Bernardo Arévalo asumió la presidencia de Guatemala luego de una extensa jornada de desacuerdos en el Congreso que provocaron retraso en el cambio de poderes. Foto: X @GuatemalaGob
Guatemala vive un cambio después de un largo proceso de elecciones y constantes ataques en contra del partido Semilla al cuál pertenece Bernardo Arévalo quién asumió la presidencia de Guatemala luego de una extensa jornada de desacuerdos en el Congreso que provocaron retraso en el cambio de poderes.
César Bernardo Arévalo de León se convierte en el presidente de Guatemala después de una gran lucha social y de algunas controversias durante varios meses; con un ambiente de “misión cumplida” donde “la esperanza se siente en todos lados” se llevó a cabo la toma de poder, señaló el politólogo Mynor Alonso en una charla con Manuel Ortiz durante el programa de radio Península 360 en colaboración con Marcos Gutiérrez de «Hecho en California».
El proceso de cambio de poderes se llevó a cabo, sobresaliendo la junta directiva donde uno de los diputados más jóvenes de Semilla, Samuel Pérez, de 31 años, logró presidir el Congreso de Guatemala, pues mucho tiempo estuvo en los partidos conservadores.
Los recursos legales continúan tratando de decir que la victoria de Semilla fue ilegal, ya que aún se encuentran bajo investigación, sin embargo, ello se tendrá que decidir en los tribunales y juzgados correspondientes en su momento.
“Lo que es un hecho es que Semilla, a pesar de tener solo 23 votos, logró aliarse con otros partidos y juntar 93 votos que le han permitido, por el momento, echar a andar el nombramiento de una Junta Directiva, y se están preparando para empezar a legislar”, agregó Mynor Alonso.
Durante el último proceso de recepción de documentos en el cambios de poderes, se vivió un intento más de “golpe de estado”, dijo el politólogo de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), al explicar que la Junta Directiva del anterior Congreso pidió requisitos extras, al tiempo que comenzó a consultar ante los tribunales si Semilla, al estar bajo investigación, podía asumir el nuevo cargo.
“Cuando la Junta Directiva tenía que hacer un trabajo que duraba máximo una hora ya se habían tardado tres, fue cuando el partido Semilla y la bancada se preguntó ¿qué es lo que sucede aquí? El partido Semilla interrumpió y pidió que todo lo que se tuviera que realizar, fuera de la recepción de documentos, se lleve al Pleno”, explicó Mynor.
Este retraso de aproximadamente 10 horas hizo que la gente perdiera la calma, por lo que llegó al Congreso y rompió los círculos de seguridad que tenía la policía para exigir el proceso correspondiente de transición de poderes.
Finalmente, comentó que la primer acción que tomó Bernardo Arevalo fue visitar el plantón de los pueblos indígenas que llevaban días frente al Ministerio Público, para agradecerles por el apoyo y recordarles que son una pieza importante para su gobierno, por lo que se espera que este gobierno mantenga esa cercanía con la población, demostrando que es un gobierno diferente y en favor del pueblo guatemalteco.
Authorities continue to investigate the plane crash in Half Moon Bay, in which two people lost their lives. Photo: Google Maps.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the plane crash that took place on the night of Sunday, January 14, in Half Moon Bay, in which two people lost their lives.
According to a statement from the San Mateo County Sheriff's OfficeOn Sunday night, authorities responded to reports of a small plane flying erratically near Moss Beach, CA., reporting that witnesses observed the aircraft before it disappeared from sight.
He said the combined efforts of the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, CHP, Coastside Fire, San Mateo County Harbor District and the U.S. Coast Guard were immediately mobilized to search the area.
A Coast Guard helicopter and a CHP fixed-wing aircraft were deployed to assist.
Later in the evening, authorities said debris was found in the ocean near the shore, consistent with parts of an airplane.
On Monday morning, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services deployed approximately 30 volunteers from the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Unit, Bay Area Mountain Rescue Unit (BAMRU), Drone Unit, Air Squadron, and Communications Unit to work alongside additional sworn personnel from across the office to assist in search efforts.
Unfortunately, it was during that same time that a deceased female was observed in the water by a commercial fishing vessel. The body of the deceased adult female was brought to shore and was taken to the San Mateo County Coroner's Office.
The identity of this woman is still being determined, but it is believed that she is likely connected to the plane crash, as she was located in the same location.
“We will continue to work closely with the San Mateo County Coroner’s Office and NTSB to determine the cause of the crash and the circumstances surrounding the tragic event. More updates will be provided as the investigation progresses,” the Sheriff’s Office said.
On Monday, the US Coast Guard announced that it had suspended the search for possible survivors.
“It is never easy to make the decision to suspend search efforts, and our deepest condolences go out to the families involved in this incident,” said Ian McGoohan, operations unit controller at Coast Guard Sector San Francisco Command Center. “We are truly grateful for the efforts of our partners assisting in the search efforts.”
Elections dominate the 2024 news curve. Taiwan, India, and Mexico are some of the key countries with large diaspora populations in the US.
Taiwan, India and Mexico are some of the countries that will have elections this year. These three countries have large communities in the United States, so it will be important to know how they can be part of the electoral processes in their countries of origin and the importance of voting in each of these nations.
Voting abroad is something really new, considering that not all countries allow it and some that do allow it do not implement it correctly and effectively, said Kathleen Newland, Senior Fellow and co-founder of the Migration Policy Institute. during a briefing held by Ethnic Media Services.
And during 2024, several countries will have presidential elections that will mark a political change in the world, which will determine the future of upcoming events, directly or indirectly affecting citizens who have left their countries of origin.
Dr. Rohit Chopra, associate professor in the Department of Communication at the College of Arts and Sciences at Santa Clara University, said that this year the role of technology will be very important, since the flow of information will be present during the electoral processes.
Rohit Chopra commented that fake news in the context of elections ends up complicating things with respect to the difference between what we know to be true and what is false, thus making the handling of information more confusing.
Artificial intelligence (AI) could be a threat, what is done with it is to generate material immediately, creating a false illusion of the combined information that may seem real.
“This false information is like the kind of rumours that have been circulating on WhatsApp for years that have led to the deaths of minorities,” said Dr Rohit Chop.
Dr. Arvind Panagariya, professor of political economy at Columbia University, spoke about the upcoming elections in India.
“To give you an idea of the Indian elections, I will say that there are about 900 million voters, from where a large proportion of voters will come out in the upcoming elections, and this exercise is going to last about 4-5 weeks. There are also 11 million election officials, including security forces who are going to be deployed,” Panagariya explained.
He added that elections in India are mostly peaceful and require a great effort from the population, who must find a way to reach the voting points.
There are approximately 500 parties that will participate in the upcoming elections, which makes them a heavy election.
The elections in India are becoming very important, because it is a country that is growing very fast, ranking tenth among growing economies, and is expected to reach third place in 4 or 3 more years.
Although there is a lot of participation from the groups that leave their place of origin, the impact is not too much, elections in India are still fought in a conventional way with the participation of its own residents, since they do not allow voting abroad, so those who have left the country must return to vote.
In the case of Mexico, voting abroad is a reality, this is what he talked about Diana Alarcón González, former senior advisor and coordinator of international affairs for the mayor of Mexico City, Claudia Sheinbaum.
Claudia Sheinbaum is a presidential candidate for these elections in Mexico, being the favorite and with the greatest strength in the country.
“We estimate that there are more than 11 million Mexicans living and working in the United States. A few years ago, they passed a constitutional reform in which Mexican children born abroad can be recognized as Mexicans as well. Considering that the number of Mexicans abroad has increased dramatically, we can see the great potential and the great importance that they have in the upcoming elections,” said Alarcón González.
Unfortunately, there is very low participation among citizens living in other countries, even though Mexicans abroad do have the possibility of voting virtually, by mail or at consulates, he said.
“In 2018, there were about 19,000 votes from outside the country, which could be seen as a very small figure considering the number of citizens abroad,” added Alarcón González.
Mexico will have a historic electoral process in 2024 due to the political moment that it is experiencing, he said, mentioning that a woman will be president for the first time, so it will be a new act in the country.
“If you are a Mexican living in another country, I invite you to register and vote to be part of this great electoral process,” concluded Diana Alarcón González.
The elections in Taiwan will be decisive for the geopolitical situation in its surroundings, said Rong Xiaoqing, veteran reporter of Sing Tao Daily (New York), who explained that in the case of Taiwan, it is not allowed to send or vote outside the territory, those who live abroad must go to the country and present themselves directly in their city, county or town where they are registered.
“There was previously an attempt to pass a law to allow Taiwanese people living abroad to vote, but it was not implemented due to political interests,” Rong Xiaoqing added.
“Their voting rights are being affected because not everyone has the opportunity to vote,” concluded Rong Xiaoqing.
Decía René Poitevin Dardón en sus clases en la Escuela de Historia de la Universidad de San Carlos a fines de los años setenta, que en 1944 Guatemala llegó tarde a su cita con la democracia burguesa y cuando ésta apenas empezaba vino la intervención estadounidense en 1954 a cortar de tajo las aspiraciones del nacionalismo revolucionario.
La intervención reblanqueó a Guatemala y la regresó al feudalismo.
La paranoia anticomunista posterior acabó con las premisas básicas de la democracia burguesa y normalizó la praxis genocida que es clave para la modernización regresiva del Estado y la economía.
Guatemala retoma el camino de la democracia burguesa, diría Poitevin, con la toma de posesión de Bernardo Arévalo de León y Karin Herrera Aguilar, y en ello tuvo un papel decisivo la movilización de pueblos indígenas, jóvenes y ciudadanos de todos los estratos hartos del litigio malicioso de un puñado de rufianes que, con la complacencia del sector privado, controlan buena parte de las cortes y el poder legislativo.
El nuevo gobierno asume justo en el setenta aniversario de la “primavera democrática” lidereada por Juan José Arévalo y Jacobo Arbenz.
Por azares de la historia, es un hijo de Juan José el nuevo presidente, Bernardo, reconocido experto en asuntos de seguridad y ejército, y diplomático de carrera cuyo triunfo electoral despertó la esperanza de que la ética retorne a la política y al servicio público en Guatemala.
No funcionó el chanchullo electoral dirigido a allanarle el camino a la presidencia a la hija del general Ríos Montt, Zury Ríos Sosa, despojando de su derecho a participar al Movimiento para la Liberación de los Pueblos, y ahora asume el mando una organización de izquierda social demócrata que ni siquiera figuraba en las encuestas.
There is a greater number of people who suffer from emotional exhaustion and psychological suffering, they feel dissatisfied, empty and out of place in their own environment, causing psychological suffering and emotional exhaustion that manifest in anxiety disorders, depression and anxiety.
Emotional fatigue and psychological suffering have become contemporary ailments, due to the high levels of stress and worry derived from various situations such as insecurity and economic problems, among many others, which produce a problem of widespread emotional discomfort that urgently needs to be measured and addressed.
This was stated by the professor of the Faculty of Psychology of the UNAMGerardo Mora Gutiérrez, assigned to the Coordination of Clinical and Health Psychology, who pointed out that an increasing number of people feel dissatisfied, empty and out of place in their own environment, causing psychological suffering and emotional fatigue that manifest in anxiety, depression and distress disorders.
And, he explained, we are in a time of greater problems and, above all, with an experience that people express as non-existence; they feel as if they have no place, no identity or reason to live. All of this generates severe problems.
According to an interview given to the National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mora Gutiérrez stated that the three emotional determinants that define this condition of contemporary malaise are: liquidity, nonexistence and emptiness, where individuals do not feel good about themselves anywhere, even if they have a good job, a stable family or a society that offers them an important role to play.
He added that those who suffer psychologically are in a state of disharmony, that is, they believe that they do not fit in with themselves, that they cannot maintain good interpersonal relationships and, of course, when interacting with their environment they do not feel confident, they are dissatisfied, as a consequence of a series of accumulated ailments.
Likewise, the specialist warned that this is a social problem that is increasing, which is why it is important to stop and analyze what happens in the different groups, at the level of society or family. In the latter, he said, it is observed that there is a dismemberment that has to do with their environment, where there are a series of circumstances that threaten them, as well as the upbringing of children.
The economic challenges faced on a daily basis to cover basic needs and the different expressions of social violence are two of the main factors that trigger greater feelings of discomfort and fatigue, he stressed.
Mora Gutiérrez commented that it is increasingly common to find what in psychoanalysis is known as “disinhabited families,” where people are physically present, but absent psychically and psychologically; it is there where the first wound or trace of discomfort is identified.
In this regard, Mora Gutiérrez explained that the issue of well-being goes beyond economic or material conditions, since one must also consider the sentimental factor that in this era is decisive in defining whether one can speak of a condition of this nature or discomfort.
Several disorders, such as depression or anxiety, should be considered warning signs or telltale signs, he added.
Two other components that define contemporary restlessness are related to irritability and mental exhaustion, in addition to the fact that people are no longer experiencing pleasure and feel little motivated by the activities they do; there is a feeling of emotional exhaustion.
“There are two words that really catch my attention in the psychopathological lexicon: one is anhedonia, which refers to people who do not experience pleasure, and the other is abulia, which refers to people who are not motivated and devote themselves to doing practically nothing,” he said.
In this regard, he reiterated that a "warning sign" to identify that someone is suffering from fatigue is related to the fact that they are irritable all the time due to the lack of being able to connect with others, they do not appreciate what is happening, and as a behavioral or emotional response they may assume some addiction.
Whether it is addiction to substances or tranquilizers or to work, interpersonal conflicts can also arise, that is, one cannot maintain contact with anyone, which leads to depersonalization and is related to those who in some way begin to mistreat others and become insensitive to the suffering of others, he stressed.
He emphasized that when emotional fatigue is combined with psychological suffering, it leads to hyperstimulation of escape, where people try to escape from reality in front of the television, or through cell phones and computers.
"They feel the need to escape and begin to have suicidal thoughts, entering a high-risk condition as a consequence of this suffering," he warned.
Mora Gutiérrez suggested that, when the first symptoms of emotional fatigue appear, one should seek professional and specialized help, in addition to performing self-recognition and awareness exercises, as a way of dialoguing with ourselves to find the causes that led them to that state of emotional crisis.
Se arresta a un hombre por ser sospechoso de atropellar a una persona y darse a la fuga en el norte de San José.
Un hombre fue arrestado por ser sospechoso de atropellar deliberadamente con fuga en el norte de San José, convirtiéndose en el primer homicidio del año en la ciudad, dijo la policía este viernes.
Mikel McNack, de 19 años, de Fremont, fue detenido el jueves en una residencia en Sacramento, precisaron las autoridades.
Está acusado de la muerte de un peatón que recibió un disparo y fue atropellado intencionalmente el miércoles por la tarde en el área de Decanso Drive y North First Street, aseguró la policía.
Los oficiales están buscando un SUV Infiniti QX30 gris 2017 involucrado en la colisión.
El motivo y las circunstancias que rodearon el incidente aún están bajo investigación, dijo la policía.
La identidad de la víctima será revelada por la Oficina Forense del Condado de Santa Clara después de la confirmación y notificación a los familiares más cercanos.
Cualquier persona que tenga información debe comunicarse con el sargento detective Barragán al correo 4106@sanjoseca.gov o al Detective Van Brande al 4542@sanjoseca.gov, o al número (408) 277-5283.
Un nuevo informe encuentra que, si bien el gobernador Gavin Newsom ha logrado la paridad de género en los nombramientos de su oficina, los latinos y AAPI siguen estando subrepresentados.
SACRAMENTO, CA – Un nuevo informe encuentra que, si bien el gobernador Gavin Newsom ha logrado la paridad de género en los nombramientos de su oficina, los latinos y la AAPI siguen estando subrepresentados.
The report fue publicado el lunes por la organización sin fines de lucro Hispanas Organizadas por la Igualdad Política (HOPE), en respuesta al veto en octubre pasado de la SB702, la tercera versión de un proyecto de ley de la Senadora Monique Limón (D-19) que requeriría que el Gobernador creara y publicar un informe anual sobre “información demográfica agregada” de los nombramientos realizados para las 420 juntas, agencias, comisiones y grupos de trabajo del estado.
Key results
El informe encontró que “la rica diversidad de la población de California no se refleja en la composición demográfica de los miembros de la junta y los comisionados nombrados en 2023”, según datos autoinformados disponibles públicamente para 480 candidatos nombrados desde enero de 2023 hasta el 15 de diciembre de 2023.
Los californianos blancos no hispanos ocupan la mayoría de los nombramientos con un 52%. Los latinos (17,29%), negros (11,25%), AAPI (8,54%) y nativos americanos californianos (2,29%) en conjunto representan el 39%, y el 9% son desconocidos.
A modo de comparación, el desglose demográfico de California es 34,7% blancos no hispanos, 40,3% hispanos o latinos, 6,5% negros, 16,8% AAPI y 1,7% nativos americanos, según estimaciones del 2023 census.
Un desglose por raza y género de los 480 gobernadores designados en California entre enero de 2023 y el 15 de diciembre de 2023. (Crédito: Hispanas Organizadas por la Igualdad Política)
El 47% de los nombramientos son de mujeres y el 52% son de hombres, y el 1% pertenece a la categoría de otros o desconocidos.
El informe combina raza y género para mostrar que los hombres blancos representan el 30% de los nombramientos, las mujeres blancas el 22%, los hombres negros el 5%, las mujeres negras el 6%, los hombres latinos el 8,5%, las mujeres latinas el 9%, los hombres AAPI el 3,5% y las mujeres AAPI el 5%. %, Hombres nativos americanos 1% y mujeres nativas americanas 1%.
El informe también encuentra que el 63% de los nombrados viven en el norte de California (41%) y el Área de la Bahía (22%), con el condado de Los Ángeles en el 15%; el área del Valle Central, Inland Empire y el Gran San Diego al 5% cada uno; y el Condado de Orange y la Costa Central con alrededor del 3% cada uno.
La mayoría de los nombramientos son demócratas con un 71%, republicanos con un 9%, Sin Preferencia con un 18% y Otros con un 2%.
Precedents
Limón dijo que Newsom “ha sido muy intencional al garantizar la diversidad en sus nombramientos”: recientemente nombró a la primera jueza latina de la Corte Suprema de California en 2022 y aprobó SB54 en 2023, que requiere que las empresas de capital de riesgo realicen informes de diversidad demográfica sobre las empresas en las que invierten. “El objetivo de informes como este es replicar su éxito”.
“No se puede arreglar lo que no se puede ver”, añadió. Cuando finalice el mandato de Newsom en 2027, “tendremos un nuevo gobernador y queremos asegurarnos de que los logros que ha visto su administración sean logros que puedan sostenerse”.
La carta de veto de Newsom a su proyecto de ley sostiene que debido a que la información demográfica especificada en la SB702 es proporcionada por los propios candidatos, un informe no necesariamente refleja con precisión la diversidad de los designados.
Un desglose por afiliación política y residencia geográfica de los 480 gobernadores designados en California entre enero de 2023 y el 15 de diciembre de 2023. (Crédito: Hispanas Organizadas por la Igualdad Política)
Sin embargo, el informe HOPE responde que “nuestro estado utiliza regularmente datos autoinformados por muchas agencias estatales diferentes para recursos como créditos fiscales, seguros de discapacidad y en el nombramiento de nuestros tribunales judiciales. Creemos que este informe se produciría de manera más precisa y eficiente si viniera directamente de la oficina del Gobernador”, es decir, si medidas como la SB702 fueran más comunes. Esto “no tendría prácticamente ningún coste para la Administración, dado que ya recopilan estos datos demográficos”.
A nivel estatal, existe un precedente para un informe de este tipo. El Consejo Judicial de California, por ejemplo, publica datos demográficos relacionados con el género, la raza, la orientación sexual, la identidad de género, la condición de veterano y de discapacidad de los magistrados y jueces, y el informe del proyecto de ley propuesto por Limón también incluye estas métricas.
Among other states, Illinois , bajo el gobernador Pritzker, aprobó una medida similar a la SB702 en 2015, y desde entonces ha visto nombramientos consistentemente más diversos.
Este énfasis en la transparencia también está ganando terreno entre los gobiernos locales de California.
En 2023, la Junta de Supervisores del Condado de Los Ángeles adoptó una moción inspirada en la SB702 que exige a la junta publicar un informe demográfico anual de nombramientos. La Junta de Supervisores del condado de Santa Cruz adoptó una extent similar en 2021. Karen Bass, alcaldesa de la ciudad de Los Ángeles, también pretende crear un informe similar.
Next steps
HOPE ha declarado que continuará realizando un seguimiento de las citas en 2024.
A la luz de las conclusiones del informe de 2023, la senadora Limón ha reintroducido su proyecto de ley que exige un informe demográfico anual sobre los nombramientos de gobernadores, en el formato SB782, cuya audiencia está prevista para el 11 de enero.
Después de tres vetos anteriores, “será nuestro cuarto intento en este proyecto de ley en particular”, dijo Limón. “Lo que hemos visto en los últimos cuatro años es que no se trata de una cuestión partidista, como lo demuestra el fuerte apoyo bipartidista que ha recibido este proyecto de ley, particularmente en el último año en la legislatura”.
Si el liderazgo californiano no “evalúa nuestro progreso, seguirán existiendo brechas en la representación”, añadió. “Este informe reitera la necesidad de que los datos demográficos estén disponibles públicamente. El trabajo para promover la transparencia debe comenzar internamente”.
This publication was supported in whole or part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the CaliFornia State Library.
La poca visibilidad y las fuertes nevadas en Sierra Nevada registradas la mañana y tarde de este miércoles, provocaron que, a unas 20 millas de la zona de esquí de Palisades Tahoe, se produjera una avalancha que dejó como saldo un muerto, un herido, y 4 personas sepultadas bajo la nieve.
La poca visibilidad y las fuertes nevadas en Sierra Nevada registradas la mañana y tarde de este miércoles, provocaron que, a unas 20 millas de la zona de esquí de Palisades Tahoe, se produjera una avalancha que dejó como saldo un muerto, un herido, y 4 personas sepultadas bajo la nieve.
El evento se registró aproximadamente alrededor de las 9:30 horas de este 10 de enero, según las autoridades del condado de Placer, quienes informaron que la persona que perdió la vida era Kenneth Kidd, de 66 años de edad.
Diversos videos en redes sociales muestran lo sucedido y como muchos visitantes ayudaban a aquellos que estaban enterrados por la nieve cerca de Palisades Tahoe, una popular estación de esquí que atrae a decenas de visitantes cada año.
The Servicio Meteorológico Nacional de Sacramento, California, advirtió el 8 de enero que “una tormenta de invierno traerá fuertes nevadas de montaña a las montañas del interior de NorCal a mediados de esta semana. Las cantidades más pesadas se esperan el miércoles”.
Las autoridades refirieron que se puso en marcha un esfuerzo de búsqueda y rescate por parte de múltiples equipos para encontrar víctimas potenciales.
“Más de 100 miembros del personal de Palisades participaron en la búsqueda y se completaron dos líneas de sonda. La montaña estará cerrada por el resto del día”, dijo la oficina del sheriff.
La oficina también señaló que el campo de escombros de la avalancha tenía aproximadamente 45 metros de ancho, 137 metros de largo y 3 metros de profundidad.
Cabe destacar que una advertencia de tormenta invernal está vigente en el área y se esperan acumulaciones de nieve de 70 a 76 centímetros en el área del resort, además de que se prevé que otra tormenta de invierno traerá fuertes nevadas de montaña el viernes por la tarde y el sábado.
The 2024 Board of Supervisors, from left Ray Mueller, Noelia Corzo, Warren Slocum, David J. Canepa and Dave Pine. Credit San Mateo County Executive's Office
The supervisor of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors For District Four, Warren Slocum became the new Chairman of the Board of Supervisors for 2024 with a vision of evaluation and change, stating that: “Just because something works doesn’t mean it can’t be improved.”
At the same meeting, the Board also selected District 5 Supervisor David Canepa as Vice Chair and thanked outgoing District 1 Chair Dave Pine for his leadership during 2023.
The term is Slocum’s third since taking office in 2013 and his last due to term limits. His district includes the cities of Redwood City and East Palo Alto and areas within the city of Menlo Park east of El Camino Real and including Belle Haven and the unincorporated community of North Fair Oaks.
During his remarks, Slocum noted that the county of 10 years ago is quite different than it is today.
“The reality is that we are more diverse, more people are struggling to support their families, food insecurity is prevalent, and we are still recovering from a global pandemic,” she said. “Our public life has become at times more confrontational, our dialogue sharper, and our challenges far more complex.”
In response, Slocum said change is inevitable and necessary, and questioned the county’s organizational structure, including the need for 26 separate departments. He also called for amplifying public voices and strengthening the county’s equity work, including passing an ordinance codifying the county’s commitment and “recalibrating” the Office of Equity and Social Justice. He said the county should invest in data collection to improve goal setting and decision making, and in technology, including artificial intelligence.
Slocum said former Supervisor Don Horsley, who died in November, taught him that board presidency is more about setting a tone and vision than creating a to-do list.
In February 2023, the Board of Supervisors was tasked at a retreat with collectively crafting a headline for three years into the future that would summarize their work. Slocum, closing his remarks, said the aspirational quote chosen says it all: “San Mateo County leads the nation in best practices in the areas of homelessness, equity and affordable housing.”
As Slocum looked ahead, Pine took time to reflect on his final year as president and the work the Board will tackle in 2023.
“After welcoming two new supervisors, we began the 2023 calendar year with unprecedented storms and flooding, quickly followed by the tragic, deadly shooting in Half Moon Bay,” Pine said. “While these events set a somber tone for the year and exposed some inequities that were previously not well known, they also presented an opportunity for this county to do what we do best: pool our resources, with neighbor helping neighbor, to provide necessary services to the most vulnerable among us.”
Pine’s colleagues took turns praising him for his performance as president during a busy year. “His steady hand made a huge difference,” Slocum said.
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa Azín declared a State of Exception and National Curfew, which will be implemented indefinitely in the country. Photo: X @PoliciaEcuador
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa Azín declared a State of Emergency and National Curfew, which will be implemented indefinitely in the country, following the wave of violence recorded in the country since last Sunday, January 7.
The South American nation has been shaken by atrocious acts by criminal and terrorist groups, following an emergency operation on the suspected escape of “El Fito,” leader of the group “Los Choneros,” and one of the most dangerous drug traffickers in Ecuador.
After six riots and the escape of Adolfo Macías “El Fito” from the Regional Prison, who was serving a 34-year sentence for organized crime, acts of violence against the population were also recorded, and even the takeover of the facilities of the TC Television network, in the city of Guayaquil.
In a message to the population, President Daniel Noboa said that “the time is over when those convicted of drug trafficking, contract killings and organized crime dictated to the government in power what to do. What we are seeing in the country's prisons is the result of the decision to confront them.”
For this reason, he added, "the government has taken action to regain control of the centres of freedom that have been lost in recent years and, in response, these narco-terrorist groups seek to intimidate us and believe that we will give in to their demands."
He also said that the government has given precise instructions to military and police commanders to intervene in the control of prisons and that a State of Emergency decree has been signed so that they have full political and legal support for their actions.
Through social media, he highlighted that, following the example of the president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, Military Democracy was implemented, which is why from now on the country enters into “total war” against drug traffickers and local gangs.
The organized crime groups detected are Las Águilas, Águilas Killer, Ak47, Dark Knights, ChoneKille, Choneros, Covicheros, Cuartel de las Feas, Cubans, Fatales, Gángster, Kater Piler, Lizards, Latin Kings, Wolves, Los p.27, Los Tiburones, Mafia 18, Mafia Trébol, Patrones, R7 and Tiguerones.
In turn, Admiral Jaime Vela Graso, head of the Joint Command of the Armed Forces of Ecuador, explained that the “actions and decisions undertaken by the national government seriously affect criminal structures and, in response, have unleashed a wave of violence to frighten the population.”
For this reason, he explained, criminal groups have committed bloody acts unprecedented in the history of the nation, but despite their brutal evil, this attempt will fail due to Executive Decree No. 111, which establishes a clear mission: “from this moment on, every terrorist group identified in the aforementioned decree has become a military objective.”
“The present and future of our country is at stake and no act of terror will make us give in. We will not back down or negotiate. Good, justice and order cannot ask permission or bow their heads to terrorists.”
It is worth noting that the armed forces and the police of Ecuador confirmed the escape of another 32 prisoners, including Fabricio Pico, leader of “Los Lobos”, who was accused of planning the murder of prosecutor Diana Salazar.
So far, of the 32 fugitives, at least 20 have been recaptured.
This publication was supported in whole or part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the 
