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36 years of El Reportero: a life dedicated to independent journalism

Marvin Ramírez
José Santos y su hijo Marvin Ramírez

by Marvin Ramírez

Last April 1, El Reportero marked 36 years of continuous publication. Thirty-six years of constant effort, commitment to the community, and a quiet struggle to maintain an independent newspaper in the Bay Area.

This project began in college, without resources or business structure. There was only the idea of practicing journalism and the desire to inform. In those early days, I didn’t even know how to direct other reporters. Students would come with interest in participating, but I didn’t know what instructions to give them. It was a professor, Raúl Ramírez, who taught me something fundamental: I had to clearly tell them what to do.

Since then, everything has been a learning process. Mistakes were part of the journey, but time and experience taught me how to sustain the newspaper. It was not only about writing, but also about managing, selling advertising, and protecting editorial integrity.

That has been the greatest challenge: maintaining independence.

In traditional journalism, there is a clear line between the newsroom and advertising. However, when one person assumes both roles, that line becomes a daily battle. Many times, economic pressures, offers, or attempts to influence content arise. Remaining firm in the face of those situations has been a constant decision over these 36 years.

It has not been an easy path. There have been moments without sufficient resources, moments of uncertainty, and personal difficulties. But a way to continue was always found. Like someone riding a bicycle avoiding obstacles along the road, that has been this journey.

Unlike many large newspapers whose owners have capital and investors, El Reportero has been sustained by a journalist. For years, I have taken on multiple roles: editor, administrator, salesperson, and strategist. Despite that, every week a new edition has been published.

That effort is what defines this newspaper.
There have also been attempts to expand. At one point, El Reportero TV was developed, with equipment and infrastructure available. However, the lack of resources to operate that project limited its continuity. In the past, it was more common to have students and interns supporting the work. Today, that reality has changed.

Even so, the projects continue.

With time, an inevitable question arises: who will continue this work in the future? It is a real concern, but also a motivation to keep strengthening what has been built.

El Reportero has become an institution.

Its value goes beyond information. It represents a community, its language, and its culture. A community without a newspaper is a community without a voice. On the other hand, when there is a publication that represents it, there is identity and respect.

Today, digital tools, social media, and artificial intelligence offer new opportunities to grow and compete in an increasingly demanding environment.

I want to thank all the people who have followed this newspaper over the years. Much of that support is silent, but meaningful. I also thank the companies and organizations that have contributed to sustaining this effort.

Thirty-six years later, El Reportero continues forward with the same purpose: to inform independently, serve the community, and keep a necessary voice alive.

And in closing, I remember that this calling did not begin with me. My grandfather published his magazine in 1926, called El Field, where he proposed fencing baseball fields and charging admission; that idea contributed to the development of the first professional baseball league in Nicaragua, according to records from La Prensa, where the Boer team faced the U.S. Marines who at that time were occupying Nicaragua.

My father, José Santos Ramírez, for his part, began in journalism as a child with a toy printing press. Before traveling to the United States, he was already working at La Noticia, a daily newspaper in Nicaragua. At the same time, he had also started his own biweekly newspaper, El Nuevo Demócrata.

In 1945, he emigrated to the United States. Here, he held other jobs to support himself, but continued his vocation, printing and selling his newspaper on Market Street in San Francisco for 10 cents. After several years, he returned to Nicaragua and resumed his work at La Noticia, where over time he completed 45 years at La Noticia, which was considered a third path where many people went in search of the truth.

My father passed away on June 12, 2004, in the city of San Leandro, California, a victim of kidney cancer.

From that, I inherited the spirit: to say what must be said and sustain it through work. That is the legacy that continues today in El Reportero.

 

 

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Two Republicans are fighting for California governor. Why a tie is their best strategy

From left to right, Republican candidates Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton participate in the Western Growers California gubernatorial candidates forum at Fresno State on April 1, 2026. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters. -- De izquierda a derecha, los candidatos republicanos Chad Bianco y Steve Hilton participan en el foro de candidatos a la gobernación de California de Western Growers en Fresno State, el 1 de abril de 2026.

Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco need to split the vote nearly evenly to lock Democrats out of the race. Their strategy? Attack each other relentlessly

by Jeanne Kuang

CalMatters

With so many candidates running for governor, it’s hard to keep up. We’re here to help: Sign up for our 2026 election newsletter to get the latest on the candidates.

California Republicans have an unusual shot of claiming an upset victory in the governor’s race this year — but to win, neither of their candidates can get too far ahead of the other just yet.

With eight major Democratic candidates splitting the liberal vote, both Republican candidates, former Fox News host Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, could come in first and second in the June 2 primary and move on to the November ballot.

That would shut out Democratic general election candidates, an extraordinary event that pollsters and strategists of both parties agree is the only viable chance for a Republican to become governor. Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans nearly two-to-one in California and the GOP hasn’t won a statewide race in two decades.

Both Republicans can only advance to November if they split the Republican vote essentially evenly, giving each enough to surpass their Democratic opponents. That’s thanks to California’s top-two primary system, in which the two candidates with the most votes advance to the general election regardless of their party.

Democrats insist it won’t happen, though they face mounting pressure over the risk in a year when the party is hoping to turn out liberal voters for U.S. House races in November.

And neither Republican is strategizing to shut the Democrats out. Instead of trying to keep the other alive through the primary, Hilton and Bianco are running campaigns like any other candidate: seeking to defeat each other. Hilton has spent the past few months attempting to consolidate Republican support by attacking Bianco, who has been happy to return the ire.

“There’s an amazing irony there, that they need to beat each other but they both need to succeed at the same time,” GOP strategist Rob Stutzman said. “It cuts against human nature and cuts against the way you put together campaigns.”

An intra-Republican primary

Despite very different backgrounds, Hilton and Bianco are running on similar policies.

Hilton is a British political strategist who’s written extensively about populism, reducing bureaucracy and decentralizing power, and Bianco is a bombastic local sheriff who is pushing the boundaries of police authority over elections.

Both are pushing a deregulation agenda, railing against Democratic-backed environmental policies they blame for raising the state’s cost of living. Their targets include the landmark California Environmental Quality Act, which requires environmental reviews for new construction.

Both Republicans also want to reverse prison closures, boost oil production to lower gas prices and reduce or eliminate the 61-cents-a-gallon gas tax.

Hilton wants to shield the first $100,000 of earnings from the state income tax (a goal Democrat Katie Porter shares) and significantly lower taxes on higher earners by cutting 18% of the state budget, including areas he claims are fraudulent or wasteful such as using cannabis tax revenue to support substance abuse programs. Bianco also wants to cut, and bring in oil revenues to eliminate the income tax entirely.

Hilton, one of the race’s top fundraisers, has raised more than $6.6 million so far, exceeding Bianco’s haul by more than $2 million. The two are second and third to Democratic former Rep. Katie Porter in the total number of campaign donors — one measure of popular support.

Polls show they remain neck-and-neck at or near the top of the pack, with one survey released last week by the California Democratic Party showing Hilton and Bianco statistically tied with 16% and 14%, respectively. To be competitive, they each need to win over independent and undecided voters, some of whom lean Republican and most of whom are fixated on the state’s cost of living crisis. The California Republican Party is slated to take an endorsement vote at its convention next weekend.

Each has tried to outrank the other on conservative credentials.

Hilton has attacked Bianco for having “too much baggage” related to liberal causes, pointing to a video showing the sheriff kneeling during the 2020 Black Lives Matters protests, as many police officers did then to de-escalate crowds, and later describing his actions as praying. Under Trump, the FBI this year fired several agents who had done the same.

“It’s a question of character and honesty and judgment,” Hilton said in an interview.

Bianco pointed to the two Republicans’ continued tie in the polls as proof Hilton can’t carry the party. He’s called Hilton, who worked for the conservative U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron, “a fraud amongst Republicans” in part because a political crowdfunding startup Hilton co-founded in 2013, Crowdpac, later rebranded to exclusively support Democrats.

And each has aimed to align himself with Trump without saying the president’s name directly. While both are vocal fans of the president, nearly three-quarters of California voters disapprove of him, and Democratic voters in particular are motivated this year to vote against the president’s agenda. Hilton and Bianco have both blasted Democrats for linking the gubernatorial race to Trump.

Hilton, who once called for an audit into Trump’s loss in the 2020 election, is promoting “CalDOGE,” a program to look into reports of fraud and waste in California government. It’s a nod to Trump and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency that slashed federal spending and employment last year. So far, as part of the project, Hilton has held press conferences criticizing state grants to nonprofits with advocacy wings that support liberal causes, like stricter environmental laws and holding voter registration drives; he’s vowed to cut them as governor.

Bianco, who endorsed Trump’s 2024 re-election by saying America should “put a felon in the White House,” told KTLA last fall if he had the president’s support he’d downplay it on the campaign trail. Asked last week if he’s seeking the president’s approval, he said he instead wants “the endorsement of every single person in this country.”

“You have an entire Democrat field trying to label me as Donald Trump, and the reason why is because they have absolutely nothing to run on,” he said in an interview.

He has embarked on an unprecedented effort in Riverside County to recount ballots from last year’s special election based on what local elections officials say is inaccurate and flawed raw ballot data, a move that mirrors the Trump administration’s seizure of 2020 ballots in Georgia. But Bianco has insisted it’s not political. The investigation, he said this week, is on hold amid legal challenges.

Who is Bianco?

The ballot seizure is one of the many ways Bianco has courted controversy as county sheriff, a seat to which he was first elected in 2018 with hefty campaign contributions from the union that represents sheriff’s deputies.

The three-decade law enforcement officer and one-time member of the far-right militia group Oath Keepers gained attention in 2020 for fighting state orders to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, refusing to enforce masking or stay-at-home rules or to mandate vaccination for deputies. He also opposes school vaccination laws.

He’s often criticized the state’s sanctuary law that limits police cooperation with federal immigration agents, simultaneously insisting he’ll do everything he legally can to help immigration agents but clarifying to Riverside County residents that deputies do not enforce immigration laws and take reports of crimes from anyone. He’s presided over a spike in deaths in county jails that he’s attributed to fentanyl and suicides, though the state attorney general’s office has opened an investigation.

He has ties to an evangelical pastor in Temecula who helps elect Christian conservatives and is pushing to increase the influence of Christianity in government.

His pitch to voters is that he’s an outsider — and he’s prone to using hyperbole to prove it, calling environmental activists who sue to stop development “terrorists,” promising to “completely destroy special interests” and saying if elected he’d “take a nuclear bomb” to the decisions made in California government.

He’s running, he said, to offer a change from the “crime and corruption” he says has defined state politics and claims he’s the only candidate with strong executive experience (though several Democratic opponents have led state or federal agencies, or major cities.)

He’s endorsed by several law enforcement groups, some of which have also jointly endorsed a Democrat, and funded by campaign contributions from dozens of officers and police chiefs, various business owners and the powerful Peace Office Research Association of California, a special interest with outsize influence at the Capitol. The law enforcement association extends to his title as Riverside sheriff on the ballot, which will give him an edge over Hilton, GOP strategists say.

“Every other person in this race is nothing but a career politician,” he said. “We’re over career politicians, millionaires, billionaires, bright, shiny objects and career politicians and strategists. California is sick of that.”

Who is Hilton?

Hilton, meanwhile, is making lofty promises like $3-a-gallon gas and halving electricity bills, and says he has experience from London to achieve such cuts.

The son of Hungarian immigrants to Britain, Hilton got his start in the Conservative Party there before moving to the private sector and returning to politics as Cameron’s director of strategy from 2010 to 2012.

The British press noted Hilton’s penchant for casual dress and credited him as the ideological force pushing the party to loosen workplace regulations, cut welfare, shrink the size of government, lower taxes and withdraw from the European Union. Hilton was disillusioned with Cameron’s progress, the Washington Post reported, when he left his team after two years to join his wife, tech executive Rachel Whetstone, in California and take a sabbatical at Stanford. The couple still maintain several properties in central London.

“The government has lost its ultimate radical,” The Economist declared of his departure from 10 Downing Street in 2012. “In his visceral disdain for the state, reverence for local communities and commitment to enterprise, he might be the most deeply conservative figure at the very top of this government.”

He founded Crowdpac in 2013 with two partners, a Stanford professor and a Google executive, with the stated goal of getting more people engaged in politics by using software to match their views with candidates they could support financially. The platform, he highlighted at the time, was used by a Black Lives Matter leader to crowdfund a run for Baltimore mayor and by anti-Trump Republicans hoping for a Paul Ryan presidential run. In 2015, he wrote a column in the Guardian supporting a higher minimum wage in Britain and walking back his own prior campaigns against one.

Years later, Hilton left the platform when Crowdpac, having mostly been used by Democrats, stopped helping Republican candidates in what executives called “a stand against Trumpism.” It later shut down and relaunched again as a Democrats-only platform. By then, Hilton had already endorsed Trump for president in 2016 and landed a weekly Fox News show, which ran from 2017 to 2023. He’s now returned fully to his conservative roots, pushing to “massively reduce spending” and regulation the same way he did in the U.K.

“I have a very clear message of change that’s practical and positive and not ideological,” he told CalMatters.

Hilton has raised the third most in the race, behind Democrats Tom Steyer, a self-funding billionaire, and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, who has pulled in millions of dollars primarily from Silicon Valley. Hilton has put $200,000 of his own money into his campaign, and counts among his supporters Uber, Fox Corp. mogul Rupert Murdoch and tech executives who have also supported Democrats: Google founder Sergey Brin and Ripple executive Chris Larsen.

Will Democrats really be shut out of the race?

Experts say a Democratic shutout is unlikely, unless the field remains entrenched.

“It depends upon those two Republican candidates who are splitting the Republican vote fairly evenly right now, doing that, and then having more than a half a dozen Democrats with no one that is a leading favorite, which is what we’ve seen so far,” said Mark Baldassare, director of polling at the Public Policy Institute of California. “But one thing I would say is it’s still early.”

Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks has also used that reasoning. He has started an incremental public pressure campaign to prompt lower-polling Democratic candidates to drop out, but the candidates have resisted so far.

Hilton, too, dismissed analyses that both Republicans must advance for either to have a shot of winning the seat, calling it a hypothetical exercise from GOP strategists.

“They don’t know what they’re talking about, I mean these are the kinds of people who have been losing for 20 years,” he said. “The idea that the Democratic Party is just going to concede California is obviously ridiculous. … It’s going to be a Republican against a Democrat.”

Bianco said he’s running against Hilton, whom he called a “career strategist,” as much as any of the Democrats. He said he hasn’t thought too much about who his opponent would be in a general election.

“It really doesn’t bother me,” he said. “I’m not doing this for Republicans. I’m not doing it for Democrats, independents, anything like that.”

 

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Mexican filmmaker Juan Pablo Villalobos awarded Moulin d’Andé-CECI residency in Cannes program

Screenshot

by the El Reportero staff

Mexican filmmaker Juan Pablo Villalobos has been awarded the prestigious Moulin d’Andé-CECI Residency after being selected among ten participants in the Next Step 2025 program, organized by the Critics’ Week of the Cannes Film Festival. The recognition positions him as one of the most promising emerging voices in contemporary Latin American cinema.

The Next Step program aims to support filmmakers who have distinguished themselves with short films as they transition into feature-length projects. In this context, Villalobos was selected for his strong narrative proposal and his ability to craft stories with emotional depth and a distinct visual style—qualities that have drawn the attention of international programmers and industry professionals.

Villalobos is participating with the project Ladrones de cuadros (Painting Thieves), a story set between Mexico City and the state of Oaxaca. The plot follows Arcadio, a disillusioned painter who, after witnessing a murder, escapes urban violence and seeks refuge in his grandmother’s home. In what initially appears to be a peaceful environment, the protagonist faces a new conflict when a mysterious Finnish art conservator arrives claiming ownership of some of the family’s paintings, unleashing a tension that blends memory, identity, and danger.

The project combines elements of a thriller with an intimate reflection on art, cultural heritage, and displacement. This approach has been key to its selection, as the program seeks stories with a strong authorial voice and international development potential.

As part of the award, Villalobos will take part in a two-week residency at the Moulin d’Andé-CECI in France, a renowned creative center that has hosted iconic figures of European cinema such as François Truffaut, Louis Malle, Alain Cavalier, Robert Enrico, and Jean-Paul Rappeneau. During his stay, the director will receive specialized mentorship to further develop his screenplay and production strategy.

Residencies of this kind not only offer creative development opportunities but also serve as key platforms for building connections with producers, distributors, and other professionals in the global film industry. For Latin American filmmakers in particular, these spaces function as bridges to international markets that would otherwise be difficult to access.

The recognition of Villalobos also reflects the current momentum of Mexican cinema, marked by a new generation of filmmakers exploring more personal and daring narratives, moving away from conventional formulas.

With this achievement, Juan Pablo Villalobos continues to consolidate his career while contributing to the visibility of Mexican talent on one of the most influential stages in world cinema. His next step will be to bring Ladrones de cuadros to life as a feature film, confirming the expectations now forming around his work.

 

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We cannot allow Canada to become a place where Christians are punished for quoting the Bible

by David Cooke

The odds may be against us. But there is one last chance to stop Bill C-9 before it receives Royal Assent and becomes the law of the land. The Senate still needs to vote on this dangerous speech control measure championed by the Liberals and pushed through the House of Commons last week.

A second reading has been scheduled in the Senate for April 14th, after which it could quickly proceed to a third and final reading and vote. Alternatively, the Senate could refer it for further study, which could delay this bill from going into law.

Unfortunately, the prospects for totally stopping Bill C-9 in the Senate are slim, as the vast majority of senators owe their jobs to our former Liberal Prime Minster Justin Trudeau. Mr. Trudeau was responsible for the appointment of 81 out of 98 seats in the Red Chamber.

Nevertheless, Trudeau’s senators are not bound to Liberal party discipline, and they enjoy relative independence in their decision-making until the end of their term, at age 75. Also, each senator is assigned to a given province or territory, which they are supposed to represent. It is possible that some will be open to our concerns, especially if they are confronted with thousands of emails, letters, and phone calls over the next few weeks.

Concerned Canadians need to urge them to take their role seriously as members of the chamber of “sober second thought.” If there was ever a bill that needed second thought, it is this one!

Bill C-9 removes the long-standing “religious defense” from our Criminal Code. This makes it possible – for the first time ever – for woke police officers and judges to condemn the moral teachings of the Bible. Faithful Christians who proclaim these teachings on life, marriage, and gender may be fined or imprisoned as anti-woman, anti-gay, or anti-trans “hate criminals.”

We need only to look to the example of Finland to see where Bill C-9 will take us here in Canada.

In a recent ruling from the Finnish Supreme Court, a Finnish parliamentarian and doctor, Ms. Päivi Räsänen, along with a Lutheran bishop, Juhana Pohjola, were convicted of “hate speech” for publishing a pamphlet in 2004 titled “Male and Female He Created Them.” This pamphlet explains the biblical view of marriage and sexual ethics.

Not only were Ms. Räsänen and Bishop Pohjola fined thousands of Euros, the court ordered that the pamphlet be “removed from public access and destroyed.” This was nothing other than a modern woke-inspired “heresy trial” concluding with a progressive-style “book burning”!

You can read an English translation of the censored pamphlet that has been preserved here.

After the verdict, Ms. Räsänen warned that “this decision demonstrates that freedom of speech must be defended ever more strongly. In practice, its preservation as a robust fundamental right is not self-evident. I have considered it both a privilege and an honor to defend freedom of speech and religion, which is a central right in a democratic state. I intend to continue doing so.”

Like Ms. Räsänen, we must not give up the fight to protect our God-given freedom of speech and religion. Even though our chances of persuading the Senate are slim, with God nothing is impossible. God doesn’t play the odds!

Let’s remember our Lord Jesus and how grim things looked for Him as He faced the powers-that-be in Jerusalem. He was wrongfully arrested, prosecuted, beaten, scourged, mocked, and condemned to die. And yet, our Lord turned the world’s greatest tragedy – the crucifixion of the Son of God – into heaven’s greatest victory!

“Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.” (1 Peter 3:18).

God can turn any situation around – even the passage of Bill C-9. Whatever happens, we know His Word will outlast the verdicts of earthly judges and the bills passed in earthly parliaments. He wins in the end!

In the meantime, let us be faithful to speak out in defense of biblical truth. I would hate to see Canada go the route of Finland. Our country must not become a place where Christians are punished for sharing the teaching of Holy Scripture! LifeSite.

 

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The hidden power of potassium: Why this essential electrolyte is being suppressed

by Patrick Lewis

  • Potassium is essential for nerve/muscle function and glucose metabolism, yet 90 percent of Americans are deficient due to processed foods disrupting the natural 10:1 potassium-to-sodium balance, fueling heart disease and cancer.
  • The FDA arbitrarily limits potassium supplements to 99 mg per tablet—ostensibly for kidney safety—while ignoring widespread deficiency, pushing people toward Big Pharma’s toxic, profit-driven drugs instead.
  • Whole foods like beet greens (1,309 mg/cup), potatoes (926 mg) and avocados (487 mg) provide safe, effective potassium without side effects, yet are suppressed to maintain dependency on synthetic medications.
  • Processed foods and GMOs intentionally deplete potassium to weaken immunity, induce fatigue and perpetuate chronic illness—key to the depopulation agenda of controlled sickness and docility.
  • Avoid processed foods, prioritize potassium-rich plants, reject unnecessary diuretics (e.g., coffee, hypertension drugs) and expose FDA/Pharma corruption to defy medical tyranny.

Potassium—symbolized by “K” on the periodic table—is one of the most vital yet overlooked nutrients in human health. While mainstream medicine obsesses over cholesterol-lowering drugs and synthetic pharmaceuticals, the simple truth remains: potassium deficiency is rampant, contributing to heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and even cancer. Yet, instead of promoting whole-food sources of potassium, corrupt regulatory agencies like the FDA impose arbitrary limits (just 99 mg per tablet) while ignoring the fact that 90 percent of Americans fail to consume optimal amounts.

The electrolyte crisis: How modern diets sabotage health

Potassium is the primary cation inside human cells, essential for nerve function, muscle contraction and converting glucose into glycogen. Without it, weakness, fatigue and severe metabolic dysfunction set in. Yet, the modern industrial diet—loaded with processed foods, toxic seed oils and excessive sodium—has destroyed the natural potassium-sodium balance our ancestors thrived on.

Historical hunter-gatherers consumed 16 times more potassium than sodium, while today’s processed-food diet reverses that ratio to 0.74:1, a disaster for cardiovascular health. Studies from Harvard and other institutions prove that high potassium intake cuts stroke risk, lowers blood pressure, prevents kidney stones and stabilizes blood sugar. Yet, Big Pharma pushes hypertension drugs (which deplete potassium) instead of advocating for dietary solutions.

Why are authorities suppressing potassium?

The FDA’s absurd 99 mg potassium supplement limit—ostensibly to “protect” those with kidney dysfunction—ignores the fact that most Americans are dangerously deficient. Meanwhile, the pharmaceutical industry profits from treating diseases caused by potassium deficiency:

  • Hypertension drugs (like diuretics) worsen potassium loss, creating a vicious cycle of medication dependency.
  • Statins and other heart medications mask symptoms while ignoring root causes like electrolyte imbalance.
  • Diabetes management focuses on insulin and drugs rather than addressing potassium’s role in glucose metabolism.

This isn’t incompetence—it’s by design. The medical-industrial complex thrives on sickness, not prevention.

The best natural sources of potassium

Unlike synthetic drugs, potassium-rich foods heal without side effects. The NIH recommends 4,700 mg daily, yet most people barely get half that. Here are the most potent sources:

  1. Beet greens (1,309 mg per cup) – One of nature’s most concentrated potassium sources.
  2. Baked potato with skin (926 mg) – Demonized by carb-phobics, yet essential for electrolyte balance.
  3. Spinach (839 mg per cup) – Also rich in magnesium, another critical electrolyte.
  4. Avocados (487 mg each) – A healthy fat source that supports heart function.
  5. Bananas (451 mg each) – The classic potassium food, though not the most potent.

Other powerhouse sources include acorn squash, pinto beans, coconut water and lentils—foods that have sustained humanity for millennia.

The bigger picture: How potassium fits into the depopulation agenda

Globalists pushing processed foods, GMOs and pharmaceutical dependence want you sick and docile. Potassium deficiency leads to:

  • Weakened immunity – Making populations more susceptible to engineered pandemics.
  • Chronic fatigue – Keeping people too tired to resist tyranny.
  • Cardiovascular disease – Ensuring lifelong dependence on Big Pharma.

By keeping potassium out of supplements and downplaying its importance, they ensure a perpetually malnourished, medicated populace.

How to reclaim your health

  1. Ditch processed foods – They’re loaded with sodium and stripped of potassium.
  2. Eat potassium-rich plants daily – Leafy greens, squash, beans and avocados should be staples.
  3. Avoid unnecessary diuretics – Coffee, alcohol and hypertension drugs deplete potassium.
  4. Demand transparency – Reject FDA corruption and Big Pharma’s suppression of natural remedies.

Potassium is not just another nutrient—it’s a key to survival in an era of engineered food scarcity and medical tyranny. By returning to whole, potassium-rich foods, we reclaim our health and defy the globalist agenda of sickness and control.

According to BrightU.AI‘s Enoch, potassium is being suppressed because it’s a vital, natural electrolyte that supports heart health and overall vitality, threatening Big Pharma’s profits by reducing dependence on synthetic drugs. The medical-industrial complex downplays its importance to keep people sick and dependent on their toxic, profit-driven treatments. Food.news.

 

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Latino community mourns Johnson Hor, friend to many across communities

Johnson Hor 12.13.72 - 3.29.26 -- q.d.e.p - RIP

Chinese American connector built deep ties in Latino community, mentoring others and supporting civic causes across San Francisco

by Marvin Ramírez, with reports by Paula Fiscal

The sudden passing of Johnson Hor on March 29, 2026, has left a profound void in San Francisco’s Latino community and beyond, where he was widely known as a connector, advisor, and tireless advocate for others.

Hor, 53, died unexpectedly just hours after continuing to assist colleagues and community members late into the night—an ending that reflected the same dedication that defined his life.

A memorial service held April 4 at the Neptune Society in the city of Belmont drew hundreds of mourners, including friends, family, business leaders, and community advocates, all gathering to honor a man whose impact reached across sectors and communities.

Though Chinese American, Hor built strong and lasting ties within the Latino community, where he collaborated with local leaders, supported advocacy efforts, and advised individuals on business, civic, and organizational matters.

He was known not only for his knowledge, but for how he connected with people. At times, when spoken to in Spanish, he would respond just as naturally—gracefully—reflecting both respect and genuine connection with the community he served.

Hor’s career spanned multiple industries, including finance, energy, public health, and civic systems. He advised institutions on operations, risk, data systems, and regulatory frameworks, and worked with organizations such as JPMorgan Chase, First Republic Bank, and Chevron. He was also a member of the U.S. Supreme Court Bar and contributed pro bono legal and regulatory work. He founded Shoebox Ventures®, a nonprofit consultancy designed to bridge corporate expertise with community impact, helping launch nonprofits and support small businesses.

In addition to his professional work, Hor remained deeply engaged in civic service. He served as a Local Board Chair for the Selective Service System in San Francisco.

Tributes from across the community reflected the breadth of his influence.

“I’ve known Johnson for over 25 years. He was like a brother to me,” said Paula Fiscal. “He was an inspiration and shared his enthusiasm with everyone he met. His life affected thousands of people worldwide.”

“Johnson was one of the brightest people I’ve ever met,” said Jose Ramos. “He was always there for his family, friends, and the community at large. He will be dearly missed.”

Archbishop Gregory Richardson described Hor as “the foundation for the community,” adding that “he had love in his heart and a dream that included everyone. He will be missed, but never forgotten.”

Roger Cárdenas, a longtime community organizer, recalled Hor’s role in civic efforts such as the campaign to preserve St. Luke’s Hospital, where his work supported large-scale community mobilization.

Mabel Chan, who met Hor during the pandemic through professional networks, remembered him as a mentor who encouraged bold thinking.

“He told me to think big and do great things,” she said. “He believed in people, sometimes before they believed in themselves.”

Friends say Hor’s legacy lies not only in his professional achievements, but in the people he uplifted. He mentored entrepreneurs, supported community initiatives, and offered guidance freely to those who sought his help.

A family member shared that Hor had learned in the months before his passing that he was facing a serious illness, though few details were made public.

Despite his accomplishments, Hor remained humble and grounded. He often spoke with humor about his identity as an American-born Chinese and took pride in caring for his mother in recent years.

For many in San Francisco’s Latino community, Johnson Hor will be remembered not only as an advisor or connector, but as someone who truly showed up—with respect, generosity, and heart.

He is survived by his wife, Amy, along with a wide network of friends, colleagues, and community members who continue to carry forward his values of mentorship, service, and connection.

– The staff of El Reportero, together with their editor Marvin Ramírez, offer their most sincere condolences to the family and friends on the loss of their loved one, Johnson Hor.

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Public notice

NOTICE OF CONFISCATION OF FUNDS HELD BY THE CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO UNCLAIMED FOR THREE YEARS PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 50050 – 50056 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE.

By means of this notice, the City and County of San Francisco (the “City”) informs the public that, pursuant to section 50050 of the Government Code, funds belonging to the San Francisco City Option Program (“SF City Option”) held in the City Treasury bank account under the name “Fund 29050 DPH HCSO”, which have remained unclaimed, in the total amount of $3,xxx,xxx, and that on May 22, 2026, a date between 45 days and no more than 60 days after the first publication of this notice, any unclaimed funds will become the property of the City, unless one of the following four actions (the “Criteria”) occurs:

(1) The account holder, or a person legally authorized by the account holder, calls the SF City Option Customer Service Center at 1 (877) 772 – 0415 and requests to keep the account active; or

(2) The claimant’s account receives a new contribution from an employer; or

(3) A claim for reimbursement is submitted to SF City Option as set forth at https://sfcityoption.org/sfmra/do-i-have-funds/; or

(4) An enrollment form for an SF Medical Reimbursement Account (“SF MRA”) is submitted to the SF City Option administration by one of the following means:

(a) an online form available at https://sfcityoption.org/sfmra/enroll-in-sf-mra/ after identifying available funds on that program website,

(b) mailing to “SF City Option, P.O. Box 194367, San Francisco, CA 94119”, or

(c) emailing “info@sfcityoption.org”. An interested party wishing to claim, in whole or in part, may check the availability of funds at https://sfcityoption.org/sfmra/do-i-have-funds/ (the “Funds Search”).

A breakdown by name and amount can be found at https://etaxstatement.sfgov.org/Escheatments/sfco.aspx or by calling the SF City Option Customer Service Center at 1 (877) 772-0415.

Instructions for opening or resetting an account, or for filing a refund claim, are available on the SF City Option website at https://sfcityoption.org/es/sfmra/ or by contacting the SF City Option Customer Service Center at 1 (877) 772-0415 or info@sfcityoption.org.

CNSB # 3975417

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Vacancies on boards or committees of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors

Join a board or committee!

The Appraisal Appeals Board (AAB)

The AAB resolves legal and valuation issues between the Bureau of the Appraiser and real estate owners. Hearings are quasi-judicial in nature and are conducted similarly to a court proceeding, with the presentation of evidence and testimony by the parties involved. The Board then evaluates this evidence and testimony and issues its decision. To be eligible for appointment, you must have a minimum of five years of professional experience in California in one of the following areas: (1) Certified Public Accountant; (2) Real Estate Broker; (3) Attorney; or (4) Real Estate Appraiser accredited by a nationally recognized organization, or certified by the Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers or the State Board of Equalization.

For a complete list of current and upcoming boards, commissions, and task forces, please visit https://sfbos.org/vacancy-boards-commissions-task-forces.

Want to work for the city?

Visit https://careers.sf.gov/ and find the perfect job for you!

Department Announcements

Child Support Services

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 assist 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.

Emergency Management Department

sf.gov/ReadySF — The place to find everything you need to know before, during, and after an emergency. Be prepared, so you don’t have to be. Brought to you by the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management (DEM).

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 immigration statuses in San Francisco. This site includes resources for obtaining free or low-cost immigration legal assistance, information on health care and public benefits, information about your rights, upcoming events, and much more!

Connect with the trusted resources you need: sf.gov/immigrants

Civil Grand Jury

Apply to serve on the Civilian Grand Jury.

Volunteer to make a difference for all San Francisco residents.

We are now accepting applications for the 2026-2027 Civil Grand Jury through May 1, 2026.

The Civil Grand Jury consists of 19 members randomly selected from a pool of candidates 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 the selection, a panel of Superior Court judges will interview each applicant and recommend the most qualified candidates to join the pool 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

Housing Authority

Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) — Seeking New Landlords The San Francisco City and County Housing Authority (the Authority) is actively seeking new property owners to participate in the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program. This program provides housing assistance to eligible individuals and families by paying a portion of their rent to private landlords.

Key benefits:

1. Guaranteed monthly rent: Landlords can count on timely rent payments through direct deposit by the Authority.

2. Larger tenant pool: Landlords gain access to a wider pool of potential tenants.

3. Community impact: Partnering with the Authority supports affordable housing and the community.

We are interested in expanding housing opportunities in San Francisco zip codes 94129, 94123, 94105, 94127, 94114, 94131, 94116, 94118, 94158, 94122, 94107, 94117, 94112, and 94121, as well as in adjacent suburban areas. For more information, please contact us at customercare@sfha.org or visit www.sfha.org.

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.

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Teatro Brava presents “Al Compás Flamenco”

Carola Zertuche, artistic director and choreographer, will be giving a demonstration of flamenco. (Courtesy: https://www.theatreflamenco.org/) -- Carola Zertuche, directora artística y coreógrafa estará dando una demostración del buen flamenco.

By Magdy Zara

As part of its 2026 spring season, Teatro Brava presents “Al Compás del Flamenco,” a show featuring dynamic choreography, live music, and the very spirit of flamenco on stage.

Don’t miss this vibrant celebration of flamenco as the Teatro Flamenco de San Francisco takes the stage.

Under the masterful artistic direction of Carola Zertuche, enjoy an unforgettable evening where passion, skill, and artistic expression merge in a captivating display of flamenco art. Talented dancers will be the stars, captivating the audience with their dedication and style, weaving a fascinating story that celebrates the rich traditions of this vibrant dance.

One of the main features of this event is the diverse range of performances, from beginners to advanced students and semi-professionals, allowing the audience to witness a wide array of talent on stage. The music will be provided by professional musicians, who will create an authentic and immersive flamenco experience.

The talented Carola Zertuche, artistic director and choreographer, will also be performing, delighting the audience with her artistic brilliance on stage.

The event takes place this Sunday, May 3rd, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Brava Theater Center in San Francisco, located at 2781 24th Street, San Francisco.

Tickets start at $28.52.

For more information, visit their website: https://www.theatreflamenco.org

Don’t miss this unforgettable experience full of rhythm, movement, and tradition.

The Ramp returns with its Salsa Saturdays

The Ramp offers Latin music, food, and VIP beverage service, all in one place, where you can dance to Latin music in the Bay Area’s largest open-air venue. The Ramp is an iconic and charming restaurant located on the riverfront in San Francisco’s Dogpatch neighborhood.

This and every Saturday, enjoy a dance floor, live music and DJs, plus fun salsa lessons.

This Saturday, the 4th, starting at 6 p.m., at The Ramp, located at 855 Terry Francois St., San Francisco.

MACLA Launches 2026 Exhibition and Auction

The Movement of Latin American Art and Culture (MACLA) is launching an exhibition of contemporary Latinx art from the Bay Area and beyond.

The artists’ works reflect contemporary issues, themes, and perspectives that resonate with the present moment. This exhibition culminates in an art auction, MACLA’s annual fundraising celebration. The gallery is open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. and is located at 510 South 1st Street in San Jose. The exhibition will be open to the public from April 3 to May 16, 2026.

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When getting sick becomes a financial risk: rethinking America’s medical system

Marvin Ramírez, editor

by Marvin Ramírez

There is a question many Americans are beginning to ask: is the medical system in the United States serving patients, or has it become something else entirely?

For many, the answer comes not from politics, but from experience.

Consider a simple case. A person walks into Sequoia Hospital with a rash—uncomfortable, urgent, but not life-threatening. Within minutes, a nurse sees the patient, followed by a doctor who keeps his distance, offers a quick diagnosis, and writes a prescription. No tests. No physical examination. The prescription itself costs only a few dollars.

Weeks later, the bill arrives: more than $1,200.

That moment—when a minor visit produces a major charge—is where trust begins to erode.

The problem is not that doctors should not be paid. The problem is proportionality. When the service provided does not match the cost charged, patients begin to feel less like people and more like transactions.

And this is not an isolated experience.

Across the country, medical debt has become a defining feature of the healthcare system. Roughly 41 percent of working-age Americans struggle to pay medical bills. Illness itself has become a financial hazard.

The situation described in Colorado reflects this reality. Hundreds of thousands of residents have medical debt in collections. Some have had wages garnished. Others have faced liens on their homes. One woman, despite having insurance, accumulated thousands in debt after her child needed emergency surgery. When she couldn’t pay, her wages were seized, pushing her toward eviction and long-term loans.

This is not simply a billing issue. It is a structural problem.

Medical debt does not behave like other forms of debt. People do not choose to get sick. They are not given clear pricing before treatment. Yet once the bill arrives, the system treats them as if they made a consumer choice.

Experts argue this framing is flawed. Medical debt is often the result of hidden pricing, billing errors, and a system that prioritizes revenue over clarity. Studies suggest that many bills contain errors, and that some debts should have been covered under assistance programs.

This leads to a deeper concern: enforcement.

Hospitals and collection agencies rely on legal mechanisms to recover payments. Courts issue judgments. Wages are garnished. Property liens are imposed. What begins as a medical issue becomes a long-term financial burden.

The consequences extend beyond finances. People with medical debt are more likely to delay or avoid care. The system, intended to promote health, begins to undermine it.

This is where public policy enters the conversation.

A proposal in Colorado aims to prevent the most severe outcomes—protecting wages, limiting asset seizure, and prohibiting liens on primary homes. The principle is simple: no one should lose their house because they got sick.

That idea resonates far beyond one state.

There is growing support for reforms that would shield patients from aggressive collection practices and improve transparency. Some argue these changes should be national.

Yet reform is complicated. Hospitals argue they operate on tight margins and provide large amounts of uncompensated care. These concerns are real.

But they do not negate the core issue.

A system that allows minor medical visits to generate major financial consequences is not balanced.

The frustration many patients feel is not just about cost—it is about fairness. When a brief consultation results in a four-figure bill and accountability seems absent, the system begins to appear less like healthcare and more like a financial machine.

Some point to incentive structures tied to programs like Medicare. Whether or not one agrees, the perception reflects a loss of confidence.

Healthcare depends on trust—trust that providers act in the patient’s best interest and that charges are reasonable.

Rebuilding that trust will require transparency, accountability, and limits on aggressive debt collection.

At its core, the question is simple: is the system fair?

For millions of Americans, the answer is increasingly no.

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