Los expertos y medios de comunicación siguen luchando contra la desinformación sobre COVID-19 a tres años del inicio de la pandemia por dicha enfermedad.
Desde mitos sobre una supuesta creación de la enfermedad como un medio de control hasta posibles afectaciones por la aplicación de la vacuna contra la enfermedad causada por el virus SARS-CoV2 han sido parte de las noticias falsas que han circulado alrededor del mundo, lo que ha preocupado a expertos y medios de comunicación pues, incluso, han afectado las tasas de vacunación de los países.
Y es que miles de familias en Estados Unidos decidieron no vacunarse debido a rumores como la implantación de chips, la infertilidad o enfermedades del corazón y aunque los Centros para el Control y Prevención de Enfermedades —CDC, por sus siglas en inglés— han puesto a disposición de la población notas informativas para desmentir estos mitos, muchas de las personas han hecho caso omiso, pues argumentan «no creer en el gobierno y los medios de comunicación.
Además, desde el inicio de la pandemia por COVID-19, se ha hecho evidente que la mayoría de las personas hoy en día se informan a través de redes sociales como Facebook, Twitter e incluso TikTok, en las que a pesar de los esfuerzos de muchos, la desinformación sigue latente, sembrando dudas acerca de la seguridad de las vacunas, efectos secundarios de la enfermedad, entre otras cosas.
Sin embargo, la desinformación no solo ha causado un rechazo hacia las vacunas o los tratamientos médicos en contra de la enfermedad, sino también a las comunidades Asiatico-Americanas y de las Islas del Pacífico —AAPI— , generando así problemas de discriminación y racismo, pues al inicio de la pandemia, se escuchaba a las personas decir a miembros de esta población que eran los culpables de la enfermedad.
Es por esto, que las autoridades sanitarias han llamado a la población y los medios de comunicación a verificar la información que obtienen y difunden sobre el COVID-19.
«La desinformación viral es contagiosa y peligrosa», así lo declaró Cameron Hickey, en una rueda de prensa organizada por Ethnic Media Services en la que se trató el tema de la desinformación en torno a la enfermedad causada por el virus SARS-Cov2 y la comparó con la manera en que los virus se esparcen.
Además, Hickey señaló que muchas veces la información falsa se presenta a través de la manipulación y el miedo, teorías conspirativas, información incompleta, pseudociencias, comentarios de odio, falta de lógica o contenidos viejos, por lo que instó a mantenerse alerta en caso de percibir que la información que se encuentra en la web y redes sociales tenga estas características.
Y es que desde el inicio de la pandemia, han circulado alrededor del mundo noticias falsas que incluyen la muerte súbita de figuras públicas, así como números alterados de las tasas de mortalidad por la enfermedad.
Asimismo, señaló que es importante mantenerse alerta en relación con los supuestos tratamientos que dicen hacer un «detox» de la vacuna contra COVID-19, pues además de ser falsos, son peligrosos y dañinos para la salud, además de que no es necesario eliminar la inoculación pues es segura.
Advirtió también que han comenzado a circular noticias falsas relacionadas con la influenza H5N1 o gripe aviar.
Hickey finalizó señalando que es responsabilidad de todos animar a otros a estar atentos a la información falsa y reportar en caso de encontrarla, además de compartir información verídica.
Casi 33 mil unidades de vivienda asequible están actualmente atrapadas en el desarrollo previo en el Área de la Bahía y necesitan unos 7.6 mil millones de dólares para completarse, según una nueva investigación de Enterprise Community Partners sin fines de lucro de vivienda y la Autoridad de Financiamiento de la Vivienda del Área de la Bahía.
Un total de 395 proyectos de viviendas asequibles se encuentran en varias etapas de predesarrollo, y necesitan financiamiento público o privado adicional para completarse, según una investigación de las dos organizaciones, que se organizó en la base de datos del Proyecto de Vivienda Asequible del Área de la Bahía.
De esos proyectos, 282 son proyectos de nueva construcción, mientras que 67 son algún tipo de renovación o rehabilitación de un edificio existente.
Los investigadores también encontraron que el condado de Alameda tiene la mayor cantidad de proyectos en desarrollo con 106, pero el condado de Santa Clara lidera la región en unidades totales en desarrollo con 10 mil 829.
Los funcionarios estatales han determinado que el Área de la Bahía necesita aproximadamente 180 mil nuevas unidades de vivienda para 2031 para satisfacer la necesidad total de vivienda en toda la región.
«La buena noticia es que el gran tamaño de la tubería de predesarrollo les da a las ciudades, pueblos y condados del Área de la Bahía un buen comienzo para cumplir con el desafío de producción de viviendas asequibles establecido por el estado», destacó la directora de BAHFA, Kate Hartley, en un comunicado.
La vivienda asequible generalmente se financia con varios bonos y medidas de financiación, con fondos locales, estatales y federales que llenan los vacíos para cubrir los costos de desarrollo.
En lugar de esperar a que los fondos estatales o federales cubran la brecha de 7 mil 600 millones de dólares, los funcionarios de la agencia de planificación regional, la Comisión de Transporte Metropolitano, han propuesto colocar una medida de bonos en la boleta electoral de 2024 que proporcionaría entre 10 mil millones y 20 mil millones de dólares en fondos exclusivamente para viviendas asequibles.
Los legisladores estatales autorizaron a BAHFA a presentar un impuesto a las parcelas o una medida de bonos ante los votantes en un esfuerzo por recaudar fondos para viviendas asequibles cuando la legislatura creó la autoridad en 2019.
La autoridad está gobernada conjuntamente por el MTC y la Asociación de Gobiernos del Área de la Bahía.
«El Área de la Bahía enfrenta una falta crítica de viviendas asequibles, y los recursos locales, estatales y federales existentes están suscritos en exceso», subrayó Justine Marcus, directora sénior de políticas estatales y locales de Enterprise Community Partners.
«Necesitamos nuevas soluciones para garantizar que se construya cada desarrollo de vivienda planificado y que las viviendas que actualmente son asequibles sigan siendo asequibles para las generaciones venideras», agregó.
The the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors announced Tuesday the launch of a task force committed to improving the living conditions of agricultural workers residing in employer-provided housing.
The county council said the task force will ensure compliance with local and state rules and regulations affecting the health and safety of employer-provided housing for farmworkers and their families.
According to local regulations, farm operators must obtain county permits if they provide housing for five or more workers.
The announcement comes after the January 23 mass shooting, which revealed that displaced farmworkers working on those farms were living in unauthorised housing in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions.
Due to the high likelihood of other housing for unpermitted farmworkers, the total number of farmwork sites is unknown.
The task force will rely on complaints and relevant state and local laws to identify any unpermitted farmworker housing sites. The focus is on improving living conditions at all farmworker housing sites throughout the county.
“I am very grateful to have the vocal support and partnership of our county’s agricultural community leaders, as well as our county’s farmworker advocacy stakeholders, as we conduct this work,” said County Supervisor Ray Mueller, whose District 3 includes much of the county’s farmland.
“We understand that many farmers and ranchers in the county are doing things the right way, providing legally permitted farmworker housing. But the goal must be 100 percent compliance, to find those living in the shadows, who need help. This work will ensure that all farmworkers live in a safe, healthy, legally permitted home,” he added.
The task force includes the County Planning and Building Department, County Environmental Health, Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures, the County Attorney's Office and the District Attorney.
“It is imperative that these members of our community are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve and that starts with safe and healthy housing,” said County Executive Mike Callagy.
The county’s $100 million-a-year agricultural industry relies on a mix of migrant and more permanent workers whose children are enrolled in local schools. Yet farmworkers who rely on employer-provided housing are often reluctant to speak out or complain for fear of losing their jobs and homes, even if they are substandard.
Employer-owned farmworker housing is subject to regulations requiring minimum housing and safety standards.
The goal, county officials said, is for agricultural operators to voluntarily work with the county to remediate unauthorized housing and bring the homes into compliance with health and safety codes.
“If they want to comply, we will work with them,” Callagy said. “If not, we will use every tool available to ensure these members of our community have safe and healthy housing. We simply cannot delay.”
The county said it has been providing emergency housing and supportive services to 19 families displaced by the shooting since the Jan. 23 tragedy.
The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote Tuesday, February 14, 2023, on a proposal to allocate $750,000 to house displaced workers and also seek donations from the community to assist families.
The agricultural industry in San Mateo County, which stretches primarily along the coast from roughly Montara to the Santa Cruz County line, includes a mix of small and large producers.
A 2017 U.S. Department of Agriculture Census of Agriculture counted 241 total farms in San Mateo County. Of these, 224 were less than 500 acres; 17 were 500 acres or larger.
While 57 percent of farms hire agricultural labor, according to the census, data on employer-provided housing is not provided.
San Jose tops the list of the top 100 cities with the highest number of homeless young adults per capita, highlighting a growing crisis in the region.
In the heart of Silicon Valley, there are nearly 85 homeless residents ages 18 to 24 per 100,000 residents, putting San Jose at No. 1 in the United States. The study, conducted by United Way of the National Capital Area, analyzed data from the Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development in 100 major cities across the country. The study was released in late January.
The study also finds that the problem in San Jose is particularly acute. The city has nearly 50 more homeless youth per capita than the second-highest city on the list, New York City, which has roughly 36 homeless young residents per 100,000 people. Los Angeles lands at No. 3, with 32 homeless young adults per 100,000 residents.
“This highlights the need for more effective solutions to address youth homelessness in this area, particularly for youth of color,” the study said, noting the need for more affordable housing, homeless services and policies that address systemic barriers.
San Jose has seen its homeless population explode over the past decade, with more than 6,650 people living on the streets as of 2022. The city is awaiting the latest count after several hundred volunteers conducted a new count earlier this year.
According to data from last year, 28 percent of homeless San Jose residents ages 18 to 24 experienced homelessness for the first time. That has doubled since 2017.
Santa Clara County Office of Supportive Housing Director Consuelo Hernandez did not respond in time for publication.
Scott Myers-Lipton, a sociology professor at San Jose State University, said the findings are not surprising. A fall 2021 semester survey by SJSU Cares showed that 11.2 percent of students, or 624 of the 5,680 respondents, experienced homelessness at some point during the year.
“This has been a crisis for years,” Myers-Lipton told San Jose Spotlight, adding that SJSU has not done enough to address the problems. “At SJSU, it’s like pulling teeth to get them to implement the agreement to provide emergency beds.”
Myers-Lipton has worked with the homeless student coalition on campus to advocate for more resources. The biggest challenges for her students are the high cost of living and rent in San Jose, she said.
“If rent is $3,100 per apartment and you’re making $17 an hour minimum wage, how can you afford that?” Myers-Lipton said. “Students have told me that they sometimes have eight people in one apartment. This is a structural problem and it’s a shame.”
He said the city could also help address the problem by raising its minimum wage to at least match the rate in Mountain View at $18.15 an hour.
"Is that going to solve the problem? No, but it's an extra $2,000 a year," he said.
Robert Aguirre, a former homeless resident turned advocate, said the problem is nothing new in San Jose. As the wealth gap in the region continues to grow, more young people are being pushed into homelessness, even if they work full time, he said. The region also doesn’t have many resources for young people.
“There’s very little being done to target that particular population,” Aguirre told San Jose Spotlight. “There’s certainly a focus on veterans, the elderly, disabled people and children. Except for the Bill Wilson Center, there’s really not a lot going on.”
In San Jose, officials are racing to build housing and provide resources for young adults. The city, in partnership with the Bill Wilson Center, is working to transform the Pavilion Inn hotel on Fourth Street into 39 apartments for people ages 18 to 25.
City officials also voted to help fund a new affordable housing project at 1510-1540 Parkmoor Ave. that will feature 40 apartments for young adults. But those projects won’t be completed until at least 2024.
Anthony Majano, president of the Student Homeless Alliance at San Jose State University, said many of his peers have moved out of San Jose because of high rents. He said the city and state could do more to help young adults stay homeless by strengthening tenants’ rights and rent controls.
“We don’t have the right to an attorney here in San Jose, and we don’t have a lot of other resources or assistance to help us,” Majano told San Jose Spotlight. “We are incredibly vulnerable to the high cost of living here.”
State Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, is calling for lower levels of sugar in school meals, as well as reduced levels of salt and fat, along with more whole grains in California K-12 in a new Senate bill introduced Wednesday.
If passed, Senate Bill 348 would require schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to follow national school nutrition standards established by the Biden Administration on Feb. 3.
California schools will also be required to seek federal funding for child nutrition programs to ensure students can access free school meals during the summer.
Skinner previously authored legislation in 2021 that allowed California public school students to have access to two free school lunches per day.
The state official hopes that setting stricter nutritional standards for these lunches, which make up more than half of the calories some students consume in a day, could mitigate the risk of children developing diabetes, which is the most common chronic disease among schoolchildren.
“Research shows that providing nutritious meals to students will not only improve their health, but will also lead to better academic outcomes in the classroom,” Skinner added. “With our abundance of nutritious, delicious, freshly grown foods, California should have the healthiest children in the country, and SB 348 will put children’s needs first.”
Under SB 348, California public schools would comply with the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendation that school-aged children consume no more than 25 grams of added sugar per day.
“It’s time for California to make changes to reduce the burden of diabetes on future generations in our state,” said Lisa Murdock, director of advocacy for the American Diabetes Association.
El amor está en el aire, hoy muchos enamorados planean salir para iniciar los festejos por San Valentín, sin embargo, mañana es otra gran fecha en EE. UU. pues se llevará a cabo la edición 57 del Super Bowl, que en esta ocasión tendrá lugar en Arizona, donde se enfrentarán los Jefes de Kansas City contra las águilas de Philadelphia, quienes buscaran levantar el trofeo Vince Lombardi.
Entre guacamole, nachos, costillas, hamburguesas y cerveza, los fanáticos del emparrillado podrán disfrutar el partido final de esta temporada de la NFL en punto de las 15:30 horas ‒Tiempo del Pacífico‒.
Mientras alistas tu jersey, la fiesta y una buena pantalla, estas son las noticias locales del 4 al 10 de febrero que debes conocer para estar al día.
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Con la finalidad de ayudar a los residentes afectados por las tormentas recientes y a conocer la asistencia disponible de las agencias locales, estatales y federales, la Oficina del Ejecutivo del Condado de San Mateo anunció la apertura de un Centro de Recuperación por Desastre en San Mateo.
El centro operará todos los días desde el 9 hasta el 23 de febrero en el Centro de eventos del condado de San Mateo, entrada principal del estacionamiento ubicada en el 1346 de Saratoga Drive. El horario es de 9:00 a 19:00 horas, incluidos los fines de semana, en Cypress Hall.
En él, los representantes del condado, la Oficina de Servicios de Emergencia del estado y la Agencia Federal para el Manejo de Emergencias proporcionarán información como asistencia de empleo, reemplazo de registro, asistencia para veteranos, y acceso y asistencia a las necesidades funcionales.
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A man suspected of assault with a deadly weapon and elder abuse will now face hate crime charges against the AAPI community, according to the San Francisco District Attorney's Office.
Armando Sánchez Vázquez, de 30 años, es sospechoso de agredir a tres individuos asiático-estadounidenses, uno de los cuales tiene 73 años, en Dolores Park el 30 de enero. Durante el asalto, el victimario supuestamente arrojó una rejilla de ladrillo y metal a los individuos.
La denuncia penal alega que los individuos fueron atacados por su raza. Vázquez se encuentra actualmente bajo custodia. Se declaró inocente en su lectura de cargos el 1 de febrero. Su próxima cita en la corte está fijada para el 15 de febrero, para una audiencia preliminar.
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On February 4th at 9:00 a.m., members of the Redwood City community gathered at the City Council Chambers to propose and elect candidates for the next Police Chief.
City Manager Melissa Stevenson Diaz led the meeting in person and virtually, where participants asked questions and gave their opinions about the characteristics that the next person to take office should have.
Los principales puntos que se discutieron giraron en torno a las siguientes preguntas: ¿Cuáles son las cualidades más importantes que debe de tener el siguiente jefe de Policía? ¿Qué es lo que va bien en el Departamento de Policía de Redwood City? ¿Cuáles son las principales preocupaciones que hay en torno al Departamento de Policía de Redwood City? y si ¿Existe alguna consideración especial que deba de cumplir el siguiente jefe de Policía?
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Los festejos del Año Nuevo Lunar Chino se llevaron a cabo este cuatro de febrero en las inmediaciones del Courthouse Square en la calle de Broadway del centro de Redwood City.
The event was celebrated by children, young people and parents who accompanied the participants, where they met the main administrative, artistic and political figures of the city.
Las celebraciones iniciaron a las 11:00 horas con la participación del Centro Cultural Shaolin así como distintas organizaciones participantes como Sing Tao Entertainment, California Kung Fu and Tai Chi, Orion Mandarin Immersion, Playthrive School, Taiko Soba, Happy social Dance Association y Rising Phoenix Lion Dance.
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Last Saturday, February 4th, at six in the evening and in a sold-out Casa Círculo Cultural offered a tribute to the Mexican singer, composer and actor Agustín Lara, better known as “El flaco de oro”.
Under the title "My Girlfriend, Loneliness," a four-act play created by Mexican writer Irma Gallo, the Redwood City audience was delighted with the performance of the most emblematic life and work that Agustín Lara composed for his greatest loves.
Canciones como «Veracruz», «Granada», «Arráncame la vida», «María Bonita» y «Solamente una vez» fueron interpretadas por el multipremiado tenor Alonso Sicairos acompañado en el piano por Jeniffer Peringer mientras que la actriz Mónica Zárate y el actor Roberto Cruz dieron vida a personajes como Esther Rivas, Angelina Bruschetta, María Félix y Rocío Duran, todas ellas, grandes amores de Agustín Lara.
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Eleven people were displaced by a house fire in East Palo Alto early Thursday morning, the Fire Department reported.
The fire was reported shortly after 5:30 a.m. at a two-story home in the 2200 block of Pulgas Avenue, according to the Menlo Park Fire Protection District.
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El proyecto del Centro para la Creatividad en Redwood City parece estar tomando forma, pues ha concluido la primera fase del estudio de viabilidad para este magno espacio, en el cual se determinó la necesidad de un recinto para elevar la enseñanza y el aprendizaje de diversas formas del arte.
After a community survey was conducted in 2021 indicating the need and desire for an art center by community members, Phase 1 of the feasibility study began, which was completed and delivered to the Steering Committee of the Center for Creativity on January 9.
The research results clearly indicated that artists and arts organizations in and around Redwood City need accessible, affordable, dedicated space to create, teach, learn, exhibit, rehearse, and perform, the committee noted.
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Fernando Escartiz has been decorating the festivities and the beginning of the Chinese New Year in Redwood City with his artistic work for six years now.
2023 was no exception as he was the creator of the famous Rabbit that captivated attendees at the festivities last Saturday, February 4, at Courthouse Square on Broadway Street.
Using materials such as wood, acrylic, and resins, Escartiz created the rabbit figure in the shape of a disk or moon, which is often reproduced in other formats and materials such as stickers that are placed on the windows of shops and houses to attract good luck.
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The San Mateo County Coalition for Safe Schools and Communities launched its naloxone toolkit in December 2022 to help prepare school staff to safely use naloxone to reverse opioid overdoses that may occur on their campuses.
The county council said several area school districts and private schools have already completed the onboarding process and received a supply of naloxone — also known by the brand name Narcan — while many others are working to complete the steps required to participate in the program.
Naloxone is a life-saving medication that can reverse an opioid overdose while having little to no other effect on a person if opioids are not present in their system.
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La Cámara de Comercio del Condado de San Mateo invitó a todos aquellos interesados en acudir a la fiesta de inauguración del primer dispensario legal de cannabis de la Península: Embarc Redwood City.
La séptima tienda de boarding en el estado está ubicada en el 1870 de Broadway, en Redwood City, en donde se realizó este jueves un pequeño corte de listón con autoridades locales, mientras que la gran fiesta de apertura se llevará a cabo este sábado 11 de febrero, de 9:00 a 16:00 horas.
According to Lauren Carpenter, CEO of Embarc, this will be “the first legal cannabis business to open its doors in this community, a testament to our team’s ability to deliver on our promises and our commitment to Redwood City.”
Audrey Hsu's successful shoe drive for homeless people, organized as part of a program sponsored by student travel company Rustic Pathways and Stanford University's Deliberative Democracy Lab, grew out of her interest in environmental sustainability. (Photo by Alan Hsu)
Two Bay Area teenagers' concerns about climate change recently led them to consider the less obvious effects of extreme weather, which resulted in dozens of homeless men, women and children getting shoes.
High school students Hanna Johnson and Audrey Hsu organized a shoe drive late last year as part of the Climate Leaders Fellowship, a free online forum for students interested in working together to combat the harmful effects of the Earth’s changing weather patterns in their respective communities.
Audrey Hsu, of Fremont, (left) on a project with Hanna Johnson, of Antioch, (right) collected shoes that were donated to organizations serving the homeless for their Climate Leaders Scholarship Project. (Alan Hsu via Bay City News)
The two-month collaboration was organized by student travel company Rustic Pathways, the foundation he created to fund social and environmental projects around the world, and Stanford University's Deliberative Democracy Lab.
“I’m very passionate about everything related to the environment,” said Hsu, as the 15-year-old freshman at St. Francis High School in Mountain View checked off a list of activities she’d organized in the name of environmental sustainability before speaking about the dangers microplastics pose to Bay Area waterways.
She signed up for the fellowship last fall to find out what other students are doing about climate change and ended up speaking with teenagers in Utah, Korea and Singapore.
Open to ages 14-18, the Climate Leaders Fellowship has teens conceive, carry out, and measure the results of their community service projects while sharing ideas with peers in other parts of the world who are doing similar work and receiving guidance from Rustic Pathways and Stanford University staff members in regular Zoom sessions.
Established in 2021, the fellowship saw 170 high school students participate in the latest round, connecting to remote discussions from across the United States, as well as countries including Myanmar, Thailand, India, France, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico.
Hsu responded when Johnson, a junior at Deer Valley High School, sent a group message asking if anyone wanted to join her in brainstorming ways they could mitigate the effects of climate change at the grassroots level.
The couple began considering the possibilities: How about contributing to reforestation efforts as rising temperatures turn vast swaths of California forests into fuel for wildfires?
Alternatively, they could distribute cooling towels or plastic water bottles to make homeless people feel more comfortable during the summer heat.
In the end, Johnson and Hsu settled on a variation on that theme.
"Shoes can provide not only warmth for your feet when it's cold, but also a barrier from the scorching pavement," said Johnson, 16.
Though she regularly volunteers at Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland and has her sights set on majoring in a science field at the University of California, Berkeley, Johnson admits she didn't know much about climate change when she began the fellowship and hadn't considered how extreme temperatures might affect homeless populations.
Once they settled on an approach, she and Hsu worked out the logistics.
Johnson set up a collection bin on campus, as well as one at the Antioch community center and a third at the dojo where he earned his black belt in karate.
Meanwhile, Hsu canvassed her Fremont neighborhood on foot, leaving more than 100 flyers asking donors to place shoes by her mailbox for pickup.
The Climate Leaders Scholarship Project resulted in abundant shoe donations from people in Antioch and Fremont. (Photo courtesy of Rustic Pathways)
And over the course of several weeks, people responded: Hsu returned to find about three dozen pairs waiting for her, while Johnson says her followers brought garbage bags full of footwear to the dojo.
Sneakers, baby shoes, high heels and work boots – in total, the duo collected 155 pairs.
Johnson turned his loot over to a county-run service that finds permanent housing and provides basic supplies for those living on the streets.
Hsu dropped hers off at a men's shelter in San Jose, which in turn shared some of the donations with a nearby women's shelter.
“It ended up working out well,” Johnson said. “I was very happy with what I ended up with.”
Imelda Bautista busca acercar programas de apoyo a la comunidad del este de San José a través de la asociación META ‒Mujeres Empresarias Tomando Acción‒ en mancuerna con la Oficina de Participación Comunitaria de Stanford Medicine.
Foto: Imelda Bautista integrante de META en asociación con Stanford Medicine
La idea de ayuda comenzó durante de la pandemia por COVID-19 en donde Bautista, de la mano de un grupo de aproximadamente once mujeres estaban empeñadas en ayudar a su comunidad.
Así fue que comenzaron a informar a la población del Este de San José sobre los programas de vacunación así como de la realización de pruebas antígenas.
Con el paso del tiempo, el programa de ayuda ha ido beneficiándose de recursos que destinan a programas para la población. Tal es el caso del contrato que mantienen con el departamento de Salud Pública del Condado de Santa Clara, con el que comenzaron a informar a al gente sobre los riesgos de salud durante la pandemia por COVID-19.
Imelda Bautista señaló a Península 360 Press que el grupo de mujeres de META fueron las primeras en tomar acción tocando de puerta en puerta ofreciendo información sobre cuidados.
Actualmente, son tres integrantes de META quienes trabajan de la mano con el programa de Participación Comunitaria de Stanford Medicine hasta el mes de junio del presente año. Ellas son Maribel Ruiz, Luz María Mendoza y la propia Imelda Bautista.
Dentro de este programa las promotoras se dedican ciertos ejes principales como por ejemplo la realización de pruebas COVID, generar y dar seguimiento a la programación de vacunas COVID, proporcionar información y seguimiento para las personas interesadas en obtener la cobertura de seguro médico y el asesorar la gestión de CalFresh, un programa de estampillas de alimentos en el estado de California así como el de proporcionar información sobre salud mental.
De igual forma, comenta Bautista que de parte de la Oficina de Participación Comunitaria de Stanford Medicine han recibido capacitación que ha sido clave para poderse acercar todavía más a la población gracias a los talleres que Stanford Medicine les ha impartido sobre cómo acercarse a las personas, cómo proporcionar información adecuada a niñas, niños, jóvenes y adultos sobre los servicios de salud que proporcionan.
Para más información sobre el servicio de promotorado de salud así como de las pruebas de antígenos y vacunas COVID la población puede acudir a la dirección 1775 Story Road, San José California 95122, Suit 120 ó bien contactar a las promotoras vía su Página de Facebook.
Integrantes de META: Mujeres Empresarias Tomando Acción en mancuerna con la Oficina de Participación Comunitaria de Stanford Medicine. Foto: META
Remedios Gómez Arnau, Consul General of San Francisco, California.
The Mexican Consul General in San Francisco, Remedios Gómez Arnau, said that she does not have updated information on the repatriation of the bodies of the victims of the shooting in HMB (Half Moon Bay), Marciano Martínez and José Romero, who died on January 24 during the shooting near a farm.
In an interview with Peninsula 360 Press, the official said she was unaware of the status of the procedures for the bodies to be returned and released to Mexican soil.
He emphasized that financial assistance for the affected relatives is, first and foremost, in the hands of the U.S. authorities, since the crime for which the Oaxacans unfortunately lost their lives must be brought to justice and resolved first in that country.
However, he mentioned that the Mexican consulate is working alongside the authorities of the state of California, as well as the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, to support the affected families.
The consul said that the aid provided by the state of California is housing for one year, while the Mexican authorities have only provided support to qualifying relatives with the help of lawyers for other types of emergency relief such as financial, food, consular documentation, filling out paperwork, and advice on funeral homes that qualify for the aid programs offered by the San Francisco consulate.
The consul emphasized that she first seeks justice in the United States for the Mexicans and secondly that the reparations to which the affected families are entitled are granted. She mentioned that the consulate is following up on the trial in the case of the shooting in which the Mexicans unfortunately lost their lives.
"First, we seek justice for the Mexicans, and second, we seek reparations to which the families may be entitled. There are several avenues in which we support them," he said.
Regarding funeral expenses, Arnau said that local authorities will cover the costs. "We have agreements -with some funeral homes- so that prices are more accessible for Mexicans when they have an issue like this."
He added that local authorities are currently creating a support fund for affected families, but that it is up to the authorities of Half Moon Bay and San Mateo County to manage these funds.
Gómez Arnau promised to ask the Department of Consular Protection about the status of the release of the bodies of the deceased to Mexico.
During a meeting with the Mexican community in Redwood City and its surrounding areas, held on February 9 by Remedios Gómez Arnau, Consul General of San Francisco, California, and Jaime Vázquez Bracho, General Director of Consular Services of Mexico, the aim was to strengthen the various services that the consular network in the country currently offers and to listen to the doubts and concerns about various immigration issues on the part of the Mexican diaspora.
From left to right: Mireya Magaña Gálvez, Communications, Press, Media, and Outreach at the Consulate General of Mexico in San José; Remedios Gómez Arnau, Consul General of San Francisco, California; Verónica Escámez, Director of Casa Círculo Cultural; Jaime Vázquez Bracho, Director General of Consular Services; and Jeff Gee, Mayor of Redwood City.
Present at the event were Redwood City Mayor Jeff Gee, Verónica Escámez, director of Casa Círculo Cultural, as well as Mireya Magaña Gálvez, from Communications, Press, Media, and Diffusion of the Consulate General of Mexico in San José, who chaired the meeting.
Among the concerns raised by attendees were those regarding appointment dates at the Mexican consulate, the issuance of visas, the issuance of birth certificates, as well as the issuance of credentials from the National Electoral Institute and the National Institute for Older Adults (INAPAM).
Audience and officials from the Consulate of San Francisco, California, at Casa Círculo Cultural. Photo: Constanza Mazzotti.
However, during the session, more specific questions arose which Mexicans had the opportunity to express, such as: difficulty scheduling appointments online, losing appointments due to system errors, problems requesting dual citizenship procedures for minors and adults.
Added to this was the need for more mobile consulates, greater kindness and good treatment from the Consulate officials in San Francisco, as well as information on what to do if you have properties registered in Mexico and how to claim land from the United States.
Andre Vargas of the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs at the Consulate General of Mexico in San Francisco responds to concerns from Mexican attendees.
Likewise, attendees took the floor to denounce the illegal sale of appointments for the Consulate with which fake agencies seek to benefit from the misinformation that exists among the Mexican population abroad regarding the procedures that can be carried out.
Jaime Vázquez Bracho, Director General of Consular Services, answers questions from Mexican nationals Photo: Constanza Mazzotti.
In response, Gómez Arnau and Vázquez Bracho said that there are no agencies that work for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and that the Mexican population should refer exclusively to the Mexican official services.
Modernization, inclusion and implementation of six indigenous languages: Two of the challenges of the Mexican Consulate for 2023.
Jaime Vázquez Bracho, General Director of Consular Services, in an interview with P360P mentioned that one of the biggest challenges facing the Mexican Consulate in San Francisco is to continue modernizing, since they are moving to much more efficient systems that in the future will allow part of the procedures to be done online.
He also mentioned that they will also have telephone services that will be available in six indigenous languages: Nahuatl, Otomi, Mixtec, Zapotec and two other variants of Nahuatl.
Likewise, the new reforms are intended to effectively serve people with disabilities and older adults and to implement programs with a gender perspective.
Jaime Vázquez Bracho, Director General of Consular Services
Naturalization program for children of Mexicans
In turn, the Director General of Consular Services mentioned that every child of a Mexican who is born in North American territory has the right to Mexican nationality since it was in 2021 that Mexican law modified the limit of the degree of right to nationality by descent.
He mentioned that the process is relatively simple, however, the complicated part is that the consulates are in high demand. This is because more than 25 percent of the Mexican population in the United States is in the state of California, which makes the need for paperwork multiply, he said.
Among the problems that some of the participants raised was the need to improve the treatment of their Mexican compatriots by public officials working at the San Francisco consulate.
During the talk held at Casa Círculo Cultural, the officials clarified that consular appointments are issued exclusively on Fridays after 12 noon and that these are sold out in approximately two hours at least, so they encouraged attendees to make the necessary appointments as soon as possible.
As part of the questions asked during the meeting with consular officials, participants passed around cards with questions and concerns. Photo: Constanza Mazzotti.Among the issues that some of the participants requested was the need to place more mobile consulates.
Officials who also attended the meeting included Andre Vargas, from the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs of the Consulate General of Mexico in San Francisco; Adolfo González, in charge of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the Consulate General of Mexico in San Francisco; as well as Hansel Walker from the Visión y Compromiso Organization.
Attendees received information on how to schedule appointments within the framework of the Saturday sessions, which must be scheduled on Tuesdays or by calling +1 (424) 309 0009 or contacting www.citas.sre.gob.mx I to www.consulmex.sre.gob.mx/sanfrancisco.
In addition, the Facebook page of the San Francisco consulate was shared, where people can find out about the following consular events. https://www.facebook.com/ConsulmexSFCO.
Carlos Martinez Velazquez, General Director of Infonavit.
Mexican migrants could obtain Infonavit credit from the United States to purchase a home in Mexico from their place of residence, according to the general director of the Institute of the National Fund for Workers' Housing - Infonavit - Carlos Martínez Velázquez.
During his participation in the daily morning press conference of the President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, he highlighted that for the benefit of all immigrants in the United States, Infonavit, together with the Ministry of Labor and the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), have made a plan to address their social security.
In this regard, the Mexican official reported that this Thursday, November 9, in the Housing and Social Security Commission of the Chamber of Deputies, a reform to the Law was ruled on, which aims to allow immigrants to register with Infonavit and be eligible for credit from the institute, as was done with Social Security.
Carlos Martinez Velazquez, General Director of Infonavit.
Martínez Velázquez recalled that the Infonavit sin Fronteras program was established in 2019, where immigrants have been able to pay their own loan, that of their partner, or that of a friend or family member from the United States, through remittance companies with which the institute has an agreement.
"As a result of 2019 and a question that arose here ‒the morning press conference‒, we established the Infonavit sin Fronteras program. With it, immigrants from the United States with any remittance company can deposit their family member's credit here in Mexico," he said.
"Infonavit absorbs the commissions from remittance companies and has obtained 492 million pesos through this, which is equivalent to 10,000 homes being paid for from the United States here in Mexico - figures from January 2019 to November 2022 -," he stressed.
According to official figures from Infonavit, from January to November 2022 alone, compatriots in this country have paid 134 million 584 thousand 679 pesos, which corresponds to six thousand 011 loans, and which suggests a saving of two million 215 thousand 408 pesos in commissions.
It should be noted that, to make the payment, people must provide the 10-digit credit number at any branch of the four remittance companies with which Infonavit has an agreement: Dolex, Maxitransfers, Intercambio Express and Barri Financial Group.
With Infonavit Sin Fronteras, the cost of the commission for receiving the funds in Mexico is absorbed by Infonavit, Martínez Velázquez recalled.
Carlos Martinez Velazquez, General Director of Infonavit.
On the other hand, he recalled that since this Thursday, February 9, the Universal Shared Responsibility Window was reopened, a program through which people who have an Infonavit credit can convert it from Times Minimum Wage to pesos and obtain savings on their balances.
And the fact is that, every year the amount of credit debt grows due to different factors such as inflation and impact, the increase in the minimum wage and the update of the units of measurement - UMA and UMI - so it is important that those who have a credit make their change because they still have time. For this 2023 alone, the increase in credit grew 5.2 percent. For example, if the balance of your credit was one million pesos, as of January 11, it increased to one million 52 thousand pesos.
So far, 2.4 million people still have their credit in times of minimum wage, so the Institute calls for making the change as soon as possible so as not to affect their economy. The change can be made via the Internet at https://micuenta.infonavit.org.mx.
Those interested in learning about Infonavit credits, procedures and services can access the website in a simple and clear way https://infonavitfacil.mx or call Infonatel at 011 52 55 9171 5050.
