Wednesday Mar 6, 2024

GOOD MORNING March 6, 2024

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The San Juan Daily Star, the only paper with News Service in English in Puerto Rico, publishes 7 days a week, with a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday edition, along with a Weekend Edition to cover Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

General public, retirees oppose PREPA’s debt plan before judge

By THE STAR STAFF

U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain on Tuesday heard the testimonies of citizens, most of them Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) retirees, opposing the utility’s debt adjustment plan, which will cut the utility’s $9 billion debt to about $2.5 billion but would impose a legacy charge that opponents say will make it difficult for them to make ends meet.

According to the Financial Oversight and Management Board, the legacy charge imposed on PREPA customers to pay the utility’s debt was significantly reduced from 2022. The median bill for a residential household not currently benefiting from subsidized electricity would increase by $8.71 per month, or 5%. For Puerto Rico’s roughly 97,000 small businesses, the increase would be $35.53 per month, an 8% increase. Roughly 620,000 of PREPA’s 1.35 million residential customers will not pay the fixed connectivity charge or a volumetric charge for up to 425 kilowatt-hours of monthly consumption. The legacy charge will be paid over the next 35 years.

The plan will preempt certain provisions of Act 1062017, the “Law to Guarantee the Payment to Our Pensioners and Establish a Defined Contribution Plan for Our Public Servants,” to the extent that they affect PREPA’s retirement system. Under the plan, PREPA will provide funding to pay retirees all pension benefits earned through the debt adjustment plan’s effective date, and active employees will be moved into defined contribution accounts. PREPA’s defined benefit pension system will be frozen and cost of living adjustments will be eliminated.

Freddyson Martínez Esteves, an Aguada resident and former PREPA employee, said the plan is very bad for poor people. He said he lives under the uncertainty of whether he will have a pension in the future, and questioned why residents must pay for the historic poor management that led PREPA to bankruptcy.

Roberto Pérez, a PREPA retiree with health situations, also expressed concern about the fate of his pension and noted that while PREPA issued about $4 billion in bonds under the past administration of Gov. Luis Fortuño, only $800 million reached the public corporation. He noted that the salary of the president & CEO of LUMA Energy is higher than the salary of President Joe Biden or Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Ramón Luis Ortiz Erazo, president of the Gasoline Retailers Association, said the sector has already been impacted negatively by external forces, such as inflation. He called for Swain, the judge overseeing PREPA’s Title III bankruptcy process, to reject the debt adjustment plan. He said gas stations will see energy bills increase to up to $5,000 a year under the plan, making it very difficult for

consumers to pay for gasoline.

The United Retailers Association, which groups small businesses on the island, expressed concern that the plan will make it difficult for small businesses to pay their utility bills. The owner of a cannabis dispensary said the legacy charge will increase her monthly bill by $4,000 and force her to increase prices.

Sharon Rodríguez, president of the Condominiums Association, said most condominium residents are elderly individuals living on a fixed income who pay for power usage in common areas through their utility bills, and expressed concern about the impact of the new charge.

University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez professor Juan Carlos Martínez Cruzado said constant power interruptions are making it difficult for the university to do research work.

Former PREPA board member Juan Rosario said that since 2015, PREPA bondholders knew about the utility’s difficulties and said he did not understand the reasons why the bondholders have more rights than the public, while Cathy Kunkel, an analyst at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, said the funds that will be used to pay bondholders should be devoted to making improvements to the energy infrastructure, which she said has not shown any improvements since the 2017 hurricanes hit the island.

GoldenTree Asset Management LP, Syncora Guarantee Inc. and holders and insurers of 40% of the estimated $8.29 billion in outstanding PREPA bonds oppose the plan and, recently, renewed a petition to seek a receiver to take control of the utility.

In June of last year, the oversight board announced that it would amend PREPA’S Plan of Adjustment to reduce the debt to some $2.5 billion, following a ruling by the U.S. District Court to reduce bondholders’ claims and updated projections for PREPA’s expenses in the revised PREPA Fiscal Plan.

After a member’s death by femicide, AMPR president calls for intensifying teaching based on equity

By THE STAR STAFF

Puerto Rico Teachers Association (AMPR by its Spanish initials) President Víctor Manuel Bonilla Sánchez reiterated on Tuesday the importance of adopting public policies that serve to address sexist

violence in Puerto Rican society, and that teaching based on equity and respect be intensified to build relationships of equality, love for differences and cooperation between genders.

“Since last week, specifically, the Teachers’ Association with other diverse

groups of our civil society have been raising our voices to demand that to address the sexist violence that surrounds us as a country, it is necessary to continue adopting public policies of relevance to this situation and give greater importance to education based on equity and respect,” Bonilla Sánchez said in a written statement. “It is a priority that we make education an instrument for addressing social inequalities and strengthening a culture of human rights, which does not validate or reproduce stereotypes, prejudices and inequities. Today, sexist violence has touched us very closely by taking away one of our Association’s teachers. Marisol, who dedicated a large part of her life to teaching from love, solidarity and respect, did not deserve, just as the other victims of sexist violence that we have had do not deserve, to die because of the mistaken idea that she was the property of her perpetrator.”

Marisol Muñiz González, 61, was killed Monday in Aguada by a 65-year-old man who was reportedly her partner.

Separately on Tuesday, the Puerto Rico Police Bureau stated that according to their records, six cases of femicide have occurred so far this year, five of them classified as intimate femicides and one as a family femicide.

The teachers leader added that “it is essential that our generations are aware

from an early age that no one is anyone’s property.”

“Our life is sacred and no one has the right to interrupt it or end it,” he said. “We all have the same rights and deserve to be treated equally. Education is the spearhead to end the different forms of discrimination and the paradigms of superiority that often occur in some social groups.”

Bonilla Sánchez added that the sad news that teachers have received confirms the need to promote initiatives to combat the evil of gender-based violence. He noted that this Friday, March 8, International Women’s Day, the human “Ribbon of Love” event against sexist violence will take place starting at 10 a.m. at El Morro. “Historically, since its founding 112 years ago, our organization has been part of all the struggles that as a country we have undertaken to achieve a more equitable and just society, it is up to us at this momentous time to be part of the search for solutions to stop sexist violence,” the AMPR leader said.

Bonilla Sánchez announced that, as part of the efforts to combat this social problem, the AMPR will join the Office of the Women’s Ombudsman and the Chamber of Representatives with an initiative that will be announced today and that seeks to extend the services offered to women. victims and survivors of gender violence.

Domestic violence reports rose by 3% in 2023

By THE STAR STAFF

There were 3% more domestic violence complaints in Puerto Rico in 2023 than in 2022, police said Tuesday.

There were 7,146 complaints in 2022 compared to 7,362 in 2023. About 73.8% of incidents of domestic violence reported in 2023 have resulted in arrests, compared to 68.2% in 2022.

In 2023, 82.2% of victims were female, compared to 83.6% in 2022. About 63.2% of domestic violence victims were between 20 and 39 years old at the time of reporting their cases in 2023, while 61.3% of the offenders belonged to this same age group. Of those, the largest age group, both victims and aggressors, is 25 to 29 years old, which constitutes 18.8% and 18.2%, respectively.

“These data represent the people who decide to seek help through the Police Bureau; they do not necessarily reflect all the existing cases on the island,” Police Commissioner Antonio López Figueroa said. “There may

be victims who, instead of reporting [the incident] to the police, chose to resort to the services of the Office of the Women’s Advocate, who have requested protection orders in court. Our call goes out to these people to report domestic violence. Because the mechanisms and aid exist and because no person should experience the ravages of this social evil.”

Police Lt. Aymee Alvarado pointed out that the indicated increase in domestic violence complaints is something that law enforcement authorities consider to be a good sign.

“An increase in complaints does not necessarily mean that there are more cases, but it could be a sign that there are a greater number of victims reporting, that there is more awareness, and that they are trusting the system,” she said. “That is part of what the Gender Violence Emergency Declaration seeks, to increase awareness and with it, prosecution. This, along with other prevention efforts and support for victims, will contribute to addressing domestic violence.”

At the end of 2023, the police regions with the highest rates of reported incidents of domestic violence were Guayama, with 293.2 per 100,000 inhabitants, and Aguadilla, with a rate of 292.2 per 100,000 inhabitants. The Guayama region is made up of Guayama, Salinas, Arroyo and Patillas. The Aguadilla region is made up of six municipalities, Aguadilla, Isabela, San Sebastián, Moca, Aguada and Rincón.

At the end of 2023, the largest number of domestic violence complaints came from the Bayamón police region, which is the island’s largest region in terms of the number of towns and population size. It comprises Bayamón, Vega Baja, Vega Alta, Dorado, Toa Alta, Toa Baja, Cataño, Guaynabo, Naranjito and Corozal. Police recorded a total of 1,023 incidents in that region, which represents a rate of 165.1 reports per 100,000 inhabitants.

San Juan, with its relatively high population density, was the municipality with the highest number of incidents, with a total of 636 reported, and Culebra had the lowest number of reported incidents.

Puerto Rico Teachers Association President Víctor Manuel Bonilla Sánchez

Governor presents Social Reconstruction and Violence Prevention Plan

By THE STAR STAFF

Gov. Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia on Tuesday presented the Social Reconstruction and Violence Prevention Plan, whose mission “is to ensure that we address the roots of violence and get all relevant sectors involved in carrying out the necessary actions to combat it and return peace and tranquility to our streets, communities and society in general,” the governor said at a press conference.

“The drafting of the Comprehensive Plan has been carried out using previous plans, initiatives, strategies and reports from other administrations and organizations, as well as other jurisdictions, from which multiple proposals and recommendations have arisen to prevent and combat violence in the short, medium and long term,” Pierluisi added.

The plan can be accessed through the website: reconstructionsocial.pr.gov. As part of the presentation, a media campaign will be launched to publicize the objectives and actions included in the plan. After its publication, an additional public comment period will be opened to collect input from all social sectors. At the same time, the governor’s Advisory Committee will be establishing the order of priority of the strategies presented in each line of action. Subsequently, public hearings will be held throughout the island to guide the communities on the plan’s implementation.

Pierluisi added that “it was a process of great citizen participation, which included an open call to the public for ideas.”

“Our main objectives are to identify the causes of violence and at the same time provide a new framework of reference that provides tools for prevention and the promotion of a culture of peace and respect,” the governor said. “My priority has always been that what this plan contains comes from our people, because fighting against violence and creating that culture of peace that we want is the responsibility of every citizen of Puerto Rico.”

Executive Order 2023-023, signed by the governor, established the creation of the plan and created an advisory committee representing the different sectors of society. Government agencies were included such as the Family, Public Safety, Education, Health and Housing departments, as well as churches, nonprofit entities, private business, the media and academia, which led the efforts to make the sectors representative of the people. Based on those sectors, work was organized in multisector roundtables and work meetings with various collaborators that took place in October, November and December. A public call was also made to citizens to provide their input.

María del Carmen Muñoz, who heads the Advisory Committee, stated that “today marks a milestone in the modern history of Puerto Rico.”

“The different sectors of our society have come together in open collaboration to prioritize the prevention of violence,” she said. “Together we have outlined specific strategies and together we will implement them because we all need to live in a Puerto Rico where peace prevails.”

The plan establishes violence as a public health problem with an impact on all socioeconomic levels, both from the point of view of the victim and the perpetrator, including the individual, relational, community and social level.

“The result presents five axes of focus for the prevention of violence, because although much is done to address the problems of violence that afflict us, the purpose is to prevent it from happening and to modify behaviors that change the way in which we live, we relate,” the governor said. “An important element of these axes is that the Comprehensive Plan identifies the sectors of society that have to be involved to work on it. Our administration is fully committed to putting into practice the recommendations of this plan, since we take very seriously the responsibility that we have as a government to address these challenges.”

Pierluisi emphasized that each axis contains the corresponding actions that will be carried out during the plan’s implementation.

The five established axes are: (1) the transformation of behaviors toward a culture of peace, which was presented by Ana Yris Guzmán, co-founder and president of Nuestra Escuela; (2) the normalization of mental health care, which was presented by Dr. Marilú Cintrón, assistant secretary of Comprehensive Health Services in the Department of Health; (3) the reduction of inequality through economic development, which was presented by Marcos Santana Andújar, president of the Children and Youth Rights Network of Puerto Rico; (4) enabling the reconciliation of data and interagency services, which was presented by Pastor Otilio Ramón, chairman of the Theological University of the Caribbean’s board of directors; and (5) expanding and promoting public security mechanisms, which was presented by Lt. Aymee M. Alvarado Cardona, director of the Puerto Rico Police Bureau’s Gender Violence Unit.

It was pointed out that, in terms of transforming behaviors toward a culture of peace, work is being done with the equity and respect curriculum that is beginning to be implemented in the public education system. In addition, there are active campaigns against gender violence. and the Family Department launched the We Are Family campaign, among other initiatives.

Regarding normalizing mental health care, the Línea Pas is being actively promoted, the coverage of mental health services in the government’s Vital Plan was improved, a mental health services center was established in the former HURRA Hospital in Bayamón and a new psychiatric hospital will be built with an investment of over $85 million.

“As a government we still have a lot to do. The Comprehensive Plan highlights that to achieve the success we want, we need unity of purpose, we need to all row in the same direction,” the governor said. “Because there is no more important issue to unite us than the prevention of violence. Each act of violence harms its entire environment, impacts communities and leaves scars in the lives of our citizens that last forever. As a people we aspire to enact a society in which the dignity of the human being is inviolable and respect for life is our highest priority.”

Gov. Pedro Pierluisi

World surfing meet in Arecibo breaks records, has $72 million economic impact

By THE STAR STAFF

The International Surfing Association (ISA) World Surfing Games, held recently in Arecibo, had an economic impact estimated at $72 million and broke attendance records, officials said Tuesday.

The economic impact number includes direct impact, indirect impact, induced spending, and impact on international media. Likewise, the hosting of the surfing competition is understood to have a long-term effect on the associated socioeconomic development that could include increases in property values in the area and the arrival of new investors, the officials noted.

“The impact on economic development in Arecibo, as well as in Puerto Rico, reached numbers exceeding the initial estimate of between $10 million and $25 million,” Arecibo Mayor Carlos Ramírez Irizarry said. “Added to this is the long-term impact resulting from the global projection that Arecibo and the island had. It is also important to highlight that we are in communication with the president of the Puerto Rico Surfing Federation and [International] Olympic Committee [member] Richard Carrión, for the holding of future sporting events.”

Grupo Estratega LLC professional planner and president Dennis Román provided the data used to analyze the competition’s economic impact.

According to the information provided to the mayor by Román, the number of attendees was estimated to be more than 150,000 (by the police and the Surfing Feder-

The number of attendees at the recent International Surfing Association World Surfing Games in Arecibo was estimated to be more than 150,000, the highest attendance in the 60-year history of the competition.

ation), making the event the most attended in the 60-year history of the competition.

Traditionally, the International Surfing Association (ISA) estimates that between 20,000 and 100,000 people attend the games. Nine world champions participated in the Arecibo meet, which concluded Sunday.

“I took as a basis for my analysis of the impact on the media and the press, numbers provided by the ISA based

Feds approve Puerto Rico’s Digital Equity Plan

By THE STAR STAFF

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has approved Puerto Rico’s Digital Equity Plan, La Fortaleza Assistant Secretary for Government Innovation, Information, Data and Technology Enrique Völckers-Nin said Tuesday.

“Since receiving a Digital Equity Act planning grant in September 2022, Gov. Pierluisi’s administration has been working with communities across Puerto Rico to develop our Digital Equity Plan, which NTIA officially approved this week,” the official said in a written statement. “With this approval, which represents a great achievement for the Smart Island program,

Puerto Rico will have access to the Digital Equity Capacity Grant, which we estimate will be around $14 million.”

The approved plan, PR Vol. 1, is under the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) funding program, established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which provides earmarked funds to build high-speed internet infrastructure where needed, while also supporting job training. It allocates aid to provide necessary equipment and boosts local associations so that everyone can be connected on the network. It also prioritizes underserved locations that don’t have access to the internet or only have access to less than 25/3 Mbps and unattended locations that only have access to less than 100/20 Mbps.

Jayuya man faces federal charges for child exploitation

By THE STAR STAFF

Afederal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment against Ángel Alexis Vázquez Sánchez, 25, of Jayuya, for alleged child exploitation, officials said Tuesday.

“Once again we call on all citizens: If you see anything, say so,” U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow said in a written statement. “Those who engage in child exploitation and create

child sexual abuse material will be tracked down and held accountable for their egregious conduct.”

According to court documents, from December 2021 to May 2023, Vázquez Sánchez sexually exploited four different minors, ages 12 to 16, with the intent that the minors would engage in sexual activity and to obtain sexually explicit images of them.

Vázquez Sánchez faces four counts of coercion and enticement of a minor for allegedly using a cell phone, instant messaging services and social media to engage in sexual ac-

on previous experiences. The figure of $72 million of added economic impact could fall short if new economic activity continues to be generated in the coming months,” Román said. “The estimates for the event include the direct, indirect, and induced impact and expenditure on the local economy and the impact on international media. Furthermore, in the long term, I am convinced that it will represent socioeconomic development for Arecibo and the region.”

Another element that characterized the activity was environmental conservation, the mayor pointed out.

“It was a pleasure to watch people of all ages and athletes reforest the mangrove,” Ramírez Irizarry said. “Furthermore, the message on the need to recycle played a leading role since the activity was plastic-free. I definitely reiterate that the celebration was historic, successful and allowed the world to get to know the Villa of Captain Correa.”

Puerto Rico Surfing Federation President Oscar Martínez said the event demonstrated the island’s capacity to stage global-scale events.

“We demonstrated to the world the capacity and attributes that characterize our island for carrying out worldclass activities,” he said. “I am convinced this is just the beginning of many other activities in which Arecibo and Puerto Rico will be the headquarters.”

The ISA World Surfing Games were held at Paseo Víctor Rojas in Arecibo from Feb. 23 to March 3. Fourteen athletes qualified to compete in the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The Digital Equity Plan is a planning and implementation program that promotes digital equality, supports digital inclusion activities for territories’ efforts related to residents’ broadband adoption. It aims to ensure that all communities can access and use reliable and affordable high-speed internet to meet their needs and improve their lives.

tivity and sexually explicit conduct with four different minors; four counts of sexual exploitation of children for engaging in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual representations of such conduct; and two counts of transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.

The defendant was scheduled for his initial court appearance Tuesday in federal court in San Juan. If convicted of charges of coercion, enticement and transportation of minors to engage in illicit sexual conduct, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 10 years to life in prison, and for production of child pornography he faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of from 15 years to 30 years.

Enrique Völckers-Nin

Here’s what’s in the bipartisan spending bill to prevent a partial shutdown

By CATIE EDMONDSON

Congress is expected later this week to take up and approve a package of six spending bills to fund half the government through the fall, after months of bitter negotiations as Republicans pressed for cuts and conservative policies.

The $460 billion legislation would fund a slew of government agencies and programs, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the Justice Department and the Department of Veterans Affairs. It must pass in order to avert a partial government shutdown at the end of the week.

Top lawmakers are still negotiating spending for the other half of the government for the rest of the year, including for the Pentagon, that Congress must pass by March 22 to avert a lapse in funding for those programs.

Here is what to know about the 1,050-page bill on track for passage this week.

Republicans failed to win any major policy changes.

The funding levels adhere to the debt limit and spending deal negotiated last year by President Joe Biden and the speaker at the time, Kevin McCarthy, keeping spending on domestic programs essentially flat — even as funding for veterans’ programs continues to grow — while allowing military spending to increase slightly.

Ultimately, lawmakers jettisoned most of House Republicans’ most sweeping and divisive demands, including blocking an increase in funding for nutrition assistance programs for low-income women and children, and halting the implementation of new rules to allow greater access to abortion medication.

But Speaker Mike Johnson and his negotiators were able to secure a number of smaller demands, including cuts to the EPA and the FBI.

The bill would increase nutrition funding for lowincome women and children.

Republicans opposed a bid by Democrats to increase funding for the nutrition program known as WIC, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infants and Children, but Democrats secured $7.03 billion for the program — more than $1 billion greater than what Biden had initially requested — saying the additional money was necessary to keep up with rising needs.

Democrats also fended off an effort led by a top Republican on the House Appropriations Committee and member of the Freedom Caucus, Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland, to start a pilot program in several states to restrict what low-income recipients could purchase with government help through the food nutrition program known as SNAP, limiting them to “nutrient dense” foods.

Republicans won cuts to the EPA, the FBI and the ATF. Negotiators agreed to cut funding for the EPA by nearly 10%, however the real reduction is only about

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) walks to his office in the U.S. Capitol building, in Washington, on Feb. 28, 2024. Congress is expected to take up and approve a package of six spending bills later this week to fund the government, after months of bitter negotiations as Republicans pressed for cuts and conservative policies. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times)

4% because of a change in how the Superfund program, which is responsible for cleaning up contaminated land and responding to environmental emergencies such as oil spills, is paid for.

The spending bill includes deep cuts to the Superfund program, but Biden has signed legislation, including the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law and the landmark health, climate and tax law, that created new tax revenue to finance it.

The FBI, a frequent target of Republicans who claim that law enforcement has been weaponized against the right, would receive a 6% cut in funding — most of it targeting the bureau’s budget for the construction of a new building. Funding for FBI salaries would also decrease slightly.

Republicans also insisted on the inclusion of a measure prohibiting the Justice Department from targeting or investigating “parents who peacefully protest at school board meetings and are not suspected

of engaging in unlawful activity.” Conservatives were outraged when the department in 2021 began tracking threats against school administrators, teachers and board members amid heated and occasionally violent clashes over issues like mask requirements.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives — which Republicans criticize for regulating guns too tightly — would also see a 7% cut, while funding for the Drug Enforcement Administration would increase slightly.

Republicans won a provision making it easier for veterans deemed mentally incompetent to buy a gun.

Republicans used the spending legislation to target a policy instituted by the Department of Veterans Affairs that aims to prevent veteran suicides by flagging to a federal gun background check system when veterans are found to lack the mental capacity to handle their own finances. Under language the GOP insisted on, the VA could not do so without a court order. Republicans contended that the current practice relies on an overly broad definition of incompetence and could infringe upon veterans’ Second Amendment rights.

GOP measures to restrict abortion access did not make the final cut.

House Republicans had loaded up their spending bills with provisions aimed at restricting abortion access.

In one case last fall, more moderate GOP lawmakers helped to sink a spending bill that prevented money from being spent to enforce a District of Columbia law that protects employees from being discriminated against for seeking contraception or abortion services.

Republicans also sought to defund a new rule by the Food and Drug Administration allowing mifepristone — the first pill used in a two-drug medication abortion regimen — to be distributed through the mail and at retail locations.

None of those measures made it into the first spending package.

Judge upholds parts of Arizona law requiring voters to prove citizenship

Voters arrive at the poll station for the primary election at Burton Barr Library in Phoenix, Aug. 2, 2022. A federal judge issued a mixed decision in Arizona’s ongoing battles over voting rights and public trust in elections, upholding new requirements for voters to prove their citizenship but limiting the ways that voters could be disqualified. (Cassidy Araiza/The New York Times)

By JACK HEALY

Republicans and Democrats alike claimed victory days after a federal judge issued a mixed decision in Arizona’s ongoing battles over voting rights and public trust in elections, upholding requirements for voters to prove their citizenship but limiting the ways that voters could be disqualified.

The decision, issued Thursday, dealt with two voting laws passed in Arizona in 2022 by Republican lawmakers, who said they were necessary to keep noncitizens from casting ballots. Latino voting-rights groups and the U.S. Justice Department had challenged the laws in court, saying they violated the civil rights of immigrants and minority voters.

One of the laws created new requirements

for voters to provide proof of citizenship. The other required local elections officials to run checks to purge potentially ineligible voters.

In a 109-page ruling, Judge Susan Bolton struck down some parts of the laws while leaving major pieces standing, saying that Arizona had an interest in ensuring that noncitizens could not vote.

The ruling is unlikely to settle a furor over voting that has raged in Arizona since President Donald Trump narrowly lost the state in 2020. He and his supporters have assailed Arizona elections officials and the state’s popular mail-in voting system. Republican lawmakers carried out a much-criticized partisan audit of the 2020 vote in the state’s most populous county.

In general, voters already provide proof of citizenship when they register for state elections.

On Monday, voting-rights groups celebrated the ruling as a win, while local elections officials were still trying to understand how it might affect how they maintain voter rolls.

Gabriella Cázares-Kelly, the Pima County recorder in Tucson, criticized the laws as “a blatant attempt at discrimination” and said she was heartened that the judge struck down major provisions of them. She said she did not think the ruling would significantly change how her office handles elections or voter registration.

“We’re largely seeing this as a win,” Cázares-Kelly, a Democrat, said in an interview. “We hope we can move forward with some clarity.”

Even now, as presidential primary ballots go out to voters, the election official who oversees voting in Maricopa County has been trying to parry criticism from conservative voters about the integrity of their ballots.

The two laws at issue in the judge’s ruling passed over Democratic opposition and were signed by the Republican governor at the time, Doug Ducey.

In their legal challenges, Latino activists and other voting-rights groups argued the measures could lead to thousands of immigrants and minority voters being kicked off the rolls. The Justice Department also sued.

Bolton struck down pieces of the laws for violating the Civil Rights Act and a federal voterregistration law. She also struck down measures requiring voters to list where they were born and provide proof of where they lived.

She upheld some provisions requiring local Arizona election officials to do their own investigations by cross-checking voter information against other government databases.

But she rejected a portion of that law requiring elections officials to run monthly checks on voters if they had “reason to believe” a voter was not a citizen. Voting-rights groups said that standard could empower officials to secondguess and scrutinize voters’ qualifications based on flimsy suspicions, such as whether they had a Hispanic last name or wore a hijab.

“You just can’t have a suspicion of people, maybe because of the color of their skin or a funny feeling,” said Joseph Garcia of Chicanos Por La Causa, one of the groups that sued to overturn the laws. “There has to be something more to suspect someone should not be voting.”

The judge found that it was “quite rare” for any noncitizen to cast a ballot in Arizona.

Other parts of the laws had been struck down months earlier, including a provision that would have prevented people from voting in presidential elections if they failed to provide proof of citizenship.

Anyone who wants to vote in state elections in Arizona has to provide a driver’s license, passport or other proof of citizenship, but for federal elections, the United States requires only that voters fill out a form swearing they are citizens. Arizona has about 20,000 of these “federal only” voters, and they are disproportionately racial minorities.

In a victory for conservatives, Bolton ruled that the challengers did not prove that the laws had a discriminatory intent. And she said that requiring proof of citizenship, as a whole, did not place an undue burden on people’s right to vote.

Ben Toma, speaker of the Arizona House and a Republican, said he was “pleased” with the partial win.

“The court found that plaintiffs failed to show that Arizona’s common-sense voting laws were enacted with any discriminatory purpose,” he said in a statement.

Since the voting laws passed, Arizona has elected Democrats as the governor, attorney general and secretary of state. Gov. Katie Hobbs and Attorney General Kris Mayes did not comment on the rulings Friday. But Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a Democrat, largely hailed the decision as a win for voter rights.

“Today’s opinion dismantles a blatant attempt to suppress the votes of Arizona’s diverse electorate,” he said in a statement. “This ruling reaffirms that voter suppression has no place in our democracy.”

Arizona governor vetoes bill allowing police to arrest migrants

By JACK HEALY

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs earlier this week vetoed a bill that would have authorized the state police to arrest immigrants living in the country illegally.

It was the first veto of the year from Hobbs,

a Democrat who shot down a record number of bills passed by Arizona’s Republican-controlled Legislature in 2023 dealing with abortion, elections, LGBTQ+ rights and other hot-button issues. Her veto on Monday highlights the election-year tensions over border security as border states and major cities grapple with a record

number of migrants crossing the southern border. Hobbs has expressed frustration with the Biden administration’s handling of the border crisis, but said the Republican-backed measure was anti-immigrant and most likely unconstitutional.

The bill, called the Arizona Border Invasion Act, would have made crossing the border

without authorization a misdemeanor state crime, and a felony for migrants who crossed after being deported or ordered to leave. It would also have allowed state law enforcement officials to detain migrants, and Arizona judges to order deportations.

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Oregon is recriminalizing drugs, dealing setback to reform movement

By MIKE BAKER

Three years ago, when Oregon voters approved a pioneering plan to decriminalize hard drugs, advocates looking to halt the jailing of drug users believed they were on the edge of a revolution that would soon sweep across the country.

But even as the state’s landmark law took effect in 2021, the scourge of fentanyl was taking hold. Overdoses soared as the state stumbled in its efforts to fund enhanced treatment programs. And while many other downtowns emerged from the dark days of the pandemic, Portland continued to struggle, with scenes of drugs and despair.

Lately, even some of the liberal politicians who had embraced a new approach to drugs have supported an end to the experiment. On Friday, a bill that will reimpose criminal penalties for possession of some drugs won final passage in the state Legislature and was headed next to Gov. Tina Kotek, who has expressed alarm about open drug use and helped broker a plan to ban such activity.

“It’s clear that we must do something to try and adjust what’s going on out in our communities,” state Sen. Chris Gorsek, a Democrat who had supported decriminalization, said in an interview. Soon after, senators took the floor, with some sharing stories of how addictions and overdoses had affected their own loved ones. They passed the measure 21-8.

The abrupt rollback is a devastating turn for decriminalization proponents who say the large number of overdose deaths stems from a confluence of factors and failures largely unrelated to the law. They have warned against returning to a “war on drugs” strategy and have urged the Legislature to instead invest in affordable housing and drug treatment options.

“This Legislature did not pass real solutions,” said Sandy Chung, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon. “This is about politics and political theater.”

In recent decades, states across the country have moved to legalize medical and recreational marijuana. But no state other than Oregon had taken the step of removing criminal penalties for possessing hard drugs such as fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine.

Oregon’s decriminalization initiative, known as Measure 110, was driven by growing concern that drug laws were disproportionately incarcerating people of color and punishing people in need of addiction treatment. Under the measure, which was approved by 58% of voters, people found in possession of small amounts of hard drugs would be given a $100 citation that could be avoided by taking a health assessment.

But as law enforcement began handing out tickets, officials found that few people were opting for a health assessment, and the state stumbled in distributing funds to expand the availability of treatment options.

Meanwhile, fentanyl was flooding the region. In Portland’s downtown, streets already barren as a result of the pandemic felt threatening, with people using drugs openly or acting out in crisis.

Overdose deaths skyrocketed. From September 2022 to September 2023, deaths in the state rose an estimated 42% — the highest increase in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (The fatality rate nationwide went up 2%.) Since the start of 2020, Portland’s Multnomah County has recorded more overdose deaths than COVID-19 deaths.

Decriminalization advocates pointed to research that found no link between the legal changes and rising overdose deaths over the first

Arizona governor vetoes bill...

From page 8

Hobbs said the measure “does not secure our border, will be harmful for communities and businesses in our state and burdensome for law enforcement.” She also said that it potentially violated the U.S. Constitution by claiming what has long been the federal government’s exclusive power to arrest and deport immigrants.

The bill echoed a new Texas law — now blocked in court — that has set off a legal confrontation between the Biden administration and Texas officials over whether the state can

enforce immigration policy. On Monday, the Supreme Court signaled it would intervene in the battle between Texas and the Biden administration.

The Arizona measure, which passed with no Democratic support, is one of several borderfocused bills likely to collide with Hobbs’ veto stamp in the coming weeks. Another bill advancing through the Legislature could expand Arizona’s self-defense laws to allow farmers and ranchers to legally shoot migrants who trespass on their property.

Although crossing the border without authorization is already a federal crime, Ari-

A police officer confiscates nearly two ounces of methamphetamine at a park in Salem, Ore., Feb. 20, 2024. Oregon removed criminal penalties for possessing street drugs in 2020, but after overdose deaths soared state lawmakers have voted to bring back some restrictions.

(Jordan Gale/The New York Times)

year of implementation. Instead, they argued, the crisis was rooted in the abundance of fentanyl, a lack of social services, the lingering effects of the pandemic and, especially in Portland, widespread homelessness, all factors that tended to exacerbate dangerous drug use.

But the tide of public opinion was already turning.

The Drug Policy Alliance, a nonprofit that spent millions to support the 2020 decriminalization effort, had envisioned Measure 110 as the start of a series of similar campaigns in states like Washington, Vermont, Maine and California.

But over time, and as images of public drug use and widespread deaths continued to emerge from Portland, the Washington state initiative stalled and did not make it on the ballot. Nor did any other state advance a decriminalization plan. To the contrary, California may vote on an initiative this year that would increase penalties for drug possession and dealing. In Oregon, if lawmakers had not advanced the bill Friday, a proposed new ballot initiative — backed in part

zona Republicans argued that their bill was an emergency measure necessary to curb what they called “Joe Biden’s border invasion.”

They said the record influx of migrants from across the world who slip through the border wall or hike through the desert to turn themselves in to Border Patrol had strained law enforcement and border towns and brought violent crime and fentanyl into the state.

Some federal officials and Democrats have tried to rebut those assertions, saying that most of the fentanyl stopped from entering the United States is being smuggled by U.S. citizens through legal ports of entry. They also point to federal crime statistics that say border towns in Texas are safer than many nonborder cities.

Arizona Republicans on Monday con-

by Nike co-founder Phil Knight — would have sought to criminalize drugs once again.

“For me it has been incredibly frustrating to have this momentum on our side and then have these external factors so significantly shift the winds,” said Lindsay LaSalle, managing director of policy at the Drug Policy Alliance.

The plan approved by lawmakers creates a new misdemeanor crime of possession, which could result in jail sentences of 180 days. But the language focuses on a series of what lawmakers hope will be off-ramps from the criminal justice system.

The measure encourages the expansion of local programs so that law enforcement can choose to take someone directly to a treatment provider instead of jail. Those who do go through court can request probation and complete treatment to have charges dismissed. Those who do not complete the treatment can be sentenced to a more extended probation. If that fails, the person could face, instead of jail, a 30-day sentence that could be focused on treatment. Further violations could lead to a longer jail sentence, with the option of early release to treatment.

Lawmakers have added a range of other measures, including funding for mental health and substance abuse programs and policies making it easier for people to get access to withdrawal medications.

Kate Lieber, the state Senate’s Democratic majority leader and a key architect of the new plans, said the approach is unique — the product of difficult negotiations between Republicans who wanted to restore penalties and Democrats who wanted to prioritize treatment.

“I cannot stress enough: Inaction is not an option,” Lieber told her colleagues Friday in urging them to support the changes. “Our current response to the drug crisis is not working.”

demned the governor’s veto. State Sen. Janae Shamp, a sponsor of the bill, called the veto an example of the “chaos Hobbs is unleashing in our state while perpetuating this open border crisis as Biden’s accomplice.”

A Latino advocacy group, Living United for Change in Arizona, called the measure one of the most “extreme and racist anti-immigrant bills” in years. The group said that it echoed Arizona’s “show me your papers” law, a 2010 measure that required state law enforcement to investigate the immigration status of people they suspected of being undocumented.

Alejandra Gomez, the group’s executive director, praised Hobbs for killing the bill, saying it represented a rejection of “racism, hate and just plain bad policy.”

JetBlue and Spirit call off their $3.8 billion merger

By J. EDWARD MORENO

JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines announced earlier this week that they would not seek to overturn a court ruling that blocked their planned $3.8 billion merger. The decision is a big win for the Biden administration, which has sought to limit corporate consolidation.

Backing out of the agreement will cost JetBlue. Under the terms of the deal, it has to pay Spirit a breakup fee of $69 million and Spirit’s shareholders $400 million.

A federal judge in Boston blocked the proposed merger Jan. 16, siding with the Justice Department in determining that the merger would reduce competition and give airlines more leeway to raise ticket prices. Judge William G. Young of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts noted that Spirit played a vital role in the market as a low-cost carrier and that travelers would have fewer options if JetBlue absorbed it.

The Justice Department hailed the termination of the deal Monday, calling it “a victory for U.S. travelers who deserve lower prices and better choices.”

JetBlue and Spirit had appealed Young’s decision, and JetBlue filed an appellate brief as recently as last week. But the companies appear to have concluded that they would be better off walking away than pursuing an appeal that might not succeed.

“We are proud of the work we did with Spirit to lay out a vision to challenge the status quo, but given the hurdles to closing that remain, we decided together that both airlines’ interests are better served by moving forward independently,” JetBlue CEO Joanna Geraghty said in a statement Monday. “We wish the very best going forward to the entire Spirit team.”

The decision to terminate the deal was not unexpected. In a securities filing Jan. 26, JetBlue said it might walk away. Spirit said in its own filing the same day that it believed “there is no basis for terminating” the agreement.

As part of their merger agreement, JetBlue had agreed to compensate Spirit and its shareholders if the deal was blocked.

“JetBlue has made several valiant attempts and has stretched this deal out as a long as possible. They had to provide certainty for their shareholders and employees,” said Brad Haller, a partner at consulting firm West Monroe.

The collapse of the deal could be difficult for Spirit to bounce back from.

Spirit is heavily indebted and last turned a profit before the COVID-19 pandemic. Investors saw the JetBlue acquisition as a lifeline. Spirit CEO Ted Christie said in a statement Monday that “given the regulatory uncertainty, we have always considered the possibility of continuing to operate as a stand-alone business” and have been thinking of ways to bolster profits.

It is unclear if another company will seek to acquire Spirit. Buying the airline would quickly allow other carriers to become bigger at a time when airport gates and takeoff and landing slots are in short supply in many popular U.S. destinations.

But regulators are likely to challenge a deal that they believe would result in higher fares, which suggests that only another low-cost airline that does not compete directly with Spirit on many routes would be able to pull off a deal. One possible candidate is Frontier Airlines, a low-cost carrier, that had proposed buying Spirit before

JetBlue and Spirit sought a merger to gain market share and better compete with the four big U.S. carriers.

JetBlue outbid it by about $1 billion.

Spirit’s stock price has lost more than half its value since the ruling that blocked the merger and was down nearly 11% Monday. JetBlue’s stock was up 4.3% at close because investors believe the company will save money by not having to close this deal.

“From the perspective of JetBlue shareholders, this is a sigh of relief,” said Xavier Smith, director of energy and industrials research at AlphaSense. “They hope that JetBlue can now focus on other activities that may create more value like further cabin segmentation and premiumization.”

A merger of the airlines would have given the combined company a bigger share of the market, which is dominated by four carriers — American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines.

JetBlue is not the only airline that has sought to challenge those four companies. Alaska Airlines, which has a big presence up and down the West Coast, announced in December that it would try to acquire Hawaiian Airlines for $1.9 billion. That deal, too, is likely to attract the scrutiny of federal antitrust regulators.

Former Twitter executives sue Elon Musk for $128 million

By KATE CONGER

Four former Twitter executives sued Elon Musk on Monday, accusing the billionaire of withholding severance payments worth $128 million after he fired them from the company during his 2022 takeover.

When Musk bought Twitter for $44 billion, he fired Parag Agrawal, its chief executive; Ned Segal, its chief financial officer; Vijaya Gadde, its head of legal and policy; and Sean Edgett, its general counsel. Musk later renamed the company X.

The executives had clauses in their contracts stipulating that they could receive

severance if Twitter was no longer a public company — so when Musk took the company private in October 2022, they were entitled to the payments, the lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, claims. The severance included one year’s salary plus unvested stock awards.

The lawsuit was filed against Musk; X; and several employees of Musk’s rocket company, SpaceX, who served as Twitter’s de facto human resources department after the takeover.

Agrawal’s annual salary was $1 million, and he was awarded $12.5 million in stock that was scheduled to vest incrementally, ac-

cording to his offer letter for the role. In the event of an involuntary termination, Agrawal was entitled to a so-called golden parachute payment of $60 million, according to a Twitter securities filing. Under those same circumstances, Segal would receive $46 million and Gadde $21 million, according to the filing.

At the time of the takeover, Musk said that he could fire the executives “for cause” to avoid paying them severance. He told his biographer, Walter Isaacson, that he would deny the executives’ severance payments, saving himself about $200 million. He told Isaacson he would “hunt” the executives “till

the day they die.”

Lawyers for the executives wrote in court documents: “This is the Musk playbook: to keep the money he owes other people, and force them to sue him. Even in defeat, Musk can impose delay, hassle and expense on others less able to afford it.”

The executives previously sued Musk for legal fees they incurred while responding to investigations into the company. In October, a Delaware judge ordered Musk to pay them $1.1 million to cover those expenses.

A representative for X declined to comment. A lawyer for Musk did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Tech-heavy Nasdaq leads Wall Street lower as megacaps slide

Wall Street fell on Tuesday, with weakness in megacap growth stocks such as Apple and Tesla weighing on the Nasdaq, while investors assessed a slew of economic data and awaited remarks from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.

Data showed U.S. services industry growth slowed a bit in February amid a decline in employment, but a measure of new orders increased to a six-month high, pointing to underlying strength in the sector.

The PMI was consistent with continued economic expansion despite 525 basis points worth of interest rate hikes from the Fed since March 2022.

Another survey showed new orders for U.S.-manufactured goods dropped more than expected in January.

An AI-fueled rally on Wall Street ran out of steam at the start of this week as focus turns to fresh cues on the Fed’s monetary policy path after signs of sticky inflation in February dampened hopes of early interest rate cuts.

The benchmark S&P 500 hit a fresh intraday record high on Monday before closing slightly lower in the run up to Powell’s testimony before lawmakers on Wednesday and Thursday.

“There’s going to be very few surprises for the market when Jay Powell goes up to Capitol Hill,” said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at B Riley Wealth.

“His message has largely been pretty clear post the meeting we had at the Fed and that is ‘we are going to cut rates at some point this year, it’s just not as soon as you thought’.”

Traders see a 67.2% chance of the first rate cut this year arriving in June, as per CME Group’s FedWatch tool.

Among major movers, Apple slid 2.7% after a research report showed iPhone sales in China fell 24% year-on-year in the first six weeks of 2024 as the U.S. company faced increased competition from domestic rivals such as Huawei.

Other megacap growth and technology stocks also declined, with Tesla down 4.9% after its European Gigafactory near Berlin halted production after a suspected arson attack.

Six of the 11 major S&P 500 sub-indexes declined, with rate-sensitive sectors such as technology leading losses.

A raft of employment data, including the crucial nonfarm payrolls report, is also due in the coming days.

At 11:32 a.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 230.86 points, or 0.59%, at 38,758.97, the S&P 500 was down 40.95 points, or 0.80%, at 5,090.00, and the Nasdaq Composite was down 265.11 points, or 1.64%, at 15,942.40.

“There’s nothing out there right now that’s going to cause anyone to move in one direction or another with any high conviction,” Pursche added.

Powell’s testimony and the jobs data will be scrutinized for any clarification regarding the timing and extent of the Fed’s expected cuts to its key policy rate this year.

On average, analysts believe the U.S. economy added

MOST ASSERTIVE STOCKS

200,000 jobs in February, and the unemployment rate held firm at 3.7%.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 90.84 points, or 0.23%, to 38,996.54, the S&P 500 lost 1.56 points, or 0.03%, to 5,135.52 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 24.17 points, or 0.15%, to 16,250.78.

European shares crept to another record high, but reversed gains as investors looked ahead to the European Central Bank’s monetary policy meeting later in the week.

PUERTO RICO STOCKS COMMODITIES

CURRENCY

The pan-European STOXX 600 index lost 0.19% and MSCI’s gauge of stocks across the globe gained 0.03%.

Emerging market stocks rose 0.59%. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan closed 0.63% higher, while Japan’s Nikkei rose 0.50%.

Target jumped 11.3% after the big-ticket retailer forecast annual comparable sales largely above estimates, betting on same-day services, product launches and a new membership program to boost spending.

Microstrategy shed 14.2% after the bitcoin development company announced a private offering for $600 million in convertible senior notes, with proceeds to be used to buy bitcoin.

Tensions rise between Israel and UN chief over sexual violence report

By ADAM SELLA

In the latest sign of rising tensions with the United Nations, Israel has recalled its ambassador for consultations, claiming Tuesday that the U.N. chief was failing to take steps to address a new report finding signs that sexual violence was committed during the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

The U.N. report released Monday, which was largely welcomed in Israel, found “reasonable grounds” to believe that sexual violence had occurred in at least three locations, and “clear and convincing information” that hostages had been subjected to sexual violence, including rape. It said abuse of those hostages still being held in the Gaza Strip may be continuing.

Noting that an array of fighters from Hamas and other groups took part in the attack, the U.N. report said its experts could not determine who was responsible for the sexual assaults.

In a social media post, Israel Katz, Israel’s foreign minister, criticized U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres for not immediately convening the Security Council to discuss the report and to declare Hamas a terrorist organization. The authority to convene the Security Council, however, lies not with Guterres but with the president and members of the council, according to U.N. bylaws.

Katz said he had recalled U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan for consultation in protest of what he said was a concerted effort by Guterres to “forget the report and avoid making the necessary decisions.” Erdan was on a plane back to Israel on Tuesday, he said.

Abandoned and destroyed vehicles remain scattered at the site of the Nova music festival, where witnesses reported seeing rapes nearby after the Hamas-led attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, near the Israeli kibbutz of Re’im, Oct. 11, 2023. A United Nations report released on Monday, March 4, 2024, said that it had found grounds to believe that sexual violence occurred against women during the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attack on Israel and evidence that hostages being held in the Gaza Strip were also assaulted. It called for a full investigation. (Sergey Ponomarev/The New York Times)

A U.N. spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, rejected the claim, saying the work on the report was done “thoroughly and expeditiously” and that “in no way, shape or form did the secretary-general do anything to ‘bury’ the report.”

Despite the skirmishing between Israeli and U.N. leaders, the report was welcomed by many in Israel.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said the report was “of immense importance,” and he lauded it for its “moral clarity and integrity.”

The Hostage Family Forum said in a statement that the report made it “glaringly obvious that the female hostages are going

through hell every moment, every minute,” and warned that the people of Israel will not forgive Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Cabinet if they don’t bring them home.

Ruth Halperin Kaddari, a legal scholar and women’s rights activist, said Tuesday that she was confused by the decision to recall the Israeli ambassador from the United Nations. The U.N. report, she said, “serves as confirmation on the highest level of the fact that sexual violence and gender atrocities were indeed a part of Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7.”

But tensions have been rising between

Israel and the U.N., which is broadly distrusted in Israel.

Guterres has been an outspoken critic of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and has been pushing for an immediate and binding cease-fire, as well as for the release of the hostages taken during the Oct. 7 attacks.

Israel has accused about 30 employees of UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, of involvement in those attacks, and the agency’s head on Tuesday said Israel was trying to undermine its operations. And Erdan earlier called on Guterres to resign for remarks condemning the “collective punishment of the Palestinian people.”

The U.N. report was based on information collected in Israel and the occupied West Bank by a team of experts led by Pramila Patten, the secretary-general’s special representative on sexual violence in conflict.

The U.N. report detailed significant challenges to determining what happened on the day of the attack. The report said it was nearly impossible to review the sort of forensic evidence often used to establish sexual assault, and it noted a deep reservoir of suspicion among Israelis toward international organizations like the U.N.

In the past, Israeli activists have expressed frustration over what they considered to be the U.N.’s slow response to the accounts of sexual assault during the Oct. 7 attack. On Tuesday, Herzog’s wife, Michal, said on Israeli radio that the report was “the first time after five months that a senior U.N. official supports what we’ve been claiming in the past months.”

In a post on Telegram, Hamas rejected the report, calling the findings false.

Harris pushes for pause in fighting in meeting with top Israeli official

By MICHAEL D. SHEAR, ZOLAN KANNO-YOUNGS and ERICA L. GREEN

Vice President Kamala Harris, who has emerged as one of the leading voices for Palestinians in closed-door meetings, pressed for a pause in fighting in the Gaza Strip with a member of Israel’s war Cabinet, Benny Gantz, at the White House earlier this week, according to the White House.

The vice president emphasized the urgency of securing a hostage deal and reducing the humanitarian crisis that has unfolded alongside Israel’s war against Hamas in response to attacks on Oct. 7. She praised Israel’s “constructive approach” to seeking a six-week cease-fire but urged the government to do more to allow desperately needed humanitar-

ian aid to reach those in need in Gaza.

“The vice president expressed her deep concern about the humanitarian conditions in Gaza and the recent horrific tragedy around an aid convoy in northern Gaza,” a White House description of the meeting on Monday afternoon said. It added that “she urged Israel to take additional measures in cooperation with the United States and international partners to increase the flow of humanitarian assistance into Gaza.”

The meeting came as the United States said it would continue airdrops of food that began Saturday in an effort to confront what humanitarian groups say is a crisis for the more than 1 million displaced Palestinians in Rafah, in southern Gaza, as Israel prepares to deploy ground forces there.

Although Harris has not strayed too far from President

Joe Biden’s war message, in a speech Sunday she took a tougher tone in demanding an “immediate cease-fire.” Still, she directed her remarks at Hamas, not Israel’s leadership, and repeated that she and the president remained “unwavering in our commitment to Israel’s security.”

In meetings at the White House, she has been forceful in urging the administration not to dismiss the anger from Palestinian Americans and others in the United States, who contend that Biden has not done enough to prevent the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians in Gaza, according to four people familiar with the matter.

Harris’ remarks are a shift in the administration’s public position on Gaza and are meant in part to address a deepening political liability for Biden as he campaigns for reelection this year.

French lawmakers enshrine access to abortion in constitution

By CATHERINE PORTER

French legislators earlier this week voted to explicitly enshrine access to abortion in the constitution, making their country the first in the world to do so.

Acutely aware that they were breaking historical ground from the grand assembly room inside Versailles Palace, the politicians delivered impassioned speeches about women’s rights around the world, paid homage to the courageous Frenchwomen who had fought for abortion rights when it was illegal and leaped up to offer standing ovations.

“We are sending the message to all women: Your body belongs to you, and no one has the right to control it in your stead,” Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said before the gathered lawmakers voted 780-72 for the amendment.

The amendment declares abortion to be a “guaranteed freedom,” overseen by Parliament’s laws. That means future governments will not be able to “drastically modify” the current laws funding abortion for women who seek it, up to 14 weeks into their pregnancies, according to the French justice minister, Éric Dupond-Moretti.

Amending the constitution is not unprecedented in France; the current constitution has been modified over 20 times since it was adopted in 1958. But it is rare. Lawmakers last amended the constitution in 2008.

The impulse for the latest change was the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022, an issue raised repeatedly by legislators. But the move also reflects the widespread support for abortion in France and a successful campaign by a coalition of feminist activists and lawmakers from multiple parties.

“France is showing the right to abortion is no longer an option; it’s a condition of our democracy,” said Mélanie Vogel, a Green Party senator who has been a major force behind the bill. “The French Republic will no longer remain democratic without the right to abortion.”

Vogel said in an interview, “I want to send a message to feminists outside of France. Everyone told me a year ago it was impossible.” She added: “Nothing is impossible when you mobilize society.”

The Conference of Bishops, representing the Catholic Church in France, opposed the amendment. But in France, a country where calls to protest regularly bring hundreds of thousands to the streets, the opposition was notably scarce.

With the vote, France became the first country in the world to explicitly write access to abortion into its constitution, according to five constitutional experts.

“It’s not stating reproductive choices or the right to have children; it’s a very different language when you say access to abortion,” said Anna Sledzinska-Simon, a professor of comparative constitutions and human rights law at the University of Wroclaw in Poland. “The French are calling it by its name — that’s crucial.” She added: “The whole world is watching.”

The fight for legal abortion in France burst into public view in 1971, when 343 French women signed a manifesto written by French feminist Simone de Beauvoir declaring that they had undertaken clandestine, illegal abortions and demanding that the law change.

Four years later, a female minister, Simone Veil, successfully pushed through a temporary law decriminalizing abortions and offering limited access to health services to terminate pregnancies.

Throughout the special legislative session Monday, lawmakers paid tribute to Veil, a Holocaust survivor and human rights champion, as well as Gisèle Halimi, the former lawyer whose defense of a 16-year-old student who had had an illegal abortion after having been raped led to her acquittal in 1972. The case was a turning point on the road to the legalization of abortion.

“We have followed in your footsteps, and like you, we succeeded,” said Sen. Laurence Rossignol, a former women’s rights minister. She added that French feminists would continue to fight internationally against “those who resist,” citing politicians including Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin of Russia.

“Liberty, equality, fraternity,” she said, citing the French national motto. “And, if I could add, sorority.”

Over the past five decades, the law assuring abortion rights has continually been expanded, to the point that it is now considered among the most liberal in Europe. It includes the right to fully funded abortions for women and minors up to the 14th week of pregnancy

upon request, with no waiting period or required counseling sessions.

Later abortions are permitted if the pregnancy is deemed a risk to the woman’s physical or psychological health or if the fetus presents certain anomalies.

After the COVID pandemic hit, France quickly ensured that women seeking abortions could receive medical consultations virtually, said Laura Rahm, a researcher at Central European University, in Vienna, who examined access to abortion in France for a five-year European study.

“A system always shines or cracks when it’s put under pressure,” she said. The French system had clearly shone, she said.

Still, studies show that 17% of women travel outside their home regions — called departments in France — for abortion services, sometimes because of a growing shortage of medical facilities locally.

And though the law states that women should have a choice of medical or surgical abortions, in practice that’s often not the case, said Sarah Durocher, national co-president of Le Planning Familial, a French equivalent of Planned Parenthood.

Putting the “guaranteed freedom” to have an abortion in the constitution means that will have to change, she said.

“This will give birth to other things,” said Durocher, noting that 130 centers offering abortion had closed in France over the past decade. “For example, real policies so there is effective access to abortion.”

Despite the new amend-

ment, French feminists say that France remains a male-dominated society where sexism persists. Settling into her perch overseeing the session as the president of the National Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet pointed out that she was the first woman in French history to preside over such a gathering.

But unlike in the United States, the issue of abortion in France is not politically charged and highly divisive. Instead, most French people believe abortion is a basic public health service and a woman’s right. A recent 29-country survey showed France having the second-highest support for legalized abortion in the world, after Sweden.

However, attempts to introduce abortion into the constitution had failed before the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The decision motivated French lawmakers to safeguard the practice, presenting multiple bills within months. Last year, the French government introduced its own bill seeking to enshrine it in the constitution.

Just last week, members of a coalition of lawmakers and feminist organizations feared that the Senate, dominated by conservatives, might derail the amendment, but it passed.

“We managed to create this environment, where if you voted against this change, it meant you wanted to maintain the right as a legislator to potentially prohibit abortion in the future,” Vogel said. “So if you are not against abortion, you had no reason not to vote in favor of it.”

She added, “That narrative penetrated society.”

Versailles Palace in Paris, where French legislators voted this week to explicitly enshrine access to abortion in the country’s constitution. (Wikipedia)

Cocaine and consequences: A Honduran president’s trial in New York

By COREY KILGANNON and WESLEY PARNELL

In the clamor of the New York City news cycle, the criminal case playing out in lower Manhattan against former President Juan Orlando Hernández of Honduras hardly registers.

To Hondurans, it is a rare chance for national justice.

The prosecution of Hernández in U.S. District Court on charges of conspiracy to import narcotics has gripped the tiny Central American country and its expatriates, drawing a cross-section of the 40,000 Hondurans who live in New York City, as well as others from out of state and even from Honduras itself.

“He sent our country to hell,” said Flavio Ulises Yuja, 62, who had traveled from Honduras to Florida for a vacation but abruptly changed plans and flew to New York to attend the trial.

The trial is a spotlight on the woes of a country plagued by corruption, poverty and lawlessness. And even as Americans debate weaknesses in their own democracy and justice system, Hondurans see American courts as a venue for something unavailable back home: a fair trial and a measure of justice.

Hondurans are a daily presence outside the courthouse. During the first week of the trial, dozens gathered in the cold, chanting through bullhorns and marching with Honduran flags and homemade signs denouncing Hernández. A woman from Brooklyn hawked $7 homemade tuna-and-turkey sandwiches from a cooler.

Each day, Hernández is led into a packed courtroom in front of a squadron of Honduran reporters taking notes. Hernández led his country for eight years until early 2022, when he was extradited to the United States shortly after leaving office.

During the many high-profile trials held in this lower Manhattan courthouse — including those of former President Donald Trump and the crypto fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried — network film crews have clustered out front with state-of-the-art news vans equipped with lighting units. At the Hernández trial, newscasters have been recording each day’s events on their iPhones and broadcasting the news via social media.

The proceedings they are beaming home detail a culture of corruption in Honduras, one that allowed huge amounts of cocaine to flow into the United States. Hernández, who has denied wrongdoing, is accused of running a “narco state” from the capital, Tegucigalpa, raking in millions from violent cartels.

To the degree that Honduras is known to

Demonstrators hold signs as they stand behind a television news reporter from Honduras outside the federal courthouse in Manhattan on Feb. 21, 2024. The criminal trial of former President Juan Orlando Hernández of Honduras has drawn a large contingent of the Honduran press corps, who beam the news to residents at home. (Jefferson Siegel/The New York Times)

Americans at all, it may be for a history rife with poverty, political instability — and American intervention. This includes the so-called Banana Wars, which began in the late 1800s to bolster fruit companies’ political power, and the presence of the U.S. military in the 1980s, there to support Contra guerrillas fighting Nicaraguan leaders.

By the 2000s, drug traffickers enjoying political protection helped make Honduras a prime transfer point for cocaine shipments from South America, much of it headed to the United States to satisfy its voracious appetite for the drug.

Shannon K. O’Neil, an expert on Latin America with the Council on Foreign Relations, said the trial would hardly reform corruption in Honduras overnight, but that a U.S. prosecution could be a deterrent.

“It does matter when someone all-powerful is brought to justice,” she said. “Seeing a president brought down and possibly winding up in a supermax prison in the U.S., that can have a chilling effect on other leaders and elites, whether in Honduras or other Latin American countries.”

Many Hondurans blame Hernández for furthering the decline of their country, and celebrations broke out when he was extradited.

Sitting alongside the reporters in the front row at the trial recently, sisters Eugenia Brown,

Mendez, 63, a vegetable seller in a Tegucigalpa market who used a common nickname for Hernandez.

Some residents of the capital were taking bets on which figures from the country’s overlapping worlds of crime and government might be called to testify next. Some political allies of Hernández called the case payback for his lack of cooperation with U.S. authorities and expressed skepticism that he could get a fair trial.

But Mario Sierra, 69, a cabinetmaker who has been following the trial on television in his workshop, said Hondurans were “grateful that they took him, because nothing could be done to him here.”

“We already know that he is a narco. We always knew it here,” he said, “but only the gringos could condemn him.”

New York City is roughly one-third Hispanic, but Hondurans — dispersed throughout pockets of the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn — make up only roughly 0.5% of the total population, paling in number compared with groups like Puerto Ricans and Dominicans, and in more recent years, Mexicans and Ecuadorians.

69, and Aurora Martinez, 64, nodded their heads at stories about murder, drug trafficking and corruption. They gasped during testimony that Hernández had ordered his police chief to assassinate rivals.

The sisters, Honduran immigrants, said they had traveled from New Jersey and the Bronx to watch justice being served at last.

“It’s embarrassing for Honduras, but it’s also a good thing because, at the end of the day, we want justice,” Brown said.

Martha Rochez, 60, another Honduran immigrant who now lives nearby in Chinatown, walked out of the courtroom visibly upset and leaned against a wall.

“I want to see him in jail. He made us suffer. He made my family suffer,” she said. “I couldn’t stand to hear what they had done to my country. My back is in pain just listening to the way they acted toward our people.”

Some 2,000 miles away in Honduras, whose population of 10 million is barely larger than that of New York City, the case is a sensation from the Mosquito Coast to Tegucigalpa. Roughly half the population lives in poverty, gang violence is endemic and the country’s per capita gross domestic product is only about $3,400, compared with $83,000 in the United States.

“JOH may be guilty there, but the damage to the country has been done,” said Suyapa

Decades of corruption, crime and unemployment also drove waves of Hondurans to the United States, helping to explain a sign held by a demonstrator outside the courthouse recently: “Narco-government forces people to emigrate.”

Victor Velasquez, 47, stood watching it all and taking photos. He said he had driven all night with his wife and their teenage son from Virginia to bring a friend, also a Honduran immigrant, to an asylum hearing in lower Manhattan.

“These are trials that we can’t have in our countries; it shows the level of corruption we have there, that other countries must intervene,” said Velasquez, who added that corruption in the Honduran government had driven away the nonprofit where he worked, costing him his job.

Outside, Alex Laboriel, 41, from Brooklyn, called it difficult — embarrassing even — to watch his native country’s former president on trial.

“There are a lot of feelings of indignation,” he said. “It’s a pain that isn’t just felt in a courtroom. It’s a pain that we’ve had to understand by living through it.”

“I just wish this were happening in Honduras,” he added.

Rommel Gómez, 40, a journalist for Radio Progreso, called the trial a test for every Honduran.

“It’s not just Juan Orlando Hernández who is on trial,” he said. “It’s the state.”

The Supreme Court just erased part of the Constitution

By DAVID FRENCH

As of Monday, March 4, 2024, Section 3 of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution is essentially a dead letter, at least as it applies to candidates for federal office. Under the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that reversed the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision striking Donald Trump from the state’s primary ballot, even insurrectionists who’ve violated their previous oath of office can hold federal office, unless and until Congress passes specific legislation to enforce Section 3.

In the aftermath of the oral argument last month, legal observers knew with near-certainty that the Supreme Court was unlikely to apply Section 3 to Trump. None of the justices seemed willing to uphold the Colorado court’s ruling, and only Justice Sonia Sotomayor gave any meaningful indication that she might dissent. The only real question remaining was the reasoning for the court’s decision. Would the ruling be broad or narrow?

A narrow ruling for Trump might have held, for example, that Colorado didn’t provide him with enough due process when it determined that Section 3 applied. Or the court could have held that Trump, as president, was not an “officer of the United States” within the meaning of the section. Such a ruling would have kept Trump on the ballot, but it would also have kept Section 3 viable to block insurrectionists from the House or Senate and from all other federal offices.

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A somewhat broader ruling might have held that Trump did not engage in insurrection or rebellion or provide aid and comfort to the enemies of the Constitution. Such a ruling would have sharply limited Section 3 to apply almost exclusively to Civil War-style conflicts, an outcome at odds with the text and original public meaning of the section. It’s worth noting that, by not taking this path, the court did not exonerate Trump from participating in an insurrection.

But instead of any of these options, the court went with arguably the broadest reasoning available: that Section 3 isn’t self-executing, and thus has no force or effect in the absence of congressional action. This argument is rooted in Section 5 of the amendment, which states that “Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.”

But Section 5, on its face, does not give Congress exclusive power to enforce the amendment. As Justices Elena Kagan, Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson pointed out in their own separate concurring opinion, “All the Reconstruction amendments (including the due process and equal protection guarantees and prohibition of slavery) ‘are self-executing,’ meaning that they do not depend on legislation.” While Congress may pass legislation to help enforce the 14th Amendment, it is not required to do so, and the 14th Amendment still binds federal, state and local governments even if Congress refuses to act.

But now Section 3 is different from other sections of the amendment. It requires federal legislation to enforce its terms, at least as applied to candidates for federal office. Through inaction alone, Congress can effectively erase part of the 14th Amendment.

It’s extremely difficult to square this ruling with the text of Section 3. The language is clearly mandatory. The first words are “No person shall be” a member of Congress or a state or federal officer if that person has engaged in insurrection or rebellion or provided aid or comfort to the enemies of the Constitution. The Section then says, “But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each house, remove such disability.”

In other words, the Constitution imposes the disability, and only a supermajority of Congress can remove it. But under the Supreme Court’s reasoning, the meaning is inverted: The Constitution merely allows Congress to impose the disability, and if Congress chooses not to enact legislation enforcing the section, then the disability does not exist. The Supreme Court has effectively replaced a very high bar for allowing insurrectionists into federal office — a supermajority vote by Congress — with the lowest bar imaginable: congressional inaction.

term limit without congressional enforcement legislation. Section 3 now stands apart not only from the rest of the 14th Amendment, but also from the other constitutional requirements for the presidency.

In one important respect, the court’s ruling on Monday is worse and more consequential than the Senate’s decision to acquit Trump after his Jan. 6 impeachment trial in 2021. Impeachment is entirely a political process, and the actions of one Senate have no bearing on the actions of future Senates. But a Supreme Court ruling has immense precedential power. The court’s decision is now the law.

It would be clearly preferable if Congress were to pass enforcement legislation that established explicit procedures for resolving disputes under Section 3, including setting the burden of proof and creating timetables and deadlines for filing challenges and hearing appeals. Establishing a uniform process is better than living with a patchwork of state proceedings. But the fact that Congress has not acted should not effectively erase the words from the constitutional page. Chaotic enforcement of the Constitution may be suboptimal. But it’s far better than not enforcing the Constitution at all.

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As Kagan, Sotomayor and Jackson point out, this approach is also inconsistent with the constitutional approach to other qualifications for the presidency. We can bar individuals from holding office who are under the age limit or who don’t meet the relevant citizenship requirement without congressional enforcement legislation. We can enforce the two-term presidential

The Supreme Court building in Washington, March 4, 2024. (Maansi Srivastava/The New York Times)

PRITS presenta proyecto de ley que busca orientar e informar a la ciudadanía sobre el uso y beneficios del control parental en los dispositivos electrónicos

POR CYBERNEWS

SAN JUAN – El representante José Aponte radicó el martes, un proyecto de Ley para el Fomento del Uso de Controles Parentales Digitales en Puerto Rico, con el propósito de establecer como requisito que se provea al comprador de dispositivos electrónicos, guías para activar herramientas de control parental para de mitigar los riesgos a menores de edad asociados al uso sin supervisión de dispositivos capaces de navegar el internet, utilizar redes sociales o videojuegos.

El proyecto, presentado por la oficina de Innovación y Servicios de Tecnología (PRITS), busca asignar deberes y responsabilidades al Departamento de Asuntos del Consumidor (DACO), con la colaboración de PRITS y de la Junta Reglamentadora del Servicio Público (JRSP)

con el fin de que se provea una orientación adecuada a los ciudadanos sobre los pasos efectivos para implementar controles parentales en las aplicaciones digitales y dispositivos electrónicos (tales como “smartphones”, tabletas, computadoras, etc.). De igual manera, se solicita a los comercios dedicados a la venta de dichos dispositivos, a entregar a los compradores los enlaces que se deben utilizar para acceder a la guía de control parental que publicó PRITS en el mes de diciembre de 2023.

“La supervisión de un menor de edad, ya no se limita a asegurar su seguridad física, velar por un comportamiento adecuado y apoyar su desarrollo en el entorno físico y tangible que nos rodea. También debemos reconocer y entender el mundo cibernético, donde en cuestión de segundos podemos interactuar con personas al otro lado del mundo y tener presentes que estas interacciones son parte de nuestro desarrollo personal al igual que el de nuestros menores de edad”, expuso el director ejecutivo de PRITS, Antonio Ramos Guardiola en declaraciones escritas.

Por su parte, el principal oficial de Seguridad de la Información del Gobierno de Puerto Rico, Poincaré Díaz Peña añadió que “de igual manera, debemos adquirir el conocimiento necesario para utilizar las herramientas que nos permiten supervisar como se desenvuelven los menores de edad en este mundo virtual y poder mitigar los riesgos que atentan contra su salud y seguridad, aunque físicamente puede que se encuentren en la sala de nuestra casa o en el asiento trasero de

nuestro vehículo”.

Asimismo, el representante José Aponte indicó que “la protección de nuestros niños es un asunto medular para el desarrollo de Puerto Rico. Esta medida es una de avanzada que viene a atender una necesidad apremiante, que solo se agrava con el uso, cada vez más frecuente, de algoritmos de Inteligencia Artificial. Agradezco al director ejecutivo de PRITS por discutir este asunto con nosotros y traernos este proyecto que hoy radicamos y el cual espero que se convierta en ley lo antes posible, porque como he expresado anteriormente, este es un asunto a seguridad de nuestros menores de edad”, sostuvo el también representante por acumulación, quien desde principios de 2023 viene alertando sobre los riesgos de menores en la Internet y plataformas como Tik Tok, Snapchat e Instagram, entre otros.

Reconociendo que uno de los problemas fundamentales para la supervisión de los menores de edad en el espacio cibernético es la falta de conocimiento sobre los controles parentales por parte de los adultos que adquieren estos dispositivos para uso de los menores, PRITS creó una guía de control parental que consolida las instrucciones para utilizar las herramientas de control parental de dispositivos móviles, redes sociales, consolas de videojuegos y juegos en línea comúnmente utilizados por los menores de edad. Aunque los controles parentales son una herramienta de prevención, la guía también incluye los números de las autoridades a llamar para reportar sospechas de o crímenes cibernéticos confirmados.

Comisión para la Seguridad en el Tránsito refuerza campaña para respetar los cruces peatonales

POR CYBERNEWS

SAN JUAN – La concienciación de los conductores sobre la importancia de respetar los cruces peatonales es la punta de lanza de la renovada campaña educativa “Ponte en sus zapatos”, promovida por la Comisión para la Seguridad en el Tránsito (CST), trascendió el martes.

“Continuamos enfocados en trabajar para reducir en este año la estadística con la que finalizó el 2023”, manifestó el director ejecutivo de la CST, Luis Rodríguez Díaz en declaraciones escritas.

“Una sola vida que se pierda en nuestras carreteras es demasiado, por lo que vamos a dar la batalla para que seamos conductores y peatones más conscientes, más responsables y tengamos una policía vigilante del cumplimiento estricto de la ley y presta para actuar de inmediato dentro del marco que nuestro ordenamiento confiere”, añadió el funcionario.

Este esfuerzo destacado durante la semana del 4 al 10 de marzo cuenta con la participación de orga-

nismos de seguridad del estado y municipales, prestos a fortalecer el cumplimiento estricto de la ley e informar a los conductores.

Junto a la División de Tránsito de la Policía de Puerto Rico, los cuerpos policiales de nueve municipios participan de la importante inversión económica que totaliza $125,687.12 en fondos federales. Estos son: San Juan, Guaynabo, Hatillo, Isabela, Ponce, Camuy, Aguadilla, Bayamón y Vega Baja.

Al cierre del año 2023, la Policía de Puerto Rico contabilizó un total de 299 fatalidades en las carreteras, de éstas, 85 eran peatones, 18 muertes más, en comparación con las 67 que se reportaron en el año 2022.

“Como parte del compromiso del gobernador Pedro Pierluisi, reforzamos esta campaña para proteger al peatón y educar a los conductores. Respetar las líneas blancas que designan los espacios y cruces peatonales, así como las aceras, es deber de todos”, reafirmó Rodríguez Díaz. Todo aquel conductor que no respete el cruce peatonal se expone a una multa

de $150.00.

El ejecutivo de la CST reveló que, según las estadísticas, el 80% de las muertes de peatones son hombres y una amplia mayoría sucede en horario de 6:00 p.m. a 5:59 a.m.

“Con esta campaña queremos lograr un cambio en la conducta errónea de obstruir el paso seguro de los peatones. Debemos tener un alto grado de civismo y empatía, lo que redundará en una baja exponencial de muertes en este renglón”, finalizó Rodríguez Díaz.

‘Dune’ fans, here’s a documentary that will blow your mind

By ALISSA WILKINSON

This week sees the release of “Dune: Part Two,” the second installment in Denis Villeneuve’s eye-popping adaptation of the 1965 Frank Herbert novel. “Dune” was also adapted in 1984, by David Lynch, who hated his version (or the cut that made it to theaters, anyhow) so much that he disavowed it.

Perhaps you’ve seen the Lynch version, which I find kind of charming in its flawed state. (Nobody should be that sweaty on the planet Arrakis.) But if you’re heading to “Dune: Part Two” this weekend, you owe it to yourself to be acquainted with another “Dune” adaptation that doesn’t technically exist and, somehow, is also larger than life.

I’m speaking of the “Dune” we glimpse in Frank Pavich’s 2014 documentary “Jodorowsky’s Dune” (streaming on Max). It chronicles the “Dune” adaptation that never happened, the bright dream of avant-garde filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky (who did

make “El Topo” and “The Holy Mountain”).

“Jodorowsky’s Dune” is a chronicle of a man — to mix my literary allusions — on a quixotic quest for his personal white whale. Jodorowsky was hired in 1974 to direct the adaptation, and his vision was gargantuan. Over the next several years, he worked with producer Michel Seydoux (grand-uncle of actress Léa Seydoux, who appears in “Dune: Part Two”) to wrangle artists, musicians and actors for the project. Pink Floyd was set to record some of the music. He wanted Salvador Dalí to play the emperor. (Dalí asked for $100,000 per hour on set; I’d wager Christopher Walken, the emperor in the new film, did not quite reach those heights.) Jodorowsky also wanted Gloria Swanson, Mick Jagger, Udo Kier, David Carradine, Orson Welles and more to star. Jodorowsky cast his 12-year-old son to play Paul Atreides, the role filled in this version by Timothée Chalamet. To judge by his screenplay, the film would have lasted 14 hours.

‘Problemista’ review: Craven new world

By AMY NICHOLSON

Comedian Julio Torres presents himself like an alien from outer space, an unsmiling observer of Earth paraphernalia. Born in El Salvador, but seeming to hail from somewhere between Andy Kaufman’s fictional Caspiar and Mork’s planet Ork, Torres uses his stand-up; his “Saturday Night Live” skits (he wrote for the show from 2016 to 2019); and, now, his eccentric filmmaking debut, “Problemista,” to indulge his fixations, including plastic toys and ostentatious sinks.

Torres can anthropomorphize any object — his 2019 one-man special, “My Favorite Shapes by Julio Torres,” explores the psyche of the airplane curtain dividing first class from coach — but he has barely taken interest in humanity. The most telling line in “Shapes,” for which he adorned his body with astral flecks of silver glitter, is when Torres announces he will “abruptly do some impressions at you,” emphasizing his refusal to extend himself toward the other beings in the room.

Yet “Problemista,” which Torres wrote, directed and stars in, reveals a new willingness to tell a relatable story with a riveting sketch of an honest-to-goodness person. The

film is a loosely autobiographical recounting of his ordeal to find an employer willing to sponsor his immigration visa (fittingly, he secured one that deems him “an alien of extraordinary ability”), and Torres’ miseries are familiar to anyone who’s been short of cash in a new city: consistent scrimping and soul-sucking hours sifting through fishy online jobs. Craigslist, embodied by Larry Owens, appears as a junkyard necromancer urging gig seekers to click on a posting labeled “cleaning boy kink.”

The need to kowtow seems to have scarred Torres. But the character to watch isn’t his analogue, Alejandro, an aspiring toymaker who tiptoes across the screen as if Torres is wearing a Halloween costume of a shy and ordinary person. (The cowlick is overkill.) Instead, it’s his boss, Elizabeth (Tilda Swinton), an art critic who sorta-kinda hires Alejandro to assemble a gallery show of paintings by her cryogenically frozen husband, Bobby (RZA). (Torres himself was an archivist for artist John Heliker and gleefully vents about database software FileMaker Pro.)

Argumentative, venomous and perennially aggrieved, Elizabeth is an embittered New Yorker who spends a quarter of her

screen time screaming at tech support over the phone. She’s the kind of malcontent who will, in all sincerity, accuse people of being “in cahoots.” Swinton plays her with her fingernails curled, like a badger looking for a fight. It’s a frightful and gargantuan performance that should come with a trigger warning. I’ve met an Elizabeth. You probably have, too.

Torres’ extravagant visual metaphors include golden keys, angsty dolls, cryptic eggs, fantastical play sets and floating hourglasses that vanish when a visa seeker’s residency is up. It’s a social problem drama with the frippery of a Michel Gondry romance; Torres is as invested in systemic inequality as Gondry is in heartbreak. The whimsy works because the bureaucracy is just as absurd. When a lawyer (Laith Nakli) tells Alejandro that he needs $6,000 to file his paperwork, yet it’s illegal for him to hold a job, our broke hero imagines himself in a maze of stairs, an escape room with no way out.

There’s a too-muchness about “Problemista” that feels like a charm bracelet manacled around your wrist. The barrage is at its best when we’re meant to feel overwhelmed. As Elizabeth launches into one of her rants, the score bristles, invisible gremlins start to

All of this is wild, but what makes the documentary so fascinating is the storyboards, which Jodorowsky created with artist Jean (Moebius) Giraud — 3,000 images that covered the entire film and are just as psychedelic as you might expect. The production ran out of money and Jodorowsky’s vision never came to fruition. Eventually the film rights lapsed and were scooped up by Dino De Laurentiis, who, after his own long and winding road, hired Lynch.

The documentary is almost certainly the only cinematic version of Jodorowsky’s “Dune” we’ll ever see. Through interviews with a bevy of people who were involved or who admired what it might have been, the documentary makes the case, pretty compellingly, that even the nonexistent movie had an outsize influence on science fiction. And the film is a great peek into how miraculous it is that any movie ever gets made — a fitting frame of mind to enter before seeing Villeneuve’s epic.

mutter, and we’re transcended into a hellscape patrolled by Swinton in a series of increasingly spiked blouses. The chaos melds into an aria of panic.

But anyone who has scraped by in a miserable gig will recognize — and be retraumatized by — the film’s more mundane torments, like Elizabeth’s assumption that Alejandro can float the cash to overnight her a package. From personality to hair to puffed sleeves, she takes up so much space that you can hear Torres accusing people like her of preventing younger generations from finding a foothold in the city. The storage unit for Bobby’s freezer is bigger than Alejandro’s bedroom.

And yet, the film comes around to admiring Elizabeth, a little, for rejecting today’s impersonal digitalized world. In scene after scene, she attacks unaccommodating employees who explain that they’re just following rules. Our empathy is with the 20- and 30-something workers who’ve been trained to act like bland robots and, like Alejandro, are just trying to make rent.

Still, Elizabeth’s insistence that she will not settle for being a cog in the machine becomes the movie’s battle cry. “Serve me! Serve me!” she wails. “Human being! Human being!”

‘Problemista’: Rated R for language and a sortie into cleaning boy kink. Running time: 1 hour 38 minutes. In theaters.

With Richard Lewis, kvetching was charismatic

By JASON ZINOMAN

In the 1980s, Jewish characters were scarce on television. There were broadcasters (Howard Cosell) and the occasional talk show host (Joan Rivers), but no Jews leading a cast on prime time. Then in the final year of the decade, that changed, and a glut of anxious men arrived, kvetching, quipping and dating shiksas.

Jackie Mason had his own sitcom, short-lived; Jerry Seinfeld had his, a classic. Then the following year, Rob Morrow played a Jewish doctor fish-out-of-watering in Alaska on “Northern Exposure.” But to my young Jewish eyes, none of them was as charismatic as Richard Lewis on the sitcom “Anything but Love.”

Constantly grappling with a thick mane of hair, he played a smart Chicago journalist who charmed his love interest, played by Jamie Lee Curtis, whose royal status back then was derived from being pursued by an only slightly more relentless man in “Halloween.” Whereas Michael Myers paced calmly in a silly jumpsuit, Lewis bellyached in moody black outfits. For those who know him as the cranky friend of Larry David on “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” it may be a surprise that Richard Lewis, who died at 76 last week, cut a seductive figure: clever, cool, darkly morose.

“Anything but Love” didn’t have the inspired absurdity or cutting wit of “Seinfeld,” and it began with the most sentimental theme song in the history of television. (Second place: “Family Ties.”) But Lewis brought a nervy energy that pushed against the saccharine instincts of network sitcoms. If he seemed like a new kind of Jewish neurotic comic, he built this persona in comedy clubs. His stand-up was full of stories about his love life that somehow managed to be self-deprecating and glamorous. He once told David Letterman, “The woman I’m with now insisted on having intercourse only with a raven on her shoulder.”

Lewis belonged to a class of young stand-ups, like Seinfeld and Bill Maher, who were influenced by the acerbic Everyman persona of Robert Klein. But Lewis eventually developed a frenetic, jazzy style that also owed something to chaos agents like Mel Brooks and Robin Williams. His jokes were delivered with rollicking

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energy, making misery a full-body exercise, slumping, pacing and, most of all, gesticulating. His comedy had choreography, a visual language of pointing, air-sawing and face clasps. To say he talked with his hands seems insufficient. His whole body never shut up.

Lewis was a student of comedy, and the first of several times he responded to stories I wrote, he took issue with a piece examining how the humor of Lenny Bruce held up. In a letter to the editor, he began saying my article was “aggravating.” This felt like a small triumph because what’s more fun than Richard Lewis aggravated?

While his subject matter tended to be different, less political, than that of Bruce, Lewis shared a similar dogged commitment and unruly spontaneity. He didn’t like to perform a set the same way twice. He could wander, searching for something hilarious rather than relying on what worked. This had high risks. I once saw a frustrating show of his that seemed to have far more setups than punchlines, with jokes that didn’t go off on tangents so much as live there. On an episode of “The Tonight Show,” he went so long that he plowed through the commercial break despite a producer telling him to wrap it up. For that he earned a ban from the show that ended

soon after he pleaded with Johnny Carson for forgiveness. Lewis was too good a talk show guest to abandon, precisely because of his unpredictability and insistence on finding the really funny part of his story. He worked well with and off other comics, including Richard Belzer, with whom he started as a stand-up in New York. Tied to a tour they did in 2009, The New York Times profiled them and Lewis joked that inevitably the interviewer would boil them down to: “He was a Jew, and he wore a black suit.”

But his finest sparring partner was his oldest friend, Larry David, whose improvised scripts on “Curb Your Enthusiasm” allowed them to bring their ferocious comic bickering to full flourish.

Their clashes, a mix of hostility and affection, spite and delight, always felt well-matched. There are many great faceoffs, from an operatic guilt trip an ill Lewis lays on David about giving up a kidney to a bruising wrestling match outside a jewelry store in the first season when David (a “Three Stooges” devotee) knocks his friend to the ground and shoves him out a door.

Two decades of scene-stealing on “Curb Your Enthusiasm” radically shifted his career and gave him a final act that outshined the earlier ones. It’s apt that in the last episode that aired before he died, Lewis infuriates his friend by saying he was putting David in his will. David says he doesn’t want that. Lewis doesn’t care. “I am making a Shermanesque statement now about the will,” David says. To which Lewis responds: “I’m sick of your historical references.”

Even though he looked frail in the episode, sitting in a golf cart, dressed in black, Lewis played his greatest hits: grousing, guilting (“Don’t hurt my feelings”) and bullying “(“You have to accept”). David does not go easy on him, pushing back by saying the real motive is to manipulate him into returning the favor, will for will.

Then Lewis tries being offended, calling it a low point in their friendship, but has to admit about the accusation: “It makes a kind of sense.”

Lewis was always a tiny bit quicker to concede a point than David. From Season 6, in the middle of a raging battle, David mocked his pronunciation of bin Laden, saying it sounded like Ben Laden, Lewis concurred, adding that he made the terrorist sound like “a shirt maker in Manhattan.”

Like comedy, fighting can be ugly, but not always. Besides being hilarious, when David and Lewis went at each other, their back and forth was rooted in love and, perversely, joy. These cantankerous Brooklyn Jews made harangues seem like hugs.

It’s why Larry David wasn’t going to let death prevent him from getting the last word. In a statement released Wednesday, David wrote of Richard Lewis: “Today he made me sob and for that I’ll never forgive him.”

It was another way of saying: You could end a life but not the bit.

Richard Lewis as the love interest for Jamie Lee Curtis on the sitcom “Anything but Love.”

Why high blood pressure matters to your health

By LIZ SZABO

Nearly half of American adults have high blood pressure — but only a quarter of those with the condition have it under control, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

High blood pressure “is a smoldering public health crisis,” said Dr. Rishi Wadhera, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and an author of new research showing that blood pressure screenings have not returned to what they were before the coronavirus pandemic.

High blood pressure can raise the risk of heart attack, stroke, pregnancy complications and other health problems, but the symptoms are “often silent,” Wadhera said.

“I worry it flies under the radar for many patients,” he added.

High blood pressure can raise the risk of heart attack, stroke, pregnancy complications and other health problems, but the symptoms are “often silent,” Wadhera said.

Here’s what to know about the issue, and how to get your blood pressure under control.

What is blood pressure? And what’s a normal level?

Blood pressure is the force that blood exerts against artery walls in the heart, said Dr. Jim Liu, a cardiologist at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. You’ll always hear your blood pressure given as two numbers: The top number, known as systolic pressure, measures that force when the heart contracts. The bottom number, known as diastolic pressure, gauges the force when the heart muscle relaxes. It’s measured in units known as millimeters of mercury, or mm Hg.

You can have your blood pressure checked during a medical appointment or at a pharmacy, or you can check it yourself with a home monitor. The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology define normal blood pressure as below 120/80 mm Hg. The CDC defines high blood pressure as 130/80 mm Hg or higher.

Very high blood pressure can cause symptoms including severe headaches, chest pain and dizziness. For many people, however, blood pressure increases too gradually for them to notice these issues, Liu said.

Why is high blood pressure harmful?

High blood pressure forces the heart to work harder to pump blood. Over time, the overwhelmed heart can slowly start to falter and struggle to pump

blood out to the rest of the body, a condition called heart failure.

The force and friction of high blood pressure can also injure the delicate lining of the arteries, Liu said. Tears in the artery wall allow LDL cholesterol — also known as the “bad” cholesterol — to latch on and form clumps, or plaques, in these gaps. This can block blood flow and, in some patients, cause a heart attack.

Blockages in arteries that carry blood to the brain can lead to a stroke. Long-term damage to blood vessels in the brain can also lead to a condition called vascular dementia, Liu said.

What leads to high blood pressure?

All arteries stiffen over time, leading blood pressure to climb steadily as people age. By age 75, an estimated 80% of men and 86% of women in the United States have high blood pressure.

Multiple risk factors have been linked to high blood pressure, including smoking, heavy drinking, obesity and chronic stress. A lack of exercise and diets high in sodium and processed foods have also been associated with an increased risk of hypertension.

How can you reduce your blood pressure?

For some people, lifestyle changes can be as powerful as medication, said Dr. Martha Gulati, director of preventive cardiology at the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. She recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise a

day and sleeping seven to nine hours a night, both of which are associated with lower blood pressure. Maintaining or achieving a healthy body weight can also reduce blood pressure, Gulati said.

Avoiding products that contain nicotine is important. Using nicotine drives up blood pressure, narrows blood vessels and may contribute to hardening of arteries, according to the American Heart Association.

Some research suggests that following a low-sodium diet could reduce blood pressure by 2 to 8 mm Hg for some patients, and that adopting the DASH diet — which emphasizes fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products — could reduce blood pressure by 8 to 14 points. Abstaining from alcohol or limiting consumption to no more than one glass per day for women and two glasses for men could reduce blood pressure by 2 to 4 points.

People who can’t lower their blood pressure to normal levels through lifestyle changes will need medication, Gulati said. Water pills, or diuretics, help remove sodium and water from the body, bringing down blood pressure. Angiotensinconverting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) both relax blood vessels, though they work in different ways. Calcium channel blockers help relax the muscle cells of blood vessels, and some slow your heart rate. People who can’t lower their blood pressure with these drugs may need additional medications. Doctors take a patient’s age, health and risk factors into consideration before deciding what medication to prescribe.

“Blood pressure is the most modifiable risk factor for heart disease and stroke,” Gulati said. “With lifestyle changes and medications, our patients can take control of it — and their heart health.”

Andeno Co

Tasa mínima, promedio ponderado, y máxima para préstamos personales pequeños otorgados para la semana que terminó el sábado, 2 de marzo de 2024

The Mediterranean diet really is that good for you. Here’s why.

By DANI BLUM

In the 1950s, researchers embarked on an ambitious study. For decades, they scrutinized the diets and lifestyles of thousands of middle-aged men living in the United States, parts of Europe and Japan and then examined how those characteristics affected their risks of developing cardiovascular disease.

The Seven Countries Study, as it later became known, found associations between saturated fats, cholesterol levels and coronary heart disease. But the researchers also reported another notable result: Those who lived in and around the Mediterranean region had lower rates of cardiovascular disease than participants who lived elsewhere. Their diets seemed to have a protective effect.

Since then, the Mediterranean diet has become the bedrock of heart-healthy eating, with well-studied health benefits, including lower blood pressure and cholesterol and a reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes.

“It isn’t a diet that was cooked up in the mind of some person to generate money,” said Dr. Sean Heffron, a preventive cardiologist at NYU Langone Health. “It’s something that was developed over time, by millions of people, because it actually tastes good. And it just happens to be healthy.”

The diet prioritizes whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, herbs, spices and olive oil. Fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon, sardines and tuna, are the preferred animal protein source. Other lean animal proteins, like chicken or turkey, are eaten to a lesser extent. And foods high in saturated fats, like red meat and butter, are eaten rarely. Eggs and dairy products like yogurt and cheese can also be part of the diet, but in moderation.

A glass or two of wine at dinner is also allowed, but there has been recent debate over whether alcohol still deserves a place in the diet. Research has found that even small amounts of alcohol can have negative consequences on health.

A number of rigorous studies have found that the Mediterranean diet contrib-

A butternut squash and kale bowl, in New York, Jan. 12, 2023. From frozen berries to leafy greens, here’s inspiration for eating more of these Mediterranean diet superstars. (Dane Tashima/The New York Times)

utes to better health, and in particular better heart health, in various ways. In one study, published in 2018, researchers assessed nearly 26,000 women and found that those who followed the diet most closely for up to 12 years had about a 25% reduced risk of developing cardiovascular disease. This was mainly because of changes in blood sugar, inflammation and body mass index, the researchers reported. Other studies, which analyzed men and women, have reached similar conclusions.

Research has also found that the diet can protect against oxidative stress, which can cause DNA damage that contributes to chronic conditions like neurological disease and cancer. And some studies suggest it can help reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and of experiencing cognitive decline.

The diet may have profound health benefits during pregnancy too, said Dr. Anum Sohail Minhas, an assistant professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins Medicine. In a 2022 study of nearly 7,800 women, researchers found that those who followed the diet most closely around the time they conceived and during early pregnancy had about a 21% reduced risk of any pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes or preterm birth.

“There definitely seems to be a protective effect,” Minhas said.

And the authors of a 2023 review concluded that women who adopted the

diet might have improved outcomes with in vitro fertilization.

On its own, though, the Mediterranean diet isn’t a panacea, Heffron said — it won’t eliminate your chances of developing cardiovascular disease, and it won’t cure a disease, either. It’s important that people also pay attention to other tenets of good heart health, like getting regular exercise and adequate sleep and not smoking.

Julia Zumpano, a registered dietitian who specializes in preventive cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, said that the diet could be conducive to weight loss, but that you would still need to pay attention to calories. Nutrient-rich foods like nuts and olive oil are heart-healthy, but the calories can add up quickly, so you should be mindful of portion sizes.

Rather than being viewed as a hack for weight loss, the Mediterranean diet should inspire a long-term shift in eating behavior. In one study of more than 30,000 people living in Italy, for instance, researchers found that those who followed the diet most closely for about 12 years were less likely to become overweight or obese than those who followed the diet less closely.

A smaller study, published in 2020, enrolled 565 adults who had intentionally lost 10% or more of their body weight in the year before. It found that those who reported adhering to the Mediterranean diet closely were twice as likely to maintain their weight loss as those who did not closely follow the diet.

chickpea

(David Malosh/ The New York Times)

If you’re just starting to follow the diet, limited evidence suggests that you may notice some cognitive improvements — including in attention, alertness and contentment, according to one review of studies published in 2021 — within the first 10 days or so. But for there to be sustained, long-term payoffs in terms of heart health, people need to stick with it, Zumpano said, ideally for their whole lives.

That said, she added, the diet allows for some flexibility; the occasional cake or

A vegetable tortilla soup, in New York, April 13, 2023. From frozen berries to leafy greens, here’s inspiration for eating more of these Mediterranean diet superstars. (Armando Rafael/The New York Times)

steak won’t undo its overall benefits.

And because it usually provides a balanced blend of nutrients and adequate protein, there are usually no significant risks associated with following it, Heffron said.

Still, you may want to make sure that you are getting enough iron, since the diet recommends minimizing or avoiding red meat. Good sources include nuts, tofu, legumes, and dark leafy green vegetables such as spinach and broccoli. Foods rich in vitamin C, including citrus, bell peppers, strawberries and tomatoes, can also help your body absorb iron.

And because the diet minimizes dairy, you may want to speak with your doctor about whether you need to take a calcium supplement.

For the average person, the benefits of the Mediterranean diet most likely far outweigh any potential negatives. “These are things we can all try to incorporate into our lives,” Minhas said.

A

salad sandwich.. Made with canned chickpeas mashed with a creamy lemon-tahini dressing, this is delicious and easy to make in advance.

The San Juan Daily Star

LEGAL NOTICE

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF PUERTO RICO LAB PRODUCTS REALTY AND MANAGEMENT LLC

Plaintiff V. JAGUAR LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, S.E.; JAGUAR OF PUERTO RICO, INC., NOW EURO BOUTIQUE, INC.; JAIME IVÁN DEL VALLE CRUZ, AIDA VIRGINIA TORRES

ESTASEN, AND THE LEGAL CONJUGAL PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THEM

Defendants

Civil No. 16-02772 (ADC) COLLECTION OF MONIES AND FORECLOSURE OF MORTGAGES AND OTHER COLLATERAL. NOTICE OF SALES. TO: DEFENDANTS AND GENERAL PUBLIC

On October 14, 2020, the Court entered Judgment by Consent in favor of plaintiff, Lab Products Realty and Management, LLC (“Lab Products”) and against defendants, Jaguar Limited Partnership, S.E.; Jaime Iván del Valle Cruz, Aida Virginia Torres Estasen and the conjugal partnership composed between them (hereinafter, collectively, the “Defendants”). As of July 31, 2020, Defendants owe the amount of $1,624,146.87, in

As of July 31, 2020, Defendants

defined in the Judgment by Consent) itemized as follows: Principal $906,473.11. Interest $341,653.09. Late Fees $18,094.20. Default Interest $71,963.89. Legal Expenses $100,000.00. Total: $1,438,184.29 Pursuant to the Judgment, the Order of Execution of Judgment, and the Writ of Execution of Judgment, the undersigned appointed Special Master was ordered to sell, at public auction for U.S. currency in cash or certified check, without appraisement or right to redemption, to the highest bidder, at the Office of the Clerk of the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, Room 150 - Federal Building, Carlos Chardón Avenue,

Hato Rey, Puerto Rico, or at any other place designated by said Clerk, to cover the sums adjudged to be paid to the Plaintiff, the following properties: A. PROPERTY 20,685: URBAN: Lot with an area of one thousand six hundred forty-four (1.644.00) square meters, located in the Santurce South Ward of the Municipality of San Juan, Puerto Rico. A one-story concrete warehouse building with concrete roof is located on the lot measuring 47.45 meters on its North side bordering the south edge of the official alignment of the Las Palmas Avenue. Boundaries: NORTH, with the southern edge of the official alignment of the Las Palmas Avenue, State Road #35 (formerly Rossy Avenue) measurements up to the intersection with the East edge of the official alignment of Roberto H. Todd Avenue (State Road #2). Following said line the building describes in its Northeastern corner an arch that extends in a Southern direction, following the Eastern edge of Roberto H. Todd Avenue (currently State Road #2) with which it adjoins the building described, on its West side which [is] its front at 25.45 meters, measures from the intersection to the South edge of the official alignment of the Las Palmas Avenue, on the South with Progreso Street, on the East with the new parcel “F” of Misceláneas Wholesale. Inc. Property number twenty thousand six hundred eighty-five (20,685), recorded at page two hundred eighty-three (283) of tome three hundred twentyeight (328) of Santurce South, Registry of Property of Puerto Rico, Section First of San Juan. URBANA: Con una cabida de MIL SEISCIENTOS CUARENTA Y CUATRO METROS CUADRADOS (1,644.00 m/c). Edificio almacén de hormigón con techo del mismo material de una sola planta ubicado en el Barrio de Santurce Sur, del término municipal de San Juan, Puerto Rico, el edificio mide cuarenta y siete punto cuarenta y cinco metros cuadrados (47.45 m/c) por su lado NORTE, en lindes con la orilla Sur de la alineación oficial de la Avenida Las Palmas (Carretera Estatal número treinta y cinco (35) antes Avenida Rossy) medidas hasta la intersección con la orilla ESTE, de la alineación oficial de la Avenida Roberto H. Todd (Carretera Estatal número dos (2). Siguiendo dicha línea el edificio describe en su esquina NOROESTE, un arco que se prolonga en dirección SUR, siguiendo la orilla ESTE, de la Ave da Roberto H. Todd (Actualmente carretera número dos) con la cual colinda el edificio descrito, por su lado OESTE, que es su frente en veinti-

Wednesday, March 6, 2024 21

cinco punto cuarenta y cinco metros (25.45m) medidos desde la intersección con la orilla Sur de la alineación oficial de la Avenida Las Palmas; por el SUR, con la Calle Progreso; por el ESTE, con la nueva parcela

“F” de misceláneas Wholesales, Inc. Finca número 20,685, inscrita al folio 283 del tomo 328 de Santurce Sur, Registro de la Propiedad de Puerto Rico, Sección Primera de San Juan.

Physical Address: #961 Roberto H. Todd Ave., Santurce, San Juan, PR Property is subject to the following liens: By its origin: Free of Charges. By itself:

MORTGAGE: in guarantee of note in favor of Westernbank Puerto Rico, or to its order, in the principal amount of $1,900,000.00 responding for $1,400,000.00, with a yearly interest rate of 10.99%, due on presentation, as per deed no. 233, executed in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, on March 8, 2004, before Notary Public Adrián J. Hilera Torres, recorded at page 93 of volume 377 of Santurce Sur, property #20,685, 3rd inscription. MORTGAGE MODIFI-

CATION: The object of this modification is the Mortgage for $1,900,000.00, which arises from the 3rd inscription, as per deed #14, executed in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on January 11, 2005, before Notary Public Francisco Biaggi Landrón, recorded at page 93 of volume 377 of Santurce Sur, Property #20,685, 4th inscription. COM-

PLAINT ANNOTATION: The subject of this entry is the Mortgage in favor of Westernbank de Puerto Rico, for the sum of $1,900,000.00, modified to $1,400,000.00, which arises from registration #3. Plaintiff: Triangle Cayman Assets Company 2, LLC; Defendant: Jaguar Limited Partnership, Amount Owed $1,400,000.00, by way of principal plus interest, as claimed by the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, in Civil Case #3:16-CV02772-ADC, on October 5, 2016, and recorded in volume Karibe, annotation A, dated June 15, 2018. B. PROPERTY

20,681: URBAN: Lot at the South Section of Santurce of the city of San Juan, Puerto Rico, with an area of seven hundred seventy-six point zero, nine, five, nine (776.0959) square meters. Bordering on the NORTH, with lot of Luis de la Cruz y Santiago, that is, the principal property from which it was segregated, today Palma Street; on the SOUTH, with Progreso Street; on the EAST, with Figueroa Street; and on the WEST, with lands of parcel “F” of the Puerto Rico Ports Authority and Misceláneas Wholesales. A one-story warehouse building with mezzanine is located thereon for commercial use,

built of steel beams and concrete blocks with the following boundaries: on the NORTH, fifty-eight inches (58”), or its equivalent, seventeen point six hundred seventy-eight (17.678) meters; on the SOUTH, sixtythree feet eight (63’8”), or its equivalent nineteen point four hundred six (19.406) meters; on the EAST, at fifty-eight feet (58’), or its equivalent, seventeen point six hundred seventyeight (17.678) meters; and on the WEST, at sixty feet one inch (60’1”), or its equivalent, eighteen point three hundred thirteen (18.313) meters. For an area, construction area of three thousand five hundred eightyeight point nine (3,588.9) square feet, or its equivalent, three hundred thirty-three point seven hundred fifty-three (333.753) square meters. Property number twenty thousand six hundred eighty-one (20,681), recorded at page two hundred sixty-three (263) of tome three hundred twenty-eight (328) of Santurce South, Registry of Property of Puerto Rico, Section First of San Juan. Physical

Address: #851 Roberto H. Todd Ave., Santurce, San Juan, PR. Property is subject to the following liens: By its origin: Free of Charges. By itself: MORTGAGE: in guarantee of note in favor of Westernbank Puerto Rico, or to its order, in the principal amount of $1,000,000.00 responding this property for $600,000.00, with a yearly interest rate of 5.99% or the result of adding 1% prime rate, according to the established by the time to time by Citibank, N.A. in the City of New York, whichever is the greatest, until presentation or paid in full, if there is a delay interest will be added at a two percent (2%), due on presentation, as per deed no. 363, executed in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on May 12, 2005, before Notary Public Juan Carlos Ortega Torres, recorded at page 202 of volume 391, of Santurce Sur property #20,681, 3rd inscription. COMPLAINT ANNOTA-

TION: The Mortgage in favor of Westernbank Puerto Rico is the object of this annotation, in the amount of $1,000,000.00, that arises from 3rd inscription. Plaintiff: Triangle Cayman Asset Company 2 LLC; Defendant: Jaguar Limited Partnership, Amount Due $600,000.00, recorded on volume Karibe of Santurce Sur, Property #20,681, annotation A, dated June 15, 2018. URBANA: Solar en la Sección Sur de Santurce de la Ciudad de San Juan, Puerto Rico, con un área de setecientos setenta y seis punto cero, nueve, cinco, nueve (776.0959) metros cuadrados. Colinda por el NORTE, con el solar de Luis de la Cruz y Santiago, o sea, la finca principal de

(787) 743-3346

la cual fue segregada, hoy Calle Palma; por el SUR, con la Calle Progreso; por el ESTE, con la Calle Figueroa; y por el OESTE, con terrenos de la Parcela “F” de la Autoridad de los Puertos de Puerto Rico y Misceláneas Wholesales. Enclava en dicho solar un edificio almacén de una sola planta con mezzannine para uso comercial, construido de vigas de acero y bloques de hormigón con las siguientes colindancias: por el NORTE cincuenta y ocho pulgadas (58”), o su equivalente, diecisiete punto seiscientos setenta y ocho (17.678) metros; por el SUR, sesenta y tres pies ocho pulgadas (63’8”), o su equivalente diecinueve punto cuatrocientos seis (19.406) metros; por el ESTE, en cincuenta y ocho pies (58’), o su equivalente, diecisiete punto seiscientos setenta y ocho (17.678) metros; y por el OESTE, en sesenta pies una pulgada (60’ 1”), o su equivalente, dieciocho punto trescientos trece (18.313) metros. Para una cabida, área de construcción de tres mil quinientos ochenta y ocho punto nueve (3,588.9) pies cuadrados, o su equivalente, trescientos treinta y tres punto setecientos cincuenta y tres (333.753) metros cuadrados. Finca número 20,681, inscrita al folio 63 del tomo 328 de Santurce Sur, Registro de la Propiedad de Puerto Rico, Sección Primera de San Juan. C. PROPERTY

20,679 URBAN: Lot in the South Section of Santurce of the City of San Juan, Puerto Rico, with an area of five hundred fifty-five point zero, six, five, five (555.0655) square meters. It borders on the NORTH, bordering the South edge of the official alignment of Insular Road Number Thirty-five (35) called Rossy Avenue, today Palma Street; on the SOUTH, with Progreso Street; on the EAST, with the new property grouped in deed number Three (3) belonging to Enrique Pujals Ramírez; and on the WEST, with lands belonging to Bavaria Motors Services, Inc. and lot “E” of the Ports Authority. A onestory concrete warehouse building with a concrete roof is located thereon, measuring fifteen point seventy-five (15.75) meters of front on the North; at thirteen (13.00) meters on the South at twenty-one point ninety (21.90) meters on the West, and at twenty-two point thirty-five (22.35) meters on the East. With a surface area of three hundred thirty-seven point twenty-eight (337.28) square meters. Property number twenty thousand six hundred seventy-nine (20,679), recorded at page two hundred fifty-two (252) of tome three hundred twenty-eight (328) of Santurce South, Registry of

Property of Puerto Rico, Section First of San Juan. URBANA: Solar en la Sección Sur de Santurce de la Ciudad de San Juan, Puerto Rico, con un área de quinientos cincuenta y cinco punto cero, seis, cinco, cinco (555.0655) metros cuadrados. Colinda por el NORTE, en lindes por la orilla Sur de la alineación oficial de la Carretera Insular Número Treinta y Cinco (35) denominada Avenida Rossy, hoy Calle Palma; por el SUR con la Calle Progreso; por el ESTE con la nueva finca agrupada en la escritura número Tres (3) perteneciente a Enrique Pujals Ramírez; y por el OESTE con terrenos pertenecientes a Bavaria Motors Services, Inc. y el lote “E” de la Autoridad de los Puertos. Enclava un edificio almacén de concreto de techo del mismo material de una sola planta que mide quince punto setenta y cinco (15.75) metros de frente por el Norte; en trece (13.00) metros por el SUR, en veintiuno punto noventa (21.90) metros por el Oeste y en veintidós punto treinta y cinco (22.35) metros por el Este. Con una cabida superficial de trescientos treinta y siete punto veintiocho (337.28) metros cuadrados. Finca número 20,679, inscrita al folio 252 del tomo 328 de Santurce Sur, Registro de la Propiedad de Puerto Rico, Sección Primera de San Juan. Physical Address: #851 Roberto H. Todd Ave., Santurce, San Juan, PR. Property is subject to the following liens: By its origin: Free of Charges. By itself: MORTGAGE: in guarantee of note in favor of Westernbank Puerto Rico, or to its order, in the principal amount of $1,000,000.00 this property responds for $400,000.00, with a yearly interest rate of 5.99% or the result of adding 1% prime rate, according to the established by the time to time by Citibank, N.A. in the City of New York, whichever is the greatest, until presentation or paid in full, if there is a delay interest will be added at a two percent (2%), due on presentation, as per deed No. 363, executed in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on May 12, 2005, before Notary Public Juan Carlos Ortega Torres, recorded at page 65 of volume 391, of Santurce Sur, property #20,679, 3rd inscription. COMPLAINT ANNOTATION: The Mortgage in favor of Westernbank Puerto Rico is the object of this annotation, in the amount of $1,000,000.00 that arises from 3rd inscription. Plaintiff: Triangle Cayman Asset Company 2 LLC; Defendant: Jaguar Limited Partnership, Amount Due $400,000.00, recorded at volume Karibe, annotation A, dated June 15, 2018. Potential bidders are advised to verify the extent of preferential liens with

the holders thereof. It shall be understood that each bidder accepts as sufficient the title and that prior and preferential liens to the one being foreclosed upon, including but not limited to any property tax, liens, (express, tacit, implied or legal), shall continue in effect. It being understood further that the successful bidder accepts them and is subrogated in the responsibility for the same and that the bid price shall not be applied toward their cancellation. The liens executed are over the properties, and for the purpose of the first judicial sales the minimum bid amount is as follows: Property Number 20,685 The amount of $1,400,000.00, as set forth in the mortgage deed, shall serve as the minimum bidding amount for the first public sale. Should the first public sale fail to produce an award or adjudication, two-thirds of the aforementioned amount or $933,333.33 shall serve as the minimum bidding amount for the second public sale. Should there be no award or adjudication at the second public sale, the minimum bidding amount for the third public sale shall be $700,000.00.

Property Number 20,681The amount of $600,000.00, as set forth in the mortgage deed, shall serve as the minimum bidding amount for the first public sale. Should the first public sale fail to produce an award or adjudication, two-thirds of the aforementioned amount or $400,000.00 shall serve as the minimum bidding amount for the second public sale. Should there be no award or adjudication at the second public sale, the minimum bidding amount for the third public sale shall be $300,000.00. Property Number 20,679 The amount of $400,000.00, as set forth in the mortgage deed, shall serve as the minimum bidding amount for the first public sale. Should the first public sale fail to produce an award or adjudication, two-thirds of the aforementioned amount or $266,666.67 shall serve as the minimum bidding amount for the second public sale. Should there be no award or adjudication at the second public sale, the minimum bidding amount for the third public sale shall be $200,000.00. Said sales to be conducted by the appointed Special Master are subject to confirmation by the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico and the deed of conveyance and possession to the properties may be executed and delivered after the judicial sales. Upon confirmation of the sales, an order shall be issued canceling all junior liens. THEREFORE, public notice is hereby given that the appointed Special

Master pursuant to the provisions of the Judgment, the Order of Execution of Judgment, and the Writ of Execution of Judgment, on the 3rd day of April, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. for Property Number 20,685; at 10:45 a.m. for Property Number 20,681; at 11:00 a.m. for Property Number 20,679, in the Office of the Clerk of the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, Room 150 - Federal Building, Carlos Chardón Avenue, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico, will sell at public auction to the highest bidder the properties described herein, the proceeds of said sales to be applied in the manner and form provided by the Court’s Judgment. Should the first judicial sales set hereinabove be unsuccessful, the second judicial sales of the properties described in this Notice will be held on the 10th day of April, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. for Property Number 20,685; at 10:45 a.m. for Property Number 20,681; at 11:00 a.m. for Property Number 20,679, in the Office of the Clerk of the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, Room 150 - Federal Building, Carlos Chardón Avenue, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico. Should the second judicial sales set hereinabove be unsuccessful, the third judicial sales of the properties described in this Notice will be held on the 17th day of April, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. for Property Number 20,685; at 10:45 a.m. for Property Number 20,681; at 11:00 a.m. for Property Number 20,679, in the Office of the Clerk of the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, Room 150 - Federal Building, Carlos Chardón Avenue, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico. The records of the captioned case and of these proceedings may be examined by the parties at the Clerk’s Office of the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, Room 150, Federal Building, 150 Carlos Chardón Avenue, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico. In San Juan, Puerto Rico, this 29th day of January, 2024. Aguedo De La Torres, Appointed Special Master.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA TRIBUNAL

del licitador. Que se entenderá por todo licitador acepte como suficiente la titulación y que los cargos y gravámenes anteriores y los preferentes al crédito del ejecutante continuarán subsistentes en entendiéndose que el rematador los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de los mismos, sin destinarse su extinción al precio rematante. Todos los nombres de los acreedores que tengan inscritos o anotados sus derechos sobre los bienes hipotecados con posterioridad a la inscripción del crédito del ejecutante, o de los acreedores de cargas o derechos reales que los hubiesen pospuesto a la hipoteca ejecutada y las personas interesadas en, o con derecho a exigir el cumplimiento de instrumentos negociables garantizados hipotecariamente con posterioridad al crédito ejecutado, siempre que surgen de la certificación registral, para que puedan concurrir a la subasta si les convenga o satisfacer antes del remate el importe del crédito, de sus intereses, costas y honorarios de abogados asegurados, quedando entonces subrogados en los derechos del acreedor ejecutante. La propiedad a ser ejecutada se adquirirá libre de cargas y gravámenes posteriores. Y para conocimiento de licitadores, del público en general y para su publicación en un periódico de circulación general diaria en Puerto Rico y en los sitios públicos de acuerdo a las disposiciones de la Regla 51.7 de las de Procedimiento Civil, así como para la publicación en un periódico de circulación general diaria y en el Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, por espacio de dos semanas con antelación a la fecha de la primera subasta y por lo menos una vez por semana. Los autos y todos los documentos correspondientes al procedimiento indicado estarán de manifiesto en la Secretaría del Tribunal durante las horas laborables. (Art. 102 (1) de la Ley núm. 210-2015). Expedido el presente en Fajardo, Puerto Rico, a 8 de febrero de 2024 Jorge A Ortiz Estrada, Alguacil Regional Interino #622. Mildred I Toro Colon, Alguacil Auxiliar #197. TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA DE FAJARDO.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU-

NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA

CENTRO JUDICIAL DE CA-

GUAS SALA SUPERIOR. GUAYNABO

PROPERTY LLC

Parte Demandan te vs. ROBERTO LUIS POU RIVAS Y OTROS

Parte Demandada

CASO NÚM. CG2022CV00039.

ACCIÓN CIVIL DE COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN

DE HIPOTECA POR LA VÍA ORDINARIA. EDICTO DE SUBASTA.

A: ROBERTO POU RIVAS, LYANNE MARIE ESPARRA FLECHA Y LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE

GANANCIALES COMPUESTA POR AMBOS

El que suscribe, Alguacil del Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala Superior, Centro Judicial de Caguas, Puerto Rico, hago saber a la parte demandada, y al PUBLICO EN GENERAL:

Que en cumplimiento del Mandamiento de Ejecución de Sentencia expedido el día 5 de diciembre de 2023, por la Secretaria del Tribunal, procederé a vender y venderé en pública subasta y al mejor postor la propiedad que se describe a continuación: ---PROPIEDAD HORIZONTAL: Apartamento B-209: Apartamento en el segundo piso del Edificio B del Condominio Paseo Gran Vista, en el Barrio Navarro del Municipio de Gurabo, con un área superficial aproximada de 1,503.77 pies cuadrados, equivalentes de 139.70 metros cuadrados. Colinda por el Norte, en dos alineaciones discontinuas que totalizan 38 pies-3 pulgadas, con el espacio sobre el área verde que lo separa del área de estacionamiento y con el área de la escalera por donde tiene una puerta, que desde el área de la sala, comedor da acceso al descanso de la escalera y desde ahí al exterior del edificio y las áreas comunes; Sur, en 38 pies-3 pulgadas, con el área del patio de uso común que lo separa de la verja que colinda con terrenos del Municipio de Gurabo; Este, en una alineación de 29 pies, con el apartamento B-113 y en otra alineación de 18 pies-8 pulgadas, con el área de la escalera; Oeste, en 44 pies-o pulgadas, con el espacio del área verde que lo separa del Edificio C. Consta de sala/comedor, área de estar (“family room”), cocina, terraza cubierta, un clóset para ropa de casa y otro para lavandería, en el pasillo que d acceso al cuarto dormitorio principal con su baño y vestidor (walk-in closet), a otro baños y dos cuartos dormitorios, cada uno con su clóset. Corresponde a este apartamento el uso exclusivo del área del patio que colinda por el Norte, con el apartamento B-114; por el Sur, con terreno del Municipio de Gurabo; por el Este, con el patio de uso común limitado del apartamento B-113 y por el Oeste, con el patio de uso común limitado del apartamento B-115. Tiene un área total aproximada de 359.1820 pies cuadrados, equivalentes a 33.3691 metros cuadrados. Le corresponde a este apartamento una participación de 1.6% en los gastos, gananciales y elementos comunes generales

del inmueble y el uso exclusivo de las áreas de estacionamiento identificadas con los números116y119.--- Consta inscrita al folio 93 del tomo 479 de Gurabo, finca 18,592.El producto de la subasta se destinará a satisfacer al demandante hasta donde alcance, la SENTENCIA dictada a su favor, el día 1 de julio de 2022, en el presente caso civil, a saber la suma de $81,977.53 de principal, $1,593.60 de intereses hasta el 6 de junio de 2022, $6.40 de intereses diarios acumulados a base del interés prevaleciente post-Sentencia, más las costas y gastos incurridos en la tramitación de este litigio equivalentes a $9,500.00, según pactado.La venta de la referida subasta se verificará libre de toda carga o gravamen que afecte la mencionada finca, a cuyo efecto se notifica y se hace saber la fecha, hora y sitio de la PRIMERA, SEGUNDA y TERCERA subasta, si esto fuera necesario, a los efectos de que cualquier persona o personas con algún interés puedan comparecer a la celebración de dichas subastas. La adjudicación se hará al mejor postor, quien deberá consignar el importe de su oferta en el acto mismo de la adjudicación, en moneda del curso legal de los Estados Unidos deAmérica.LA PRIMERA subasta se llevará a efecto el día 1 DE ABRIL DE 2024, ALAS 9:45 DE LA MAÑANA (9:45 AM) en la oficina del referido Alguacil, localizada en el Centro Judicial de Caguas, Puerto Rico. Que el precio mínimo fijado para la PRIMERA SUBASTA es de $100,000.00.Que de ser necesaria la celebración de una SEGUNDA SUBASTA, la misma se llevará a efecto el día 8 DE ABRIL DE 2024, A LAS 9:45 DE LA MAÑANA(9:45 AM), en la oficina antes mencionada del Alguacil que suscribe. El precio mínimo para la SEGUNDA SUBASTA será de .3_66,666.66, equivalentes a dos terceras (2/3) partes del tipo mínimo estipulado para la PRIMERA subasta.Que de ser necesaria la celebración de una TERCERA SUBASTA, la misma se llevará a efecto el 15 DE ABRIL DE 2024, A LAS 9:45 DE LA MAÑANA (9:45AM), en la oficina antes mencionada del Alguacil que suscribe. El precio mínimo para la TERCERA SUBASTA será de .3_50,000.00, equivalentes a la mitad (1/2) del tipo mínimo estipulado para la PRIMERA subasta.Si se declarase desierta la tercera su basta se dará por terminado el procedimiento, pudiendo adjudicarse al acreedor la finca aquí antes descrita, dentro de los diez ( 10) días siguientes, si así lo estimare conveniente, por la totalidad de la cantidad adeudada si ésta fuera igual o menor al monto del tipo mínimo de la tercera subasta, y abonándose dicho monto a la cantidad adeudada si ésta fuere mayor.

Para conocimiento de la parte demandada y de toda aquella persona o personas que tengan interés inscrito con posterioridad a la inscripción del gravamen que se está ejecutando, y para conocimiento de todos los licitadores y el público en general, el presente Aviso de Subasta se publicará mediante edicto, una (1) vez por semana, por espacio de dos (2) semanas consecutivas, con un intervalo de por lo menos siete (7) días entre ambas publicaciones, en un diario de circulación general en el Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico y se fijará además en tres (3) lugares públicos del Municipio en que ha de celebrarse dicha venta, tales como la Alcaldía, el Tribunal y la Colecturía.Se le advierte a todos los interesados que todos los documentos relacionados con la presente acción de ejecución de hipoteca, así como de la su basta, estarán disponibles para ser examinados en la Secretaría de esteTribunal, durante las horas laborables.EXPIDO, el presente EDICTO, en Caguas, Puerto Rico, hoy 13 de febrero de 2024. ANGEL GOMEZ GOMEZ, Alguacil, Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala Superior de Caguas.

***

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE CAGUAS LUZ ESTHER AGOSTO RIVERA

Parte Peticionaria

Ex Parte

Causante: FÉLIX AGOSTO

NUÑEZ T/C/C FÉLIX T/C/C FÉLIX AGOSTO

CASO NUM.: CG2024CV00004

SALÓN: 704 SOBRE: DECLARATORIA DE HEREDEROS. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMERICA. EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS EE.UU. EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO. SS.

A: CRISTIAN AGOSTO MUÑOZ

POR LA PRESENTE se le em-

plaza para que presente al Tribunal su alegación responsiva dentro de los treinta (30) días de haber sido diligenciado este Emplazamiento, excluyéndose el día del diligenciamiento. Usted deberá presentar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SUMAC), al cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electrónica: https://unired. ramajudicial.pr, salvo que se represente por derecho propio, en cuyo caso deberá presentar su alegación responsiva en la Secretaría del Tribunal. Si usted deja de presentar su alegación responsiva dentro del referido término, el Tribunal podrá

dictar sentencia en rebeldía en su contra y conceder el remedio solicitado en la demanda, o cualquier otro, si el Tribunal, en el ejercicio de su sana discreción, lo entiende procedente.

LCDO. JOSÉ A. VELÁZQUEZ GRAU

COLEGIADO NÚM. 14,108 / RUA NÚM. 12,883

Velázquez Grau law firm psc Ave. Troche V-12 Urb. Delgado, Caguas, P.R., 00725

TEL. (787) 744-2770

FAX (787) 961-8212

velazquezgraulaw@gmail.com EXTENDIDO BAJO MI FIRMA y el Sello del Tribunal, Hoy día 22 de febrero de 2024. Lisilda Martínez Agosto, Secretaria. Glorimar Rivera Rivera, Sub Secretaria.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA

CENTRO JUDICIAL DE BAYAMÓN SALA SUPERIOR DE VEGA BAJA

BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO

DEMANDANTE V. FULANO DE TAL, POSIBLE HEREDERO DESCONOCIDO DE CARMELO MEDINA

PAGAN T/C/C CARMELO MEDINA Y OTROS Demandado(a)

Caso Núm.: VB2023CV00724 (SALÓN 201 CD, CM, TR Y CR) Sobre: EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA: PROPIEDAD RESIDENCIAL. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO BELMA ALONSO GARCÍA OFICINABELMAALONSO@GMAIL. COM

MARINILDA RIVERA VARGAS MRIVERAVARGAS@YAHOO.COM A: IVELISSE VÉLEZ TORRES T/C/C IVELISSE FIGUEROA, JOSUÉ VELEZ Y ALEJANDRO VELEZ HEREDEROS DE FLORENTINA TORRES

PEÑA A: COND. PATIO (VILLA EL NARANJAL), 95 CALLE JOSE JULIÁN ACOSTA APT. C2, VEGA BAJA, PR 00693; URB. SAN VICENTE, 35 CALLE 9, VEGA BAJA, PR 006933429, 909 AMBOY AVE, PERTH AMBOY, NJ 088611905; 1606 S WARREN AVE, LAKELAND FL 33803-2065; URB. JARDINES DE VEGA BAJA, 270 JARDÍN DEL CARIBE, VEGA BAJA, PR 00693-3975.

FULANO Y MENGANO DE TAL, POSIBLES HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS DE CARMELO MEDINA

PAGAN T/C/C CARMELO MEDINA, SUTANO Y PERENCEJO DE TAL,

POSIBLES HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS DE FLORENTINA TORRES

PENA.

(Nombre de las partes que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto) EL SECRETARIO(A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que el 27 DE FEBRERO DE 2024, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los 10 días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recurso de revisión o apelación dentro del término de 30 días contados a partir de la publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 27 de febrero de 2024. En Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, el 27 de febrero de 2024. Laura I. Santa Sánchez, Secretaria. F/ Maritza Rosario Rosario, Secretaria Auxiliar del Tribunal.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO UBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA

SALA SUPERIOR DE SAN JUAN

DLJ MORTGAGE

CAPITAL INC.

Parte Demandante Vs. DORAL FINANCIAL

CORPORATION h/n/c HF MORTGAGE BANKERS ahora BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO; John Doe y Richard Doe, Como posibles tenedores desconocidos

Parte Demandada

CIVIL NUM: SJ2024CV00026

SOBRE: CANCELACION DE PAGARE EXTRAVIADO. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMERICA. EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS EE.UU. EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO. SS.

A: JOHN DOE Y RICHARD ROE COMO posibles tenedores desconocidos

POR LA PRESENTE se les emplaza y requiere para que conteste la demanda dentro de los treinta (30) días siguientes a la publicación de este Edicto. Usted deberá radicar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SUMAC), al

cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electrónica: http://wwwpoderjudicial.pr/ index. php/tribunal-electronico. salvo que se presente por derecho propio, en cuyo caso deberá radicar el original de su contestación ante el Tribunal correspondiente y notifique con copia a los abogados de la parte demandante, Lcda. Marjalilsa Colón Villanueva, al PO BOX 7970, Ponce, P.R. 00732;Teléfono: 787-843-4168. En dicha demanda se tramita un procedimiento de cancelación de pagare extraviado. Se alega en dicho procedimiento que el pagaré es a favor de Doral financial Corporation h/n/c HF Mortgage Bankers, ahora Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, o a su orden, por la suma de principal de ciento setenta y cuatro mil seiscientos dólares ($174,600.00). dólares ($174,600.00), intereses al cinco punto cincuenta por ciento (5.50%) anual, vencedero el primero (1ro) de abril de dos mil treinta y cinco (2035), según consta del testimonio número mil quinientos cuarenta y seis (1546) de la escritura doscientos cuarenta y tres (243) otorgada en San Juan. Puerto Rico el nueve (9) de marzo de dos mil cinco (2005) ante el notario Juan Manuel Casanova Rivera. Inscrita al folio doscientos veintiuno (221) del tomo seiscientos setenta y uno (671) de Río Piedra, finca número diecisiete mil ciento veinticuatro (17,124), inscripción tercera (3ra). 3. Que, además, se incluyó como demandados a John Doe y Richard Roe como personas cuya identidad se desconoce y pudieran tener algún interés sobre el pagaré hipotecario que más adelante se relacionará. 4. Que la propiedad sobre la cual se constituyó dicha hipoteca es la siguiente: URBANA: Propiedad Horizontal: Apartamento cuatro guion F guion ocho (4F-8) del Condominio Estancias de Boulevard, localizado en el Municipio de San Juan, Puerto Rico. con un área superficial de mil setecientos noventa y un (1791) pies cuadrados. Colinda por el NORTE, con pared exterior del módulo; por el SUR, con pared exterior del módulo; por el ESTE, con el apartamento cinco guion F guion siete (5-F7); Por el OESTE, con el apartamento cuatro guion F guion 7 (4-F-7). Consta de dos (2) niveles en el tercer piso, salacomedor. dos baños, tres dormitorios, cocina y balcón, “walk in closet” y otros tres (3) closets y el segundo nivel en el cuarto piso de estudio cubierto y terraza descubierta. Tiene una escalera interior que conecta los dos niveles. Tiene una puerta principal que da acceso a la escalera por donde se llega a la salida del módulo, en una vez allí, por las calles interiores del condominio se obtiene acceso a la vía pública. Le corresponde una participación de cero

punto cincuenta y nueve por ciento (0.59%) en tos elementos comunes el condominio. Le corresponde un espacio de estacionamiento con capacidad para dos (2) vehículos que esta marcado con el mismo número de apartamento. La equivalencia en área es el sistema métrico ciento sesenta y seis punto treinta y ocho treinta y nueve (166.3839) metros cuadrados. Le corresponde el uso exclusivo de elemento común limitado estacionamiento para dos vehículos marcado cuatro guion F guion ocho (4-F-8). Inscrita al folio doscientos cuarenta y uno (241) del tomo quinientos treinta y ocho (538) de Río Piedras Sur, finca número diecisiete mil ciento veinticuatro (17.124) del Registro de la Propiedad de San Juan Sección Cuarta (4ta). 5. Que la hipoteca a la cual se ha hecho referencia aparece inscrita en el Registro de la Propiedad de San Juan Sección Cuarta (4ta). SE LES APERCIBE que, de no hacer sus alegaciones responslvas a la demanda dentro del término aquí dispuesto, se les anotará la rebeldía y se dictará Sentencia, concediéndose el remedio solicitado en la Demanda. sin más citarle ni oírle. Expedido bajo mi firma y sello del Tribunal en San Juan, Puerto Rico. A 9 de enero de 2024. Griselda Rodríguez Collado, Secretaria Regional. María N. López Pizarro, Secretaria Servicios a Sala. LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA

CENTRO JUDICIAL DE CAGUAS SALA SUPERIOR ORIENTAL BANK COMO AGENTE DE SERVICIO DE THE MONEY HOUSE, INC.

Demandante Vs. RIGOBERTO BARRETO LOPEZ, JULIA JEANETTE RAMIREZ RAMIREZ Y LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE BIENES GANANCIALES COMPUESTA POR AMBOS

Demandados

CIVIL NUM.: CG2024CV00316

SOBRE: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCION DE HIPOTECA (VÍA ORDINARIA). EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMERICA. EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS EE.UU. EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO. SS.

A LA PARTE CODEMANDADA: RIGOBERTO BARRETO

LÓPEZ, JULIA JEANETTE

RAMÍREZ RAMÍREZ Y LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE BIENES GANANCIALES COMPUESTA POR AMBOS; a la siguiente

The San Juan Daily Star

NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTEN-

CIA POR EDICTO.

KENMUEL JOSÉ RUIZ LÓPEZ

KENMUEL.RUIZ@ORF-LAW.COM

A: KARA L.

SANTIAGO RAMIREZ

(Nombre de las partes que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto)

EL SECRETARIO(A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que el 26 DE FEBRERO DE 2024, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los 10 días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recurso de revisión o apelación dentro del término de 30 días contados a partir de la publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 28 de FEBRERO de 2024.

En BAYAMÓN, Puerto Rico, el 28 de FEBRERO de 2024.

LAURA I. SANTA SANCHEZ, Secretario(a). f/LUREIMY ALICEA GONZALEZ, Secretario(a)

Auxiliar del Tribunal.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA

CENTRO JUDICIAL DE CAROLINA SALA SUPERIOR DE CAROLINA. ISLAND PORTFOLIO SERVICES, LLC COMO AGENTE DE ACE ONE FUNDING, LLC

Demandante v. EDWIN LOPEZ CORSINO

Demandado(a)

Caso Núm.: CA2023CV02000 (CIVIL 406). Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO - ORDINARIO. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO. KEVIN SANCHEZ KEVIN.SANCHEZ@ORF-LAW.COM

A: KARA L.

SANTIAGO RAMIREZ

(Nombre de las partes que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto)

EL SECRETARIO(A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que el 27 DE FEBRERO DE 2024, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro

de los 10 días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recurso de revisión o apelación dentro del término de 30 días contados a partir de la publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 27 de FEBRERO de 2024.

En CAROLINA, Puerto Rico, el 27 de FEBRERO de 2024.

KANELLY ZAYAS ROBLES, Secretario(a). f/KEILA GARCIA SOLIS, Secretario(a) Auxiliar del Tribunal.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA

CENTRO JUDICIAL DE CAROLINA SALA SUPERIOR DE CAROLINA

MMG I PR CDGY, LLC

Demandante v.

ROLANDO RODRIGUEZ

RIVERA Y OTROS

Demandado(a)

ANA J BOBONIS ZEQUEIRA

ANA@FFCLAW.COM

Caso Núm.: CA2023CV01794

Sobre: EJECUCIÓN DE HI-

POTECA: PROPIEDAD RESIDENCIAL. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: ROLANDO

RODRIGUEZ RIVERA, KENIA MELISSA

CALDERON DEL CARMEN, SOCIEDAD

LEGAL DE BIENES

GANANCIALES

RODRIGUEZ-CALDERON, MANUEL CALDERON ESCALERA, LAURA JUANA DEL CARMEN RIVERA, SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE BIENES

GANANCIALES

CALDERON-DEL CARMEN

(Nombre de las partes que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto) EL SECRETARIO(A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que el 26 DE FEBRERO DE 2024, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los 10 días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede esta-

blecerse recurso de revisión o apelación dentro del término de 30 días contados a partir de la publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 29 de febrero de 2024. En Carolina, Puerto Rico, el 29 de febrero de 2024. Kanelly Zayas Robles, Secretaria. F/Ida L. Fernández Rodríguez, Secretaria Auxiliar del Tribunal.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA DE PONCE FIRSTBANK PUERTO RICO

Parte Demandante Vs. LA SUCESION DE DELIA MARIA AUFFANT

MENDEZ compuesta por Yma Enid Lugo Auffant, Marién Lugo Auffant, Daliah Lugo Auffant, Yamel Lugo Auffant; Lucía Pérez Lugo, Carlos Tara Antequera Lugo, Alexander Axfendiou y Maria Lena Axfendiou;

John Doe y Richard Roe como posibles herederos Desconocidos de la Sucesión de Delia María Auffant Méndez, LA SUCESION DE YAMEL LUGO AUFFANT, compuesta por Alexander Axfendiou Lugo y María Lena Axfendiou Lugo; John Doe y Richard Roe como posibles herederos desconocidos de la Sucesión de Yamel Lugo Auffant; Centro de Recaudación de Ingresos Municipales Y Administración para el sustento a Menores

Parte Demandada

CIVIL NUM. PO2022CV00619

SOBRE: EJECUCION DE HIPOTECA POR LA VIA ORDINARIA Y COBRO DE DINERO.

ANUNCIO DE SUBASTA. El suscribiente, Alguacil del Tribunal de Primera Instancia de Puerto Rico, Sala de Ponce, a los demandados de epígrafe y al público en general hace saber que venderá en pública subasta en la Oficina de Alguaciles, sita en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de Ponce, al mejor postor, en moneda de curso legal de los Estados Unidos de América en efectivo, cheque certificado, o giro postal a nombre del Alguacil del Tribunal de Primera Instancia, el derecho que tenga la parte demandada en el inmueble que se relaciona más adelante para pagar la SENTENCIA por

$264,913.87 de primer principal y la suma de $11,009.92 de balance diferido, más los intereses adeudados sobre la suma de $264,913.87 y computados al 7.50% anual hasta su total pago y completo pago desde el primero de agosto de 2020; cargos por demora devengados computados al 5% anual, a razón de $102.15 sobre cada mensualidad de $2,043.08, más la suma estipulada de $24,600.00 para honorarios de abogado pactada en la escritura de hipoteca y cualesquiera otras sumas que por cualesquiera concepto legal se devenguen hasta el día de la subasta. La propiedad a venderse en pública subasta se describe como sigue: URBANA: Solar marcado con el número 5 en el plano del Proyecto Residencial Jardín de la Alhambra, radicada en la Urbanización La Alhambra del término municipal de Ponce, Puerto Rico, con una cabida de dos tres ocho punto cuatro cero (238.40m.) metros cuadrados. En lindes por el NORTE, con la calle de acceso y el solar número (cuatro) 4 del proyecto; por el SUR, con el solar número seis (6) del proyecto; por el ESTE, con la calle de acceso del proyecto y por el OESTE, con el solar número cuatro (4) de la urbanización La Alhambra. Enclava una estructura de dos plantas tipo dúplex diseñada para fines residenciales construida de concreto y bloques de concreto cuya primera planta consiste principalmente de un patio frontal, sala, comedor, cocina y un medio baño, la segunda planta consta de tres (3) habitaciones con sus closets, dos (2) baños, lavandería y un área de almacén con acceso a dos (2) áreas de terraza en la parte superior de la estructura. Inscrita al folio ochenta y cinco (85) del tomo mil setecientos ochenta y seis (1,786), finca número cincuenta y nueve mil doscientos sesenta y cinco (59,265), Registro de la Propiedad de Ponce, Sección I. Dirección Física: 5 Jardín de La Alhambra,Ponce, PR 00731. La primera subasta se llevará a cabo el día 4 de abril de 2024, a las 10:00 de la mañana, y servirá de tipo mínimo para la misma la suma de $264,000.00 sin admitirse oferta inferior. En el caso de que el inmueble a ser subastado no fuera adjudicado en la primera subasta, se celebrará una segunda subasta el día 11 de abril de 2024, a las 10:00 de la mañana, y el precio mínimo para esta segunda subasta será el de dos terceras partes del precio mínimo establecido para la primera subasta, o a sea la suma de $176,000.00. Si tampoco hubiera remate ni adjudicación en la segunda subasta, se celebrará una tercera subasta el día 18 de abril de 2024, a las 10:00 de la mañana, y el tipo mínimo para esta tercera subasta será la mitad del precio establecido

para la primera subasta, o sea, la suma de $132,000.00. El mejor postor deberá pagar el importe de su oferta en efecto, cheque certificado o giro postal a nombre del Alguacil del Tribunal. Si se declarase desierta la tercera subasta, se dará por terminado el procedimiento, pudiendo adjudicarse el inmueble al acreedor hipotecario dentro de los diez días siguientes a la fecha de la última subasta, si así lo estimase conveniente, por la totalidad de la cantidad adeudada conforme a la sentencia, si ésta fuera igual o menor que el monto del tipo de la tercera subasta y abonándose dicho monto a la cantidad adeudada si ésta fuera mayor. Se avisa a cualquier licitador que la propiedad queda sujeta al gravamen del Estado Libre Asociado y CRIM sobre la propiedad inmueble por contribuciones adeudadas y que el pago de dichas contribuciones es la responsabilidad del licitador. Que se entenderá por todo licitador acepte como suficiente la titulación y que los cargos y gravámenes anteriores y los preferentes al crédito del ejecutante continuarán subsistentes en entendiéndose que el rematador los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de los mismos, sin destinarse su extinción al precio rematante. Todos los nombres de los acreedores que tengan inscritos o anotados sus derechos sobre los bienes hipotecados con posterioridad a la inscripción del crédito del ejecutante, o de los acreedores de cargas o derechos reales que los hubiesen pospuesto a la hipoteca ejecutada y las personas interesadas en, o con derecho a exigir el cumplimiento de instrumentos negociables garantizados hipotecariamente con posterioridad al crédito ejecutado, siempre que surgen de la certificación registral, para que puedan concurrir a la subasta si les convenga o satisfacer antes del remate el importe del crédito, de sus intereses, costas y honorarios de abogados asegurados, quedando entonces subrogados en los derechos del acreedor ejecutante. La propiedad a ser ejecutada se adquirirá libre de cargas y gravámenes posteriores. Y para conocimiento de licitadores, del público en general y para su publicación en un periódico de circulación general diaria en Puerto Rico y en los sitios públicos de acuerdo a las disposiciones de la Regla 51.7 de las de Procedimiento Civil, así como para la publicación en un periódico de circulación general diaria y en el Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, por espacio de dos semanas con antelación a la fecha de la primera subasta y por lo menos una vez por semana. Los autos y todos los documentos correspondientes al procedimiento indicado estarán de

manifiesto en la Secretaría del Tribunal durante las horas laborables. (Art. 102 (1) de la Ley núm. 210-2015). Expedido el presente en Ponce, Puerto Rico, a 27 de febrero de 2024. Manuel Maldonado, ALGUACIL DEL TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA DE PONCE.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE CAGUAS.

MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT, LLC

Demandante, v. VIRGILIO CORDERO

SOTO, también conocido como VIRGILIO CORDERO; MARÍA ELIGIA RODRÍGUEZ

TORRES, también conocida como MARÍA

E. RODRÍGUEZ TORRES, como MARÍA RODRÍGUEZ

TORRES, MARÍA ELIGIA

RODRÍGUEZ, MARÍA

E. RODRÍGUEZ y como MARÍA RODRÍGUEZ; LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE GANANCIALES

COMPUESTA POR AMBOS, ESTADOS

UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA; Demandados CIVIL NUM. CG2023CV03252.

SOBRE: EJECUCION DE HIPOTECA EMPLAZAMIENTO

POR EDICTO. Estados Unidos de América Presidente de los Estados Unidos Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico. SS. A: MARÍA ELIGIA RODRÍGUEZ TORRES, también conocida como MARÍA E. RODRÍGUEZ

TORRES, como MARÍA RODRÍGUEZ TORRES, MARÍA ELIGIA RODRÍGUEZ, MARÍA E. RODRÍGUEZ y como MARÍA RODRÍGUEZ, por sí y como representante de la Sociedad Legal de Gananciales que compone con VIRGILIO CORDERO SOTO, también conocido como VIRGILIO CORDERO. Queden emplazados y notificados que en este Tribunal se ha radicado Demanda sobre Ejecución de Hipoteca en su contra. Por la presente se le emplaza y notifica que debe contestar la demanda dentro del término de treinta (30) días a partir de la publicación del presente edicto y deberá presentar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SUMAC), el cual podrá acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electrónica: https://unired.ramajudicial.pr, salvo que el caso

sea de un expediente físico o que se represente por derecho propio, en cuyo caso deberá presentar su alegación responsiva en la Secretaría del Tribunal y notificar copia de la misma al licenciado Andrés Sáez Marrero, 1541 Calle Ponce de León, Box 203, Urb. El Caribe, San Juan, PR 00926, Tel. (561) 338-4101, correo electrónico, asaez@tmpllc.com, dentro de los treinta (30) días siguientes a la publicación de este Edicto. Si usted deja de presentar su alegación responsiva dentro del referido término, el tribunal podrá dictar sentencia en rebeldía en su contra y conceder el remedio solicitado en la demanda, o cualquier otro sin más citarle ni oírle, si el tribunal, en el ejercicio de su sana discreción, lo entiende procedente. Además, se le apercibe que, en los casos al amparo de la Ley Núm. 57-2023, titulada Ley para la Prevención del Maltrato, Preservación de la Unidad Familiar y para la Seguridad, Bienestar y Protección de los Menores, entre los remedios que el Tribunal podrá conceder se incluyen la ubicación permanente de un (una) menor fuera de su hogar, el inicio de procesos para la privación de patria potestad, y cualquier otra medida en el mejor interés del (de la) menor. (Artículo 33, incisos b y f de la Ley Núm. 57-2023). Se le advierte de su derecho a comparecer acompañado(a) de abogado(a) en los casos que proceda. Expido este edicto bajo mi firma y sello de este Tribunal, hoy 3 de enero de 2024. Lisilda Martinez Agosto, Secretario General, Sandra J Trinidad Cañuelas, Secretaria Auxiliar.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA DE SAN JUAN.

ORIENTAL BANK

Demandante v. T&F PROPERTIES, INC.; LOURDES FELICIANO

LOPEZ, FERNANDO

RIVERA RODRIGUEZ, por si y en representación de la Sociedad Legal de Bienes Gananciales compuesta entre ambos; METROPOLITAN ONCOLOGY CENTER, PSC.

Demandados CIVIL NÚM. SJ2021CV07306.

SOBRE: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA.

EDICTO DE SUBASTA,. AL PUBLICO EN GENERAL; A LA PARTE DEMANDADA

Y A LOS TENEDORES DE GRAVÁMENES

POSTERIORES

YO, PEDRO HIEYE GONZALEZ, Alguacil del Tribunal de

Primera Instancia, Sala de San Juan, al público en general,

POR LA PRESENTE HAGO

SABER: CERTIFICO Y HAGO

SABER: Cumpliendo con un Mandamiento de Ejecución de Sentencia del Secretario de este Tribunal, venderé en pública subasta al mejor postor en moneda legal de los Estados Unidos, en mi oficina, en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de San Juan, el día 2 de ABRIL de 2024, a las 9:00 de la mañana, la siguiente propiedad: URBAN: Horizontal Property: Unit number twenty (20). Unit of rectangular shape identified as office number twenty (20) located on the ground level, East side of Medical Pavillion Condominium, San Rafael Street, Santurce, Puerto Rico. This unit has a total private area of five hundred sixtyfour point nineteen (564.19) square feet, equivalent to fiftytwo point four hundred sixty-five (52.465) square meters. The dimensions and boundaries are as follows: North a distance of forty-four point seventy-five (44.75) feet with office number twenty-one (21) separeated by a wall; South, a distance of forty-four point seventy0five (44.75) feet with office number nineteen (19) separated by a wall; East, a distance of twelve point seventy-five (12.75) feet with exterior East wall of the building; and the West, a distance of twelve point seventy-five (12.75) with a limited common corridor of this level separated by a wall and a door. This unit has a waiting area, a private office area, and examination room and a bathroom. The entrance door is on the West side and connects the unit the common corridor. Esta unidad participa del cero punto ocho (0.8) por ciento en los elementos comunes generales y del cuatro punto cincuenta y seis (4.56) por ciento en los elementos comunes limitados. Consta inscrita al tomo móvil 354 de Santurce Sur, finca 9613, Registro de la Propiedad de San Juan, Primera Sección. La dirección física es: Doctor’s Medical Pavilion Suite 20, 1394 Calle San Rafael San Juan, Puerto Rico 00909. Los tipos mínimos fijados para la ejecución del bien inmueble antes mencionado lo son las sumas de $90,000.00 para la Primera Subasta; $60,000.00 para la Segunda Subasta; $45,000.00 para la Tercera Subasta. La venta se llevará a cabo para con su producto satisfacer a la parte demandante, hasta donde sea posible, el importe de la sentencia dictada el pasado 13 de septiembre de 2023 y notificada el 15 de septiembre de 2023 en el caso de epígrafe, ascendente a las siguientes cantidades: $33,088.61 de principal, más $3,012.39 de intereses acumulados hasta el 25 de octubre de 2021, más los que continúan acumulándose hasta

Who is Pearl Moore? Meet the woman whose college scoring record Caitlin Clark has yet to beat

By MARK PULEO / THE ATHLETIC

Before there was Caitlin Clark, before there was Kelsey Plum, Maya Moore, Candace Parker, Diana Taurasi or even Cheryl Miller, there was Pearl Moore.

Moore is a soft-spoken, lighthearted, easily embarrassed woman who owns a colossal scoring record that has stood the test of time, though her feat had garnered scant attention before Clark’s record-book sprint. But she was far more than just a Clark prototype.

“I just really enjoyed playing basketball,” Moore said recently. “I guess I had some success.”

Moore is the hooper from Francis Marion — a tiny university in her hometown, Florence, South Carolina — who scored a staggering 4,061 collegiate points from 1975 to 1979.

“One of the greatest players to ever play the women’s game,” said Sylvia Hatchell, Moore’s coach at Francis Marion.

The Sunday after Clark topped Plum’s NCAA Division I women’s career scoring record, a minister at Moore’s church addressed the national attention Clark had received. According to Moore, he told the congregation: “Pearl, we know Caitlin Clark has broke Kelsey Plum’s record, but we all know in this church who the leading scorer actually is. And that’s you.”

Moore, 66, said that kind of attention embarrasses her, and she would rather leave her basketball successes on the court.

Those accolades began in the Carolina countryside, where she shot rubber balls through tire rims held up by peach baskets. Later, she and her family — including 11 brothers and sisters — moved to Florence, where they had playgrounds with real hoops. It was on those playgrounds where Moore developed her shooting prowess and dribbling moves to score around much bigger boys. It was also where Moore developed her competitive edge.

“She always wanted to beat them because they’d talk junk to her, but Pearl did her talking on the court,” Hatchell

said.

Even after all that talking, Moore was too nervous to play basketball when she reached Wilson High School, so she skipped tryouts. When the high school coach saw Moore pick up a ball and shoot, she called for another tryout, and Moore made the team. Moore said she averaged 13 points as a freshman, 14 as a sophomore and 17 as a junior before blossoming as a senior and averaging 25 points per game.

Despite dominating high school and grassroots basketball, Moore had scholarship offers from only two colleges: one in Louisiana and another in Michigan. Moore, a homebody, wasn’t thrilled.

“Women back in those days didn’t really get all these scholarship offers and stuff like they do now,” she said. “Now you’ve got a silver platter. Before, you had to scramble around.”

Anne Long, Moore’s coach for her senior season at Wilson High School, took her on a visit to Anderson Junior College, a regional powerhouse. But after a few weeks of playing there, Moore was miserable. She drove more than three hours home every weekend and was ready to return to Florence.

So Long called Hatchell, who had never heard of Moore but drove out to the Wilson gym to watch her play. There, a two-on-two game broke out, with Long and Moore on one team and Hatchell on the other with Moore’s younger brother Jeffrey.

“And, of course, you know we beat them,” Moore said.

Hatchell was in her first season of what would become a 44-year coaching career. Hatchell spent 11 years at Francis Marion before becoming the coach at North Carolina, where she won a national championship and eight Atlantic Coast Conference tournament titles, appeared in three Final Fours and earned induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

“Whenever she wanted to come home, I couldn’t wait to get her because she was something else,” Hatchell said of Moore. “She started my career off good, I’ll tell you.”

In a Francis Marion uniform, Moore played basketball like a woman who had been teleported from a future generation. She drained shots from distance with an effortless jumper, then blew by defenders when they came out to guard her. If she had a smaller defender on her,

Moore would take her to school in the post.

“I was blessed highly by my heavenly Father to have done all of those things,” Moore said.

By the time she graduated, her 4,061 points were the record for small schools in the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women. The NCAA didn’t offer a women’s basketball tournament until 1982, and the AIAW was the primary governing body that oversaw women’s sports through the 1970s.

The NCAA does not include AIAW statistics in its record book, which is why Clark and Moore hold different records. Lynette Woodard of Kansas holds the AIAW large-school scoring record at 3,649 points, and Pete Maravich of Louisiana State holds the NCAA men’s scoring record at 3,667 points. Though Clark, a senior at Iowa, has surpassed the marks held by Woodard and Maravich, she most likely won’t catch Moore in her remaining games in the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments before she heads to the WNBA this summer.

Moore finished her college career with three 50-point games, including a 60-point outing. She averaged 30.6 points per game and scored more than 1,000 points in three of her four seasons, and she did it all without the 3-point line.

“She is as good a women’s basketball player as has ever been out there,” said Michael Hawkins, who has worked in Francis Marion’s athletic department since 1981. “Just a scoring machine.”

If there had been a 3-point line, Hawkins suggested, Moore might have added 400 more points to her career total. Hatchell said “she probably would’ve had another 1,000.”

Moore said she wasn’t watching on Feb. 15, the night that Clark scored 49 points against Michigan and surpassed Plum, but those who saw Moore play say the two strike a stunning resemblance in how they could control a game.

“They’re very similar, especially both were great shooters but also had ballhandling skills, and they had a lot of assists,” Hatchell said. “For Pearl, it was a

Pearl Moore scored a staggering 4,061 collegiate points from 1975 to 1979 at Francis Marion University in Florence, South Carolina. (FMU)

From page 27

joy for her to play and to watch her play because she just smiled all the time and had her teammates laughing because she was the kid that everyone loved playing with. She made it so much fun. That’s sort of like Caitlin. They’re great because they love the game.”

With or without a comparison to Clark, Moore has loved watching the recent growth of women’s basketball, and she cherishes her place in the game’s history.

“There are so many trailblazers in the game that have laid the foundation for the game to have grown,” Moore said. “When we were coming up, we didn’t have any women to emulate because we didn’t see it on TV.”

Moore remains in Florence today, ever the homebody.

Toward the end of her time at Francis Marion, she received multiple offers to compete for the upstart Women’s Pro Basketball League. She played for the New York Stars in 1979-80 and the St. Louis Streak in 1980-81 before the league folded in 1981. Her dominance translated immediately to the professional level, and she led the Stars to a championship in her first year.

She was inducted into the Francis Marion Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011 and the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.

When Moore got the call from the Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts, Hatchell said Moore told her, “I don’t deserve this.”

“But I said, ‘Pearl, you do deserve this for all you’ve done for the game,’” Hatchell said. “And all the greats of the game, especially all of the great men of the NBA there, they all loved her.”

These days, the gym at Wilson High School, the Florence community center and various local promotions for clinics and training sessions bear Moore’s name.

She works at the town’s post office, continuing to love the community where she found success. Of all of her accolades, the local honors mean the most.

“Out of my college career, I got three rings,” she said. “I’ve got the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame ring and my Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame ring. But I’ve also got my college graduation ring, and this is the ring I’m most proud of.”

The Clippers are short on championships, but long on logos

By SCOTT CACCIOLA

The Los Angeles Clippers have struggled for years to shed their reputation as one of the NBA’s most woebegone franchises. Operating in a perennial shadow cast by the Lakers, the Clippers actually have a decent team this season, with hopes of winning their first championship.

But the job of transforming their image has been no easy task, and the Clippers last week announced their latest crack at it: a new logo that, defying conventional wisdom, reaches into their past.

The logo, which the team will begin using next season when it moves into a new arena in nearby Inglewood, California, depicts the silhouette of an oncoming ship. The Clippers describe it as “a nod to the team’s origins” in San Diego, where the franchise was based in the late 1970s and early ’80s. The hull of the ship features the seams of a basketball and is framed by a compass.

Art and design site Creative Bloq assessed the new logo

as “an instant classic” that honors the team’s past “while still feeling fresh.” An editor for SB Nation wrote that the Clippers had “shed their loser branding, and finally look like a real NBA team.”

Others were not so enamored. Fast Company described the new look as “confusing” and a result of “what happens when logos try to do too much: Is it a ship? Is it a compass? In fact, it’s both.” Craig Calcaterra, who has a daily baseball, news and culture newsletter, quoted another observation — that the logo appeared to show a cruise liner in someone’s crosshairs.

“Now I can’t unsee it,” Calcaterra wrote on the social platform X, formerly Twitter.

Given their history, the Clippers are easy fodder for sports pundits. There were suggestions that the team could have rebranded as, say, the animated paper clip from an outdated version of Microsoft Office, or maybe as a pair of nail clippers.

Michael Brennan, a New York-based designer who was not involved in the process, said the job of creating a new logo for a sports team can often feel like a losing battle.

“I think some people are going to be resistant out of the gate, no matter what,” Brennan said in an interview. “But this, to me, feels like it has a lot more staying power than previous versions.”

The Clippers were originally founded in 1970 as the Buffalo Braves, and had some modest success before the franchise relocated to Southern California in 1978.

There, the team was rebranded as the San Diego Clippers, with a fresh logo to boot: a trio of triangles that evoked

sleek sailing masts on the water. The team, unfortunately, was a disaster, staggering through five straight losing seasons before Donald Sterling, who was then the team’s owner, moved the Clippers to Los Angeles in 1984 without seeking the approval of the NBA.

In Los Angeles, the Clippers remained a troubled franchise, going 21 seasons without winning a playoff series. Their primary logo was equally forgettable: the name of the team inside of a streaking basketball, which was presumably a pass being thrown out of bounds. The team was almost synonymous with dysfunction, and that was before the NBA forced Sterling to sell the team in 2014 after he was recorded making racist comments.

Steve Ballmer, the team’s new owner, almost immediately had the logo revamped — a basketball with a big blue “C” and an “LA” inside of it — but it hardly seemed like an upgrade. That logo, which will be retired after this season, has about as much personality as a slab of concrete.

And while the Clippers have been competitive in recent seasons, they continue to face some of the same obstacles — namely, making more of an imprint in a city long dominated by the Lakers. Adding to the challenge, the Clippers and the Lakers have played in the same downtown arena since 1999.

That will change next season when the Clippers relocate to Inglewood in the Intuit Dome, a building they will be able to call their own. The imminent move has also presented the team with another shot at a rebrand — one that it can only hope sticks.

Reaction to the inspiration for the new logo, though, has been mixed. Claire Bula, a lecturer in graphic design at Boston University, questioned why fans of the team would care about its fleeting ties to San Diego, a city from which the Clippers absconded about 40 years ago.

“When you think of nautical heritage, it doesn’t feel super connected to the modern Clippers organization,” Bula said in an interview, adding, “This looks more like the logo for a luxury yacht company than a basketball team.”

Brennan, on the other hand, said the new logo was “really thoughtful” and had a “majestic” vibe.

But sports fans can be a fickle bunch, and the craftsmanship of a well-executed design may not even matter.

“Some of my favorite logos aren’t necessarily good,” Brennan said. “I just have an emotional connection to those teams.”

The old and new Los Angeles Clippers logos (LA Clippers)

How to Play:

Fill in the empty fields with the numbers from 1 through 9.

Sudoku Rules:

Every row must contain the numbers from 1 through 9

Every column must contain the numbers from 1 through 9

Every 3x3 square must contain the numbers from 1 through 9

Crossword

Aries (Mar 21-April 20)

Your sixth sense is right on target, Aries, so trust your instincts today. You’re likely to connect with someone in a wonderful partnership that will help you foster the very plan you want to develop now. Stay close to those things that resonate strongly with your morals. The answer is in front of you; you don’t have to search too far afield in order to find it.

Taurus (April 21-May 21)

Take a break from your routine, Taurus. You might feel like you’re leading an army into battle as you strive for new adventures and conquer new realms. Make sure you take a bit of time out today to stop and let your troops rest. You deserve a little rest yourself. Use this moment of stillness to form your plan of attack so you’re sure about how to proceed.

Gemini (May 22-June 21)

The key for you is to minimize your daily drama as much as possible, Gemini. You may not realize how much you cripple yourself by the way you exaggerate every aspect of your life. Try not to give so much of your attention to things that really don’t matter much. Petty jealousy and gossip about other people’s lives are especially irrelevant in your world.

Cancer (June 22-July 23)

Be careful of advertising yourself as someone who is so strong and mentally competent that you’re capable of handling everything, Cancer. Take note that the strongest mule on the trail usually ends up carrying the most weight. Your emotions are more sensitive than you may think, and certainly more than you demonstrate to others. Be honest about the way you feel and not just the way you think.

Leo (July 24-Aug 23)

Things should flow well for you today with very little effort on your part, Leo. Take note that if any quarrel arises, it’s an indication that the person you’re arguing with isn’t necessarily the right person to deal with or confide in. Emotional issues are likely to be the hardest ones to overcome, but this shouldn’t be a problem for you. You have the ability to work through these like a pro.

Virgo (Aug 24-Sep 23)

This is meant to be a nice, relaxing day, so treat it as such, Virgo. There’s no need for you to plan any great strategy at this time. Try to take it easy and not indulge in any unnecessary stress. This is your time to enjoy the moment. Don’t tax your mind by overanalyzing everything that comes your way. Go with the flow and have a great time regardless of what you end up doing.

Libra (Sep 24-Oct 23)

This is meant to be a nice, relaxing day, so treat it as such, Virgo. There’s no need for you to plan any great strategy at this time. Try to take it easy and not indulge in any unnecessary stress. This is your time to enjoy the moment. Don’t tax your mind by overanalyzing everything that comes your way. Go with the flow and have a great time regardless of what you end up doing.

Scorpio (Oct 24-Nov 22)

Allow your eager and restless nature to express itself in ways other than through the spoken word, Scorpio. Show someone that you care through your gentle touch or a big bear hug. Hold on a little bit more tightly than you might normally. There’s an unspoken understanding that comes when you communicate through nothing but pure silence. Work on developing this kind of connection with those closest to you.

Sagittarius (Nov 23-Dec 21)

This is a terrific day for you, Sagittarius. You should find that your relationships, especially with men, go exceptionally well. Your tender and extremely sensitive nature is finally being recognized as the treasure chest it is. There are many times in which this type of personality is seen as weak, yet today is one of those times in which you’re given the full credit you deserve.

Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 20)

A selfish attitude on your part won’t be tolerated today, regardless of the circumstances, Capricorn. Don’t make it worse for yourself by pretending that you don’t notice others’ hurt feelings. People are likely to be extra sensitive today, so be careful about trying to impose your will on someone who really wants nothing more than an ear to talk to and a shoulder to cry on.

Aquarius (Jan 21-Feb 19)

You could find the hardest person to face is you, Aquarius. You tend toward introspection, and you may find yourself shrinking into self-recrimination. You could analyze the important people in your life and yet fail to address the one you really need to look at – you. As you continually strive for perfection, give yourself proper credit. Do something nice for yourself today.

Pisces (Feb 20-Mar 20)

Take advantage of the creative energy in the air today, Pisces. Keep your hands moving and your imagination flowing toward something fun and artistic. If you begin to doubt your work, you may fall down a spiral of creative blockage. Don’t get into the habit of constantly judging the quality or outcome of your work. Give yourself free rein to open up and explore whatever comes to mind.