Se espera que llegue el primer gran río atmosférico de la temporada en el Área de la Bahía, una tormenta que traerá hasta cinco centímetros de lluvia desde el condado de el Marin hasta Santa Cruz.
Entre el martes y el jueves de la próxima semana se espera que llegue el primer gran río atmosférico de la temporada en el Área de la Bahía, una tormenta que traerá hasta cinco centímetros de lluvia desde el condado de el Marin hasta Santa Cruz, informó el National Weather Service.
La tormenta esperada sigue un sistema de baja presión que es procedente del Golfo de Alaska, y se prevé que descienda por la Costa Oeste, ello como parte de un patrón activo y progresivo que podría durar hasta mediados de mes.
“Algunos de los picos más altos de las montañas de Santa Cruz y la costa de Sonoma podrían recibir aún más (cantidad de lluvia)”, dijo el meteorólogo del NWS Dalton Behringer. “Parece que va a golpear a todo el mundo, incluso al sur como Big Sur y la Costa Central”.
Este fenómeno meteorológico se dará en el marco de la conferencia de Cooperación Económica Asia-Pacífico (APEC) 2023, que se llevará a cabo del 11 al 17 de noviembre en San Francisco, el cual podría verse afectado por el clima, trayendo interrupciones en el tráfico y el transporte público, ya que los líderes mundiales se reúnen en la ciudad para el evento de alta seguridad.
Mientras vemos como se acerca la temporada de frío y nieve, se espera que el río atmosférico deje caer abundante nieve en Sierra Nevada, aunque aún no hay garantías de esto.
El cambio climático puede hacer que estos diluvios sean hasta un 37 por ciento más húmedos, según un estudio realizado en junio de 2022 por científicos del clima del Área de la Bahía.
Behringer asegura que no se puede prevenir exactamente lo que viene, pero por ahora no se esperan inundaciones generalizadas de esta tormenta; y aunque existe un patrón activo en la atmósfera, no es seguro que las demás tormentas continúen de la misma manera.
“Podemos decir que las cosas van a venir, pero es casi imposible precisar los detalles de exactamente qué tan fuertes serán o dónde se establecerán”, dijo Behringer. “Pero éste será el primer gran acontecimiento de la temporada”.
Ante ello, el meteorólogo aconseja a los californianos que presten mucha atención a los informes meteorológicos a medida que avance la tormenta, y que preparen sus casas para lo que podría ser la primera de muchas tormentas en toda el Área de la Bahía este otoño e invierno.
“Mantenerse al día con el pronóstico en este momento es la mejor preparación que puede hacer”, señaló Behringer. “Todavía estamos dando los últimos retoques a los cambios en la previsión”, pero es importante mantenerse informado.
A report details how the United States is suffering an avoidable civil rights and health equity disaster, six months after the cancellation of pandemic-era Medicaid continued eligibility requirements.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), UnidosUS, and nine other leading civil rights organizations released a report detailing how the United States is suffering an avoidable civil rights and health equity disaster, six months after the cancellation of pandemic-era Medicaid continued eligibility requirements.
At a press conference, Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, noted how the health care system has failed the most vulnerable people for years, until the COVID-19 pandemic brought medical needs to the forefront.
“It is a sad reality that it took a global pandemic for our nation’s elected leaders to expand life-saving health care services to hard-working Americans. The fact is that our health care system has long failed the most vulnerable,” Johnson said.
She said the data in the report “is further proof that the Medicaid disenrollment process is riddled with racism.”
“We will not stand by as millions within our community are once again left without a lifeline. We are proud to stand with UnidosUS and other leading civil rights organizations in urging an immediate pause on all Medicaid disenrollments.”
In that regard, she stressed that state leaders must do everything possible to re-enroll those who have lost coverage, by leveraging available data to verify eligibility or by providing easily accessible support to complete the paperwork necessary to confirm eligibility.
The disenrollment has led to the deepest and steepest Medicaid decline in history, with nearly 8 million people losing coverage in just six months, he noted.
Additionally, the report found that three-quarters of people who lost coverage were fired for procedural reasons, most often due to simple paperwork issues.
As a result of this research, civil rights organizations are calling on states to suspend expungements until a new process is implemented that would dramatically reduce expungement rates.
While few states have shared disenrollment data by race and ethnicity, based on known demographic characteristics of Medicaid beneficiaries in each state, at least 54 percent of beneficiaries who have lost Medicaid are people of color, the analysis found.
The report's findings also showed that disenrollment has caused more children to lose Medicaid coverage than ever before.
The NAACP co-authored the report with the Asian Pacific Islander American Health Forum, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the National Council of Black Women, the National Urban League, the National Urban Indian Health Council, the Southern Poverty Law Center and UnidosUS, and the Coalition on Human Needs and Protecting Our Care.
The report can be consulted by clicking Click here.
The Latino Committee invites all residents and those from neighboring communities not to miss the first Mexican wrestling event in East Palo Alto. (From left to right: Ruben Abrica, former mayor of East Palo Alto, Elvira Macias, Patricia Farias and Edwin Cuellar, president of the Latino Committee). Photo: Marvin Bámaca P360P
The East Palo Alto Latino Committee (EPA) has organized its first Mexican wrestling event, inviting all its residents and neighboring communities not to miss this recreational event that aims to bring families together and motivate Latin culture.
“Today we want to extend a great invitation to the first Lucha Libre festival in the city of East Palo Alto. A wrestling festival has never been held in this city before, and thanks to the Latin Committee, it is being held for the first time. So, you can’t miss it,” said Edwin Cuellar, president of the Latin Committee.
The event presentation was attended by wrestlers such as: Comando Infernal, Roquero del Diablo, Payaso de Rodeo, and Proyecto X, among others.
“A wrestling festival has never been held in this city before, and thanks to the Latin Committee, it is being held for the first time. So, you can’t miss it,” said Edwin Cuellar, president of the Latin Committee. Photo: Marvin Bámaca P360P
“First of all, it is a sport, because many people actually think it is not, but even though it is something violent, it is actually called wrestling. Everything takes time to learn it, what we want to promote first is the culture, the sport and, most importantly, to bring all Latinos together,” Cuellar said.
This fun event will take place on November 18th at Costano Elementary School, located at 2695 Fordham St, East Palo Alto, of from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Tickets range from $45 to $55. To purchase tickets, go to Click here.
In addition to enjoying this spectacular wrestling match, attendees will be able to sample a variety of cuisine such as tacos, churros, fruit and much more.
For the new generations What is the Latin Committee?
“The Latino Committee was formed in 1981. We held information forums on immigration, police, education… But then in 1985 we started to organize May 5th in the community and since then it has become a big event, a big regional festival that has grown a lot,” recalled Rubén Abrica, a member of the Latino Committee, in an interview with Península 360 Press.
For her part, Elvira Macias, who is also part of this committee, pointed out that, in recent years, during the COVID-19 pandemic, “we made some videos so that they could come in and enjoy May 5 from their homes, we did it for two years. We were part of the 40th anniversary that it had here in Palo Alto this year and we also participated in the music festival event.”
Elvira Macias, who is also part of this committee, said that in recent years, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Latino Committee made a series of videos so that people could celebrate May 5 from their homes. Photo: Marvin Bámaca P360P
The event on May 5, he said, is family-oriented, so there is no alcohol or similar products, as it is designed so that the entire family: grandparents, parents, children and grandchildren, can enjoy a healthy environment.
What is the objective of the Latin Committee?
""So far, I think the new generations have continued. The idea was that the Latino community was not only the Mexican or Central American community, but any Latino person," recalled the former mayor of the city.
Ruben Abrica, former mayor of East Palo Alto, said the Committee will continue to move forward, with new members joining each year. “That's the beauty of the Latino Committee, we are a non-profit volunteer group, but we are also good at raising funds for the event.” Photo: Marvin Bámaca P360P
The idea, he stressed, was “to hold a public festival in the park at least once a year so that children, youth, adults and seniors could celebrate their culture and music, speak Spanish, English, Spanglish, enjoy meals and socialize, but at a community level, because that is something very healthy, and I think that over the years it helps people to have a certain unity, at least that of living together,” he stressed.
Abrica said the Committee will continue to move forward, with new members joining each year. “That’s the beauty of the Latino Committee, we are a non-profit group of volunteers, but we are also good at raising funds for the event.
The first Mexican wrestling event will be held in East Palo Alto on Saturday, November 18th.
Gaitán al Aire: DJ Simon Mejia in a musical set inspired by organic electronic sounds at the Jorge Eliecer Gaitan Theater in the Bay. Photo: Alejandro Melendez
Bogotá, Colombia. November 10, 2023.- The Bogotá Planetarium, located in the epicenter of the city, was the setting for the IV “Breathe Art” Forum, an event that fused art with the urgent need to address the climate crisis, a project of the District Institute of the Arts (Idartes).
For five intense days, actors from the artistic and cultural sector reflected on the environmental implications of artistic practices. This fourth edition of the forum focused on projecting possible futures of artistic practice within the framework of environmental sustainability.
On the first day, there was a unique conversation between Simón Mejía, influencer Marce La Recicladora and moderator Jorge Melguizo at the “Voices of art for environmental sustainability” panel. At the end, we were able to conduct an exclusive interview with Mejía, where we delved into his fascinating world as the musical genius behind the innovative Colombian band, Bomba Estéreo.
The conversation was revealing, as he shared his unique vision on the struggle of indigenous and Afro-descendant people in Colombia; from the autonomy granted by the 1992 Constitution, to current challenges, Mejía highlighted the ancestral harmony of indigenous communities with nature and advocated for a balance between ways of life.
Jorge Melguizo, Marcela La Recicladora and Simón Mejía during the panel “Voices of art for environmental sustainability” of the IV Respira el Arte Forum at the Bogotá Planetarium. Photo: Alejandro Meléndez
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Gaitán al Aire: DJ Simon Mejia in a musical set inspired by organic electronic sounds at the Jorge Eliecer Gaitan Theater in the Bay. Photo: Alejandro Melendez
Alejandro Melendez: In the work you are doing and, above all, in the documentaries you told us about (Guardianas and Yuma), what is the struggle of the indigenous and Afro-descendant inhabitants in these areas like and how have you seen it?
Simon Mejia: Yes, well here in Colombia, fortunately, since the Constitution was changed in 1992, a lot of autonomy in governance was given to minority communities, mainly Afro and indigenous communities, which were already organized. But let's say that, from the government, they were given a space to have their own governance, because ultimately they, especially the indigenous communities, not because we are in a context of climate change and a fashion about climate change, but because they have been doing it ancestrally. The indigenous people live with nature in a harmonious way, so really they, within their ancestry, have a lot to teach us in white culture.
As for governance, although it is not easy, especially because there are many conflicts in Colombia, including drug trafficking that directly attacks these communities, let's say yes, there is a lot of progress made in terms of laws and in terms of their spaces so that they can protect the territories where they have lived for centuries before us, but it is not easy because the government, the governments of the world, work under a different system.
Before, maybe the two systems clash a bit, but I feel that the way is to find a point, a bridge between the two, between both ways of life: we learn from them and they join the world and the devastating economic system in which we live, find a balance in which the main affected by this is not the earth. From this imbalance that we live in this system, then they are the ones from whom we have to learn. But, here in Colombia, in the particular case of these communities, their work is at risk all the time because they are precisely facing these economic interests and often crime, especially drug trafficking that occurs in these places. So, it is not an easy task, it is a task where they put their lives in danger.
A.M: How can we convince governments to change their forms of government? Because we are seeing that those who really govern are now the transnational companies that are present all over the world.
In Mexico, most of the areas where land defenders and journalists are killed are linked to a transnational corporation. We have a colleague, Samir Flores, who was a land defender as well as a journalist, and he was killed for fighting against a thermoelectric plant financed by Spanish transnational corporations.
So how do we start to create this awareness in governments so that they understand that transnationals have to be regulated? There is the example of YouTube, which claims to be a free place, but in reality it is not; it also restricts many things, especially when there are social struggles. How do we make this transition so that the government is aware of the role that these transnationals play?
YE:The transnationals depend directly on the economic model and consumption in which we live. The only way to regulate this, beyond the government, is for us, as a civil society, to regulate ourselves and ban the consumption of products that we know have practices behind them that are not friendly to the planet or generate violence.
So, as a civil society, we can put an end to a transnational. If the world or an entire community or an entire city decides that it will no longer consume that product because we know where it comes from, then it directly affects them, because it affects their pocketbook.
We are also part of the problem, because we consume the goods that these companies offer. So, it is in our hands as civil society, beyond governments, because many times these are linked to the lobby and the money of those same companies that move in the lobbies to generate laws and policies that allow their extractivism. But we, as consumers and as a capitalist consumer society, can set a limit, begin to model and make consumption more conscious.
To the extent that they see that they no longer have that mass force that they control through consumption, that is when they will realize that they have no more weapons.
A.M: You mentioned Leonor Zalabata Torres, the current representative of Colombia to the UN, and that the Arawak community of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta appointed her, along with Petro, to go to New York, where you hope a space of awareness about indigenism will be forged.
How can this be implemented and achieved? Because, let me give you an example: in Mexico, one of the people who has an exemplary job as a public servant was a Nahuatl musician and poet, Mardonio Carballo, and he was finally removed from the Ministry of Culture, precisely because they could not stand the fact that an indigenous person had more weight than the current head. So, how can we break this part of the capital cities so that, above all, more indigenous people come to take these positions and change this very Western worldview that exists regarding public policies?
YE: It has to do with a change of consciousness. That is also linked to the history of racism that we have experienced here in Latin America since the colonial period, because here in Latin America, we who are white, or I, am white and I am also a child of that mixed race from the colony.
The colonial legacy left Latin America with the idea of destroying and overriding these cultures, a theme of racism and religion that has fed us for many centuries. We must break that and finally see the indigenous people, not as such, but as people who also inhabit the planet and have their own problems and conflicts, but who have also managed to lead a more harmonious life with the planet, something that we as a white culture have not achieved.
As long as we do not change this awareness of racism and rejection of minorities rooted in our DNA, and do not respect differences and listen to the valuable traditions of others, we will continue with systematic racism, misogyny and all those cultural anchors that we carry.
It is a process that begins with each individual, assuming themselves not as white, black, man, African, indigenous, but as an inhabitant of the earth, where we all have the same value.
There are cultures that have a lot to teach us about harmony with the planet, while we also have valuable things, such as environmental technology and administrative techniques. It is a one-on-one work, a joint effort between different cultures to achieve the same goal, more horizontal movements. We in Latin America, who come from colonialism, still have that legacy rooted in our psyche, and breaking with that implies breaking with centuries of teachings. So, we are walking in that process.
A.M: Finally, tell us when these documentaries you have are going to be available. What are they going to be called and also if you prepared a soundtrack for them and if you wrote the music? Tell us about the musical part of the documentaries.
YE: Of course, all of them have a very important soundtrack that we hope will also serve as a tool for promoting the film or connecting with it, because here in Colombia it is a very musical country. I have tried to inspire us through music, and especially through music that has inspired us.
Bomba Estéreo is a band that comes from the indigenous and Afro world, since their music has roots in the folk music of Colombia and Latin America. So, of course, now we have a soundtrack that I made and next year both documentaries will be released. The one about the Magdalena River is called “Yuma,” and the one about the leaders has a partial name, it will probably change, which is “Guardianas.” Both will be released in 2024.
The family of Ricardo Lagunes Gasca and representatives of Antonio Díaz Valencia, environmental and indigenous land defenders, are in Washington to meet with authorities and the international diplomatic community to discuss the forced disappearance of these two Mexicans for defending the environment and indigenous lands from mining development in the municipality of Aquila, Michoacán, Mexico.
Ricardo Lagunes Gasca, a human rights and indigenous territories lawyer, and Professor Antonio Díaz Valencia, leader of the Nahua indigenous community of San Miguel de Aquila, were victims of forced disappearance on January 15, 2023 for defending indigenous rights in the agrarian courts. They disappeared violently after participating in a community assembly where the steps to follow after winning the case were discussed. There are reports that both received threats from Ternium, the company that operates a large iron mine without taking into account the rights of indigenous people.
Since his disappearance, Ricardo's relatives have demanded a thorough investigation by Mexican and international bodies and a humanitarian recovery. They also obtained recommendations from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances, several United Nations Special Procedures and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
Ana Lucía and Antoine Lagunes Gasca, Ricardo's siblings, will visit Washington DC for a meeting with the U.S. State Department's Environmental Defenders Working Group, a private audience with the Inter-American Commission, the Office of the High Commissioner, and the Mexican Government, as well as with several allies. They are seeking support from the international community and international organizations to advocate for the return of both defenders and to obtain international technical assistance in the search and investigation to seek their humanitarian recovery, find the truth, and seek justice in the case.
The Day of the Dead Festival in Redwood City is a lively celebration that has been held for 13 years as the largest party of the year by the Casa Círculo Cultural organization. Photo: Marvin Bámaca P360P
Each year, the non-profit organization Casa Circulo Cultural holds a huge Day of the Dead celebration in Redwood City, and this year they took residents and visitors on a trip through Mayan culture, primarily to Guatemala.
The Day of the Dead celebration is a celebration full of life that has been celebrated for 13 years in the city of Redwood City as the biggest party of the year, said Veronica Escámez, founder of Casa Círculo Cultural in an interview with Manuel Ortiz during the program Península 360 Radio, in collaboration with Marcos Gutiérrez de “Made in California”.
During the celebration, artistic pieces referring to Mayan culture were created, work carried out by Casa Círculo Cultural in collaboration with the visual artist Fernando Escartiz.
During the celebration, artistic pieces referring to Mayan culture were created, work carried out by Casa Círculo Cultural in collaboration with the visual artist Fernando Escartiz.Months before this celebration, the organization's staff traveled to Guatemala with the purpose of learning about the cultural traditions of that country and thus conducting prior research to achieve a true experience from the Guatemalan culture.
The event, held on November 5, featured the creation of a magnificent Santa Catarina arch, which is one of the most recognized places in the city of Antigua Guatemala. The experience of the “Tuc Tuc” was also shared, a very common means of transportation in the Central American country, a kind of motorcycle taxi for 3 people.
The “Tuc Tuc”, a very common means of transport in the Central American country, is a type of motorcycle taxi for 3 people. The artist Fernando Escartiz recreated a “Tuc Tuc” that was seen by attendees on the Day of the Dead in Redwood City.
Months before this celebration, the organization's staff traveled to Guatemala with the purpose of learning about the cultural traditions of that country and thus conducting prior research to achieve a true experience from the Guatemalan culture.
As every year, the altar contest was held, where the community participated in its creation.
With different themes, full of colors, flowers, food, art and a lot of creativity, these altars were placed inside the San Mateo County History Museum and are on display from Sunday, November 5 to November 11.
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This exhibition includes a giant “barrilete” (paper kite) brought from Guatemala. It is worth noting that this type of art takes up to 6 months to be made by Guatemalan families to be used in the Day of the Dead celebration.
The kite displayed at the Museum has already flown for this holiday in Guatemala and did not break, something very common since they are made with tissue paper, which makes them very fragile pieces, commented Verónica Escámez.
The kite displayed at the Museum has already flown for this holiday in Guatemala and did not break, something very common since they are made with tissue paper, which makes them very fragile pieces, commented Verónica Escámez.
“We have two barrels, one that is in the San Francisco Symphony and the other here at the Museum of Redwood City; it is something magnificent because it measures 14 feet. For people who could not enter on Sunday because there was a huge line, since the Museum reported an entrance of 8 thousand people and many had to stay outside, they can go all week to see the altars," he added. Scamez.
When talking about the kites, Verónica commented that “families make them for their dead and, in this case, they had the opportunity to meet the man who made it, his wife and his three daughters who have helped to make this work since they were little, which is made entirely of tissue paper and mounted on bamboo sticks so they can be lifted. Fernando brought it folded and when it is extended it looks like a true work of art.”
The founder of Casa Círculo Cultural, highlighted that the exhibition features two very particular altars, one was made by the sheriff of San Mateo County, Christina Corpus, while the second was carried out by the first Latina supervisor in the county, Noelia Corzo.
Anna Lee Mraz, coordinator of strategic initiatives at Casa Círculo Cultural, spoke about the altar dedicated to victims of domestic violence, specifically in San Mateo County, where, since 2022, 5 women have been added who have lost their lives due to violence by their romantic partner; and it is estimated that domestic violence affects about 10 thousand people in this county each year.
Altar dedicated to victims of domestic violence in San Mateo County.Domestic violence is estimated to affect about 10,000 people in this county each year.
The altar against hate crimes was placed in honor of those who have died because of acts such as racism or discrimination, Mraz explained; 13 photographs of those who were killed by such terrible attacks were displayed on it.
The altar against hate crimes was placed in honor of those who have died due to acts such as racism or discrimination.
This The moving offering is a powerful symbol of remembrance and collective determination to confront the destructive forces of hatred, he said.
It is worth noting that, after this great celebration, many more events come, including, Fernando Escartiz is preparing an exhibition where the work carried out for this festival can be appreciated in depth.
“All the textiles seen this weekend come from Guatemala. We wanted to bring clothing from that country; huipiles (traditional blouses or dresses of indigenous people and mestizos from the southern part of Mexico and Central America) that are very colorful with a story behind their creation, and we are going to prepare an exhibition so that people can see and admire them,” added Escartiz.
To learn more about the work of the artist Ferando Escartiz, you can follow him on his Instagram: fernandoescartiz.
In December, a special exhibition will be held in the Casa Círculo Cultural gallery, located in it 1900 Broadway St. Redwood City, where all of these Guatemalan clothing and artifacts will be on display, as well as the work of artist Fernando Escartiz.
Remember to purchase the printed version of Peninsula 360 Press, where you will find much more information.
Developers have begun construction on a new interim housing project for homeless people in Palo Alto with financial assistance from Santa Clara County. Image taken from the video shared on YouTube by Santa Clara County.
Developers have begun construction on a new interim housing project in Palo Alto for homeless people, with financial assistance from Santa Clara County.
The county is contributing $4 million to Homekey Palo Alto, a shelter with the capacity to provide temporary housing for more than 200 people a year along with on-site support services.
The shelter, expected to open in early 2025, seeks to address a pair of closely related crises in Silicon Valley: housing affordability and lack thereof.
Homekey Palo Alto is the tenth project in Santa Clara County to receive funding from the State of California’s Homekey program, launched in 2020 to rapidly expand housing for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness across the state.
The shelter, expected to open in early 2025, seeks to address a pair of closely related crises in Silicon Valley: housing affordability and lack thereof. Image taken from video shared on YouTube by Santa Clara County.
Additionally, the Palo Alto project is one of the first to receive funding from the county's Challenge Grant program, which committed $40 million to build 1,600 units of transitional housing to support people experiencing homelessness.
County Supervisor Joe Simitian, who led the creation of the Challenge Grants in 2021 with Supervisor Otto Lee, stressed that the challenges of housing affordability and homelessness “are dire, but every step of progress provides significant benefits to county residents.”
“I’m one of those who believes it’s better to light a candle than to curse the darkness,” Simitian said. “Homekey Palo Alto represents 88 candles, 88 units that, for all the people who live here, will make an absolute difference in their lives.
In that sense, she said that the project will make a difference for elderly residents “whose only constant companion may have been their dog: now they will have a safe place to play.”
“It will absolutely make a difference for the person who is just down on their luck and just needs help getting their resume together and navigating the Valley job market. And it will absolutely make a difference, in the spirit of today, for the parent or parents whose children finally have a place of their own, maybe for the first time, to sit down and count and compare all the candy they got trick-or-treating,” he explained.
Homekey Palo Alto, located at 1237 San Antonio Road near San Francisco Bay, will feature 88 guest rooms, as well as showers, a kitchen, on-site laundry facilities and outdoor spaces including a playground, a garden, a dog park and a picnic area.
Homekey Palo Alto, located at 1237 San Antonio Road near San Francisco Bay, will feature 88 guest rooms, as well as showers, a kitchen, on-site laundry facilities and outdoor spaces including a playground, a garden, a dog park and a picnic area. Image by Homekey Palo Alto
The city of Palo Alto and LifeMoves, a nonprofit, are co-developers of the $37.2 million project, which received funding from a variety of sources, including $21.7 million from Homekey, $5 million from private donor John Sobrato, $4.5 million from Palo Alto and $4 million from the county’s Challenge Grant program.
The project will be built using modular construction, which is faster than traditional construction methods.
A joint operation by law enforcement agencies led to the rescue of 18 victims of a sex trafficking ring in Santa Clara County. The victims were from South America and Mexico and were kept working seven days a week in hotel rooms in the cities of San Jose and the East Bay Area.
A joint operation by law enforcement agencies led to the rescue of 18 victims of a Colombia-based sex trafficking ring that operated brothels in hotels in the South Bay, Santa Clara County prosecutors said.
Nine people suspected of working for the union were also arrested in the operation, the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office said in a statement Tuesday.
Agents seized more than $200,000 in cash from the suspects and froze their assets, including cryptocurrency, prosecutors said.
The investigation into the sex trafficking ring began in March 2022, when authorities became suspicious of the activities of a Colombian couple who had previously been charged with human trafficking-related crimes but were out on bail.
Using wiretaps, investigators examined about 30,000 text messages and calls to a phone number. The evidence showed the number was being used to arrange “rendezvous” between sex workers and clients, prosecutors said, adding that traffickers set up a bank of these dispatch phones for clients to schedule sexual encounters with victims at local hotels.
The sex trafficking victims came from South America and Mexico and were kept working seven days a week in hotel rooms in the cities of San Jose and the East Bay Area.
Prosecutors said the victims were forbidden from leaving their hotel rooms without permission, kept under constant surveillance and threatened that if they disobeyed or tried to escape, their families would be harmed.
According to prosecutors, investigators learned through wiretaps that the syndicate was exploiting more than 30 victims. Six more suspects remain to be arrested.
The rescued women receive services such as counseling, medical care and housing assistance, among others. One of the victims, a teenager from South America, was transferred to the Attorney General's Office's Child Advocacy Center for care, prosecutors said.
The Ventura County Sheriff's Office in California said it has not ruled out the possibility that the death of Paul Kessler following an altercation at a pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian event was a hate crime. Photo: Social Media.
The Ventura County Sheriff's Office in California said it has not ruled out the possibility that the death of a 69-year-old man, who was injured during an altercation at a pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian event, is a hate crime.
Paul Kessler, a 69-year-old Jew who participated in the demonstration held on November 5 at the intersection of Westlake Blvd. and Thousand Oaks Boulevard in the city of Thousand Oaks, died after succumbing to his injuries on November 6.
After the altercation, at approximately 3:20 p.m., several citizens called the Ventura Sheriff's Communications Center to report that an assault had occurred at the scene; when officers arrived, they located Kessler, who was suffering from a head injury.
Witness accounts indicated that Kessler was involved in a physical altercation with counter-protesters. During the dispute, Kessler fell backward and hit his head on the ground.
Kessler was transported to an area hospital for advanced medical treatment, but died the following day.
The Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office ruled the death a homicide after an autopsy on Jan. 6 determined the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head.
Authorities said the investigation is active and ongoing, and that the incident appears to be isolated and not part of a larger effort.
The Ventura County Sheriff's Office is requesting the public's assistance in this ongoing investigation and is urging anyone who witnessed or has knowledge of the incident, or who was present at the demonstration, to contact Detective Stump at (805) 384-4745.
“This death is a shock to our region at a time when tensions continue to rise around the world. We must redouble our efforts to ensure that violence and hate are met with accountability and consequences. Los Angeles refuses to harbor this hate,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement.
“As details emerge and are confirmed, we remain steadfast in condemning violence and anti-Semitism,” he added.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) Greater Los Angeles office expressed sadness at the news of Kessler's death.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic and shocking loss. We join local Jewish leaders in calling on all people to refrain from jumping to conclusions, sensationalizing such a tragedy for political gain, or spreading rumors that could unnecessarily escalate tensions that are already at an all-time high,” Hussam Ayloush, executive director of CAIR-LA, said in a statement.
In that regard, he urged people to wait for the Ventura County Sheriff's Office to complete its investigation before drawing conclusions. “Our thoughts are with the family and the Jewish community during this difficult time.”
“While we strongly support the right to political debate, CAIR-LA and the Muslim community stand with the Jewish community in rejecting all violence, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia or incitement to hatred,” he said.
This publication was supported in whole or part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the CaliFornia State Library.
The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office announced its new partnership with Lights On!, an award-winning national program designed to help build and foster trust between communities and law enforcement. Photo: P360
The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office announced its new partnership with Lights On!, an award-winning national program designed to help build and foster trust between communities and law enforcement.
“The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office is committed to finding meaningful ways to have positive interactions with those we serve. Lights On! is an innovative approach to demonstrate compassion and understanding for those who may need assistance in fixing a minor vehicle code violation,” said Sheriff Christina Corpus.
During the presentation of this new alliance, Corpus highlighted that this program “is a victory for everyone, as it creates safer streets and fosters positive relationships between law enforcement and the public.”
The Lights On! program also helps ensure that vehicles are displaying proper lighting equipment, creating safer roads for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians.
It is worth noting that during a traffic stop for an infraction involving a headlight, taillight, brake light or turn signal, officers may issue a voucher instead of a fine, which recipients can take to one of the pre-designated garages, which will repair or replace the light free of charge (up to $250).
During a traffic stop for a violation involving a headlight, taillight, brake light or turn signal, officers may issue a voucher instead of a fine. Photo: Lights On!Recipients can take the voucher to one of the pre-designated repair shops, which will repair or replace the light for free (up to $250). Photo: Lights On!
In this way, Light's On! reimburses the workshop for the repair or repairs.
Officials said these vouchers help reduce the financial burden that could lead to a potential downward spiral for community members in need.
“The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office is the first agency in the San Francisco Bay Area to partner with Light’s On! We look forward to working together to close gaps, heal communities, and provide a positive path to safer streets,” added Sheriff Corpus.
It is important to note that Lights On! vouchers are not available on-demand and will only be provided at a San Mateo County Sheriff's Office stop.
“We don’t just say we’re part of the community, we actively invest in it,” said Sheriff Corpus, noting that this program is in addition to the speech therapy program for children and the swimming program launched last summer.
With this program, he added, “people experiencing financial hardship are freed from the choice between repairs, paying their rent or putting food on the table; they can now work with us to rethink problem solving at a routine vehicle stop.”
Lights On! vouchers are not available on-demand and will only be handed out at a San Mateo County Sheriff's Office stop. Photo: P360
For his part, Sherman Patterson, vice president of Lights On!, highlighted that, since 2017, when the organization was founded in Minneapolis, to date, nearly 11 thousand vouchers have been redeemed throughout the country.
and 99.2% of recipients say they are satisfied or very satisfied with their interaction with the officer who gave them the voucher. satisfied or very satisfied with their interaction with the officer who gave them the voucher Lights on!
Thus, San Mateo joins the 32 cities where Lights On! already operates.
