Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim Helú, formerly the richest man in the world, appeared with his son Carlos Slim Domit at the National Palace to attend Sheinbaum's first annual government report in September 2025. (Moisés Pablo / Cuartoscuro.com) -- El multimillonario mexicano Carlos Slim Helú, ex hombre más rico del mundo, apareció con su hijo Carlos Slim Domit en Palacio Nacional para asistir al primer informe anual de gobierno de Sheinbaum en septiembre de 2025.
por Mexico News Daily
More and more Mexicans are joining the ranks of Forbes’ richest people, and their fortunes are worth more than ever.
Twenty-four Mexican business people made the 2026 Forbes Billionaires List, which this year featured 3,428 people from around the world. Taken together, the Mexican billionaires had a combined worth of US $267.3 billion, up 61.4 percent compared to the fortune they had amassed as of last year. That’s more than the Mexico’s entire public sector external debt, which stood at US $234 billion in late 2025.
Carlos Slim, the richest man in Mexico
Topping the list of the wealthiest Mexicans is Carlos Slim Helú, 86, and his family.
Slim, who was the richest man on earth for four consecutive years between 2010 and 2013, now ranks No. 16 with a fortune that stands at US $125 billion. Slim’s wealth now surpasses that of Bill Gates, who stands at No. 19.
According to Forbes, Slim’s fortune grew 51 percent in one year and doubled in the last five years from US $62.8 billion in 2021 to $125 billion today.
Slim made his fortune in the telecommunications sector, although his empire has expanded to infrastructure, construction, energy, real estate, trade and finance. He is best known for controlling Latin America’s largest mobile telecom firm América Móvil (which also owns Mexico’s leading phone company Telmex), and his conglomerate Grupo Carso. Slim’s personal net worth is equivalent to 6.7 percent of Mexico’s GDP.
Following Slim is Germán Larrea Mota Velasco, 72, and his family at No. 30. Larrea is worth $67.1 billion, up 134 percent from $28.6 billion last year, Forbes reported.
Larrea, who rarely appears in public, owns a diverse range of companies across multiple sectors. He amassed his wealth after he inherited the Grupo México mining conglomerate, which has expanded under his leadership to include railway transport companies such as Ferromex, as well as movie theaters (Cinemex) and various infrastructure companies.
Which other Mexicans made the list?
Other notable names include Alejandro Baillères Gual and family at No. 140 (Palacio de Hierro, Seguros GNP), María Asunción Aramburuzabala and family at No. 372 (Grupo Modelo), Carlos Hank Rhon at No. 934 (Grupo Hermés) and Fernando Chico Pardo at No. 1,137, who recently acquired a 25 percent stake in Banamex.
Aramburuzabala stands out as the only Mexican woman on the list, consolidating her position as the wealthiest woman in Mexico.
For decades, the conversation around healthy eating has revolved around familiar ideas: calories, fat grams and protein counts. While these measures matter, a more complex story unfolds at the molecular level within food. Beyond basic nutrients lies a broad ecosystem of compounds—phytonutrients, amino acids, essential minerals and antioxidants—that act as the body’s maintenance crew, defense system and communication network. These elements, found in whole foods, do more than prevent deficiency. They strengthen resilience, fight cellular damage and regulate biological processes.
A healthy diet is therefore less about restriction and more about inclusion. Meals built from diverse foods provide prebiotic fibers, minerals, antioxidants, amino acids and plant compounds that work together to support long-term health.
Key points:
A healthy diet is defined by the diversity of beneficial compounds it provides.
• Phytonutrients, the compounds that give plants their colors and flavors, help reduce inflammation and protect cells from damage.
• Essential minerals like selenium and magnesium support functions such as thyroid health, nerve signaling and metabolism.
• Antioxidants from fruits, vegetables and spices defend the body against oxidative stress linked to aging and disease.
• Whole foods—legumes, grains, fruits, vegetables and seeds—provide the richest supply of these protective compounds.
Phytonutrient profile is just as important as vitamins
The bright red of tomatoes, the deep purple of plums and the vibrant orange of carrots reveal a food’s phytonutrient content. Lycopene in tomatoes, anthocyanins in plums and beta-carotene in carrots are antioxidants that help neutralize free radicals, unstable molecules that damage cells over time. This protective effect is associated with lower risks of chronic illness.
Plants also produce compounds that support biological functions. Garlic and onions contain sulfur compounds linked to heart health, while pineapple and papaya provide digestive enzymes that assist in breaking down food. Historically, diets rich in plant foods supplied a steady flow of these compounds. Modern diets dominated by processed foods often lack that diversity.
Minerals form another important foundation of health. Selenium, found in Brazil nuts, supports thyroid hormone metabolism and antioxidant enzymes. Magnesium, abundant in foods such as oats and bananas, participates in hundreds of biochemical reactions related to muscles, nerves and blood sugar regulation. Even mild deficiencies can disrupt these processes, making nuts, seeds and whole grains valuable additions to daily meals.
Amino acids and fiber are as important as protein
Protein discussions often focus on meat, yet legumes offer an excellent combination of plant protein and digestive support. Lentils, black beans, chickpeas and soybeans contain amino acids that help build tissues and enzymes while also providing large amounts of fiber.
Fiber feeds beneficial bacteria in the gut that support digestion and immune health. The pairing of protein and fiber in legumes helps stabilize blood sugar levels and maintain steady energy. For generations, cultures worldwide have relied on legumes as affordable nutritional staples.
Herbs and spices also contain concentrated beneficial compounds. Ginger, cinnamon and cloves provide antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. Adding spices to everyday cooking can boost nutritional value without adding calories.
Ultimately, a healthy diet depends on variety. Oats provide fiber that supports heart health, papaya contributes vitamin C and digestive enzymes, and avocado supplies healthy fats that help absorb nutrients.
No single food provides everything the body needs. Instead, nutrients from fruits, vegetables, grains and seeds work together to create a strong nutritional foundation that supports long-term health.
Each year, as the world celebrates International Women’s Day, countless examples of extraordinary women emerge. We remember scientists, political leaders, businesswomen, teachers, mothers, and social activists who have left a profound mark on the history of their nations and on the daily life of their communities.
Such recognition is both fair and necessary. The history of humanity cannot be understood without the decisive role women have played in shaping it.
Yet alongside this celebration, a growing debate has emerged in recent decades regarding the direction taken by certain strands of modern feminism. While many women simply seek equal opportunity and respect, some ideological movements have transformed that goal into a direct confrontation between men and women.
Equality before the law is an essential principle of any democratic society. But equality does not mean permanent rivalry or a cultural war between the sexes.
For centuries, women have been one of the strongest pillars of the family. Not only as mothers, but as the moral, emotional, and cultural force that sustains the home. In many cultures—especially within Latino communities—women have been the true heart of the family.
Far from being a sign of weakness, that role has represented a profound form of leadership.
The woman who educates, guides, transmits values, and keeps the family united exercises an influence that often surpasses even political or economic power.
Today the world has changed. More and more women occupy leadership positions in businesses, universities, media organizations, and governments. That progress is real and represents an important achievement in modern societies.
At the same time, however, another phenomenon has emerged that concerns some observers: a growing cultural hostility toward masculinity. In certain contemporary narratives, men are portrayed as natural adversaries of women, as if the relationship between the two were inevitably defined by conflict.
Human reality is very different.
Men and women have built civilization together, not in opposition to one another. The family, like any institution, functions through balance and cooperation. On a ship there is a captain and a crew; on an airplane there is a pilot and a co-pilot. Order does not necessarily mean oppression—it often means organization.
In the same way, many societies have functioned for generations with family structures in which roles were different but complementary. The man often assumed the primary responsibility of provider and protector, while the woman exercised a fundamental influence in the moral and emotional formation of the home.
Today many women work, run companies, and participate in politics. But they also continue to be mothers, wives, and leaders within their families.
The challenge of our time is not to erase these realities, but to find a healthy balance between social progress and the values that have sustained communities for generations.
Some critics of modern feminism also point out that certain cultural changes have created tensions in areas such as family relationships and the judicial system in custody disputes, where some men feel they begin at a disadvantage. These concerns should not be automatically dismissed. In a free society, all citizens must be able to express their concerns without being labeled or silenced.
True progress does not come from replacing one form of injustice with another.
The challenge of the twenty-first century is to build a society in which men and women cooperate as allies rather than compete as adversaries. A society where equality of rights coexists with respect for family, motherhood, and the values that have provided stability to social life.
In that sense, International Women’s Day can be more than a symbolic date. It can be an opportunity to recognize the real woman—the one who works, leads, teaches, cares, builds community, and sustains her family even during the most difficult moments.
Throughout history women have demonstrated their ability to transform the world from many different positions.
Yet one of their most powerful contributions remains the same one that has sustained humanity for centuries: their capacity to build families, transmit values, and preserve the very fabric of community life.
Celebrating women should not mean placing them in opposition to men.
It should mean recognizing that the future of any society depends on both walking forward together.
A nurse pushes a gurney with a stretcher in a hospital corridor. Photo via iStock Photo -- Ella pasó seis de sus últimos años en arbitraje con su HMO. Su esposo aún lucha contra el sistema
by Stephen Martínez
My wife’s suffering merited nothing. At least that’s what an arbitrator thought.
In 2010, Lindalee noticed a large lump in her left breast. Her HMO denied her an appointment with her longstanding OBGYN and sent her to a substandard clinic instead.
Years of pain and suffering, multiple surgeries and a diminished quality of life resulted.
We wanted to exercise our constitutional right to seek justice in court, but we learned big healthcare corporations force patients to sign away such rights. “OK,” we thought, “arbitration must be somewhat court-like and fair and efficient.” So we began that process.
It took three years. The arbitrator allowed endless delays, games with witnesses and evidence destruction. Several experts testified that the HMO’s mistakes — multiple misdiagnoses, divergence from procedures, denied follow-up examinations — had caused Lindalee’s issues.
Notably, an unsupervised physician’s assistant had dismissed a breast lump in Lindalee, a 55-year-old post-menopausal woman. Despite a high probability it was cancer, the physician’s assistant prescribed warm compresses and a sports bra and advised Lindalee to avoid chocolate.
Arbitration was almost as bad as the cancer. An exhausting deposition brought Lindalee to tears. The HMO’s attorney then grilled her for five hours at the arbitration. The attorney argued Lindalee was entirely to blame for her breast cancer spreading, which struck me as victim blaming.
The verdict was shocking. “The Arbitrator finds that [the HMO’s] treatment … was within the standard of care … Claimants are to take nothing.”
This was despite two HMO surgeons, with 60 years of combined breast cancer expertise, testifying that the HMO had failed to follow its standard of care.
Surely our experience of HMO error, yet head-scratching arbitration outcome must be an outlier, we thought.
Lindalee had just finished the breast cancer ordeal when she developed a blockage in her intestine. It was clearly captured in a CT scan. For two years, the HMO failed to act on that report’s recommendations.
After finally getting a gastroenterology referral, Lindalee was seen by an unsupervised nurse practitioner who failed to diagnose the issue. When Lindalee finally got to a GI doctor, he told her plainly, “This could kill you.” She underwent emergency surgery.
Faced with another HMO error, we proceeded with arbitration again. We had chalked up our first experience as a fluke. But just like the first case, this process also took three years.
This time the HMO’s attorney secretly obtained 20 years of Lindalee’s psychiatric records for a gastrointestinal case — an extraordinary health privacy law breach. He tried to use these private records, with no medical relevance, to torment Lindalee. We later learned that such invasions of privacy are sometimes used by HMOs as a litigation tactic.
The second arbitration was more of a circus than the first. The arbitrator allowed HMO witnesses to use language about my wife that is not fit to print. In the face of incredible insults and stacked odds, we gave up.
Later I learned the arbitrator selection system creates a financial incentive for arbitrators to rule in favor of HMOs. If an arbitrator rules against an HMO, its attorneys would likely decline to select that arbitrator in future cases.
This has been documented in multiple state reports. “The fairness of arbitration depends on the neutrality of arbitrators,” but incentives for arbitrators “favor the repeat player,” a blue ribbon panel found after a California Supreme Court case in 1997.
What if we had an unbiased, neutral third party, like the California Attorney General, choose qualified arbitrators in medical malpractice cases? Would this result in more neutral arbitrators who aren’t so dependent on, or motivated by, income from HMOs? Would it result in holding HMOs accountable when bad medical decisions cause patient suffering or even take a patient’s life?
I think so.
I was devastated to lose Lindalee to cancer in March 2023. She was my wife and best friend of 42 years. She had spent six of her last years seeking justice, and it had taken a toll. I’d give anything to get that time back.
My wish is to make it so other families don’t face the same injustice after such a devastating and preventable loss. Before Lindalee passed, I promised her I’d keep the fight alive.
Attacking HMO chief executives is not the way to achieve systemic reform, though. Changing the rigged arbitration system is.
– Stephen Martinez is a retired aerospace engineer who founded the Patients’ Equity Coalition.
The classic play Don Quixote returns to the stage after several years. (Courtesy: dancetabs.com/2012/05/san-francisco) -- La Fiesta del flamenco llegó al Área de la Bahía
By Magdy Zara
Featuring top singers, guitarists, and dancers, Flamenco Life has arrived in the Bay Area, ready to ignite the stage with the fury and passion of the legendary Spanish Gypsies in a unique, intimate setting.
According to its organizers, the goal is to offer top-tier instruction and performances to local flamenco students, dreamers, and talents.
This week’s performance will feature Yaelisa and Carola Zertuche, both dancers; Pirouz “de Caspio,” a singer; and Jesse Torres on guitar.
Don’t miss this event! It’s this Saturday, March 14, starting at 5 p.m., at The Big Easy, Club and Restaurant, located at 128 American Alley, Petaluma. Tickets are $30.
Don Quixote Returns to the Stage
Inspired by Miguel de Cervantes’ classic novel, Don Quixote returns to the San Francisco stage. This comedy, a rare addition to the classical repertoire, was last seen by San Francisco audiences during the San Francisco Ballet’s 2022 season.
The work blends Spanish culture with classical ballet, weaving guitars and castanets into the orchestral music, and the passion and precision of flamenco into the choreography.
All evening performances will include an immersive activity in the Opera House lobby featuring live flamenco by Teatro Flamenco de San Francisco, with dancer and Teatro Flamenco Artistic Director Carola Zertuche, guitarist Jesse Torres, and singer Clara Rodríguez.
Don Quixote runs from March 19 to 29 at the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco, located at 301 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco.
Tickets can be purchased online at sfballet.org
San Francisco hosts the 16th Annual Salsa Festival
Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy a unique weekend with live music, dance classes, competitions, and workshops led by top salsa instructors at the 16th Annual Salsa Festival, which will also feature a stellar performance by Charlie Aponte, former lead singer of El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico.
For three days, you’ll enjoy workshops and performances by world-class dancers, the San Francisco Festival Competition, the best DJs in the Bay Area, a salsa room, and a bachata room.
The 16th San Francisco Salsa Festival will take place from March 26-28, 2026. This year’s festival venue is the Marriott Waterfront at San Francisco International Airport, 1800 Old Bayshore Highway, Burligame, California.
"The Children Asking for Lodging" was one of Diego Rivera's last works. It was financed with money from the U.S. -- "Los niños pidiendo posada", fue una de las últimas obras de Diego Rivera. Fue financiada con dinero procedente de EE.UU.
by México Desconocido
It depicts a line of 26 dark-skinned children, barefoot, some wearing sandals, and a few wearing shoes. Each one carries a candle in their right hand, and although the night seems rather cold, they cover their bodies only with ponchos, shawls, or simple traditional garments. Four of them, the oldest, are responsible for carrying the manger of Joseph and Mary, who, pregnant, carries the baby Jesus. This is the mural “The Children Asking for Lodging.”
It shows a row of 26 dark-skinned children, barefoot, some wearing sandals, and a few wearing shoes. Contemplating this work by Diego Rivera, created between 1953 and 1954, during a period when the painter had already established himself as one of the greatest exponents of Mexican muralism and was about to receive his cancer diagnosis, inevitably leads to reflection on our origins, our race, the fusion of our pre-Hispanic and Spanish cultures, and to consider the fragility of childhood.
Children Seeking Lodging, a work funded by McAshan Educational and Charitable.
In Children Seeking Lodging, Rivera depicts a procession of humble children carrying lit candles and pilgrims. Their expressions, illuminated by the candlelight, evoke the hope and spirituality that accompanies this celebration. As a complement, Rivera also painted The Piñata, where a scalloped paper pot falls to pieces, releasing fruit and surprises as the children enjoy the moment.
If you are interested in seeing the murals “Children Asking for Lodging” and “The Piñata,” you can do so at the Federico Gómez Children’s Hospital in Mexico City. Both works were commissioned by the McAshan Educational and Charitable Association, which takes its name from the American Susan McAshan, daughter of cotton magnate Will Clayton.
“Children Asking for Lodging” and its appearance in film
However, as far as we know, Diego Rivera didn’t leave many comments about the themes of his work “Children Asking for Lodging,” but its influence is present in books, culture, and even film. Perhaps the best-known example is “My Child Tizoc.”
In that film, starring Alberto Vázquez, the main character, a widower named Carmelo, takes his sick son to the Children’s Hospital in Mexico City. The murals, shown in the film, awaken in Carmelo a profound reflection on the fragility of life and the power of paternal love.
Children Asking for Lodging, one of Rivera’s last works
When Rivera painted Children Asking for Lodging, he had just received a tribute for his 50-year career with a major exhibition at the Palace of Fine Arts. Despite his diagnosis, his creativity did not diminish. Shortly after these works, supported by the architect Juan O’Gorman, he focused on the construction of the Anahuacalli.
Newsom amenaza a los condados de California por no utilizar su nuevo tribunal de salud mental.
Newsom threatens California counties for failing to use his new mental health court.
Far fewer people with mental illness are getting help in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s CARE Court program than expected. This week, he blamed local governments for shortcomings
Frustrated by the slow adoption of one of his signature efforts to get Californians with severe mental illness off the streets, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday threatened to take funding from counties he said aren’t doing enough.
Newsom called out 10 counties that he said are underperforming when it comes to CARE Court – a program he launched in 2023 that uses the courts to get people into mental health treatment. Counties that “haven’t gotten it done” in his view are: Los Angeles, Orange, San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Bernardino, Kern, Riverside, Yolo, Monterey and Fresno.
“I’m happy to redirect every damn penny in these programs to the counties that are getting things done, period, full stop,” Newsom said during a news conference. “Unless they stop doing what they’ve done. Don’t make any more excuses.”
Orange County was quick to dispute Newsom’s assertion that it was lagging on CARE Court. “Orange County is utilizing the CARE intervention fully,” the OC Health Care Agency, which leads mental health treatment for the county, said in an email to CalMatters.
CARE Court rolled out in eight counties at the end of 2023, and was adopted across the entire state by December 2024. The idea was to help some of the most vulnerable Californians – people who are in the grip of psychosis, languishing on sidewalks and unable to take care of themselves because all other treatment programs have failed them.
But a CalMatters investigation found CARE Court has served far fewer Californians than initially anticipated, and many families who had counted on the program to help loved ones with a severe mental illness have been disappointed. The program also has faced challenges in moving people off the streets and into housing, CalMatters found.
Through January, the state has received 3,817 petitions for care on behalf of someone with mental illness. The petitions can come from a person’s family.a first responder or a behavioral health provider. Judges have approved just 893 treatment agreements, Kim Johnson, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, said during the news conference.
Judges have ordered 32 people into CARE plans, which can happen if a participant won’t agree to or doesn’t follow a voluntary treatment agreement.
Newsom’s administration initially estimated between 7,000 and 12,000 Californians would qualify for CARE Court.
More than 4,000 people were diverted away from the CARE program and got services in another way, Johnson said.
The governor also highlighted counties he said are doing a good job using CARE Court to connect people with treatment: Alameda, Humboldt, Santa Barbara, Tuolumne, Marin, Napa, Merced, Sutter, San Mateo and Imperial. He spoke from inside an under-construction wing of Regis Village in Hayward, a mental health campus that has, among other services, 44 beds prioritized for people in CARE Court.
“There are a number of counties that get it and are getting things done, proving it can be done when you have leadership that cares enough to get it done,” Newsom said.
The administration calculated the number of CARE Court petitions received per capita to determine success, dubbing the 10 counties with the highest number as “CARE champions,” and relegating the 10 with the lowest to the “CARE ICU.”
But that data doesn’t take other important measures into account, such as the number of CARE agreements reached in each county, the number of petitions that are dismissed without someone getting treatment, or the number of people who have graduated from CARE Court. San Diego County, for instance, didn’t make the “CARE champion” list, even though, as of last summer, it had the most graduations of any county in the state, with 10. Riverside, which was a close second with seven graduations, was on the governor’s “CARE ICU” list.
Newsom promised that counties on his “CARE ICU” list would get extra help through the state’s CARE Improvement and Coordination Unit. He didn’t specify what that help would look like, but said the state already is working with some communities to provide technical support and training.
San Francisco, which landed on Newsom’s “CARE ICU” list, welcomes support from the state to strengthen its CARE Court program, Charles Lutvak, a spokesman for Mayor Daniel Lurie, said in an email to CalMatters.
“Since day one, our administration has been using every tool in our toolbox to address the crisis on our streets — reimagining street outreach and adding recovery and treatment resources so we can get people off the street and connected to the support they need,” he said.
Orange County has received 231 CARE Court petitions and has 79 participants who have agreed to treatment and are receiving housing, medication and other services, according to the OC Health Care Agency.
“Orange County has utilized this effective treatment option for those adults who meet the requirements of the program itself,” the agency wrote in an email. “It’s not just about how many petitions you have, which we have the fifth highest in the state, it’s about the services provided helping change the trajectory of untreated disease.
Newsom didn’t specify specify what funding might be at risk in communities that don’t step up their CARE Court game. But he gave some ideas when he said new money would be going toward programs that can support CARE Court participants. That includes $131.8 million in Homekey+ awards, funded by Proposition 1, to create 443 homes for people who need substance use and mental health services. The administration also rolled out another $159 million in Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention dollars – part of the $1 billion allocated in the 2024-25 budget.
In highlighting counties that he says have made good use of state funds so far, the administration invited Alameda County Judge Sandra Bean, who oversees the county’s CARE Court program, to share success stories.
The judge described one woman who lives with a developmental disability, a substance use disorder and a significant mental illness, who now has her own apartment and is taking medication.
“We’ve had a number of people who have done really, really well,” she said.
Edgar Agustín Montenegro, a Bay Area musician and San Francisco State University graduate remembered for his talent and resilience.
by Marvin Ramírez
La comunidad latina del Área de la Bahía lamenta la muerte de Edgar Agustín Montenegro, músico, graduado de San Francisco State University y ex conductor de autobuses de Muni, recordado por su inteligencia, su talento musical y su perseverancia frente a una vida marcada por grandes dificultades. Montenegro falleció el miércoles 5 de marzo, dejando un profundo vacío entre familiares, amigos y quienes lo conocieron desde sus años de juventud en San Francisco.
Montenegro nació en Granada, Nicaragua, hijo de Delia Bustamante Montenegro. Tras la muerte de su madre, su padre posteriormente contrajo matrimonio con María Montenegro, quien figura entre los familiares que hoy le sobreviven.
Edgar Montenegro con su madre Delia Bustamante Montenegro durante su gradución de secundaria. Edgar Montenegro con su madre Delia Bustamante Montenegro durante su graduación de secundaria.
Desde joven mostró interés por la música y los medios de comunicación. Durante su adolescencia estudió en Mission High School en San Francisco, donde, según recuerda su familia, comenzó a desarrollar su entusiasmo por la música y su sueño de trabajar algún día en radio o televisión.
Ese interés lo llevó a continuar sus estudios en San Francisco State University, donde obtuvo una maestría en radio y televisión. Quienes lo conocieron durante esos años lo recuerdan como una persona brillante y entusiasta, con grandes aspiraciones de desarrollar una carrera en los medios de comunicación.
Sin embargo, la vida tomó un rumbo muy distinto al que había imaginado.
Según relataba el propio Montenegro a amigos cercanos, perdió una oportunidad clave al inicio de su carrera cuando buscaba ingresar a la entonces estación Canal 14, que más tarde se convertiría en Univisión. Para poder realizar una pasantía necesitaba una carta de recomendación que le permitiera adquirir experiencia profesional.
De acuerdo con recuerdos que compartía con amigos, Montenegro pidió una carta de recomendación al conocido productor y administrador radial Marcos Gutiérrez, pero la recomendación nunca llegó.
“Le pedí una carta de recomendación y no me la quiso dar”, recordaba Montenegro con tristeza, según contaba a personas cercanas. Aquella oportunidad perdida, decía, marcó un punto de inflexión en su vida profesional.
Al mismo tiempo, un divorcio ocurrido poco después de graduarse lo enfrentó a fuertes presiones económicas. Amigos recuerdan que durante esos años trabajó en lo que fuera necesario para poder sostenerse y cumplir con sus responsabilidades familiares.
Al mismo tiempo, un divorcio ocurrido poco después de graduarse lo enfrentó a fuertes presiones económicas. Amigos recuerdan que durante esos años trabajó en lo que fuera necesario para poder sostenerse y cumplir con sus responsabilidades familiares.
A pesar de las dificultades económicas, quienes lo conocieron dicen que nunca dejó de trabajar ni de mantener una actitud humilde y amable.
Edgar tocando guitarra. Edgar playing the guitar.
“Edgar was an extremely intelligent person with a noble heart,” recalled his longtime friend Marvin Ramírez, editor of El Reportero and author of this report. “He went through very hard moments, but he was never ashamed of working hard to survive.”
A lifelong passion for music
Alongside his interest in broadcasting, Montenegro developed a deep love for music. He played several instruments, including guitar, bass and piano.
For several years he was part of the group Scorpio and also worked as a resident musician at the now-defunct Transfer Club, once owned by businessman Walter Castillo.
The club hosted the group Actualidad, which later became Franco Brothers, featuring musicians Carlito and Bismark Franco. Montenegro played guitar and bass with the band, earning the respect of fellow musicians for his versatility and musical ability.
Friends say he had a natural ear for music and could easily adapt to different instruments and styles.
Edgar, fue un gran amigo de mi hermano Bismarck y yo, un músico talentoso con mucho ambición de salir adelante. Toco un buen rato con Actualidad de los Hermano Franco, y con Ciencia Latina grupo de mi Tío Walter Castillo”. dijo a El Reportero, el veterano bajista Calito Franco.
“Montenegro era un gran musico, con bastante experiencia en acompañamiento de cantantes y como pianista tenia un repertoire extensivo como solista, dijo a El Reportero Patricia Thumas, una pianista veterana de San Francisco y de descendencia nicaragüense. “Siento mucho de saber de su partida, pues tenia muchos años de no verlo, pero su musicalidad siempre fue de alta categoria y su comunidad lo queria mucho. Que Dios lo tenga en su Gloria, y siempre lo recordamos con mucho cariño”.
Years at Muni
Later in life Montenegro found greater stability working for 14 years as a bus driver for Muni, San Francisco’s public transportation system.
That job allowed him to improve his financial situation and eventually keep the family home after his mother’s death, something that represented an important personal achievement after years of struggle.
But his life changed again after he lost his Muni job. According to friends and family members, the situation had a profound impact on his mental health.
After the accident he suffered neurological problems and long periods of depression. Over the years he underwent extensive medical treatments and medications that significantly altered his life and emotional state.
His final months
In recent months, friends noticed that his emotional condition had become increasingly difficult.
Days before his death Montenegro sent a brief message to this reporter reflecting the pain he was experiencing. In the message he wrote simply: “My son Felix died.”
Edgar fue un ferviente católico, en la foto dando su Primera Comunión. Edgar was a fervent Catholic; in the photo, he is making his First Communion.
He did not provide further details, and when asked about it he did not respond.
Weeks earlier, on January 19, he had also written seeking help.
“Marvin, thank you for helping me last time,” he wrote. “The problems got worse. Please help me again because I even ended up in the hospital. I felt like I almost died.”
Friends say those difficulties deepened the depression he had struggled with for years.
On March 4, people living in the house became concerned when Montenegro did not respond to calls or knocks on his bedroom door. Fearing something was wrong, they entered the house through a bathroom window.
Inside the room they found Edgar lying down with headphones on in front of his computer.
Remembered by his family
Montenegro is survived by his partner, Elsy Hernández, the mother of his three youngest children, Delia, Ernesto and Veronica; his stepmother, María Montenegro; his children Carole, Tony, Edgar, Carlos, Felix (rip), Delia, Ernesto, Veronica; five grandchildren; and his siblings Jimmy Bustamante, Sandra Montenegro, Katy Montenegro, Tracy Montenegro and Gina Montenegro. His brother Marvin Montenegro preceded him in death.
His daughter Delia Montenegro remembered her father with a message filled with love:
“Our dad will forever live in our hearts and the knowledge that he instilled in us will be enough to last a lifetime.”
For those who knew him since his youth in San Francisco, Montenegro’s death represents the loss of a man who, despite the adversities he faced throughout his life, always maintained his love for music, his humility, his affection for others and a deep love for his family. His children, born from three different relationships over the course of his life, were at the center of that family.
Invitation to the community
Family members and friends invite the community to say goodbye to Edgar Montenegro.
The viewing will take place on March 21 and tentatively from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Duggan’s Funeral Home in Daly City. The family is planning a reception around that time.
Those who knew him are invited to accompany the family, share memories and offer condolences.
Friends say Edgar Montenegro will be remembered for his sensitivity, his musical talent and his perseverance in the face of a life filled with challenges.
resolves legal and appraisal issues between the Appraiser’s Office and property owners. Hearings are quasi-judicial, conducted similarly to a courtroom, with evidence and testimony presented by the parties. The Board evaluates the evidence and testimony and issues its decision. To be eligible for a position, you must have a minimum of five years of professional experience in California as: (1) a certified public accountant; (2) a real estate broker; (3) an attorney; or (4) a property appraiser accredited by a nationally recognized organization or certified by the Bureau of Realtors or the State Board of Equalization.
For a complete list of current and future boards, commissions, and task forces,
Want to work for the city? Visit https://careers.sf.gov/ and find the right job for you!
Child Support Services Department Announcements
Department of Child Support Services Announcements:
Child support issues can be complicated, stressful, and confusing. The Department of Child Support Services helps parents understand the process so they know their rights and options for making and receiving support payments. We are available to help you in person or by phone. We also offer virtual services. Call us today at (866) 901-3212 to learn more. Register online or schedule an appointment at sf.gov/dcss to find out how we can help you.
Count on WIC for healthy families!
WIC is a federally funded nutrition program for women, infants, and children.
You may qualify if you:
● Are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have recently given birth;
● Have children under 5 years old; and
● Have a low or middle income; and/or
● Receive Medi-Cal, CalFresh (Food Stamps), or CalWORKS (TANF) benefits; and
● Live in California
WIC offers:
● Nutrition education and health information
● Breastfeeding support
● Food benefits for healthy foods (such as fruits and vegetables)
● Referrals to medical providers and community services
You may qualify:
● If your family’s income falls within the WIC limits.
Learn more at: MyFamily.wic.ca.gov or www.wicworks.ca.gov.
Enroll soon! Call today to see if you qualify and schedule an appointment.
Newly pregnant women, migrant workers, and working families are encouraged to apply.
Fire Department
The San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD) is actively recruiting emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and firefighters to serve the City and County of San Francisco. With a legacy dating back to 1866, the SFFD is one of the nation’s most respected and progressive all-hazard fire departments. We protect the city, its coastline, the San Francisco Bay, and San Francisco International Airport.
The SFFD operates California’s largest Community Paramedic program, providing compassionate care to all communities, especially our most vulnerable residents, regardless of socioeconomic status. Our highly qualified and diverse staff reflects the communities we serve through firefighting, emergency medical services (EMS), multilingual public education, and disaster training in English, Cantonese, and Spanish.
We are currently recruiting for Firefighter H2, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) H3 Level 1, and Paramedic H3 Level 2. Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. Join a department with a long tradition, driven by innovation and committed to equity and public safety. Apply today at sf-fire.org/join.
Apply to Join the Civil Grand Jury.
Volunteer to make a difference for all San Francisco residents.
We are accepting applications for the 2026-2027 Civil Grand Jury from now until May 1, 2026.
The Civil Grand Jury consists of 19 members randomly selected from a pool of applicants who volunteer to serve for a one-year term, from July 1 to June 30 of the following year.
Qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the selection process. During this process, a panel of Superior Court judges will interview each applicant and recommend the most qualified to join the pool of candidates, from which the 19 Civil Grand Jury members will be randomly selected.
For more information and to apply, please visit our website: https://www.sf.gov/apply-join-civil-grand-jury
The City and County of San Francisco encourage 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 and the newspapers assume no responsibility for errors and omissions.
Los canales de protesta iraníes están publicando esta caricatura con este título: “Lo que los izquierdistas y los liberales están haciendo en el mundo occidental”. Iranian protest channels are publishing this cartoon with this caption: “What the leftists and liberals are doing in the Western World.”
Marvin Ramírez, editor
by Marvin Ramírez
The modern world often claims to stand firmly for human rights, justice and compassion. Yet recent events across the Middle East reveal something deeply troubling about today’s global activism: outrage frequently appears selective.
Over the past months, massive protests have erupted across Western cities over the war in Gaza. Demonstrators have filled the streets of New York, London, Paris and even San Francisco carrying banners demanding an end to the violence and calling for justice for Palestinian civilians. The images coming out of Gaza—destroyed neighborhoods, displaced families and civilian casualties—are tragic. No decent person can watch those scenes without feeling sorrow and concern.
But a difficult question increasingly emerges: why do some tragedies ignite worldwide protests while others receive far less attention?
Take Iran.
For years, millions of Iranians have lived under a political system where basic freedoms are severely restricted. Protests demanding reform have repeatedly been met with violent repression. Demonstrators have been arrested, beaten, imprisoned and in many cases killed. Various human rights organizations and reports from inside Iran have documented large numbers of deaths during government crackdowns on dissent.
In some of the most severe waves of repression, estimates suggested that thousands of protesters were killed within short periods as authorities attempted to silence nationwide demonstrations. These were not foreign wars. These were citizens confronting their own government.
Yet outside Iran, the global response was comparatively limited.
Inside the country, the danger of protesting is very real. Citizens who challenge the government risk imprisonment—or worse. In such situations, the outside world becomes the only voice for those who cannot safely speak. That is when international solidarity is supposed to matter most.
Now the situation has taken another dramatic turn.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader for more than three decades, was recently killed amid escalating conflict involving the United States and Israel. His rule, which began in 1989, was marked by strong hostility toward Western powers and strict control over political life inside Iran. His government oversaw repeated crackdowns against protest movements demanding greater freedoms and economic reform.
Following his death and the intensification of regional tensions, demonstrations have suddenly appeared again across many Western cities—this time protesting military action against Iran.
For many observers, the contradiction is difficult to ignore.
When Iranian protesters were being arrested, beaten or killed by their own government, large international demonstrations were relatively rare. But when outside powers confront the regime responsible for those crackdowns, protests quickly multiply.
This raises an uncomfortable question: what exactly is the principle guiding these movements?
If the purpose of activism is to defend human rights and protect innocent lives, then the standard must be universal. The suffering of civilians in Gaza deserves attention. But so does the suffering of Iranians facing repression from their own government.
Justice cannot depend on who the perpetrator happens to be.
Otherwise, activism begins to resemble political alignment rather than a consistent defense of human dignity.
This does not mean protests against war are illegitimate. War is always tragic. Civilians are always the first to suffer. It is natural for citizens to demand peaceful solutions whenever possible.
But protest also carries responsibility.
When movements claim to speak in the name of humanity, their moral vision must include all victims—not only those whose suffering fits a particular political narrative.
If civilians die in Gaza, it matters.
If protesters are killed in Iran, it matters.
If children are abused or exploited anywhere in the world, it matters.
And if authoritarian governments silence dissent through violence, the world should respond with the same urgency.
Justice that appears loudly for some victims but remains quiet for others risks becoming hollow justice.
Human rights cannot be selective. Compassion cannot depend on ideology or politics.
The world does not need louder slogans.
It needs moral consistency.
Only when global activism applies the same moral standard everywhere—regardless of geography, ideology or political convenience—can the call for justice carry real legitimacy.
Otherwise, the silence surrounding some victims will continue to speak louder than the protests for others.
Sources: Reports and background information from Associated Press, Reuters, BBC News, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
