AL DÍA NEWS April 5 - 12, 2023

THE GODS OF MEXICO

FILMMAKER HELMUT DOSANTOS’ DOCUMENTARY ON MEXICO’S CULTURAL RICHNESS AND NATURAL DIVERSITY. El documental del cineasta Helmut Dosantos sobre la riqueza cultural y la diversidad natural mexicana.

Philanthropy’s

GREAT SOCIAL INVESTOR

The legacy of Alberto Ibargüen, the Latino who led the Knight Foundation for 18 years, comes into view after his resignation. El legado de Alberto Ibargüen, el latino que ha dirigido la Fundación Knight durante 18 años, empieza a entenderse mejor tras su dimisión.

By NIGEL THOMPSON

LEADERSHIP HOW TO ADDRESS THE HOMELESS CRISIS

Así se enfrenta la crisis de los sintecho

POLITICS

JEFF BROWN’S OUTSIDER ADVANTAGE?

¿Cuál es la diferencia de Jeff Brown?

CULTURE WAR AT THE FEET OF

ORDINARY PEOPLE

La guerra a los pies de la gente común

OP-ED CHANGE FROM THE POPULAR ECONOMY

El cambio desde la economía popular

EDITORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Hernán Guaracao

PRINT EDITOR

Fernando Millán

DEPUTY EDITORS

Nigel Thompson

Jensen Toussaint

Némesis Mora

WRITERS & CONTENT PRODUCERS

Manuel Herrera

Erika Ardila

Andrea Rodes

Sandra Ramírez Ortega

Kianni Figuereo

Alan Nuñez (Fellow)

Carlos Noguera (Fellow)

Jennifer Hernandez (Fellow)

Renata Kaminski (Fellow)

Emily Leopard-Davis (Fellow)

Eliot Olaya (Fellow)

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Juan Alba

DESIGN MANAGER

Maybeth Peralta

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Mónica Hernández

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Harrison Brink

Peter Fitzpatrick

Alexa Rochi

Juan B. Díaz

Juan David Cardona

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Silvia Otero Guaracao

SENIOR CONTRIBUTORS

Juan González (USA)

Eileen Truax (USA)

TRANSLATORS

María del Mar Agudelo

BUSINESS TEAM

GENERAL MANAGER

Martin Alfaro

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Alaitz Ruiz-Arteagoitia

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVES

Loreto Basoalto

Nicolas Haase

SENIOR TEAM

FOUNDER & CEO

Hernán Guaracao

GENERAL OFFICE MANAGER

Elizabeth Guaracao

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Cover

THE CONTRIBUTION TO A WELL-INFORMED SOCIETY

AS HEAD OF THE KNIGHT FOUNDATION, ALBERTO IBARGÜEN HAS SOUGHT TO PRESERVE THE POWER OF JOURNALISM.

POR 18 AÑOS, ALBERTO IBARGÜEN DIRIGIÓ LA FUNDACIÓN KNIGHT, DESDE DONDE BUSCÓ PRESERVAR EL PODER DEL PERIODISMO Y APOYAR A LAS ARTES.

By | Por: FERNANDO MILLÁN | AL DÍA News Print Editor

Journalism has changed in its dynamics since the flourishing of the Internet, the emergence of social networks and technological advances to transmit information. What has not changed are the principles of this craft.

Alberto Ibargüen has witnessed this evolution and has been a player of the efforts for an increasingly better informed society. He is 79 years old and announced two weeks ago that he will step down as president and CEO of the Knight Foundation.

“The digital transformation has pushed us to find new ways to sustain our democracy, and Alberto has provided us with the ideas to do just that”, says Francisco L. Borges, chairman of the foundation’s board.

Ibargüen was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where his parents met. Her mother was Puerto Rican and her father was Cuban. Her Cuban grandmother came to Philadelphia during the Great Depression and chose the city because of the recognition of its Catholic schools for her children. Her father came to Puerto Rico to work in a pharmaceutical company.

They lived in Puerto Rico for ten years and later settled in New Jersey. Alberto Ibargüen studied at Wesleyan University in Middletown and was the editor of The Wesleyan Argus, the oldest biweekly college newspaper in the United States, founded in 1868.

He graduated in 1966 and spent six years in the Peace Corps, working in Venezuela and Colombia. He then earned his law degree in Pennsylvania and worked as an attorney in Hartford, Connecticut. There he had the opportunity to be in charge of finance and administration at the Hartford Courant. He then spent eleven years at Newsday in New York, until he became editor of El Nuevo Herald, in Miami.

At the time, the publication was a Spanish-language supplement to the Miami Herald, but Ibargüen managed to turn it into an independent newspaper for South Florida and took on the challenge of the digital news revolution.

In 2005, Ibargüen was appointed to chair Knight Foundation, where he man-

ENGLISH ESPAÑOL

aged new ways to fund journalism, as well as the arts, technological innovation and community development.

“This was less of a charity and more of a social investment opportunity”, he told the Miami Herald. Precisely, that social investment depends on where the foundation has a presence. For example, in Philadelphia it has invested in public spaces. In the case of the arts, the archive of the Motown Museum in Detroit was digitized.

Of course, it also funds media and created the Knight Research Network to study trust in news and media in the United States. “As the digital public square continues to evolve, the challenges to an informed citizenry will intensify”, he has said.

THE GODS OF MEXICO

This issue also has a feature on Gods of Mexico, a documentary by filmmaker Helmut Dosantos, who toured 17 of Mexico’s 32 states to capture that country’s cultural richness and natural diversity.

In March it premiered at DCTV’s Firehouse Cinema in New York. And now in April, it will be part of the ABC Art Baja California program, in the Cinema section. z

El periodismo cambió en su dinámica desde el florecimiento de Internet, el surgimiento de las redes sociales y los avances tecnológicos para transmitir la información. Lo que no cambia son los principios de este oficio.

Alberto Ibargüen ha sido testigo de esa evolución y ha sido protagonista de los esfuerzos por una sociedad cada vez mejor informada. Tiene 79 años y anunció hace dos semanas que dejará de ser el presidente y director general de la Fundación Knight.

“La transformación digital nos ha empujado a encontrar nuevas formas de sostener nuestra democracia y Alberto nos ha proporcionado las ideas para hacer precisamente eso”, cuenta Francisco L. Borges, presidente del Consejo de la Fundación.

Ibargüen nació en San Juan de Puerto Rico, donde se conocieron sus papás. Su mamá era puertorriqueña y su papá, cubano. La abuela cubana llegó a Filadelfia durante la Gran Depresión y escogió esta ciudad por el reconocimiento que tenían sus escuelas católicas para que estudiaran sus hijos. Su papá llegó a Puerto Rico para trabajar en una farmacéutica.

En Puerto Rico vivieron diez años y después se establecieron en Nueva Jersey. Alberto Ibargüen estudió en Universidad Wesleyan de

Middletown y fue el editor de The Wesleyan Argus, el periódico universitario quincenal más antiguo de Estados Unidos, fundado en 1868.

Se graduó en 1966 y estuvo seis años en los Cuerpos de Paz, trabajando en Venezuela y Colombia. Después se licenció en Derecho en Pensilvania y trabajó como abogado a Hartford (Connecticut). Allí tuvo la oportunidad de estar a cargo de las finanzas y administración en el Hartford Courant. Después estuvo once años en el Newsday en Nueva York, hasta llegar a ser editor de El Nuevo Herald, en Miami.

Para ese momento, la publicación era un suplemento en español del Miami Herald, pero Ibargüen logró convertirlo en un diario independiente para el Sur de Florida y asumió el reto de la revolución digital de las noticias. En el 2005, Ibargüen fue nombrado para presidir Fundación Knight, desde donde gestionó nuevas formas para financiar al periodismo, así como el mundo de las artes, la innovación tecnológica y el desarrollo de comunidades.

“Esto era menos una organización benéfica y más una oportunidad de inversión social”, le contó al Miami Herald. Precisamente, esa inversión social depende del sitio donde tenga presencia la fundación. Por ejemplo, en Filadelfia ha invertido en espacios públicos. En el caso de las artes, se digitalizó el archivo del Museo Motown de Detroit.

Por supuesto, también financia medios de comunicación y creó la Red de Investigación Knight para estudiar la confianza en las noticias y en los medios en Estados Unidos. “A medida que la plaza pública digital siga evolucionando, los retos para una ciudadanía informada se intensificarán”, ha dicho.

LOS ‘DIOSES DE MÉXICO’

Esta edición también tiene un reportaje sobre Dioses de México, un documental del cineasta Helmut Dosantos, que recorrió 17 de los 32 estados mexicanos para captar la riqueza cultural y la diversidad natural de ese país.

En marzo se estrenó en el Cine Firehouse de DCTV de Nueva York. Y ahora en abril, será parte del programa de ABC Art Baja California, en la sección Cine. z

Alberto Ibargüen has made a significant contribution to journalism and media in the United States. courtesy of the Knight Foundation. Alberto Ibargüen ha hecho un aporte significativo al periodismo y a los medios de comunicación en Estados Unidos. Cortesía the Knight Foundation.

DANA SPAIN, A PHILANTHROPIC ACE

SHE’S BEEN COMMITTED TO HELPING THE MOST VULNERABLE, INCLUDING VETERANS AND THE UNHOUSED.

A LO LARGO DE SU CARRERA FILANTRÓPICA, SE HA COMPROMETIDO A AYUDAR A LOS MÁS VULNERABLES, INCLUIDOS LOS VETERANOS Y LAS PERSONAS SIN HOGAR.

By | Por: JENSEN TOUSSAINT | AL DÍA News Staff Writer

If there was ever such a thing as someone who was born to do something, Dana Spain might be the closest to it.

Given her family background, it’s almost like she was born to help others through philanthropy.

She is the daughter of the late Bernard Spain, the founder and retail visionary behind Spain’s Cards & Gifts and Dollar Express.

“My entrepreneurial spirit comes directly from my late father, who was a bootstrap kind of guy and really believed in the American dream of working hard, responsibility, and accountability,” said Spain during an interview with AL DIA.

It was also through her father that she learned the value of giving back, and it’s a venture she has implemented throughout her entire career.

AN ENTREPRENEUR AIDING THE MOST VULNERABLE

Upon developing her skills and experiences at her family business, Spain then began dabbling into her own business ventures.

Her first was as owner and chief operating officer of Philadelphia Style Magazine, and later the founder of consulting company, DLG Communications.

On the philanthropic side, Spain founded Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), the city’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to saving homeless and at-risk animals.

She ran the nonprofit for about 5 years before making a pivot into modular construction.

Spain also founded HAVEN Women, a nonprofit that offers shelter and transitional housing to homeless women veterans.

After seeing the impact and need of this endeavor, it led to the creation of Volumetric Building Companies, a global modular construction company.

“This really came about because the ladies from HAVEN were graduating the program,

Si alguna vez ha existido alguien que haya nacido para hacer algo, Dana Spain podría ser lo más parecido. Dados sus antecedentes familiares, es casi como si hubiera nacido para ayudar a los demás a través de la filantropía.

Es hija del difunto Bernard Spain, fundador y visionario de las tiendas Spain’s Cards & Gifts y Dollar Express.

“Mi espíritu emprendedor viene directamente de mi difunto padre, un tipo de iniciativa que creía en el sueño americano de trabajar duro, la responsabilidad y la rendición de cuentas”, dijo Spain en una entrevista con AL DÍA.

De su padre también aprendió el valor de devolver, una iniciativa que ha puesto en práctica a lo largo de toda su carrera.

AYUDA A LOS MÁS VULNERABLES

Tras desarrollar sus habilidades y experiencia en la empresa familiar, Spain empezó a incursionar en sus propios negocios. La primera fue como propietaria y directora de operaciones de Philadelphia Style Magazine y, más tarde, como fundadora de la consultora DLG Communications.

En el ámbito filantrópico, Spain fundó Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), organización sin ánimo de lucro líder de la ciudad dedicada a salvar animales sin hogar y en peligro. La dirigió durante cinco años, antes de dedicarse a la construcción modular.

Spain también fundó HAVEN Women, una organización sin ánimo de lucro que ofrece refugio y vivienda de transición a mujeres veteranas sin hogar.

Tras comprobar el impacto y la necesidad de dicha iniciativa, creó Volumetric Building Companies, una empresa global de construcción modular.

“Esto surgió porque las mujeres de HAVEN se graduaban del programa, listas para

Dana Spain is the founder of numerous organizations and nonprofits Courtesy Dana Spain es fundadora de numerosas organizaciones sin ánimo de lucro. Cortesía

There are over 582,000 people experiencing homelessness across the country.

Hay más de 582.000 personas sin hogar en el país.

POLITICS

“I’M A TARGET BECAUSE I’M LEADING”

JEFF BROWN IS ONE OF THE FEW NON FORMER POLITICIANS IN PHILLY’S MAYORAL RACE. IS IT AN ADVANTAGE?

JEFF BROWN ES UNO DE LOS POCOS SIN EXPERIENCIA EN EL GOBIERNO EN LA CARRERA POR LA ALCALDÍA DE FILADELFIA, PUNTO QUE VE COMO UNA VENTAJA.

By | Por: ALAN NUÑEZ | AL DÍA News Staff Writer

Jeff Brown says he knows what he was getting into when he decided to throw his hat in the ring for Philadelphia Mayor in 2023.

The founder and CEO of Brown’s Super Stores Inc. is one of two candidates — in a field of 11 — that has no prior government experience, but in a recent sit-down with AL DÍA, he said that gives him an advantage and painted himself a frontrunner in the Democratic race that will conclude on May 16.

A FRONTRUNNER?

That label and lack of experience has also made him a target of competition and press alike, but Brown appeared unphased when talking to AL DÍA.

“I’m a target because I’m leading, and all the polls show that I have quite a substantial lead over the rest of the candidates. What happens in a race like this, the leader gets attacked,” he said.

Brown also went on to counter his competitors’ accomplishments.

“They can’t stand up and say: ‘This is what I did for the citizens of Philadelphia,’ because they didn’t do much,” he added. “What they had to do instead is to try to diminish everyone else.”

But why is he running for mayor?

Brown said his experience as a business leader in the city gives him insight into how Philly runs. It’s also frustrated him as he said, his work’s been “limited” by previous mayors and city councils “to solve the kind of problems we’ve had in this city.”\

Jeff Brown dice que sabía dónde se metía cuando decidió lanzarse a la carrera por la Alcaldía de Filadelfia en el 2023. El fundador y consejero delegado de Brown’s Super Stores Inc. es uno de los dos candidatos, entre 11, que no tiene experiencia previa en el Gobierno. Pero en una entrevista con AL DÍA dijo que eso le da una ventaja y se pintó a sí mismo como favorito en la carrera demócrata que concluirá el 16 de mayo.

¿UN FAVORITO?

Esa etiqueta y la falta de experiencia también le han convertido en blanco de la competencia y de la prensa, pero Brown no pareció inmutarse al hablar con AL DÍA.

“Soy un objetivo porque todas las encuestas muestran que tengo una ventaja bastante sustancial sobre el resto de los candidatos. Lo que ocurre en una carrera como esta es que se ataca al líder”, dijo.

Brown también rebatió los logros de sus competidores. “No pueden levantarse y decir: ‘Esto es lo que he hecho por los ciudadanos de Filadelfia’ porque no han hecho gran cosa. Lo que han tenido que hacer en su lugar es intentar disminuir a todos los demás”, señaló.

¿Por qué se presenta a la Alcaldía? Según Brown, su experiencia como líder empresarial en la ciudad le da una idea de cómo funciona. A eso se suma su frustración frente a las limitaciones impuestas a su trabajo por los anteriores alcaldes y el Concejo “para resolver el tipo de problemas que hemos tenido en esta ciudad”.

ACABAR CON LA POBREZA GENERACIONAL

La prioridad de la lista de Brown es la pobreza, que, según dijo, está en la raíz de problemas mayores como la delincuencia.

En este sentido, el magnate de las tiendas tiene un plan de 11 puntos que incluye, entre

ESPAÑOL

Jeff Brown thinks Philadelphia needs a fresh perspective as Mayor — one that doesn’t come from its world of politics. Kianni Figuereo/AL DÍA News

Jeff Brown cree que Filadelfia necesita un alcalde con una mirada fresca, que no provenga del mundo de la política.. Kianni Figuereo/AL DÍA News

What happens in a race like this, the leader gets attacked. Lo que ocurre en una carrera como esta es que se ataca al líder

Jeff Brown

BREAKING DOWN GENERATIONAL POVERTY

At the top of Brown’s list is poverty, which he said is at the root of bigger issues like crime.

On that front, the grocer magnate has an 11-point plan that includes everything from addressing the police department’s staff shortage by bringing on 1,500 new officers, changing how they’re trained, investing in crime-stopping technology, and cracking down on guns and drugs, among other ideas.

“We need investments in forensics. We have about 1,700 violent offenders that are still roaming the street because we didn’t have the evidence to prosecute them,” said Brown. “And that’s a problem because those are the people that are killing our citizens.”

He is also a big proponent of doing more to support Black and Brown business in the city, which Brown believes will go a long way in reducing the generational poverty he cites as issue number one.

To spur more Black and Brown entrepreneurship, Brown suggested investing in three areas: First was to make it easier to open and operate a business in the city — Brown cited simplifying the paperwork and approval process as an example. Second was more technical assistance from the city for those just opening a business, and third providing more access to capital.

“We need more equity available either in grants, small micro grants to help people get their businesses started, or larger equity investments. The city should invest in a social equity fund that will help finance,” said Brown.

How will the city get more access to capital itself? Brown also suggested hiring a team of grant writers to send off applications to some national funds.

“I feel we need a bolder mayor that is going to push through the politics of things that tend not to like changes, that they have their own deals, their special interests and the things that aren’t necessarily helpful to the citizens,” Brown said.z

“Necesitamos más capital disponible, ya sea en forma de subvenciones, pequeñas microsubvenciones para ayudar a la gente a poner en marcha sus negocios, o inversiones de capital más grandes. La ciudad debería invertir en un fondo de capital social que permita financiar”, afirmó Brown.

¿Cómo conseguirá la ciudad por sí misma más acceso al capital? Sugirió contratar un equipo de redactores de subvenciones para enviar solicitudes a algunos fondos nacionales.

“Creo que necesitamos un alcalde más audaz, que se abra paso entre aquellos a quienes no les gustan los cambios, que tienen sus propios acuerdos y sus intereses puestos en cosas que no necesariamente son útiles para los ciudadanos”, dijo.z

I feel we need a bolder mayor that is going to push through the politics of things.

Creo que necesitamos un alcalde más audaz, que vaya a abrirse paso entre quienes no les gustan los cambios.

Jeff Brown

MUCH MORE THAN A TRAGIC FIRE

THE 39 KILLED AT A MIGRANT FACILITY IN CIUDAD JUAREZ IS A SLAP IN THE FACE OF THE POLITICS OF MIGRATION.

LA MUERTE DE 39 PERSONAS EN EL CENTRO DE INMIGRANTES EN CIUDAD JUÁREZ ES UNA BOFETADA A LA GESTIÓN MIGRATORIA DE EE. UU. EN SU FRONTERA SUR.

By | Por: ALAN NUÑEZ | AL DÍA News Staff Writer

The U.S.-Mexico border is a place where tragic stories are commonplace for those making their way to the U.S. for a better life. The stories detail the untenable conditions of one’s home country, the incessant dangers of their trek north through South and Central America, and sometimes the despair of detainment.

On Monday night, March 27, 2023 another of those tragedies played out as a fire broke out in the office of the National Migrant Institute in Ciudad Juárez. When put out, 39 migrants inside the facility were dead and 29 more were injured.

Almost all were migrants from either Guatemala, Venezuela, Honduras, or El Salvador.

In his daily press conference the next day on Tuesday, March 28, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador laid the blame for the tragedy on the migrants themselves for lighting the fire, but that reality belied a much deeper story of neglect and abuse often faced by migrants detained on their journeys north for a better life.

A POTENTIAL HOMICIDE

Later that day, surveillance video from the facility surfaced and showed guards at the center walk away from detainees behind bars as they became engulfed in black smoke that was emanating from their cell.

La frontera entre Estados Unidos y México es un lugar en el cual son habituales las historias trágicas de quienes buscan una vida mejor. Detallan las insostenibles condiciones de su país de origen, los incesantes peligros de su viaje hacia el norte, a través de Sudamérica y Centroamérica y, a veces, la desesperación de la detención.

En la noche del lunes 27 de marzo, se produjo otra de esas tragedias al declararse un incendio en la oficina del Instituto Nacional del Migrante en Ciudad Juárez. Cuando se apagó, 39 migrantes que se encontraban dentro de las instalaciones habían muerto y 29 estaban heridos. Casi todos procedían de Guatemala, Venezuela, Honduras o El Salvador.

En su conferencia de prensa diaria del día siguiente, el martes, el presidente mexicano Andrés Manuel López Obrador culpó de la tragedia a los propios migrantes por encender el fuego, pero esa realidad ocultaba una historia mucho más profunda de abandono y abusos a los que suelen enfrentarse los migrantes detenidos en su viaje hacia el norte.

UN POSIBLE HOMICIDIO

Más tarde, ese mismo día, salió a la luz un video de vigilancia de las instalaciones en el que se veía a los guardias del centro alejarse de los detenidos que se encontraban entre rejas, mientras estos se veían envueltos en un humo negro que salía de su celda.

ENGLISH ESPAÑOL

The fire at a Juárez migrant facility is the latest tragedy among a sea of them in the face of current immigration laws in the U.S. and Mexico. Gettyimages

El incendio en un centro de migrantes de Juárez es la última tragedia entre muchas otras, ante las actuales leyes migratorias de Estados Unidos y México. Gettyimages

On Wednesday, March 29, the investigation into the blaze was announced as a homicide probe and eight officials were identified as under investigation.

But the neglect isn’t something that’s just coming from the guards and officials tasked with overseeing the detainment of migrants. That path leads all the way to Washington D.C.

A HISTORY OF TRAGEDIES

President Joe Biden has accomplished a lot when it comes to COVID recovery, diversifying his cabinet and judicial bench, and infrastructure, to name a few. But there’s been nothing on immigration, and some advocates have argued Biden has done no better than his predecessor that outwardly antagonized immigrants, especially those from Latin America.

Bolstering that argument is Title 42, which remains in place despite multiple efforts from the Biden administration to end the policy that allows for quick deportations and forces asylum seekers to stay in Mexico before their applications are processed in the U.S.

The migrant facility in Juárez that caught fire this past week was a facility that housed many of those asylum seekers.

Ever since Biden took office, there has been an increase in migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border hoping for more humane treatment from the new administration. Republicans have used it to push the narrative of an “invasion” at the Southern border, but the reality closer to the truth is that the U.S.’s immigration system is wholly incapable of doing its job.

El miércoles, la investigación sobre el incendio se anunció como una investigación de homicidio, que señaló a ocho funcionarios.

Pero la negligencia no es algo que provenga solo de los guardias y funcionarios encargados de supervisar la detención de los migrantes. Ese camino lleva hasta Washington D.C.

UNA HISTORIA DE TRAGEDIAS

El presidente Joe Biden ha logrado mucho en lo que se refiere a la recuperación del covid, la diversificación de su gabinete y del estamento judicial y las infraestructuras, por nombrar algunas. Pero no ha hecho nada en materia de inmigración. Algunos defensores han argumentado que Biden no lo ha hecho mejor que su predecesor, que se enemistó abiertamente con los inmigrantes, en especial los latinoamericanos.

Para reforzar ese argumento, está el Título 42, que sigue en vigor a pesar de los múltiples esfuerzos del gobierno de Biden para poner fin a la política que permite deportaciones rápidas y obliga a los solicitantes de asilo a permanecer en México hasta que sus solicitudes sean procesadas en Estados Unidos. El centro de migrantes de Juárez albergaba a muchos de esos solicitantes de asilo.

Desde que Biden asumió el cargo, ha aumentado el número de migrantes que llegan a la frontera con la esperanza de recibir un trato más humano por parte de la nueva administración. Los republicanos lo han utilizado para impulsar la narrativa de una “invasión” en la frontera sur, pero la realidad más cercana a la verdad es que el sistema de inmigración de Estados Unidos es totalmente incapaz de hacer su trabajo.

The U.S. and Mexican governments have prioritized the deterrence, the criminalization, the militarization, the discrimination versus the well-being of those seeking protection.

Los gobiernos de Estados Unidos y México han priorizado la disuasión, la criminalización, la militarización y la discriminación frente al bienestar de quienes buscan protección.

Tania Guerrero

COVER STORY

Courtesy

Ibargüen’s

IMPRINT IS EVERLASTING

WHETHER IT’S JOURNALISM, TECHNOLOGY, OR THE ARTS, ALBERTO IBARGÜEN’S KNIGHT FOUNDATION ALWAYS HAD CREATIVE, IMPACTFUL SOLUTIONS.

YA SE TRATE DE PERIODISMO, TECNOLOGÍA O ARTES, LA FUNDACIÓN KNIGHT DE ALBERTO IBARGÜEN SIEMPRE HA APORTADO SOLUCIONES CREATIVAS Y DE GRAN IMPACTO.

On Friday, March 24, 2023, Alberto Ibargüen, one of the U.S.’s biggest leaders in philanthropy and journalism, stepped down from his longtime post as the president and CEO of the Knight Foundation.

At its core, the foundation’s mission was conceptualized by American newspaper titans John S. and James L. Knight, who “believed that a well-informed community could best determine its own true interests and they entrusted future generations of trustees to do just that.”

In 18 years, Ibargüen, now 79, navigated a world wholly different from his predecessors. It’s one where the digital reigns supreme — whether in his longtime home of the news industry, his more recent in philanthropy, or in the arts, which Ibargüen funded heavily during his time at Knight alongside technology itself.

He would often quote founder Jack Knight (John) when describing his own approach to leading the foundation and its efforts to preserve the power of journalism.

“The question in my mind is not how to save the traditional news industry, but how to meet the information needs of communities in a democracy so that the people might, as Jack Knight put it, ‘determine their own true interests,’” Ibargüen would say.

In other words, he had to innovate — constantly — with a knack for creativity and with an energy that many of his colleagues would say was unmatched in the whole world of philanthropy.

“He has been visionary,” said Francisco L. Borges, chair of the Knight Foundation board. “Digital transformation has pushed us to find new ways to sustain our democracy and Alberto has provided us with the insights to do just that.”

AN EARLY PHILLY INNOVATOR

Ibargüen’s innovative quality is something that’s followed him throughout his life.

The first recorded instance Ibargüen spoke of was to the Philadelphia Inquirer in 2017.

To make ends meet, Ibargüen, then a young law student at the University of Pennsylvania, would hawk newspapers on the corners West Philadelphia. His favorite spot? The corner of 47th and Springfield Avenue, where he would catch women in the middle of discussing the drama of their daily lives as they came out of services at Saint Francis De Sales Catholic Church.

“Oh my God, your son didn’t call you? What? Well here, buy the newspaper, console yourself reading the Bulletin and the Inquirer,” he said.

The son of a Puerto Rican mother and Cuban father, that innovation is also rooted in the partial immigrant history of his family.

His Cuban grandmother moved her four sons to Philadelphia from the island during the Great Depression — a time where everyone needed creativity and innovation to keep afloat. She chose the City of Brotherly Love for the good reputation of its catholic schools, and Ibargüen’s dad and uncles all attended West Catholic High School.

Ibargüen’s parents met while his dad worked for the pharmaceutical company

Sharpe & Dohme, which had its Caribbean headquarters in San Juan. It’s there, in 1944, where Ibargüen was born.

After ten years on the island, the family moved back to the U.S. mainland and Wyndmoor, PA in the Philly suburbs before finally settling in South Orange, New Jersey to better accommodate his dad’s transfer to New York.

Ibargüen would graduate from high school in New Jersey before attending Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut in 1962. While there, Ibargüen was editor of The Wesleyan Argus — the U.S.’s longest-running, twice-weekly college newspaper, founded in 1868.

After graduating in 1966, Ibargüen would spend six years in the Peace Corps on assignment in Venezuela’s Amazonian region before rising to become a supervisor in Bogotá, Colombia.

Following the worldly experience, Ibargüen returned to his family’s U.S. roots in West Philly and got a law degree from Penn.

FROM LAW TO THE NEWS

Eventually, his law career would take him back further Northeast to Hartford, Connecticut, where Ibargüen would be a legal aid lawyer for nine years.

It was also in Hartford, where Ibargüen would first join professional newsroom leadership, when he was hired as the senior vice president for finance and administration at the Times Mirror Company’s Hartford Courant.

He would later work for Newsday in New York City for 11 years before taking his first role at a Knight Ridder publication in Miami, as publisher of El Nuevo Herald.

INNOVATION AT EL NUEVO HERALD

Three years later, Ibargüen would elevate to become the publisher of the Miami Herald, El Nuevo Herald’s English-language sister publication.

There, in the Magic City, Ibargüen’s innovation would strike again.

It was 1998, and the world — newspapers included — was on the cusp of an Internet revolution that would change society and usher in the digital reality we all know today.

But Ibargüen still had one more print innovation in him for El Nuevo Herald.

For its entire 21-year existence up to that point, the Spanish-language publication was

Alberto Ibargüen was president and CEO of the Knight Foundation for the last 18 years before announcing his retirement on Friday, March 23, 2023. Courtesy of the Knight Foundation Alberto Ibargüen fue presidente y director general de la Fundación Knight durante los últimos 18 años, antes de anunciar su jubilación el viernes 23 de marzo del 2023 Cortesía the Knight Foundation

the Knight Foundation

a supplemental insert for the English-language Miami Herald. In 1998, Ibargüen led the expansion of that insert into a standalone daily publication that is published to this day and caters to South Florida’s ever-expanding Latino and Hispanic population.

In 2002, El Nuevo Herald won the Ortega y Gasset Award for being the best Spanish-language newspaper in the world.

Throughout his time at the Miami Herald, Ibargüen was confronted with the digital revolution of news, but had to navigate it as the daily news cycle churned out of the paper’s then-headquarters in Doral, Florida.

MAKING SOCIAL INVESTMENTS

In 2005, he would be tasked with facing it head-on, as Ibargüen was hired as the new president and CEO of the Knight Foundation. Like his prior post, the foundation is

based in Miami, but also operates in seven other U.S. cities where the Knight brothers made their fortune in news including: Akron, Ohio; Macon, Georgia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Philadelphia; Detroit; San Jose, California; and St. Paul, Minnesota.

Over the next 18 years, Ibargüen would find and explore ever-more creative ways to fund journalism in the new digital age, but also the arts, technology innovations and the city’s themselves in which Knight operated.

“My view from the beginning was that this was less a charity and more a social investment opportunity,” he told the Miami Herald in an interview after his retirement announcement.

“In a charity, traditionally, you make the grant and you walk away. You’ll be rewarded in heaven. That didn’t strike me as a way that the Knight brothers ran their business. They were thinking about this as a social investment. You look in the community, you see what the issues are. You decide which ones you can do some-

thing about, and which ones you might have some impact on — short or long-term. And then you focus on those.”

The way Knight has allocated that social investment in Ibargüen’s time at the helm depends on the community. For example, in Akron and Macon, the focus has been on revitalizing the downtowns of the historically Black cities. In Miami and Detroit, the focus has been on the arts and Philly has seen investment in public spaces — physically restructuring them or using new digital tools to make them more accessible.

When it comes to the arts, under Ibargüen’s watch, Knight has dished out $466 million since 2005 — or on average, one fifth of the foundation’s total annual funding goes to the arts. Two examples of the results there include the digitization of the Motown Museum archive in Detroit and O, Miami, the city’s biggest poetry festival, which is celebrated annually in April for National Poetry Month.

“When we invest in music and museums, in poetry and performances, we are investing in the connections — shared experiences — that help to build a sense of community in our pluralistic society,” Ibargüen said, “and it’s also just plain fun.”

NAVIGATING NEWS’ DIGITAL DECLINE

For journalists, in an age where information is abundant and trust is low, Ibargüen’s Knight Foundation has attacked the arising issues legally, entrepreneurially and academically.

In 2019, the foundation announced a commitment of $300 million over the next five years to fund scalable newsrooms with innovative, digital-first approaches to gathering and telling local news while promoting trust and media literacy.

That year also saw the creation of the Knight Research Network, created to study the changing trends of trust in American news.

“As the digital public square continues to evolve, the challenges to an informed citizenry will intensify, power will further consolidate, governments will exert global influence and political leaders will offer solutions that will range from prescient to disastrous,” Ibargüen said at a recent conference appearance. “The need for good data and thoughtful alternatives has never been more urgent.”

In stepping down, Ibargüen is also passing the torch to a new visionary who will see

Knight into its next phase of impact, just as he did 18 years ago. He left the staff with a reminder upon his announcement.

“We believe in free speech, engaged communities in all their diversity, and in equity and inclusion. Operationally, we do not run programs but instead support programs and ideas by people and organizations that actually get things done. Nothing is more satisfying than to be able to support brilliant insights and innovation by capable people and say, ‘I never imagined that but it’s exactly what I had in mind,’” he said. z

While stepping down, Ibargüen still plans to be heavily involved in issues he is passionate about. Courtesy of the Knight Foundation

Aunque deja su cargo, Ibargüen planea seguir muy involucrado en los temas que le apasionan Cortesía

The need for good data and thoughtful alternatives has never been more urgent.

El 24 de marzo, Alberto Ibargüen, uno de los mayores líderes de la filantropía y el periodismo en Estados Unidos, renunció al cargo de presidente y director general de la Fundación Knight.

En esencia, la misión de la fundación fue conceptualizada por los titanes de la prensa estadounidense John S. y James L. Knight, que “creían que una comunidad bien informada podía determinar mejor sus propios y verdaderos intereses, y confiaron a las futuras generaciones de fideicomisarios que hicieran precisamente eso”.

En 18 años, Ibargüen, de 79 años, navegó por un mundo totalmente distinto al de sus predecesores. Un mundo en el que lo digital reina por encima de todo, ya sea en la industria periodística, su hogar de toda la vida; en la filantropía, más recientemente; o en las artes, que Ibargüen financió en gran medida durante su etapa en Knight, junto con la propia tecnología.

A menudo, citaba al fundador Jack Knight (John) al describir su propio enfoque de la dirección de la fundación y sus esfuerzos por preservar el poder del periodismo: “La cuestión no es cómo salvar la industria periodística tradicional, sino cómo satisfacer las necesidades de información de las comunidades en una democracia para que la gente pueda, como dijo Jack Knight, ‘determinar sus propios y verdaderos intereses’”.

En otras palabras, tenía que innovar constantemente, con un don para la creatividad y una energía que, según muchos de sus colegas, no tenía parangón en el mundo de la filantropía.

“Ha sido un visionario”, dijo Francisco L. Borges, presidente del consejo de la Fundación Knight. “La transformación digital nos ha empujado a encontrar nuevas formas de sostener nuestra democracia, y Alberto nos ha proporcionado las ideas para hacer precisamente eso”, manifestó.

UN INNOVADOR PRECOZ DE FILADELFIA

La cualidad innovadora de Ibargüen es algo que le ha acompañado a lo largo de su vida. El primer caso registrado del que Ibargüen habló fue para The Philadelphia Inquirer, en el 2017.

Para llegar a fin de mes, Ibargüen, entonces joven estudiante de Derecho en la Universidad de Pensilvania, vendía periódicos en las esquinas del oeste de Filadelfia. ¿Su lugar favorito? La esquina de la 47 con Springfield Avenue, donde pillaba a las mujeres en plena

discusión sobre el drama de sus vidas cotidianas al salir de los oficios de la iglesia católica San Francisco de Sales.

“Dios mío, ¿tu hijo no te ha llamado? ¿Cómo? Pues toma, cómprate el periódico, consuélate leyendo el Bulletin y el Inquirer”, decía.

Hijo de madre puertorriqueña y padre cubano, esa innovación también tiene sus raíces en la historia parcial de inmigración de su familia.

Su abuela cubana trasladó a sus cuatro hijos de la isla a Filadelfia durante la Gran Depresión, una época en la que todo el mundo necesitaba creatividad e innovación para mantenerse a flote. Eligió la Ciudad del Amor Fraternal por la buena reputación de sus escuelas católicas. Así, el padre y los tíos de Ibargüen asistieron al West Catholic High School.

Los padres de Ibargüen se conocieron mientras su papá trabajaba para la empresa farmacéutica Sharpe & Dohme, que tenía su

sede caribeña en San Juan. Allí, en 1944, nació Ibargüen.

Tras diez años en la isla, la familia se trasladó de nuevo a Estados Unidos, a Wyndmoor, en los suburbios de Filadelfia, antes de establecerse finalmente en South Orange, Nueva Jersey, para adaptarse mejor al traslado de su padre a Nueva York.

Ibargüen terminó el instituto en Nueva Jersey antes de asistir a la Universidad Wesleyan de Middletown (Connecticut), en 1962. Allí, fue editor de The Wesleyan Argus, el periódico universitario quincenal más antiguo de Estados Unidos, fundado en 1868.

Tras graduarse en 1966, pasó seis años en los Cuerpos de Paz, destinado en la región amazónica de Venezuela, antes de ascender a supervisor en Bogotá (Colombia).

Tras su experiencia internacional, regresó a los orígenes de su familia en West Philly y se licenció en Derecho, en la Universidad de Pensilvania.

DEL DERECHO A LAS NOTICIAS

Con el tiempo, su carrera de Derecho le llevó más al noreste, a Hartford (Connecticut), donde Ibargüen ejerció como abogado de oficio durante nueve años.

También fue allí donde Ibargüen se incorporó por primera vez a la dirección profesional de una redacción, al ser contratado como vicepresidente sénior de finanzas y administración en el Hartford Courant de la Times Mirror Company.

Más tarde, trabajó durante 11 años para Newsday, en Nueva York, antes de asumir su primer cargo en una publicación de Knight Ridder en Miami, como editor de El Nuevo Herald.

INNOVACIÓN EN EL NUEVO HERALD

Tres años más tarde, Ibargüen ascendió a editor del Miami Herald, la publicación hermana en inglés de El Nuevo Herald. Allí, en la Ciudad Mágica, la innovación de Ibargüen golpearía de nuevo.

Era 1998, y el mundo, como los periódicos, estaba en la cúspide de una revolución de Internet que cambiaría la sociedad y daría paso a la realidad digital que todos conocemos hoy. Pero Ibargüen aún tenía en mente otra innovación impresa para El Nuevo Herald.

Durante sus primeros 21 años de existencia, la publicación en español fue un suplemento del Miami Herald en inglés. En 1998, Ibargüen dirigió su expansión hasta convertirlo en una publicación diaria independiente, que atiende a la creciente población latina e hispana del sur de Florida.

En el 2002, El Nuevo Herald ganó el premio Ortega y Gasset al mejor periódico en español del mundo.

Durante su etapa en el Miami Herald, Ibargüen se enfrentó a la revolución digital de las noticias, pero tuvo que navegar por ella mientras el ciclo diario de noticias salía de la entonces sede del periódico en Doral, Florida.

INVERSIÓN SOCIAL

En el 2005, Ibargüen fue contratado como presidente y consejero delegado de la Fundación Knight. Al igual que su cargo anterior, la fundación tiene su sede en Miami, pero también opera en otras siete ciudades de Estados Unidos, donde los hermanos Knight hicieron fortuna en el mundo de la información, entre ellas Akron (Ohio), Macon (Georgia), Charlotte (Carolina del Norte), Filadelfia, Detroit, San José (California) y St. Paul (Minnesota).

Ibargüen first job in news was as a newspaper boy in West Philly, which he did to make ends meet while in law school. Courtesy of the Knight Foundation

El primer trabajo de Ibargüen en el mundo de las noticias fue como repartidor de periódicos en West Philly, lo que hizo para llegar a fin de mes mientras estudiaba Derecho. Cortesía the Knight Foundation

ALBERTO IBARGÜEN

Durante los siguientes 18 años, Ibargüen encontró y exploró formas cada vez más creativas de financiar el periodismo en la nueva era digital, así como las artes, las innovaciones tecnológicas y la propia ciudad en la que opera Knight.

“Mi opinión desde el principio fue que esto era menos una obra de caridad y más una oportunidad de inversión social”, declaró al Miami Herald en una entrevista tras el anuncio de su jubilación.

Además, señaló que “en una organización benéfica, tradicionalmente, haces la donación y te marchas. Serás recompensado en el cielo. No me pareció que los hermanos Knight llevaran así su negocio; más bien, pensaban en esto como una inversión social: miras a la comunidad, ves cuáles son sus problemas, decides sobre cuáles puedes hacer algo y en cuáles puedes tener algún impacto, a corto o largo plazo, y, entonces, te centras en ellos”.

EDAD 79 AÑOS

ORIGEN

La forma en la que Knight ha asignado esa inversión social en el tiempo en el cual Ibargüen ha llevado el timón depende de la comunidad. Por ejemplo, en Akron y Macon se ha centrado en revitalizar el centro de las ciudades históricamente negras. En Miami y Detroit, en las artes. Y en Filadelfia se ha invertido en espacios públicos, reestructurándolos físicamente o utilizando nuevas herramientas digitales para hacerlos más accesibles.

En lo que respecta a las artes, desde el 2005, Knight ha repartido 466 millones de dólares, es decir, una quinta parte de la financiación anual total de la fundación. Dos ejemplos de los resultados obtenidos son la digitalización

del archivo del Museo Motown de Detroit y, en Miami, el mayor festival de poesía de la ciudad, que se celebra anualmente en abril, con motivo del Mes Nacional de la Poesía.

“Cuando invertimos en música y museos, en poesía y espectáculos, estamos invirtiendo en las conexiones, experiencias compartidas, que ayudan a construir un sentido de comunidad en nuestra sociedad pluralista. Además, es sencillamente divertido”, dijo Ibargüen.

NAVEGAR POR EL DECLIVE DIGITAL DE LAS NOTICIAS

Para los periodistas, en una época en la que la información abunda y la confianza es baja, la Fundación Knight de Ibargüen ha atacado los problemas que surgen legal, empresarial y académicamente.

En el 2019, la fundación anunció un compromiso de 300 millones de dólares, en los próximos cinco años, para financiar redacciones escalables con enfoques innovadores y digitales, para recopilar y contar noticias locales, así como para promover la confianza y la alfabetización mediática.

Ese año, también se creó la Red de Investigación Knight para estudiar las tendencias

cambiantes respecto a la confianza en las noticias estadounidenses.

“A medida que la plaza pública digital siga evolucionando, los retos para una ciudadanía informada se intensificarán, el poder se consolidará aún más, los gobiernos ejercerán una influencia global y los líderes políticos ofrecerán soluciones que oscilarán entre lo clarividente y lo desastroso”, afirmó Ibargüen en una reciente comparecencia en una conferencia. A su juicio, “la necesidad de buenos datos y alternativas reflexionadas nunca ha sido más urgente”.

Con su dimisión, Ibargüen pasa la antorcha a un nuevo visionario que acompañará a Knight en su próxima fase de impacto, como hizo él hace 18 años.

Al anunciar su renuncia, dejó un recordatorio al personal: “Creemos en la libertad de expresión, en comunidades comprometidas en toda su diversidad y en la equidad y la inclusión. Desde el punto de vista operativo, no dirigimos programas, sino que apoyamos programas e ideas de personas y organizaciones que realmente consiguen resultados. No hay nada más satisfactorio que poder apoyar ideas brillantes e innovadoras de personas capaces y decir: ‘Nunca lo había imaginado, pero es exactamente lo que tenía en mente’”.z

At the Miami Herald, Ibargüen made El Nuevo Herald a standalone publication and one of the best Spanish-language papers in the world. Courtesy of the Knight Foundation En el Miami Herald, Ibargüen hizo de El Nuevo Herald una publicación independiente y uno de los mejores periódicos en español del mundo. Cortesía the Knight Foundation

La necesidad de buenos datos y alternativas reflexionadas nunca ha sido más urgente.

Edited By | FERNANDO MILLÁN | AL DÍA News Print Editor

EL PAÍS SPAIN

GLOBAL KIOSKO

WHAT THE WORLD PRESS IS TALKING ABOUT US

THE IMPACT OF DONALD TRUMP’S JUDICIAL SITUATION

Pedro Soriano analyzed the judicial troubles of former president Donald Trump. “The revelation that a grand jury in New York has recommended the indictment of the former US president in connection with the so-called Stormy Daniels case marks the official beginning of a real judicial ordeal (...) Trump maintained (...) an extramarital affair with a porn actress named Stormy Daniels, who tried to sell her story to the press during the 2016 presidential campaign. Trump’s personal lawyer (...) Michael Cohen, ended up paying the actress 130,000 dollars for her silence, and billed the same sum as ‘legal services’ to the Trump campaign, which used election funds (...). Cohen spent three years in prison already for these facts (...) it is a relatively minor case within the panoply of future indictments (...) for much more serious facts: The induction of electoral fraud in the 2020 presidential election in Georgia (...). The possible inducement of the assault on the Capitol in Washington (...). The theft and retention of dozens of secret documents by Trump after his departure from the White House on January 20th, 2021 (...)”. Pedro Soriano analizó los líos judiciales del expresidente Donald Trump. “La revelación de que un gran jurado de Nueva York ha recomendado la imputación del expresidente estadounidense en relación con el denominado caso Stormy Daniels marca el inicio oficial de un auténtico viacrucis judicial (…). Trump mantuvo (…) una relación extraconyugal con una actriz porno llamada Stormy Daniels, que intentó vender su historia a la prensa durante la campaña de las presidenciales de 2016. El abogado personal de Trump (…) Michael Cohen, acabó pagando a la actriz 130.000 dólares por su silencio, y facturó la misma suma como ‘servicios legales’ a la campaña de Trump, que usó fondos electorales (…). Cohen pasó tres años en prisión ya por estos hechos. (…) es un caso relativamente menor dentro de la panoplia de futuras imputaciones (…) por hechos mucho más graves: La inducción al fraude electoral en las presidenciales de 2020 en Georgia (…). La posible inducción al asalto al Capitolio de Washington (…). La sustracción y retención de docenas de documentos secretos por parte de Trump tras su salida de la Casa Blanca el 20 de enero de 2021 (…)”.

A DEMOCRACY ADRIFT LA RAZÓN SPAIN

An editorial commented on the impact of Donald Trump on democracy. “There are those who argue that nothing has been the same in American politics since Donald Trump became president of the most powerful nation in the world. His impact on society and democracy upset even the most settled balances and conventions. Not even his electoral defeat proved to be a balm, as the integrity of the ballot and Joe Biden’s victory were called into question. Polarization in all areas of the country has become entrenched in the American way of life, with unthinkable episodes such as the assault on the Capitol, which has become more acute (...). It has entered a toxic dynamic that the United States has been unable to reverse to date. Always, with Donald Trump and his aspirations to win back the White House at the center of the board and the threat he poses in certain public and private spheres (...) It would be simplistic to point the finger only at Trump for the critical drift of the United States, however bleak his personal vicissitude may be”.

En un editorial se comentó el impacto de Donald Trump sobre la democracia. “Hay quien defiende que nada ha vuelto a ser igual en la política estadounidense desde que Donald Trump llegó a ser el presidente de la nación más poderosa del mundo. Su impacto en la sociedad y en la democracia alteró hasta los equilibrios y las convenciones más asentadas. Ni siquiera su derrota electoral resultó un bálsamo, pues se cuestionó la integridad del escrutinio y la victoria de Joe Biden. La polarización en todos los ámbitos del país se ha enquistado en el modo de vida americano, con episodios impensables como el del asalto al Capitolio, que se ha agudizado (…). Se ha entrado en una dinámica tóxica que Estados Unidos ha sido incapaz de revertir hasta la fecha. Siempre, con Donald Trump y sus aspiraciones a ganar de nuevo la Casa Blanca en el centro del tablero y la amenaza que supone en determinadas esferas públicas y privadas. (…) Resultaría simplista señalar sólo a Trump por la deriva crítica de Estados Unidos por más que su peripecia personal sea tan sombría”.

EL FINANCIERO MEXICO

TRUMP’S PLANS AGAINST MEXICO

Jonathan Ruiz Torre analyzes how Donald Trump wants to add votes by attacking Mexico. “’Trump asks advisors for ‘battle plans’ to ‘attack Mexico’ if he is reelected’ (...). The focus of his attack (...) would focus on cartels that export the fentanyl that kills Americans (...). Is a U.S. war against Mexico possible? Anything is possible in the mind of a madman (...) But it would not be free, nor easy. The first rivals Trump would face are at home. The U.S. military pays more attention these days to a war prepared for years by China against Taiwan (...). In all this, if the fight were to put an end to the tragedy of deaths due to drug consumption... Is it useful to beat and shoot the producers? ‘The United States has spent

1.5 million dollars a day since 2001 on the opium war in Afghanistan. So why is the business still booming’, published the BBC in 2019 (...). What would happen to trade in the event of war? (...) ‘Trade with Canada and Mexico supports 12 million American jobs (...)’. A war would hit Ford, Mattel, GM, Tesla...”.

Jonathan Ruiz Torre analiza cómo quiere Donald Trump sumar votos atacando a México. “‘Trump pide a asesores ‘planes de batalla’ para ‘atacar a México’ si es reelegido’ (…). El foco de su ataque (…) se centraría en cárteles que exportan el fentanilo que mata a estadounidenses (…). ¿Es posible una guerra de Estados Unidos contra México? Está visto que todo es posible en la mente de un loco. (…) Pero no sería gratis, ni fácil. Los primeros rivales que enfrentaría Trump están en casa. Los militares estadounidenses ponen más atención en estos días a una guerra preparada durante años por China contra Taiwán (…). A todo esto, si el pleito fuera para acabar con la tragedia de muertes por consumo de drogas… ¿Sirve agarrar a palos y balazos a los productores? ‘Estados Unidos ha gastado 1.5 millones de dólares al día desde 2001 en la guerra del opio en Afganistán. Entonces, ¿por qué el negocio sigue en auge?’, publicó en 2019 la BBC (…). ¿Qué pasaría con el comercio en caso de guerra? (…) ‘El comercio con Canadá y México respalda 12 millones de empleos estadounidenses (…)’. Una guerra golpearía a Ford, Mattel, GM, Tesla…”.

THE EMBARRASSMENT OF OTHERS LA JORNADA MEXICO

A commentary refers to the judicial decision against Donald Trump for the case of the porn actress Stormy Daniels. “It is embarrassing for American institutionality that the Republican politician ends up sitting in the dock for events originating in a bedroom scandal and not for any of the major processes that follow him. Trump has open files for instigating the deadly assault on the Capitol in January 2021, for stealing and hiding confidential documents when he had to leave the White House, for pressuring the government of Georgia to alter the election results of that year, as well as for tax fraud, a charge of which The Trump Organization has already been found guilty (...). The specific charges for which the former president will be prosecuted are still to be known, but for the moment the possible political impacts must be considered (...). One likely scenario is that his imminent arrest and trial will result in the loss of momentum of a conservative electorate, which has so far been willing to forgive him (...) ; but the criminal process could also encourage a closing of ranks around his figure (...)”.

En un comentario se hace referencia a la decisión judicial contra Donald Trump por el caso de la actriz porno Stormy Daniels. “Resulta bochornoso para la institucionalidad estadounidense que el político republicano termine sentándose en el banquillo por sucesos originados en un escándalo de alcoba y no por alguno de los grandes procesos que se le siguen. Trump tiene expedientes abiertos por instigar el mortal asalto al Capitolio en enero de 2021, por sustraer y ocultar documentos confidenciales cuando tuvo que dejar la Casa Blanca, por presionar al gobierno de Georgia para alterar los resultados electorales de aquel año, así como por fraude fiscal, cargo del que ya fue declarada culpable The Trump Organization (…). Todavía están por conocerse los cargos específicos por los que se enjuiciará al exmandatario, pero por el momento deben considerarse los posibles impactos políticos (…). Un escenario probable es que su inminente arresto y juicio se traduzca en la pérdida de ímpetu de un electorado conservador, que hasta ahora ha estado dispuesto a perdonarle (…) ; pero el proceso penal podría también impulsar un cierre de filas en torno a su figura (…)”.

CULTUR

WHO ARE THE GODS OF MEXICO?

By | Por: SANDRA RAMÍREZ ORTEGA | AL DÍA News Writer

It almost dispenses with color and dialogue, and it doesn’t even need to: it seduces with black and white and an enveloping sound. Helmut Dosantos’ debut feature is a literary, immersive and emotional production that runs 97 minutes, a time that seems long enough to immerse Mexican, American and global audiences in a transversal reality: the audacity of modernity to subjugate the cultural identity of native peoples.

The screenwriter and producer, along with his crew, traveled through 17 of Mexico’s 32 states, was on the verge of not telling the end after a road accident and today, convinced that it was all worth it, he is able to screen a documentary he has decided to call Gods of Mexico.

In his film, Dosantos exhibits, with meticulous aesthetics, the natural secrets and little-explored landscapes of this territory, so close to the United States and part of Latin America: from the salt flats, the high plateaus, the jungle and the subway mines to the cultural DNA, solidarity, friendship, hospitality and idiosyncrasy of the inhabitants of each of these corners.

At all times, it is remarkable how the filmmaker sticks to his mission of putting a face to communities that struggle against the condemnation of oblivion and the extinction of their customs and oral traditions.

“Mexican rural worlds can be silent worlds or places where human beings observe nature a lot and the other way around. They are also worlds of observation, of work routines, of cycles. I didn’t want to turn the documentary towards an anthropological or ethnographic essay, but towards a more artistic side. From the very beginning, the film has been a personal journey for me to discover Mexico and transmit to the public the sensations we had. I didn’t want to give lessons to anyone, I don’t have the qualifications for that. I didn’t want to get involved in the problems or creative dynamics that many Latin American films tend to represent, which sometimes only seem to talk about problems”, said the filmmaker in conversation with AL DÍA.

LAND OF DEITIES

The director of Gods of Mexico believes that, today, humanity is witnessing such accelerated socioeconomic transformations, which destroy local cultures that express a unique relationship with their environment. “This film is a wake-up call about the importance of preserving such

Casi prescinde del color y del diálogo y ni falta que le hace: seduce con el blanco y negro y con un sonido envolvente. La ópera prima de Helmut Dosantos es una producción literaria, inmersiva y emotiva que se desarrolla a lo largo de 97 minutos, un tiempo que parece suficiente para sumergir al público mexicano, estadounidense y global en una realidad transversal: el descaro de la modernidad para avasallar la identidad cultural de los pueblos originarios.

El guionista y productor, junto con su equipo, recorrió 17 de los 32 estados de México, estuvo a punto de no contar el final tras un accidente de carretera y hoy, convencido de que todo ha valido la pena, es capaz de proyectar un documental al que ha decidido llamar Dioses de México.

En su cinta, con una estética meticulosa, Dosantos exhibe los secretos naturales y paisajes poco explorados de este territorio tan cercano a Estados Unidos y parte de América Latina: desde las salinas, los altiplanos, la selva y las minas subterráneas, hasta el ADN cultural, la solidaridad, la amistad, la hospitalidad y la idiosincrasia de los habitantes de cada uno de estos rincones.

Y es que en todo momento es notable cómo el realizador se aferra a su misión de poner rostro a comunidades que luchan contra la condena que suponen el olvido y la extinción de sus costumbres y tradiciones orales.

“Los mundos rurales mexicanos pueden ser mundos silenciosos o lugares donde el ser humano observa mucho la naturaleza y al revés. También son mundos de observación, de rutina de trabajo, de ciclos”, dijo el cineasta en una conversación con AL DÍA, quien aclaró que “no quería virar el documental hacia un ensayo antropológico ni etnográfico, sino hacia un lado más artístico”.

Dosantos contó que “desde el primer momento la película ha sido un viaje personal para que yo pudiera descubrir México y transmitir al público las sensaciones que nosotros tuvimos. Yo no quería dar clases a nadie, no tengo la calificación para eso, no quería implicarme en los problemas o en las dinámicas creativas que suelen representar muchas cintas latinoamericanas, que a veces parece que solo hablan de problemas”,

TIERRA DE DEIDADES

El director de Dioses de México cree que la humanidad es testigo de transformaciones socioeconómicas tan aceleradas, que destruyen las culturas locales que expresan una relación única con su entorno. “Esta película es una llamada de atención sobre la impor-

Helmut Dosantos’ debut feature was filmed in 17 Mexican states. Oscilloscope Laboratories La ópera prima de Helmut Dosantos se grabó en 17 estados de México. Oscilloscope Laboratories

From the very beginning, the film has been a personal journey for me to discover Mexico and transmit to the audience the sensations we had.

Desde el primer momento, la película ha sido un viaje personal para que yo pudiera descubrir México y transmitir al público las sensaciones que nosotros tuvimos.

ENGLISH ESPAÑOL

diversity in the face of a world that wants us to be more and more homogeneous”, he said.

Convinced of the value and artistic legacy of his documentary, the filmmaker chose the name of the production as “a tribute to all the people who live in rural Mexico, so that they are not lost as ghosts of modernization. They are people who continue to be important in the economy of a society, of a country, and they also do a fundamental job for us: preserving themselves, their traditions, and they are also the ones who work in the fields, in the mines. It is a celebration of them”, he explained.

ALREADY IN THEATERS IN THE UNITED STATES

Dosantos’ poetic journey had its national premiere in March at DCTV’s Firehouse Cinema in New York. In April, it will be part of the ABC Art Baja California program, in the Cinema section, and will continue to be screened in more commercial theaters in the United States throughout this semester. For more information on premieres in the U.S., please visit godsofmexico.oscilloscope.net/z

tancia de preservar tal diversidad frente a un mundo que nos quiere cada vez más homogéneos”, apuntó.

Convencido del valor y legado artístico de su documental, el realizador escogió el nombre de la producción como “un tributo a toda la gente que vive en el México rural, para que no se pierdan como fantasmas de la modernización. Son personas que en una economía de sociedad, de país, siguen siendo importantes. También hacen un trabajo fundamental para nosotros: preservarse a sí mismos, sus tradiciones, Son también los que trabajan en el campo, en las minerías. Es una celebración hacia ellos”, explicó.

YA EN CINES DE ESTADOS UNIDOS

El poético recorrido de Dosantos tuvo su estreno nacional en marzo, en el Cine Firehouse de DCTV de Nueva York. En abril, será parte del programa de ABC Art Baja California, en la sección Cine, y seguirá proyectándose en más salas comerciales de Estados Unidos a lo largo de este semestre. Para obtener más información sobre premieres en territorio estadounidense, puede visitar godsofmexico.oscilloscope.net/z

Gods of Mexico is dedicated to native people who work in the fields and keep their traditions alive in the most remote corners of this Latin American country. Oscilloscope Laboratories

‘Dioses de México’ está dedicado a los pueblos originarios que trabajan en el campo y mantienen vivas sus tradiciones en los rincones más recónditos de este país latinoamericano. Oscilloscope Laboratories

A WINDOW TO THE BRUTALITY OF WAR

VENEZUELA’S MIGUEL GUTIÉRREZ TELLS THE WAR IN UKRAINE FROM THE HOMES OF ORDINARY PEOPLE. EL COLOMBO-VENEZOLANO MIGUEL GUTIÉRREZ RETRATA LA GUERRA DE UCRANIA DESDE LAS CASAS DE LA GENTE COMÚN Y CORRIENTE. LO HIZO COMO ENVIADO ESPECIAL.

By | Por: ANDREA RODÉS | AL DÍA News Writer

Photographing windows of ordinary people’s houses. This is how Colombian-Venezuelan photojournalist Miguel Gutiérrez decided to portray the war in Ukraine when the Spanish news agency EFE sent him to cover the conflict for a month in April last year. The result of those intense weeks in Ukraine was a series of photographs that not only made the front pages of major international newspapers at the time, but has been a finalist in the prestigious Sony World Photography Awards 2023, which will be exhibited at London’s Somerset House between April 14th and May 1st.

“I decided to focus on the windows to show what is in front and behind them, what the viewer can feel inside a common space: a house. The house is the representation of effort and family, of goals achieved that have now been destroyed, like the homes where people from outside the war lived”, Gutiérrez explains from Caracas, where he lives.

Born in Bogotá, Colombia, in 1983, Gutiérrez moved with his family to Venezuela as a teenager after his parents separated. It was in Venezuela that he finished high school and studied journalism at Universidad Católica Santa Rosa.

“Since I was little I had an inclination for speaking and for visual art, I guess I was indirectly disposed to this profession”, says the photojournalist, who currently works as EFE’s graphic coordinator in Venezuela. Living on the fringes of the news was difficult in Venezuela, “a country that has always been convulsed, politically and socially speaking”, and where news “rarely go under the table when it arouses international interest, since this nation served as a home to many migrants”, he adds.

After twelve years working as a journalist in Venezuela, his professional life took a leap in April last year, when he was sent to cover the war between Russia and Ukraine.

“EFE announced that they were preparing teams to cover the events in Ukraine, that everyone could apply and that we would be notified of any decision made by

Fotografiar ventanas de casas de gente corriente. Así fue como el fotoperiodista colombo-venezolano Miguel Gutiérrez decidió retratar la guerra de Ucrania cuando la agencia de noticias EFE lo envió a cubrir el conflicto durante un mes, en abril del año pasado.

El resultado de esas intensas semanas en Ucrania fue una serie de fotografías que no solo ocupó las portadas de grandes diarios internacionales en su momento, sino que ha quedado finalista en los prestigiosos Sony World Photography Awards 2023, que se expondrán en la Somerset House de Londres entre el 14 de abril y el primero de mayo.

“Decidí enfocarme en las ventanas para mostrar qué hay delante y detrás de ellas, que el espectador pueda sentirse dentro de un espacio común: una casa. La casa es la representación de esfuerzo y familia, de objetivos logrados que ahora fueron destruidos, como los hogares en donde habitaban personas ajenas a la guerra”, explica Gutiérrez desde Caracas, donde reside.

Nacido en Bogotá (Colombia), en 1983, Gutiérrez se mudó con su familia a Venezuela siendo adolescente, después de que sus padres se separasen. En Venezuela donde terminó de estudiar la secundaria y estudió periodismo en la Universidad Católica Santa Rosa.

“Desde pequeño tuve inclinación por hablar y por el arte visual, supongo que indirectamente estaba dispuesto a esta profesión”, comenta el fotoperiodista, que trabaja como coordinador gráfico de la agencia EFE en su país.

Vivir al margen de las noticias era algo difícil en Venezuela, “un país que siempre ha sido convulsionado, política y socialmente hablando”, y donde las noticias “pocas veces pasan por debajo de la mesa al despertar interés internacional, ya que esta nación sirvió de hogar a muchos migrantes”, añade.

Tras doce años trabajando como periodista en Venezuela, su vida profesional dio un salto en abril del año pasado cuando lo enviaron a cubrir el conflicto bélico entre Rusia y Ucrania.

ENGLISH ESPAÑOL

Miguel Gutiérrez believes that growing up in a violent country like Venezuela has helped him to empathize with the suffering of the Ukrainian people. Miguel Gutierrez Miguel Gutiérrez cree que haber crecido en un país violento como Venezuela le ha ayudado a empatizar con el sufrimiento del pueblo ucraniano. . Miguel Gutierrez

the head office. What took me by surprise was the speed with which I was notified that I would be going on this assignment: from one day to the next”, he recalls.

The main challenge ahead of him was the language: “Ukrainian is distant to me, even though I had the help from the fixers in the field”, he says.

However, growing up in a country plagued by a permanent economic and political crisis like Venezuela helped him to empathize with certain situations. “Although the violence in Venezuela is not comparable to a military conflict, I have lived through the traces of war: food shortages, lack of public services, lack of fuel, curfews... saving the distances, [the situation in Ukraine] is very little different from the Venezuelan reality”.

DUAL REALITY

The idea of photographing windows of ordinary people also has something to do with his native Venezuela. “When you live in a country in a constant crisis, you must learn to open your mind and eyes to tell what is happening. It is not only enough to show the obvious, which is necessary, but there are realities and details that are left aside by direct information”, he explains. The windows, therefore, allow “this look at two realities, at what is in front and what is behind”.

A clear example of this “double” perspective on the situation is the photograph

ENGLISH ESPAÑOL

showing the window of a children’s room covered with curtains decorated with motifs from ‘Masha and the Bear’, a popular cartoon series created in Russia, the invading country.

“The paradoxical thing about this is that in that cartoon series they teach about tolerance and living in harmony. Totally contrasted with what is shown in the photograph of that house”, he points out.

When it came to entering people’s homes, Gutiérrez assures that he found no inconveniences.

“On the contrary, they were very open and wanted us to leave testimony of what they had felt and experienced in their destroyed homes. They were very open and grateful that we could tell them what they had suffered”, he says.

As a photojournalist covering a war, his mission is to “portray as much as possible. And in a war there is a lot to show, starting from the basics: pain, rage, death, drama, anguish. “All this can be told in a non-direct way”, he says. “But it is also possible to show kindness, brotherhood, work, hope. It’s something very personal to each person, how he or she decides to face reality and show it”, he explains.

On the other hand, the experience in Ukraine has helped him to put into perspective his own reality and daily life which, “without being the calmest, cannot be compared as equal to what millions of Ukrainians live”, he concludes.z

“Desde EFE anunciaron que preparaban equipos para darle cobertura a lo acontecido en Ucrania, que cada quien podía postularse y nos avisarían de cualquier decisión que tomasen desde la oficina central. Lo que me tomó por sorpresa fue la rapidez con la que me avisaron que iría a esta asignación: de un día a otro”, recuerda.

El principal reto que tenía delante era el idioma. “El ucraniano es distante para mí, pese a contar con traducción por parte de los fixer en el terreno”, comenta.

Sin embargo, haberse criado en un país azotado permanentemente por una crisis económica y política como Venezuela le ayudó a empatizar con determinadas situaciones. Comenta que “aunque la violencia en Venezuela no es comparable a un conflicto bélico, las estelas de la guerra las he vivido: escasez de alimentos, falta de servicios públicos, falta de combustible, toques de queda. Salvando las distancias, dista muy poco de la realidad venezolana”.

DOBLE REALIDAD

La idea de fotografiar ventanas de gente normal también tiene algo que ver con su Venezuela natal. “Cuando vives en un país sumido en una crisis constante, debes aprender a abrir la mente y los ojos para contar lo que acontece. No solo basta con mostrar lo evidente, que es necesario hacerlo, sino que existen realidades y detalles que se dejan a un lado por la información directa”, explica. Las ventanas, por lo tanto, permiten “esta mirada

a dos realidades, a lo que hay delante y lo que hay detrás”.

Un ejemplo claro de esta doble perspectiva de la situación es la fotografía que muestra la ventana de una habitación infantil cubierta con cortinas decoradas con motivos de Masha y el oso, una popular serie de dibujos animados creada en Rusia, el país invasor.

“Lo paradójico de esto es que en esa serie de dibujos animados enseñan de tolerancia y vivir en armonía. Totalmente contrastado con lo mostrado en la fotografía de esa casa”, señala. A la hora de poder entrar en las casas de la gente, Gutiérrez asegura que no encontró inconvenientes. “Al contrario, fueron muy abiertos y querían que dejásemos testimonio de lo que habían sentido y vivido en sus hogares destruidos. Muy abiertos y agradecidos de que se pudiese contar lo que han padecido”, dice. Como fotoperiodista cubriendo una guerra, su misión es “retratar todo lo posible”. Y en una guerra hay mucho que mostrar, partiendo de lo más básico: dolor, rabia, muerte, drama, angustia. “Todo esto puede contarse de forma no directa”, dice. “Pero también es posible mostrar bondad, hermandad, trabajo, esperanza. Es algo muy personal de cada uno, de cómo decide afrontar la realidad y mostrarla”, explica.

Por otro lado, la experiencia en Ucrania le ha ayudado a poner en perspectiva su propia realidad y cotidianidad que, “sin ser la más tranquila, no pueden compararse como iguales a lo que viven millones de ucranianos”, concluye.z

Crecer en Venezuela permitió a Miguel Gutierrez comprender mejor las consecuencias de la guerra. . Miguel Gutierrez Crecer en Venezuela permitió a Miguel Gutierrez comprender mejor las consecuencias de la guerra. Miguel Gutierrez

Miguel Gutierrez uses the window as a metaphore of the war Miguel Gutierrez Miguel Gutierrez utiliza las ventanas como metáfora del horror de la guerra. Miguel Gutierrez

BLACK TIE

- A silent auction to raise funds for the organization was part of Congreso’s annual Gala Latina. Una subasta silenciosa para recaudar fondos para la organización formó parte de la Gala Latina anual del Congreso. 2- Miguel F. Alban. 3- Carolina DiGorgio 4-Janette Diaz, Congreso’s Interim President & CEO Janette Diaz, Presidenta interina y Directora General del Congreso. 5-Miguel F. Alban, Lilibeth Ramirez, Nash Yadav 6- Richard Negrin, The Honorable Nelson Diaz, Fernando Trevino 7- Lissete Agosto-Cintron, Joanna Otero-Cruz . Peter Fitzpatick/AL DÍA News

CONGRESO’S GALA LATINA

By

The 16th annual Congreso Gala Latina represented a new chapter for the 45-year-old North Philadelphia organization, as Carolina DiGiorgio stepped down from her role as President & CEO, paving the way for interim President & CEO, Jannette Diaz to step in.

The mission remains the same, however. That is to enable individuals and families in predominantly Latino neighborhoods to achieve economic self-sufficiency and well-being through education, workforce development, health, housing, and family services.

Each year, the Congreso Gala Latina selects a theme. This year’s theme was Loíza, a Puerto Rican town known for its Afro-Latino culture, music, food and roots. The event featured live music from that very region. z

La edición 16 de la Gala Latina del Congreso representó un nuevo capítulo para esta organización de 45 años del norte de Filadelfia, ya que Carolina DiGiorgio dejó su cargo de presidenta y consejera delegada, allanando el camino para que Jannette Díaz, ahora encargada, asuma esa responsabilidad.

Sin embargo, la misión sigue siendo la misma: ayudar a las personas y familias de los barrios mayoritariamente latinos a alcanzar la autosuficiencia económica y el bienestar a través de la educación, el desarrollo de la mano de obra, la salud, la vivienda y los servicios familiares.

El tema de este año fue Loíza, una ciudad puertorriqueña conocida por su cultura, música, comida y raíces afrolatinas. El evento contó con música en directo de esa misma región. z

8 -Carlos & Lorna Rodriguez 9- Lisa Auerbach, Denise Bernheim. 10- Raquel Rodriguez, Hector Serrano, Taisha Cardona, Roberto Acevedo 11-Amaris Hernandez 12-Amigos de La Cultura 13- A celebration of culture, dance and community during the 2023 Congreso Gala Latina. Celebración de la cultura, la danza y la comunidad en el Congreso Gala Latina 2023 Peter Fitzpatick/AL DÍA News

| Por: JENSEN TOUSSAINT | AL DÍA News Staff Writer

ready to rejoin productive civilian life, and government agencies were putting them into abject squalor, into places that they couldn’t make positive life choices,” said Spain.

ADDRESSING THE HOMELESSNESS CRISIS

Being subjected to less than ideal living conditions is often a main catalyst for repeating the cycle of homelessness.

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, there are over 582,000 people experiencing homelessness across the country.

In Philadelphia, about 5,700 individuals are considered homeless, including about 950 who are unsheltered.

While those numbers are very glaring, Spain brings up another valid point.

“As much as we see on the news of homeless encampments, and you see in Philadelphia all the time, somebody on a street corner with a cardboard sign, there’s very little talk about how do we get ourselves out of this situation,” said Spain.

With the question of how to build respectable, resilient, and safe housing that is affordable to maintain and have people rent and live in, VBC Giving Foundation — the nonprofit wing of the company — spearheaded its first major project.

Veterans Village is a 47-unit construction project that provides permanent housing for veterans.

“This is a global crisis,” Spain said of the lack of affordable housing.

The goal is to continue expanding to help address homelessness for the many vulnerable communities that make up the population.z

The results of that have been and will continue to be inhumane. The fire at the migrant facility in Juárez is just the latest example. Before this tragedy, there was also the case of 53 migrants found dead in a tractor trailer near San Antonio. They had all died of suffocation or heat exhaustion in the dead of Summer in Texas. A similar tragedy also happened in 2017 in the parking lot of a Walmart, and 10 of the 39 migrants found packed into a tractor trailer were dead.

As AMLO said, some migrants had started the fire themselves, but it was al-

DANA SPAIN, A PHILANTHROPIC ACE ENGLISH

ESPAÑOL

reincorporarse a la vida civil productiva, y los organismos gubernamentales las colocaban, en la miseria más absoluta, en lugares donde no podían tomar decisiones de vida positivas”, dijo Spain.

HACER FRENTE A CRISIS DE LOS SINTECHO

Estar sometido a unas condiciones de vida inferiores a las ideales suele ser uno de los principales catalizadores de la repetición del ciclo de los sintecho.

Según el Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano de Estados Unidos, hay más de 582.000 personas sin hogar en el país. En Filadelfia, se considera que hay unas 5.700, de las cuales unas 950 están desamparadas.

Aunque estas cifras son muy evidentes, Spain plantea otra cuestión válida: “Por mu-

cho que veamos en las noticias campamentos de personas sin hogar y que en Filadelfia se vea continuamente a alguien en una esquina con un cartel de cartón, se habla muy poco de cómo salir de esta situación”.

Ante la pregunta de cómo construir viviendas respetables, resistentes y seguras que sean asequibles de mantener y que la gente alquile y viva en ellas, VBC Giving Foundation —ala sin ánimo de lucro de la empresa— puso en marcha su primer gran proyecto.

Veterans Village es un proyecto de construcción de 47 unidades que proporciona viviendas permanentes a veteranos. “Se trata de una crisis global”, afirma Spain refiriéndose a la falta de viviendas asequibles.

El objetivo es seguir expandiéndose para ayudar a resolver el problema de las personas sin hogar en las numerosas comunidades vulnerables que componen la población. z

MUCH MORE THAN A TRAGIC FIRE

ENGLISH ESPAÑOL

legedly in protest over learning they would be sent back to Southern Mexico — a policy put in place by the country to keep migrants from crowding border cities like Juárez.

Perhaps what Tania Guerrero, a lawyer with the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, told NPR is the best assessment.

“The U.S. and Mexican governments have prioritized the deterrence, the criminalization, the militarization, the discrimination versus the well-being of those seeking protection,” she said.

Until then, expect more tragedies.z

Los resultados han sido y seguirán siendo inhumanos. El incendio en el centro de inmigrantes de Juárez es solo el último ejemplo. Antes de esta tragedia, se produjo el caso de los 53 inmigrantes hallados muertos en el remolque de un tractor cerca de San Antonio. Todos habían muerto por asfixia o agotamiento por calor, en pleno verano en Texas. Una tragedia similar también ocurrió en el 2017, en el estacionamiento de un Walmart, y 10 de los 39 migrantes encontrados hacinados en un remolque de tractor estaban muertos.

Como dijo AMLO, algunos migrantes habían iniciado el fuego, pero supuestamen-

te en protesta por enterarse de que serían devueltos al sur de México, una política puesta en marcha por el país para evitar que abarrotaran ciudades fronterizas como Juárez.

Tal vez lo que Tania Guerrero, abogada de la Red Católica de Inmigración Legal, dijo a NPR es la mejor evaluación: “Los gobiernos de Estados Unidos y México han priorizado la disuasión, la criminalización, la militarización y la discriminación frente al bienestar de quienes buscan protección”.

Hasta entonces, esperen más tragedias. z

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SHERIFF’S SALE

By virtue of a Writ of execution, to me directed, issued out of the SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY CHANCERY DIVISION, CAMDEN COUNTY, DOCKET NO. F00540621 at Public Vendue on WEDNESDAY the 3rd Day of MAY, 2023 A.D. at 12 o'clock, LOCAL TIME, noon of said day, at CAMDEN COUNTY COLLEGE–CAMDEN CAMPUS CAMDEN CONFERENCE CENTER, 200 NORTH BROADWAY CAMDEN, NJ 08102

https://www.camdencc.edu/about-1/contact-ccc-blackwood-directions/

The property to be sold is located in the TOWNSHIP OF PENNSAUKEN in the County of CAMDEN and State of New Jersey. Premises Commonly known as:

3747 BURWOOD AVENUE, PENNSAUKEN, NJ 08110

Tax LOT: 7, BLOCK: 5805

APPROXIMATE DIMENSIONS: 64 X 100 AVG

NEAREST CROSS STREET: Woodland Avenue

*Taxes – at time of inquiry – taxes paid through 1st quarter 2023

*Water – Private account, verification of same prohibited without authorization of record property owner

*Sewer – Private account, verification of same prohibited without authorization of record property owner:

*CCMUA — at the time of inquiry — past due balance in the amount of $434.90 open + interest and any additional charges that may become due through payoff;

(XX) Subject to: If property is located in a Homeowner’s Association, then it is sold subject to any assessments and other fees which may be responsibility of new owner under NJ Supreme Court case of Highland Lakes Country Club & Community Association v. Franzino, 186 N.J. 99 (2006);

(XX) Subject to: if property is located in a Condominium Association, then it may be sold subject to a 6-month limited priority lien of the condo association;

(XX) Subject to: *If the subject property is part of an age restricted community, you must be 55 and older and intend to reside in the property or you may be precluded membership in the Community.

*Also subject to subsequent taxes, water and sewer plus interest through date of payoff

Surplus Money: If after the sale and satisfaction of the mortgage debt, including costs and expenses, there remains any surplus money, the money will be deposited into the Superior Court Trust Fund and any person claiming the surplus, or any past thereof, may file a motion pursuant to Court Rules 4;64-3 and 4:57-2 stating the nature and extent of that person’s claim and asking for an order directing payment of the surplus money. The sheriff or other person conducting the sale will have information regarding the surplus, if any.

THE SHERIFF HEREBY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ADJOURN THIS SALE WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE THROUGH PUBLICATION.

A FULL LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF PREMISES CAN BE FOUND IN THE OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF OF CAMDEN COUNTY.

The judgment sought to be satisfied by the sale is:

“APPROXIMATELY”

$115,136.07 TWENTY PERCENT DEPOSIT REQUIRED

Seized as the property of JULIE ROSARIO, ADMINISTRATRIX AND KNOWN HEIR OF THE ESTATE OF JUANITA ROSARIO, DECEASED; ANGEL ROSARIO, HEIR; STATE OF NEW JERSEY; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; ANTONIA J. NUNEZ; STATE OF DELAWARE; MELISSA A. BOLORIN VEGA; HOSPITAL & DOCTORS SERVICE BUREAU; VIVINT SOLAR DEVELOPER, LLC; defendant(s), and taken in execution of TRUMAN 2021 SC9 TITLE TRUST, plaintiff, GILBERT L. “WHIP” WILSON

SHERIFF

Sheriff’s Number: 23000670

DATED: 4/5, 4/12, 4/19, 4/26/2023

Attorney: ROMANO GARUBO & ARGENTIERI

52 NEWTON AVENUE

P.O. BOX 456

WOODBURY, NJ 08096

SHERIFF’S SALE

By virtue of a Writ of execution, to me directed, issued out of the SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY CHANCERY DIVISION, CAMDEN COUNTY, DOCKET NO. F01894019 at Public Vendue on WEDNESDAY the 26th Day of APRIL, 2023 A.D. at 12 o'clock, LOCAL TIME, noon of said day, at CAMDEN COUNTY COLLEGE–CAMDEN CAMPUS CAMDEN CONFERENCE CENTER, 200 NORTH BROADWAY CAMDEN, NJ 08102 https://www.camdencc.edu/about-1/contact-ccc-blackwood-directions/

The property to be sold is located in the TOWNSHIP OF GLOUCESTER in the County of CAMDEN and the State of New Jersey. Commonly known as: 52 NOBLE ROAD, SICKLERVILLE, NJ 08081

Tax LOT 26, BLOCK: 16605

Dimensions of Lot: (approximately) 30.5 feet by 123.8 feet

Nearest Cross Street: Approximately 261.40 feet from the southwesterly line of Noble Road to southeasterly line of Kings Road

Amount Due for Taxes: Taxes paid in full as of 02/20/23

Sale may be subject to subsequent taxes, liens, utilities and interest since 02/20/23

CCMUA/Sewer due and owing in the approximate amount of $621.68 as of 02/20/23

3rd party GTMUA/Sewer/CCMUA due and owing in the approximate amount of $1,468.20

SUBJECT TO: ALL UNPAID MUNICIPAL TAXES, ASSESSMENTS, LIENS AND OTHER CHARGES; ANY SET OF FACTS WHICH AN ACCURATE SURVEY WOULD DISCLOSE; ANY RESTRICTIONS OR COVENANTS ON RECORD WHICH RUN WITH THE LAND; RIGHTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, IF ANY, ANY CONDOMINIUM, LIEN PRIORITY PURSUANT TO NJSA 46:88-21, IF ANY; ANY OUTSTANDING PUD OR HOMEOWNER’S ASSOCIATION DUE OR FEES, IF ANY; ANY OCCUPANTS OR PERSONS IN POSSESSION OF THE PROPERTY, IF ANY; ADDITIONAL MUNICIPAL CHARGES, LIENS, TAXES OR TAX SALE CERTIFICATES AND INSURANCE, IF ANY; AND ANY SUCH TAXES, MUNICIPAL LIENS OR OTHER CHARGES LIENS, INSURANCE PREMIUMS OR OTHER ADVANCES MADE BY PLAINTIFF PRIOR TO THIS SALE. THE AMOUNT OF UNPAID TAXES MUNICIPAL LIENS AND OTHER CHARGES CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE LOCAL TAXING AUTHORITY. ALL INTERESTED PARTIES ARE TO CONDUCT AND RELY UPON THEIR OWN INDPEPENDENT INVESTIGATION TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER OR NOT ANY OUTSTANDING INTEREST REMAIN OF RECORD AND/OR HAVE PRIORITY OVER THE LIEN BEING FORECLOSED AND, IF SO THE CURRENT AMOUNT DUE THEREON. **IF THE SALE IS SET ASIDE FOR ANY REASON, THE PURCHASER AT THE SALE SHALL BE ENTITLED ONLY TO A RETURN OF THE DEPOSIT PAID. THE PURCHASER SHALL HAVE NO FURTHER RECOURSE AGAINST THE MORTGAGOR, THE MORTGAGOR’S ATTORNEY

As the above description does not constitute a full legal description, said full legal description is annexed to that certain mortgage in the Camden County Clerk’s Office in Book 10427 at Page 194, et seq., New Jersey, and the Writ of Execution on file with the Sheriff of Camden County.

Surplus Money: If after the sale and satisfaction of the mortgage debt, including costs and expenses, there remains any surplus money, the money will be deposited into the Superior Court Trust Fund and any person claiming the surplus, or any part thereof, may file a motion pursuant to Court Rules 4:64-3 and 4:57-2 stating the nature and extent of that person’s claim and asking for an order directing payment of the surplus money. The sheriff or other person conducting the sale will have information regarding the surplus, if any.

For interested parties regarding Sheriff’s Sale, please contact Auction.com at (800) 793-6107 or at www.auction.com

THE SHERIFF HEREBY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ADJOURN THIS SALE WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE THROUGH PUBLICATION.

For sale information, please visit Auction. at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832.

The judgment sought to be satisfied by the sale is:

“APPROXIMATELY”

$132,611.28

TWENTY PERCENT DEPOSIT REQUIRED

Seized as the property of JANAY JONES; MRS. OR MR. JONES SPOUSE OF JANAY JONES SAID NAME BEING FICTITIOUS, THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON F/K/A THE BANK OF NEW YORK, defendant(s), and taken in execution of FREEDOM CORPORATION, plaintiff, GILBERT L. “WHIP” WILSON

SHERIFF

Sheriff’s Number: 23000623

DATED: March 29, April 5, 12, 19 2023

Attorney: GROSS POLOWY, LLC

1775 WEHRLE DRIVE SUITE 100

$161.16

WILLIAMSVILLE, NY 14221

$180.12

SHERIFF’S SALE

By virtue of a Writ of execution, to me directed, issued out of the SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY CHANCERY DIVISION, CAMDEN COUNTY, DOCKET NO. F00897322 at Public Vendue on WEDNESDAY the 26th Day of APRIL, 2023 A.D. at 12 o'clock, LOCAL TIME, noon of said day, at CAMDEN COUNTY COLLEGE–CAMDEN

CAMPUS CAMDEN CONFERENCE CENTER, 200 NORTH BROADWAY CAMDEN, NJ 08102

https://www.camdencc.edu/about-1/contact-cccblackwood-directions/

Property to be sold is located in the BOROUGH OF LINDENWOLD in the County of CAMDEN and State of New Jersey.

Commonly known as:

831 EAST MAPLE AVENUE, LINDENWOLD, NJ 08021

Tax LOT 6, BLOCK: 37

Dimension of Lot: (approximately) 90’ X 150’

Nearest Cross Street: NORTH HOLLAND STREET

SUPERIOR INTERESTS (if any): Any and all easements, covenants, restrictions and reservation of record; Any set of facts which an accurate survey and inspection would disclose; All unpaid municipal taxes, assessments and liens; Any unpaid assessment and any outstanding tax sale certificate; Rights of any party in possession/ rights protected by the NJ Anti-Eviction Act; All Local, County, State and Federal ordinances and regulations; Any condominium association lien granted priority by N.J.S.A. 46:88-21b; Any outstanding Condominium, PUD or Homeowner Association due or fees; Rights of the United States of America, if any; The property is sold in its “AS IS” condition; Purchaser shall be responsible for the Sheriff’s costs, commission, deed recording fees and realty transfer fees; Any solar panels affixed to the property will not be conveyed by this sale.

Lindenwold Boro holds a claim for taxes due and/or other municipal utilities such as water and/or sewer in the amount of $42.50 and $42.50 plus penalty in arrears as of 2/23/2023.

CCMUA holds a claim for taxes due and/or municipal utilities such as water and/or sewer in the amount of $88.00 plus penalty and $352.00 plus penalty in arrears as of 2/23/2023.

Surplus Money: If after the sale and satisfaction of the mortgage debt, including costs and expenses, there remains any surplus money, the money will be deposited into the Superior Court Trust Fund and any person claiming the surplus, or any past thereof, may file a motion pursuant to Court Rules 4;64-3 and 4:57-2 stating the nature and extent of that person’s claim and asking for an order directing payment of the surplus money. The sheriff or other person conducting the sale will have information regarding the surplus, if any.

THE SHERIFF HEREBY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ADJOURN THIS SALE WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE THROUGH PUBLICATION.

For sale information, please visit Auction. at www. Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832.

The judgment sought to be satisfied by the sale is:

“APPROXIMATELY”

$150,252.79

TWENTY PERCENT DEPOSIT REQUIRED

Seized as the property of STEVEN M. HAZELTON, JR., ET AL, defendant(s), and taken in execution of PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC, plaintiff, GILBERT L. “WHIP” WILSON

SHERIFF

Sheriff’s Number: 23000607

DATED: March 29, April 5, 12, 19 2023

Attorney:

POWER KIRN, LLC

308 HARPER DRIVE SUITE 210

P.O. BOX 848

MOORESTOWN, NJ 08057 $240.16

SHERIFF’S SALE

By virtue of a Writ of execution, to me directed, issued out of the SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY CHANCERY DIVISION, CAMDEN COUNTY, DOCKET NO. F00014122 at Public Vendue on WEDNESDAY the 12th Day of APRIL, 2023 A.D. at 12 o'clock, LOCAL TIME, noon of said day, at CAMDEN COUNTY COLLEGE–CAMDEN CAMPUS CAMDEN CONFERENCE CENTER, 200 NORTH BROADWAY CAMDEN, NJ 08102

https://www.camdencc.edu/about-1/contact-cccblackwood-directions/

Property to be sold is located in the BERLIN BORO in the County of CAMDEN and State of New Jersey, Commonly known as: 52 PARK AVENUE, BERLIN, NJ 08009

Tax LOT 2, BLOCK: 203 fka 3410

Dimension of Lot: 65x100

Nearest Cross Street: HEIGHTS AVENUE

*SUBJECT TO ANY UNPAID TAXES, MUNICIPAL LIENS OR OTHER CHARGES, AND ANY SUCH TAXES, CHARGES, LIENS, INSURANCE PREMIUMS OR OTHER ADVANCES MADE BY PLAINTIFF PRIOR TO THIS SALE, ALL INTERESTED PARTIES ARE TO CONDUCT AND RELY UPON THEIR OWN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER OR NOT ANY OUTSTANDING INTEREST REMAIN OF RECORD AND/OR HAVE PRIORITY OVER THE LIEN BEING FORECLOSED AND, IF SO, THE CURRENT AMOUNT DUE THEREON.

- 2023 Qtr 1 Due: 02/01/2023 $1,230.69 OPEN

-2023 Qtr 2 Due: 05/01/2023 $1,230.68 OPEN

-Water: Berlin Boro 59 S. White Horse Pike Berlin, NJ 08009 856-767-7777 Acct: 9532 0 To: 08/01/2022 $25.00 OPEN PLUS PENALTY $64.40 OPEN PLUS PENALTY; OWED IN ARREARS

- Sewer: Berlin Boro 59 S. White Horse Pike Berlin, NJ 08009 856-767-7777 Acct: 9532 0 10/01/2022–12/31/2022 $62.00 OPEN PLUS PENALTY $186.00 OPEN PLUS PENALTY; OWED IN ARREARS

-CCMUA: CCMUA 1645 Ferry Ave. Camden, NJ 08104 857-541-3700 Acct: 050000363 01/01/2023–03/31/2023

$88.00 OPEN AND DUE 02/15/2023 $264.00 OPEN PLUS PENALTY; OWED IN ARREARS

Surplus Money: If after the sale and satisfaction of the mortgage debt, including costs and expenses, there remains any surplus money, the money will be deposited into the Superior Court Trust Fund and any person claiming the surplus, or any past thereof, may file a motion pursuant to Court Rules 4;64-3 and 4:57-2 stating the nature and extent of that person’s claim and asking for an order directing payment of the surplus money. The sheriff or other person conducting the sale will have information regarding the surplus, if any. THE SHERIFF HEREBY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ADJOURN THIS SALE WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE THROUGH PUBLICATION.

For sale information, please visit Auction. at www. Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832.

The judgment sought to be satisfied by the sale is:

“APPROXIMATELY”

$159,400.84

TWENTY PERCENT

DEPOSIT REQUIRED

Seized as the property of MARION HEINEMANN; MRS. HEINEMANN, SPOUSE OF MARION HEINEMANN; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, defendant(s) and taken in execution of WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR FINANCE OF AMERICA STRUCTURED SECURITIES ACQUISITION TRUST2018-HB1, plaintiff, GILBERT L. “WHIP” WILSON

SHERIFF

Sheriff’s Number: 23000412

DATED: March 15, 22, 29, April 5, 2023

Attorney:

RAS CITRON LLC

130 CLINTON ROAD SUITE 202 FAIRFIELD, NJ 07004 $240.16

SHERIFF’S SALE

By virtue of a Writ of execution, to me directed, issued out of the SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY CHANCERY DIVISION, CAMDEN COUNTY, DOCKET NO. F01032722 at Public Vendue on WEDNESDAY the 19th Day of APRIL, 2023 A.D. at 12 o'clock, LOCAL TIME, noon of said day, at CAMDEN COUNTY COLLEGE–CAMDEN CAMPUS CAMDEN CONFERENCE CENTER, 200 NORTH BROADWAY CAMDEN, NJ 08102 https://www.camdencc.edu/about-1/contact-cccblackwood-directions/

The property to be sold is located in the TOWNSHIP OF WINSLOW in the County of CAMDEN and State of New Jersey. Commonly known as: 29 LEANNE DRIVE, SICKLERVILLE, NJ 08081

Tax LOT 112, BLOCK: 12302 on the official Tax Map of the Township of Winslow Dimensions of Lot: 100.00FT X 55.00FT X 100.00FT X 55.00FT

Nearest Cross Street: ACORN COURT

*Subject to any unpaid taxes, municipal liens or other charges, and any such taxes, charges, liens, insurance premiums, or other advances made by plaintiff prior to this sale. The amount due can be obtained from the local taxing authority. Pursuant to NJSA 46:8B-21 the sale may also be subject to the limited lien priority of any Condominium/Homeowners Association liens which may exist. All interested parties are to conduct and rely upon their own own independent investigation to ascertain whether or not any outstanding interest remain of record and/or have priority over the lien being foreclosed and, if so the current amount due thereon.

**If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, or the Mortgagee’s attorney.

****Advertise Subject USA’s right of redemption: Pursuant to 28, U.S.C. Section 2410(c), this sale is subject to a 120 day right of redemption held by the United States of America by virtue of the Internal Revenue Service Lien(s), if any, SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT to YOJAIRA CORDERO recorded in the Office of the Camden COunty Clerk on March 15, 2022 in Book 12016, Page 1930 in the amount of $18,188.00

Surplus Money: If after the sale and satisfaction of the mortgage debt, including costs and expenses, there remains any surplus money, the money will be deposited into the Superior Court Trust Fund and any person claiming the surplus, or any past thereof, may file a motion pursuant to Court Rules 4;64-3 and 4:57-2 stating the nature and extent of that person’s claim and asking for an order directing payment of the surplus money. The sheriff or other person conducting the sale will have information regarding the surplus, if any.

THE SHERIFF HEREBY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ADJOURN THIS SALE WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE THROUGH PUBLICATION.

For sale information, please visit Auction. at www. Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832.

The judgment sought to be satisfied by the sale is:

“APPROXIMATELY”

$182,004.78

TWENTY PERCENT DEPOSIT REQUIRED

Seized as the property of YOJAIRA CORDERO; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, defendant(s), and taken in execution of NEWREZ LLC D/B/A SHELLPOINT MORTGAGE SERVICING, plaintiff, GILBERT L “WHIP” WILSON SHERIFF

Sheriff’s Number: 23000519

Dated: March 22, 29, April 5, 12, 2023

Attorney: PINCUS LAW GROUP, PLLC 425 RXR PLAZA UNIONDALE, NY 11556 $243.32

SHERIFF’S SALE

By virtue of a Writ of execution, to me directed, issued out of the SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY CHANCERY DIVISION, CAMDEN COUNTY, DOCKET NO. F00648422 at Public Vendue on WEDNESDAY the 12th Day of APRIL, 2023 A.D. at 12 o'clock, LOCAL TIME, noon of said day, at CAMDEN COUNTY COLLEGE–CAMDEN CAMPUS CAMDEN CONFERENCE CENTER, 200 NORTH BROADWAY CAMDEN, NJ 08102

https://www.camdencc.edu/about-1/contact-cccblackwood-directions/

The property to be sold is located in the municipality of WINSLOW TOWNSHIP in the County of CAMDEN and the State of New Jersey.

Commonly known as:

418 WINTERBERRY LANE, BLUE ANCHOR (HAMMONTON), NJ 08037

Tax LOT 1.05, BLOCK: 6427

Dimensions of Lot: 3.43 ACRES

Nearest Cross Street: MAGNOLIA AVENUE *SUBJECT TO ANY UNPAID TAXES, MUNICIPAL LIENS OR OTHER CHARGES, AND ANY SUCH TAXES, CHARGES, LIENS, INSURANCE PREMIUMS OR OTHER ADVANCES MADE BY PLAINTIFF PRIOR TO THIS SALE, ALL INTERESTED PARTIES ARE TO CONDUCT AND RELY UPON THEIR OWN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER OR NOT ANY OUTSTANDING INTEREST REMAIN OF RECORD AND/OR HAVE PRIORITY OVER THE LIEN BEING FORECLOSED AND, IF SO, THE CURRENT AMOUNT DUE THEREON.

-2023 Qtr 1 Due: 02/01/2023 $2,387.78 OPEN

-2023 Qtr 2 Due: 05/01/2023 $2,387.78 OPEN

For sale information, please visit Auction at www. Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832.

THE SHERIFF HEREBY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ADJOURN THIS SALE WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE THROUGH PUBLICATION.

Surplus Money: If after the sale and satisfaction of the mortgage debt, including costs and expenses, there remains any surplus money, the money will be deposited into the Superior Court Trust Fund and any person claiming the surplus, or any part thereof, may file a motion pursuant to Court Rules 4:64-3 and 4:57-2 stating the nature and extent of that person’s claim and asking for an order directing payment of the surplus money. The sheriff or other person conducting the sale will have information regarding the surplus, if any. For sale information, please visit Auction. at www. Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832.

The judgment sought to be satisfied by the sale is:

“APPROXIMATELY”

$239,342.94

TWENTY PERCENT DEPOSIT REQUIRED

Seized as the property of DOMINIC IEROPOLI III A/K/A DOMINIC IEROPOLI; RACHEL IEROPOLI A/K/A RACHEL M. COULTER-IEROPOLI; ATLANTIC CREDIT & FINANCE INC., SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO HSBC; TD NATIONAL ASSOCIATION; CAPITAL ONE BANK (USA), NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, defendant(s), and taken in execution of LOANCARE, LL, plaintiff, GILBERT L. “WHIP” WILSON SHERIFF

Sheriff’s Number: 23000451

DATED: March 15, 22, 29, April 5, 2023

Attorney: RAS CITRON LLC 130 CLINTON ROAD SUITE 202 FAIRFIELD, NJ 07004 $221.2

SHERIFF’S SALE

By virtue of a Writ of execution, to me directed, issued out of the SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY CHANCERY DIVISION, CAMDEN COUNTY, DOCKET NO. F03796415 at Public Vendue on WEDNESDAY the 3rd Day of MAY, 2023 A.D. at 12 o'clock, LOCAL TIME, noon of said day, at CAMDEN COUNTY COLLEGE - CAMDEN CAMPUS CAMDEN CONFERENCE CENTER, 200 NORTH BROADWAY CAMDEN, NJ 08102 https://www.camdencc.edu/about-1/contact-ccc-blackwood-directions/ Property to be sold is located in the COLLINGSWOOD BORO, in the County of CAMDEN and State of New Jersey. Commonly known as 1021 COLLINGS AVENUE, COLLINGSWOOD, NJ 08107: Tax Lot 17, Block 162 Dimensions of Lot: 50 x 175 Nearest Cross Street: Champion Avenue THE SHERIFF HEREBY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ADJOURN THIS SALE WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE THROUGH PUBLICATION.

*SUBJECT TO ANY UNPAID TAXES, MUNICIPAL LIENS OR OTHER CHARGES, AND ANY SUCH TAXES, CHARGES, LIENS INSURANCE PREMIUMS OR OTHER ADVANCES MADE BY PLAINTIFF PRIOR TO THIS SALE. ALL INTERESTED PARTIES ARE TO CONDUCT AND RELY UPON THEIR OWN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER OR NOT ANY OUTSTANDING INTEREST REMAIN OF RECORD AND/OR HAVE PRIORITY OVER THE LIEN BEING FORECLOSED AND, IF SO THE CURRENT AMOUNT DUE THEREON.

2023 Qtr 1 Due: 02/01/2023 $2,058.24 OPEN

2023 Qtr 2 Due: 05/01/2023 $2,058.23 OPEN

Water: Collingswood Boro, 678 Haddon Ave, Collingswood, NJ 08108, 856-854-0720 Acct:

$215.07 OPEN AND DUE 02/01/2023

Sewer: Collingswood Boro, 678 Haddon Ave, Collingswood, NJ 08108, 856-854-0720

$154.50 OPEN AND DUE 02/01/2023

CCMUA: CCMUA, 1645 Ferry Ave., Camden, NJ 08104, 856-541-3700 Acct: 120041025 01/01/2023-03/31/2023 $176.00

OPEN AND DUE 02/15/2023 $1,056.00 OPEN PLUS PENALTY; OWED IN ARREARS

Liens: Year: 2022 Type: 3RD PARTY WATER, SEWER Amount: $443.23 Cert No.: 22-00122 sold: 12/15/2022 To: GARDEN STATE INVESTMENT Lien amount is subject to subsequent taxes + interest. Must call prior to settlement for redemption figures. THE REDEMPTION OF LIENS IS OUTLINED IN N.J.S.A 54:5-54.

SURPLUS MONEY: If after the sale and satisfaction of the mortgage debt, including costs and expenses, there remains any surplus money, the money will be deposited into the Superior Court Trust Fund and any person claiming the surplus, or any part thereof, may file a motion pursuant to Court Rules 4:64-3 and 4:57-2 stating the nature and extent of that person’s claim and asking for an order directing payment of the surplus money. The sheriff or other person conducting the sale will have information regarding the surplus, if any. For sale information, please visit Auction. at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. The judgment sought to be satisfied by the sale is:

“APPROXIMATELY” $299,570.23

TWENTY PERCENTDEPOSIT REQUIRED

Seized as the property of DEBORAH A. MULL; ARNOLD Y. MULL; FRANK BORRELLI - PLUMBING & HEATING, INC; KENNEDY HEATING SYSTEM, defendant(s), and taken in execution of WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST, NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT AS TRUSTEE FOR PRETIUM MORTGAGE ACQUISITION TRUST. plaintiff, GILBERT L. “WHIP” WILSON SHERIFF

Sheriff’s Number: 23000700

DATED: 4/5, 4/12, 4/19, 4/26/2023

Attorney: RAS CITRON LLC

130 CLINTON ROAD SUITE 202 FAIRFIELD, NJ 07004

SHERIFF’S SALE

By virtue of a Writ of execution, to me directed, issued out of the SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY CHANCERY DIVISION, CAMDEN COUNTY, DOCKET NO. F00589122 at Public Vendue on WEDNESDAY the 12thDay of APRIL, 2023 A.D. at 12 o'clock, LOCAL TIME, noon of said day, at CAMDEN COUNTY COLLEGE–CAMDEN CAMPUS CAMDEN CONFERENCE CENTER, 200 NORTH BROADWAY CAMDEN, NJ 08102 https://www.camdencc.edu/about-1/contact-ccc-blackwood-directions/

The property to be sold is located in the TOWNSHIP OF WINSLOW in the County of CAMDEN and State of New Jersey. Commonly known as:

18 EDEN HOLLOW LANE, SICKLERVILLE, NJ 08081

Tax LOT 35, BLOCK: 10904

Dimensions of Lot: (approximately) 75 FEET X 150 FEET

Nearest Cross Street: EASTMONT LANE

Surplus Money: If after the sale and satisfaction of the mortgage debt, including costs and expenses, there remains any surplus money, the money will be deposited into the Superior Court Trust Fund and any person claiming the surplus, or any past thereof, may file a motion pursuant to Court Rules 4;64-3 and 4:57-2 stating the nature and extent of that person’s claim and asking for an order directing payment of the surplus money. The sheriff or other person conducting the sale will have information regarding the surplus, if any.

THE SHERIFF HEREBY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ADJOURN THIS SALE WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE THROUGH PUBLICATION.

For sale information, please visit Auction. at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832.

The judgment sought to be satisfied by the sale is:

“APPROXIMATELY”

$261,729.76

TWENTY PERCENT DEPOSIT REQUIRED

Seized as the property of DOUGLAS MENSAH, ET AL, defendant(s), and taken in execution of MIDFIRST BANK, plaintiff, GILBERT L “WHIP” WILSON SHERIFF

Sheriff’s Number: 23000403

Dated: March 15, 22, 29, April 5, 2023

Attorney: KML LAW GROUP, PC MELLON INDEPENDENCE CENTER 701 MARKET STREET SUITE

$170.64

SHERIFF’S SALE

By virtue of a Writ of execution, to me directed, issued out of the SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY CHANCERY DIVISION, CAMDEN COUNTY, DOCKET NO. F00795822 at Public Vendue on WEDNESDAY the 26th Day of APRIL, 2023 A.D. at 12 o'clock, LOCAL TIME, noon of said day, at CAMDEN COUNTY COLLEGE–CAMDEN CAMPUS CAMDEN CONFERENCE CENTER, 200 NORTH BROADWAY CAMDEN, NJ 08102 https://www.camdencc.edu/about-1/contact-ccc-blackwood-directions/

The property to be sold is located in the TOWNSHIP OF PENNSAUKEN in the County of CAMDEN and State of New Jersey.

Commonly known as: 525 VELDE AVE, PENNSAUKEN, NJ 08110

Tax LOT 2, BLOCK: 1318 Dimensions of Lot: (approximately) 130.66’ X 15.00’ X 131.00’ X 50.00’

Nearest Cross Street: HOLMAN STREET

Surplus Money: If after the sale and satisfaction of the mortgage debt, including costs and expenses, there remains any surplus money, the money will be deposited into the Superior Court Trust Fund and any person claiming the surplus, or any past thereof, may file a motion pursuant to Court Rules 4;64-3 and 4:57-2 stating the nature and extent of that person’s claim and asking for an order directing payment of the surplus money. The sheriff or other person conducting the sale will have information regarding the surplus, if any.

Lien Holder: US BANK CUST PC8 FIRSTTRUST BANK holds a TSC #22-00115 in the amount of $915.89 as of 10/20/2022

THE SHERIFF HEREBY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ADJOURN THIS SALE WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE THROUGH PUBLICATION. For sale information, please visit Auction. at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. The judgment sought to be satisfied by the sale is:

“APPROXIMATELY” $93,490.36

TWENTY PERCENT DEPOSIT REQUIRED

Seized as the property of ODELL L. WALKER, JR., ET AL, defendant(s), and taken in execution of EMIGRANT RESIDENTIAL, LLC, N.A., plaintiff GILBERT L “WHIP” WILSON

SHERIFF

Sheriff’s Number: 23000577

Dated: March 29, April 5, 12, 19 2023

Attorney:

PLUESE, BECKER & SALTZMAN

20000 HORIZON WAY SUITE 900 MT. LAUREL, NJ 08054

AVISO DE AUDIENCIAS PÚBLICAS

AUTORIDAD DE TRANSPORTE DEL SURESTE DE PENSILVANIA

Presupuesto Operativo Año Fiscal 2024 y Proyecciones Financieras Años Fiscales 2025 – 2029.

En conformidad con el Título 74 de Pensilvania Pa. C.S.A. Transporte Sección 1751Disposiciones fiscales, la Autoridad de Transporte del Sureste de Pensilvania (SEPTA) debe adoptar un presupuesto operativo antes del comienzo del año fiscal siguiente, que comienza el 1 de julio.

Las fechas y horas de las audiencias públicas del Presupuesto operativo son las siguientes:

8 de mayo de 2023 – 11:00 AM y 5:00 PM

9 de mayo de 2023 – 10:00 AM y 4:00 PM

Se puede asistir a las audiencias públicas en persona en la sala de juntas de SEPTA localizada en la sede de SEPTA: 1234 Market Street, Nivel Mezzanine, Filadelfia, Pensilvania 19107 o virtualmente a través de WebEx. Se publicará información adicional sobre cómo registrarse para asistir a través de WebEx en la web de SEPTA, www.septa.org/notice

En las audiencias, SEPTA presentará el Presupuesto operativo propuesto para el año fiscal 2024 y las proyecciones financieras y las mejoras de tarifas propuestas para los años fiscales 2025-2029. El presupuesto propuesto se publicará en la web de SEPTA, https://planning.septa.org/reports/, el 5 de abril de 2023 o antes.

SEPTA brindará la oportunidad para que las personas o agencias interesadas sean escuchadas respecto al Presupuesto operativo en las audiencias públicas. Las personas que deseen asistir y hablar en persona en las sesiones de la mañana y tarde o a través de WebEx deben registrarse antes del comienzo de las audiencias públicas. Habrá representantes de SEPTA en cada audiencia para escuchar los comentarios y testimonios públicos.

Detalles de participación pública:

El 5 de abril de 2023 o alrededor de esa fecha, los miembros del público podrán acceder al Presupuesto operativo propuesto para el año fiscal 2024 y las proyecciones financieras para los años fiscales 2025-2029 en la web de SEPTA: https://planning.septa.org/reports/

• Las personas que deseen asistir virtualmente a través de WebEx deben registrarse en www.septa.org/notice antes de las 11:00 AM y las 5:00 PM, respectivamente, el 8 de mayo de 2023 y antes de las 10:00 AM y las 4:00 PM, respectivamente, el 9 de mayo de 2023.

• Los detalles de registro de WebEx se publicarán en la web de SEPTA el 26 de abril de 2023 o antes.

• Las personas que deseen asistir en persona deben estar en la sala de juntas de SEPTA antes de las 10:00 AM y las 4:00 PM, respectivamente, el 8 de mayo de 2023 y a las 11:00 AM y las 5:00 PM, respectivamente, el 9 de mayo de 2023.

• Las personas que deseen proporcionar comentarios orales o testimonios sobre el Presupuesto Operativo pueden llamar al 215-580-7771 y enviar los comentarios o testimonios a través de un mensaje de voz.

• Las personas que deseen presentar comentarios por escrito pueden enviarlos por correo postal a Director, Capital Budgets, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, 1234 Market St., 9th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107.

• Las personas pueden enviar comentarios por correo electrónico a operatingbudget@septa.org

Todos los comentarios recibidos pasarán a formar parte del registro público y se enviarán al examinador de audiencias. Para ser incluidos en el registro público, los comentarios deben recibirse antes de las 5:00 PM del miércoles 31 de mayo de 2023.

SHERIFF’S SALE

By virtue of a Writ of execution, to me directed, issued out of the SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY CHANCERY DIVISION, CAMDEN COUNTY, DOCKET NO. F00093022 at Public Vendue on WEDNESDAY the 26th Day of APRIL, 2023 A.D. at 12 o'clock, LOCAL TIME, noon of said day, at CAMDEN COUNTY COLLEGE–CAMDEN CAMPUS CAMDEN CONFERENCE CENTER, 200 NORTH BROADWAY CAMDEN, NJ 08102

https://www.camdencc.edu/about-1/contact-ccc-blackwood-directions/ Property to be sold is located in the BOROUGH OF LINDENWOLD in the County of CAMDEN and State of New Jersey.

Commonly known as: 1005 WEST LAUREL ROAD, LINDENWOLD, NJ 08021

Tax LOT 6 & 7, BLOCK: 229

Dimensions of Lot: (approximately) 100 FEET BY 100.2 FEET

Nearest Cross Street: SIXTH AVENUE

Surplus Money: If after the sale and satisfaction of the mortgage debt, including costs and expenses, there remains any surplus money, the money will be deposited into the Superior Court Trust Fund and any person claiming the surplus, or any part thereof, may file a motion pursuant to Court Rules 4:64-3 and 4:57-2 stating the nature and extent of that person’s claim and asking for an order directing payment of the surplus money. The sheriff or other person conducting the sale will have information regarding the surplus, if any.

THE SHERIFF HEREBY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ADJOURN THIS SALE WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE THROUGH PUBLICATION.

For sale information, please visit Auction. at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. The judgment sought to be satisfied by the sale is:

“APPROXIMATELY” $99,702.76

TWENTY PERCENT DEPOSIT REQUIRED

Seized as the property of WILLIAM D. CONCEPCION A/K/A WILLIAM CONCEPCION, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS ADMINISTRATOR OF ESTATE OF LUCIANO CONCEPCION A/K/A LUCIANO CONCEPCION-CLAUDIO, ET AL, defendant(s), and taken in execution of LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING, plaintiff, GILBERT L. “WHIP” WILSON SHERIFF

Sheriff’s Number: 23000629

DATED: March 29, April 5, 12, 19 2023

Attorney: KML LAW GROUP, PC

MELLON INDEPENDENCE CENTER

701 MARKET STREET

SUITE 5000

PHILADELPHIA, PA 19106

$176.96

SHERIFF’S SALE

By virtue of a Writ of execution, to me directed, issued out of the SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY CHANCERY DIVISION, CAMDEN COUNTY, DOCKET NO. F00775622 at Public Vendue on WEDNESDAY the 3rd Day of MAY, 2023

A.D. at 12 o'clock, LOCAL TIME, noon of said day, at CAMDEN COUNTY COLLEGE–CAMDEN CAMPUS CAMDEN CONFERENCE CENTER, 200 NORTH BROADWAY CAMDEN, NJ 08102 https://www.camdencc.edu/about-1/ contact-ccc-blackwood-directions/

The property to be sold is located in the BOROUGH OF OAKLYN, County of CAMDEN, State of New Jersey.

Commonly known as:

19 W HADDON AVE., OAKLYN, NJ 08107

Being known as: Lot 8, Block 50 on the official Tax Map of the BOROUGH OF OAKLYN

Dimensions: 40FT. X 150FT. X 40FT. X 150FT.

Nearest Cross Street: WHITE HORSE PIKE

The Sheriff hereby reserves the right to adjourn this sale without further notice by publication.

*Subject to any unpaid taxes, municipal liens or other charges, and any such taxes, charges, liens, insurance premiums or other advances made by Plaintiff prior to this sale. All interested parties are to conduct and rely upon their own independent investigation to ascertain whether or not any outstanding interests remain of record and/or have priority over the lien being foreclosed and, if so, the current amount due thereon.

**If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee or the Mortgagee’s attorney.

***If after the sale and satisfaction of the mortgage debt, including costs and expenses, there remains any surplus money, the money will be deposited into the Superior Court Trust Fund and any person claiming the surplus, or any part thereof, may file a motion pursuant to Court Rules 4:64-3 and 4:57-2 stating the nature and extent of that person’s claim and asking for an order directing payment of the surplus money. The Sheriff or other person conducting the sale will have information regarding the surplus, if any. The judgment sought to be satisfied by the sale is:

“APPROXIMATELY”

$222,216.26

TWENTY PERCENT

DEPOSIT REQUIRED

Seized as the property of SHAWN THOMAS, ET ALS., defendant(s), and taken in execution of SANTANDER BANK, N.A., plaintiff, GILBERT L. “WHIP” WILSON SHERIFF

Sheriff’s Number: 23000681

DATED: 4/5, 4/12, 4/19, 4/26/2023

Attorney: BROCK & SCOTT, PLLC 302 FELLOWSHIP ROAD SUITE 130 MOUNT LAUREL, NJ 08054 $192.76

SHERIFF’S SALE

By virtue of a Writ of execution, to me directed, issued out of the SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY CHANCERY DIVISION, CAMDEN COUNTY, DOCKET NO. F00657422 at Public Vendue on WEDNESDAY the 3rd Day of MAY, 2023 A.D. at 12 o'clock, LOCAL TIME, noon of said day, at CAMDEN COUNTY COLLEGE–CAMDEN CAMPUS CAMDEN CONFERENCE CENTER, 200 NORTH BROADWAY CAMDEN, NJ 08102 https://www.camdencc.edu/about-1/ contact-ccc-blackwood-directions/

All that certain land and premises situated in the BOROUGH OF GIBBSBORO, County of Camden, State of New Jersey, being more particularly described as follows: Lot: 7.02; Block: 56 on the Tax Map of the Borough of Gibbsboro Nearest Cross Street: Driftwood Way

Approximate Dimensions: 100ft x 150ft x 100ft x 150ft

Being more commonly known as: 145 West Clementon Road, Gibbsboro, New Jersey 08026 a/k/a 145 Clementon Road West Gibbsboro, New Jersey 08026

Pursuant to a February 27, 2023 municipal search:

Subject to: 2023 2nd quarter taxes due 5/1/2023, $1,686.75

OPEN CCMUA: Acct. 130004807, 1/1/2023–3/31/2023, $88.00 OPEN PLUS PENALTY.

Surplus Money: If after the sale and satisfaction of the mortgage debt, including costs and expenses, there remains any surplus money, the money will be deposited into the Superior Court Trust Fund and any person claiming the surplus, or any past thereof, may file a motion pursuant to Court Rules 4;64-3 and 4:57-2 stating the nature and extent of that person’s claim and asking for an order directing payment of the surplus money. The sheriff or other person conducting the sale will have information regarding the surplus, if any.

The judgment sought to be satisfied by the sale is:

“APPROXIMATELY” $230,976.72

TWENTY PERCENT DEPOSIT REQUIRED

Seized as the property of ERWIN ESQUERRA, ET AL., defendant(s), and taken in execution of 1900 CAPITAL TRUST II BY US BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS CERTIFICATE TRUSTEE, plaintiff.

GILBERT L “WHIP” WILSON

SHERIFF

Sheriff’s Number: 23000651

Dated: 4/5, 4/12, 4/19, 4/26/2023

Attorney: HILL WALLACK LLP

21 ROSZEL ROAD

PO BOX 5226

PRINCETON, NJ 08543 $176.96

SHERIFF’S SALE

By virtue of a Writ of execution, to me directed, issued out of the SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY CHANCERY DIVISION, CAMDEN COUNTY, DOCKET NO. F01049817 at Public Vendue on WEDNESDAY the 12th Day of APRIL, 2023 A.D. at 12 o'clock, LOCAL TIME, noon of said day, at CAMDEN COUNTY COLLEGE–CAMDEN CAMPUS CAMDEN CONFERENCE CENTER, 200 NORTH BROADWAY CAMDEN, NJ 08102 https://www.camdencc.edu/about-1/contact-cccblackwood-directions/

Property to be sold is located in the TOWNSHIP OF VOORHEES in the County of CAMDEN and State of New Jersey.

Commonly known as: 8 MATLACK DRIVE Tax LOT 2.183, BLOCK 200

Dimensions of Lot: (approx.) 26’X96’

Nearest Cross Street: STOKES AVENUE

Subject to:: Utilities owed $164.47, must contact local tax office for updated payments owed Federal Tax Lien recorded 11/1/2011 BK 9490, PG 494 iao $22,985.36

Federal Tax Lien recorded 7/11/2012 BK 9622, PG 1653 iao $32,549.19

Federal Tax Lien recorded 3/6/2013 BK 9760, PG 1688 iao $10,475.92

Subject to any unpaid taxes, municipal liens or other charges, and any such taxes, charges, liens, insurance premiums, or other advances made by plaintiff prior to this sale. The amount due can be obtained from the local taxing authority. Pursuant to NJSA 46:8B-21 the sale may also be subject to the limited lien priority of any Condominium/Homeowners Association liens which may exist. All interested parties are to conduct and rely upon their own own independent investigation to ascertain whether or not any outstanding interest remain of record and/or have priority over the lien being foreclosed and, if so the current amount due thereon.

Successful Bidder will be responsible for the $350 fee to fund the NJ Foreclosure Intervention Fund.

Surplus Money: If after the sale and satisfaction of the mortgage debt, including costs and expenses, there remains any surplus money, the money will be deposited into the Superior Court Trust Fund and any person claiming the surplus, or any part thereof, may file a motion pursuant to Court Rules 4:64-3 and 4:57-2 stating the nature and extent of that person’s claim and asking for an order directing payment of the surplus money. The sheriff or other person conducting the sale will have information regarding the surplus, if any.

THE SHERIFF HEREBY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ADJOURN THIS SALE WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE THROUGH PUBLICATION.

For sale information, please visit Auction. at www. Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832.

The judgment sought to be satisfied by the sale is:

“APPROXIMATELY”

$315,650.35

TWENTY PERCENT DEPOSIT REQUIRED

Seized as the property of BARRY R. FISHER, ET AL, defendant(s), and taken in execution of BRANCH BANKING AND TRUST COMPANY, plaintiff, GILBERT L. “WHIP” WILSON

SHERIFF

Sheriff’s Number: 23000463

DATED: March 15, 22, 29, April 5, 2023

Attorney: MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC

216 HADDON AVE SUITE 201 WESTMONT, NJ 08108 $227.52

THE STRESS OF ACHIEVING GOALS

El estrés por cumplir las metas

THOUGHT LEADERS

Op-Ed

WEEKLY SECTION

A popular option to

BIG CAPITAL

In Colombia, the new government intends to promote the popular economy, historically minimized and discredited. What is it all about?

En Colombia, el nuevo gobierno tiene el propósito de impulsar la economía popular, minimizada y desprestigiada históricamente. ¿De qué se trata?

By FERNANDO MILLÁN (*) | AL DÍA THOUGHT LEADERS

Bogotá has 8 million inhabitants, an enormous vehicular chaos that involves up to four hours a day to get to and from work and an unfulfilled promise of more than half a century to build the subway.

In the convulsed center of the Colombian capital, perhaps the most congested road with buses, cars, motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians and a deafening noise, there is an office that only now many are learning that it exists. It is a public entity of strategic importance in these times of political change in Colombia. It is in the heart of Bogotá, in the center of the country and should help solve problems that are up to 1,200 kilometers away.

It is called Unidad Administrativa Especial de Organizaciones Solidarias, and in the Google news search engine it only has 26 results. It seems that it was hidden under the carpet so that no one would know of its existence, and it could move as a political fortress.

This was the case at least until August last year, when Gustavo Petro was sworn in as president of Colombia, the first leader with left-wing origins to come to power. It is not an easy task to change the vices of public administration, which has overseen the right wing for two centuries, and to benefit more than 20 million men and women living in poverty and more than 7 million in extreme poverty. This is a key issue because half of the population are in these conditions.

With that name, difficult to remember, which at the end of March began to be called Unidad Solidaria, this entity is vital for Petro’s economic policy, which seeks to change the priorities of the governments of the last two centuries, which gave this task to the interests of those who have dominated the economic wealth of Colombia from trade, industry, technology and natural resources.

That is why this entity is important, which focuses its work on social organizations, a somewhat general term, but which brings together cooperatives, employee funds, community boards, associations of shopkeepers, community mothers... Many people throughout the country, from

Afro-Colombian communities, indigenous peoples, farmers, displaced persons in the urban sector... In short, an important engine of the economy: popular economy.

One of its many tasks is precisely to stimulate the local economy, to promote the agricultural production of peasant families and the economic activity of the communities. But there is something that has a lot of weight in these times, which is associativity. It is not enough to produce something, but to do it well and to be able to join with others to compete efficiently and enter markets beyond the local one. Now they will also seek to enter the business development circuits, with contributions from science and technology.

It should be noted that the mission of the Solidarity Unit is connected in this government with the purpose of peace, which involves truly resolving the historical abandonment by the State of populations in half of the country, exposed for decades to war between different armed groups of diverse origins and illegal economies. It implies deactivating the war, drug trafficking, illegal mining and its economic, social and political consequences. But also, the recognition and respect for diversity and the inclusion of the communities in all issues that can lift them out of poverty: education, health, access roads, judicial agencies, productive projects, basic sanitation, security…

It sounds illusory and somewhat utopian, but it is the essence of democracy, which cannot be useful for some and disadvantageous for the majority.

With that challenge is Mauricio Rodríguez, head of Unidad Solidaria, who, for the first time, has a responsibility in a position of such importance in the State, like many of Petro’s co-supporters, who were always in the opposition. Now they are on the other side.

Bogotá tiene 8 millones de habitantes, un caos vehicular enorme que implica hasta cuatro horas diarias para ir y volver del trabajo y una promesa incumplida de más de medio siglo para construir el metro.

En el convulsionado centro de la capital colombiana, tal vez en la vía más congestionada por buses, carros, motos, bicicletas y transeúntes y un ruido ensordecedor, hay una oficina que hasta ahora muchos se están enterando que existe. Es una entidad pública con una importancia estratégica en estos tiempos de cambio político en Colombia. Está en el corazón de Bogotá, en el centro del país y debe ayudar a resolver problemas que están hasta a 1.200 kilómetros de distancia.

Se llama Unidad Administrativa Especial de Organizaciones Solidarias (UAEOS) y en el buscador de noticias de Google solo tiene 26 resultados. Parece que la tuvieron escondida debajo del tapete para que nadie se enterara de su existencia y pudiera moverse como un fortín político.

Así fue por lo menos hasta agosto del año pasado, cuando se posesionó Gustavo Petro como presidente de Colombia, el primer líder con origen en la izquierda que llega al poder. Una tarea nada fácil para lograr el cambio a vicios de la administración pública, que ha estado a cargo de la derecha por dos siglos, y beneficiar a más de 20 millones de hombres y mujeres en condición de pobreza y algo más de 7 millones en pobreza extrema. Tema clave porque la mitad de la población está en esas condiciones.

Pues bien, con ese nombre difícil de recordar, que a finales de marzo empezaron a llamarla Unidad Solidaria, esta entidad es vital para la política económica de Petro, que busca cambiar las prioridades de los gobiernos de los últimos dos siglos, que le cedieron esa tarea a los intereses de quienes han dominado la riqueza económica de Colombia desde el comercio, la industria, la tecnología y los recursos naturales.

Por eso, es importante esta entidad, que centra su trabajo en la organizaciones sociales, un término algo general, pero que en realidad reúne a cooperativas, fondos de empleados, juntas comunales, asociaciones de tenderos, de madres comunitarias… Mucha gente en todo el país, comunidades afrocolombianas, pueblos indígenas, población campesina, desplazados en las ciudades… En últimas, lo que se llama economía popular, un motor importante de la economía.

Entre muchas tareas que tiene está precisamente dinamizar la economía local, impulsar la producción agrícola de las familias campesinas y la actividad económica de las comunidades. Pero hay algo que tiene mucho peso en estos tiempos como la asociatividad. No es suficiente con producir algo, sino hacerlo bien y poder unirse con otros para competir eficientemente e incursionar en mercados más allá del local. Ahora también se buscará que entren en los circuitos de desarrollo empresarial, con aportes de la ciencia y la tecnología.

Se destaca que la misión de la Unidad Solidaria está conectada en este gobierno con el propósito de la paz, que supone resolver de verdad el abandono histórico del Estado de poblaciones de medio país, expuestas por décadas a la guerra entre diferentes grupos armados de diversos orígenes y a las economías ilegales. Implica desactivar la guerra, el narcotráfico, la minería ilegal y sus secuelas económicas, sociales y políticas. Pero también, el reconocimiento y el respeto a la diversidad y la inclusión de las comunidades en todos los temas que logren sacarlas de la pobreza: educación, salud, vías de acceso, órganos de justicia, proyectos productivos, saneamiento básico, seguridad…

Suena iluso y algo utópico, pero es la esencia de la democracia, que no puede ser útil para unos y desventajosa para las mayorías. Con ese reto está Mauricio Rodríguez, el jefe de la Unidad Solidaria, quien por primera vez tiene una responsabilidad en un cargo de tal importancia en el Estado, como muchos de los copartidarios de Petro, que siempre estuvieron en la oposición. Ahora están en la otra orilla.

(*) Periodista, escritor y politólogo colombiano, editor de AL DÍA

(*) Colombian journalist, writer and political scientist, editor of AL DÍA.

ENGLISH ESPAÑOL Fernando Millán

THE STRESS OF ACHIEVING GOALS

WHO HAS STARTED A NEW TASK AND QUICKLY DECLINES? AFTER THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THE YEAR, WE REVIEW WHAT WE HAD PLANNED. DID WE ACHIEVE IT?

¿QUIÉN HA EMPEZADO UNA NUEVA TAREA Y RÁPIDAMENTE DECLINA? PASADOS LOS PRIMEROS TRES MESES DEL AÑO SE HACE BALANCE DE LO PLANEADO. ¿CUMPLIMOS?

By | Por: GOE ROJAS (*) | AL DÍA Thought Leaders

These days, organizations and individuals review what has happened with their resolutions for this year, when 25 percent of the time has already passed. It happens that time becomes an unquestionable pressure amid variables that become obstacles. On the other side of the coin are the achievements already made and the road already traveled.

Short-term planning, which starts to be programmed from August or September, has several factors that weigh on its results. One is associated with the financial projection, which considers historical figures, but also the projection of what is aspired to achieve. This aspect has economic contingencies such as inflationary risks or local currency devaluations. In real life, it becomes an element of great concern because, if it occurs, it jeopardizes the projected results. It has a strong organizational impact.

In the ranking of the happiest countries in the world, Finland, Denmark and Iceland occupy the first three places. This is not surprising, since it is the result of a suitable educational system, planning and execution of a better lifestyle from a personal point of view. Of course, not all countries have this structure and there are other variables that can affect the achievement of these results.

The private education sector in Latin America, for example, is greatly impacted by the consequences in costs of all kinds, which, to a large extent, are reflected in the value of tuition and in the good intentions to improve infrastructure or to undertake projects to improve quality.

On a personal and family level, inflation affects the family economy, which has another unforeseeable circumstance in job stability. Global inflation, which reached a multi-decade high of around 9 % in 2022, is expected to fall to 6.5 % this year, although it will remain high.

The loss of a family member’s job has serious consequences because of the uncertainty it generates and because it breaks the forecast, which never takes pessimism into account. According to the International Labor Organization, total unemployment will probably reach 208 million people, which

ENGLISH ESPAÑOL

corresponds to an unemployment rate of 5.8 % for this year. It’s a blow to dreams.

Another factor for stress to surface these days when the expected results are not forthcoming is related to delays in the implementation of projects that should be in phase X at the end of the first three months of the year. That is why it is said that “Paper holds everything”. It is one thing to calculate a certain amount of time thinking about the desire to start a project and another that the human resources are not enough to achieve it. Of course. Institutions have more than one annual purpose, and not all of them advance at the same pace. Even less so when venturing into new terrain.

It happens on a personal level. Who has unsuccessfully started a diet or a training project or an exercise routine? And who has quickly lost interest? Many. According to a study by the University of Scranton in the United States, only 8 % of people keep their resolutions by the end of the year. Perhaps we commit ourselves to missions in which we do not have the full conviction or the sufficient mission not to give up at the first obstacle. It is also due to a lack of perseverance, an attitude that many people try and pay off in the long run.

Organizations can count on tools and resources to judiciously monitor the progress of projects and be able to stop the execution in time and prevent harmful effects for the company. And it happens. The level of institutional frustration is managed differently when there has been responsible planning.

The situation is different when at this stage of the year everything is going as planned. We cannot let our guard down, but we must remain firm so that the balance in December is equal to or better than projected.

In any case, we must always keep our feet on the ground and be prepared to make effective decisions in the face of unforeseen events.

(*) Doctor in Pedagogy. Rector of the Colombian School of Rehabilitation. goe.rojas@ecr.edu.co

Por estos días, organizaciones y personas hacen balances de lo sucedido con sus propósitos para este año, cuando ya ha transcurrido el 25 por ciento del tiempo. Ocurre que el tiempo se vuelve una presión indudable en medio de variables que se convierten en obstáculos. En la otra cara de la moneda están los logros ya alcanzados y el camino recorrido.

La planeación a corto plazo, que se empieza a programar desde agosto o septiembre, tiene varios factores que pesan sobre sus resultados. Uno está asociado a la proyección financiera, que tiene en cuenta las cifras históricas, pero también la proyección de lo que se aspira a lograr. Este aspecto tiene imprevistos económicos como los riesgos inflacionarios o las devaluaciones de la moneda local. En la vida real, se vuelve un elemento de alta preocupación porque, de presentarse, pone en riesgo lo proyectado. Tiene una fuerte incidencia organizacional.

En el ranking de los países más felices del mundo, Finlandia, Dinamarca e Islandia ocupan los tres primeros puestos. No es sorpresivo, ya que es el resultado de un sistema educativo idóneo, de una planeación y ejecución de un mejor estilo de vida desde lo personal. Claro está que no todos los países cuentan con esta estructura y hay otras variables que pueden afectar la obtención de estos resultados.

El sector educativo privado en América Latina, por ejemplo, recibe un impacto grande por las consecuencias en los costos de todo orden que, en buena medida, se reflejan en el valor de las matrículas y en las buenas intenciones de mejorar la infraestructura o de emprender proyectos que suban la calidad.

En el plano personal y familiar, la inflación afecta la economía familiar, que tiene en la estabilidad laboral otra circunstancia imprevisible. Se espera que la inflación mundial, que alcanzó en 2022 un máximo de varias décadas en torno al 9 %, se reduzca al 6,5 % este año, aunque seguirá siendo elevada.

Que algún miembro de la familia pierda el empleo tiene consecuencias graves por la incertidumbre que genera y porque rompe lo previsto, que nunca considera el pesimismo. Según la Organización Internacional del Trabajo (OIT), el desempleo total probablemente alcanzará a 208 millones de personas, lo que corresponde a una tasa de desempleo del 5,8 % para este año. Es un golpe a los sueños.

Otro factor para que el estrés aflore por estos días cuando los resultados esperados no se dan, tiene relación con las demoras en la implementación de proyectos que deberían estar en una fase X al finalizar los tres primeros meses del año. Por eso se dice que ‘el papel aguanta todo’. Una cosa es calcular un tiempo determinado pensando en las ganas de poner a andar un proyecto y otra que el recurso humano no sea suficiente para lograrlo. Por supuesto. Las instituciones tienen más de un propósito anual y no todos avanzan al mismo ritmo. Menos cuando se está incursionando en terrenos nuevos.

Ocurre en el plano personal. ¿Quién ha empezado infructuosamente una dieta o un proyecto de capacitación o una rutina de ejercicio?

¿Y quiénes han perdido rápidamente el interés? Muchos. Según un estudio de la Universidad de Scranton, en Estados Unidos, solo el 8 % de las personas cumplen sus propósitos al finalizar el año. Tal vez nos comprometemos con misiones en las que no tenemos el pleno convencimiento o la suficiente misión para no desertar ante el primer obstáculo. Pasa además por la falta de perseverancia, una actitud que muchos ponen a prueba y que en el largo plazo da sus frutos.

En las organizaciones se puede contar con herramientas y recursos para hacer un seguimiento juicioso del avance de los proyectos y poder parar la ejecución a tiempo e impedir efectos nocivos para la empresa. Y ocurre. El nivel de frustración institucional se administra de otra manera cuando se ha hecho una planeación responsable.

La situación es diferente cuando a estas alturas del año todo marcha como estaba previsto. No se puede bajar la guardia, sino seguir firmes para que el balance en diciembre sea igual o mejor de lo proyectado.

De todas maneras, siempre habrá que tener los pies sobre la tierra y estar preparados para tomar decisiones eficaces ante lo imprevisto.

(*) Doctora en Pedagogía. Rectora de la Escuela Colombiana de Rehabilitación (ECR). goe.rojas@ecr.edu.co

Goe Rojas