CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO Community Outreach Public Notice

February 14, 2025

Ethics Commission

The San Francisco Ethics Commission is the city agency responsible for enforcing conflict of interest, campaign finance, and lobbying laws in San Francisco. We are committed to making San Francisco city government accountable and transparent. Ethics laws ensure that public officials make decisions in the interest of all San Franciscans and that no one can use public office for personal gain. Get informed! You can learn about San Francisco’s ethics rules by visiting our website at sfethics.org. There you can also review public disclosures filed by city officials, political campaigns, and lobbyists. This information can help you understand who is spending money to influence city government and local elections.

See something? Say something! If you have information about a violation of conflict of interest, campaign finance, or lobbying laws, you can file a complaint online with the Ethics Commission by visiting our website.

San Francisco Ethics Commission Accountability – Transparency – Trust sfethics.org

Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs Resources for Immigrants in San Francisco The SF Immigrant Forum is an online resource for immigrants of all backgrounds and statuses in San Francisco. This site includes free and low-cost resources, immigration legal help, information on public benefits and healthcare, know your rights, upcoming events, and much more! Connect to the trusted resources you need: sf.gov/immigrants

Department of Technology The San Francisco Department of Technology provides innovative, reliable, and secure technology solutions, enabling city and county agencies to deliver exceptional community-centered services. To help San Franciscans stay safe online, we have published cybersecurity resources in multiple languages on our website: https://www.sf.gov/resource/2023/cybersecurity-tips. These resources cover essential topics such as: ● Recognizing and avoiding phishing scams. ● Protecting your personal information online. ● Tips for safe online transactions. Cyber threats are on the rise, but together we can build a safer community. We encourage you to explore these resources and share them with your friends and family. Let’s work together to protect ourselves and our city. Visit our website today to learn more and stay safe! Thank you for helping us promote cybersecurity throughout San Francisco. The Mayor’s Office for Victims’ Rights provides confidential consultations regarding the legal rights of crime victims, warm referrals to support services, direct advocacy on behalf of survivors, and legislative/policy solutions to strengthen victim services and violence prevention.

Rent Board

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR LANDLORDS

San Francisco landlords require a license before imposing annual and cumulative rent increases on tenants in accordance with the city’s rent control laws. To obtain or renew a license, landlords must report certain information about their residential units in the San Francisco Housing Inventory each year. Landlords can submit their Housing Inventory information to the Rent Board in several ways, but are strongly encouraged to complete the process online at portal.sfrb.org. Once the system accepts the submission, a rent increase license will be automatically generated and made available. Landlords can also submit a paper Housing Inventory form to 25 Van Ness Ave., Suite 320, San Francisco, CA 94102 or to rentboard.inventory@sfgov.org. Assistance is available by calling 311 or emailing rentboard.inventory@sfgov.org. Visit sf.gov/rentboard for more information.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages public outreach. Articles are translated into multiple languages to provide better public access. The newspaper makes every effort to accurately translate articles of general interest. The City and County of San Francisco or the newspapers assume no responsibility for errors and omissions.

Munguía vs. Surace 2: Will history repeat itself? Riyadh, May 3rd

February 14, 2025

boxing_fight_2.14 — Jaime Munguía vs Bruno Surace.

by Marvin Ramírez

Super middleweight contender Jaime Munguía (44-2, 35 KOs) is set to step back into the ring for a highly anticipated 12-round rematch against Bruno Surace (26-0-2, 5 KOs) on May 3rd in Riyadh. This bout will serve as the co-feature on the undercard of the undisputed championship fight between Canelo Álvarez and William Scull.

Munguía, 28, enters the fight eager to avenge his stunning sixth-round knockout loss to Surace on December 14th of last year in his hometown of Tijuana, Mexico. That defeat came as a shock to many, as Munguía was the overwhelming favorite and even sent Surace to the canvas in the second round before succumbing to a decisive knockout.

The rematch was officially confirmed today after speculation had been swirling for weeks. Boxing journalist Salvador Rodríguez initially broke the news, hinting at Munguía’s intent to redeem himself. Given his status as a former WBO junior middleweight champion, Munguía has every reason to attempt to reverse his fortunes, though the challenge ahead is steep.

Choosing to face Surace again is a bold move by Munguía, but one fraught with risk. Stylistically, the two fighters appear to be at opposite ends of the spectrum. Surace, 26, boasts exceptional hand speed and pinpoint accuracy, qualities that proved too much for the often-defensively-lax Munguía in their first encounter. If Munguía’s defense hasn’t improved significantly, the outcome may mirror their initial meeting—or end even more decisively in Surace’s favor.

A victory for Munguía would open the door to lucrative opportunities, possibly paving the way for high-profile fights against Edgar Berlanga and, perhaps, a rematch with Canelo Álvarez—though there is little public demand for the latter. But before he can dream of those matchups, he must first overcome a fighter who appears to have his number.

In hindsight, signs of danger were evident before their first meeting. Surace’s explosive stoppage of Jhon Jader Obregon had showcased his ability to generate power at the right moment, yet Munguía’s camp seemed to overlook this evolution in his opponent’s skillset. Instead of recognizing the threats posed by Surace’s sharp counterpunching, Munguía’s team appeared to underestimate him, a mistake they cannot afford to repeat.

Now, the question remains: has Munguía learned from his errors, or will history repeat itself? If he fails to make the necessary adjustments, May 3rd could spell another humbling night for the Mexican star—and another triumphant moment for the rising Surace.-

With reports by Boxing News.

Migraine: A silent epidemic affecting millions

February 14, 2025

by Marvin Ramírez

Migraine is a neurological disorder that affects more than a billion people worldwide. It is characterized by recurrent and disabling headaches, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. Its impact on daily life is significant, interfering with work, personal relationships, and general well-being. Due to its high prevalence, experts consider it a silent epidemic.

While its exact causes are not fully understood, it is believed to be the product of genetic and environmental factors. “More than half of people with migraine have close relatives who also suffer from it,” say specialists from Merck Manuals, which reinforces its hereditary component.

Triggers and their impact

The main triggers include hormonal changes, stress, lack of sleep, and certain sensory stimuli. “Fluctuations in estrogen levels can trigger episodes in many women,” explains the Mayo Clinic. This makes them more prone to migraines than men, especially during childbearing years.

Stress and anxiety also play a role. “The body responds to stress by releasing hormones that can alter blood flow to the brain, causing an attack,” say neurology experts.

As for diet, some foods and drinks are linked to the onset of migraines. “Chocolate, red wine, aged and processed cheeses can act as triggers,” warns MedlinePlus. Foods rich in histamine, such as sausages and certain fish, can also be harmful to sensitive people.

Treatment and relief options

Treatment varies from person to person. In medication, triptans are the most commonly used. “Sumatriptan and rizatriptan block pain pathways in the brain and relieve symptoms,” explains the Mayo Clinic. However, they can have side effects and their use should be supervised by a doctor.

In addition to medication, there are alternative therapies. One effective option is acupressure. “Applying pressure to the base of the skull or between the thumb and index finger can reduce the intensity of the pain,” MedlinePlus recommends.

Using hot or cold compresses is also helpful. “Cold compresses numb the area, while hot compresses relax tense muscles,” adds the Mayo Clinic. Wearing tight bands around the head to reduce the feeling of pressure has also become popular.

Therapeutic massages help release tension and improve blood circulation. “Massage in the cervical area can decrease the frequency of episodes,” say physical therapy experts. Chiropractic has also been shown to be helpful in correcting misalignments in the spine. “By improving the balance of the nervous system, the severity of migraines can be reduced,” explains the American Chiropractic Association.

The Importance of Prevention

Prevention is key to reducing migraine frequency. Maintaining a balanced diet and avoiding prolonged fasting helps stabilize blood sugar levels. “Not letting more than three hours pass between meals can prevent migraine episodes,” suggests Alimmenta.

Hydration is also essential, as dehydration can be a triggering factor. Getting a good night’s sleep is another crucial aspect. “Maintaining a regular sleep schedule and avoiding screens before bed can significantly reduce episodes,” say neurology specialists.

Comprehensive approach to migraine management

Experts agree that migraine should be addressed with a comprehensive approach. Yoga and meditation help reduce stress and improve the body’s response to triggers. “Meditation relaxes the nervous system and can reduce the intensity of episodes,” notes a Harvard Medical School study.

Moderate exercise can also be beneficial. “Activities such as walking or swimming improve circulation and reduce stress without causing attacks,” health specialists explain.

Although migraine has no definitive cure, there are multiple strategies to control it and improve quality of life. From dietary changes and stress reduction to manual and pharmacological therapies, each patient can find a personalized approach to cope with this debilitating condition.

Choral books from the National Library of Mexico: treasures of New Spain music

February 14, 2025

The choral books from the National Library are one of the greatest treasures of this bibliographic collection. With centuries of history, these musical texts have now been deciphered, which has allowed the music that was played in the temples and convents of New Spain to be recreated

by México Desconocido

The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) is in charge of the custody of the choral books of the National Library. This facility is the most important bibliographic collection in our country. Of all the treasures it guards, these volumes of sacred music are among the most valuable, due to their history and antiquity. Therefore, it has been very relevant that a specialized group has carried out an authentic work of deciphering and sound reinterpretation of these books. They have managed to faithfully recreate the music that resonated in temples and convents of what was once New Spain.

The Ernesto de la Torre Villar Room (“Mexican Room”) of the National Library

The National Library of Mexico is an integral part of the UNAM. Located within the University Cultural Center (CCU), in the capital of the Republic, the highest house of studies is in charge of safeguarding and managing the most important bibliographic collection in the country. Among the different collections found in this very important facility, there is the Ernesto de la Torre Villar Room, colloquially known as the “Mexican Room”, where the choral books are found.

In this space, around 2,500 copies are kept, which belong to the Old Collection. Most of them were printed in New Spain, between the years 1554 and 1821. The room was designed by the architect Orso Núñez and was inaugurated in 1993, within the Annex Building of the National Library.

The function of the space is primarily to protect New Spain books. The room can be visited free of charge through guided tours. On these tours, in addition to seeing the “Mexican Room” first-hand, you can also see some of the ancient books kept in the premises.

The choral books of the National Library

There are fifteen viceregal choral books and they are kept in the “Mexican Room.” They were made in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries in New Spain and in Seville, Spain. They are truly enormous volumes, since each of their sides measures almost a meter, with weights that range from 20 to 40 kilos. Their pages are made of parchment, with religious illustrations in color that sparkle metallically in the light. The capital letters that began the texts are covered with beautiful flourishes.

These choral books were created in convents and monasteries. In these religious enclosures there were rooms called scriptorium. There, several friars or monks who were specialists in music, calligraphy, bookbinding and illustration, handcrafted the aforementioned volumes. For this reason, they are authentic works of art.

The resurrection of New Spain choral music

The Institute of Bibliographic Research (IIB) of the UNAM and the Melos Gloriae choir were in charge of the meticulous project of reading and interpreting the ways of writing music in that remote era. Thanks to this, it was possible to recreate the sacred sounds of the New Spain convents and temples, captured in the choral books of the National Library.

The director of the choir, Ariadna Cisneros, and the researcher of the IIB, Silvia Salgado Ruelas, were responsible for directing the project. The specialists have commented that unlike our time, these musical books did not have a time signature, nor the treble or bass clef, nor half, quarter or whole notes. What they contained was a score with tetragrams (instead of staves), with large squares representing sounds. To interpret these compositions, musicians and specialists had to study and decipher knowledge from the past.

Latin American countries most affected by Trump’s new tariffs

February 14, 2025

The head of the White House imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum

by El Reportero‘s wire services

It was another Sunday of sporting jubilation in the US, where they are enjoying the Super Bowl, until President Donald Trump announced a new commercial attack, in this case global, while he was heading to the famous American football game.

The next day the president signed the executive orders on the imposition of 25 percent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports in the North American country.

Added to the existing rates on metals, these tariffs threaten to shake the world economy. But which Latin American countries could be the most affected?

Various official sources, referred to by international media, indicate that Canada will be the hardest hit because it is the main exporter of these products. However, right behind are Brazil and Mexico, in addition to Asian and European nations.

Brazil is the second largest supplier to the US, accounting for 15 percent of the total volume of its steel imports. Therefore, steelmakers in the Amazonian giant are already beginning to worry.

“In the first government there were measures against steel and aluminum, based on national defense,” Welber Barral, former Brazilian Foreign Trade Secretary, recalled to O Globo. “With this additional 25 percent tariff, it will be even more complicated to export to the US,” he added.

Indeed, in his first term (2017-2021) Trump was slow to take this type of tariff action, but he still opted for a 25 percent tariff on steel and, on the contrary, a 10 percent tariff on aluminum.

“It is surprising because steel is a fundamental raw material for the American industry. The Americans will be the ones to pay the price, since it will increase the internal production cost and raise inflation,” said the president of the Brazilian Foreign Trade Association, José Augusto de Castro.

In response, rumors spread that Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s administration was planning to impose tariffs on American technology companies, labeled as a “digital tax,” according to a report by the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper, citing an anonymous Brazilian authority. However, that claim was denied by the Minister of Economy, Fernando Haddad.

The answer, for now, is prudence. “The Brazilian government made the sensible decision to express itself only in a timely manner based on concrete decisions and not on announcements that could be misinterpreted or revised. Let’s wait for the president’s guidance,” Haddad wrote in X.

The Mexican case

Although it was recently surpassed by Brazil, despite the geographical proximity, Mexico is also a key market for these imports. It represents 12 percent of the total.

82 percent of its exports of steel, aluminum and other manufactures are destined for the United States, said the director of Economic Analysis of the BASE Financial Group, Gabriela Siller Pagaza.

In addition, shipments of Mexican steel, aluminum and manufactured goods to the U.S. accounted for about 2.1 percent of Mexico’s total exports last year, Siller said.

The free trade agreement signed by the three North American nations (USMCA) has strengthened trade integration among them, particularly in the steel industry, to the point that they have substantially increased steel production.

However, Trump constantly alleges “disloyalty” on the part of his main trading partners and, with this new action, he also seeks to boost one of the sectors that most supported him to return to the White House.

“A cool head on this,” Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum asked on Monday. “We will wait to see if [Trump] announces something today and from there we will make our decisions,” she added at her morning press conference.

A journalist asked Sheinbaum if there will be a negotiation, but she avoided specifying on the matter. During the administration of her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Mexico managed to obtain tax-free quotas, just like Canada and Brazil.

Other repercussions

Although Argentina is not, by any means, a trading partner for the US at the level of its neighbors, the Trump Administration’s measure could strongly hit the giants Tenaris and Aluar, which export part of their production to the North American country.

In the case of Aluar, the only primary aluminum producing company in Argentina, almost half of its production (40 percent) goes to the US.

“Argentina should assert the fact that we have a chronic trade deficit with the US,” urged the former president of the Central Bank of the Republic, Martín Redrado. “According to that logic, Argentina should be exempt from the measure,” he added.

Now Argentine businessmen hope that the Foreign Ministry will reach a new pact with Trump and that the Javier Milei administration will use the good relationship it maintains with him to reach another exception, as occurred during the government of Mauricio Macri (2015-2019).

And when the magnate imposed tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum, it also affected nations with which it has signed a free trade agreement, such as Colombia. Data from the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE), cited by the local press, show the effects.

Colombian steel exports to the US accounted for just 0.52 percent in 2018 and have dropped to a meager 0.3 percent by 2024. As for aluminum, sales have declined by 7 percent.

– With reports from RT.

San Francisco’s war on cars: The unfair targeting of drivers and businesses

February 14, 2025

by Marvin Ramírez

San Francisco has long prided itself on being a progressive, forward-thinking city, but in recent years, that progress has come at the expense of drivers, small businesses, and common sense. Nowhere is this more evident than in the disastrous decision to remove parking on Valencia Street to make way for a bike lane that has wreaked havoc on the local economy. This controversial move has made life harder for business owners and patrons alike, all while catering to a small but politically influential group of cyclists who neither pay road taxes nor contribute to the local economy in the way drivers do. This blatant prioritization of cyclists over working-class citizens and business owners is not just an inconvenience—it is outright unfair.

The loss of parking on Valencia Street

Valencia Street has historically been a bustling hub of small businesses, cozy restaurants, vibrant cafes, and entertainment venues that have thrived for decades thanks to accessible parking. However, when the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) decided to remove parking spaces and install a center-running bike lane, they effectively drove a dagger into the heart of this once-thriving commercial corridor. Businesses that relied on easy customer access saw foot traffic dwindle. Some restaurants and shops even closed permanently due to declining sales. The justification? Alleged improvements to cyclist safety, despite the fact that these same cyclists do not contribute to street maintenance costs the way drivers do.

A better alternative ignored

The reality is that the SFMTA had a much better alternative but chose to ignore it. South Van Ness, a nearby street with wide lanes and ample space, would have been a far superior location for the bike lanes. It could have accommodated both cyclists and four lanes of vehicular traffic without the need to strip Valencia of its lifeblood—parking. But instead, the city’s transportation planners pushed forward with a misguided agenda, disregarding the concerns of the business community and prioritizing the demands of an organized and politically influential bike coalition. This coalition has managed to wield enough influence over city politicians to force through policies that harm drivers and businesses, all for the sake of an idealized urban vision that does not align with reality.

The broader war on cars

The Valencia Street debacle is just one example of San Francisco’s broader war on cars. Over the past decade, thousands of parking spaces have been systematically eliminated under the guise of “public safety” and “environmental responsibility.” However, the truth is much more sinister. The removal of parking spots is not about safety—it is about control and revenue generation. The city’s bureaucrats have realized that making it harder for people to drive and park is an effective way to force compliance with their urban planning fantasies while simultaneously extracting more money from hardworking citizens through citations, increased parking fees, and extended meter hours.

Cash grab through parking enforcement

And now, in yet another blow to drivers, the city is extending parking meter enforcement until 10 p.m. and including Sundays. This move is nothing short of a cash grab, designed to milk more money from residents who are already struggling with the high cost of living. It disrupts people’s lives, making it harder to enjoy an evening out without worrying about a parking ticket or the added expense of constantly feeding a meter. Who benefits from this? Certainly not the average San Franciscan who simply wants to support local businesses, go out for dinner, or visit friends without being financially penalized.

Too little, too late

The recent reversal of the center-running bike lane experiment on Valencia is too little, too late. While the city now plans to move the bike lanes to the side of the street, this redesign still eliminates nearly 80 parking and loading spaces. This means that while business owners and patrons may see some minor relief, they will continue to suffer from reduced access and limited parking options. The city’s so-called “solution” does not address the root of the problem—it merely shifts the burden slightly while continuing to punish drivers.

Government disconnected from the people

What we are witnessing is a city government that has become too big, too unaccountable, and too disconnected from the needs of its citizens. Rather than serving the people, it seems more interested in pushing ideological agendas that favor niche interest groups at the expense of everyone else. San Francisco’s politicians and bureaucrats need to remember that their salaries are funded by taxpayers—many of whom rely on their cars for work, errands, and daily life. They need to understand that their policies are not just inconveniences; they are actively harming the livelihoods of the very people they claim to represent.

A Common-sense solution

The solution is simple: prioritize practicality over ideology. Instead of waging war on drivers and small businesses, city officials should focus on common-sense transportation policies that serve the majority of residents. This means choosing appropriate streets for bike lanes, preserving essential parking for businesses, and ensuring that any changes to infrastructure are made with input from all affected parties—not just the loudest and most politically connected voices in the room.

A better future for San Francisco

If San Francisco truly wants to thrive, it must stop punishing drivers and start listening to the people who make the city what it is. It should also build more public parking spaces, as was done in the early 1990s with the Bartlett and 21st Street parking structure, which included affordable housing above it—a solution pioneered by MEDA. This approach benefits both residents and businesses while addressing transportation and housing challenges in a balanced way.

While merit is much better than DEI, hiring must also be based on virtue

February 14, 2025

A career, like a nation, is built from moral values in addition to technical merits. If a meritocratic government doesn’t bake values into its definition of merit, then that government’s hiring may become merely the flip-side to the DEI regimes

by Michael Bedar

— “What’s ‘meritable’ isn’t always veritable.”

Aptitude is a good place to start focusing for hiring criteria as an improvement over “diversity, equity and inclusion” (DEI). But a career, like a nation, is built from moral values in addition to technical merits. If a meritocratic government doesn’t bake values into its definition of merit, then that government’s hiring may become merely the flip-side to the DEI regimes.

For instance, just as a university might have gloated over its achievements in scientific research grants while rotting in wokism, likewise a meritocracy could tout its technical acumen even while its staff culture suffer from morals and values unaligned with America as a people. In other words, beware merit without virtue.

Workplace virtue can be expressed by a motto seen peppered on bumper stickers throughout the nation on tool boxes, trucks, and creaky garage doors.

It states elegantly but plainly: “Dirty hands, clean money.”

The meaning hits you instantly.

Those who proudly display “dirty hands, clean money” across this land tend to choose small business entrepreneurship and manual work. Their careers focus on soil over salaciousness; sawdust over slickness; gears and grease over getting and graft.

By the sheer number of people volitionally heading into careers in the trades, when they have the intellectual heft for collegiate academics if they wanted it, the “dirty hands, clean money” attitude on aptitude has proven relevant. People are opting for careers that their souls as well as their wallets can live with.

After all, with some of the high-dollar high tech work out there nowadays, it’s plain why swaths of students coming of age struggle to mesh the potential personal benefits of “advanced” education and careers with possible sacrifices of norms and ethics.

Generation Z possesses the intelligence to achieve positions in fields with stratospheric capital investment such as biotechnology, AI, avionics, banking, law, surveillance data analytics, robotics, explosives, and more. While one measure of success is raw income size, pupils are deciding to look with extra scrutiny, and perceiving that their soul is worth something especially in an increasingly soulless economy.

Modern universities bear some responsibility for failures to prepare people for fulfilling careers. College educations have disappointed students, employers, and politicians alike, and colleges have duly seen their enrollment counts decline, only some of this drop being due to demographics.

The executive thrust towards meritocracy must make the connection between not only the preparation of students and future workers, but the moral climate of employers and the government as well. There is veritably a thirst for work that is more in touch with grassroots values.

An ethos of work that protects communities and the land may sound like a bygone era’s slogan, “healthy for children and other living things.” Indeed, dirty hands and clean money may be countercultural, and can be linked to a considerate, Christian mindset. It has reached high school students in the heartland and Americans everywhere in hardhats.

Thomas Jefferson said:

I have always believed it better to be settled on a good Farm…

Those who labour in the earth are the chosen people of God, if ever he had a chosen people, whose breasts he has made his peculiar deposit for substantial and genuine virtue.

The present move to cleaner money in old-fashioned hard “dirty” work like farming, milling, metalwork, wiring, etc., has substantial attraction and a zeitgeist, yet is so milquetoast politically that it is recognizably nonpartisan and, above all, normal of people to take part in. The aspiration to have sound and basically ethical work, for historically standard and sufficient pay, simply cannot be dislodged with rhetoric that would label it extreme.

It is people all around the center, politically, who are increasingly willing to eschew, for example, work on AI systems that automatically select human bombing targets.

The question is how will workers’ concerns about the awfully lucrative grime of modern technological sophistication trickle up to employers’ upper suites?

The language used in President Donald Trump’s executive order cites “talent,” “determination,” and the merit-basis for hiring. One might be at least partially correct to assume that hiring for ability and diligence would correspond to establishing high moral standards. But does wielding the skills for a job mean an employee would grimace or speak up about any job’s morally repugnant aspects?

While First Amendment constrictions on regulating values might account for the moral ambiguity of the executive order on meritocracy, a response about moral values in a meritocracy is the responsibility of civil society.

The 2025 Superman movie, with a new Lex Luthor character, might soon remind society of the existence of evil genius. In fact, in freezing “research” grants, the Trump administration seemed to acknowledge that large R&D institutions dependent on government funding and highly technical industries may be currently swallowed up in moral problems.

Hopefully, the new government hiring officers will dye values into the wool of merit-based hiring. As evidenced by extensive use of background checks and clearance levels, the country does not want to be mired in “meritorious” workers in key technical positions who nevertheless have adversarial values.

Background checks, though, are not the full picture. Let U.S. government human resources professionals hire as well for beneficial values.

An old proverb says that if you walk in a direction, there you will arrive. Extending the reasoning, if you walk in a direction, with especially talented ability, even farther over there will you arrive. Thus our country has to make sure where it is walking.

In the view of Jefferson:

Agriculture … is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals & happiness.

As Jefferson lived before the existence of modern infrastructure, Jefferson loved agrarianism itself and mentioned far more than any other trade, but further was a proponent of humble work that engages oneself and brings positive outcomes to the community:

… countrymen who have been obliged to work out their own fortunes here, have succeeded best with a small farm…a reasonable profit & comfortable subsistance results …

Having ample merit between one’s ears does not necessitate a career choice of making killer drones, bots, implants, pills, or 15-minute city plans. Leaving stained stacks of cash on the table for boots and gloves can and does often come from an informed morality, not stupidity.

Still seeking their self-interest, becoming builders and tradesmen may protect people, prolong their safety from predatory economics, and stabilize the moral direction of the country.

The growing dirty-hands jobs trend may root ultimately to a desire to get right with God and creation. Prayer, reflection, and talk about whether one is endangering or selling one’s soul could return to the commonplace. To the extent Constitutional, let the concomitant White House Office on Faith support HR teams in the meritocracy to fill government with morality.

As good character comes to pervade the right understanding of merit, the country’s moral backbone can flip the script, shining a hot spotlight on unscrutinized entry into knowingly corrupted industries offering meteoric stock options.

The virtue of temperance pairs with merit, providing moral restraint and an appreciation for the more precious, slower things than quick monetary gains. As Jefferson said about his agrarian trade:

I am constantly roving about, to see what I have never seen before and shall never see again.

Can many clean-fingered cubicle workers and bureaucrats say that? LifeSite.

Mexico on alert as US steel tariffs go into effect: Monday’s mañanera recapped

February 14, 2025

HL_steel tariffs_2.14.25 — En su conferencia de prensa del lunes, la presidenta Sheinbaum abordó diversos temas, entre ellos el narcotráfico, el tráfico de armas, el comercio internacional y la seguridad pública. --At her press conference on Monday, President Sheinbaum addressed a number of issues, including drug trafficking, arms trafficking, international trade, and public safety. (Presidency)

by Peter Davies

Mexico News Daily

United States President Donald Trump said Sunday that his administration would impose 25 percent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports, including those from Mexico and Canada.

“Any steel coming into the United States is going to have a 25 percent tariff. Aluminum too,” he said.

At her Monday morning press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum acknowledged Trump’s remarks, but said that her government was waiting for a formal announcement on the proposed tariffs from the U.S. government.

Trump signed an executive order to implement 25 percent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports to the U.S. on Monday afternoon.

At her Monday mañanera, Sheinbaum also spoke about the United States’ responsibility in the joint fight against drugs, and stressed that her government wouldn’t “distance” itself from its predecessor.

Sheinbaum tight-lipped on how Mexico will respond to US tariffs on steel, aluminum

A reporter asked the president about Trump’s declaration on Sunday that the United States would impose 25 percent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports.

“We’re going to wait for the announcement … and from there we’ll take our decisions,” Sheinbaum said.

She said she would keep a “cool head” as she waited for Trump’s formal tariff announcement.

Mexico is a major steel supplier to the United States, meaning that tariffs would be painful for Mexican manufacturers of the alloy.

Trump imposed tariffs on Mexican steel and aluminum in 2018 during his first term as president, prompting Mexico to implement a range of retaliatory measures including duties on U.S. pork, apples and bourbon. The tariffs were lifted in 2019.

Last Monday, Trump agreed to pause planned 25 percent tariffs on all Mexican exports to the United States after Sheinbaum committed to deploying 10,000 National Guard troops to the northern border to combat the flow of drugs and migrants to the U.S.

Sheinbaum: The US ‘has to do its part’ in the fight against drugs

“Drug trafficking has to do with demand,” Sheinbaum told reporters when asked a question about fentanyl production in Mexico.

“In other words, there is demand for … a drug and there are those who supply that drug,” she said.

“… Our objective is to reduce violence in the country and in that process also reduce the production and distribution of drugs. … The United States has to do its part in the United States: attend to the public health issue of the use of drugs and also deal with the distribution of drugs in their territory,” Sheinbaum said.

The president also wants action from the United States to stem the flow of firearms to Mexico.

As part of the deal she reached with Trump last Monday, Sheinbaum said that the United States had committed to “work to avoid the trafficking of high-powered weapons to Mexico.”

‘We won’t distance ourselves from’ the López Obrador administration, president says

Asked about former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s “hugs, not bullets” security strategy and whether her government was continuing it, Sheinbaum jumped to the defense of her political mentor.

“We’re always going to defend President López Obrador, no one should have the slightest doubt,” the president said.

“Why? Because he was, he is, … a great president. We’re always going to defend him, let no one be mistaken. We’re part of the same movement,” Sheinbaum said.

She said that opposition parties want her government to distance itself from its predecessor, but pledged it wouldn’t do so.

“We won’t distance ourselves,” Sheinbaum said.

She declined to say that her government is perpetuating the “hugs, not bullets” security approach, but noted that attention to the root causes of crime through welfare and social programs — the “hugs” part of López Obrador’s strategy — is one of the four pillars of the federal security strategy.

Probed as to whether the current strategy is “different” from that of AMLO, Sheinbaum responded:

“You want to get a declaration out of me that I’m not going to give you.”

There was speculation shortly after Sheinbaum took office that the current federal government had abandoned the “not bullets” component of AMLO’s security strategy given that federal security forces had used lethal force against civilian gunmen and others on a number of occasions.

The president said Monday that her government is providing “education, culture, sport, employment and rights” to young people and is not engaging in “wars, like those of Calderón.”

That was a reference to the militarized war on drug cartels that former president Felipe Calderón launched shortly after he took office in 2006.

Sheinbaum, like López Obrador, blames the Calderón administration for unleashing, with its war on cartels, the high levels of violence that continue to plague Mexico today.

Demand for immigration legal services spikes at California colleges

February 14, 2025

frontpg_California colleges_2.14.25 — Las obras de arte creadas por los estudiantes cuelgan de las paredes del Dream Resource Center en Pierce College en Woodland Hills, cerca de Los Ángeles, el 28 de enero de 2025. El DRC apoya a los estudiantes indocumentados, brindándoles recursos como servicios legales gratuitos, talleres educativos, información sobre becas y más durante su trayectoria académica en la escuela. --Obras de arte creadas por estudiantes cuelgan de las paredes del Dream Resource Center en Pierce College en Woodland Hills, cerca de Los Ángeles, el 28 de enero de 2025. El DRC apoya a los estudiantes indocumentados brindándoles recursos como servicios legales gratuitos, talleres educativos, información sobre becas y más durante su trayectoria académica en la escuela. Artwork created by students hangs on the walls of the Dream Resource Center at Pierce College in Woodland Hills near Los Angeles on Jan. 28, 2025. The DRC supports undocumented students by providing them with resources such as free legal services, educational workshops, scholarship information and more throughout their academic journey at the school. Photo by Alisha Jucevic for CalMatters.

California’s estimated 100,000 undocumented college students are grappling with President Trump’s plans of mass deportations. Dream centers on many campuses are stepping in to provide guidance and meet the skyrocketing demand for legal services from students

by Delilah Brumer and Mercy Sosa

As President Donald Trump begins his second term with a declaration of a national emergency at the southern border and a steadfast pledge of mass deportations, California’s colleges and universities have been holding workshops and partnering with legal service nonprofits to help undocumented students on their campuses stay in school.

Across the University of California and California State University systems, as well as at many California community college campuses, Dream resource centers support the state’s estimated 100,000 undocumented students and students from mixed-status families. An estimated 3.3 million Californians live in mixed-status households, according to data from Equity Research Institute, a USC research group. These centers assist students with filling out financial aid forms, referrals to nonprofit immigration law firms, access to mental health support, and provide spaces to bond, do schoolwork or take a break.

Several Dream center coordinators and their nonprofit legal partners said they have seen unprecedented demand for legal services from undocumented college students since Trump’s election victory in November. Legal service providers say their free consultations are booked for several months with students seeking to understand the level of risk of deportation faced by them and their families.

Student demand for immigration legal services skyrockets

It’s been tough for Carlos, a student at Sacramento State, to concentrate since Trump’s election win. News about Trump’s immigration and deportation plans on social media serve as a constant reminder of his undocumented status and risk of deportation under the new administration.

“I would try to write whatever paper I needed to, solve whatever equation I needed to, and for some reason, I just couldn’t do it,” Carlos said. “Those (election) results were just in the back of my mind.” CalMatters is only publishing Carlos’ first name at his request because he fears sharing his identity could lead to authorities targeting him for deportation.

“At the end of the day, how I cope is just like going to the center and being around the friends I’ve made there,” he said of Sacramento State’s Dreamer Resource Center.

Through workshops hosted by the center’s nonprofit legal partner, the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, Carlos is able to turn fear into action. He’s learned about his due process rights and how to react if immigration enforcement officials show up at his door: remain silent, remain inside and call an immigration attorney as soon as possible. Immigration enforcement officers cannot legally enter your home unless they have a warrant, signed by a judge, with the correct name and address listed, legal service providers advise.

A 2019 state law encouraged the designation of Dream resource liaisons at the state’s public colleges and universities, and many have created physical Dream centers on their campuses to help undocumented students navigate financial aid applications and connect them with free legal services. The state has since provided $52.2 million over five years to fund these centers and liaisons. California serves the greatest share of undocumented college students in the country, with the highest portion of those students attending one of the state’s 116 community colleges.

Since 2001, when lawmakers approved AB 540, undocumented students who attend a California high school for three years and graduate have been eligible to pay resident tuition at the state’s public colleges and universities. Resident tuition is significantly cheaper than non-resident tuition in each of the state’s three public higher education systems.

At the University of California, nonresident tuition is approximately $35,000 more per year than California residents pay. Nonresident students in the Cal State system pay an extra fee of $420 per semester unit, in addition to the standard $6,000 annual tuition. At California community colleges, resident tuition is $46 per unit, and nonresident tuition varies, but is typically at least five times that cost.

Although undocumented college students are ineligible for federal financial aid, many are able to apply for the state’s flagship financial aid program, the Cal Grant. These students must enroll at a California college and have a family income below the maximum threshold to apply through the California Dream Act Application. More than 35,000 undocumented students submit the application each year, but only about a third receive aid.

As the Dream Resource Center coordinator at Los Angeles Pierce College, D’arcy Corwin has been listening to her students’ fears — and “having their backs.” That’s meant connecting them with food programs and immigration lawyers, hosting events that teach self-advocacy and helping them fill out financial aid applications.

“There’s a lot of fear mongering out there,” Corwin said. “We want students to know that their education is available to them.”

Immigration experts have warned that those at the highest risk of deportation under the Trump administration are non-citizens who have had past convictions or other contact with the criminal justice system, as well as the 1.3 million people nationwide who have received final orders of removal.

After Trump’s election, Guillermo Metelin Bock, who leads the Undocumented Student Services program at Stanislaus State, says that the questions from students have transitioned from financial aid and college affordability to immigration policy. To get those questions answered, students at Stanislaus State have access to legal services through a partnership with Immigrant Legal Defense, a free legal service provider that partners with nine Cal State campuses and 34 community colleges in the Bay Area and Central Valley.

Many Cal State and community college Dream centers partner with nonprofits that provide free immigration law assistance, including the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, the Central American Resource Center and Immigrant Legal Defense. Students at nine University of California campuses also have access to free legal support through the systemwide Immigrant Legal Service Center, housed at the UC Davis School of Law. These nonprofits and campus resources create a geographic patchwork of immigration legal help, serving students throughout California. With Trump’s threats of mass deportations, immigration legal nonprofits say the demand for their services has skyrocketed.

According to Geno Uyuni, a staff attorney at the nonprofit Central American Resource Center, which provides free immigration legal services to students at 20 colleges and universities, her consultations are currently booked through March. In those sessions, Uyuni works with undocumented students to explore their options for green cards, citizenship, work permits and other applications.

Uyuni said “the most heartbreaking cases” are the students who came to the U.S. as children, but who have no available path to citizenship. She is sometimes the first person to deliver the news that even if they attain a college degree, they will likely never be able to work legally in the United States.

“There’s a disconnection between how much California supports you to get through school, but then there is little support beyond that,” Uyuni said.

A growing number of college students are ineligible for protections like work authorization under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program or DACA, as only people who applied before 2017 are able to renew their status following attempts by the first Trump administration to end the program.

While the Trump administration has yet to announce any new attempts to end the program, the future of DACA remains in limbo. On Jan. 17 the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower U.S. district court ruling that found some protections for DACA recipients to be illegal. The ruling still allows for DACA recipients to renew their status if already approved, but no new DACA applications can be processed. The case is likely to be appealed to the Supreme Court.

Founding Co-Executive Director of Immigrant Legal Defense Barbara Pinto says their online booking system saw “the biggest spike I think we’ve seen since we started this project” shortly after the presidential election results were clear.

Between the election and Trump’s inauguration, Pinto’s team hustled to file green card applications and DACA renewals in anticipation that the processing times for applications will grow during a Trump administration. Although it is difficult for Pinto to gauge exactly what Trump’s plans are, she said that the president would have to undergo a legal process to terminate DACA, meaning that the program would most likely not be eradicated overnight.

“Trump says a lot of things, and sometimes they’re true and sometimes they are not, and sometimes he follows through, and sometimes he doesn’t,” Pinto said.

The state steps in to protect undocumented students

Immediately following his inauguration Jan. 20, Trump began rolling out executive orders cracking down on immigration. In addition to the national emergency declaration, Trump designated Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. He also issued an executive order trying to end birthright citizenship, despite its guarantee in the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Twenty-two states, including California, are suing to challenge this attempt, and on Jan. 23 a federal judge temporarily blocked it from taking effect.

On Jan. 21, the Trump administration threw out policies dating back to 2011 limiting immigration agents from arresting undocumented people at sensitive locations, including churches and schools. In California, state law states that K-12 school officials do not have to allow immigration enforcement on campus without a judicial warrant. At the college and university level, the policies are less clear-cut, because parts of campuses are open to the public, while other areas, such as dorms, require a judicial warrant for immigration enforcement to enter.

“Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a Jan. 21 statement. “The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement, and instead trusts them to use common sense.”

California lawmakers are working to resist Trump’s deportation plans, but there’s only so much they can do at the state level. State Attorney General Rob Bonta issued directives to California’s public colleges and universities, reminding them of existing state laws that limits them from assisting federal immigration enforcement.

Bonta also emphasized that California local law enforcement agencies, including campus police departments, are prohibited by a 2017 state law from “generally providing personal information… about an individual for immigration enforcement purposes, including, but not limited to, the individual’s home address or work address, unless that information is available to the public.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic legislative leaders have agreed to set aside $50 million in state money to pay for the legal costs of fighting the Trump administration. Additionally, the current state Senate budget bill would allocate $10 million for legal service providers to support immigrants, as well as $15 million for legal support of “vulnerable persons,” including those at risk of deportation.

Since 2019, the state has allocated money to support the immigration legal service providers that partner with public colleges and universities, doling out a total of $2.9 million to the University of California, $42 million for the California State University and $50 million for the California community colleges. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed 2025-26 state budget includes an allocation of $17.6 million to immigration legal services for public higher education institutions, along with $11.6 million for Dream resource liaisons.

Some Dream center coordinators and their nonprofit legal partners said state funding is critical, and are calling for more stable money to fund their work. The Central American Resource Center based in Los Angeles received $9.3 million in government grants in 2023, which it primarily used to provide legal advice and services to more than 20,000 people in California. Uyuni said that the government funding they receive, which makes up the vast majority of their budget, can often be politicized, and can fluctuate substantially between state budget proposals.

“We’re in limbo sometimes, and it’s this uncertainty about funding,” Uyuni said. “I wish funding could be increased, so that we could spread the work across more people to help more students, sooner.”

Many undocumented college students are left uncertain of their futures — a situation that resonates with David Álvarez, a Democratic Assemblymember from Chula Vista and the son of undocumented immigrants.

Alvarez emphasized there is still a legal process to be followed, and mass deportations can’t happen overnight. “As a state, we are doing what can be done, which is to provide resources and ensure the immigration process is being followed according to the law, in hopes that that process can enshield our students,” he said.

Brumer and Sosa are contributors with the College Journalism Network, a collaboration between CalMatters and student journalists from across California. CalMatters higher education coverage is supported by a grant from the College Futures Foundation.

Demand for immigration legal services spikes at California colleges

February 14, 2025