Tuesday, November 26, 2024
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Claudia Sheinbaum is sworn in as president of Mexico

Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo asumió la presidencia el 1 de octubre de 2024. --Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo assumed the presidency on Oct. 1, 2024. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)

by Mexico News Daily

Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo was sworn in as president of Mexico on Tuesday morning, becoming the first woman to lead Latin America’s second most populous country.

Sheinbaum, who won the June 2 presidential election on a ticket backed by the ruling Morena party and its allies, was proclaimed presidenta during a ceremony at the Legislative Palace of San Lázaro in Mexico City. Her six-year term will run until Sept. 30, 2030.

Sheinbaum took the oath of office in front of Mexican deputies and senators, world leaders and other foreign and Mexican dignitaries who attended the General Congress session.

The 62-year-old environmental scientist succeeds Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who led Mexico for the past five years and 10 months. AMLO, as the president is best known, was also in attendance at the swearing-in ceremony, wearing the presidential sash for the final time.

The sash was passed on to Sheinbaum, who put it on over the white dress she wore to the inauguration ceremony. In her first address as president, she promised to “govern for everyone” and said she did not arrive to power alone, but with all women.

Sheinbaum, Mexico City mayor between 2018 and 2023, has pledged to build the “second story” of the so-called “fourth transformation” of Mexico initiated by López Obrador and the Morena party, which AMLO founded.

She takes office at a time when the Mexican economy is slowing and insecurity plagues various parts of the country, including the northern state of Sinaloa, where Sinaloa Cartel infighting has resulted in scores of deaths in recent weeks.

Beyond the economy and insecurity, Sheinbaum will face a range of other challenges, including in the areas of energy, water and health care.

She will also face pressure from international investors, and possibly foreign governments, to uphold the rule of law, especially after judicial elections are held for the first time next year. Critics of the government’s recently enacted judicial reform claim that the elections could result in courts — including the Supreme Court — being stacked with judges sympathetic to the federal government’s legislative agenda.

That agenda includes a number of constitutional reform proposals López Obrador sent to Congress in February, as well as ones to be put forth by the new president.

As president, Sheinbaum will have immense power as a coalition led by Morena has a supermajority in the lower house of Congress and a near-supermajority in the Senate.

Morena’s legislative dominance was on display in September when the Congress approved the judicial reform and a constitutional bill that placed the National Guard under military control.

Sheinbaum joins a significant number of incumbent female world leaders, including President Xiomara Castro of Honduras, President Dina Boluarte of Peru and Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of Denmark.

United States Democratic Party presidential nominee Kamala Harris could soon join the group, although the Nov. 5 election in the U.S. appears likely to be a very close contest between Harris and former president Donald Trump.

Among the female Latin American leaders who preceded Sheinbaum are president Dilma Roussef of Brazil, president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner of Argentina and president Michelle Bachelet of Chile.

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Certain political groups attack the First Amendment, especially against people of faith, using “fact-checking” to delegitimize the truth

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees, among other freedoms, the freedom of speech, press, religion, and assembly.

This fundamental pillar of the U.S. democratic system protects both those who wish to express their opinions and those who openly practice their faith or religion. However, in recent times, there have been growing criticisms about how some sectors of the left are eroding these freedoms, particularly towards people of faith. Additionally, it has been pointed out that the use of fact-checking is being employed to silence or delegitimize voices that differ from certain dominant narratives. Below, we will explore how this is happening and what implications it has for freedom of speech and religious freedom.

Restricting speech in the name of political correctness 

One of the main arguments of those who believe that the left is attacking the First Amendment is the use of the concept of political correctness to silence or suppress speech that does not align with their values. While it is true that respecting different groups and fighting against hate and intolerance are noble causes, this effort has often resulted in censoring opinions that are not considered appropriate by certain standards. In many cases, those who hold traditional religious beliefs on topics such as marriage, sexuality, or life are labeled as “intolerant” or “discriminatory.”

For example, many religious groups have been criticized and censored on social media platforms for defending doctrines that have been part of their faith for centuries. Instead of fostering open debate, some platforms have chosen to remove posts or suspend accounts, claiming that these statements violate their “hate” policies, without considering that they are protected expressions under religious freedom.

The use of fact-checking as a tool of censorship 

Another concerning trend is the use of fact-checking, a tool initially designed to combat misinformation, but which in some cases has been misused to delegitimize opinions that simply do not align with the dominant current. Often, these verifications do not limit themselves to correcting objective errors but focus on discrediting arguments or viewpoints that, while controversial, are based on religious beliefs or philosophical convictions.

A clear example of this is the discussions around topics like abortion or same-sex marriage. When people of faith argue against these practices based on their beliefs, they are often labeled as “spreaders of misinformation” or their opinions are presented as “false” in fact checks, even though they are expressing a moral or philosophical point of view, not necessarily a false or incorrect fact. This strategy turns fact-checking into a tool for delegitimizing certain opinions, rather than an impartial way of verifying objective facts.

Religious freedom under threat 

The attack on freedom of speech is not limited only to the realm of opinions but has also begun to directly affect religious freedom. In several recent cases, religious institutions and faith leaders have been subjected to lawsuits or sanctions for adhering to their beliefs on controversial issues. A notable case is that of religious business owners who have refused to provide certain services, such as participation in same-sex marriage ceremonies, due to their religious beliefs. Instead of respecting their right to act according to their faith, these people have faced lawsuits accusing them of discrimination, even though their refusal was not motivated by hate but by religious principles.

Moreover, several recent laws and regulations have been criticized for attempting to impose a secular view of morality, forcing individuals and religious organizations to act against their beliefs. This not only represents a direct attack on religious freedom but also sends the message that religious beliefs are less worthy of protection than other forms of expression.

The debate over “truth” 

Part of the problem lies in the contemporary notion of “truth.” While in the past, freedom of speech allowed for a plurality of voices and the coexistence of different interpretations of reality, today, a more rigid view is being imposed, in which only certain viewpoints are considered valid or true. This has led to the term “misinformation” being broadly applied to include not only factually incorrect statements but also any speech that differs from the prevailing narrative. Thus, public debate is stifled, and important voices, including those of people of faith who, from their perspective, believe they are defending the truth, are excluded.

A clear example of this is the way certain scientific or social debates are handled in the public sphere. Issues about biological differences between sexes, the origin of life, or medical ethics are constantly labeled as “denialism” or “hate speech,” even when those defending these positions are basing their arguments on their religious convictions. By censoring these voices, not only is freedom of expression limited, but public debate is also distorted, depriving it of the richness that comes from the diversity of opinions.

Consequences for democracy 

The danger of these trends is that they erode one of the fundamental principles of democracy: the free exchange of ideas. Freedom of speech and religious freedom are complementary rights that allow pluralistic societies to flourish. By attacking these freedoms, there is a risk of creating a society where only a select group of opinions has a place in public debate, while others are systematically marginalized or silenced.

This is particularly serious in a nation like the United States, where the First Amendment has long been a symbol of individual freedoms. While it is necessary to combat hate and misinformation, it is equally crucial that these initiatives do not become excuses to censor or attack religious beliefs and dissenting opinions. The challenge lies in finding a balance that allows for the coexistence of different viewpoints and ensures that all citizens, regardless of their beliefs, can express their opinions freely.

Freedom of expression and religion is under attack, especially from sectors of the left that, in the name of political correctness and the fight against disinformation, use “fact-checking” to silence dissenting voices. This puts public discourse and democratic values at risk. To protect democracy, it is crucial to defend everyone’s right to express themselves without fear of being censored or delegitimized.

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How to fight rising imposter scams

Imposter scams are rising at alarming rates, thanks to sophisticated new tactics; here’s how to protect your money

by Selen Ozturk

Imposter scams are rising at alarming rates, thanks to sophisticated new tactics; here’s how to protect your money.

Of the millions of scam reports the Federal Trade Commission gets each year — 2.6 million in 2023 — the most common type by far are imposter scams, where scammers impersonate an entity, usually a business or government agency.

The first half of 2024 alone saw 360,000 impersonation scam reports, with $1.3 billion in reported losses and a median loss of $800.

Less than 5 percent of scam victims report at all, according to FTC and Better Business Bureau estimates.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Emma Fletcher, senior data researcher at the FTC at a Friday, September 20 Ethnic Media Services briefing about imposter scams. “Behind those numbers are people who’ve lost tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars. We’re really concerned about the volume of reports we’re getting on scams that take it all. People have emptied their bank accounts, even their retirement accounts.”

Over the past few years, reported losses to business and government impersonation scams have skyrocketed nearly fourfold.

One hundred seventy-five was lost to government impersonators in 2020 compared to $618 million in 2023, and $195 million was lost to business impersonators in 2020 compared to $751 million in 2023.

Scam tactics and stories

“This tremendous increase in reports from people who’ve lost enormous sums of money is tied to very concerning changes in the tactics these scammers are using,” said Fletcher.

These scams often involve bank transfer methods like Zelle, or cryptocurrency payment methods like Bitcoin ATMs, which are referred to by many scammers as “federal safety lockers.”

One reporter attending the briefing, Sunita Sohrabji, shared a personal example.

“My daughter tried to sell her bike via Facebook Marketplace,” Sohrabji said. “It was her first time selling anything, and someone messaged her saying they wanted to buy the bike, and that they’d pay through Zelle, but that she first had to establish a Zelle business account and put $400 in an account they’d sent her, which would be refunded once the transaction was made. Of course, that never happened.”

“With the endless daily time-sensitive messages, emails, deliveries, due dates and service invoices we already get, especially in the media, there are so many you have to resist and double-check nowadays,” added Elena Kuznetsova, a reporter for Slavic Sacramento.”

“There have been congressional hearings about Zelle and the role of financial institutions when fraud occurs,” said Kati Daffan, assistant director of the FTC Division of Marketing Practices. “It’s an open question right now. We encourage people to report it to us and their bank. If they’re unhappy with how their bank handles it, they can also file a report with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.”

Per a new FTC Impersonation Rule in effect since April, pretending to represent or be endorsed by a government or business is explicitly a violation, enabling the FTC to file federal court cases seeking to return money to victims and enact civil penalties against scammers.

“In our first case using the new rule, somebody pretending to be affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education would tell people: ‘This is a time sensitive notice, and you can get tax-free loan forgiveness,’ to entice consumers to call them,” said Daffan.

“Then the telemarketers, claiming to be affiliated with the government, would convince people to sign up for a debt relief program and collect hundreds of dollars in illegal upfront fees,” she continued. “Our case is ongoing.”

Daffan added that telltale signs of a scammer include urging the victim to act immediately; asking them to lie to someone, like a bank teller or broker; threatening them with arrest or deportation; and telling them not to hang up before money is withdrawn or transferred.

Also trending are “tag-team” scams blurring the line between business and government impersonation.

“These scams typically start out impersonating a business; say, your bank saying there’s suspicious charges on your account,” said Fletcher. “But when you respond, the situation escalates rapidly. Your accounts are at risk, so they connect you with a government agency. The aim is to create a sense of heightened alarm, to make it difficult to think clearly, recognize the scam, and hang up the phone.”

Furthermore, many scams now involve victims who believe they’re protecting their money from entities who want it.

“If you believe you’re paying someone, you’re going to be cautious about giving all you have. But if you believe you’re protecting your money, you’re more likely to empty your account, and these scammers will position themselves as someone informing you of this problem and helping you resolve it,” Fletcher continued. “They’re not necessarily posing as the aggressor anymore.”

There are many misconceptions about who’s impacted by scams,” she added. “They’re not, say, less intelligent or greedy. It’s really important to put those ideas to rest, because they’re barriers to people being receptive to messages about how to avoid scams … It’s people of all ages, people you know in your community.”

The FTC found in 2021 that adults aged 18 to 59 were 34 percent more likely to report losing money to fraud than older adults, with a median loss of $500.

However, older adults reported much higher median losses: $800 for those in their 70s, and $1,500 for those 80 and over.

“I’m always telling my audience: please be aware. Don’t do this. I’m 69 with 43 years of experience in journalism, and I fell in their hands completely,” said Celina Rodríguez, a journalist who got a call two years ago from scammers impersonating Bank of America.

“They said I bought an iPhone, and was it really me? It was so embarrassing having to explain ‘No,’” she said. “I was in a rush, I had to do a radio program, and I was panicking. I let them into my computer and sent money to them … Fortunately, Bank of America helped me shut my computer down, had IT come turn it on in a safe way and I changed my passwords.”

“The way they get you involved is amazing,” Rodriguez added. “We’re so vulnerable now. Even though we’re on top of things every day, we are human beings and any of us can become psychological targets.”

Those experiencing fraud can report it and find next steps at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

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New California law gives tenants more time to respond to eviction notices

Nancy Wiles sostiene su aviso de desalojo el 4 de diciembre de 2023. -- Nancy Wiles holds her eviction notice on Dec. 4, 2023. Photo by Manuel Orbegozo for CalMatters.

Tenant advocates say giving renters 10 days to respond to eviction notices, up from 5, will help those who live in rural areas and have trouble finding legal help. Some landlords argue it will increase their costs

by Felicia Mello, Calmatters

Tenants in California will have twice as much time to respond to eviction notices and potentially avoid losing their homes under a bill signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom today.

The new law comes amid a statewide housing crisis, and after a surge in evictions followed the expiration of pandemic-era tenant protections. Tenant advocates say Assembly Bill 2347, which doubles the time to respond from 5 to 10 business days, will help renters who live in areas where legal help is scarce or face other life circumstances that make it hard to meet the current deadline.

Under California law, landlords who sue to evict tenants must serve them with a formal notice, called an unlawful detainer. If a tenant doesn’t respond in writing within five business days, they can lose the case by default. The complex and technical answer form asks tenants to outline any disagreement about the facts or choose from more than a dozen possible legal defenses, which often requires them to seek help from someone who understands housing law.

“If you think about folks who are living in legal aid deserts, it may take them the entire five days just to get in the door and get that help,” said Lorraine López, a senior attorney with the Western Center on Law and Poverty, which sponsored the bill.  “Or they’re going 40 or 50 miles to their nearest courthouse to try to get there before 5 p.m. to file that paperwork.”

Language barriers, lack of transportation and work schedules can also slow tenants’ ability to respond, López said. About 40 percent of California tenants lose their cases by default, researchers have estimated.

The state’s major landlord lobby, the California Apartment Association, didn’t formally oppose the new law, which takes effect Jan. 1. But some local landlord groups have objected that any delay in evictions allows more unpaid rent to pile up, a cost that property owners will pass on to the new tenant.

“Every time there is an elongation of the process it creates more loss to owners,” said Daniel Bornstein, a San Francisco real estate attorney who represents landlords. He said that while the five-day window might seem short, it’s part of a larger eviction process that can take months and often begins only after tenants are months behind on their rent.

That process, however, still unfolds much more quickly than a typical lawsuit. For example, defendants in other civil suits have 30 days to file a response. Tenants facing eviction are much less likely than their landlords to get help from an attorney – fewer than 5% nationwide have legal representation compared to more than 80% of landlords, the National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel estimates.

While the new law, carried by Democratic Assemblymember Ash Kalra of San Jose, gives tenants more time to respond to an eviction notice, it also shortens the timeframe for their lawyers to file certain motions alleging errors in a landlord’s complaint.

Nancy Wiles, who narrowly avoided an eviction judgment over an apartment she left in the Contra Costa County city of Oakley, said the new law could help tenants like her.

Wiles was already moving out of an apartment that she said was infested with mold when her landlord served her with an eviction notice. By the time she realized she had to respond, the five-day timeline had elapsed and a court had ruled that Wiles had to pay her landlord $7,000.

“It was very stressful,” said Wiles, a retired hairstylist on a fixed income. She later sought help from a pro bono attorney who got the case withdrawn.

Tenant activists have also attempted to create more breathing room during an earlier step of the eviction process, when landlords notify renters of a problem before they file a case. California law gives tenants three days to correct the issue – for example, by paying back rent or fixing damage to the property – before an eviction can be filed.

San Francisco passed an ordinance in 2022 giving tenants an extra 10 days to correct problems. But a state appeals court judge last week overturned the local measure, ruling that cities have to defer to the state on eviction procedures.

And some California cities, including Los Angeles, are considering following in San Francisco’s footsteps and guaranteeing a right to legal counsel for tenants facing eviction.

Want to know which other new laws were passed this year, and how they will affect Californians? Check out CalMatters’ legislative tracker.

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Paradise, a play about political injustice in Puerto Rico — Celebrate Independence with the Viva Nicaragua Festival

by Magdy Zara

After its premiere on September 5, the play Paradise is giving people something to talk about as it shows life in Puerto Rico and the relationship that the United States has with Puerto Rico.

The production is by La Lengua Teatro en Español and Brava, and it is about the lives of Julián, Andrea, Tata and Quiko, who are a reflection of what it means to live on the island.

This is a new bilingual play by Tere Martínez, performed in Spanish, English or Spanglish, which will have projected subtitles to guarantee access and eliminate language barriers.

Paradise uses the tensions between compelling characters on stage to shed light on the exploitative relationship that the United States, after more than a century, has with Puerto Rico.

The play aims to draw attention to the unjust political situation on the island. Julian, an American resident in Puerto Rico, takes advantage of the tax incentives offered by the Puerto Rican government to foreign “investors” who agree to move to the island.

Andrea, a teacher at a local public school, teaches Spanish to Americans to make ends meet, while taking stock of the damage these incentives are doing to her country and the speculation of foreigners who contribute little while benefiting a lot. Tata needs to find a new home in a city plagued by Airbnbs, but clashes with Andrea and Julian because of her own perspective. And Quiko, who has lived his entire life between the island and the mainland, describes the harsh disparities suffered by “American citizen” residents of the United States territory.

The last performance of this season of El Paraíso will be this Sunday, Sept. 29, at the Brava Theater Center, located at 2781 24th Street San Francisco, starting at 6 p.m., tickets range in price from $25 – $100.

Celebrate Independence with the Viva Nicaragua Festival

As part of the celebration of Nicaragua’s independence, the Viva Nicaragua Festival has been organized for 14 consecutive years, a unique opportunity to share an afternoon with the family and relive the cultural traditions, typical foods and music of this beautiful country.

Among the artists who will perform are La Cuneta, Carlos Mejía Godoy, Banda Blanca and Marimba Flor de Pino.

The invitation is for the entire Nicaraguan community in northern California in the San Francisco Bay Area, to attend with the family what will be a Nicaraguan tradition. The place chosen for this celebration is Swiss Park, 5911 Mowry Ave., Newark, this Sunday, Sept. 29th starting at 10 a.m. Tickets are $30 for those over 10 years old.

More information through the number 415-424-8809.

La Moderna Tradición Orchestra in concert

For the first time this year, the La Moderna Tradición Orchestra comes to the San Francisco Bay Area to captivate audiences with the best of traditional and modern Cuban music.

Made up of 12 members, La Moderna Tradición brings its full repertoire, including sensual danzones and cha-cha-chás with contemporary rhythms infused with timba.

The Orchestra’s exceptional musicians inspire music lovers and dancers alike. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the essence of Cuban music, where tradition meets innovation on the dance floor.

The date is this Wednesday, Oct. 2 of this year, at Yoshi, located at 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland, doors open at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $25.

Agua Pura showcases their talent

The Agua Pura group is an acclaimed all-female salsa combo known for performing classic songs by artists such as Fania All-Stars and El Gran Combo with authority.

This initiative was initiated by conga player and vocalist Rebecca Rodriguez, who after participating in salsa and Latin jazz concerts, decided to take the step of forming her own band, which also showcases the female talent of the Bay Area.

Rodriguez defines Agua Pura as a creative hotbed that encourages women to spread their wings of improvisation.

The concert is this Thursday, Oct. 3, at 6 p.m., at the East Garden, Yerba Buena Gardens, located on 3rd St. between Mission and Howard Sts. San Francisco.

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Dozens of CA events this weekend honor Latino Conservation Week

by Suzanne Potter, Producer

Latino Conservation Week was in full swing, with 330 events across the U.S. and 90 in California alone.

The 11th annual event ran through Sunday. The program is designed to draw people outside to enjoy public lands and work to protect the nation’s air, land, water and wildlife.

Jessica Godinez, Latino Conservation Week manager for the Hispanic Access Foundation, explained the goal of the week.

“It was established to break down different barriers of access that the Latino community faces when it comes to accessing public lands,” Godinez outlined. “And inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.”

Godinez pointed out her group is encouraging authorities to improve access to public lands by making them less expensive, easier to reach via public transportation, more wheelchair-friendly and more culturally relevant.

Godinez added the events also promote a variety of environmental causes.

“Here at Hispanic Access Foundation, we focus our conservation work on climate change, ocean conservation, waterways and rivers and public lands,” Godinez noted. “We try to amplify and elevate the voices of our community.”

Latino Conservation Week was moved from July to September this year because of a record-breaking heat wave that gripped the state over the summer. The programming includes group hikes and other outdoor recreational opportunities, community film screenings and more.

New CA program helps health care grads afford tests and licensing

Tuesday, September 24, 2024 – California is facing a huge shortage of qualified health care workers, so the San Diego Community College District is stepping in to help recent grads afford professional testing and licensing.

The Ready2Work program reimburses health care students’ fees as soon as they take the test or apply for the certification or license.

Laurie Coskey, vice chancellor for development and entrepreneurship for the San Diego Community College District, said they are responding to the needs of the marketplace.

“There is a big shortage in registered nurses, the radiology technicians, phlebotomy, information management assistants, dental assistants, vet techs,” Coskey outlined. “They are in high demand.”

The fees average about $500 and reimbursements range from $240 up to $1,200, mostly covered by foundations, private donors and some public funds. Health care students automatically qualify at San Diego City College, Mesa College, Miramar College and the College of Continuing Education.

Coskey noted many students struggle financially and have families to support, so without the reimbursement, they would have to work and save for up to six months after graduation to cover the fees.

“The sooner our students take their tests from finishing the program, the more likelihood is that they will pass the test and get right into work,” Coskey emphasized. “Our students are very excited.”

Hundreds have benefited so far, with about $385,000 expected to help about 1,000 additional graduates this school year.
Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.

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Court Orders López Obrador to remove publication of judicial reform

by El Reportero‘s wire services

The court responsible for the ruling stated that government institutions must comply with the order and respect the independence of the judicial system

Judge Nancy Juárez Salas, based in the Mexican state of Veracruz, ordered President Andrés Manuel López Obrador on Tuesday to remove the publication of the judicial reform that appeared on September 15 in the Official Journal of the Federation (DOF), having accepted the definitive suspension of the amparo filed by judicial workers against the discussion, approval, and promulgation of the initiative promoted by the president.

“In this case, it is considered that granting the measure does not affect the social interest or public order provisions, as while society is interested in ensuring that legislative procedures do not stop, there is also a special interest in ensuring that the processes for amending the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States adhere to human rights standards and maintain the fundamental bases that uphold the principles of a norm of this nature,” part of the ruling cited by El Universal states.

According to Juárez Salas, “judicial independence and a justice system free from coercion is a guarantee for society,” which is why “all governmental and other institutions will respect and comply with the independence of the judiciary,” pointing to the mandatory nature of the ruling.

Similarly, in the judge’s view, the publication of the reform in the DOF does not prevent a decision in favor of the complainants; rather, it allows for the administration of justice in favor of the social interest and restores the rights of the claimants, provided there are no legal impediments.

In mid-September, López Obrador promulgated a controversial judicial reform amid criticism from experts and protests from judicial workers, following expedited debates in both chambers of Congress and ratification in most state legislatures.

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The urgent need for more metered parking meters and lots in San Francisco

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Marvin Ramírez, editor

San Francisco, with its rich cultural diversity and vibrant economy, faces a growing challenge that threatens both its residents and merchants: a shortage of parking. In particular, District 9, which encompasses key areas such as Valencia and Mission streets, has become a flashpoint in this debate. The lack of metered parking lots not only affects the convenience of visitors, but also hurts small merchants who rely on a steady stream of customers.

Businesses in the area, many of which are owned by local entrepreneurs, are plagued by the difficulty of access. Customers who want to visit these shops, restaurants, and cafes often encounter the frustrating reality of not finding a place to park. This situation, which is exacerbated by the lack of parking meters, discourages visits and reduces sales. Merchants, mostly small business owners, cannot afford to lose potential customers over a problem that is in the hands of the city to solve.

As the elections for mayor and supervisors in Districts 9 and 11 approach, it is crucial that candidates acknowledge and address this issue. Voters deserve to know that those seeking to fill these positions of responsibility are committed to implementing effective solutions to improve the parking situation. This includes the creation of more metered parking lots, which would not only facilitate access to businesses, but would also generate revenue for the city.

Implementing parking meters in strategic areas could incentivize customers to visit local stores, increasing vehicle turnover and, therefore, the number of consumers who can access services. In addition, a well-designed parking meter system can contribute to more efficient management of public space, allowing more people to access the places they want to visit.

Of course, creating more parking meters must be part of a broader plan that considers urban mobility. It is not just about adding more parking spaces, but about integrating them into a transportation system that is accessible, sustainable, and equitable. This includes improving infrastructure for bicycles and pedestrians, as well as encouraging the use of public transport. The synergy between these elements can transform the way residents and visitors move around the city, benefiting the community as a whole.

In addition, it is essential that studies be carried out on the economic impact of the lack of parking in the area. This data can be used to persuade politicians of the need to prioritize this issue on their agenda. Small merchants are the heart of the local economy, and their success should be a priority for any administration that prides itself on being sensitive to the needs of its community.

Finally, it is important for residents and merchants to get involved in the political process. They must make themselves heard, expressing the urgency of this problem to their representatives. Community meetings, forums and social media are valuable platforms where these concerns can be expressed. If citizens mobilize and demand change, candidates are more likely to take creating more metered parking lots seriously.

In conclusion, the parking shortage in San Francisco’s District 9, especially on Valencia and Mission streets, is not just an inconvenience; it is an obstacle to the growth of the local economy. Politicians who aspire to lead the city must commit to addressing this issue and propose concrete solutions. The creation of more metered parking lots will not only benefit merchants and customers, but will also help revitalize one of San Francisco’s most iconic areas. Action is urgent; the future of our small businesses depends on it.

So far, El Reportero has not identified any candidate who is calling for the creation of more parking, and it seems that they look the other way when the subject is brought up, since perhaps their mission is to feed the greedy ogre called government through fines to drivers. And it also seems as if drivers have become targets for extortion to extract money, through the continuous disappearance of parking meters. – Vale, Marvin Ramírez.

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New book explains why the Catholic Church has always opposed the sin of usury

In a new book titled ‘Something For Nothing,’ author David Hunt breaks down the pernicious, and practically ubiquitous, rise of usury in our modern culture, and why the Catholic Church always stood against the sinful and destructive practice of interest-making lending

by Frank Wright

“Radix malorum est cupiditas,” reads the first letter of St. Paul to Timothy as translated in St. Jerome’s Vulgate. The full quote, often translated as “the love of money is the root of all evil,” is a theme renewed in this latest account of financial wickedness from Os Justi Press.

The book, like the memorable quote, delivers far more on examination than is offered at first glance. In Something For Nothing, author David Hunt gives the reader a whirlwind tour of Catholic teaching, Roman Law, Aristotelian logic and the pronouncements of past popes to show precisely how the treasure of the Church lies not only in the salvation of souls, but in the power of its teaching to deliver us from evil today.

The evil here, of course, is usury – commonly understood in the modern world as the charging of interest on loans. Hunt shows how and why this is not a total understanding of the sin of demanding “something for nothing,” with an analysis so complete and clear as to commend him as a future minister of finance for a Catholic state.

Yet his book has an explanatory power which reaches far beyond its subject. Though Hunt’s excellent formation in the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas lends his work the authority of an expert, its subject is rendered in a readable and digestible progression from the beginnings of the concept of usury to its present end.

If you read it, you will emerge from the experience with a better grasp of how the social reality you inhabit has been created, establishing obvious injustice and disorder as the basis of the new world order. In a startling conclusion, he reveals that the condition of modern man under usury is that of a slave. Careful to show his work, his answers are all the more arresting as they also happen to be true.

Hunt begins by noting the significance of the difference between things. His point is initially about goods which are consumed by use (like wine and food) and those which are not (money). This determines whether it is just or not to charge for them for having been used. In the modern world it is said to be just to apply a charge for the mere use of money – a price – whilst the sum initially loaned is also returned in full. This is the something for nothing of the title – that the money made in interest is gained by no fair exchange, and with no loss to the lender.

Here Hunt’s subject provides an illustration of the disordered spirit of our age.

The noting of basic differences between things said to be the same is the basis of the undermining of our reality generally. Hunt’s book will arm the reader with the Catholic formation to combat this assault on the real, and on the natural order ordained by God. At a time of civilizational crisis, Hunt’s is a book which demonstrates that the Catholic Church has the answers.

It is the sort of book which teaches you how to think better about everything by examining one thing, and as such is a treasure in itself. Brief, at only 78 pages, it is sandwiched by a helpful glossary at the front, and informative appendices at the back, including the import of Roman law, the philosophy of Aristotle, the Summa of St. Thomas Aquinas, the Council of Vienne, and those of Popes Callistus III, Leo X, Pius V, Innocent XI, and Benedict XIV.

This sound basis in Catholic doctrine is partnered with a keen eye for the competing explanations of the counterfeit culture of the 20th century. Hunt’s treatment of British economist J.M. Keynes provides on page 40 one of the most succinct summaries of the crisis of our times.

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Keynes not only acknowledged but legitimized the wickedness of usury in a wider context of complete moral inversion, saying in 1963, “For at least another hundred years we must pretend to ourselves and to every one that fair is foul and foul is fair; for foul is useful and fair is not. Avarice and usury and precaution must be our gods for a little longer still.”

Keynes was quoting Macbeth here, a fable of cupidity in which ambition and lust for power corrupts the natural order completely. Murder and madness are the result. Keynes was speaking in defense of the construction of a new liberal order, backed by useful “avarice and usury.”

We are sixty years into his century, and the result has been the production of a similar and predictable tragedy in our entire way of life.

Hunt demonstrates that the Church teaches it is unjust to charge for non-existent things. This could also apply to the promises of Liberal Utopianism more generally. From the “barren metal” of Aristotle and the excellent arguments of Hilaire Belloc, Hunt displays that the tradition of the Church has ample treasure to restore our civilization from the ruin caused by these reckless dreamers, which he notes has fallen victim to a simple fascination with novelty.

Hunt shows the poverty of the modern notion that “old” means “redundant,” and new always “improved,” against the charge that tradition can be discarded because it was of its time. He gives short shrift to the objection, made by libertarians and their Austrian economist heroes, that the rejection of usury was simply a mediaeval relic for which we moderns have no use. This is the same tactic used by philosophers more generally, as Hunt is aware, to get around the problem of Aquinas.

We have this new thing now, is the general idea. We have no need of this invincible wisdom we cannot counter. Hunt shows how this neophilia is simply a means of recasting old vices as refreshing innovations. The vice here that is made virtuous is not only the love of money, but the lengths to which men will go to make these new things seem a necessity. Here, of course, the work becomes a critique of the counterfeit culture intended to replace that founded by the Catholic Church.

St. Jerome’s original Latin, from the letter of St. Paul to Timothy, gives a more complete understanding of the nature of this particular evil.

“Radix enim omnium malorum est cupiditas quam quidam appetentes erraverunt a fide et inseruerunt se doloribus multis,” or “The root of all evil is cupidity, and men in pursuit of their appetite for greed have abandoned the faith, piercing themselves with many evils.”

Cupidity is the desire “for goods of any kind” – except the Good, which is of course God. Hunt’s book is a manual for those who wish to be delivered from the evil which animates our times.

In a system which replaces everything with nothing through commodified desire, it is vital to understand the financial crime which powers it.

Usury has bankrolled and normalized the creation of this counterfeit culture, depriving not only your cash, but the rest of your life of genuine value. To read Hunt’s brief and illuminating book is to examine the root and not merely the fruit of the counter-civilizational experiment we inhabit.

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Congress advances constitutional reform to put National Guard under military control

López Obrador sostiene que la Guardia Nacional debe estar bajo el control de los militares para evitar la corrupción y garantizar el profesionalismo de la fuerza. --López Obrador argues that the National Guard needs to be under the control of the military to prevent corruption and guarantee the force’s professionalism. (Margarito Pérez Retana/Cuartoscuro)

by Mexico News Daily

Lawmakers in Mexico’s lower house of Congress approved on Thursday a constitutional reform bill that seeks to place the National Guard (GN) under military control.

The bill will now be considered by the Senate, where the ruling Morena party and its allies are in a strong position to pass the reform proposal.

After a debate that lasted 16 hours, 362 deputies voted in favor of the GN reform proposal while 133 opposed it.

The two-thirds majority required to approve constitutional bills (334 votes) was easily reached.

A supermajority of deputies also approved the bill en lo particular — i.e. after the consideration of its individual articles.

The most controversial aspect of the bill is the provision to place the GN under the control of the National Defense Ministry (Sedena).

However, the bill seeks to modify a total of 12 articles of the Mexican Constitution. Among its aims are to define the GN as a professional public security force that is part of the military but whose members have police training, and to empower it to conduct investigations under the direction of the Federal Attorney General’s Office.

The GN was created by the current federal government as a civilian security force. It effectively replaced the Federal Police, which was disbanded in 2019.

In late 2022, the Congress approved a bill backed by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador that modified four secondary laws and paved the way for the GN to be placed under the control of the army.

However, the Supreme Court ruled in April 2023 that the transfer of control over the National Guard from the civilian Security Ministry to Sedena was unconstitutional, a decision that angered the president.

López Obrador, who argues that the National Guard needs to be under the control of the military to prevent corruption and guarantee the force’s professionalism, subsequently prepared a constitutional bill to once again give Sedena responsibility for the security force his administration created.

Opposition parties, government critics and some human rights organizations pointed to the transfer of control over the National Guard to the army in 2022 as another example of the militarization of Mexico that they say has occurred during the current government. Human Rights Watch has warned that the government’s militarized security policy risks facilitating abuses by security forces while failing to reduce violent crime.

Morena, the Labor Party (PT) and the Ecological Green Party of Mexico (PVEM) have a two-thirds majority in the Chamber of Deputies, allowing them to pass constitutional bills without the support of opposition lawmakers.

The allied parties are just one vote short of a supermajority in the Senate, but it appears likely that they will be able to reach the required threshold to pass the GN reform, as was the case last week with the controversial judicial reform proposal, which is now law.

The National Guard bill could be passed in the Senate as soon as next week, López Obrador’s final full week in office before Claudia Sheinbaum is sworn in as president on Oct. 1.

The GN reform debate in the lower house

Deputy Leonel Godoy, Morena’s deputy leader in the Chamber of Deputies, said that the constitutional bill makes it clear that the National Guard will have “military discipline” but a “police function.”

He stressed that any military personnel who become members of the GN “have the obligation” to first undergo police training.

Morena Deputy Dolores Padierna Luna asserted that the reform proposal will lead to the “rebirth of the National Guard as an institution of military origin,” while PT Deputy Pedro Vázquez said that the bill will enable the security force to pacify the country.

Opposition lawmakers argued that the transfer of responsibility for the GN to Sedena would only increase the militarization of Mexico.

National Action Party (PAN) Deputy Germán Martínez Cázares railed against President López Obrador, who has relied heavily on the military, using it for public security, infrastructure construction and a wide range of other tasks.

“No to militarization,” he said, adding that López Obrador has failed to bring peace to Mexico “as he promised.”

Martínez pointed out that there have been more murders during the current six-year term of government than during the presidencies of Enrique Peña Nieto (2012-18) and Felipe Calderón (2006-12).

López Obrador’s presidency has been “a six-year period of death, a six-year period of blood and a six-year period of militarization,” he said.

PAN Deputies Agustín Rodríguez and Miguel Ángel Monraz, and other opposition deputies, questioned why Morena lawmakers supported the militarization of public security now when they previously opposed it.

Before becoming president, López Obrador himself was opposed to the use of the armed forces for public security tasks.

“What a short memory [they have]” said Monraz.

Citizens Movement (MC) party deputies unfurled a giant banner in the Chamber of Deputies that read: “Mexico with justice and peace. No to militarization.”

They also placed signs on their seats that read: “We want peace, not militarization.”

With reports from El Financiero, Milenio, La Jornada and Reforma.

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