Monday, April 28, 2025
Home Blog Page 15

California launches $4B youth mental health initiative

by Selen Ozturk

With youth mental health worsening, California has launched a new initiative to help kids access free treatment.

The over $4 billion Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI), part of Governor Newsom’s Master Plan For Kids’ Mental Health announced in 2022, aims to fight the youth mental health crisis through free telehealth apps offering peer support, health care system navigation aid and connection to local providers.

Between 2019 and 2021, about 1 in 3 California adolescents aged 12 to 17 reported symptoms that met the criteria for serious psychological distress, according to a statewide survey.

National estimates suggest that 1 in 2 adolescents are affected by a mental health disorder, with nearly half of these first appearing before 14 years of age.

As these numbers rise, youth statewide are not getting the care they need.

Of the 284,000 youth diagnosed with depression in California, for instance, 66% did not receive treatment during adolescence.

Meanwhile, suicide rates for Californian youth aged 10 to 18 increased 20% between 2019 and 2020.

The initiative

“To help kids get the help they need — and to address a nationwide shortage of providers that often cause long wait times — we’ve launched two mental health apps, BrightLife Kids and Soluna, offering free support to parents, caregivers and kids living in California, regardless of insurance status,” said Autumn Boylan, Deputy Director of the Office of Strategic Partnerships at the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), at a Tuesday, December 10 state-held briefing on the initiative.

BrightLife Kids offers free support to families with kids up to age 12 including coaching for sleep issues, anxiety, social skills and family caregiving coordination through live one-on-one video chats, direct messaging and on-demand content.

Coaches are bilingual in English and Spanish, and caregiver users have access to translation up to over 17 languages.

For Californians aged 13 to 25, Soluna offers multilingual one-on-one text and video chats with user-selected coaches, with a one-minute average wait time; peer discussion forums; interactive journaling, breathwork, mood log and goal-setting tools; mental health quizzes, videos and articles; health care system navigation support, including dental and vision; and even help in finding other resources like local food banks, housing aid, transportation and even cooling centers.

The free resources are currently state-funded through June 30, 2027 and available for download on the App Store and Google Play, requiring an in-state zip code for signup.

“When my own child was experiencing mental health challenges, it was tricky navigating a complicated health system alone,” said Boylan. “And when we were talking to young people leading up to the launch of these apps, we heard clearly that they don’t necessarily want to talk to a licensed practitioner right away, but to peers and near-peers that can understand their lived experience.”

“So it made sense to offer upstream, early-intervention support to youth who may not necessarily have a mental health diagnosis, but who need skills to cope with everyday-life stressors and let them know they’re not alone … which would also take some pressures off understaffed practitioners statewide. Then, for kids who need more support, we connect them to these practitioners through these apps,” she added.

Community stories

“I’ve worked with Dr. Diana, a family physician and mother who was completely skeptical about this program, but signed up because her child was dealing with tantrums and aggressive behavior like biting,” said Brando Menjivar, a senior coach for BrightLife Kids. “Through coaching to support her child, not only did his behavior improve, but so did communication with her husband about their best parenting approach.”

“The more I work with caregivers and kids, the more I realize that sometimes we fight our emotions. The first step is labeling these emotions so we can be aware of them and identify their triggers … and accept that experiencing, say, grief or stress isn’t bad. It becomes bad when we don’t manage it, and it just sits there and turns into something worse,” he continued.

Most standard medical textbooks attribute 50% to 80% of disease to stress-related origins.

“The concept I love to teach kids dealing with big emotions is of being the surfer who swims toward the big wave to ride it, rather than swimming away,” Menjivar added. “Toward the end of our coaching, Dr. Diana said ‘Nobody teaches you how to be a parent in med school.’ She had all this physical knowledge, but didn’t know how to connect the dots so she and her child could make space to accept their emotions.”

“I grew up in a pretty traditional Latino household, so mental health was a taboo subject. It was rarely talked about,” said Yasmin, a Soluna coach. “And as a teenager, I experienced a lot of traumatic events and felt really alone in my suffering. For the longest time, I just questioned why I was going through it. It wasn’t until I learned about the peer support model in college when it clicked — all the emotional challenges I went through were so that I could help other people.”

“I share my story because it’s one that all our peer support specialists have. We all have lived mental health struggles that fuel us to support other people,” she continued. “And our coaching sessions are goal-based, so whether our users want to have 10 sessions, or just come in for one single session, all our coaches have a solution-focused approach to help create actionable steps for change.”

Describing the need for these services, Moa Kim, a counselor at Koreatown Youth Community Center in Los Angeles, said “I have a Korean American fifth grade student, born and raised in Koreatown, who comes for rehab services, and he and his mom come in for therapy as their relationship has been strained, because they feel like they can’t communicate well with each other, especially when they’re angry.”

“She’s very overworked from her job, and her husband is often unavailable due to his job, and he expects her to be the primary caretaker for their son, so she’s struggling with their child’s emotional outbursts, and then she frequently loses her temper, which only worsens the situation, and she feels too drained to practice peaceful parenting or prioritize self-care,” she continued.

“So her son, who is very sensitive and bright, has turned to gaming as a coping skill. So now, every time he and his mom fight, he shuts himself in his room. And his mom recognizes the need to spend more quality time with her son, but feels too overwhelmed to make those changes,” Kim explained. “We’ve been providing help and parenting tips, but can only meet them once a week — so she feels unsupported.”

“This is just one example of countless youth and families with similar struggles throughout California that this initiative is going a long way to help,” she added. “To deal with these mental health issues, kids need help learning to communicate them … that’s what these apps are here for.”

spot_img

How to lose weight quickly and comfortably with smart habits

by Marvin Ramírez and the El Reportero‘s staff

Losing weight quickly, comfortably and effectively is the goal of many people who want to improve their health and physical appearance. To achieve this, it is essential to combine smart strategies that integrate balanced nutrition, specific exercises and complementary tools such as shaping belts. Next, we will explore how to optimize these elements to achieve long-lasting results.

When the body accumulates fat, especially in the abdominal area, the underlying muscles are subjected to constant stretching. This process can cause the tissue to lose elasticity, making it difficult to recover once weight loss begins. Therefore, in addition to reducing fat, it is essential to actively work on muscle toning.

The first step towards effective weight loss is to adjust the diet. This does not mean going on extreme diets, but rather focusing on foods rich in nutrients and low in calories. Eating lean proteins, fruits, vegetables and complex carbohydrates helps maintain energy levels while promoting fat burning.

Avoiding processed foods, sugary drinks, and trans fats is equally crucial. Replacing these with healthier options, such as water, green tea, or natural snacks, can make a big difference. Additionally, maintaining a moderate calorie deficit—consuming fewer calories than you burn daily—is the key to consistent, sustainable weight loss.

As belly fat decreases, belly-specific exercises are essential to firm skin and muscles. The abdomen is made up of different muscle groups that must be worked comprehensively.

For the upper abdomen, exercises such as crunches and leg raises are highly effective. On the other hand, for the lower abdomen, planks and movements such as the mountain climber offer excellent results. These exercises not only tone, but also strengthen the core, improving posture and preventing injuries.

Shapewear has gained popularity as an additional weight loss tool, especially in the abdominal area. While they do not burn fat directly, they can offer significant secondary benefits.

First, by wearing a shapewear, the abdominal muscles receive additional support that helps keep them in a more compact position. This can help “train” muscle memory and promote a more streamlined appearance. Second, some thermal girdles are designed to increase the temperature in the abdominal area, which can promote sweating and, with it, the temporary elimination of retained fluids.

It is important, however, not to rely exclusively on girdles. These should be complementary to an exercise routine and a proper diet. Wearing them for prolonged periods or incorrectly can cause discomfort or even health problems, such as breathing difficulties.

The weight loss process requires a balance between physical effort and recovery. Drinking enough water not only helps keep the metabolism active, but is also essential to eliminate toxins and prevent fluid retention. Likewise, sleep plays a critical role. During rest, the body regulates appetite hormones and repairs muscle tissue, which maximizes the results of exercise and prevents fat accumulation.

Setting realistic goals is key to avoiding frustration and maintaining long-term motivation. In addition to abdominal exercises, cardiovascular activities such as running, swimming or dancing are essential for burning calories. High levels of stress can trigger emotional eating, so techniques such as yoga or meditation are useful.

Eating only two meals a day can definitely help decrease food addiction, which will consequently make the person lose fat and weight in the body. For those who really want to lose weight, it is recommended not to eat after 4 pm, which allows the body to optimize fat burning during the night’s rest. To tame the munchies, the stomach can be distracted with some fruit, which helps keep cravings under control without breaking the eating plan.

Losing weight quickly and comfortably requires a comprehensive approach that combines healthy eating, exercise, tools such as shapewear, and positive habits such as adequate rest. Although the process can present challenges, maintaining consistency and a positive mindset will make the results easier to achieve. With patience and dedication, it is possible to achieve a healthier, fitter body.

spot_img

Mexican christmas show at Santana Row Park in San Jose

by Magdy Zara

Every Tuesday in December is a family-friendly event at Santana Row Park, with Christmas shows being organized, where you can also enjoy snow showers at Park Valencia, photos of Santa Claus at Oak Tree Lounge, balloons and much more.

This week, the presentation of the new ballet “The Nutcracker of San Jose” is scheduled, as well as Nor Cal Dance Arts, Sarah Bylsma Holiday Vocalist PNC

Music Co, the Los Laureles Folk Group, among others.

This Tuesday, Dec. 17, the activities will take place from 6 to 8 p.m., on the main stage of the Park, admission is free.

For more information, call 408-551-4611.

Enjoy Latin nights at El Infierno nightclub

El Infierno nightclub offers flavorful nights with Latin music and dance classes.

Dance classes are with Antonio and Isamar, followed by a social dance with DJ Bongo playing the best bachata, salsa, cha cha cha and cumbia.

You can’t miss the opportunity to immerse yourself in rhythms like salsa and bachata, in a fun and attractive environment.

The date is this Thursday, Dec. 19, dance classes are scheduled starting at 7 p.m., Tickets are $15.

El Infierno Nightclub is located at 120 Fifth Street, Santa Rosa.

Vacations with the Symphony: Elf in Concert

A unique opportunity for the little ones in the house to learn about and love classical music is what the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra is offering with its Vacations with the Symphony program, which projects popular film productions accompanied by a concert by the orchestra.

This Christmas you can experience your favorite holiday movie transformed with the music of the live symphony orchestra Elf in Concert, for the first time.

Elf in Concert will be available to families on Dec. 19, 20, and 21 of this year starting at 7 p.m., at the Davies Symphony Hall, located at 201 Van Ness Avenue, in San Francisco.

2025 Social and Economic Justice Music Festival

Everything is set for The Congress of the People and the Social and Economic Justice Music Festival that will bring together a wide range of activists, and artists in a call to fight against social and economic injustices.

The Social and Economic Justice Music Festival will feature all genres and styles of music, as well as other art forms besides music. On Saturday there will be three workshop sessions on various topics and on Sunday there will be three sessions of song sharing and shared performances. Both days end with an evening concert.

The Music Festival for Social and Economic Justice is scheduled for Saturday, January 25 and Sunday, Jan. 26, starting at 9 a.m., at Mission High School, 3750 – 18th Street, between Dolores and Church streets.

spot_img

When the Catholic clergy tried to eliminate the Virgin of Guadalupe

When the Zapatista troops entered Mexico City on December 6, 1914, they raised the flag of the Virgin of Guadalupe as a symbol of their struggle.

In the beginning, the Virgin of Guadalupe was not well received by the institutional religion because she was considered too indigenous. Only ten years after her birth, the Catholic clergy tried to suppress the cult

by México Desconocido

The history of religious phenomena is certainly very complex. Periods such as the conquest and evangelization in Mexico in the 16th century are a faithful testimony to all this. And it is that, although it may seem extraordinary to us, at that time the Catholic clergy tried to eliminate the Virgin of Guadalupe, only ten years after her appearances on the Tepeyac hill. With this in mind, can we say that the Guadalupana was really a symbol of religious imposition? Let’s learn more about it.

Evangelization. Veneration by substitution

After the fall of Mexico-Tenochtitlan, the Franciscans were the first religious order to arrive in New Spain. With their early arrival in May 1524, they were in charge of beginning the evangelization of the Mesoamerican peoples. After the destruction of the effigies and temples of the ancient gods (such as in Texcoco in 1525), the flogging and imprisonment of people reluctant to be baptized, Friar Pedro de Gante decided to introduce pre-Hispanic practices into the Catholic cult. With this, they managed to begin to attract the indigenous people to Christianity, and begin their indoctrination.

Also for this purpose, they promoted what the historian Edmundo O’Gorman called “substitution cults.” That is, the religious replaced the ancient deities with Marian advocations or saints, in order to direct indigenous devotion towards them. It is in this context that, according to what is related in the Nican Mopohua, the miraculous apparitions of the Virgin of Guadalupe began in December of the year 1531.

Although there is no evidence of these portents, there is evidence of the early Marian cult in Tepeyac. Chroniclers such as Bernal Díaz del Castillo or Friar Bernardino de Sahagún left notice of it in their writings.

Idolatry and Franciscan fury. The Catholic clergy tried to suppress the Virgin of Guadalupe

However, by the year 1540, the evangelizers were fighting what they had previously promoted. The native peoples had developed a cult centered on images, particularly those of Mary. The intricate religious syncretism that the Mesoamericans had practiced with Christianity and their ancient faith, revealed a devotion different from what the friars knew in Europe. The Franciscans, who were and continue to be Christocentric, saw this as an uncontrolled and massive idolatry. In places like Tlaxcala, they destroyed all the effigies of saints and virgins.

The main point of this type of heterodox cult was the hill of Tepeyac, where the veneration for the Virgin of Guadalupe had become strong. This fact had as a background the fervor in that place for the ancient goddess Cihuacóatl. Sahagún himself never looked favorably on the new Virgin. In his famous Historia general de las cosas de la Nueva España, he left evidence that it was known that in ancient times, Tonantzin Cihuacóatl was venerated in that place. The censorship exercised by these religious people was openly hostile to the Guadalupana, turning her devotion into an informal matter without full ecclesiastical recognition.

Archbishop Montúfar against the Franciscans. The triumph of the Guadalupana

Later, in 1554, the new archbishop of Mexico arrived: the Dominican Alonso de Montúfar. He decided to centralize the power of the archbishopric. To do this, in 1556, he wanted to subordinate the Franciscan autonomy and begin collecting tithes from the indigenous people. In addition, having learned of the stories of the apparitions at Tepeyac, he began to promote the formal worship of this Marian devotion. Faced with this, the Franciscans accused him of instigating idolatry towards a painted image, of which there was no evidence of its miracles.

It is in the midst of all this that historians such as Edmundo O’Gorman or Rodrigo Martínez Baracs have proposed that thanks to the advice of the humanist Francisco Cervantes de Salazar, the archbishop summoned Antonio Valeriano and other scholars from the College of Santa Cruz Tlatelolco, to collect testimonies about the apparitions of the Virgin of Tepeyac. The purpose was to give it legitimacy and diffusion through what would become the Nican Mopohua. It is not a question of one Juan Diego, but of several “Juan Diegos”, anonymous informants, who told Valeriano what they had seen. Their stories seem to be reminiscent of the appearances of the Mexica deity Cihuacóatl in pre-Hispanic times. Thanks to all this, a formal cult of the Virgin of Guadalupe was established around 1556, officially recognized by the Catholic Church.

The Virgin of Guadalupe: the triumph of the conquered

Thus, the various historical investigations and hypotheses point to the fact that, contrary to what some believe, the Virgin of Guadalupe is rather an original religious expression of the indigenous peoples subjected to Spanish power. These communities, encouraged by the violence and oppression committed against them in this period, built a figure of legitimacy in the new political, social and religious order imposed by the Europeans.

Even her iconographic attributes seem to be an amalgam of features of ancient Mexican deities together with those of the Immaculate Conception. Although the name Guadalupe comes from the homonymous Virgin of Extremadura, in Castile, Spain, it was not taken directly from her, but from the mountain range where Tepeyac is located. As Dr. Miguel León-Portilla pointed out, it seems that the mountain range to which the famous hill belongs was called “de Guadalupe” (as it is still known) by the conquerors, some time before the apparitions. This is because most of them came from the Castilian region; to commemorate their place of origin, they named the Mexican mountain range after their patron saint. The name “Sierra de Guadalupe” was already included in the first minutes of the Mexico City council.

As the Mexican philosopher Luis Villoro commented in the documentary El pueblo que caminando (1995), the conquered managed to resist and conquer their conquerors through the Virgin of Guadalupe. To protect them and overcome Spanish domination, to legitimize the right they had to exist in the nascent New Spain, the Guadalupana successfully broke into the hegemony of Catholic Christianity. As a social, historical and anthropological phenomenon, the Virgin became a continuous symbol of resistance and social justice.

spot_img

The dark side of gaming addiction: Violence and manipulation

by the El Reportero staff

The tragic story of the Voigt family exposes a chilling reality: unchecked video game addiction can lead to unimaginable violence. What began as an obsession with gaming ended with a father dead, a mother critically injured, and a community shaken. The case is a stark reminder of how addiction can spiral into destructive behavior if left unaddressed.

Experts warn that video game addiction is not just a harmless pastime. For some, it becomes a psychological dependency that alters brain chemistry, blurs the line between reality and fantasy, and provokes extreme reactions. “Video games are designed to be addictive,” explains Dr. Angela Rhodes, a psychologist specializing in behavioral disorders. “The reward systems built into these games can manipulate players into seeking endless gratification, often at the expense of their mental health.”

The gaming industry’s profit-driven strategies play a major role in this issue. Developers design games to hook players with features like endless progression, microtransactions, and immersive storylines. These tactics create armies of addicts who spend countless hours and dollars on their products. Meanwhile, the financial rewards for these companies soar, leaving addicts and their families to deal with the fallout.

Research highlights the severity of the problem. According to a 2023 study by the American Psychiatric Association, 8.5 percent of young gamers exhibit signs of gaming disorder, a condition recognized by the World Health Organization. These individuals often display withdrawal symptoms, aggressive behavior, and difficulty functioning in daily life. For families, the consequences can be devastating.

Joseph Voigt, 23, serves as a tragic example of how addiction can escalate. His compulsive gaming habits led to repeated conflicts with his father, Marvin Voigt, who urged him to take responsibility for his life. On a fateful Saturday night, this tension exploded into violence. Joseph fatally shot his father and critically injured his mother, Susan Voigt, 58, when confronted about his gaming obsession.

“It’s heartbreaking to see how addiction can push someone to such extremes,” Dr. Rhodes remarked. “This tragedy could have been avoided with earlier intervention and support.”

The societal cost of gaming addiction is immense. Families often struggle to recognize the signs until it’s too late. The immersive nature of gaming can isolate individuals, making it harder for loved ones to intervene. Experts emphasize the importance of setting boundaries and monitoring gaming habits, especially among young people.

Joseph Voigt’s history illustrates the cascading effects of addiction. Prior to the shooting, he had a record of violent behavior, including arrests for battery and discharging a firearm. His addiction likely exacerbated underlying issues, creating a storm that culminated in tragedy.

The Voigt case highlights the urgent need for awareness and action. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to stay vigilant for warning signs of addiction, such as excessive gaming, social withdrawal, and heightened irritability. “Ignoring these red flags can have dire consequences,” Dr. Rhodes cautioned.

Regulation of the gaming industry also plays a crucial role. Advocates argue that developers should take greater responsibility for the psychological impact of their products. Measures such as transparency about addictive features, time limits, and parental controls could mitigate some of the harm caused by excessive gaming.

Meanwhile, Susan Voigt remains hospitalized, her recovery uncertain. The community has rallied around her, but the emotional scars left by this tragedy will take much longer to heal. Joseph awaits trial, facing charges of murder and attempted murder. His case serves as a grim warning of what can happen when addiction is allowed to fester.

The story of the Voigt family underscores the high stakes of gaming addiction. It is a call to action for families, educators, and policymakers to recognize the dangers and take steps to address them. As Dr. Rhodes concluded, “This is not just about video games; it’s about protecting lives.”

– FoxNews reports contributed to this article.

spot_img

“We are coming out of the desert”: Milei takes stock of the first year of his government

Mandararios del bloque de Mercosur junto a la presidenta de la Comisión EuropeaSantiago Mazzarovich / Gettyimages.ru

The Argentine president assured that the objective is to make 3,200 more structural reforms before finishing his government

by the El Reportero wire services

The president of Argentina, Javier Milei, offered a message on national television this Tuesday, December 10, on the occasion of the first year of his administration.

The president recorded his speech this afternoon from the white room of Casa Rosada, the headquarters of the Executive in Buenos Aires, to point out the achievements of his administration 365 days after assuming power, and to advance the measures of what he called “the deep chainsaw.”

At the beginning of his speech, Milei thanked the “ordinary” Argentines who endured the governments of “the caste,” as he usually calls the traditional political parties, and who with their vote were willing to resist the strong adjustment applied by the libertarian government.

“The sacrifice they have made is moving. I assure you that it will not be in vain,” he said. And he added that, due to the situation inherited, “getting the country out of misery would require going through a painful impasse.”

“Whether you like it or not, Argentina has emerged from the hole into which politicians sank us. And today, for the first time in decades, the sun of hope is shining,” he said.

“Happy times are coming”

For Milei, the country is heading towards a future of prosperity that for many is “unimaginable.” “We have overcome the test of fire. We are emerging from the desert. The recession is over and happy times are coming,” said the president. However, he clarified: “We have not reached port, but we can end the year with relief, and with the certainty that next year will be better.”

According to Milei, the future objective is to make 3,200 more structural reforms before finishing his government. Meanwhile, for next year, the head of State assured that there will be “sustained growth” thanks to the “cyclical recovery”, the recovery of salaries and pensions, due to the fall in inflation.

In addition, he promised the end of the so-called ‘cepo’ exchange rate, an economic measure that restricts the purchase of foreign currency, and it will be “forever”. According to Milei, soon Argentines will be able to make their transactions in the currency they wish.

Free trade

When mentioning Mercosur, the president said that the South American bloc must “increase the autonomy” of its members, so that each country can trade with whomever it wants. In that sense, he anticipated that Argentina’s objective for next year is to promote a free trade agreement with the US.

He also mentioned that he will apply an “anti-mafia law, in the image and likeness of the RICO law, which liquidated organized crime” in the North American country 50 years ago. He also said that the project to lower the age of criminal responsibility for minors who commit crimes will become a reality.

Management summary

After having applied drastic measures to cut public spending, which he symbolized under his proclaimed “chainsaw”, the economist who defines himself as a “libertarian liberal” has managed to contain the high rates of inflation.

The consumer price index fell from 25.5 percent in December 2023 to 2.7 percent in October of this year, while the year-on-year measurement fell from 211.4 percent to 193 percent, although it is estimated that it will be lower at the end of 2024.

Along the way, consumption and industrial production suffered sharp declines, driven by a deep recession and its consequent layoffs.

Meanwhile, under the premise of reducing the State to a minimum, 13 Ministries were eliminated, state agencies were closed and budgets for Science, Culture and Education, among other areas, were cut. There was also a sharp cut in the salaries of retirees, and all public works with national financing were suspended.

In Milei’s first year as president of the country, it can be said that there are certain economic parameters that have stabilized. In addition to controlling inflationary tension, he managed to break through and lower the country risk barrier, managed to keep the value of the dollar at bay, and achieved fiscal and trade surpluses.

However, the social consequences are overwhelming. Poverty rose from 40.1 percent to 52.9 percent in the first 6 months of Milei’s government. And unemployment rose 1.4 percent year-on-year and reached 7.6 percent of the population in the second quarter of 2024.

– With reports by RT.

spot_img

“Digital ID and Real ID: A path to surveillance control?”

Marvin Ramírez, editor

Under the guise of convenience and safety, a sweeping effort is underway to reshape the foundations of personal autonomy and privacy in the United States and beyond. The Real ID Act, initially framed as a tool for national security, has gradually turned into a mechanism to centralize control over individual identity. This quiet shift towards a national database—a “national brain,” as some aptly describe it—is a disquieting reality, especially for those who cherish the traditional independence of state governance.

For decades, a driver’s license represented state sovereignty. It was a symbol of localized governance, a testament to the individual identity managed independently by each state. The advent of the Real ID, however, has begun to erode this sovereignty. Through relentless advertising and subtle coercion, citizens are being pushed to exchange their traditional licenses for federally compliant IDs. What used to be a matter of state pride and individual discretion now feels like a compulsory enrollment into a larger, more intrusive system.

While the Real ID Act was born out of domestic policy, it mirrors a broader global trend. The World Economic Forum (WEF), a key player in the globalization of governance, has recently unveiled its ambition to extend digital ID systems into the realm of the metaverse. Their November report, “Shared Commitments in a Blended Reality,” outlines a vision for a fully traceable and controlled digital future. At its core is the imposition of a digital identity framework that would govern every interaction, transaction, and movement across blended physical and digital realities.

The report champions digital ID as a solution to issues like cyberbullying, harassment, and misinformation. It argues that in a world where people cannot “unsee” or “un-experience” interactions, it is essential to regulate behavior through traceable identities. Such logic might sound appealing on the surface, but it raises profound concerns about personal freedom and agency.

Digital ID—the linchpin of the WEF’s governance framework—would create an ecosystem where all actions are monitored, recorded, and controlled. From verifying the authenticity of digital assets to moderating online conduct, every aspect of life could be subjected to scrutiny under the guise of protecting “safety” and “transparency.” And while the WEF claims that these measures are necessary to address transnational issues like cybercrime and misinformation, the reality is far more insidious: this system centralizes power in the hands of unelected technocrats, stripping individuals of their autonomy.

One of the most alarming aspects of this vision is its emphasis on “traceability and control.” By linking every transaction and interaction to a digital ID, the line between the physical and digital worlds blurs, creating an environment where nothing escapes surveillance. Transactions, asset ownership, and even personal interactions could be subjected to a chain of custody, all justified under the pretense of maintaining “authenticity” and “accountability.”

The Real ID initiative in the United States serves as a domestic parallel to this global push. Both aim to consolidate data and impose a uniform identity system. However, as citizens, we must ask: where does this end? If digital ID becomes mandatory for basic activities, from accessing healthcare to participating in digital spaces, what freedom remains? The slippery slope of surveillance and control looms large, and history has taught us that such measures, once implemented, are rarely rolled back.

Advocates of digital ID argue that it can empower individuals by providing “security” and “transparency.” Yet, as we’ve seen with vaccine passports and other digital mandates, these systems often become tools of exclusion. Non-compliance can lead to loss of access to goods and services, effectively forcing individuals to conform. Despite the WEF’s lip service to “preservation of choice,” the reality is starkly different. Opting out of digital ID systems is increasingly portrayed as impractical, if not impossible.

There is an alternative for those concerned about the Real ID’s reach. The U.S. passport card remains a viable option. It’s federally recognized, allows for domestic travel, and doesn’t require sharing additional personal information with centralized databases. For non-U.S. citizens, your valid passport from your home country can still be used for domestic flights. However, it’s important to note that old state IDs or driver’s licenses will no longer be accepted for boarding a plane in the near future.

This approach, however, is not a long-term solution. The broader issue is the incremental erosion of privacy and freedom under the pretense of modernization.

As global initiatives like those of the WEF gain momentum, they expose the dangers of consolidating power in the hands of a few. Centralized digital ID systems risk transforming societies into digital panopticons, where every action is monitored and controlled. Such a future is antithetical to the principles of freedom and democracy.

The path forward requires vigilance and resistance. Citizens must demand transparency and accountability from their governments. Policies that prioritize individual autonomy over centralized control must be championed. While technology offers incredible potential, it must not come at the cost of fundamental freedoms. The promise of “progress” must not blind us to the risks of totalitarian control in the digital age.

The time to act is now. As governments and global entities push for digital ID systems under various pretexts, it is up to us to safeguard the values of privacy and autonomy. Rejecting systems like the Real ID and advocating for decentralized, transparent alternatives is not just a choice—it is a necessity. Freedom, after all, is not something to be granted by governments or technocrats; it is a right that must be fiercely protected and preserved.

spot_img

California respects the power of your vote

Shirley N. Weber, PhD, California Secretary of State

by Shirley N. Weber, PhD, California Secretary of State

Californians can confidently say: California has made more significant reforms to our election laws and expanded voting rights than any other state.

The significance of this achievement is heightened as we prepare to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act next year. This landmark legislation began to undo our country’s long history of voter intimidation and suppression, and disenfranchisement of our country’s voters that too many Americans suffered at the polls for decades.

My own parents, who were sharecroppers, were denied their right to vote in the Jim Crow-era South. Before we moved to Los Angeles from Hope, Arkansas, my parents, David and Mildred Nash, were not allowed to vote. My father was an adult with six children before he registered to vote and could only exercise that constitutional right for the first time here in California.

As California Secretary of State, I do not take lightly the progress we have made over the years. My staff and I hold sacred the obligation to ensure our elections are secure, free, fair, and accessible to all. That is why, before certifying the results of this year’s election on December 13, we have taken a number of steps to ensure that every vote is counted. We have also made sure that our ballot counting process is credible and free from interference.

To meet that deadline without a hitch, California requires election officials in all 58 counties to deliver their official results by a certain date. This year, that date was December 6.

By law, every eligible voter in our state receives a vote-by-mail ballot. This ensures that every registered voter can exercise their right to vote.

Whether you dropped your ballot off at a designated drop box, voted by mail, or cast your ballot at a voting center, votes are safe and secure. And we allow voters to sign up to receive text, email, or voice call notifications about the status of their own ballots using the Where’s My Ballot? tool. To learn more or to sign up, paste this link into your web browser: https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/

The ballots of Californians who voted by mail are also protected. The United States Postal Service (USPS) partners with the State of California to make sure ballots are delivered on time. All mail-in ballots are sent First Class mail in a postage-paid envelope provided to every registered voter eligible to vote.

Election security is our first priority. That’s why my office designed and implemented a program to support that commitment. For more information, visit this link: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/election-cybersecurity

In addition, California takes preventative measures to ensure our voting technology keeps our elections secure and protects everyone’s votes.

For example, county voting systems are not connected to the internet, protecting them from cyberthreats. The state also conducts regular, rigorous testing to ensure voting systems are working optimally, and only allows access to authorized personnel.

Staff also receive training on phishing and cybersecurity.

VoteCal, the state’s centralized voter registration system, is also key. The system is updated regularly and is used as a resource for counties to verify voter signatures.

California also provides security at all counting sites and ensures ballot drop boxes are secured and monitored.

And all election processes are open to observation during specific hours.

In my role as California Secretary of State, there is nothing more important to me than defending our democracy. I am committed to safeguarding the right to vote and leading our state in upholding the highest democratic standards by implementing policies and practices that Californians and all Americans can trust and turn to for instruction and hope.

spot_img

Landlords are using AI to raise rents — and California cities are leading the pushback

California and federal prosecutors have accused software company RealPage of enriching itself ”at the expense of renters who pay inflated prices”

by Wendy Fry

CalMatters

San Diego’s proposed ordinance, now being drafted by the city attorney, comes after San Francisco supervisors in July enacted a similar, first-in-the-nation ban on “the sale or use of algorithmic devices to set rents or manage occupancy levels” for residences. San Jose is considering a similar approach.

And California and seven other states have also joined the federal prosecutors’ antitrust suit, which targets the leading rental pricing platform, Texas-based RealPage. The complaint alleges that “RealPage is an algorithmic intermediary that collects, combines, and exploits landlords’ competitively sensitive information. And in so doing, it enriches itself and compliant landlords at the expense of renters who pay inflated prices…”

But state lawmakers this year failed to advance legislation by Bakersfield Democratic Sen. Melissa Hurtado that would have banned the use of any pricing algorithms based on nonpublic data provided by competing companies. She said she plans to bring the bill back during the next legislative session because of what she described as ongoing harms from such algorithms.

“We’ve got to make sure the economy is fair and … that every individual who wants a shot at creating a business has a shot without being destroyed along the way, and that we’re also protecting consumers because it is hurting the pocketbooks of everybody in one way or another,” said Hurtado.

RealPage has been a major impetus for all of the actions. The company counts as its customers landlords with thousands of apartment units across California. Some officials accuse the company of thwarting competition that would otherwise drive rents down, exacerbating the state’s housing shortage and driving up rents in the process.

“Every day, millions of Californians worry about keeping a roof over their head and RealPage has directly made it more difficult to do so,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta in a written statement.

A RealPage spokesperson, Jennifer Bowcock, told CalMatters that a lack of housing supply, not the company’s technology, is the real problem — and that its technology benefits residents, property managers, and others associated with the rental market. The spokesperson later wrote that a “ misplaced focus on nonpublic information is a distraction… that will only make San Francisco and San Diego’s historical problems worse.”

As for the federal lawsuit, the company called the claims in it “devoid of merit” and said it plans to “vigorously defend ourselves against these accusations.”

“We are disappointed that, after multiple years of education and cooperation on the antitrust matters concerning RealPage, the (Justice Department) has chosen this moment to pursue a lawsuit that seeks to scapegoat pro-competitive technology that has been used responsibly for years,” the company’s statement read in part. “RealPage’s revenue management software is purposely built to be legally compliant, and we have a long history of working constructively with the (department) to show that.”

The company’s challenges will only grow if pricing software becomes another instance in which California lawmakers lead the nation. Following San Francisco’s ban, the Philadelphia City Council passed a ban on algorithmic rental price-fixing with a veto-proof vote last month. New Jersey has been considering its own ban.

Is it price fixing — or coaching landlords?

According to federal prosecutors, RealPage controls 80 percent of the market for commercial revenue management software. Its product is called YieldStar, and its successor is AI Revenue Management, which uses much of the same codebase as YieldStar, but has more precise forecasting. RealPage told CalMatters it serves only 10 percent of the rental markets in both San Francisco and San Diego, across its three revenue management software products.

Here’s how it works:

In order to use YieldStar and AIRM, landlords have historically provided RealPage with their own private data from their rental applications, rent prices, executed new leases, renewal offers and acceptances, and estimates of future occupancy, although a recent change allows landlords to choose to share only public data. This information from all participating landlords in an area is then pooled and run through mathematical forecasting to generate pricing recommendations for the landlords and for their competitors.

The San Diego council president, Sean Elo-Rivera, explained it like this:

“In the simplest terms, what this platform is doing is providing what we think of as that dark, smoky room for big companies to get together and set prices,” he said. “The technology is being used as a way of keeping an arm’s length from one big company to the other. But that’s an illusion.”

In the company’s own words, from company documents included in the lawsuit, RealPage “ensures that (landlords) are driving every possible opportunity to increase price even in the most downward trending or unexpected conditions.” The company also said in the documents that it “helps curb (landlords’) instincts to respond to down-market conditions by either dramatically lowering price or by holding price.”

Providing rent guidance isn’t the only service RealPage has offered landlords. In 2020, a Markup and New York Times investigation found that RealPage, alongside other companies, used faulty computer algorithms to do automated background checks on tenants. As a result, tenants were associated with criminal charges they never faced, and denied homes.

Impact on tenants

Thirty-one-year-old Navy veteran Alan Pickens and his wife move nearly every year “because the rent goes up, it gets unaffordable, so we look for a new place to stay,” he said. The northeastern San Diego apartment complex where they just relocated has two-bedroom apartments advertised for between $2,995 and $3,215.

They live in an area of San Diego where the U.S. Justice Department says information-sharing agreements between landlords and RealPage have harmed or are likely to harm renters.

The department in August filed its antitrust lawsuit against RealPage, alleging the company, through its legacy YieldStar software, engaged in an “unlawful scheme to decrease competition among landlords in apartment pricing”. The complaint names specific areas where rents are artificially high. Beyond the part of San Diego where Pickens lives, those areas include South Orange County, Rancho Cucamonga, Temecula, and Murrieta and northeastern San Diego.

In the second quarter of 2020, the average rent in San Diego County was $1,926, reflecting a  26 percent increase over three years, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. Rents have since risen even more in the city of San Diego, to $2,336 per month as of November 2024 – up 21 percent from 2020, according to RentCafe and the Tribune. That’s 50 percent higher than the national average rent.

The attorneys general of eight states, including California, joined the Justice Department’s antitrust suit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina.

The California Justice Department contends RealPage artificially inflated prices to keep them above a certain minimum level, said department spokesperson Elissa Perez. This was particularly harmful given the high cost of housing in the state, she added. “The illegally maintained profits that result from these price alignment schemes come out of the pockets of the people that can least afford it.”

Renters make up a larger share of households in California than in the rest of the country —  44 percent here compared to 35 percent nationwide. The Golden State also has a higher percentage of renters than any state other than New York, according to the latest U.S. Census data.

San Diego has the fourth-highest percentage of renters of any major city in the nation.

The recent ranks of California legislators, however, have included few renters: As of 2019, CalMatters could find only one state lawmaker who did not own a home — and found that more than a quarter of legislators at the time were landlords.

Studies show that low-income residents are more heavily impacted by rising rents. Nationally between 2000 and 2017, Americans without a college degree spent a higher percentage of their income on rent. That percentage ballooned from 30 percent to 42 percent. For college graduates, that percentage increased from 26 percent to 34 percent.

“In my estimation, the only winners in this situation are the richest companies who are either using this technology or creating this technology,” said Elo-Rivera. “There couldn’t be a more clear example of the rich getting richer while the rest of us are struggling to get by.”

The state has invested in RealPage

Private equity giant Thoma Bravo acquired RealPage in January 2021 through two funds that have hundreds of millions of dollars in investments from California public pension funds, including the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, the California State Teachers’ Retirement System, the Regents of the University of California and the Los Angeles police and fire pension funds, according to Private Equity Stakeholder Project.

“They’re invested in things that are directly hurting their pensioners,” said K Agbebiyi, a senior housing campaign coordinator with the Private Equity Stakeholder Project, a nonprofit private equity watchdog that produced a report about corporate landlords’ impact on rental hikes in San Diego.

RealPage argues that landlords are free to reject the price recommendations generated by its software. But the U.S. Justice Department alleges that trying to do so requires a series of steps, including a conversation with a RealPage pricing adviser. The advisers try to “stop property managers from acting on emotions,” according to the department’s lawsuit.

If a property manager disagrees with the price the algorithm suggests and wants to decrease rent rather than increase it, a pricing advisor will “escalate the dispute to the manager’s superior,” prosecutors allege in the suit.

In San Diego, the Pickenses, who are expecting their first child, have given up their gym memberships and downsized their cars to remain in the area. They’ve considered moving to Denver.

“All the extras pretty much have to go,” said Pickens. “I mean, we love San Diego, but it’s getting hard to live here.”

“My wife is an attorney and I served in the Navy for 10 years and now work at Qualcomm,” he said. “Why are we struggling? Why are we struggling?”

spot_img

Trump on job training promises? High schools have left the goal of ‘college for all’ behind. Will he deliver?

Adrian Jurado, un pintor, pinta una pared para un negocio en el centro de Los Banos el 7 de noviembre de 2024. Adrian Jurado, a painter, paints a wall for a business in downtown Los Banos on Nov. 7, 2024. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local.

Career and technical education has strong bipartisan support. But some education experts fear its growth may come at the expense of college preparation programs

by Carolyn Jones

CalMatters

In this politically charged era, there’s one thing both parties agree on: the benefits of high school career pathways.

With strong bipartisan support, career and technical education programs are poised to be a centerpiece of education policy over the next few years — both federally and in California. That’s good news for students taking agriscience, cabinetry, game design and other hands-on courses that may lead to high-paying careers.

Education advocates hail this as a boon for high schools. Students enrolled in career training courses tend to have higher test scores and graduation rates. And business leaders say that strong career education can boost a local economy.

But there are still many unknowns, and some education experts worry that an expansion of career education will come at the expense of college-preparation programs, or lead to a return to “tracking,” in which schools steer certain students — often low-income students — toward careers that tend to pay less than those that require college degrees.

“This could be a great opportunity for career and technical education, but we have to do it right,” said Andy Rotherham, co-founder of Bellwether, a nonprofit educational consulting organization. “There’s a lot at stake.”

Funding is a primary question mark. While Republicans strongly support career education, it’s unclear if that enthusiasm will translate to more money — especially if Congress eliminates the Department of Education, as President-elect Trump has vowed to do.

Career education classes can be some of the most expensive programs in a school district. Supplies, up-to-date equipment, teacher training, smaller class sizes, operation costs and students’ certification exams can cost millions, and the costs only increase over time. Schools spend 20 percent-40 percent more to educate students in career programs than they spend on those who aren’t, research shows.

Most federal funding for career education comes from a 1960s law meant to improve career education. But that funding has not kept up with the escalating costs. Last year Congress allotted $1.4 billion, which was distributed to states through grants. California received $142 million, and supplemented that with an additional $1 billion.

“It’s wonderful to see this bipartisan support, but we’d like it to lead to continued investment,” said Alisha Hyslop, chief policy, research and content officer at the Association for Career and Technical Education, an advocacy group.

Career education and tracking

Career and technical education has waxed and waned since its inception in the early 20th century as a way to prepare students, usually from working-class or immigrant families, for jobs in skilled trades.

For decades, most high schools in the U.S. had some form of vocational education. Those programs came under scrutiny in the 1980s and ’90s as some complained about tracking practices that left many students without the option to attend a 4-year college because they hadn’t taken the required coursework.

Partly in response to that criticism, former President George W. Bush’s No Child Left Behind Act in the early 2000s encouraged schools to promote college for all students. As a result, many schools cut back their career education offerings and added more advanced academic classes.

Then the 2008 financial crisis hit. High unemployment coupled with the soaring cost of college led schools to revive their career training programs, but with less tracking. Schools started encouraging all students to take career education classes, and the classes themselves were updated. Welding and auto shop were joined by computer science, graphic design, environmental studies, health care and other fields. In California, students are encouraged to take a career pathway as well as the required classes for admission to public 4-year colleges, although last year only about 11 percent of students completed both, according to state data.

Welders vs. philosophers

Career and technical education is a focal point of Project 2025, the conservative policy roadmap written by the Heritage Foundation as well as the Republican party education platform and President-elect Trump’s nominee for education secretary, Linda McMahon. McMahon headed a pro-Trump political action group called America First Action, whose policies include an emphasis on career education in K-12 schools. The Republican platform reads, “(We) will emphasize education to prepare students for great jobs and careers, supporting … schools that offer meaningful work experience.”

Sen. Marco Rubio, Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State, put it more succinctly: “Welders make more money than philosophers. We need more welders and less philosophers,” he said in 2015.

Career education has also been a priority for Democrats. In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and the Legislature have all promoted career education. In 2022 Newsom created the Golden State Pathways program, a $470 million investment in high school career education, and followed up a year later with the Master Plan on Career Education, outlining a long-term vision. Newsom described it as “a game changer for thousands of students.”

In California, the goal is to link career training with college preparation coursework, and tie pathways — sequences of two or three classes — to the local job market. For example, a pathway at a high school near the Port of Long Beach includes classes in global logistics and international business. A pathway at Hollywood High trains students for jobs in the entertainment industry.

More ties to business?

But some educators worry about the fate of career education if the Department of Education, which administers the Perkins Act, is eliminated. Project 2025 suggests moving it to the Department of Labor, where it would likely have stronger ties to business and fewer ties to education organizations. That could impact whether pathway programs continue to have academic components, or include college preparation classes.

“Businesses love CTE because it socializes one of their big costs. Taxpayers are paying to train their workers,” said David Stern, education professor emeritus at UC Berkeley who’s an expert on career education.

Hyslop shares that concern.

“Certainly CTE has connections to the economy, but at its heart it’s an education program. It’s about preparing students for their future, whatever that future may be,” she said.

A broader question may be whether the push for career education is part of a backlash against college generally. College enrollment has been dropping steadily for a decade, coinciding with a surge in trade school enrollment.

Meanwhile, Trump has proposed big cuts to higher education, and has often expressed disdain for what he described as colleges’ leftward tilt. Project 2025 calls for the government to place trade schools on equal footing with 4-year colleges.

“This new interest in CTE captures the anti-elitist sentiment of the time,” Stern said. He added that preparation for college does not have to conflict with preparation for careers, and some programs, such as the California Partnership Academies, prepare students for both.

Rotherham agreed. “On the right, there’s definitely antagonism toward college,” he said.

But they both said regardless of the politics behind it, a national focus on career education could be transformative — if it doesn’t railroad students away from college opportunities. Ideally, students can gain career experience in high school, while also learning poetry and civics and other important academic subjects, Rotherham said.

“Power is having choices,” Rotherham said. “That’s what we want for kids. The option to change their mind if they want.”

spot_img
1...141516...626Page 15 of 626

SELECTIONS

POPULAR TICKETS

POPULAR CATEGORY

ABOUT US

Welcome to our Marvin J. Ramirez website! We are an innovative newspaper located in the heart of San Francisco. With a relentless passion for telling powerful stories, we inform our community with truthful news, insightful analysis, and compelling reporting.

Contacto: lreportero@aol.com

FOLLOW US

© Copyright 2023. AMAYCOM.NET. All rights reserved.