporter of immigration reform,” so long as that legal modification benefits immigrants.

“I think that it was a big missed opportunity for our country that the House of Representatives did not pass the version [of the reform bill] that the U.S. Senate reached last year,” said Clinton, who, while she hasn’t announced her desire to be the Democratic presidential candidate, is a favorite to win, judging from the approval she garners. Clinton made the statement this week, while participating in a forum organized by the Clinton Foundation and Microsoft.

Hialeah Mayor admits to usury

Carlos Hernández, Mayor of Hialeah, admitted at the federal trial for former Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina and his wife, Raiza, that he charged 36 percent interest annually for loans he made to jeweler Luis Felipe Pérez (Felipito), who was sentenced to 10 years for pyramid fraud.

Charging interest higher than 18 percent when the loan does not exceed $500,000 is defined as “criminal usury” or “loan-sharking,” according to Statute 687.02 of Florida law. It was Richard Gregorie, prosecutor in the Robaina case, who showed Hernández a series of checks paid by Felipito, which led the Hialeah mayor to admit, under oath, that he charged the jeweler 3 percent monthly, for a total of $180,000.