A workers' strike at Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City ended after 11 days when union members approved a new four-year contract with management last Friday.
With 64 percent voting in favor, union members approved a tentative agreement reached the day before with hospital owner Dignity Health, according to a news release from the union, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 57.
Union members had asked for more than the 4 percent pay increase they said they had been offered.
The union's press release did not include details of the new contract, but said, "The recently ratified contract includes major achievements that improve working conditions, wages and patient care."
In turn, he said, “it ensures an increase in certified nursing assistant staffing levels, which will improve both the quality of care provided and workplace safety. Management can no longer unilaterally increase employee health insurance costs, a first for a Dignity Health hospital and a major step toward financial stability for workers.”
Dignity Health officials were not immediately available for comment Monday evening.
Hundreds of workers, including nursing assistants, surgical technicians, respiratory therapists, housekeepers, cooks and others, began picketing at the hospital and Dignity Health headquarters on July 18.
A week later, Dignity officials threatened to cut workers' health benefits, saying in an emailed statement that the hospital system's health plan requires employees to work a full schedule and confirmed that those on strike would lose access to the benefits plan:
“Employees who do not meet the requirements of the benefit plan program are removed from the benefit plans at the beginning of each month. In August, this will include employees who stopped working in conjunction with the AFSCME indefinite strike.”
Dignity Health officials also said in the email that employees would get their medical care back once they resume work. The union said the move was unnecessary and designed to break the strike.
In the union's Monday news release, Jackie Garcia, a surgical technician at Sequoia Hospital, called the new contract a victory for current and future patients and staff.
“This is going to be a better, stronger, safer place to seek and provide care.”
On Monday afternoon, Governor Gavin Newsom decretó a California en Estado de Emergencia por viruela símica, como parte de la respuesta continua del estado al brote de dicha enfermedad y para reforzar los esfuerzos de vacunación para los californianos.
«California está trabajando con urgencia en todos los niveles del gobierno para frenar la propagación de la viruela símica, aprovechando nuestras pruebas sólidas, el rastreo de contactos y las asociaciones comunitarias fortalecidas durante la pandemia para garantizar que las personas en mayor riesgo sean nuestro enfoque para las vacunas, el tratamiento y la divulgación», dijo Newsom.
«Seguiremos trabajando con el gobierno federal para asegurar más vacunas, crear conciencia sobre la reducción del riesgo y apoyar a la comunidad LGBTQ+ en la lucha contra la estigmatización», agregó.
La proclamación permitirá que el personal de los Servicios Médicos de Emergencia ‒EMS, por sus siglas en inglés‒ administre vacunas contra la viruela del simio aprobadas por la Administración de Alimentos y Medicamentos ‒FDA, por sus siglas en inglés‒ de manera similar a la autorización legal promulgada recientemente para que los farmacéuticos administren vacunas.
La respuesta del estado a la viruela del símica, dijo, se basa en la infraestructura desarrollada durante la pandemia de COVID-19 para implementar clínicas de vacunas y garantizar un alcance inclusivo y específico en asociación con organizaciones locales y comunitarias.
El mes pasado, los líderes de salud pública de California instaron a los socios federales poner a disposición del estado más dosis de vacunas lo más rápido posible para que el estado pueda ampliar la elegibilidad a exposiciones tanto confirmadas como probables, así como a personas que corren un alto riesgo de contraer el virus.
A la fecha, el estado ha distribuido más de 25 mil dosis de vacunas y hará asignaciones adicionales en los próximos días y semanas, precisó un comunicado emitido por el gobierno este lunes. Sin embargo, en total, California ha recibido 61 mil dosis.
Cabe destacar que el condado de Los Ángeles ha recibido una asignación separada de vacunas.
El estado también está apoyando los esfuerzos generales de vacunación en colaboración con los lugareños, lo que incluye ayudar a proporcionar personal y clínicas móviles, además de asignar las dosis a los departamentos de salud locales en función de una serie de factores, incluida la cantidad de casos de viruela símica informados en un área y la estimación de las poblaciones en riesgo.
Desde el 28 de julio, el estado había ampliado su capacidad de prueba para procesar más de mil por semana.
Los líderes de los laboratorios de salud pública del estado han estado trabajando con los laboratorios académicos, comerciales y de salud pública locales para garantizar que la capacidad de prueba esté cada vez más disponible y coordinada con la respuesta de salud pública.
El Departamento de Salud Pública de California ‒CDPH, por sus siglas en inglés‒ también está ampliando las opciones de tratamiento. El acceso al medicamento antiviral recetado tecovirimat ‒TPOXX‒ que se usa para tratar la viruela «del mono» es limitado, pero ahora se puede administrar en más de 30 instalaciones y proveedores en todo el estado, puntualizó el documento.
Finalmente, destacó que el estado continúa con los esfuerzos de divulgación y educación para informar a los californianos sobre la viruela símica y las formas de limitar su propagación, y puntualizó que ha organizado múltiples seminarios web para departamentos de salud locales, organizaciones comunitarias y otros proveedores de atención médica y ha asistido a varios ayuntamientos y reuniones comunitarias para hablar y escuchar a los líderes locales y públicos.
A su vez, CDPH también está programando sesiones de escucha con la comunidad LGBTQ+ y está ejecutando campañas publicitarias en varias plataformas de medios digitales para promover la conciencia e involucrar a las comunidades con mayor riesgo de contraer la viruela del mono.
Cabe destacar que apenas el 30 de julio, el estado de Nueva York decretó Estado de Emergencia por la misma enfermedad, mientras que la ciudad de San Francisco lo hizo el pasado 28 de julio.
Un hombre de San Francisco recibió 60 días de cárcel y dos años de libertad condicional supervisada el viernes por un grave delito de odio contra una familia que vestía camisetas de «Black Lives Matter», a quienes amenazó, anunció la Oficina del Fiscal de Distrito del Condado de San Mateo.
Steven L. Cibotti, de 56 años, estaba comiendo en un restaurante en Burlingame el 7 de junio de 2020 que también estaba siendo visitado por una familia de cinco personas que acababa de participar en una marcha de Black Lives Matter en San Francisco.
La familia estaba compuesta por tres niños de siete, cinco y dos años, y vestían camisetas de Black Lives Matter, dijo el fiscal.
Cibotti supuestamente estaba intoxicado y se acercó a la mesa de la familia y gritó «las vidas azules importan» y empujó su mesa. El padre de la familia le dijo a Cibotti que no podía hablarles así y luego el acusado supuestamente gritó: «Jódanse, si tuviera un arma, les dispararía a todos».
El hoy sentenciado no refutó un delito grave de odio por medio de amenazas graves y recibió una sentencia de dos años de libertad condicional supervisada, 60 días en la cárcel con un día de crédito por el tiempo cumplido y 120 horas de servicio público.
El culpable también debe abstenerse de consumir alcohol y sustancias controladas, incluida la marihuana, estar sujeto a registro e incautación, no estar en posesión de armas ni municiones, y tiene una orden de no contacto con las víctimas.
San Joaquin County still faces significant challenges in COVID-19, as the growing diversity in its area ranks 31st out of 58 in the number of adults who have completed primary vaccination against the disease.
San Joaquin County is one of the smallest counties in terms of area in the state of California, however, it is also one of the most populated with a population of approximately 970 thousand people, in addition to having great cultural diversity since around 30 languages are spoken in its territory.
In addition to being one of the most culturally diverse counties, it has one of the highest COVID-19 death rates compared to other rural areas in the state, with 2,270 deaths.
San Joaquin County Public Health Officer Dr. Maggie Park spoke at an informational panel hosted by Ethnic Media Services that “diversity has been a challenge” because in this county there are different populations that health campaigns must reach.
And the fifth wave of COVID-19 has affected thousands of people, leaving, as of July 28 of this year, 187,934 confirmed cases - in this county - with the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, however, Park noted that "the number is much higher because here we are only counting people who had a PCR test done in laboratories," so this figure does not count those who do it at home.
In San Joaquin County, only 65.6 percent of the population has been fully vaccinated, due to the fact that the area is mostly inhabited by agricultural workers, which has made it difficult for the community to receive the inoculation, so authorities have sought ways to increase these numbers through campaigns and events.
“San Joaquin County is a working-class county with limited access to health services,” said José Rodríguez, president of El Concilio, a nonprofit organization in California that supports marginalized, minority and low-income communities, who also commented that since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic they knew that the Latino community would be one of the most affected by the disease.
Rodríguez also pointed out that one of the strategies that has worked best in this area has been to bring vaccination and health campaigns to the communities, because in his words "for people to participate we have to go to where they are instead of waiting for them to come to the vaccination center."
Language, one of the major barriers for the communities
Language, information and technology barriers have been one of the reasons why vaccination rates in this California county have been so low, as Kevin Sunga, Health Director of Little Manila Rising, commented that these resources "are not enough for them to access"
She also stressed that information about the COVID-19 vaccine is not available in sufficient languages for the communities, as there is no information translated into the dialects that some of the county's residents speak.
He also pointed out that part of the population in this area does not have access to a cell phone or the internet, so the difficulties in obtaining information and making an appointment to get vaccinated are greater.
HengSothea Ung, program director for Apsara – serving Cambodian refugees – said that websites for scheduling an appointment to receive the vaccine or obtaining information are not in enough languages to accommodate the diversity that exists in the area. Although they are available in English, Spanish and Korean, they do not consider those who speak Cambodian or another language, which is why there is a lot of misinformation.
“People who don’t speak English can’t access the truth, they can’t know what the real information is from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the California Department of Public Health – CDC and CDPH,” HengSothea said.
Myths hinder vaccination
Misinformation has been one of the biggest problems in relation to COVID-19, as various social media networks have contributed to the spread of myths that cause fear in those who are thinking about receiving the inoculation.
"We have seen that social media plays an equal role in informing and misinforming the population," Sunga said.
Infertility, cancer, chips, heart problems, effects on pregnant women, effectiveness and even spiritual and religious issues have caused a large part of the population to give up receiving the COVID-19 vaccine and although the CDC and various organizations have launched campaigns to combat misinformation, there are those who do not have access to these.
José Rodríguez commented that one of the priorities is also to inform and educate the population, so that they can make an informed decision about the vaccine, since people decide not to receive the inoculation out of fear.
Call to pay attention to homeless people
Zonnie Thomson, a community organizer with Faith in the Valley in Stockton, said that since the COVID-19 pandemic, the problem of homelessness in the U.S. has increased, and the majority of this vulnerable population does not have access to medical services, so these communities were among the most affected by the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
"I've had COVID-19 five times, three times when I was homeless," said Nick Worrell, who until recently was homeless.
He commented that one of the many difficulties that this vulnerable population faces is the possibility of accessing inoculation and boosters, since many times they do not have proof that they have already received the first dose.
"When you're homeless, it's hard to keep a document, something that proves that you've been vaccinated," he said.
In this regard, Worrell called on authorities and organizations to find solutions for this community, since many of the people who live on the streets do not have easy access to vaccination campaigns because they are sometimes very far from where they live, so he pointed out that one option could be to take the campaigns to the camps.
In this regard, Thomson noted that the number of homeless people in San Joaquin is very high, however there have not been many efforts to bring vaccination campaigns to these communities. "I have seen only one effort in 2021, since then I have not seen any other follow-up," he said.
"They need protection from extreme temperatures, they have many mental health issues, they cannot access different resources, they deal with very high prices to buy food or water," he said.
Instagram is removing recent updates following criticism from users, after the social network that was initially characterized by prioritizing photos increasingly resembled its rival TikTok.
Criticism grew louder after the change to full-screen format and because the platform now showed much more recommended content from accounts that are not followed by the user.
In response, a spokesperson for Meta, Instagram's parent company, said in a statement that, based on its findings and community feedback, the full-screen test will be paused in order to explore other options, and recommendations in the feed will be reduced "in order to improve the quality of your experience."
"We recognize that changes to the app can be an adjustment, and while we believe Instagram needs to evolve as the world changes, we want to take the time to make sure we get this right," the statement said.
The company also said a test version of the app that opened photos and videos in full screen will be phased out over the next two weeks, and it will also reduce the number of recommended posts on the app as it works to improve its algorithms.
“I’m glad we took a risk. If we don’t fail from time to time, it’s because we’re not thinking big or bold enough,” Mosseri told the outlet. “But we definitely need to take a big step back and regroup. “When we’ve learned a lot, we come back with some kind of new idea or iteration. So we’re going to work on that.”
Among those complaining about the changes were reality stars, entrepreneurs and influencers Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner, two of the platform's most popular users, who publicly criticized the "TikTokification" of Instagram.
Through posts, both urged to “Make Instagram Instagram again.”
This was of no small concern to Instagram executives, who criticized Snapchat's redesign in 2018, causing its shares to plummet.
Just last July 26, Mosseri noted in a video via his Twitter account that a number of different changes were being experimented with in the app, and that if users were experiencing a new full-screen version of Feed, it was just a test.
“It’s a test for a small percentage of people. And the idea is that a full-screen experience could be a more fun and interesting experience, but I also want to be clear that it’s not the end yet and we’re going to have to get it to a good place if we’re going to ship it to the rest of the Instagram community.”
He made it clear that photo sharing would continue to be supported. However, “I need to be honest, I think more and more of Instagram will move to video over time. We see this even if we don’t change anything, we see this even if you just look at the chronological footers, if you look at what people are sharing on Instagram, that shift will be more to video over time.”
However, things have not worked out well for users and Instagram has had no choice but to "back off."
Photo: NHS England High Consequence Infectious Disease Network
New York declared a state of emergency over monkeypox, after its governor, Kathy Hochul, stated that as of July 29, the state had already accumulated 1,383 cases.
The declaration of a statewide disaster emergency, he said, will serve to strengthen ongoing efforts to address the monkeypox outbreak.
"This Executive Order allows us to respond more quickly and enables healthcare professionals to take additional steps that will help vaccinate more New Yorkers," the governor said on Twitter.
She noted that more than one in four monkeypox cases in the country are in New York, which currently has a disproportionate impact on at-risk groups.
"We are working around the clock to secure more vaccines, expand testing capacity and educate New Yorkers on how to stay safe," he stressed.
In mid-July, the state launched a cell phone information system on the disease, which provides the service in both English and Spanish. Those interested simply need to text the words “MONKEYPOX” or “MONKEYPOXESP” to the local phone number 81336.
By providing a ZIP code, New Yorkers can also opt in to receive location-based messages, which may include information about vaccines and care in their area.
For its part, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced in the third week of July that Sonic Healthcare USA (Sonic) will begin testing for monkeypox using the federal agency's orthopoxvirus test, which detects most orthopoxvirus viruses unrelated to smallpox, including monkeypox.
The New York Department of Health said that while New Yorkers should not be alarmed, everyone should stay informed about monkeypox. This means understanding the symptoms, how it spreads and what to do if you are exposed.
It should be noted that last week, San Francisco Mayor London Breed also declared a State of Emergency for monkeypox, which went into effect on Monday, August 1, an action she said will allow the city to prepare and dedicate resources to prevent the spread of the disease.
As of Thursday, July 28, there were 261 diagnosed cases of monkeypox in San Francisco, a figure that places it as one of the epicenters of the disease in the country, as it registered more cases than most states.
Breed noted that while this virus affects everyone equally, there is a higher risk of exposure in the LGBTQ+ community, which accounts for nearly 90 percent of cases in San Francisco.
He also pointed out that the Latino community represents 30 percent of the cases, despite being only 15 percent of the city's population.
Monkeypox is spread through close physical contact between people. This means that anyone can contract the disease. However, according to the current outbreak, certain populations are affected by monkeypox more than others, including men who have sex with men.
Based on previous monkeypox outbreaks around the world, some groups may also be at higher risk of serious outcomes if they contract the virus, including people with weakened immune systems, the elderly, young children under 8 years old, and pregnant people.
Symptoms of monkeypox may include:
Rashes, bumps, or blisters on or around the genitals or other areas such as the hands, feet, chest, or face.
Flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache, muscle aches, chills, and fatigue. These symptoms may occur before or after the rash appears, or not at all.
Monkeypox is spread through close physical contact between individuals. This includes:
Direct contact with simian pox sores or rashes on a person who has the virus.
Respiratory droplets or oral fluids from someone with the disease, particularly for those who have close contact with someone or are around them for a long period of time.
It can also be transmitted through contact with objects or fabrics (clothing, bedding, towels) that have been used by someone with monkeypox.
The second half of the year has started off strong in terms of news and these are the local news from July 23 to 29 that you should know to stay up to date.
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Redwood City Mayor, Giselle Hale He dropped out of his campaign for the California Assembly due to political attacks against him, which have affected his family's mental health and happiness.
Through her Twitter account, the mayor detailed that the "difficult" decision was made during a "much-needed" vacation, and "during that time off, I saw how deeply this career impacted the mental health and happiness of my husband and our two daughters."
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Google has already donated $128 million to housing projects in the Bay Area, after the tech giant announced three years ago a $250 million investment fund to benefit 18 organizations in this part of the state.
These 128 million dollars, which represent just over half of the agreed amount, have so far supported the development of 23 affordable housing projects.
It is worth noting that the 250 million dollars will allow for the construction of at least 5 thousand affordable homes, and are part of a commitment of one billion dollars for this type of housing, which will be distributed among various projects.
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Redwood City is joining in on “Building Community Through the Arts,” a theme through which the San Mateo County Office of Arts and Culture and the Arts Commission will present the first-ever countywide Celebration of Arts and Culture throughout the month of August.
The theme, “Building Community Through the Arts,” focuses on highlighting the exciting and diverse programs, activities and events taking place throughout the county.
The month-long celebration will culminate on Saturday, August 27, from noon to 3:00 p.m.
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The San Mateo County Veterans Commission is seeking nominations for three awards recognizing outstanding contributions by and for those who have served in the U.S. armed forces.
These nominations must be submitted no later than August 22, so there is still time for those who have been part of the country's army or navy and who have contributed with actions worthy of recognition to sign up.
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Redwood City Mayor Gisselle Hale proclaimed August 12, 2022, as Youth Day in the city, in an effort to celebrate this population group and empower them to make positive contributions to their communities and nations.
And, he said, “one of Redwood City’s top strategic priorities is children and youth to create opportunities for our young population to grow, learn and play in healthy and safe environments.”
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Runners took to the hills of San Francisco in Sunday's 45th San Francisco Marathon, which organizers said was bigger, more inclusive and more accessible than ever before.
The race, from Embarcadero in San Francisco to Sausalito and back, was the first marathon in California to have a separate “Nonbinary+” division designated for nonbinary, bi-gender, agender, two-spirit and genderfluid participants, as well as the traditional male and female divisions.
The race weekend also featured a program for participants with disabilities.
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Mayor London Breed said that according to the San Francisco Department of Public Health, the city has declared a state of emergency for monkeypox, effective Monday, August 1, allowing the city to prepare and dedicate resources to prevent the spread of the disease.
As of Thursday, there were 261 diagnosed cases of monkeypox in San Francisco, a figure that places it as one of the epicenters of the disease in the country, as it records more cases than most states.
While this virus affects everyone equally, there is currently a higher risk of exposure in the LGBTQ+ community, which accounts for nearly 90 percent of cases in San Francisco.
The Latino community, meanwhile, accounts for 30 percent of cases, despite making up only 15 percent of the city's population.
«El odio es un sentimiento que sólo puede existir en ausencia de toda inteligencia». ‒Tennessee William.
En un año promedio, más de 10 mil 300 crímenes de odio en Estados Unidos involucran un arma de fuego, lo que se traduce en más de 28 por día. Las señales no son alentadoras, sobre todo cuando diversos informes indican que estos delitos van en aumento, convirtiéndose en un verdadero «Armagedon».
De acuerdo con la fundación Everytown For Gun Safety, la gran mayoría de los delitos de odio están dirigidos contra comunidades de color, minorías religiosas y personas LGBTQ+, además de estar motivados por prejuicios contra la raza, el color, la religión, el origen nacional, la orientación sexual, la discapacidad, el género o la identidad de género, u otras partes fundamentales de la identidad de una persona.
En 2020, el año más reciente del que hay datos disponibles, 63 por ciento de los delitos motivados por el odio denunciados estuvieron motivados por el racismo; más de la mitad de estos crímenes fueron motivados por prejuicios contra afroamericanos, señala el documento.
Para el resto de los crímenes de odio en 2020, el 15 por ciento estuvo motivado por prejuicios religiosos, en su mayoría antijudíos; y el sesgo anti-LGBTQ+ motivó el 17 por ciento de los crímenes de odio ese mismo año.
According to the Southern Poverty Law Center ‒SPLC, por sus siglas en inglés‒, el clima político actual ha animado a las personas a cometer delitos de odio y también ha contribuido a la formación de más grupos de odio en todo el país. De hecho, la cantidad de este tipo de grupos en EE. UU. aumentó en un 30 por ciento entre 2014 y 2018, con un aumento del 7 por ciento solo en 2018.
El documento revela que los crímenes de odio tienen un impacto devastador en las víctimas individuales, y los efectos reverberantes los experimentan grupos y comunidades enteras.
Para las personas que luchan contra los prejuicios, la noticia de un crimen de odio violento dirigido a miembros de un grupo de identidad compartida puede parecer un ataque personal. Después del tiroteo en el club nocturno Pulse, las personas LGBTQ+ de todo el país informaron haber experimentado niveles más altos de angustia emocional y afirmaron que sería menos probable que asistieran a espacios seguros como los clubes nocturnos LGBTQ+. «Cuando los espacios seguros ya no se sienten seguros, comunidades enteras sufren».
Ante ello, precisa la organización, «es esencial que los estados y el gobierno federal prohíban que los delincuentes condenados por delitos menores violentos o amenazantes de odio compren o tengan armas».
Los delitos de odio con armas de fuego fueron el catalizador de las leyes sobre este tipo de crímenes en Estados Unidos.
Las primeras protecciones federales importantes contra los delitos motivados por el odio se promulgaron a raíz del tiroteo contra Martin Luther King, Jr., mientras que la mejora más reciente de las leyes federales sobre delitos motivados por el odio, se produjo después de la muerte de Matthew Shepard, a quien atacaron por ser gay, lo golpearon con un arma de fuego y lo dejaron morir, señala el reporte.
De acuerdo con las recomendaciones de la organización Everytown For Gun Safety, las leyes federales y estatales actuales sobre armas de fuego no abordan adecuadamente el problema. «Si bien todos los delitos graves están prohibidos por la ley federal, la mayoría de los delitos menores, incluidos los delitos menores de aquellos motivados por el odio, no lo están».
Los delitos menores de odio pueden ser actos graves y violentos, pero según la ley federal, una condena por estos actos violentos o amenazantes no prohíbe que alguien compre o tenga un arma.
Además, precisó, mientras que casi la mitad de los estados tienen leyes que cierran esta brecha, la mayoría de los estados no las tienen, lo que significa que, en gran parte del país, una persona condenada por un delito de odio violento podría pasar legalmente una verificación de antecedentes y comprar y poseer un arma de fuego.
«Los estados deben aprobar leyes para prohibir que las personas condenadas por delitos de odio compren o tengan un arma y deben tomar medidas adicionales para mantener las armas fuera del alcance de todas las personas condenadas por delitos violentos. Un estudio reciente encontró que las leyes sobre delitos menores violentos se asociaron con una reducción de casi el 27 por ciento en las tasas de homicidios con armas de fuego».
A su vez, señaló la organización, los estados también pueden aprobar leyes de riesgo extremo para ayudar a prevenir el acceso a las armas por parte de personas que han mostrado señales de advertencia graves de que son una amenaza para los demás, incluidas aquellas que están motivadas por prejuicios.
«Las leyes de riesgo extremo brindan a los miembros de la familia y a las fuerzas del orden una forma de intervenir antes de que las señales de advertencia se conviertan en tragedias. Según estas leyes, un peticionario puede obtener una orden judicial, a menudo conocida como orden de protección contra riesgos extremos ‒ERPO, por sus siglas en inglés‒, para retirar temporalmente las armas de una situación peligrosa».
This publication was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.
Three months after the Casa Tlaxcala in New York was inaugurated, it has already provided more than 400 consultations to migrant residents who have needed some consular service and hopes to continue advancing with the Family Reunion program, which will seek to further strengthen ties between Tlaxcalans in Mexico and the United States.
This was stated by Gabriela Hernández Montiel, director of Migrant Assistance in the state of Tlaxcala, in an interview with Península 360 Press, who specified that under the command of Governor Lorena Cuéllar Cisneros, service has been provided to compatriots who need special documentation that is not so easy to obtain because many of them cannot travel to their place of origin to obtain it.
Photo: Manuel Ortiz P360P
"This is the first administration that is concerned about everyone, including our fellow citizens. And it has taken on the task of working together with our colleague Marco Castillo, who is our advisor, to open Casa Tlaxcala," he said from Casa de los Pueblos, headquarters of Molino Informativo.
The task, said Hernández Montiel, was not easy, "but we are here now, giving results. Three months after the opening of Casa Tlaxcala, we have provided more than 400 consultations to our fellow citizens."
"We want to work on the family reunion program, which is very nice because we help families who have not been reunited after this pandemic and who, thank God, survived and are here, give them the opportunity to hug their parents and grandparents again. We are working on that program here in New York and we have already had four reunions," she said.
Although it is not known how many Tlaxcalans live in the Big Apple, the Mexican official assured that it is a significant population and that the state, together with Casa Tlaxcala, is already working on a census that will allow them to learn more about this community and its needs.
«We Tlaxcalans are very brave and we are everywhere. Another state in the American Union where they are also important is California, where we are also already in talks.»
In this regard, he said it is important for the state to get closer to the organizations.
"We are also seeking support from them because all Tlaxcalans are organized into groups and it is important to knock on doors."
Regarding the Reunion Program, he specified that all Tlaxcalans in the Bay Area can contact Casa Tlaxcala in New York so they can ask for advice and they can then give information to their relatives so they can approach the Migrant Assistance Office in the state of Tlaxcala and be enrolled in the program.
He added that, to promote the program, Governor Cuéllar is providing 50 percent of the flight, while all ground transportation is free, and a reception is organized for visitors.
"The only condition is that they cannot stay, I have to take them back and that is the only condition," he said.
Regarding services, Hernández pointed out that the issuance of birth certificates is one of the procedures and tasks that are most frequently carried out at Casa Tlaxcala, which manages, together with the Migrant Assistance area in Tlaxcala, the expediting of the issuance, as well as clarifications and corrections in the certificates.
When questioned about the Tlaxcalans who unfortunately lose their lives in the United States and who seek to repatriate the bodies but do not have the resources, the official stressed that the relatives of the deceased should approach the consulate that corresponds to them and request information.
However, he clarified that, in most cases, the consulate helps with 50 percent - more or less - of the transfer costs, while the other part must be paid by the family in order to repatriate the body to any municipality in Mexico City.
Finally, he highlighted that there are still several projects between the state of Tlaxcala and various cities in this country regarding reunions and for young people of Tlaxcalan origin to learn about their roots and culture through tours to said state of Mexico.
The telephone number for Casa Tlaxcala in New York is 3322175684, while the number for the Migrant Assistance area in Tlaxcala, Mexico, is 2464662888.
Connie Guerrero is president of the Women's Voting League of San Mateo Since 2021, her work has been to promote the voting participation of this sector, as well as of youth, because she affirms that it is necessary to fight for the rights of women, our daughters and granddaughters.
A woman, mother, grandmother and tireless worker for democratic rights, Connie sees voting as a way to combat the setbacks that the government sometimes carries out, such as the recent decision of the U.S. Supreme Court to eliminate the constitutional right to abortion after almost 50 years, which represents an attack on women's rights over their bodies.
In light of this, Guerrero mentioned during the Bay Area Portraits program on Peninsula 360 Press that citizen participation in voting is essential for all sectors of the population, but it is even more important when it comes to voting by women and young people, since she affirms that they are the ones who make decisions on a daily basis and, in addition, "they are our future."
Coming from a large family, Connie Guerrero highlights the importance of passing on the teachings she promotes within organizations such as the Women's Voting League to her descendants, just as she does with her granddaughters and great-granddaughters, whom she teaches to fight for their rights and their dreams.
«Women make decisions every day and they are important for the future of their families and children. Besides caring for their families, women are most interested in financing their homes and, above all, being able to afford to raise their children. Young people are interested in the environment and in having access to a good education so that they can have a good job in the future,» she said.
One of her missions as president of the Women's Vote League is to promote, through forums, the different candidates, as well as their political proposals so that people can approach them and thoroughly understand the actions that each one will take when they assume or not their position. All of this, says the activist, with neutral dissemination so that voters make the best decision.
However, in the context of the Latino community, voter participation is very low, which is why she, along with different organizations such as Casa Círculo Cultural, Nuestra Casa and Democratic Clubs, work hard to get people to go out and exercise their right to vote.
The elections on November 8 are important because, although they do not have the weight of a presidential election, every vote counts, since, he says, "it is not fair that a small percentage should decide the future of an entire community on fundamental issues such as housing or transportation."
"In Redwood City County, you see that out of a population of about 80,000 residents, maybe half of them are registered to vote, but the reality is that maybe only 25 percent of voters are actually casting ballots. That's what's frustrating about Redwood City, because very few people are actually voting," he said.
In this regard, he pointed out that, in the city, his job was to increase the vote during the elections because very few people registered. "25 percent of those 80,000 people were making decisions for the rest of the city. How is that possible? It's not fair. The idea is to empower voters."
While it is true that the Latino community is prevented from voting due to their lack of citizenship, there are many who can vote but are not registered.
Organizations such as the League of Women Voters are responsible for raising awareness and encouraging participation in many ways. Those who cannot vote can volunteer to register people outside supermarkets, make phone calls informing people of their right, or simply inform voters of their options so they can make an informed decision.
On June 24, Connie says, when the Supreme Court of the United States decided to repeal the right to abortion, “it was a very hard day for all of us, very hard to believe that we are going backwards instead of improving the situation of women. It was something that we decided to protest. It was very frustrating. We went out to march through the streets to the capitol in Denver. We need to continue fighting for the rights of women and our daughters and granddaughters. No man should tell us what to do or not to do with our bodies and whether or not to decide to have an abortion.”
With more than 15 years of activism,Guerrero was awarded the San Mateo Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's "Diversity Award" in 2011 and currently serves on several boards of directors for various non-profit organizations including: Casa Círculo Cultural, Redwood City Education Foundation (RCEF), Mexico Vivo, the Police Department's Youth Activities League (PAL), the Redwood City Latino Community Council (LCCRC), and the Sequoia Hospital Community Board.
Don't miss "Bay Area Portraits" with Constanza Mazzotti, where every Thursday we interview a personality who makes a difference in the community. The event is every Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
