Kamala Harris, the first African-American woman of Californian descent to serve in the Senate, is now also the first person of Indian descent to appear on a presidential ticket, an action that has earned her a series of criticisms and lawsuits.
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Kamala Harris was nominated by President Joseph Biden to be the Democratic Party's candidate for president of the United States, from that moment on, an endless number of opinions for and against were unleashed, the most controversial being those of the Republican candidate, Donald Trump, who has attacked her with racist and sexist comments.
This was pointed out by sociologist Dr. Anna Lee Mraz on the radio show Hecho en California in collaboration with Peninsula 360 Press, where he recalled that Harris is a 59-year-old woman with a long career, in addition to being the first woman in the history of the United States to hold the position of vice president, marking a milestone by being the first African-American and South Asian-American woman elected to the post after being named Biden's running mate in the 2020 election.
She was the first African-American woman from California to serve in the Senate, and is now also the first person of Indian descent to appear on a presidential ticket, a move that has earned her a series of criticisms and lawsuits based on false information, Mraz noted.
“The attacks are racist, sexist and sexualized, with Trump calling her crazy and stupid, attacking her ability as a woman,” Mraz added.
In addition, she said, mental health conditions have been used to attack and humiliate her as a woman, generating the idea of superiority, as if “normal” is the most capable.
In this regard, she pointed out that these attacks use the term “crazy” as a socially powerful tool to silence women.
“Women who are strong like Kamala are immediately disqualified when the word crazy is used as a strong signal,” the sociologist commented.
On the other hand, she explained that her ability to be president is being attacked in terms of DEA (diversity, equity and inclusion) hiring, which seeks to generate the idea that she is not capable, that she is not qualified for the position and was only taken into account based on her race and gender, regardless of her knowledge and her great work.
Manuel Ortiz, a sociologist and journalist, added that in 2017 a group of 35 mental health professionals warned that Donald Trump was not capable of being the leader of a nation and, nevertheless, he completed his term.
“At the time, there was talk about Trump’s mental health and specialists said he was not fit. Now Kamala is being attacked without conclusive evidence, since any person has the right to take care of their mental health and that does not make them any less capable of fulfilling their duties,” he said.
In an emotional ceremony full of patriotism and pride, the Peruvian flag flew in the heart of San Francisco, right in the respectable City Hall, on the occasion of the celebration of the 203rd anniversary of Peru's independence.
This significant event became an annual tradition through a proclamation, which brought together a vibrant Peruvian community, local leaders and supporters from diverse cultures who came together to commemorate this important date.
The event organized by Consulate General of Peru in San Francisco, was headed by Consul General Juan Miguel Miranda and his wife Maria Monica Budge, who coordinated the entire event. The ceremony was attended by prominent personalities of the city such as representatives of the various consulates such as Sonia Pereira from Colombia, and the new consul of Mexico in San Francisco, Ana Luisa Vallejo Barba.
The ceremony was attended by prominent figures from the city, such as representatives from various consulates such as Sonia Pereira from Colombia, and the new consul of Mexico in San Francisco, Ana Luisa Vallejo Barba. Photo: P360P
The ceremony began at 11:00 a.m., when an enthusiastic group gathered on the main balcony of City Hall. The Peruvian flag was raised and the group, led by Consul General Juan Miguel Miranda, sang the Peruvian national anthem a cappella, which added a special and emotional touch to the occasion.
Cultural performances included traditional Peruvian dances, including the Marinera, the Danza de las Tijeras and the Huayno, which delighted the audience and showcased the richness of Peru's cultural heritage. These dances, performed by talented local dance groups from Trujillo, were received with great enthusiasm and applause by the audience.
Cultural performances included traditional Peruvian dances, including the Marinera, the Danza de las Tijeras and the Huayno, which delighted the audience and showcased the richness of Peru's cultural heritage. Photo: P360P
One of the highlights of the ceremony was the presentation of an official proclamation from the city of San Francisco to the Peruvian consulate.
This proclamation, presented by San Francisco Mayor London Breed, recognized the valuable contribution of the Peruvian community to the cultural diversity and development of the city.
This significant event became an annual tradition through a proclamation, which brought together a vibrant Peruvian community, local leaders and supporters from diverse cultures who came together to commemorate this important date. Photo: P360PThe talented local dance groups from Trujillo were received with great enthusiasm and applause from the attendees. Photo: P360P
In her speech, Mayor Breed praised the entrepreneurial spirit, rich cultural heritage, and vibrant presence of Peruvians in San Francisco, visible in the city's new Peruvian restaurants, while Breed stressed the importance of inclusion and unity in current times.
Consul General Miranda, upon receiving the proclamation, expressed his deep gratitude to the city and to all those present.
“Today we celebrate not only the independence of our homeland, but also the strength and resilience of our community abroad,” said the consul. “This proclamation is a symbol of the bonds of friendship and cooperation that we have built with San Francisco and that we will continue to strengthen in the future.”
“This proclamation is a symbol of the ties of friendship and cooperation that we have built with San Francisco and that we will continue to strengthen in the future,” he said. Consul General Juan Miguel Miranda. Photo: P360P
The ceremony concluded with a tasting of Peruvian delicacies, including Pisco prepared especially for the occasion by Mrs. buddy, stuffed potatoes and quinoa, as well as cookies decorated with the Peruvian flag, allowing attendees to enjoy a little piece of Peru in the heart of California.
Attendees were visibly moved and proud, reaffirming their commitment to keeping their traditions alive and sharing them with the global community.
This event was highlighted by the richness of cultural diversity that San Francisco hosts, strengthening ties between cultures and reaffirming the spirit of unity and mutual respect.
In the history of bullying, the tactics of attacking and harassing immigrants in the United States are as old as its very formation, however, they continue, are perpetuated and exacerbated by racist and xenophobic speeches such as those of the Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump.
When you think of a bully, do you think only of the attacker or also of the one(s) who applaud and incite bullying? In political matters, the tactics of attacking and harassing immigrants in the United States are as old as their formation, however, they continue, are perpetuated and exacerbated by racist and xenophobic speeches such as those of the Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, and his running mate, JD Vance.
This was highlighted by sociologist and journalist Manuel Ortiz during the radio program Por La Libre, where he recalled that the attacks that Trump and his base of followers have made and continue to make are, in fact, “textbook,” since they follow a methodology that has been followed for a long time.
From Irish and Chinese, to Mexicans and Latin Americans in general, the chains of hate advance through various discourses of hate, racism and xenophobia, to which people from communities of color have also joined.
"There is this population that is not only white and Anglo-Saxon, even some from the Latin American community end up echoing these racist xenophobic messages that spread hatred against us," Ortiz said.
And, he recalled, the main resource against immigrants is to promote the discourse that they are dangerous invaders who put the nation at risk, all by generating fear, anguish and more hatred.
Previously, politicians used masks to hide their racism and xenophobia under the guise of being “patriots.” Today, that has been left behind, giving way to a series of officials, candidates, leaders, professors and artists, among many others, who express their hatred under the guise of “freedom of expression.”
To learn more about the topic, listen to the full Por La Libre program from this Saturday, July 27.
Transgender students face discrimination, Rob Bonta joined his peers in filing an amicus brief in the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals against Oklahoma legislation that bars transgender students from accessing school facilities that correspond to their gender identity.
The Attorney General of California, Rob Bonta, joined 17 of his peers today in filing an amicus brief in the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals challenging Oklahoma's legislation that bars transgender students from accessing school facilities that correspond to their gender identity, which the attorney general called discriminatory and unlawful.
The case arises from a lawsuit challenging Oklahoma Senate Bill 615 (SB 615), which categorically prohibits transgender students from using single-sex school facilities consistent with their gender identity.
After the Western District of Oklahoma granted the state defendants' motion to dismiss the case, the plaintiffs (three transgender students) appealed the decision to the Tenth Circuit.
The coalition claims in its amicus brief that SB 615 violates Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause, while outlining the serious harms to transgender youth that result from unlawful discrimination on the basis of an individual's gender identity.
“Legislation that prohibits transgender students from accessing school facilities that correspond to their gender identity is discriminatory, unlawful, and deeply egregious,” said Attorney General Bonta.
“We urge the Tenth Circuit to reverse the district court’s ruling to ensure that the rights and well-being of our most vulnerable student populations are upheld. As some states seek to undermine vital protections like Title IX, California remains committed to upholding stronger safeguards amid a rising tide of anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric,” she added.
SB 615 is part of a dangerous wave of discriminatory legislation across the United States targeting transgender children.
More than 1.6 million people in the United States, including approximately 300,000 youth ages 13 to 17, identify as transgender.
The Attorney General's Office said in a statement that transgender youth suffer levels of discrimination, violence and harassment that far exceed those experienced by their cisgender counterparts.
Such discrimination, she stressed, predictably inflicts physical and mental harm, so legislation preventing transgender students from using sex-segregated facilities, including bathrooms, in accordance with their gender identity is unnecessary and illegal.
In that regard, Bonta pointed out that, unlike Oklahoma's discriminatory law, all California schools must allow students to use sex-segregated facilities in accordance with the student's gender identity.
In its amici brief today, the coalition supported the plaintiffs’ effort to block enforcement of SB 615, arguing that the law violates the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution by stigmatizing transgender students and denying them access to regular school facilities based on their gender identity.
Additionally, she says, it violates Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 by denying transgender children access to the same communal facilities that other children can use, and fails to recognize how inclusive laws and policies produce important benefits without compromising the privacy and safety of others.
The other attorneys general who joined the amicus brief were those of New York, Washington, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island and the District of Columbia.
For Ramón Zárate, a gameplay engineer at Los Angeles-based Uncapped Games, the path that led him to developing video games was also difficult, as he shares with us in an interview for P360.
All of us who enjoy video games as a favorite pastime have been interested at some point in working in this industry. I cannot deny that it was also a personal dream when I was younger to be able to participate in the creation of the worlds that I enjoyed so much. Unfortunately, for many young people (and not so young) in Latin America, this is nothing more than an unattainable dream.
For Ramón Zárate, a gameplay engineer at Los Angeles-based Uncapped Games, the path that led him to developing video games was also difficult, as he shares with us in an interview with P360.
Battle Aces is a real-time strategy title influenced by classics such as Starcraft, and the Uncapped Games team is made up of veterans from Blizzard, Relic, among others.
What we know so far is that it will be a free-to-play title in which we will unlock units the more we play against other people in multiplayer. Personally, I'm excited about the release of a game that features the experience of the people responsible for real-time strategy gems like Company of Heroes (a title very close to my heart), Starcraft or the Dawn of War series.
From Cuernavaca to the world
Originally from Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico, Ramón Zárate spent his childhood in the state of Tabasco, where he remembers reading articles about Mexican developers in the magazine “Club Nintendo.”
“I have always liked video games… they have been very important in my life, but the perception I had was that it was not realistic (to work in video games) in Mexico, so I did not seriously consider it,” Zárate shared with Península 360 Press.
He decided to study mathematics at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and as he himself admits, “curiously, the subjects I took made me believe that I didn’t want to be a programmer.” By the time he finished his university degree, he had realized that what he really wanted was to make video games, although he admits that he felt it was a risk. An academic career was “a guaranteed future,” but it was not what he was passionate about.
“There is a lot of prejudice, like you are abandoning (the mathematics degree) and taking the easy way out.” Ramón says that although it was not openly stated, there was disdain among his peers towards video games, which even led him not to express his interest in working in the industry.
With a lot of dedication and perseverance, she won a scholarship to study for a doctorate in Vancouver, Canada, and thus began her journey across the American continent. With many uncertainties, but with only one goal in mind.
“I started with very small jobs, my first job was literally minimum wage, and I didn’t even program,” he recalled. Ramón soon realized that studying to specialize in video game development in Canada would have meant taking on a huge debt that would have changed his life. He had to take a leap of faith into the workforce and let his work speak for him.
How to start making video games?
Ramón told Península 360 Press that the biggest contrast between working in the video game industry and academia is diversity.
“You work with people from all over the world, from all kinds of careers and non-careers, all kinds of education, with people who have done everything and that’s amazing… it’s my favorite part of the job.”
Creating a video game is a collaborative effort of many people: artists, designers, writers, programmers, voice actors, animators; even our interviewee tells us: “I have worked with people who were in film or commercials and were hired for certain projects in very specific parts.”
“I don’t think there is one path to the industry, the most important thing is the interest in doing it,” Ramón stressed. “Of course, programming requires skills in the field, but the video game industry is so big that that is not the only path. You can pursue a career as an artist, designer, actor, or many other adjacent things. But, above all, the interest in doing it, the courage to venture and seek to participate in the creation of video games is the most important thing.”
For Ramón, Mexico is in a very good position to enter the video game development industry because “there is a lot of potential.” Unfortunately, what is lacking are companies and financing, because making video games costs money.
“The hardest part of making a game is getting a group of talented people together and giving them the resources they need,” said the Mexican programmer.
Migrating to achieve a dream
Ramón Zárate also acknowledged that he has had many privileges on his journey to the north of our continent: “Being able to migrate, for me, meant studying, being admitted to a university, having a scholarship, although there are still many challenges.”
Arriving in a place where people don't speak your language, being far from family and fighting for a visa to work, among many other things, are obstacles that he had to overcome. For him, having a plan, appreciating the situation you are in before taking hasty steps, is essential to tackle the challenges of migrating.
After living in Canada for 18 years, he admits that he still feels like a foreigner; even though his children were born in the northern country, he still feels “neither from here nor from there.”
In this regard, he said that he feels a “strange guilt” because sometimes he feels like an outsider. Faced with this, he repeats to himself: “I live here, I’m from here, I have an accent, I like different things and there’s no problem, it’s cool.” At the same time, when he visits the Uncapped Games headquarters in Los Angeles, California, he feels at home: “Everyone is Mexican, everyone speaks Spanish.”
Ramón, like many other Latinos, understands that migration is normal for humans, it is part of our history as societies and will never cease to exist. As he says in his own words: “as humans, no one is from anywhere, everyone has migrated, everyone came from somewhere else.”
Ramón's story is like that of many Latin immigrants who travel across the continent in search of a dream that drives them to fight against all odds.
Stay tuned for the release of Battle Aces, you can be sure we'll have more news about this game in the future.
Este sábado, la reseñista de libros Camilasbooks nos lleva a adentrarnos en las letras de “Juliette y las canciones perdidas”, una novela de la escritora española Andrea Longarela, quien, a través de una bella narración nos demuestra que en medio de la nada, hay sorpresas que pueden cambiarte la vida por completo.
Este sábado, la reseñista de libros Camilasbooks nos lleva a adentrarnos en las letras de “Juliette y las canciones perdidas”, una novela de la escritora española Andrea Longarela, quien, a través de una bella narración nos demuestra que en medio de la nada, hay sorpresas que pueden cambiarte la vida por completo.
La lectura de esta novela, dijo Camilasbooks, la llevó por un viaje emotivo y muy particular, el cual calificó como “un abrazo muy cálido”.
Esta historia, precisó, si bien tiene personajes muy tristes con personajes y perdidos como la protagonista, Juliette, que literalmente vive su vida muy monótona, demuestran que la felicidad no está separada de la tristeza, sino que es parte de un todo.
“Es una novela maravillosa con personajes increíbles. En esta novela nos encontramos con personajes tristes que siento que dentro de su tristeza y esta parte tan humana que tienen, nos enseñan muchas cosas y nos dan una perspectiva tan linda de la vida que no separa la felicidad de la tristeza, sino que la une como algo que es un todo”, señaló.
Camilasbooks destacó que en esta novela encontró una historia que tiene muchos elementos muy humanos que no tienen que ver con la perfección ni con tener la vida resuelta, sino que todo lo contrario.
“Es una novela preciosa que tiene una narración muy bella y además tiene capítulos intercalados con algunas cartas que lo hace como todavía más poético y más íntimo”, abundó.
To learn more about this book and others, don't miss Camilasbooks' reviews with Península 360 Press.
La esperanza de los venezolanos por tener un nuevo gobierno lejos de la tiranía que dejó el Chavismo en la nación bolivariana, quedó nuevamente golpeada por la corrupción y Nicolás Maduro fue declarado por tercera ocasión ganador de las elecciones presidenciales.
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La esperanza de los venezolanos por tener un nuevo gobierno lejos de la tiranía que dejó el Chavismo en la nación bolivariana, quedó nuevamente golpeada por la corrupción y Nicolas Maduro fue declarado por tercera ocasión ganador de las elecciones presidenciales.
Once años en el poder no es suficiente y tras el conteo de 80 por ciento de los votos, el Consejo Nacional Electoral, órgano encargado para el desarrollo de los procesos electorales en Venezuela, declaró que Maduro derrotó a su principal opositor, Edmundo González, con 51 por ciento de los votos.
Así, poco después de la medianoche de este lunes 29 de julio, las autoridades electorales declararon que Nicolás Maduro será el presidente de Venezuela para el periodo 2025-2031, y será dentro de otros seis años cuando el pueblo venezolano tenga la oportunidad de derrocar el oficialismo.
La boleta presentaba el nombre de 10 candidatos entre los cuales elegir para el próximo período presidencial, incluido el actual presidente Nicolás Maduro, junto a nueve contendientes: Edmundo González Urrutia (PUD), Benjamín Rausseo (CONDE), Antonio Ecarri (Alianza del Lápiz), Daniel Ceballos (AREPA), Luis Eduardo Martínez (AD), José Brito (PV), Claudio Fermín (SPV), Javier Bertucci (EL CAMBIO) y Enrique Márquez (CG).
La oposición, encabezada por Edmundo Gonzáles, calificó como fraudulento e irregular el conteo de votos, luego de que la autoridad electoral le diera solo 44 por ciento de los votos.
La declaración del Consejo Nacional Electoral de Venezuela se ha tomado con fuerte indignación en varios países, donde sus líderes expresaron su escepticismo a los resultados oficiales.
El vocero presidencial de Argentina, Manuel Adorni, refirió en conferencia de prensa: “Condenamos el fraude electoral perpetrado por el régimen del dictador Nicolás Maduro en la República Bolivariana de Venezuela. Argentina exige total transparencia y recuento de votos, no vamos a convalidar ningún resultado sin el respaldo de veedores internacionales, que obviamente no sean títeres del régimen chavista”.
A estas declaraciones se han sumado la del mandatario de El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, quien calificó al régimen de Maduro de “genocida, fraudulento, ilegítimo, sinvergüenza y antidemocrático”; Colombia pidió el conteo total de los votos, mientras que España las actas “mesa por mesa”; los resultados también fueron cuestionados por Estados Unidos, Chile, Perú, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panamá y Uruguay.
In contrast, China, Russia, Cuba, Nicaragua, Honduras and Bolivia congratulated Maduro on his victory.
El presidente de México, André Manuel López Obrador, dijo que esperará a que todos los votos sean contados, pero que si la tendencia actual del Consejo Nacional Electoral persiste, reconocerá el triunfo de Maduro.
Las denuncias de irregularidades electorales comenzaron a surgir el domingo por la noche mientras se contaban los votos, incluyendo el hecho de que a testigos de la oposición se les negó el acceso a la sede del CNE mientras la autoridad contaba los votos.
La autoridad electoral, controlada por los leales a Maduro, no publicó de inmediato el conteo de cada uno de los 15 mil 797 centros de votación en todo el país, obstaculizando la impugnación del resultado.
La escultura Talking Heads (Cabezas Parlantes) del escultor ruso Oleg Lobykin ha viajado casi 361 millas para celebrar los 41 años de que la ciudad del Área de la Bahía fuera constituida. Foto de la página de Oleg Lobykin
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Del festival Burning Man en Black Rock City, Nevada, a East Palo Alto, California. La escultura Talking Heads (Cabezas Parlantes) del escultor ruso Oleg Lobykin ha viajado casi 361 millas para celebrar los 41 años de que la ciudad del Área de la Bahía fuera constituida.
Así, el artista local Lobykin se dirigió amablemente a la ciudad para acoger temporalmente su estatua “Cabezas parlantes” con motivo de la celebración de East Palo Alto y para fomentar el debate sobre el arte público.
“Nuestra ciudad tiene una orgullosa historia de exhibición de la expresión artística y esta es otra forma de presentarla. El artista desea acoger al escultor durante un mínimo de seis meses y un máximo de un año”, señaló la ciudad en un comunicado.
«Cabezas parlantes» pretendía llamar la atención sobre las obras de arte que existen en la ciudad o que están en proceso de creación.
La colocación fue gratuita para la ciudad y la instalación corrió a cargo del escultor.
“El arte es subjetivo y suscita opiniones diversas, pero un hecho es que hay mucha creatividad en East Palo Alto. Tanto si esta obra te hace pensar que debería ser permanente como si ya estás pensando qué podría haber ido en su lugar, la conversación sobre arte está ahora en juego. Esto es sólo un adelanto de lo que está por venir”, precisó la ciudad.
Y es que, East Palo Alto ha estado trabajando con otras organizaciones comunitarias y buscará compartir el diseño de jóvenes con la comunidad.
El ayuntamiento refirió que 2025 será un año de muchas más novedades artísticas en East Palo Alto.
Talking Heads es una escultura abstracta de 18 pies de altura hecha con acero inoxidable, con una composición espacial basada en un equilibrio entre el espacio negativo y positivo junto con una línea que puede crear una imagen o punto de referencia para despertar la imaginación.
“El título abierto invita a reflexionar. ¿Qué le viene a la mente cuando contempla la pieza? Tal vez vea algunas siluetas, tal vez su asociación con la música o tal vez se le crucen por la mente algunos expertos políticos. ¿Qué pasa si hay pequeñas voces dentro de su cabeza discutiendo sobre lo que significa?”, señala el sitio del artista sobre la obra.
Nuevo impuesto a licencias comerciales se encontrará en la boleta electoral de noviembre de 2024 para que los votantes la consideren, los ciudadanos serán los que den la última palabra en este impuesto que, entre otras cosas, busca reducir el déficit presupuestario persistente de 9 millones de dólares.
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Con votación unánime, el Ayuntamiento de Redwood City decidió que incluirá una medida de modernización del impuesto a las licencias comerciales en la boleta electoral de noviembre de 2024 para que los votantes la consideren.
Luego de meses de estudio para poner a votación la modernización de este impuesto, los ciudadanos serán los que den la última palabra en este impuesto que, entre otras cosas, busca reducir el déficit presupuestario persistente de 9 millones de dólares.
“La estructura actual de licencias comerciales de Redwood City es antigua y obsoleta. Algunas de las pequeñas empresas de la ciudad pagan tasas mucho más altas que las grandes compañías”, señaló la administradora municipal, Melissa Stevenson Díaz.
En ese sentido, refirió que, de aprobarse, la modernización del impuesto a las licencias comerciales garantizará que las grandes empresas paguen su parte justa por los servicios generales de la ciudad, además de generar ingresos adicionales para sostenerlos, incluidos los de la policía, bomberos y paramédicos; parques, recreación y comunitarios; así como de bibliotecas.
Stevenson explicó que las pequeñas empresas son de especial interés para la ciudad porque 70 por ciento de las establecidas en Redwood City tienen menos de cuatro empleados.
“Si se aprueba la medida, las empresas minoristas y de comercio general más pequeñas pagarían menos impuestos que en la actualidad, y las empresas más grandes pagarían más. Teniendo en cuenta los altos costos de la vivienda y el cuidado infantil en la región, la medida no aumenta los impuestos por unidad sobre la vivienda y todos los proveedores de cuidado infantil estarían exentos del impuesto”, precisó en un comunicado.
Sujeta a la aprobación de los votantes, se espera que la medida genere aproximadamente 7.2 millones de dólares en nuevos ingresos netos para el Fondo General de la Ciudad cuando se implemente por completo.
La ciudad precisó que el Fondo General cubre los servicios de la Ciudad, que incluyen la respuesta de emergencia al 911; bomberos, paramédicos y oficiales de policía en servicio; iniciativas de vivienda y para personas sin hogar; y programas para niños, jóvenes y personas mayores.
La ciudad detalló los aspectos más destacados de la medida incluyen la reducción de la carga fiscal de las pequeñas empresas, al cobrar a las más grandes tasas más altas, hasta 250 dólares por empleado para las empresas de servicios profesionales en Redwood City.
A su vez, aumentaría el límite o pago comercial máximo a 250 mil dólares anuales para alinearse con ciudades comparables; una implementación gradual de dos años, con una tasa de 50 por ciento a partir del 1 de julio de 2025 y una tasa del 100 por ciento a partir del 1 de julio de 2026, más aumentos del índice de precios al consumidor a partir de julio de 2027.
De igual manera, refirió la ciudad, apoyaría la vivienda y el cuidado infantil al eximir del impuesto las viviendas asequibles con restricciones de escritura y el cuidado infantil con fines de lucro y no realizar cambios en el impuesto por unidad que pagan los proveedores de vivienda con más de tres unidades.
Si bien los nuevos ingresos estimados no compensarían por completo los déficits estructurales proyectados de aproximadamente 9.3 millones anuales, garantizarían que los servicios de la ciudad permanezcan intactos tanto para los residentes como para la comunidad empresarial.
En ese sentido, explicó que garantizaría que Redwood City mantenga el control local sobre los fondos recaudados por impuestos, y que las ganancias se dediquen a programas y servicios de la ciudad y no se compartirían con el estado.
Finalmente destacó que, si se aprueba la medida, el personal presentará informes periódicos al Ayuntamiento para monitorear los impactos impositivos y las tendencias de la actividad comercial.
At a meeting with the California Coastal Commission, Pescadero residents protested the lack of transparency in housing. Photo: BRIDGE Organization
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Pescadero residents have always had housing problems, from flooding during the rainy season to the lack of running water and high rents that become unaffordable; however, the Latino community in the city has made one thing clear: “It’s not that we want them, we need them.”
At a meeting with the California Coastal Commission on July 16 to gather public input from coastal communities, residents expressed frustration with the lack of transparency regarding housing in the area.
How to have decent housing has become a priority issue in this community where a large number of agricultural workers live.
From Fields to Change, a group created by the South Coast Bridge organization, has been advocating for the construction of farmworker housing in Pescadero, which is why they have had meetings with San Mateo County District 3 Supervisor Ray Mueller, who cited conflicts with the California Coastal Commission that prevented the acquisition of property in Bean Hollow.
In response, residents plan to organize a meeting with several organizations to finally gather all the necessary documentation to promote housing projects in Pescadero, and ultimately have more answers than questions.
Additionally, on July 23, the Puente organization, with the support of the Pescadero community, announced the development of a new wholly owned subsidiary, Puente Housing Solutions LLC, whose mission, they say, is “to promote and preserve affordable, safe and decent housing on the South Coast of San Mateo County.”
The first property they secured is Pescadero Union High School, which was built in 1925 and converted into apartments and dormitory-style housing in the 1980s for farming families and individuals.
Their preservation plans include renovating the communal kitchen and bathrooms, as well as replacing the roof and installing a new water treatment system to ensure adequate supplies of drinking water.
This is just the beginning of the fight to ensure that Pescadero residents have decent housing.
