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CA anti-hunger groups slam governor’s proposed budget

Ft. Wayne - Circa November 2021: SNAP and EBT Accepted here sign. SNAP and Food Stamps provide nutrition benefits to supplement the budgets of disadvantaged families.

by Suzanne Potter

California News Service

 

Groups that fight hunger say they’re “deeply disappointed” in the new budget proposal released Tuesday by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Last year, the Legislature approved $40 million to expand food assistance to low-income people over age 55, regardless of immigration status. But now, the governor wants to delay it until 2027.

Betzabel Estudillo, director of engagement for the group Nourish California – part of the Food 4 All Campaign – said she hoped the California Food Assistance Program would be expanded starting next year.

“It’s just not what we were expecting, considering how much California immigrants are struggling to access the food they need,” said Estudillo. “With inflation and the high cost of food, immigrant families are really, really hurting right now. ”

The governor’s budget projects a gap of more than $22 billion in the next fiscal year.

Right now, the California Food Assistance Program provides income-eligible, legal immigrants with a monthly electronic benefit transfer card – similar to CalFresh – that can be used at grocery stores and farmer’s markets.

However, it does not cover undocumented people, DACA recipients or people with Temporary Protected Status.

Estudillo said the “Food 4 All” coalition had also asked for $548 million a year, to include Californians age 54 and under in the program regardless of immigration status.

But that wasn’t part of the governor’s initial proposal.

“We’re committed to working with the legislative leadership and the governor’s office,” said Estudillo, “to ensure that all Californians, regardless of age or immigration status, have timely access to the food they need. No exceptions, no exclusions.”

The expansion of the program to income-eligible immigrants over age 55 would cover 75,000 people.

Last year, the Legislative Analyst’s Office estimated that between 690,000 and 840,000 Californians would meet the income requirements if the program was expanded to all ages.

 

Feds issue warning about student-loan debt-relief scams

Scammers targeting student-loan borrowers are shifting into high gear – spurred by the uncertainty surrounding President Joseph R. Biden’s debt-cancellation plan. The Supreme Court will hear a case in late February that seeks to strike down the administration’s plan to offer up to $20,000 in debt relief to low-income student loan borrowers.

Michelle Grajales, staff attorney with the Federal Trade Commission attorney, said fraudsters are playing on people’s anxieties.

“A major red flag is any company that calls you up and asks you to pay now for help with your loans later. Because that’s something that’s specifically prohibited under one of the rules we enforce. And so it is really unlikely to be a legitimate company,” she said.

The president’s debt-cancellation plan is currently on hold while the litigation continues, so it is not processing any applications. The website of the U.S. Department of Education, studentaid.gov, has a link to sign up to be notified if the program is restarted. The pause on federal student loan payments has been extended until the litigation is resolved. The best place to start for accurate information about your loans is to contact your federal loan servicer.

Some scams promise to reduce or zero out your monthly payment, and some target parents who have co-signed on Parent Plus loans. Grijales said the familiar adage applies: “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” she said.

“It could be loan forgiveness. It could be, ‘Hey, pay us X amount, and we’ll get your loans forgiven right now, or we’ll get some large amounts of your principal balance forgiven or canceled,’ right? And that might be a benefit that the consumer doesn’t actually qualify for,” she said.

sShe added that other scams are circulating where they purport to be your loan servicer and ask that you route your payment through them. Other scams are intended primarily to get people to divulge their personal identity or banking information. For more tips, go to the Federal Trade Commission website.

 

What are the most interesting new laws for California in 2023?

by CalMatters

 

January 2, 2023 – In 2022, the California Legislature passed nearly 1,200 bills — and nearly 1,000 became law with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature.

Many of the new laws are minor fixes to laws that legislators and the governor previously enacted. Others are rather narrow or specific to a certain industry. Still others will be phased in over time.

Newsom has highlighted several, including a law limiting prosecutors from using rap lyrics and music videos in court and another requiring oil companies to publicly post their profits (the governor has also called a special session on his plan to impose a penalty on oil refiners for excess profits.)

And then there’s a select group of new laws that took effect on Jan. 1, 2023 — and that could have a noticeable impact on the daily lives of Californians, or on the policy direction of the state.

Here are nine of them, including audio segments for a few:

Will this law stop gender bias in prices? Assembly Bill No. 1287, CHAPTER 555

Shoppers may have noticed that shampoos and other personal care products marketed to women sometimes cost more than very similar versions for men.

No longer. With this law, stores will be banned from charging a different price based on gender — and could be in the crosshairs of the attorney general’s office for any violations. Advocacy groups say that ending the “pink tax” is another step in the cause of gender equity.

How much does that job pay? Senate Bill No. 1162, CHAPTER 559

It’s hit and miss how much applicants can find out about how much a job pays. And advocates say that allows for unfair disparities in salaries.

This new law will bring a little more transparency to California workplaces by requiring companies with at least 15 employees to put salary ranges into job postings. But intense business opposition blocked provisions that would have meant publication of pay data broken down by position, gender and race. And some specialists question how much difference the law will make.

Is this a return to Wild West bounties? Senate Bill No. 1327, CHAPTER 146

Back in the 1800s, the U.S. government offered bounties to stop the Union Army from getting cheated. In 2021, Texas passed a law restricting abortions and dangled $10,000 per violation to anyone who sued to help enforce it.

Not to be outdone, Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature passed this new law that allows private citizens to collect $10,000 by suing those who make or sell illegal “ghost guns” or assault-style weapons. The U.S. Supreme Court, however, could throw out the Texas law and ones like it, including California’s. But that would be just fine with the governor and lawmakers.

Will this law stop spread of “COVID lies?” Assembly Bill No. 2098, CHAPTER 938

In our COVID world, one of many concerns is disinformation that can have dangerous, even deadly, consequences. Even some doctors have spread myths or lies about the virus and how best to treat it.

This law, supported by California’s medical establishment, makes it easier for the state medical board to punish physicians who deliberately spread misinformation. But some doctors have already sued to stop the law, saying it violates their free speech rights.

Could this law correct state history? Assembly Bill No. 1703 CHAPTER 477

The history of California is complicated, not least because it’s such a diverse state of immigrants, but also home to Native American tribes here well before European explorers or the Gold Rush.

This law encourages school districts to work with tribes to develop history lessons to give students a fuller understanding. The legislation also aims to raise the graduation rate and close the achievement gap for Native American students.

Will this law help stop sex trafficking? Assembly Bill No. 1788, CHAPTER 760

Lawmakers took their latest steps in their fight against human trafficking by targeting what law enforcement says are frequent places where it happens. Civil liberties groups, however, say more law enforcement is the wrong approach.

One new law calls for fines and civil penalties against hotels if supervisors know about sex trafficking but fail to notify law enforcement, a national hotline or victim advocacy group. Another new law adds beauty, hair and nail salons to those businesses, as well as airports and bus stations, that must post information on human trafficking, including how to contact nonprofits in the field.

Could this law empty death row? Assembly Bill No. 256, CHAPTER 739

California hasn’t executed anyone since 2006. Even though voters want to keep the death penalty, a 2019 moratorium imposed by Gov. Gavin Newsom prevents executions.

Advocates are also seeking to limit when capital punishment is applied. This law aims at the 671 inmates already on death row, giving them a way to challenge their death sentences as racially biased. A disproportionate number of the condemned inmates are Black.

Does housing trump environment? Assembly Bill No. 2011, CHAPTER 647 and Senate Bill No. 886 and CHAPTER 663

California has a severe and persistent shortage of affordable housing — what Gov. Newsom even calls the state’s “original sin.”

These laws are designed to increase the supply, in part by bypassing some environmental reviews. One allows development along strip malls, as long as construction workers get union wages. A second is designed to ease the student housing crunch by exempting dorms from the California Environmental Quality Act.

What the ‘Three Amigos’ promised at the North American Leaders’ Summit

by MND Staff

Mexico News Daily 

 

January 11, 2023 – The presidents of Mexico and the United States and the prime minister of Canada made and reaffirmed shared commitments across a range of areas including security and migration during the 10th North American Leaders’ Summit (NALS) in Mexico City on Tuesday.

At a press conference following the trilateral talks, President López Obrador described his meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as a “historic event” and offered glowing assessments of both his North American counterparts.

In a joint statement — titled Declaration of North America (DNA) — the governments of the three countries said that the three leaders “are determined to fortify our region’s security, prosperity, sustainability and inclusiveness through commitments across six pillars: 1) diversity, equity, and inclusion; 2) climate change and the environment; 3) competitiveness; 4) migration and development; 5) health; and 6) regional security.”

Among the commitments mentioned in the statement were those to:

– Protect civil rights, promote racial justice, expand protections for LGBTQI+ individuals and deliver more equitable outcomes to all.

– Take rapid and coordinated measures to tackle the climate crisis and respond to its consequences.

– Deepen our regional capacity to attract high quality investment, spur innovation, and strengthen the resilience of our economies.

Forge stronger regional supply chains in order to boost regional competitiveness.

– Ensure safe, orderly, and humane migration under the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection.

– Address the root causes and impacts of irregular migration and forced displacement.

– Support countries across the Western Hemisphere to create the conditions to improve quality of life.

– Launch an updated North American Plan for Animal and Pandemic Influenza to improve prevention, preparedness, agility, and to provide rapid response to health emergencies in – North America.

– Focus on strategies to bolster our shared continental security against domestic, regional, and global threats, including cyber threats.

– Enhance trilateral work to address the use of precursor chemicals in the production of illegal substances in North America and to disrupt drug trafficking.

“The commitments made during this summit are rooted in a shared vision for a more equitable, just, inclusive, resilient, secure, and prosperous North America and a shared responsibility to achieve more equitable outcomes responsive to the needs and aspirations of our citizens,” the statement said.

The two presidents and prime minister offered their own assessments of the trilateral relationship at a joint press conference at the National Palace.

Flanked by Biden and Trudeau, López Obrador said that the meeting of the three leaders, “as good neighbors in an environment of respect to together seek the well-being of our peoples,” was “a historic event in itself.”

He said that the three countries agreed to strengthen their economic and trade relations and would seek to become more self-sufficient — that is, less reliant on imports, especially those from Asia. To that end, the three countries will establish a joint committee, López Obrador said.

The 12-person expert committee — which will include three Mexican cabinet ministers — will “have our complete confidence to motivate, persuade and convince business people, workers and public servants of the three governments about the importance … of joining forces in North America and, moving forward, seeking the union of the entire American continent,” he said.

In opening remarks at bilateral talks with Biden on Monday, López Obrador also advocated greater economic integration of Western Hemisphere nations.

Later in his address on Tuesday, AMLO asserted that the three North American partners must address “the scourge of violence and the migratory phenomenon with a humanitarian focus” and via the provision of “opportunities for well-being.”

“People are good by nature, and it’s the circumstances [they face] that sometimes force some of them to go down a path of anti-social behavior,” he said.

López Obrador thanked Trudeau for his “extraordinary and fraternal” temporary work visa program that has benefited over 25,000 Mexicans, and described the prime minister as “a great ally of Mexico.”

“To President Biden, my sincere gratitude for maintaining a relationship of cooperation with Mexico, a relationship of sincere friendship, of respect for our compatriots who honorably live and work in United States and are not harassed and don’t suffer from raids that unfortunately occurred at other times,” he said.

“We’ve said it before and I repeat it now: You are the first United States president in a long time that hasn’t built even a meter of wall [on the Mexico-U.S. border] and we’re grateful for that, even though the conservatives don’t like it,” López Obrador said.

He also said he asked Biden to urge the U.S. Congress to regularize the migratory status of millions of undocumented Mexicans who have been living and working in the United States, and “contributing to the development of that great nation,” for years.

The U.S. president spoke first at the joint news conference, and declared that the United States, Mexican and Canadian leaders are “true partners.”

“We’re working together with mutual respect and a genuine like for one another,” Biden said.

At the top of the trilateral agenda, he said, is “keeping North America the most competitive, prosperous and resilient economic region in the world.”

“… The strength of our economic relationship … not only supports good-paying jobs in all of our countries but generates tremendous growth. Now we’re working … to strengthen our cooperation on supply chains and critical minerals so we can continue to accelerate in our efforts to build the technologies of tomorrow right here in North America,” he said.

Biden, who is facing pressure from U.S. Republicans to do more to combat irregular migration, said that the entire Western Hemisphere “is experiencing unprecedented levels of migration, greater than any time in history,” and noted that a “regional-wide approach to a regional-wide problem” was launched at the 2021 NALS in Washington, D.C.

“The idea grew into the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection, which 21 countries ultimately adopted at the Summit of the Americas six months ago,” he said.

“And we’re working together especially with our North American partners to fulfill our commitments under that declaration,” Biden continued. “They include the policies I announced last week to expand safe and legal pathways for immigrants from Nicaragua, Cuba and Haiti. … We also want to thank you, Mr. President, for stepping up to receive into Mexico those not following the lawful pathways we’ve made available.”

For his part, Trudeau said that the three North American nations “share deep ties as friends and trading partners,” are home to half a billion people and have an “extraordinarily strong innovation ecosystem” as well as a combined GDP that is larger than that of the European Union.

“As leaders we are all committed to driving economic growth that supports the middle class and those working hard to join it. … People remember what happened just a few years ago when the certainty of this partnership was in question,” he said.

“Investors, businesses, workers and citizens all worried about what would happen. When free trade is at risk, that isn’t good for competition in the global market. Thankfully the belief in free and fair trade won the day, we renegotiated and we got an even better [trade] deal. To put it simply, we are, and always will be, stronger together.”

The Canadian prime minister also held bilateral talks with Biden on Tuesday, and is scheduled to meet one-on-one with López Obrador on Wednesday. AMLO met with Biden on Monday, and in frank opening remarks accused the U.S. of abandoning other countries in the region during the past 50 years.

These foods may be contributing to your anxiety

by Zoey Sky

 

If you think your anxiety is worse because you’ve been having too much coffee, eating a lot of sugary foods, or drinking too much alcohol, you may need to make dietary changes. According to an article in Psychology Today, certain foods could be linked to aggravated symptoms of anxiety.

Generalized anxiety and your diet

Generalized anxiety is often linked to a common condition called reactive hypoglycemia. When a person has reactive hypoglycemia, their blood sugar drops to very a low level after they eat or drink food or beverages that have too much sugar.

The results of a series of studies have determined that people who report heightened anxiety related to reactive hypoglycemia can improve their condition by making some dietary changes, such as:

  • Increasing protein intake.
  • Limiting their sugar and carbohydrate intake in general.
  • Reducing or eliminating caffeine from their diet.

However, if you are chronically hypoglycemic even if you already follow a healthy diet, you need to consult a healthcare professional. Doing so can help you determine any possible underlying medical causes of this condition, such as diabetes, kidney disease, and medication side effects.

Anxiety associated with hypoglycemia and malnutrition can be linked to chronic alcohol abuse. Talk to a trusted medical professional to determine how to deal with the physiological consequences of drinking too much alcohol.

Aside from sugary foods and alcohol, caffeine is also associated with an increased risk of anxiety. When you drink caffeine, you also increase the levels of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol in the blood, which can cause feelings of “nervousness” in adults with no history of mental health concerns.

Consuming coffee can also cause feelings of increased generalized anxiety. Sometimes, caffeine may even cause panic attacks in people who are predisposed to anxiety or panic. A lot of people who have been diagnosed with chronic generalized anxiety report a considerable decrease in the severity of symptoms when they limit their coffee intake.

A dietary deficiency in tryptophan, an amino acid, can cause a decrease in brain serotonin levels. L-tryptophan is an essential amino acid that’s also a precursor to serotonin, a neurotransmitter. Low levels of tryptophan can reduce serotonin production in the brain, which can cause conditions such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, or mood disorders.

To prevent the side effects of this deficiency, consume more foods that contain tryptophan, such as:

– Bananas

– Crabs

– Dates

– Eggs

– Fish

– Meat

– Oats

– Pumpkin seeds

– Sesame seeds

– Spinach

– Spirulina/seaweed

Following a proper diet can do more than keep your body healthy. It can also help you manage your anxiety.

Can antioxidants help?

Anxiety is believed to be associated with a lowered total antioxidant state, which means eating foods rich in antioxidants may help ease the symptoms of anxiety disorders.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the following foods are rich in antioxidants:

– Beans (black, dried small red, Pinto, and red kidney beans)

– Berries (blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, and strawberries)

– Fruits (black plums, Gala, Granny Smith, or Red Delicious apples, prunes, and sweet cherries)

– Nuts (pecans and walnuts)

– Vegetables (artichokes, beets, broccoli, kale, and spinach)

– Spices with both antioxidant and anti-anxiety properties (turmeric – with its active ingredient curcumin – and ginger)

The following foods can also help reduce anxiety.

– Foods that contain zinc are believed to help lower anxiety. Sources include beef, cashews, egg yolks, liver, and oysters.

– A study has revealed that mice that are deficient in magnesium may display more anxiety-related behaviors, and that foods full of magnesium can help you feel calmer. Good sources of magnesium include leafy greens like spinach and Swiss chard.

– The results of a separate study, which was published in the journal Psychiatry Research, points to a link between probiotics and reduced symptoms of social anxiety. Consume probiotic-rich foods like kefir, pickles, and sauerkraut to help manage anxiety. – –

These “feel good” foods promote the release of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. Instead of taking drugs that are linked to negative side effects, consume the foods listed above to manage your anxiety naturally. Natural News.

– Browse other articles with tips on how to manage depression and anxiety at BeatDepression.news.

Sources include:

PsychologyToday.com

UniversityHealthNews.com

Health.Harvard.edu

 

The gift that keeps giving for your child this holiday season  

Man Riding Bicycle

Content sponsored by JPMorgan Chase

 

Financial education is crucial to long-term success – and that education begins at an early age. Research suggests many of the habits we carry into adulthood are set by age seven. For parents, it’s important to lay a foundation early that children can build on. Gifting a child a bank account this holiday season is one step to promoting financial literacy, empowering them to learn and develop healthy savings goals and budgeting habits that can help set them up for future financial success.

Unlike a regular savings account, a child’s savings account may come with additional perks, including no monthly account fees or opening balance requirements. Additionally, banks often create original content for younger audiences, making it easier for kids to learn responsible money managing basics. Often these learning tools are online/mobile – for example, Chase provides new young customers with The Quest, an animated graphic novel that teaches kids about saving regularly, spending wisely and earning money – to help boost your child’s financial education.

Jenny Baltodano, Community Manager for Chase in San Francisco, offered us some ideas on the benefits of opening a savings account for your child.

Opening a savings account for your child can:

  • Help them learn more about saving money. Teach your kids how to plan and prioritize their costs. Help them develop a realistic budget to build a foundation and monitor their spending.
  • Save money for a specific short-term financial goal. Take the opportunity to encourage your child to set aside funds in their savings account to make a special purchase – whether it’s saving up to buy that new game or bicycle they’ve been wanting.
  • Provide hands-on experience. Kids often learn by doing, so consider opening a child savings account as soon as they start receiving money. Empowering them with a child debit card can help build good money habits.
  • Teach them more about banking. Your child can learn how to deposit checks in a branch, bank online, and withdraw cash at an ATM by helping co-manage their account.

Building a Healthy Financial Future

Opening a kids’ savings account provides a natural avenue for parents to talk to children about their financial wellness and, while they often don’t pay high yields, these accounts are meaningful tools to start a child on a responsible financial path from an early age.

It’s important to provide ways for kids to earn money through chores, an allowance or a summer job. Long-term, the goal is for children to gain real-life experience earning and managing money when they become adults. That way, they will be more equipped to be part of a larger discussion about debit cards, credit cards, auto loans or other financial products they may need as they enter adulthood.

Visit chase.com/parents to discover more tips and tools to teach your kids good money habits.

Business and Philanthropic Leaders Expand Commitment to Stimulate Minority Business Growth in Oakland

photo: From Left to right: Thurman White, ESO Ventures; Trevor Parham, Oak Stop; Alfredo Mathew, III ESO; Ben Wanzo, ESO Ventures; Martha Hernandez, ESO Ventures; Esther Santamaria, ESO Ventures; Ashley Moreland-Mizzi, ESO Ventures; Steve Hall, LISC; Sascha Brown, ESO Ventures; Zakiya Mackey, ESO Ventures.

 

 Entrepreneurs of Color Fund to help drive inclusive growth and tackle racial wealth gap

 

Content sponsored by JPMorgan Chase

 

December 15, 2022 – OAKLAND, CA – The Entrepreneurs of Color Fund (EOCF) program is expanding in Oakland to support diverse-led small businesses and accelerate their opportunities for growth. Through a collective commitment of $2.5 million over two years, JPMorgan Chase and The Rockefeller Foundation are deepening the EOCF’s Bay Area footprint in Oakland, collaborating with Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and several Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to help local entrepreneurs of color increase their access to capital, mentorship and technical assistance.

These organizations are working together to support the expansion of the EOCF in Oakland where only 29 percent of all businesses in the Bay Area region are estimated to owned by People of Color, and are more vulnerable to COVID-19 impacts, according to a report by AFN. While the Chase Business Leader Outlook finds optimism on the rise among Black, Latino and Hispanic entrepreneurs about their company’s future, systemic barriers to accessing capital remains a challenge in Oakland and nationwide for minority business owners.

“Small businesses are critical to the health of our economy and we want to provide underserved entrepreneurs with an opportunity to grow and make a difference in the communities where we live and work,” said Tony Tolentino, Vice President, Global Philanthropy, JPMorgan Chase. “Through Entrepreneurs of Color Fund, Oakland small businesses will gain access to another source of capital and expanded technical assistance, contributing to their overall success.”

“Breaking down barriers to access to capital for Black and Latino/a small business owners has the potential of generating almost $300B in new wealth,” said Gregory Johnson, Managing Director of the Economic Equity initiative at The Rockefeller Foundation. “The Entrepreneurs of Color Fund is aiming to have a real impact on Oakland’s communities of color and The Rockefeller Foundation is proud to support this work as a part of our Rockefeller Foundation Opportunity Collective.”

The EOCF was originally launched in Detroit in 2015 with LISC, a network of CDFIs, and JPMorgan Chase, to bridge gaps that have historically constrained growth for diverse-led businesses. The EOCF Oakland will provide additional capacity to CDFI partners ICA, Community Vision Capital and Consulting,  ESO Ventures Inc. (ESO), and Pacific Community Ventures (PCV) to support entrepreneurs of color in Oakland and throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties.

“Strong communities need a diverse small business ecosystem that fuels local income and supports a good quality of life for residents,” noted Steve Hall, Vice President at LISC. “EOCF helps bridge the unfair capital gap that entrepreneurs of color have long faced so they have the chance to build wealth, create jobs and contribute to the kind of vibrant economic infrastructure that positively impacts everything from housing to health.”

Through the EOCF Oakland, LISC, ICA, Community Vision Capital and Consulting, ESO and PCV will provide investments and loans to small and mid-size businesses that can be used to hire staff, buy equipment or vehicles, pay for renovations, or stock up on inventory. Beyond providing capital, the CDFIs will also provide technical assistance and advice on a range of topics including marketing, merchandising, accounting, website design and maintenance, or licensing.

“At ICA we know that entrepreneurs have the power to transform communities and drive wealth-building opportunities. That’s why we’re thrilled to grow our collaboration with JPMorgan Chase and the ecosystem of partners to deploy investments from the Entrepreneurs of Color Fund to the many incredible Oakland founders in the ICA network,” said Allison Kelly, Chief Executive Officer of ICA. “Funds specifically designated for People of Color-owned businesses are essential for overcoming systemic barriers and building an economy that works for all.”

“The capital we received through ICA and the Entrepreneurs of Color Fund Bay Area, was essential for helping grow Don Bugito, from opening a new farm to making critical hires,” said Monica Martinez, Founder and CEO of Don Bugito. “I look forward to seeing what the Entrepreneurs of Color Fund can do for our incredible ecosystem of small business in Oakland now too.”

To date, the EOCF has provided more than 2,100 loans and deployed more than $115 million in capital to Black, Latino, Hispanic and other underserved entrepreneurs in major areas such as the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Detroit, Atlanta, New York City, Chicago, Washington, D.C, and Newark.

3 Mexican muralists that it is essential to know

A muralism, a very Mexican artistic movement

 

Shared/by Mexico Unknown

 

Muralism was an artistic movement that was born in Mexico in the 1920s. The idea was to bring the people closer to the history of Mexico and at the same time generate social awareness about the situation of inequality that was inherited from the Porfiriato. The main Mexican muralists were: David Alfaro Siqueiros, José Clemente Orozco and Diego Rivera. Learn more about these characters and about their artistic training.

3 Mexican muralists

David Alfaro Siqueiros

He was born on December 29, 1896. His place of origin is disputed between Chihuahua and Mexico City. His parents were Teresa Siqueiros and the lawyer Cipriano Alfaro.

Siqueiros studied at the National Preparatory School. At the same time and at night, he went to the Academy of San Carlos. Here he participated in a student strike that demanded the dismissal of the director and the change in the teaching method. As a result, the outdoor academy at Santa Anita emerged.

It was the time of the Mexican Revolution and Siqueiros, along with other colleagues, decided to join Carranza’s Constitutional Army against Victoriano Huerta. Siqueiros traveled the length and breadth of the country. At that moment he realized the social inequalities and injustices that the majority of the population suffered.

Once he won Carranza, Siqueiros moved to Mexico City. Here he met Diego Rivera with whom he later traveled through Italy. There they studied Renaissance art together.

In 1922, Siqueiros returned to Mexico City to work as a muralist. In this site he received the great support of José Vasconcelos. The two, along with Rivera and Orozco, shared the ideal of educating the masses through public art.

Due to his inclination for Marxist ideals and his constant criticism -written and pictographic- of the government, Siqueiros was imprisoned on several occasions. In fact, he remained in Lecumberri for four years, accused of “social dissolution.” However, not even while in prison did he stop painting. In addition, he was also accused of participating in an attack against León Trostky for which he had to go into exile in Chile.

On January 6, 1974, David Alfaro Siqueiros died, one of the Mexican muralists who marked the 20th century.

Representative works

  • Burial of a worker (1923). It is in the hole of the Colegio Chico.
  • New Democracy (1944-1945). It is located in the Palace of Fine Arts.
  • From Porfirio Diaz to the Revolution (1957-1966). It is in the Chapultepec Castle.

Diego Rivera

Diego María de la Concepción Juan Nepomuceno Estanislao de la Rivera y Barrientos Acosta y Rodríguez, better known as Diego Rivera, was born on December 8, 1886 in the City of Guanajuato. His parents were María Barrientos and Diego Rivera Acosta.

Diego Rivera’s artistic life formally began in 1896. In that year he entered the Academia de San Carlos. There he met the great landscape designer José María Velasco. Nine years later, he received a scholarship from the then Secretary of Education, Justo Sierra.

Fortune smiled on Rivera due to his talent. The latter led him to travel through Europe and other places. He had the opportunity to interact with intellectuals such as Alfonso Reyes, Ramón María del Valle-Inclán and Pablo Picasso.

Years later, Rivera returned to Mexico and participated in the campaigns proposed by José Vasconcelos. At that time he met José Clemente Orozco, David Alfaro Siqueiros, Rufino Tamayo and the French artist Jean Charlot.

In 1922, in addition to marrying Guadalupe Marín, he joined the Mexican Communist Party. After divorcing Marín, he married the painter Frida Kahlo in 1929. In that same year, he was expelled from the Communist Party.

Unlike Siqueiros, Rivera sympathized with Trotsky, which is why he gave the Russian politician political asylum in 1937. Kahlo and Rivera received him at the Casa Azul.

Rivera died on November 24, 1957 in Mexico City (Coyoacán).

Representative work

  • Frescoes (1922) in the Ministry of Public Education.
  • The Man at a Crossroads (1934). This work is in the Palace of Fine Arts.
  • Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in the Alameda Central (1947). This mural is located in the Diego Rivera Mural Museum.

Mural The Man at a Crossroads

Jose Clemente Orozco

Considered the “Mexican Goya” -due to the warm climate of his works-. Orozco was born in 1883 in Zapotlán, Jalisco. His father was Ireneo Orozco and his mother was María Rosa Flores.

While still an infant, Orozco met José Guadalupe Posada. This generated a great interest in painting. For family reasons, the Orozcos had to move to Guadalajara and later to Mexico City.

In 1906, our muralist entered the San Carlos Academy of Fine Arts to consolidate his talent in drawing. A short time later, he began a degree in agricultural engineering. However, that did not fill his spirit, which is why he decided to dedicate himself completely to painting in 1909.

Two years later, he worked as an illustrator and cartoonist. He dedicated himself to making satires on the Mexican Revolution to earn economic income. Around that time, Orozco painted The House of Tears. In this, a strong social criticism was made of the environment in which prostitutes were forced to live.

In 1922 he joined Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros and other artists. Together they gave rise to the Mexican muralist movement. The intention was to abandon the European influence and be inspired by pre-Columbian and popular cultures. In addition, in their works they manifested their political protests and sought to bring the people closer with their art.

Orozco died in 1949 in Mexico City and was buried in the Rotunda of Illustrious Men.

representative works

  • Omniscience (1925). It exists in the House of Tiles.
  • The Trench (1926). This work is located in the Government Palace of Guadalajara.
  • The Man on Fire (1938-1939). This mural is in the Vault of the Hospicio Cabañas.

City College students, faculty protest ESL cuts

Story and photo by Anna-Luisa Brakman and Mission Local

 

Dozens of City College students, faculty, and recently elected College Board members gathered outside the Mission Campus on Valencia Street Wednesday morning to protest an administrative decision that will close down the last remaining free ESL courses available on the west side of the city. Students from 23 countries, including China, Mexico, Mongolia, Japan, Peru, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Cuba, and Ukraine gathered to demand reconsideration of the decision.

In October, City College announced that it would be cutting its non-credit ESL program at the John Adams Campus in the Panhandle, effective next semester. The courses are an especially vital resource for Asian immigrants, who comprise two-thirds of the Richmond District’s 30 percent foreign-born population. With approximately 30 to 40 students in each of these classes, the impact of the John Adams’ ESL program closure on the immigrant population is hard to overstate.

Wednesday’s protest was held in the Mission because that campus is the site of key City College administrators’ offices.

Denise Selleck, an ESL instructor at CCSF since 1991, highlighted the need for ESL classes on the west side of San Francisco.

“Eighteen percent of Richmond District residents and 27 percent of Sunset residents are limited English proficient,” she said. “A majority of our in-person CCSF ESL students now come from the west side of San Francisco.

Some, like Richmond District resident Wooyoung, will no longer be able to attend ESL classes at all.

“Unlike other classes, [for] English learning it’s very important to really meet people and talk a lot. If the classes [at] John Adams Campus disappear, I definitely cannot go to far campuses […] it’s the only campus in the west side of San Francisco. Please continue classes at John Adams campus.”

Catherine, an au pair who moved to San Francisco from Mexico four months ago, relies on the ESL courses offered at John Adams to learn English.

“I take my ESL classes at John Adams during my break because it’s close to my work. I don’t have enough time to travel to another campus.”

If the decision to close down the John Adams ESL program isn’t reversed, Catherine will no longer be able to take English classes.

ESL Department Chair Jessica Buchsbaum told Mission Local that the administration’s decision ignores student need and vocal opposition to the closure of the program.

“There wasn’t a rationale given — I was told it would be an initial conversation but it didn’t feel like an initial conversation. It felt like a directive.”

Budget shortfalls have plagued City College for years. Over the past decade, the school has twice nearly lost its accreditation over budgetary concerns and fiscal mismanagement. With the failure of November’s Proposition O, which would have generated an estimated $37 million annually for City College, the administration has cited budget management and ‘decreasing enrollment’ as an impetus for the John Adams’ ESL program closure. But this year has hit ESL programs especially hard, and the City College of San Francisco Faculty Union, AFT 2121, argues that the College is cutting these courses in the midst of budget surpluses.

“They absolutely have been running surpluses,” math professor Clare Heimer told Mission Local.  “The college is very clearly fiscally solvent. They’re running huge surpluses. The idea that they need to be running huge surpluses year after year? Other colleges don’t do that and they get accredited just fine.”

In 2019, proposed 100 pay hikes for top administrators which coincided with slashed course offerings sparked outrage at City College. In October, credit rating agency Moody’s Investors Service upgraded the school’s financial status to ‘stable’ from ‘negative.’

This year’s estimated actuals (which have not yet been audited) showed a $3.6 million surplus, on top of balance sheet expenditures that speak to the college’s fiscal surplus. Included in this year’s budget was $1.9 million in “unallocated costs,” as well as about $8 million in a “transfer out” to the College’s cash reserves.

“In other words, they are setting aside money literally for nothing,” Heimer said. “It’s this kind of thing that they’re engaged in — this kind of cutting of the college’s actual educational functions in favor of this balance sheet improvement to satisfy creditors.”

The decision to close down the courses at John Adams came amidst already dire overcrowding of ESL courses at City College’s Mission campus.

“Ideally there would be 25 students in a level 1 or 2 ESL class, but on the first day at one ESL class in the Mission, 90 students showed up,” Mission ESL instructor Armen Hovhannes said. “Two months into the school year, there were still 75 students on the waitlist for introductory ESL classes at Mission campus, and hundreds more had already been turned away.”

(This story was first published at Mission Local)

Bringing Diego Rivera’s Watercolors to Life

Puppeteer Toztli Abril de Dios recreates century-old designs

 

How do you create costumes for a ballet that was performed only once, nearly 100 years ago?

 

Puppeteer Toztli Abril de Dios met the challenge head on. For our Diego Rivera’s America exhibition, the Mexico City–based artist recreated costumes from H.P. (Horsepower), a 1932 modern dance piece featuring ensembles originally designed by Rivera. Though Rivera’s watercolor paintings are the only remaining references, Abril de Dios used her expertise and imaginative eye to breathe new life into the playful characters.

Watch Abril de Dios reproduce these whimsical designs in our new video, and see the final ensembles in person at Diego Rivera’s America, on view through Jan. 3, 2023.

Fun for the whole family!
Join us this Sunday for Second Sundays for Families, a program at the museum featuring artmaking and storytelling around a different theme each month.
Learn how to make your own book using simple folding techniques, then you’re free to write, draw, or a combination of the two. Get creative!

Dec. 11: Second Sundays for Families, 10:30 a.m.–3 p.m., at Koret Education Center, Floor 2. Mon–Tue: 10 a.m–5 p.m., Wed: closed, Thu: 1–8 p.m., Fri–Sun: 10 a.m–5 p.m. SFMOMA will be closed Dec. 24–25, 2022. SFMOMA will be open 10 a.m–5 p.m. Dec. 21 and 10 a.m–3 p.m. Dec. 31, 2022.

 

Mission Lotería hosts final 16th Street-focused events 

San Francisco, CA – Mission Lotería, a bingo-style community game, is hosting its final event dedicated to 16th Street businesses. Participants are encouraged to shop along 16th Street to earn game pieces for game boards to be entered into raffles for a variety of prizes. Mission Lotería is also hosting a pop-up event on Dec. 10 at Creativity Explored, an art studio and gallery that partners with artists with developmental disabilities in creating powerful art, from 12-3 p.m. By playing Mission Lotería, shoppers can continue to support small businesses by playing and purchasing from those impacted by the 16th Street Improvement Project.

Final Mission Lotería event dedicated to supporting 16th Street small businesses during major construction and improvement project

Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD), Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA), Calle 24 Latino Cultural District, American Indian Cultural District (AICD) & Trending Socials Marketing Agency.

Dec. 17, 2022, 4:00-7 p.m., at 2301 Mission Street, San Francisco. For more information about both events and about Mission Lotería, visit: www.missionstreetsf.com/loteria.

Los funcionarios locales elogian la medida para detener el aumento del precio de la gasolina

por Suzanne Potter

California News Service

 

6 de diciembre de 2022 – El Gobernador Gavin Newsom convocó una sesión especial de la Legislatura el lunes para considerar su propuesta recientemente revelada para limitar las ganancias excesivas del petróleo y el gas, dinero que, según él, proviene de la manipulación de precios. Según Triple-A, la gasolina en California es significativamente más alta que el promedio nacional.

Alexander Walker Griffin, vicealcalde de la ciudad de Hércules, elogió la medida.

“Hemos visto precios récord en la bomba, precios de gasolina de $6, $7 por galón en nuestras estaciones de servicio locales, por lo que tenemos que hacer algo”, dijo.

La industria del petróleo y el gas cita múltiples razones para los aumentos de precios, culpando a la capacidad reducida en las refinerías debido al mantenimiento, además de los movimientos del estado para eliminar los combustibles fósiles y los problemas de suministro relacionados con la guerra en Ucrania.

Igor Tregub, un inmigrante ucraniano que preside el caucus ambiental del Partido Demócrata de California, dijo que la continua dependencia del petróleo extranjero está alimentando la guerra de Vladimir Putin.

“El descaro de las corporaciones de petróleo y gas de usar la guerra en mi patria para obtener ganancias exorbitantes es inhumano. La Legislatura debe ver esto como un problema de seguridad nacional y resolverlo”, dijo.

Vecindarios de bajos ingresos de Los Ángeles ofrecen internet a precios más altos: informe

El servicio de Internet en el condado de Los Ángeles a menudo se ofrece a precios más altos en vecindarios de bajos ingresos, mientras que se ofrecen mejores ofertas en áreas más ricas, según un informe de California Community Foundation y Digital Equity LA.

Los investigadores eligieron direcciones aleatorias en todas las ciudades del condado y compraron servicios de Internet en AT&T, Frontier y Charter Spectrum, que tiene el monopolio en partes del condado.

Shayna Englin, directora de la iniciativa de equidad digital en California Community Foundation, dijo que las disparidades en las ofertas promocionales de Spectrum eran evidentes, por ejemplo, entre Watts de bajos ingresos y Mar Vista, más rica.

“Internet Ultra, la velocidad más lenta que ofrecen en los vecindarios de mayores ingresos, se ofrece por $70 al mes, válido por solo un año, en Watts”, explicó Englin. “A unas millas de distancia en Mar Vista, ofrecen lo mismo por $30 al mes, un precio que es válido por dos años”.

Charter Spectrum, en un comunicado, dijo que sus planes, velocidades y precios son los mismos para todos los códigos postales en todo el país. Cuestionó algunos de los datos y afirmó que el informe seleccionó ofertas promocionales. La compañía señaló que ha construido la infraestructura de Internet más grande del condado y participa en el programa de Beneficios de Banda Ancha de Emergencia y el Programa de Conectividad Asequible, que ofrecen tarifas bajas para suscriptores de bajos ingresos.

Jorge Rivera, codirector ejecutivo de The People’s Resource Center en Long Beach, uno de los 40 grupos comunitarios que ayudaron a recopilar datos para el estudio, calificó los precios de discriminatorios.

“Incluso si son estrategias de adquisición de clientes, siguen siendo discriminatorias porque estás ofreciendo un precio menor en áreas de ingresos más altos que en áreas de ingresos más bajos”, argumentó Rivera. “Entonces, el hecho de que sea solo promocional no es una respuesta adecuada a la práctica discriminatoria”.

Rivera afirmó que el servicio de Internet debe tratarse como una utilidad, no como un lujo, porque las personas dependen de él para el trabajo, la escuela, la telemedicina y más.

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