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The PG&E Corporation Foundation will fund scholarships totaling $ 250,000 for college-bound students in California

40 local students from Northern and Central California will receive annual STEM “Better Together” scholarships

 

by PG and E corporate news

 

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced today that 40 students from cities in its service area will receive scholarships totaling $ 250,000 from the 2021 “Better Together” STEM Scholarship Program.

The PG&E Corporation Foundation funds the scholarships. This year the Foundation will fund 20 scholarships of $ 10,000 each and 20 scholarships of $ 2,500 each. The scholarships will be awarded to students pursuing a career in the disciplines of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). STEM education encourages ingenuity, creativity, and experimentation, leading to new ideas, innovations, and technological advancements that can have a global impact.

José Ochoa, from Mendota, attends the University of California, Berkeley.

“I am extremely honored to have been selected as a recipient of the PG&E STEM scholarship. Receiving this award encourages me to persevere, to make my family proud, and to break boundaries. I greatly appreciate your inspiring generosity. I hope one day to be able to do the same for the youth of the next generation, ”said Ochoa.

Scholarship winner Amirlan “Amy” Erdenedalai of Alameda is a sophomore at the University of California, Irvine, studying environmental engineering. Erdenedalai hopes to work in the field of hydrology to universally improve water quality and promote sustainability.

“When I first saw the email stating that I was one of the scholarship recipients, I was very excited and very happy. I was practically dancing in line to receive my school ID. Thanks to the very generous scholarship from PG&E, I will be the first in my family to study and graduate from a university in the United States. This scholarship further motivates me to value my college education and has given me the power to make my dreams and goals come true, ”Erdenedalai said.

Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, demonstrated participation, leadership in school and community activities, and financial need.

“Everyone at PG&E and The Foundation is focused on the future of California and supporting inclusive programs that serve the next generation of creators and innovators in STEM-based fields,” said Robert Kenney, PG & E’s senior vice president of regulatory and external affairs, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of The PG&E Corporation Foundation.

Winners must plan to enroll in full-time college study for the entire 2021-2022 academic year and work toward their first college degree at an accredited four-year institution in California.

We support local students

Since 2012 the STEM “Better Together” Scholarship Program has awarded more than $ 6.5 million to accomplished students based on a combined demonstration of community leadership, personal success, financial need, and academic achievement. These charitable donations will come from PG&E shareholders, not PG&E customers.

In addition to the STEM “Better Together” Scholarship Program, PG & E’s 10 employee resource groups (ERGs) and two employee resource groups (ENGs) award scholarships to help to offset the cost of higher education. The funds are raised entirely through employee donations, employee fundraising events, and the Community Campaign, the company’s employee giving program. Since 1989, more than $ 5 million in ERG scholarships have been awarded to thousands of recipients.

Request for Proposal – The Peralta Community College

Request for Proposal

 

The Peralta Community College District (PCCD) is requesting the submittal of Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) from qualified firms to provide CEQA Services for College of Alameda Science and Admin Project & Laney STEM Project (RFP No. 21 22/09).  SOQs and Proposals are to be submitted electronically (via Vendor Registry), by 2:00 PM, on November 2, 2021.

 

The District is asking experienced and proven firms to submit their qualifications and proposals to provide CEQA Consulting services for the District’s College of Alameda Science and Admin project and the STEM building at Laney College.

 

A Non-mandatory  Pre-Proposal conference will be held on October 19, 2021 at 10 AM via Zoom: Conference Meeting ID 952 5320 0064 pasword:831049.

 

https://cccconfer.zoom.us/j/92753200064?pwd=emlPSWlhb3RJNFZWYWU3dnlyelZXUT09

 

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

 

Copies of the pre-qualification documents may be obtained by clicking on the following link: https://build.peralta.edu/vendorregistry .

 

Governing Codes:

GC 53068

EC 81641

 

Publication Dates: October 8, 2021 and October 15, 2021

Peralta Community College District Request for Proposals

Request for Proposal

 

The Peralta Community College District (PCCD) is requesting the submittal of Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) from qualified firms to provide CEQA Services for College of Alameda Science and Admin Project & Laney STEM Project (RFP No. 21 22/09).  SOQs and Proposals are to be submitted electronically (via Vendor Registry), by 2:00 PM, on November 2, 2021.

The District is asking experienced and proven firms to submit their qualifications and proposals to provide CEQA Consulting services for the District’s College of Alameda Science and Admin project and the STEM building at Laney College.

Se llevará a cabo una conferencia de propuesta previa no obligatoria el 19 de octubre de 2021 a las 10 a.m. a través de Zoom:

A Non-mandatory  Pre-Proposal conference will be held on October 19, 2021 at 10 AM via Zoom: Conference Meeting ID 952 5320 0064 pasword:831049.

https://cccconfer.zoom.us/j/92753200064?pwd=emlPSWlhb3RJNFZWYWU3dnlyelZXUT09

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Copies of the pre-qualification documents may be obtained by clicking on the following link: https://build.peralta.edu/vendorregistry .

Governing Codes:

GC 53068

EC 81641

 

Publication Dates: October 8, 2021 and October 15, 2021

Song for César at Mill Valley Film Festival

Compiled by the El Reportero‘s staff

 

Abel Sánchez and LRI is proud to announce the Premier of Song for Cesar at the Mill Valley Film Festival.

LRI is proud to have been a sponsor in the making of this incredible documentary which weaves a story of the legacy of César Chávez and the FarmWorker movement that he and Dolores Huerta led.

It tells a compelling story of how music and the arts played an extremely important role in supporting the movement. Many of the artists featured in the film are part of the LRI family and we are proud to be part of this story.

Click on the link below for complete info;

https://www.mvff.com/song-for-cesar/

P.S. There will be a performance immediately following the screening at the Sweetwater Music Hall featuring some of the songs and artists featured in the film.

Friday, Oct 15, 6:30 p.m., CinéArts Sequoia; Saturday, Oct 16, 4:30 p.m., BAMPFA. Cover $14 Member | $16.50 General | $15 Senior | $8 Students & Youth (12 & Under)

 

Día de los Muertos in Oakland

The Oakland Día de Los Muertos Annual Festival is a free, outdoor festival that brings over 100,000 people to the vibrant, culturally-rich Fruitvale neighborhood to enjoy world-class live music, family-friendly games, rides and activities, traditional Latin American artisans, and the stunning altar artistic installations created by community members paying homage to Los Muertos. The Día de los Muertos Festival was inducted into the U.S. Library of Congress by Congresswoman Barbara Lee as a “Local Legacy.”

In honor of our 26th Anniversary, and to mark the tumult caused by the pandemic, we are guided by the festival theme of Curando Corazones (Healing Hearts) to create a physical space where people can safely gather and hone in art and culture as tools for community healing. For this reason, the festival will resume in-person activities at a smaller scale, highlighting the ofrendas, Danza Azteca, and low-riders which are all vital elements of the celebration.

The Fruitvale District in Oakland, a predominately Latin area, is one of the three zip codes hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic in Alameda County. This year more than ever before, it’s critical to create a space for grieving Latin communities to practice indigenous rituals to heal from pandemic losses. In Oakland November 1, 2021.

14 Health benefits of garlic, a flavorful superfood

by Joanne Washburn

 

11/23/2021 – Garlic is one of the most popular spices used in cuisines around the globe. It is also known for its impressive health benefits.

Here are 14 reasons to love garlic, including a few tips on how to incorporate it into your daily diet.

– Relieves cold symptoms – Garlic can relieve symptoms of the common cold pretty quickly. It can also lower your risk of catching a cold in the first place. One study found that people who took a garlic tablet every day for three months had fewer bouts of the cold than those who took a placebo.

– Lowers blood pressure – Garlic stimulates the natural production of nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide helps relax blood vessels for better blood flow and lower blood pressure.

– Lowers cholesterol – Garlic may also lower blood cholesterol levels by decreasing the production of cholesterol in the liver. A recent review showed that taking garlic supplements helped decrease total cholesterol and “bad” cholesterol levels – two risk factors for heart disease.

– May prevent dementia – Unstable molecules called free radicals can cause oxidative stress, which can play a huge role in dementia and diseases characterized by dementia. Dementia isn’t a specific disease but a broad term used to describe symptoms that affect memory and thinking. Fortunately, studies show that aged garlic extract has antioxidant properties that can help lower the risk of dementia.

– Aids in detoxification – Eating foods contaminated with heavy metals like lead can damage your liver, kidneys and other vital organs. Luckily, garlic has sulfur-containing compounds that can help reduce blood lead levels. They may also prevent signs of toxicity, such as headaches and high blood pressure.

– Heals wounds – Natural healers have long used garlic to treat wounds and prevent infections. For fast healing, apply a poultice made from crushed garlic cloves on your wound. Change it regularly and continue using it until your wound visibly improves.

– Maintains strong bones – Garlic helps increase estrogen, the major sex hormone in women. Estrogen plays a key role in the growth and maturation of bones.

– Improves digestion – Eating garlic every day as part of a balanced diet may help ease diarrhea, colitis, intestinal gas and other gastrointestinal issues. Garlic can also get rid of harmful bacteria in your gut.

– Regulates blood sugar – According to a study published in the Journal of Nutrition, eating raw garlic cloves may reduce blood sugar levels. As such, people with high blood sugar may greatly benefit from adding garlic to their diet.

– Boosts immunity – Garlic has antiviral properties and could block the entry of viruses into healthy cells as well as promote a strong immune response to fight off invaders.

– Maintains good vision – Garlic is rich in nutrients that support optimal eye health and good vision, such as selenium and vitamin C. Quercetin, a powerful antioxidant in garlic, also helps protect the eyes from inflammation and infection.

– May prevent acne – Garlic’s antibacterial properties come in handy for blocking the onset of acne. It is best used alongside other acne-fighting ingredients, such as raw honey and turmeric, for acne prevention. Additionally, garlic helps protect the skin from the harmful effects of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays.

– Aids in weight loss – According to some animal studies, garlic can stimulate the body to burn more fat and “turn off” some of the genes involved in the formation of fat cells. May prevent fatty liver – Garlic contains a sulfur-containing compound called S-allyl-mercaptocysteine (SAMC), which helps prevent nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. It may also lower the risk of injury or damage to the liver.

871 Firefighters File Intent to Sue Over LA City’s COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate

Cameron Richards, a probationary firefighter, leaves a fire truck in a morning training of the LAFD Station No9 team at Skid Row on April 12, 2020 in downtown Los Angeles, California. - One of the busiest fire station in the country , LA Fire Station 9 is on the front lines of California's homeless crisis e Coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Apu GOMES / AFP) (Photo by APU GOMES/AFP via Getty Images)

by Mimi Nguyen Ly

 

Hundreds of firefighters in Los Angeles have filed a notice of intent to sue the city over its public employee vaccine mandate.

The notice (pdf), filed on Oct. 7, said that the 871 firefighters is seeking $2.5 million each in damages.

“The claims will be filed in Superior Court as an unlimited civil case pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure,” Kevin McBride, attorney for the firefighters, wrote in the notice.

The L.A. city council in August issued an ordinance (pdf) requiring all city employees to have had a second dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine, or a dose of the single-dose COVID19 vaccine by Oct. 5, unless they have a medical or religious exemption.

“The city’s goal is to have a vaccinated workforce. As such, employees will not have the option to ‘opt out’ of getting vaccinated and become subject to weekly testing,” the ordinance reads. The mayor’s office announced that exempt, unvaccinated employees would still be required to do regular testing for COVID-19.

McBride said in the notice of intent, citing orders given to the firefighters from the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), that those not exempt or fully vaccinated by the “hard deadline” of Oct. 20 will be sent home for five days without pay, and if they still decide not to take the vaccine after another five days, their employment will be terminated.

The attorney wrote that the vaccination order is “blatantly wrongful conduct,” citing several reasons including: interference with employment rights; infliction of emotional distress; violation of constitutional privacy rights; and violation of protection of human subjects in the medical experimentation act.

The plaintiffs are members of the United Firefighters of Los Angeles (UFLAC). The union stated its position in an Oct. 4 bulletin, “[T]he city cannot impose any consequences relevant to the October 5 deadline” to be vaccinated for COVID-19, adding that the city’s ordinance “does not provide for any consequence, and any intended discipline must first be bargained with UFLAC.”

“Further, the city has not provided any notice to UFLAC that it intends to discipline employees for not meeting the October 5 deadline,” it added.

The city has 45 days to evaluate the document, after which the suit is going to be filed immediately, reported The New York Times.

L.A. City Attorney Mike Feuer said in a statement to KTLA, “The U.S. Supreme Court and courts across the country have upheld vaccine mandates … I’m confident we will prevail.”

Those who intend to sue the city comprise about one in four of the city’s firefighters. According to the website of the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), it has 3,435 fire personnel.

Stranded expats find a solution as government hands out residency cards

A status regularization program has helped some foreigners stay in the country during COVID

 

by Rose Egelhoff

 

What would you do if you could not go home? That was the question many foreigners in Mexico faced during the pandemic, as some borders closed and others imposed expensive quarantine restrictions.

For incoming Americans and Canadians, getting a visitor’s permit to enter Mexico can be as easy as buying a flight or making a quick stop at the border. But when it comes to extending their stay, the same Americans, Canadians and others foreigners ordinarily have to leave the country, which can be difficult during a pandemic.

Luckily, in light of COVID-19, the Mexican government opened up a special status regularization program for foreigners. Under the standard process of applying for residency, the first of several steps occurs at a Mexican consulate in the applicant’s home country.

Under the special regularization program, travelers with expired visitor’s permits could obtain four-year temporary residency without leaving the country — a lifeline for many stranded expats. That together with a national-level effort at the National Immigration Institute (INM) to streamline and digitize the immigration process appears to have led to a vastly improved experience for many seeking to regularize their status.

One such stranded expat was Jen, a Canadian art dealer who fell in love with Mexico and now sells Mexican folk art online. She asked that her last name be withheld to speak openly about being in Mexico without proper documentation. Jen arrived in October of 2019, but had trouble leaving the country before her visitor’s permit expired.

“My visa originally expired in April but my flight was canceled and so my lawyer got me a one month visa extension and then because my flight was still canceled, she got me another extension till January. At that point in time they said not to really worry about it, just pay the fine when you leave the country,” she said.

Then she heard about a visa program available in Querétaro, which allowed certain foreigners to replace their expired Forma Migratoria Múltiple, the visitor’s permit also known as an FMM, with a four-year temporary residency card.

“When this whole program started, I was actually really sketched out … it sounded too good to be true,” Jen said.

She was particularly worried by rumors of deportations and increased immigration enforcement, since she had all her belongings with her in Mexico and hoped to stay in the country. To be safe, she waited three months, until April of this year, without hearing any reports of negative experiences with the visa program.

“So at that point I felt a little more safe going and doing this, but it was a risk,” she said. “I went to the bank that morning and paid [the National Immigration Institute] over 13,000 pesos, not knowing whether I actually going to get approved or not.”

Luckily for Jen, her application went smoothly. With limited travel options for returning to Canada, she was granted four-year temporary residency and later successfully applied for permission to work. She said her application was easy; she only had to wait half a day at the immigration office to get her residency card.

John, a Mazatlán-based Canadian, has been in Mexico for several years, and also struggled to return home as his FMM expired during the pandemic. Like Jen, John asked that his full name be withheld to openly discuss being in Mexico with an expired permit.

“It is definitely hard to get back to Canada right now. There are no direct flights. There is a lot of travel time to get back to my city,” he said, adding that Canada’s hotel quarantine policy for returning citizens could cost up to CAD $2,000, prohibitively expensive for many. The quarantine policy has been amended since John received residency, and travelers who have been fully vaccinated with an approved vaccine are now exempt.

John heard about the immigration regularization program on Facebook.

“I love living here so I decided to check it out,” he said. “My experience with the immigration institute was great. The whole process took only 3.5 hours so I feel very lucky.”

Guy Courchesne, the director of Teachers Latin America, works on immigration issues as part of his business recruiting foreign teachers. He said he first heard about the pandemic regularization program in February, but that it was not the first time the Mexican government had instituted such a policy.

“This is something they do every five years …”Courchesne said. “It’s a way to put amnesty out for all the people who are here illegally. [It’s] usually aimed at Central Americans more than anything else, but this year was the COVID twist. We were seeing, for example, Americans, Canadians, a lot of Australians because they are stuck, Europeans coming in to make use of it. That’s what’s a little bit different about it.”

Availability of the program seems to vary between locations, with some immigration offices not offering the program to people whose home countries have open borders and flights available. In other places, applicants report being quickly approved.

Courchesne said the most common program applicants were Canadians and Australians. Canadians faced a required two-week hotel quarantine, on their own dollar, and Australia had implemented caps on the number of flights into the country, making it difficult for some of their citizens to return.

Courchesne and other immigration consultants said the greatest challenges for visitors seeking to access the pandemic regularization program were the language barrier and bureaucracy. Though the INM has begun to digitize many of its processes, leading to faster processing times, Mexican bureaucracy still functions differently than what many foreigners are used to in their home countries. And navigating such a system in a foreign language complicates an already byzantine process.

Group Mission Varrio Project group and much more to happen – see below

Compiled by the El Reportero‘s staff

 

— Do you want to listen and dance with quality salsa and jazz music, come enjoy the music of Danilo y Grupo Universal. Every first Saturday of each month, from 6-9 p.m. at Bambino’s, 301 Georgia Street, #112, Vallejo, California.

Danilo will also play on Sunday, Oct. 3, from 3 to 6 p.m., at 5614 Bay Street, in Emeryville, CA. Free Salsa dance lesson! Live Salsa, Merengue, Cumbia, Reggaeton!

San Francisco City Administrator’s office launches inaugural small business summit on Oct 5-6 

Help businesses learn how the City procures goods and services, where to find upcoming opportunities, and about compliance requirements for suppliers.

Securing opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco is a complex process that can be difficult for small businesses to navigate. That’s why City Administrator Carmen Chu is hosting the Small Business Summit, the first of its kind holistic review of doing business with the City for local small businesses and suppliers. The Summit will feature tailored technical assistance workshops, including responding effectively to solicitations and how to become a certified Local Business Enterprise (LBE).

Join SF Board of Supervisors President Shamann Walton and City Administrator Carmen Chu to kick-off this inaugural two-day summit and encourage and support local businesses to do business with the City.

Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021, 9:30 a.m. Virtual event – please register at sf.gov/2021bizsummit. For info contact Vivian Po, 510-367-8870, vivian.po@sfgov.org

 

Live children’s storytimes are back and in the Parks

After more than a year on hiatus, live storytimes return to San Francisco in the safety of an outdoor setting. Tuesday marks the relaunch of SFPL’s highly popular Swing Into Stories, an outdoor program of storytimes and bookmobile service in the parks.

The storytime will feature picture book readalouds, song, fingerplays and a whole lot of fun. The vibrant YouthMobile, the City’s only kid-focused bookmobile, will be open for browsing. The return of Swing Into Stories will take place at Garfield and Hilltop playgrounds.

Storytimes are one of San Francisco Public Library’s most beloved offerings for families. Since the pause of in-person programs in March 2020, SFPL’s storytimes were launched virtually on Facebook and YouTube and gained thousands of views, signifying the need and desire for this service.

Tuesday, Oct. 5, 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Storytime begins at 10:30 a.m., Garfield Playground, Treat & 26th Streets.

Ongoing dates and locations of Swing Into Stories: Garfield Playground, 1st Tuesday of the month, at Treat & 26th Streets’

Hilltop Park, 3rd Tuesday of the month at Newcomb Ave & Whitney Young Circle

More sites to be announced

For questions or for general inquiries, call the Mobile Outreach office number, (415) 554-9081.

 

Yerba Buena Gardens Festival is in San Francisco, California

San Francisco Literary Festival — Litquake is back!! We are so thrilled this SF-rooted cultural experience is happening! The literary extravaganza will feature work from some of the Bay Area’s most talented writers and creators. YBG Festival is hosting the in-person events on Oct. 16 and 17! With Isabel Allende and Jaime Cortez.

Register and find out more at litquake.org

Litquake 2021 • October 7th – 23rd • 80+ Events · 300+ Authors • In-Person & Online

FREE • OUTDOORS • FRESH

 

Group Mission Varrio Project

Come join us for food, wine and live music. We will be serving One personal size pizza and two complimentary glasses of wine. Music by MVP aka Mission Varrio Project will debut after being in hiatus for five years.

Though MVP hasn’t been performing live they have been keeping busy in the studio, writting new original material for the world to hear. They will be performing a mix repertoire of songs from their older and newer releases, Soul Criollo, Urban Gentrification, 21 Reasons, and their two singles Menéalo and Escape From Havana.

At A Silvestri Co., 2629 Bayshore Blvd, SF, 4 – 7 p.m. on Oct. 15.

Want a little super flavor of progressive Jazz – Walter Earl Group has it!

 

More music:

Salsa By The Bay Rooftop Rumba Fleet Week Edition

We are very excited for this awesome space at the Westfield as we create an amazing experience on ton their rooftop!!
Some of the Best Views of our Famous San Francisco Skyline.

Dj Walt Digz, Dj Tony O, Dj Pablo

This is a limited capacity event! Buy your pre-sales now to assure entry.
Reserve a table for this amazing party!

We highly recommend parking in the huge lot behind the Westfield on Mission st. But if you find parking elsewhere go for it.

Westfield Mall Sky Terrace – Saturday Oct. 10 from 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. Blue Angels Air Show / 3 p.m. – 4 p.m.

835 Market Street,9th Floor,San Francisco,94103,US

 

 

 

 

 

Mexico recovers letter from Hernán Cortés and manuscripts from the 16th century

Shared from / by Mexico Desconocido

 

These are historical documents of “incalculable value”, which after their theft in Mexico appeared in numerous art galleries and auction houses, according to the authorities.

Mexico recovered this Thursday in New York several archaeological objects and historical documents from the 16th century, among which is a letter from Hernán Cortés and a decree from Queen Isabel, which were described by Chancellor Marcelo Ebrard as “very old and very important for the history of Mexico”.

Historic documents from the 16th century, including Letter from Hernán Cortés, recovered by the New York Attorney General’s office and Home Land Investigations. Today they surrendered to the Secretary of Foreign Relations and were placed in the custody of our consulate to be transferred to Mexico City,” Ebrard wrote on his Twitter profile.

Ebrard accompanied his message with a short video in which the texts are shown; In it, there are also several archaeological objects and figures that had been stolen from the National Archive of Mexico and sold illegally.

The assistant district attorney for the New York district of Manhattan, Nitin Savur, who was in charge of delivering the objects to the Mexican Republic, described Hernán Cortés as an “infamous Spanish conqueror.”

Today, a week after Mexico’s Independence Day, we have the honor of returning 15 pieces associated with the infamous Spanish conqueror Hernán Cortés to the people of Mexico, including a royal decree signed by the Queen of Spain in 1529 authorizing the return of Cortés. to the colonies, “said Nitin Savur, quoted in a statement.

Pieces of ‘incalculable’ value

According to the New York prosecutor’s office, these are archaeological documents and pieces from a collection “of incalculable value” that, after their theft in Mexico, appeared in numerous art galleries and auction houses.

Savur pointed out that his recovery was the result of efforts between the United States’ Antiquities Trafficking Unit and Mexican authorities.

These emblematic elements of the cultural heritage show the evolution of the Spanish state in Latin America and the roots of the Mexican identity; they return home, where they will be studied for generations to come,” stressed the assistant prosecutor.

Mexico sought the recovery of the manuscripts for more than a year

In September, a New York auction house put a rare treasure up for sale: a five-century-old letter revealing a political intrigue involving Hernán Cortés, the famous leader of the Spanish force that conquered what is today. Mexico.

Cortés’s papers rarely make it to the market. The 1521 document, offered by Swann Galleries, was expected to fetch between $ 20,000 and $ 30,000. It was going to be that way, until an intrepid group of academics from Mexico and Spain helped thwart the sale.

Note originally published in High Level.

Accounting critic says biggest problem facing Social Security, Medicare is trillions in unfunded debts

A sign is seen outside a US Social Security Administration building, November 5, 2020, in Burbank, California. (Photo by VALERIE MACON / AFP) (Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)

by Mark Tapscott

Shared from/by The Epoch Times

Sept. 2, 2021

 

Social Security and Medicare trust funds are in dire financial condition due to rising benefit costs, but the biggest problem facing the two largest federal entitlement programs is how they’re funded, according to a nonprofit that advocates greater government transparency and accountability.

“Our bottom line is the trust funds are all a shell game, there is no money in the trust funds. As [former U.S. Comptroller-General] David Walker says, trust funds have no funds and should be distrusted,” Truth in Accounting (TIA) President Sheila Weinberg told The Epoch Times on Sept. 2.

Weinberg was referring to the fact that the trust funds receive what are in effect IOUs from the Treasury Department that are called “securities”—promises to pay a specified amount at a future date.

On Social Security, for example, the government pays interest on the securities, generally about 2 percent, and the total value of the securities is presently just less than $3 trillion. Securities are paid out of general revenues when they come due.

“We would also highlight the massive underfunding. Social Security is underfunded by $40 trillion, Medicare by $55 trillion. This represents the amount of money the government has promised in benefits, and they have no idea where they are going to get the money to pay for those promises,” Weinberg said.

The official U.S. national debt is $29 trillion, but Weinberg’s group maintains that the true amount is more than $133 trillion when the costs of benefits such as those promised by Social Security and Medicare are included in the calculation, according to the Chicago-based TIA.

Private sector pension plans are required by federal law to account for future benefits and to properly fund them. But the federal government doesn’t follow the same law for its own pensions.

Medicare has the largest unfunded benefits total at $55 trillion, followed by Social Security at $40 trillion, and government employee and retiree pensions such as the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) at $9 trillion. The official public debt and assorted other federal liabilities such as loan guarantees make up the balance.

Trustee reports made public earlier this week show that the Medicare trust fund that pays for hospitalization is due to reach insolvency in 2026, while the Social Security trust fund will reach that point in 2033, barring major reforms in how the two programs are funded and pay benefits.

Weinberg is far from alone in pointing to the unfunded debts of Social Security and Medicare.

“Yesterday’s reports on the financial status of various Medicare and Social Security trust funds once again identify unsustainable benefit promises in Medicare and Social Security programs,” Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) said in a statement on Sept. 1.

“The Hospital Insurance trust fund is projected to be exhausted around 2026; there are $60 trillion of unfunded liabilities in Social Security programs; and unfunded liabilities increased by trillions of dollars over the last year alone.”

Differences in unfunded liabilities calculations are typically due to differences in the number of years covered, how future benefits are estimated, and differences in demographic assumptions.

“While bipartisan efforts are necessary to make needed changes to address Medicare and Social Security long-term financial challenges, most Democrats want only to expand benefit promises further without generating sustainable trust fund solvency,” Crapo said.

“I agree with the report’s recommendation that ‘Congress and the executive branch work closely together with a sense of urgency to address these challenges,’ and urge bipartisanship and cooperation to do so.”

Crapo is the ranking minority member of the Senate Finance Committee, which would be a major player in any congressional or presidential initiative to reform the Social Security and Medicare trust funds.

President Joe Biden hasn’t offered any proposals to reform the funding underlying either Social Security or Medicare.

Congressional correspondent Mark Tapscott may be contacted at mark.tapscott@epochtimes.nyc. Follow him on Twitter at @mtapscott and on Parler at @Mtapscott.

 

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