The singer and composer Armando Manzanero Canché died in Mexico City. He was admitted on December 17 to a hospital because of COVID-19, which is why he was intubated, and who despite showing improvement in his lungs, suffered complications in his kidneys.
The news was announced this morning by the President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, during his morning conference, who was moved to give a few words about the famous artist from Yucatán.
"I am being informed of the death of Don Armando Manzanero. It's very sad. Don Armando Manzanero, a great composer, one of the best in the country, and also a sensitive man in social matters," said the Mexican president.
"We send our condolences to his family, friends, artists and all singer-songwriters, our embrace for this loss so unfortunate for the artistic world and for Mexico," he said.
The composer of songs like "We're sweethearts", and "With you I learned" He was born in the city of Merida, Yucatan, on December 7, 1935, and throughout his career he worked as a musician, composer, singer, pianist, television actor and record producer.
Various personalities from the entertainment world have reacted to the artist's unfortunate death and have expressed their condolences through their Twitter accounts. They have also been joined by several politicians, including Mexico's foreign minister, Marcelo Ebrard Casaubón, who wrote "He regretted the sensitive death of Armando Manzanero, my condolences to family and friends. May he rest in peace".
Tennessee officials release the photo and name of Anthony Quinn Warner as the alleged suicide bomber responsible for the explosion in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, on Friday, Dec. 25.
The explosion, which caused extensive property damage and injured several people, took place at 166 Second Avenue North.
After the attack, Nashville Mayor John Cooper said that at 6:32 a.m. on Christmas morning, the city's police and fire departments responded to the scene of an explosion on 2nd Ave, approximately one block north of Broadway.
The authorities describe Anthony Warner as a lonely man who worked in computer repair and about whom his neighbors knew very little.
While authorities recognize Quinn as the alleged perpetrator of the explosion of his RV in Nashville, with the aim of causing further damage to a section of the population.
However, neither the authorities nor the corporate media in the United States use the term terrorist to refer to Quinn, a fact that has attracted the attention of a large number of users on social networks.
"AP [Associated Press] is really deploying phrases like 'the man behind the mysterious explosion in which he died' to avoid the term 'suicide bomber,'" the @southpaw account said on the social networking site Twitter.
According to users on Twitter, what Quinn did was an act of local terrorism but authorities and the corporate media do not call him that because he is a white man.
"Anthony Warner was a suicide bomber. When does the travel ban on white men come into effect? When did we start profiling and discriminating against the sad white men in the caravans as we do with our Muslim friends and neighbors since 9/11?" said @ImSpeaking13
The Redwood City Public Library offers free, expanded outdoor Wi-Fi coverage at three different locations to provide better access to the community while the library is closed due to the VOC-19 pandemic.
Through its website, it mentions that the Center Library's coverage area includes Lot B, a large parking lot at the corner of Jefferson and Middlefield that has five reserved parking spaces offering free wireless Internet.
In this place, Wi-Fi is offered from Monday to Saturday, from 10 pm to 6 am, with a two-hour limit for those who need it.
In addition, the Redwood Shores branch library covers the parking lot on the community room side of the building and the Fair Oaks branch library, which offers Wi-Fi throughout San Mateo County, extends into the parking lot.
Wi-Fi networks at these locations are available from 6am to 11pm.
Finally, it should be noted that the Schaberg library has no adjacent parking and does not offer outdoor Wi-Fi.
It should be noted that the city council and most of the city's facilities are closed to the public due to new health measures imposed in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, operations continue remotely by phone and email. For more information, updates and resources, visit the library's website at https://www.redwoodcity.org/departments/library/.
After agreement was reached Sunday night on a second COVID-19 pandemic stimulus bill, $900 billion of which includes enhanced unemployment benefits and direct cash payments, U.S. House member Ted Lieu said that, while not much, "it's better than nothing.
"I just don't think it's big enough to deal with a scale of this pandemic, but there are some really good provisions in it. For example, he said, $25 billion in rental assistance for people who lost their source of income during the pandemic.
As well as $284 billion in forgivable check protection loans for small businesses, $7 billion for broadband and $8 billion to ensure distribution and delivery of vaccines.
He added that the $600 stimulus checks to citizens are too small. "In my opinion, it's not enough, and that's why I look forward to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris arriving on January 20, and then we'll try again with another round of stimulus next year.
The also Democrat stressed that there is no good explanation for the fact that undocumented immigrants did not get the aid, except for opposition from the Republicans, however, mixed status families are included in this bill.
He also explained that in terms of paycheck or small business loan (PPP) protection, there were abuses in the past by businesses that did not have to receive the aid, so the House of Representatives created an Oversight Committee to see how their stimulus funds are spent.
In view of the probable tsunami of evictions that the state could have, he stressed that, although there is a fund for 25 billion dollars for this item, it will be difficult to make the funds available because there are many different provisions that apply to each circumstance.
Farmers and people in rural areas can also benefit from support, either through PPP or through a personal loan (PPP), in addition to accessing the Farm to Food Bank Program, where they can bring their crops and are paid for distribution, so they do not have to destroy their crops.
"We have a lot of unemployed people. We have people showing up in long lines at food banks. And that's why the progressive group fought for the stimulus checks. It's just too small, but something is better than nothing. But I hope we can put in place an additional stimulus for the American people next year," he said.
Lieu pointed out that many of the $600 aid checks will be deposited electronically, while those unable to receive them that way will get their stimulus later, he said during the virtual panel "The Income Gap is Hovering for Millions - No Adequate Relief in Sight," conducted by Ethnic Media Services.
Chad Stone, chief economist of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, said he agreed with the economic stimulus that Congress has approved, but "more will be needed.
"The people who are bearing the brunt of unemployment in the housing crisis are those working in jobs that require face-to-face contact, most of which pay low wages," he said.
Of these, he explained, there are a disproportionate number of people of color seriously neglected by the old unemployment insurance system until before the crisis, when the proportion of unemployed workers was at an all-time low.
After the $600 a week received by those who lost their jobs due to the pandemic was eliminated at the end of July, "there was no more stimulus to sustain the recovery and the economy slowed down.
"Unemployment is still high, the number of jobs is still huge, and UI benefits were woefully inadequate without that $600 for those who needed it most," he added.
According to their report, in November the unemployment rate was three points higher than in February of this year, however, for African Americans, Latinos and Asian Americans, the figure rose to four or 4.5 points higher compared to the second month of 2020.
In this regard, he noted that there is a legacy of racism in the country, "the discrimination continues, the workers we are talking about, they are the last to be hired and the first to be fired. There are still many disparities in the issue of hiring".
Now, the enhanced federal unemployment benefit will offer $300 instead of $600, for up to 11 weeks (March 2021). "It's good that they've spread, but the economy is not going to get back to where it should be."
"Congress and President Biden, as well as Vice President Harris, will need to work, among other things they are doing, to make sure we have the stimulus we need to alleviate the difficulties. That will be necessary to generate a robust, sustainable and equitable recovery in the future," he said.
For Peter Hepburn, assistant professor of sociology at Rutgers University and also a researcher in the Princeton Eviction Laboratory, the United States faced a rental housing crisis long before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, according to data extracted from the Eviction Tracking System (ETS), it is estimated that the protections implemented during the pandemic have prevented at least 1.6 million eviction requests throughout the country, cases that in the absence of new protections will be reflected in 2021.
This, he said, would cause an increase in the number of homes on trial, and risk displacing an untold number of families.
"I think, however, that unless there are sufficient rental assistance programs, we have every reason to expect that you will face a large number of evictions. The scale of the problem is also evident when we look at the amounts that landlords claim for eviction cases," he said.
He added that those belonging to the African-American community are the most affected by the eviction crisis, as they receive more than 35 percent of all eviction requests.
"The history of housing in this country is a long history of systematic racial dispossession and exclusion. We continue to see that in rental housing today there is a risk of displacement through eviction," he said.
Because, he said, wages, especially for low-skilled workers, have basically stagnated over the past 20 years, while at the same time rents have increased dramatically. "So there's a growing proportion of tenants who are burdened by housing costs and haven't really seen their salary increase in decades.
In California, the moratorium on evictions is scheduled to expire on January 31; however, the moratorium is expected to be extended for one month, since the situation is in the middle of winter. However, he said, much will depend on what the Joe Biden administration does starting January 20, with the potential to extend the federal moratorium on evictions.
"I think it's very important that the federal government get busy on evictions in order to achieve broader structural reforms. I hope you know that at a time when we are thinking critically about eviction, some of the changes that are being implemented now in response to the pandemic are carried over into the future so that when we come out of this terrible time, we can take some of the policies that have worked well," he concluded.
Currently, one person dies every 10 minutes in Los Angeles County from COVID-19, however, many of these deaths could be prevented by following public health guidelines, as they are the only effective tools at this time.
According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, as of yesterday, 148 new deaths and 13,678 new cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed, representing the second consecutive day in which the highest number of new deaths from the virus has been surpassed.
In a statement, the county explained that there are currently 6,499 people with COVID-19 hospitalized, while 20 percent of them are in the intensive care unit (ICU), which also represents a new historical maximum.
"We extend our deepest condolences to the people of Los Angeles County who have lost a loved one to COVID-19. It is heartbreaking to report that nearly 150 more residents died from this disease, leaving many families to grieve this holiday season," said Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer.
"We need all residents to follow the security measures to stop this increase. This means staying home and limiting all non-essential activities. When you must leave your home, always wear a mask, stay away from others and wash your hands often," he added.
It is worth mentioning that, of the 148 new deaths reported, 51 people were over 80 years old; 45 were between 65 and 79 years old; 28 people were between 50 and 64 years old; 11 people were between 30 and 49 years old and one person who died was between 18 and 29 years old.
In the last week, the number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 increased by more than 1,600 people; while, to date, 677,299 positive cases of COVID-19 have been identified in all areas of the county and a total of 9,299 deaths.
In addition, the Public Health Department reported two additional cases of multi-systemic inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), bringing the total number of cases in the county to 51 children, including one child death. Latino children account for nearly 73 percent of the reported cases.
All 51 children with MIS-C in Los Angeles County were hospitalized and nearly 50 percent were treated in the ICU. Of the children with MIS-C, 31 percent were under age 5, 38 percent were between 5 and 11, and 31 percent were between 12 and 20.
It should be noted that MIS-C is an inflammatory condition associated with COVID-19 and symptoms include fever that does not go away and swollen body parts such as heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs.
After a difficult year in many respects, U.S. President-elect Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden gave their first Christmas speech as a presidential family, addressing all citizens of the country with hope as their central theme.
"Merry Christmas and happy holidays," was the first thing the president-elect said during the two-minute-and-four-second video message.
"Jill and I wish you and your family peace, joy, health and happiness this season. But we know that for many of you in our nation this has been a very difficult year. And this season of hope reminds us of our common humanity and what we are called to do for each other," said Democrat Joe Biden.
He added that many are struggling to find work, literally putting food on the table and paying rent or mortgage. "We are reminded that we are on this Earth to care for each other, to give what we can and to be a source of help and hope to friends and strangers alike.
The country's next first lady, Jill Biden, recalled that many families are facing their first Christmas after losing a loved one. "Joe and I know that pain. And we know how, in times of grief, one kind word can mean so much," she said.
He added that this is also a season of gratitude, so he thanked the frontline and essential workers who have put their lives on the line for everyone, and for the scientists and researchers who worked to deliver vaccines.
He also stressed that his thoughts are with the military service members who are far from home and on the loved ones who miss them. "Our family knows your sacrifice and our heart is with you.
Joe Biden recalled that normally they receive 20 to 25 people for dinner on Christmas Eve, but not this year, because due to the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of families have had to remain separated in order not to catch the virus.
"We're going to miss our family, but it's what we have to do to keep our family safe. We hope that this year you will consider limiting travel and the size of family gatherings," he said.
In this regard, Jill said that "even though our celebrations are dimming, we know that this will not be forever, and brighter days will soon come.
"On this holy day, we remember that love and joy can be shared across the greatest distances. We celebrate separately, but not alone, and look forward to next year when we can come together with a renewed appreciation for the people and traditions we love," he concluded.
After an explosion occurred this Friday morning in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, local and federal police have launched an investigation, which they believe was an "intentional act.
Three people were injured in the blast and were transported to nearby hospitals, although none are in critical condition, police spokesman Don Aaron said at a news conference.
He added that the Department's Hazardous Devices Unit was headed downtown in response to a call about a suspicious vehicle when there was a simultaneous related explosion. "We believe the explosion was an intentional act."
The Nashville Emergency Operations Center (EOC) said in a statement that it activated a response to the intentional bombing incident in downtown Nashville just after 6:30 a.m. locally on Friday, December 25, 2020.
The explosion took place at 166 Second Avenue North, which caused extensive damage, officials said. They also said the incident was vehicle-related.
For his part, Nashville Mayor John Cooper said that at 6:32 a.m. on Christmas morning, the city's Police and Fire Departments responded to the scene of an explosion on 2nd Ave, approximately one block north of Broadway.
Through his Twitter account, he noted that the Metropolitan Police confirmed that the source of the explosion came from a vehicle.
"The cause of the explosion is under investigation with the help of federal authorities. The Police Department will share updates as they become available, and will continue to restrict traffic in the area. Keep Nashville safe. Thanks to our emergency personnel for their quick response," he said.
On the Metropolitan Police Department's Twitter account, it is noted that the canine team is doing protective sweeps in the city center, so traffic is restricted.
According to local media, after the explosion occurred, flames and black smoke were observed in the center of the city, which, it should be noted, is a center of ample tourist activity, with restaurants, bars and an establishment for listening to music.
Representatives from the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), the Nashville Fire Department, the Mayor's office, and the Metropolitan Police Department, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will use the EOC to coordinate ongoing investigation and response operations.
Faced with the situation, authorities asked residents to call 911 in case of emergency.
The COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused a large number of offices of Silicon Valley technology companies to be empty, as well as the rising costs of living in California, are some of the reasons why several companies have begun the exodus from this region.
Although 1938, when Hewlett-Packard was founded outside San Francisco, is considered the beginning of Silicon Valley, the truth is that today there is greater discontent about the high cost of living, the low availability of housing, as well as high levels of crime.
Although it has been mentioned that some of the main competitors in this bay area could be Los Angeles or New York, the state of Texas seems to be attracting the interest of some technology firms, either the city of Houston or in Silicon Hills, outside Austin.
Since 2013 there is talk of strong growth in these areas, with many jobs in the sector commonly known as STEM -Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics-, as well as for its successful model of exporting medical services thanks to the Texas Medical Center cluster.
The state has good universities, such as Rice in Houston and the University of Texas at Austin, as well as a tradition of technology companies, as Texas Instrument was founded in Dallas in 1941, just two years after Hewlett-Packard in San Francisco.
Exodus begins
In early December, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, which brings together the software and business services activities after the Hewlett-Packard division in 2015, announced that it will move its offices to Houston, which is considered a hard blow in the history of Silicon Valley.
Antonio Neri, president and CEO of the firm, said they have "listened to the team members, who have said they want to spend less time in a physical workplace. And in response to this new future of work we have re-evaluated our real estate strategy.
Their new facility will be a 568,000-square-foot campus in Springwoods Village, north of Houston, which will include a gym and outdoor yoga areas. While the company will maintain an area of innovation in San Jose, it will make Houston its business and employment center.
This announcement was joined by Elon Musk, who, on December 10, announced that he had left his Silicon Valley residence and moved to the state of Texas, due to the "complacency" that has recently taken over the mecca of innovation and technology in the United States.
He also announced his intention to move Tesla Motors' headquarters either to Nevada, where it has a battery factory, or to Texas, where it operates SpaceX.
Another firm that announced its intention to move a few days ago is Oracle, which after more than forty years in Silicon Valley, said it will move its headquarters from Redwood City to the town of Austin, a fledgling technology hub that is forming in the southern United States.
In a statement the firm explains that "we believe that these movements position us better to grow and give our staff more flexibility about where and how they work". Depending on their position, many employees will be able to choose which office they want to work in.
In addition to these announcements, the managers of Dropbox and Splunk, Andrew Houston and Douglas Merrit, respectively, have moved to Austin, as has the venture capitalist and co-founder of Palantir, Joe Lonsdale, among others.
People are also leaving the state
According to data from the U.S. Postal Service, between March and November of this year about 90,000 citizens of San Francisco reported a change of address outside the city, most of them to Florida, Nevada and Colorado.
According to the census estimate, the city had 881,500 inhabitants the previous year, so if this loss is confirmed, it would translate into a reduction in population of more than 10 percent, which has not been compensated for by the arrival of new residents.
The real estate portal Zillow mentions that the average price of a house can be around 600 thousand dollars in California, although in cities like Palo Alto or Cupertino, where Apple is based, the price is well over two million dollars.
While data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, living in California is more expensive than in most U.S. entities, with goods and services costing 15.4 percent more than the national average.
Gavin Newsom on Tuesday appointed Alex Padilla to be the next U.S. senator from the state of California to fill the vacancy of Kamala Harris, who was elected vice president and will take office on January 20.
In a statement, the governor's office noted that Padilla is the current secretary of state of California; formerly a Los Angeles city councilman and state senator, he is a national leader in the fight to expand voting rights.
He added that Alex Padilla became the first Latino to represent the state of California in the upper house of the U.S. Congress, and also the first southern citizen to join the Senate in almost three decades.
"Son of Mexican immigrants, cook and house cleaner, Alex Padilla made his way from humble beginnings to the halls of MIT, Los Angeles City Hall and the state Senate, and has become a national advocate for voting rights as secretary of state," the governor said.
"Through his tenacity, integrity, intelligence and courage, California is winning a proven fighter who will be a fierce ally in D.C., elevating the values of our state and securing the critical resources to emerge stronger from this pandemic. He will be a senator for all Californians," added Newsom.
For his part, Alex Padilla said he felt honored by the trust placed in him by Governor Newsom, and that he intends to work every day to honor that trust and meet all Californians.
"From those struggling to make ends meet, to small businesses struggling to keep their doors open, to health care workers seeking relief, please know that I am going to the Senate to fight for you," the California secretary of state said.
Notably, Padilla, 47, was the favorite candidate in a field crowded with possibilities for completing the remainder of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris' term, who plans to leave her Senate seat in January, before Inauguration Day, January 20.
Although senators are traditionally elected by voters at the polls, in this case it was the state governor who appointed Harris' replacement, whose term in the upper house runs until 2022.
For years, California's Central Valley has been the site of a large number of evictions, as the wage disparity compared to other areas is wide and, since March to date, has added a number of issues stemming from COVID-19, such as unemployment.
As a result, about 300,000 people could soon lose their homes, based on initial jobless claims and the proportion of workers in businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic who are renting and living in homes where there are no other sources of income, said Janine Nkosi, regional adviser for Faith in the Valley.
"If we don't have strong, robust protection so people can stay in their homes, if there's no help for mortgages and utilities and so on, we're making an estimate that 100,000 homes in the Central Valley are being vulnerable to eviction," he said.
During the panel "High eviction rates in California-Central Valley tenants bet on housing rights."by Ethnic Media ServicesThe damage goes beyond just housing, she said, because the future of families is at stake.
"Let's be clear, these are homes, not people, it's not just one person, we're talking about families, we're talking about if there are three - people - per family, close to 300,000 people in our community, in these counties, are in a vulnerable position and are at risk of being evicted and being kicked out of their homes," he said.
He added that a recent survey conducted by the organization on the economic and housing impacts of COVID-19 found that 55 percent of residents who responded to the survey were unclear about how they would pay their rent.
The high incidence of evictions in the Central Valley is growing as businesses and enterprises close due to the number of COVID-19 positive cases and deaths from complications of the disease, making affordable housing increasingly unaffordable.
To this, the expert added that there is a great disparity in legal representation for those who decide to go to court for unjustified evictions, cases that, in a matter of minutes, are decided without a thorough review.
"For three months, we systematically observed and documented what the process is that you go through when a family member goes to court. It literally happens in minutes, it's like a merry-go-round, decisions are made in minutes, people are becoming homeless," he explained.
Nkosi referred that, in 2019, a lawyer was in charge of 643 cases on the plaintiff side; while, in the case of tenants, only six of them had an advocate.
"Across all counties, 73 percent of property owners had lawyers; renters, less than 1.0 percent. This is what happens across the country: less than 10 percent of tenants have lawyers," he said.
He noted that even in the case of those who commit a minor offence, they have the right to legal representation; however, this does not happen in the case of those who are evicted..
"Everyone should have the right to a lawyer; someone who can represent them if they find themselves in any kind of court. The courts should protect us, as should the laws, but if the person doesn't have access to a lawyer, then the law is pretty much worthless," he said.
And, he noted, California's eviction protections expire on Jan. 31, so a first solution for Californians would be to stop evictions and all foreclosures for past due rent and mortgage during and after the COVID-19 state of health emergency.
It also detailed eliminating the debt of affected tenants and providing mortgage relief, or cancellation of their debts; compensating small landlords and nonprofit organizations that need help keeping tenants housed.
Given this situation, he said it is necessary that AB15 and AB16 be tested in Congress to help thousands of families whose lives are about to change drastically, especially in a health situation as difficult as the one being experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fresno resident and mother of six, Jessica Ramirez, was evicted without notice: her lease had expired. She was given no chance to renew and was simply thrown out with her children, a situation that led her to live in her car for a long time, until she turned to Faith in the Valley.
In giving her testimony, she stressed that it is of utmost importance to help all those who today find themselves in a difficult situation to pay rent. "I advocate for the community and ask for help because I know that an eviction can change people's lives. This happened to me, I used all possible resources, but no one could help me.
She noted that the eviction will remain on her record for seven years, which will make it much more difficult for her to get a place to live with her children.
"A mother or father should not have to choose between housing or the health of their children. We are in a time of emergency where we have to help each other. Many people needed assistance before the COVID-19 contingency and now, with this crisis, people need more support. Many people have lost their jobs, prices of goods keep rising and they can't even buy essentials or food, they can't even pay their bills. If someone can help, why not do it," she said.
For senior Claude Bailey, a Stockton resident, things have not been easy. She lived in an apartment for more than 20 years and always paid on time, until suddenly she was told she had to fill out paperwork and then was told she no longer qualified to rent and was given a very short time to move out.
After his eviction, Claude moved into housing where he was treated very badly and was constantly watched, so he also decided to leave. After that, he lived for 10 months in his car.
"It was a nightmare," he said, because every time he tried to sleep, police would run him out of parking lots, thugs would try to scare him, they would steal his car parts, and he even lost weight because there wasn't even a bathroom he could go to because they wouldn't let him or would try to charge him for its use.
"I've seen people ... black women, white women, Mexican women, sleeping and covering themselves with cardboard. These are older people on the street who have worked hard to raise their families, who have built this country, who have paid their taxes, and now they're on the street," she explained.
He said he was a model citizen who paid his taxes, didn't drink, smoke or do drugs, and was even a member of a church; however, he said, "this can happen to anyone, not just me. Life is a circle; sometimes you're on top and the next you're on the ground, with nothing. You can only understand it when you've lived it.
It is worth noting that, until before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Central Valley had the second highest economic growth in the state, but also had the highest unemployment rate, the second highest rate of multiple households in a dwelling, and the third lowest homeownership rate.
This was pointed out by Edward Orozco Flores, associate professor of sociology at the University of California, Merced, who added that in the Central Valley, approximately one in four workers have lost their jobs, while almost half of all households have had some loss of employment or their income has been reduced.
In that sense, he explained that people spend 30 percent of their income on rent; however, there are those who pay 50 percent of what they receive, a situation that, in most cases, makes the housing situation unsustainable in one of the places hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic in California.
"In the Central Valley, workers are at such a low level of income that it becomes a problem, especially during the pandemic because federal policies that protect property owners are not extended to tenants. We have to renew this policy, otherwise we will witness massive evictions in the coming months," he said.
