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Employee claims meat is “refreshed” with blood to fool consumers — a threat to public health and ethics

by the El Reportero‘s Staff

With reports from social media sources

A shocking Facebook video has sparked outrage and concern after a man claiming to work in a grocery store revealed that he was trained to pour blood onto old meat to make it look fresh again—then repackage and resell it to unsuspecting customers.

In the video, posted on Facebook Reels [link: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1418236689607390], the man explains and demonstrates the process, saying:

“My manager told me if the meat looks old, all you gotta do is put some blood in it, shake it up, and then it looks fresh.”

Holding a plastic container of red meat, he shows how blood is added and shaken to rejuvenate the meat’s color. The mixture is then bagged and, according to him, placed back on store shelves for sale.

Although the video does not name the store where this occurred, its content has caused alarm. If accurate, the practice described is not only deceptive but could pose serious health hazards and legal consequences.

Health Hazards Behind “Recycled” Meat

Public health experts warn that tampering with spoiled or aging meat does not eliminate the risks—it hides them.

“Old meat can contain dangerous bacteria such as E. coli, Listeria, and Salmonella,” said Dr. Ana Gutierrez, a microbiologist specializing in food safety. “Adding blood might change the color, but it doesn’t make it safer. In fact, it can make things worse by introducing new contaminants.”

Blood itself, especially if stored improperly, can accelerate bacterial growth. If this meat is consumed without being cooked to high temperatures, it could lead to serious gastrointestinal illness.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) requires that meat showing signs of spoilage—such as odor, sliminess, or discoloration—must be discarded. Any attempt to repackage and sell such meat is considered a violation of federal and state health codes.

Legal and Ethical Implications

If verified, this conduct could lead to serious legal consequences for the store and individuals involved. State and local health departments are empowered to issue fines, shut down departments, and even pursue criminal charges when consumers are put at risk.

“This is food fraud—plain and simple,” said consumer protection attorney Janet Collins. “It’s the same as resetting an odometer on a used car or reusing expired medication. You’re not just tricking people—you’re endangering them.”

The ethical betrayal is also significant. Shoppers trust that grocery stores provide safe, properly labeled food. Manipulating the appearance of old meat breaks that trust in a fundamental way.

“This is an insult to working families who are already struggling to afford groceries,” said food justice advocate Rafael Mendoza. “It’s cheating them with something that can make them sick.”

Consumer Reactions and Industry Practices

Reactions on social media were swift and emotional. Many commenters expressed disgust and fear, wondering if they or their families had unknowingly purchased meat tampered with in this way.

“I’m never buying red meat again unless I know the butcher personally,” one commenter wrote. Another said, “This is why we need tighter food inspections.”

While the video has not been independently verified, past cases show the practice of “refreshing” meat is not unheard of. In recent years, some supermarkets have been fined for grinding old meat into ground beef, mixing expired cuts with fresh ones, or altering sell-by labels.

“There are rules, but not every store follows them—especially when management is under pressure to reduce waste,” said a former meat department employee who requested anonymity. “But most major retailers would fire someone for doing what’s shown in that video.”

What Can Consumers Do?

Experts advise shoppers to inspect meat carefully. Fresh beef should be bright red with no sour smell or slimy feel. Packaging should be intact, with visible sell-by dates.

“If you open a package and it smells off, don’t risk it. Return it and report the store to your local health department,” said Dr. Gutierrez.

The viral video may prompt calls for more surprise inspections and tighter enforcement of food safety regulations. Meanwhile, it serves as a disturbing reminder that some of the most dangerous deceptions can occur behind the scenes—in the places we trust most.

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One of the biggest obstacles to building new CA housing has now vanished

One of the biggest obstacles to building new CA housing has now vanished--

In a legislative battle a decade in the making, lawmakers just exempted infill urban development from the California Environmental Quality Act. That’s a big deal

by Ben Christopher

CalMatters

A decade-spanning political battle between housing developers and defenders of California’s preeminent environmental law likely came to an end this afternoon with only a smattering of “no” votes.

The forces of housing won.

With the passage of a state budget-related housing bill, the California Environmental Quality Act will be a non-issue for a decisive swath of urban residential development in California.

In practice, that means most new apartment buildings will no longer face the open threat of environmental litigation.

It also means most urban developers will no longer have to study, predict and mitigate the ways that new housing might affect local traffic, air pollution, flora and fauna, noise levels, groundwater quality and objects of historic or archeological significance.

And it means that when housing advocates argue that the state isn’t doing enough to build more homes amid crippling rents and stratospheric prices, they won’t — with a few exceptions — have CEQA to blame anymore.

“Saying ‘no’ to housing in my community will no longer be state sanctioned,” said Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, an Oakland Democrat who introduced the CEQA law as a separate bill in March. “This isn’t going to solve all of our housing problems in the state, but it is going to remove the single biggest impediment to building environmentally friendly housing.”

Unlike most environmental laws, which explicitly mandate, monitor or ban certain environmental behavior, CEQA is just a public disclosure requirement. The 54-year-old statute requires state and local governments to study and publicize the likely environmental impact of any decisions they make. That includes the permitting of new housing.

But for years, the building industry and “Yes in my backyard” activists have identified the law as a key culprit behind California’s housing shortage. That’s because the law allows any individual or group to sue if they argue that a required environmental study isn’t accurate, expansive or detailed enough. Such lawsuits — and even the mere threat of them —add a degree of delay, cost and uncertainty that make it impossible for the state to build its way to affordability, CEQA’s critics argue.

With today’s vote, the Legislature is putting that argument to the test. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who spent much of last week cajoling the Legislature to pass the bill as part of his budget package, signed it on Monday evening.

Now the question is whether this monumental political and policy shift will actually result in more homes getting built in California’s cities.

Many of the bill’s backers are optimistic.

“I think when we look back on what hopefully is California finally beginning to confront this housing crisis, this year — 2025 — and this bill will be viewed as a turning point,” said Matt Haney, a Democrat who represents San Francisco in the Assembly where he chairs the housing committee.

On paper, the new law, unlike most that deal with housing approvals and environmental regulation, is actually pretty straightforward.

Urban “infill” housing developments — housing built in and around existing development — are no longer subject to CEQA.

There are some exceptions and qualifiers, but development boosters say they are relatively minor.

The exemption is “the most significant change to the California Environmental Quality Act’s effect on housing production since CEQA was passed,” said Louis Mirante, a lobbyist for the Bay Area Council, a business coalition that regularly pushes for legislation that makes it easier to build.

The bill is limited to projects under 20 acres, but that cap is only relevant to the biggest multi-block-spanning mega developments.

A certain level of density is required, but it really only precludes using the policy for single-family home construction.

Before any project can move forward, any affiliated tribal government will have to be notified first, but the consultation is put on a short timeline.

In order to qualify for the exemption, a proposed project must also be consistent with local zoning, the regulations that determine what types of buildings can be constructed where. But thanks to another CEQA-chopping bill authored by San Francisco Democratic Sen. Scott Wiener that exempts many changes to zoning rules from CEQA and which is also packed into the budget, that appears less likely to be a real constraint.

To buy off the ferocious opposition of the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, a construction union umbrella group, the bill also includes some higher wage requirements.

But those rules are not likely to apply to most potential residential development projects. “The lion’s share of housing being built” in California will no longer be governed by CEQA, said Mark Rhoades, a planning and development consultant in Berkeley.

Take a massive five-story apartment building spanning a full city block, said Bill Fulton, a longtime urban planner and professor at UC San Diego.

“You don’t have to worry about labor and you don’t have to worry about CEQA? That’s a big deal,” he said.

CEQA seachange

What a difference nine years make.

Consider how things went back in 2016 when then-Gov. Jerry Brown tried to ram a CEQA fix for California’s rising housing costs through the state budget process. Brown’s big idea was to “streamline” the housing approval process, allowing developers to make an end-run around the California Environmental Quality Act, so long as they set aside a certain share of units for lower-income residents.

A coalition of construction labor unions, environmental interests and local government groups torched the idea. The proposal didn’t even get a vote.

Nearly a decade later, once again a Democratic governor opted to stuff a CEQA-trimming policy package through the budget process in the name of cheaper housing.

The measure passed overwhelmingly in both the Senate and Assembly — and this time it didn’t even include an affordability requirement.

Wicks’ proposal is somewhat narrower than the 2016 version, exempting only infill. New suburban-style subdivisions carved from farmland or undeveloped sagebrush will not qualify.

That infill focus has made it easier for the Democratic-controlled Legislature to swallow such a significant scaling back of California’s signature environmental law. Promoting denser urban development generally means using less land, constructing new housing that uses less energy and setting up new residents to do a lot less driving.

“When you are building housing in an existing community, that is environmentally beneficial, it is climate friendly, that is not something that should be subjected to potentially endless CEQA challenges and lawsuits,” Wiener said on the Senate floor on Monday just prior to the vote, when the measure passed 28 to 5.

Even so, Wicks’ proposal always looked like a long shot.

Since Brown’s failed gambit, lawmakers have managed to pass a raft of bills giving housing developers an escape route around CEQA. But those laws have always contained a trade-off. Developers get to skip CEQA, but in exchange they have to pay state-set “prevailing wages” (which typically work out to union-level pay), hire union workers outright, set aside a certain share of units for lower income residents, or some combination of the three.

These conditions were born of political necessity. A CEQA lawsuit — or even the suggestion of one — makes for a powerful negotiating tool. Organized labor groups, most especially the building trades council, have not been keen to give up that leverage without getting something in return.

As housing developers proved less willing to use the new streamlining laws than those bills’ sponsors and supporters had hoped, many pro-building advocates, academics and commentators began calling for environmental streamlining with no strings attached.

Wicks answered that call earlier this year. Under her proposal, infill developers would be allowed to ignore CEQA, full stop. That marked a major break from recent legislative precedent, and one that seemed a stretch, even with so many Democratic lawmakers carting around copies of Abundance.

The deal that almost wasn’t

Just last week, Wicks’ proposal seemed on the verge of collapse.

A version of the bill introduced last week included what amounted to a minor wage hike for the lowest paid construction workers, who are virtually all non-union. While the state’s carpenters’ union supported it, the trades council emphatically did not — with one of the groups’ associated lobbyists likening it to Jim Crow. The trades objected so strenuously — arguing that it set dangerous precedent and undercut apprenticeship programs — that lawmakers removed the proposed wage change.

Instead, developers working on projects that are entirely designated to be affordable would now be required to pay prevailing wages in order to take advantage of the new law.

Developers of any projects over 85 feet tall would be required to hire a certain share of union workers. There are added restrictions for construction in San Francisco specifically.

By the standards of prior housing streamlining bills, those are relatively modest concessions. Most developments over 85 feet use concrete and steel frame construction, which require a higher skilled labor force that is often unionized anyway.

Most entirely income-restricted housing projects make use of public subsidies that require paying union-level wages.

“Affordable housing is forced to play by different rules because the state has decided that if you are receiving public funds a certain wage should be attached to it,” said Ray Pearl, executive director of the California Housing Consortium, which advocates for affordable housing construction. The addition of a prevailing wage requirement for affordable housing “is a head scratcher,” he said. “But it really is reaffirming existing policy.”

That leaves every other type of housing project: Market rate and mixed-income apartment buildings under seven-or-so stories. For that type of construction, which defines the bulk of urban development in California, CEQA is soon to be entirely optional — no strings attached.

That this is the new trades-endorsed deal has been met with a perplexed kind of glee from some corners of the “yes in my backyard” movement. The new version of the bill “is now *even better,*” UC Davis law professor Chris Elmendorf marveled on Twitter.

Will it matter?

What will urban housing construction look like in California without CEQA?

There are no shortage of reasons not to build housing in California. Labor costs, even without regulatory requirements, are high. So are interest rates. Tariffs and aggressive immigration enforcement are more recent sources of uncertainty. Developers are always happy to complain about slow permitting, high local fees and inflexible building codes.

“It’s not the CEQA costs that are holding up housing,” said Rhoades, the Berkeley consultant.

“I don’t think this is going to make more development happen,” he said of the budget bill. “It’s going to make development that is already happening a little easier.”

Critics of the half-century-old environmental law can and do point to specific projects — housing for students, housing near public transit, affordable housing built upon city-owned parking lots — that have been sued in the name of the environment as examples of “CEQA abuse.”

Under the new laws, such litigation will largely go away in California’s cities.

“The one thing we do know is that CEQA is a time suck,” said Ben Metcalf, managing director of UC Berkeley’s Terner Center for Housing Innovation and the former head of the state’s housing agency under Brown. “If you can just get out of that six months, nine months, twelve months of delay, that takes a whole cohort of projects and gets them in the ground sooner. In a state that’s facing a housing crisis, that’s not for nothing.”

But the more important consequence of CEQA, many of its critics regularly argue, has been its chilling effect.

How many new units of housing would have been built, but for concerns that they might become ensnared in environmental litigation? How many developers, anticipating a possible legal challenge, have preemptively pared back their plans? How many financiers of housing projects pulled out or demanded higher interest rates over such concerns?

California may soon find out.

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Pears: A nutritious fruit for digestive health and disease prevention

by Laura Harris

  • Flavonoids, supporting digestion, immunity and heart health.
  • High in soluble fiber (pectin), they promote regular bowel movements and nourish beneficial gut bacteria.
  • Their anti-inflammatory properties help reduce risks of chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
  • Enjoy fresh, baked or in savory dishes. Pears are naturally sweet without processed sugars.
  • Opt for organic pears to avoid pesticide residues; wash thoroughly before eating.

Pears are one of nature’s most delicious and nutrient-packed fruits, offering a sweet, juicy flavor while delivering essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. This versatile fruit has been cherished for centuries, not only for their delightful taste but also for their medicinal properties, which have been documented in traditional healing practices worldwide

Today, as more people seek natural, unprocessed foods to support their well-being, pears stand out as a powerful ally in promoting digestive health, immune function and disease prevention

Pears (Pyrus communis) are a fruit belonging to the rose family, closely related to apples and quinces. Cultivated for thousands of years, pears’ origins can be traced back to ancient China and the Caucasus region. Historical records suggest that pears were a prized fruit in ancient Greece and Rome, where they were enjoyed fresh, cooked or preserved

By the 17th century, European settlers introduced pears to North America, where they became a staple in orchards and home gardens. Today, pears are grown worldwide, with China, the United States and Argentina being among the top producers.

Nutrient profile and health benefits

Pears are packed with essential nutrients that support overall health. A medium-sized pear (about 178 grams) provides:

  • Six grams of fiber
  • 12 percent of the daily value (DV) for vitamin C
  • 10 percent of the DV for vitamin K
  • Four percent of the DV for potassium
  • 16 percent of the DV for copper
  • Antioxidants like flavonoids, quercetin and anthocyanins

Pears are packed with fiber, vitamins and minerals, offering a wide range of health benefits. From aiding digestion to boosting immunity and promoting heart health, pears are a delicious and versatile addition to a balanced diet. Their natural compounds help regulate metabolism, support skin repair and may even reduce the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and cancer.

Supports digestive health

  • Pears are rich in fiber, particularly pectin, which promotes healthy digestion by preventing constipation and supporting regular bowel movements. Soluble fiber also nourishes beneficial gut bacteria, improving microbiome balance and overall gut health.

Boosts immunity

  • Pears contain antioxidants like vitamin C and copper, which help strengthen the immune system and protect against infections. Their anti-inflammatory properties may also reduce oxidative stress, further enhancing the body’s defense mechanisms.

Promotes heart health

  • The potassium in pears helps regulate blood pressure, while fiber reduces LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels, lowering cardiovascular disease risk. Additionally, the antioxidants in pears support healthy blood vessel function and reduce inflammation linked to heart disease.

Enhances energy and metabolism

  • Pears provide natural sugars for a quick energy boost while B vitamins aid in converting food into usable energy. Pears also help enhance iron absorption, supporting oxygen transport and nervous system function.

Weight management

  • Pears’ high fiber and water promote satiety, helping to control appetite and prevent overeating. Their low glycemic index also helps maintain stable blood sugar levels, reducing cravings and supporting weight loss efforts.

Supports skin and tissue repair

  • Vitamin C in pears promotes collagen production, improving skin elasticity and reducing signs of aging. Meanwhile, vitamin E and B vitamins aid in cell regeneration, helping repair damaged tissues and maintain healthy skin.

Pears are overwhelmingly nutritious and a beneficial addition to a healthy diet. Unlike processed snacks that often contain artificial additives, pears offer natural sweetness without harmful effects. However, individuals with fructose mal-absorption or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may need to moderate their intake due to pears’ high fiber and natural sugar content.

Choosing organic pears is highly recommended to minimize exposure to pesticides. Conventional pears, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), frequently contain residues of fungicides (such as thiabendazole and pyrimethanil) and insecticides (like chlorpyrifos and phosmet). While heavy metal contamination in pears is rare, it can occur due to soil pollution, making organic or locally sourced pears the safer choice.

For your safety, always opt for fresh, organically grown pears. If you’re unsure about their origin, washing pears with a diluted vinegar solution (three parts water to one part vinegar) can help remove pesticide residues.

Culinary uses of pears

Pears are incredibly versatile in the kitchen, adding natural sweetness and texture to both sweet and savory dishes. Here are some popular ways to enjoy them:

Fresh and simple

  • Sliced pears with nut butter
  • Pear and cheese platter (try with gorgonzola or brie)

Breakfast and smoothies

  • Pear oatmeal with cinnamon
  • Green smoothie with pear, spinach and ginger

Baked and desserts

  • Poached pears in red wine
  • Pear crisp or crumble
  • Pear and almond tart

Savory dishes

  • Pear and arugula salad with walnuts
  • Roasted pear and butternut squash soup
  • Pear-glazed pork tenderloin

Pears are a nutrient-dense superfood that support digestion, immunity and overall wellness. Whether eaten fresh, baked or blended into smoothies, they offer a delicious way to boost your health without artificial additives.

This story is not medical advice and is not intended to treat or cure any disease. Always consult with a qualified naturopathic physician for personalized advice about your specific health situation or concern.

Learn more about the health benefits of superfoods and other natural ingredients at NaturalNews.com, your trusted source for wellness insights and nutritional knowledge.

For cutting-edge tools to expand your understanding of natural health, try Brighteon.ai, an innovative AI model created by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger. This free, downloadable tool is designed to decentralize knowledge, bypass censorship, and empower individuals with actionable information.

If you’re passionate about nutrition, natural medicine and uncensored discussions, visit Brighteon.com, a free speech video platform, and join our vibrant communities on Brighteon.IO and Brighteon.social. Dive into open conversations about food, ingredients and holistic health today! Food.news.

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CA teens organize to promote arts education

by Suzanne Potter

More than 400 teen artists will gather this Saturday in Southern California for the 3rd annual Arts Advocacy Day, launching the California State Summer School for the Arts. The event, held at the California Institute of the Arts in Santa Clarita, focuses on equity in arts education. Workshops will address issues like the troubled rollout of Proposition 28, which was intended to fund new arts classes but has been redirected by some school districts.

Caitlin Lainoff, senior manager of youth engagement at the nonprofit Create CA, which sponsors the event, said the goal is to empower students.

“We want to make sure that students leave knowing they are guaranteed money for the arts and that they can connect with their administrators to see how that money is spent,” she explained.

The event aims to inspire the next generation of artists and culture makers to fight for education funding during a time of financial uncertainty. Recently, the federal government froze nearly $7 billion in education grants to evaluate their alignment with current administration priorities, delaying funding that was due July 1.

Lainoff said arts programs like theater and music are often the first cut when budgets shrink.

“Instead of Prop 28 going to additional arts classes, they may be used to fund existing ones or diverted altogether,” she warned.

In other non-related news:

Youth vaping down but tobacco still glamorized in media
According to the 7th annual “While You Were Streaming” report from the Truth Initiative, American youth are still exposed to high levels of tobacco use in popular media, despite declines in actual vaping rates.

Tobacco imagery is down in some top Hollywood shows but remains frequent in series like The Bear, Euphoria, and Stranger Things. Dr. Jessica Rath, behavioral scientist at Truth Initiative, said youth exposed to tobacco imagery are three times more likely to start vaping.

“Five out of six of the top 15 animated shows still depict tobacco, and these shows are especially popular with Gen Z,” Rath noted.

The report found 70 percent of the most binge-watched shows in 2023 included tobacco use, up 6 percent from 2022. Shows contributing to the rise include American Dad, Never Have I Ever, and South Park.

Truth Initiative encourages streaming platforms to include prevention messages or quit resources. The group also offers help to quit: Text “EXPROGRAM” to 88709.

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The Five Most Expensive Cities in Latin America and the Caribbean

Tourists walk down a shopping street with mountains in the distance, in Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico. Geographic photos / Gettyimages.ru-- Turistas caminan por una calle comercial con montañas a lo lejos, en Tepoztlán, Morelos, México.

Some of these cities also appear among those that offer the best quality of life despite the high cost of living

by the ElRreportero’s wire services

A silent and even overwhelming trend for many of its residents is consolidating in the most striking urban centers of Latin America and the Caribbean: the continued increase in the cost of living in cities where not everyone can stay and which are increasingly coveted by locals and foreigners alike.

According to various portals that have compiled information on this topic, the global political and economic climate, international conflicts, and the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic have made living in certain cities in the region increasingly difficult due to the high cost of living. According to an assessment reported by Statista, the five most expensive cities in Latin America and the Caribbean are: Mexico City, San José (Costa Rica), Montevideo (Uruguay), San Juan (Puerto Rico), and Buenos Aires (Argentina).

An interesting fact, the aforementioned website highlights, is that Mexico, Costa Rica, and Uruguay, where the most expensive cities to live are located, are also the countries in the region that offer the best quality of life in Latin America, referring to issues such as employment, salaries, transportation, food, and entertainment.

However, other information sites include the tourist resort of Nassau, Bahamas, above Buenos Aires. Below the top five are other cities such as: Santiago de Chile, Panama City, Guatemala City, Monterrey (Mexico), Sao Paulo (Brazil), Caracas (Venezuela); Bogotá (Colombia), among others. According to media reports, regarding home purchases, the average square meter in Mexico City is $3,533; followed by Buenos Aires with an average of $2,699; Santiago, $2,633; Sao Paulo, $2,604; Rio de Janeiro, $1,984; and Bogotá, $1,781.

Regarding monthly rent for a three-bedroom apartment, Mexico City remains in first place with an average of $2,121; Sao Paulo, $1,291; Buenos Aires, $1,166; Santiago, $989; Rio de Janeiro, $852; and Bogotá, $815. For one-bedroom apartment rent, Mexico City leads the way at $1,002; followed by Sao Paulo with $668; Buenos Aires, $648; Santiago, $509; Bogotá, $451; and Rio de Janeiro, $438.

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Where are the ombudsmen when they are most needed?

Marvin Ramírez, editor

by Marvin Ramírez

A great contradiction runs through our streets: community organizations, activists, and leaders who claim to fight for the interests of the most vulnerable—working families, small businesses, longtime residents—speak out at rallies, marches, and press conferences. But when push comes to shove, when the polls open, they support the same politicians who are bleeding our community dry with unpopular, insensitive, and often deliberately hostile policies.

San Francisco, and particularly the historic Mission District, witnesses this outrage daily. Every week, without consultation or public discussion, authorities change parking spaces that once served customers, families, residents, and workers, turning them into yellow loading zones or, worse yet, simply eliminating them by painting them red or yellow. They’re doing it so quickly that it’s hard to believe there isn’t a hidden agenda behind it: to continue making access to our city more expensive, to continue fining those least able to pay, to continue pushing working people out of the urban center.

What’s happening in the Mission, near 24th and Mission Streets, in front of iconic locations like McDonald’s, Café La Bohème, or on Bartlett Street, is a clear example of how local business is being stifled. In front of McDonald’s, for example, where until recently there were about eight or ten parking spaces, today there aren’t even one left. They’ve all been eliminated: they’ve been painted red, prohibiting any stopping or parking. And on the other side, on 24th Street toward Bartlett, the same thing is happening. How can a family come to eat, shop, or simply visit the area if they have nowhere to park their car?

The worst part is that many of the community leaders who should be denouncing this injustice are now silent. Many of them work for publicly funded organizations. Have they become silent accomplices for fear of losing that funding? Have they become cheerleaders for the same officials who don’t bother to consult the community before imposing these measures? It’s disturbing that, during recent election campaigns, none of the candidates for public office have spoken about the parking problem. Not a single mention. Why? Because they know their allies in the “organized community” won’t challenge them. Because they know no one will hold them accountable.

What’s happening today is no coincidence. It’s a systematic policy of harassment of working motorists. Instead of building an accessible city, we’re building one where anyone who can’t afford an Uber or a $110 ticket for parking illegally for five minutes is excluded. Today we saw a dramatic example: a large food delivery truck, forced to double park due to lack of available spaces, received not one, but two tickets. What choice does that driver have? Return to the warehouse with the groceries because the city won’t let him stop?

It’s time to wake up. It’s time for true people’s organizations—if they still exist—to stop pandering to the officials in power and start genuinely representing the interests they claim to defend. It’s not enough to post smiling photos at cultural events. The community needs action. A citizen initiative is needed to stop this wave of repression over parking. This issue needs to be put on the ballot.

Urban policy must serve the people, not a handful of bureaucrats out of touch with reality or commercial interests that want a city empty of the poor. And that will only be achieved if the community truly organizes. Enough with the speeches. Enough with surrendering to the convenience of subsidies. The people deserve walkable, accessible streets and a city that doesn’t punish them for trying to live and work with dignity.

We call on all leaders, residents, business owners, and conscientious citizens to raise their voices, not just with signs, but with concrete proposals to change this reality. Because if we don’t do it, no one will do it for us.

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Gavin Newsom’s transgender tightrope — and the political cost of his extremism

by Jonathon Van Maren of LifeSite, edited by the El Reportero staffe

California Governor Gavin Newsom wants to appear like a man of nuance and balance. He wants voters — especially those outside the Golden State — to see him as a thoughtful progressive who listens, adapts, and leads with empathy. But when it comes to the transgender issue, particularly involving children, the governor’s act is becoming harder to maintain. The facts simply don’t support the performance.

Earlier this month, The New York Times acknowledged the obvious: Democratic leaders are in disarray over how to handle an issue that is wildly unpopular with voters — the party’s unwavering support for extreme transgender policies. That very stance may have helped swing key votes toward Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020. For any Democrat with presidential ambitions in 2028, this is no small matter.

Newsom knows this well. That’s why he’s trying — awkwardly — to soften his image. In March, he sat down with conservative activist Charlie Kirk on his podcast This is Gavin Newsom and sounded like a concerned father. On the issue of biological males competing in girls’ sports, he told Kirk, “I completely agree with you on that. It is an issue of fairness. It’s deeply unfair.” He cited his wife and daughters, and the importance of protecting women’s spaces.

Predictably, LGBT activists were outraged. But they needn’t have been. Newsom’s record remains one of the most aggressive in America in pushing the transgender agenda — especially onto children.

Last week, he was confronted more directly. Appearing on The Shawn Ryan Show, Newsom was asked whether, in his view, eight years old is too young for sex-change treatments. His response was painful to watch. He stammered, meandered, brought up his own 9-year-old child, and admitted that even he was still trying to “understand all of that” — the pronouns, the procedures, the cultural shift.

It was a revealing moment. Not because Newsom was honest, but because he was evasive. A man who has signed bill after bill making California a legal sanctuary for child sex changes could not bring himself to say that eight years old is too young for gender-altering interventions.

But his legislative record speaks louder than his podcast. Consider just a few of the laws he’s championed:

  • In July 2024, he signed AB 1955, which prohibits school districts from notifying parents if their child identifies as transgender at school. Teachers are even protected if they socially transition children without informing families.
  • In September 2023, he signed AB 223, mandating secrecy for minors who petition to change their legal sex markers.
  • In September 2022, he approved SB 107, effectively making California a “trans sanctuary state.” The law prohibits state officials from cooperating with other states seeking to protect children from sterilizing surgeries or hormone treatments.
  • The same year, he also signed SB 923, requiring healthcare providers to undergo “gender-affirming care” training.
  • In 2023, he signed AB 5, forcing LGBTQ+ cultural training on public school teachers, and SB 857, creating a state task force to promote transgender policies in schools.
  • And back in 2020, he approved SB 123, allowing trans-identifying inmates to choose their prison based on their gender identity.

Taken together, these laws build a wall of protection — not around children, but around an ideology. Parents are sidelined. Doctors are muzzled. Teachers are deputized. And minors are given the tools and legal cover to pursue life-altering changes in secret.

So when Newsom tries to sound hesitant, confused, or open-minded on these issues, it rings hollow. He has already acted — aggressively, and repeatedly — to enshrine the most radical elements of gender ideology into law.

Why the sudden squirming on camera? Because Gavin Newsom knows that what plays well in progressive enclaves might not survive a general election. He knows that Middle America — and much of California — is not on board with secret sex changes for children, or with stripping parents of their right to be involved in the most personal aspects of their kids’ lives.

That’s why he dodged Shawn Ryan’s question. That’s why he tries to sound like he’s “still learning.” Because he knows the truth: His record is indefensible to the vast majority of voters. And it may well be his undoing.

If conservatives are smart, they will remind voters of that record at every opportunity. Let Gavin Newsom run from his legacy. But don’t let him hide it.

 

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Experience Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues

by Magdy Zara

As part of its summer activities, the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra has scheduled a series of events, including the “Morgan Freeman Symphonic Blues Experience,” which aims to take audiences on a journey through the moving history of Delta Blues, fusing the pure emotion of the blues with the expressive depth of the orchestra.

Symphonic Blues is an unforgettable celebration of music, culture, and storytelling.

This will be a live performance featuring multimedia narration by Morgan Freeman, Hollywood icon and son of Mississippi. It will also feature performances by respected Delta Blues musicians from Ground Zero Blues.

The event is on July 25th, starting at 7 p.m., in Davies Symphony Hall, located at 201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco.

Del Sol Quartet in Concert

Led by violist Charlton Lee, cellist Kathryn Bates, and violinists Hyeyung Sol Yoon and Benjamin Kreith, the Del Sol Quartet shines brightly on the Bay Area music scene every time they perform.

Del Sol Quartet is eager to bring music to any setting, from the shops of the Mission District and the parks of the East Bay to the august concert halls and the hallowed grounds of the Angel Island immigration depot.

This concert is one of the events you can’t miss this summer. It will take place next Thursday, July 31st, starting at 12:30 p.m., on the Great Lawn of Yerba Buena Gardens, located on Mission Street between 3rd and 4th Streets in San Francisco.

Musical Medicine for the Children of UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in Oakland

The children at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in Oakland need your support to continue receiving medical care and treatment, so the Bay Area community is invited to attend this benefit concert.

The Musical Medicine concert series is an initiative of Bay Area composer and producer Mickel London, who was inspired to create this type of concert to raise funds and awareness for the plight of children suffering from sickle cell anemia, as well as other life-threatening diseases, at Children’s Hospital in Oakland.

Musical Medicine features some of the Bay Area’s finest talent and is a great opportunity to enjoy and contribute to this worthy cause. All proceeds from this concert will directly benefit the patients and the Patient Care Fund at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in Oakland.

Tickets range from $45-$65. It will take place next Sunday, August 3, 2025, starting at 6 p.m., at Yohi’s, located at 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland.

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Peru’s cultural treasures shine in July: From sacred peaks to national pride

by the El Reportero‘s staff

Peru’s cultural richness comes alive every July, with festivals that celebrate the nation’s spiritual, historical, and patriotic heritage. Among the most anticipated are the Machu Picchu Anniversary on July 7, the Virgen del Carmen Festival from July 15 to 17 in Paucartambo, and Fiestas Patrias, Peru’s Independence Day celebrations on July 28 and 29.

On July 7, Peru honors the global recognition of its most iconic site, Machu Picchu, declared a Wonder of the Modern World in 2007. This majestic Inca citadel nestled high in the Andes is celebrated with cultural ceremonies in Aguas Calientes and Cusco. Pachamama rituals led by Andean priests honor Mother Earth, while guided tours, music concerts, and local dances pay tribute to the site’s enduring legacy. For Peruvians, this day affirms both their indigenous heritage and the global admiration Machu Picchu commands.

Mid-July brings one of the country’s most colorful and spiritual spectacles: the Virgen del Carmen Festival, held in Paucartambo, Cusco, from July 15 to 17. Revered as “Mamacha Carmen,” the Virgin is honored through a blend of Catholic devotion and vibrant Andean performance. On July 16, locals carry the Virgin in a grand procession while dancers in elaborate costumes perform traditional roles such as Qhapaq Qolla and Chunchachas. Mischievous figures called saqras dance on rooftops, teasing the crowd in a spectacle filled with fireworks and joy. The festival climaxes on July 17 with a powerful theatrical re-enactment of the battle between angels and demons—symbolizing the struggle between good and evil, heaven and earth. It’s a living testimony of Peru’s syncretic soul.

Closing out the month are the Fiestas Patrias on July 28 and 29, commemorating Peru’s independence from Spain. Cities across the country erupt in patriotic pride with military parades, flag ceremonies, folk music, and regional food fairs. July 28 is marked by the President’s annual address and the traditional Te Deum Mass, while July 29 honors Peru’s Armed Forces and National Police. For many, it’s not just a holiday—it’s a nationwide celebration of identity, resilience, and unity.

Together, these three events showcase Peru’s enduring blend of ancestral memory, colonial history, and vibrant national pride—making July a powerful month of cultural expression.

 

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Mexican cycling star Isaac del Toro conquers Tour of Austria

Thanks to Del Toro’s hat trick at the Tour of Austria, UAE leads all racing teams with 61 stage wins this season. (Isaac del Toro/Instagram) -- Gracias al triplete de Del Toro en el Giro de Austria, los Emiratos Árabes Unidos lideran la clasificación de equipos de carreras con 61 victorias de etapa esta temporada.

by the El Reportero‘s staff

Mexico’s newest sports hero — 21-year-old cyclist Isaac del Toro — rode to victory in Austria on Sunday, adding gold to the silver he collected in his impressive Giro d’Italia debut.

The Baja California native won three of the five stages at the 74th Tour of Austria, finishing first with a time of 17 hours, 51 minutes and 18 seconds. Del Toro took home 7,650 euros (US $8,930) in prize money.

“I’m very happy,” Del Toro said, “[and grateful] for all the support the team provided to help me win this Tour.”

Del Toro, a member of the celebrated UAE Emirates road bicycle racing team, completed the 714.2-kilometer race with a 29-second lead over Ireland’s Archie Ryan. UAE teammate Rafael Majka finished third, another 18 seconds back.

Thanks to Del Toro’s hat trick, UAE leads all racing teams with 61 stage wins this season. That’s almost double the 33 wins of the second-placed team, Lidl-Trek, while Soudal-QuickStep is third with 26 victories.

Cycling News called Del Toro a “rising star” after he powered to victory in Stage 4, a 117.3-km ride through the Alps from Innsbruck to Kühtai that featured climbs equivalent to 3,500 meters (11,483 feet).

“The Mexican is already a stage racing force to be reckoned with, and he’s proving that at the lower-ranked Tour of Austria, where he and UAE have totally dominated the race so far,” wrote Cycling News’ Dani Ostanek.

Sunday’s victory was his third stage win in a row after Del Toro broke the tape five seconds ahead of Andrew August of Ineos Grenadiers on Friday. He won Stage 2 when he pipped August to the line after a 142.1-km climb from Bischofshofen to St. Johann Alpendorf.

Del Toro, who made his professional debut in January 2024, made headlines in mid-May when he took the lead of the Giro d’Italia, wearing the pink jersey from Stage 9 through Stage 19.

The youngster faltered on Stage 20, outgunned by Simon Yates of Visma Lease-a-bike, finishing 3 minutes, 56 seconds back. Still, Del Toro, the youngest rider to finish on the podium since 1940, completed the race wearing the white jersey awarded to the top young rider (25 or younger).

Though the Tour of Austria lacks the global spotlight of the Tour de France, Del Toro’s triumph there, combined with his victory at Milano-Torino in March, has set the bar high

“He is a phenomenon and that’s for sure,” said UAE team manager Mauro Gianetti in May. UAE has Del Toro under contract through 2029.

With reports from Infobae, El Imparcial, El Universal and IDL Pro Cycling

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