The Weekly Journal - Wednesday, January 5, 2022

Wednesday, January 5-11, 2022 - // no. 141

Puerto Rico and the Caribbean

www.theweeklyjournal.com

Puerto Rico’s economy rebounded in 2021 P6 Flight cancellations due to Covid-19 and bad weather P9 Beware of Social Security scammers P12

study takes a look at

us measures to contain covid-19 Concludes federal government missed opportunity to minimize human and fiscal costs

R

Juan A. Hernández, The Weekly Journal

The Three Kings always come first P15

jhernandez@wjournalpr.com

esearchers from the University of Puerto Rico - Cayey Campus (UPRCayey), concluded in a recent investigation that the United States government had “missed its best opportunity to minimize human and fiscal costs” from the Covid-19 pandemic by not implementing a strict policy of identifying, treating, and isolating infected individuals. The alternatives left to the government are “the second-best policies” - like physical distancing with

massive testing - for two possible scenarios which would imply a significant loss of human life or fiscal assets, depending on which policy it might decide to implement.

“After simulating a series of scenarios, we came to the conclusion that both the race towards herd immunization or ‘doing nothing’ are the worst possible policies, considering the human cost,” said Dr. Mayteé Cruz, professor of physics and mathematics at UPR-Cayey and one of the researchers of the investigation, in an interview with THE WEEKLY JOURNAL. GO TO PAGE 4

The Weekly Journal > Wednesday, January 5, 2022 > 2

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/ Wednesday, January 5, 2022

a week in review Farewell to the Classic BlackBerry This week, Blackberry stopped supporting its classic devices. Older phones running on BlackBerry 10, 7.1 OS, and earlier will no longer be able to make calls or use data. The announcement was first made in Sep. 2020 as part of the company’s efforts to focus on developing as a security-software provider for businesses and governments. BlackBerry had launched its latest operating system in 2013 but by 2016, the company was already largely out of the phone business. The iconic BlackBerry, once all-therage with business types because of their physical keyboards, was patronized by the likes of Kim Kardashian and President Barack Obama. Note –If you have a Blackberry 5G device that runs on Android software, your phone will not be affected.

After six months of negotiations, MCS acquisition is complete MHH Healthcare, created by Kinderhook Industries, acquired Medical Card System, Inc. (MCS) earlier this week. The transaction included MCS’s three business lines and client portfolio of approximately 400,000 policyholders. The acquisition marks Kinderhook’s 52nd transaction within the healthcare industry. “We are certain that this acquisition will stimulate innovation in an industry in which Kinderhook has deep experience and knowledge, which is why we believe that the acquisition of MCS represents the best step forward for all constituents of MCS,” stated Chris Michalik, Kinderhook CEO. Financing for the deal was provided by Atlantic Park Strategic Capital Fund, LP.

Powered BY El Vocero de Puerto Rico, 1064 Ave Ponce de León 2nd floor San Juan, PR Postal Address: PO Box 15074, San Juan, PR 00902

Forty years of iconic Spanish wines Despite a difficult year, Ribera del Duero managed to deliver 28% more back labels for the commercialization of their wines compared to 2020. Last year, the Regulatory Council of the Denomination of Origin Ribera del Duero delivered 100,421,036 back labels to wineries for the marketing of their wines within and outside of Spain. This record-breaking year coincided with the DO’s fortieth anniversary and shows consumers’ confidence in the wines of Ribera del Duero. The categories that performed best in 2021 were Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva, which represented more than 37% of the total back labels delivered in 2021.

President Salvador Hasbún shasbun@elvocero.com

VP of Accounting Félix A. Rosa frosa@elvocero.com

Human Resources Director Arlene Rolón, PHR arolon@elvocero.com

Vp of Marketing and Business Operations Michelle Pérez Miperez@elvocero.com

VP of Production Eligio Dekony edekony@elvocero.com

VP of Editorial Content Juan Miguel Muñiz Guzmán jmuniz@elvocero.com

Multi-Platform Graphic and Technology Director Héctor L. Vázquez hvazquez@elvocero.com

Phone: 787-622-2300, 787-721-2300

Multi-Plataform Digital Director María Arce marce@elvocero.com

Customer Service: 787-622-7480

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The Two Scenarios

According to Cruz, when human life is not the main focus, the lowest fiscal cost for governments could be achieved through a very strict policy (of mask wearing and social distance, among other measures) to lower the probability of infection by 90% in eight weeks.

On the other hand, if fiscal expenditures are secondary, the lowest human cost is achieved with a relatively strict measure to lower the probability of infection by 80%.

“At the beginning of the pandemic, when there was little or no knowledge about the disease, the best alternative was to close down the national frontiers to identify and isolate those who are sick, but the (US) government missed that opportunity,” Cruz explained. “But when that alternative is missed completely and there are no other preventive measures available, other similarly effective alternatives must be considered.”

For Cruz, what should have happened was that then President Donald Trump ordered a lockdown of the country –closing of the borders, limiting travel within the country, etc.– to prevent the spreading of the disease and the eventual loss of lives and fiscal resources. “But that opportunity is

already gone,” the researcher said.

Positivity Rate

Cruz argued the effectiveness of the lockdown by comparing last year’s positivity rates of Puerto Rico and the continental US to the current numbers.

At the beginning of the pandemic a lockdown was ordered by then Governor Wanda Vázquez between March and June 2020. Back then,

After simulating a series of scenarios, we came to the conclusion that both the race towards herd immunization or ‘doing nothing’ are the worst possible policies, considering the human cost.

- Mayteé Cruz, professor of physics and mathematics, UPR-Cayey

positivity indexes fluctuating between 10 and 12 percent were considered “alarming” and caused the Covid-19 virus to be characterized as “out of control.” Positivity rates in the US were proportionally similar or slightly less.

For Cruz that was the best policy to implement.

But as soon as lockdown conditions were relaxed or repealed in the summer of 2020, the number of reported cases, hospitalizations and deaths increased. Between the so-called “Covidparties” and the general elections, positivity indexes in the island reached between 15 and 18 percent. This was some six months before a vaccine was developed.

One year after the vaccination process started and when about 70 percent of the Puerto Rico’s population has received at least the first vaccine shot, sanitary measures were relaxed or repealed, allowing public to attend public events, shopping malls and restaurants, among other venues.

Quickly, positivity indexes skyrocketed, with the current index well above 30 percent.

Simultaneously, the US is experiencing a similar scenario, except for the percentage of vaccinated people, which according to the New York Times is 62%.

The investigation made by Cruz and Dr. José Caraballo, professor at the Graduate School of Business Administration at UPR-Cayey, was driven by

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In fact, The New York Times and Our World in Data reported that the cumulative number of deaths in the US due to Covid-19 is in excess of 826,000.

two basic research questions: What are the financial implications of the physical distancing policies?

What about for the loss of lives? The researchers concluded that, “when either fiscal or human costs are relevant, the second-best policy is found to significantly reduce the transmission rate.”

“When saving lives is the most important target, the second-best scenario is when the transmission rate is lowered by 80% either in day 2 or day 20 after the pandemic (begun), with few death cases and as much as $1.07 trillion in net impact to the government budget. These policies can take the form of physical distancing combined with massive testing,” read the conclusions of the CruzCaraballo research.

“This relatively strict policy would save 910,064 lives in the US,” explained Cruz.

It should be noted that The New York Times and Our World in Data reported that the cumulative number of deaths in the US due to Covid-19 is in excess of 826,000.

Fiscal Costs As The Most Important Factor

For the researchers, the policy with the lesser fiscal impact would the one that reduces the probability of infection by about 90%.

“However, if one focuses only on budgetary issues disregarding life, the second-best policy would be to lower the transmission rate by 90% in eight weeks: the pandemic would cost approximately $119 billion at the expense of killing

In a scenario with no measures to curb the spread of the disease, the fiscal cost of the pandemic increased in many of our several simulations when compared to the other scenarios.

– Mayteé Cruz, professor of physics and mathematics, UPR-Cayey

898,193 lives,” further concluded the research.

But, despite Puerto Rico’s current positivity index, Cruz considers the island is not experiencing such a scenario because “here we have implemented some safety measures.”

For Cruz and Caraballo, “unleashing the pandemic without taking any containment policy always maximizes the mortality associated to the pandemic.”

“In a scenario with no measures to curb the spread of the disease, the fiscal cost of the pandemic increased in many of our several simulations when compared to the other scenarios,” said Cruz.

While the researchers did not consider what kind of fiscal policies –or their costs– could be implemented to counteract the costs associated to the pandemic, several other researchers throughout the United States have already estimated that cost to the federal government in the trillions of dollars range.

Harvard economists David Cutler and Lawrence Summers estimated in November 2020 the cost of Covid-19 in the US alone would be $16 trillion, should the pandemic have ended last fall. Instead, the pandemic rages on with a third or fourth wave and at least two new variants –delta and omicron.

Back then Cutler and Summers based their estimate on existing data and “tried to be both transparent about their assumptions and conservative in their estimates,” and anticipated the estimated cost would be affected by “the shifting course of the pandemic, increased by things like a major spike in cases and deaths in the coming months and reduced by the release of a safe and effective vaccine widely taken by the population,” reported the Harvard Gazette.

Cruz emphasized the model used in their study incorporates “the epidemiological model with the fiscal impact tied to mortality implications under different physical distance scenarios and we explored these numerically.”

“This result is important for the implementation of public health strategies and policies for this or future pandemics,” said Cruz.

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Puerto Rico’s economy showed signs of improvement in 2021 Positive economic indicators confirmed the economic growth

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Internews Service

conomic Development Bank (EDB) president Luis Alemañy González, announced last week several positive economic indicators pointed to an improvement of Puerto Rico’s economy during 2021, despite the great losses caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The announcement was made through the Center for Economic Studies, an entity created under his administration.

Despite some signs of fragility due to the restrictive measures put in place to contain the spread of the coronavirus, the business sector showed a 23.6% increase in retail sales during the first 10 months of 2021, or $30.3 billion, when compared to the same period in 2020.

Also, sales tax revenues reflected a similar pattern; they increased 9.5% during the same those reported for 2014. period, totaling more than $2 billion. Nevertheless, Meanwhile, the manufacturing sector continued revenues in this area are 16.1% less than those of with its upward trend, registering an increase 2019. of 5.5% in the number of employees, for a Similarly, jobs in the business sector increased total of 77,900 salaried jobs within the Januaryby 6.9% during the first 11 months of 2021 versus November 2021 period. In his analysis, Alemañy what was reported in 2020. Still, the sector has González highlighted that the total number of not recovered to the same workers for the sector is 3.7% employment level reported prior higher than that reported in to the pandemic.

2019. This variable has been “When analyzing the different growing year-on-year for 15 economic sectors, we see an consecutive months, largely due improvement that confirms the to an increase in the production The business recovery process. Statistics in the of medicines and medical sector showed a construction and manufacturing equipment in areas close to the 23.6% increase in industries are some of the United States. retail sales, while variables that also weigh-in in this Another variable that will be manufacturing analysis,” said Alemañy González. revised in 2022, which also shows increased by 5.5% For example, employment in a 3.1% increase, is the nonthe number of the construction sector showed agricultural salaried employment. employees. an increase of 14.1% between This sector totaled 855,300 jobs Source: Center for January and November 2021, in the first 11 months of 2021.

Economic Studies for a total of 30,100 jobs, when This number is estimated to compared to that same period in increase, according to a study by 2020. the Reserve Bank of New York, Also within the same period, there was a 16% which showed that salaried employment in Puerto rise in cement sales, for a total of 14.4 million bags. Rico would exceed the number of registered jobs Cement sales for 2021 compared favorably with by 20,000 to 30,000 additional positions.

In fact,

When analyzing the different economic sectors, we see an improvement that confirms the recovery process.

-Luis Alemañy González, president, Economic Development Bank

The EDB’s Economic Activity Index, although it suffered a 1.7% loss during fiscal year 2020, experienced an increase of 2.8% between January and November 2021.

“Puerto Rico’s economy faces many challenges, but despite all those challenges we managed to reach encouraging indicators. We began working since day one, at the Economic Development Bank to facilitate this economic growth and in 2022 we will continue to fight with the same spirit we did before in favor of Puerto Rico’s entrepreneurs,” concluded Alemañy González.

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In the period between mid-2019 and 2020, less people moved away from the island than in previous years, the US Census Bureau reported. >Josian E. Bruno Gómez

Out migration in Puerto Rico declined with the pandemic

From mid-2019 to 2020, less people moved from the island than in previous years

247,000 from 2020-2021. For comparison, the past decade’s peak was from 2015-2016, with net international migration totaling 1,049,000.

The Return Home

Santos’ journey began at the end of 2017 – Hurricane Maria had just hit, and Santos was a Zoe Landi Fontana, The Weekly Journal “bun head”. Back then, she was dancing for Ballet Concierto of Puerto Rico, and dance was her entire went there for ballet, to have fun, life. Before the hurricanes, the ballet company was thriving, having upwards of 60 dancers. but I missed home a lot,” As a result of Irma and Maria hurricanes, the explained Sujeily Santos, 24-yearcompany was forced to shut down for a year, at old, who migrated to the US, but which point Santos decided to bring her dance ended returning back to Puerto career to New York. She reached out to the Joffrey Rico “I noticed my home sickness Ballet School, a prestigious pre-professional wasn’t going away, so I decided training program, where she was accepted to to come back.”

Santos, who hails from San Juan, returned home begin the next semester.

Santos left Puerto Rico for New York in early to Puerto Rico in 2020 at the start of the Covid-19 2018, part of the huge population decline that pandemic, after almost two years dancing at the occurred between 2017-2018, Joffrey Ballet School in New York. when the island’s population Since the beginning of the decreased by 142,000 –a 4.4% pandemic, net out-migration change in population, and a 35% from the island has declined. increase in emigration, when Net out-migration, a measure compared to the year before. calculated by the US Census Net After moving to New York Bureau, is the difference international Santos ended a personal relation. between people moving to the migration in the US “As soon as we broke up, I island and those who have left was only 247,000 realized I wanted to have these long-term. These migration from 2020-2021. types of life experiences at home. patterns are based on annual My friends are there [in Puerto flight passenger data.

Rico], my family is there… it’s my In the period between midcomfort zone,” she said.

2019 and 2020, less people Despite this early epiphany, she stayed for moved away from the island than in previous another year and a half, living in a friend’s years, the US Census Bureau reported. This trend basement in the Bronx and riding the train is apparent in the states also, where 2020-21 daily on a 45-minute commute to downtown experienced the lowest levels of international Manhattan, where she trained at the ballet school. migration in decades. According to the US Census “I knew I wasn’t going to stay there, but I had so Bureau, net international migration was only

I

“

In fact,

I noticed my home sickness wasn’t going away, so I decided to come back.

-Sujeily Santos, Puerto Rican migrant

much pressure to,” Santos said of what kept her motivated.

The mystical hubbub of Manhattan didn’t enchant her and the cold darkness of New York winters made her miss home even more. “Do I really want to make a future here?” she would ask herself. “It was like I had a love-hate relationship with New York.”

Then, in early 2020, New York City began shutting down. Unlike other residents of the city, Santos wasn’t too devastated. She returned to Puerto Rico and, regardless of her original plan to return to the states, decided she didn’t want to go back. “I knew my life was here,” she said.

Thus Santos completed the circular migration process most migrating Puerto Ricans experience with her longing to return to the island.

Santos continued to dance with Ballet Concierto after her return in 2020. She took the past year off as a hiatus from the grueling world of classical ballet. Looking back at her time in New York, she sees a young student who didn’t know what she wanted. Being away from home, however, gave her the perspective and distance necessary to determine her next steps.

“I want to travel and see other places, but I don’t want to live anywhere else –I know my home is here,” said Santos.

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Charities wade into NFT craze with mixed financial results NFTs have spawned a frenzy as collectors look to cash in

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The Associated Press

n GivingTuesday, officials at New Jersey-based health care charity Sostento learned they would receive a donation of roughly $58,000 by the end of the week.

The donation was unlike any the nonprofit had received before. It was derived from the proceeds of the sale of a Nonfungible token, or NFT, for a digital artwork called “The NFT Guild Philanthropist — Healthcare Heroes.”

You’ve likely heard of NFTs. They’re built on the same technology that underlies digital currencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. These digital assets shot into the limelight in March 2021 after Mike Winkelman, known by his artist moniker Beeple, auctioned off an NFT for $69 million at Christie’s.

Think of an NFT as a deed or token associated with a work of digital art, like an image, an audio recording, or a video. That token can be used to keep track of the file’s provenance and sale history, allowing someone to prove ownership of the asset.

NFT And Philanthropy

While the technology was created to give artists more control over their work, NFTs have spawned a frenzy as collectors look to cash in. As that speculation intensifies, a growing number of charities have begun to explore fundraising efforts tied to NFTs. Although some NFT charity auctions have yielded eye-popping sums, others have had limited success. Complicating matters, NFTs use new technologies that are generating lots of questions for accountants and regulators.

The “Guild Philanthropist” NFT sold for 6.3 Ethereum, the equivalent of roughly $28,000.

The artist provided a donation to match the sale price. For Sostento, accepting the donation was fairly simple. The organization worked with Giving Block, a nonprofit that helps other charities accept cryptocurrency, to convert the crypto into U.S. dollars. The NFT will also continue to benefit charities in the future. It was created with a provision that obliges proceeds of future sales to be given to charity.

Sostento wasn’t the only group to see a windfall from these novel tokens last week. Officials at Giving

Cheetah and other chimpanzees at Save the Chimps sanctuary in Fort Pierce, Florida, made history by being the first nonhuman primates to create NFTs. >Save the Chimps via AP

Block said they helped process roughly $1 million in charitable donations on GivingTuesday derived from the proceeds of NFT auctions. And on Dec. 7, Giving Block will launch the inaugural NFTuesday, a day focused on driving more NFT-derived philanthropy.

Reaching New Audiences

active online.

Earlier this year, entrepreneur Eduardo Burillo donated an NFT titled “CryptoPunk 5293” to the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami. The work, which is part of a 10,000-piece series, depicts the pixelated avatar of a person sporting a shortbob haircut, pink lipstick, and a Mona-Lisa-like expression. As of Thanksgiving, the average sale price of a CryptoPunk was just under $500,000.

While NFTs may seem novel as an instrument of philanthropy, the assets tied to the tokens are similar to other forms of ephemeral art, such as performance art, video art, or art installations, said Alex Gartenfeld, artistic director at ICA Miami.

Some nonprofits have entered the NFT fray as a way to reach a broader audience.

In July, officials at Save the Chimps, a chimpanzee refuge in Fort Pierce, Florida, scanned finger paintings done by three of its residents: Cheetah, Clay, and Tootie. From those scans, they created a series of NFTs and listed them for auction on Truesy, an NFT marketplace. Think of them like prints of a photograph.

Collectibles Or Securities They were priced to sell at a value Officials at The biggest challenge for equivalent to about $25. Save the Giving Block said nonprofits — especially those that Chimps set up its NFT to provide a they processed wish to hold an NFT as an asset — royalty to the charity in the event of roughly $1 million is that the existing accounting rules future sales. The fundraising haul in charitable don’t really address NFTs, says so far? Just a few hundred dollars. donations in NFTs. Brian Mittendorf, a professor of “The exciting part was they were accounting at Ohio State University all first-time donors,” said Sara who focuses on nonprofits. The Halpert, the group’s marketing NFT is technically different from the director. artwork itself, which raises heady questions about That’s the appeal for many charities that have what is and is not being valued, or even what could started to dabble in the world of NFTs and, more be considered part of a museum’s collection. broadly, cryptocurrency. These collectors and Regulators, including the Securities and Exchange investors could be a valuable new audience for Commission, are beginning to examine how and fundraisers to tap, said Pat Duffy, CEO of Giving when to treat NFTs as collectibles or securities.

Block. They tend to be richer-than-average, The eventual result of those decisions could have financially savvy younger donors who are very ramifications for charitable-accounting offices.

In fact,

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/ Wednesday, January 5, 2022 It’s not clear when travel will return to normal, but airlines say a recent move

by U.S. public health officials should help get workers back sooner. >AP Photo/Alex Brandon

In fact, As of last Thursday, about 7,800 flights departing from, going to, or within the U.S. had been scratched.

Why are so many flights being canceled?

Airlines have not been spared from the spread of the Omicron variant

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Tali Arbel & Paul Wiseman, The Associated Press

he forces that have scrambled thousands of flights since Christmas Eve could ease in January, but that’s cold comfort to the millions of flyers with New Year’s plans.

And if 2021 has taught us anything, it’s that 2022 will likely be just as unpredictable.

Here’s a look at what has mucked up flights for thousands of people this holiday season, and what could happen over the next few weeks.

What Happened?

Airlines have not been spared from the spread of the Omicron variant, which knocked out flight crews at airlines that had already reduced the size of their workforces following the collapse of air travel in 2020.

The wave of Omicron infections arrived at the same time that crowds began to pack airports for holiday travel. Then the Pacific Northwest and other areas were slammed with cold and heavy snowstorms.

The convergence of all three forced airlines to cancel thousands of flights starting on Christmas Eve. More than 1,900 U.S. flights and more than 3,300 worldwide were grounded as of early Monday, according to tracking service FlightAware.

The U.S. was not alone. There have been thousands of cancellations abroad. European and Australian airlines report the same logistical issues

dealing with COVID-19 and flight crews. Chinese airlines have made up a large percentage of cancellations.

To put that in perspective, most flights were OK. There are nearly 70,000 flights a day, globally, said aviation data provider Cirium.

When Might Things Improve?

U.S. health officials last week halved guidance to five days of quarantine for asymptomatic Americans who catch the coronavirus. Airline industry experts say that will alleviate the staffing issues that have forced airlines to scratch flights — but the flight attendants unions say they’re wary of the change

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience that these schedule changes bring.

– Derek Dombrowski, spokesperson, Jet Blue

and its effect on worker health. Yet cases of Omicron, the fast-spreading variant of the COVID-19 virus, continue to rise. And that isn’t the only problem.

It could take up to a week for airlines to fully recover from lingering bad weather, said Jim Hetzel, an expert on airline operations at Cirium.

Getting past the holiday rush will also help.

January and February are the year’s slowest travel months after the New Year’s rush, said Willis Orlando, senior flight expert at Scott’s Cheap Flights.

“There should be a lot more room for airline to cut routes, reassign pilots and have staff in reserve.’’

Some airlines have also recognized that the confluence of the holiday rush, Omicron and bad weather make it impossible to continue with current schedules.

JetBlue said that it was reducing its schedule through mid-January in hopes of giving customers more time to make alternate plans rather than suffer last-minute cancellations — although still more cancellations remain likely.

“We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience that these schedule changes bring,” said spokesperson Derek Dombrowski. He said crew members are volunteering to work extra hours and managers are pitching in where they’re trained to do so.

Alaska Airlines urged flyers who could to reschedule for after Jan. 2, as it was reducing Seattle departures and more cancellations and delays were expected this week. Delta and United spokespeople said they could not predict when operations would normalize.

What Should Travelers Do?

If your flight is canceled, most airlines will put you on the next available plane to your destination free of charge. “They will figure a way to get you there. You don’t have to pay anything extra,” said Charles Leocha, president and founder of the consumer advocacy group Travelers United.

If you cancel your trip instead of taking an alternative flight, you are entitled to your money back, even if you had nonrefundable tickets. When they cancel flights, airlines tend to push customers toward vouchers for future flights instead of offering a full refund. Orlando, of Scott’s Cheap Flights, urged travelers to remember their right to get their money back. “Airlines make it very easy to allow them to keep your money,’’ he said.

You can also ask the airline to transfer your ticket to another airline, but it is not obligated to do so.

Likewise, airlines are not required to reimburse you for hotel rooms, cabs or other expenses.

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New auto sales in US up in 2021 Insufficient computer chips stall new car production

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Tom Krishner The Associated Press

ew vehicle sales in the U.S. rebounded slightly last year from 2020’s dismal numbers, but forecasters expect them to be more than 2 million below the years before the coronavirus pandemic.

The reason? Although there are plenty of customers who want to buy new vehicles at hefty prices, there still aren’t enough computer chips for the industry to fully crank up its factories.

So supplies are short, prices are high, and many customers can’t get what they want.

“Demand is not off at all,” said Michelle Krebs, executive analyst for Cox Automotive. “What is off is sales, because the inventory doesn’t exist.”

Cox expects 2021 sales to be 14.9 million vehicles, up 2.5% from 2020, the year the pandemic hit the U.S. and forced the industry to shut down for eight weeks. But over the five years before the pandemic, sales averaged 17.3 million.

The Chip Shortage

Among the hardest hit by the chip shortage was General Motors, which was unseated by Toyota while Hyundai saw an 18.6% jump. last year as the nation’s top-selling automaker for Analysts and industry executives say although the first time. chip supplies are improving, it’s not certain when GM on Tuesday reported that last year’s U.S. they’ll get back to pre-pandemic levels. The sales fell nearly 13% from 2020 levels to just over average gas-powered vehicle has about 1,000 2.2 million. Toyota, on the other hand, saw its sales chips, and electric vehicles can have more than rise 10.4% to just over 2.3 million. double that number.

Like other automakers, GM IHS Markit analyst Phil Amsrud, was forced to temporarily close who follows automotive chips, factories during the year as it said supplies won’t improve struggled to get semiconductors, immediately. especially early in the year. Krebs Sales for 2021 are said she isn’t sure if GM will be Brighter Future expected to be 14.9 able to dislodge Toyota this year Cox is predicting that U.S. new million vehicles, up because Toyota has managed the vehicle sales will increase by 2.5% from 2020 chip shortage better and has a more than 1 million this year, to faster distribution. around 16 million.

GM diverted limited chip David Kelleher, owner of a supplies to higher-margin pickup Stellantis dealership in Glen Mills, trucks and full-size SUVs, boosting Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia, said he doesn’t the company’s bottom line, spokesman Jim Cain see much change in auto sales and prices this year said. Early last year, GM forecast pretax earnings of or next, but he’s happy with that. $10 billion to $11 billion, but expects to finish the He’s making record profits, selling just about year around $14 billion, he said. every vehicle he gets at sticker price, while The company, Cain said, expects the chip customers are happy to find vehicles. They’re also shortage to ease this year, with more available in getting high prices for trade-ins because used car the second half. prices have skyrocketed.

Among other automakers reporting full-year Owners have an average of $10,199 worth of sales numbers were Honda, with an 8.9% increase, equity in their trades, 83% higher than a year ago,

In fact,

Demand is not off at all. What is off is sales, because the inventory doesn’t exist.

-Michelle Krebs, executive analyst, Cox Automotive

J.D. Power said.

“The customer right now just wants the (good) experience and the car,” Kelleher said. “If you have the car and you get them the car, they’re going to be happy with you.”

In normal times, Kelleher would have 750 vehicles for sale on his lot. Now he’s got 12. But he isn’t paying interest on the inventory and has been able to cut advertising 30%.

Because of strong demand and low supplies, J.D. Power says the average new vehicle price rose to $45,743 in December, 20% higher than a year ago and the first time it finished above $45,000.

Sedans definitely aren’t driving demand for new vehicles. J.D. Power reports that SUVs and pickup trucks accounted for a record 80.2% of new vehicle sales in December.

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It's a new era in Puerto Rico.

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< The Weekly Journal > Wednesday, January 5, 2022

Your vision has a new home.

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/ Wednesday, January 5, 2022

Víctor Rodríguez

Public Affairs Specialist, Social Security Administration

Beware of Social Security scams Social Security representatives will never threaten to suspended your benefits.

S

cammers go to great lengths to trick you out of your personal information. We want to help you protect your information by helping you recognize a Social Security imposter.

There’s a widespread telephone scam involving callers claiming they are from the Social Security Administration. The ‘fake’ caller ID may even show a government number. These callers may tell you there is a problem with your Social Security number. They may also threaten to arrest you unless you pay a fine or fee using gift cards, pre-paid debit cards, a wire transfer, or cash. That call is not from us. It is a scam!

If you receive a suspicious call from someone alleging to be from the Social Security Administration, please: * Hang up right away. * Never give your personal information, money, or retail gift cards. * Report the scam to Social Security’s law enforcement team at the Office of the Inspector General at phone number 1-800-269-0271 or website www.oig.ssa.gov/.

Social Security representatives will never threaten you, or tell you that your Social Security Number has been suspended. Also, an official representative will never call you to demand an immediate payment, ask you for credit or debit card numbers or require a specific means of debt repayment, like a prepaid debit card, a retail gift card or cash.

And more importantly, they will never demand that you pay a Social Security debt without the ability to appeal the amount you owe.

Social Security representatives will never promise benefit approval, or increase, in exchange for information or money. Also, they will not request personal or financial information through email, text messages, or social media.

Social Security will sometimes call you to confirm you filed a claim or to discuss other ongoing business you have with them, or mail you a letter if there is a problem.

A letter could be mailed to you if you need to submit any payments. Such letter would have

Social Security representatives will never promise benefit approval, or increase, in exchange for information or money. detailed information about options to make payments and offer you the possibility to appeal the decision.

The Social Security Administration could use emails, text messages, and social media to provide general information (not personal or financial information) about its programs and services if you have signed up to receive these messages.

For additional information on how to prevent and resolve issues related to identity theft, please access our online publication ‘Identity theft and your social security number’ available on the Publications section at www.socialsecurity.gov.

You could also seek orientation on ID theft related matters with the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-438-4338 or www.idtheft.gov.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Social Security offices cannot receive visitors except for previously arranged appointments on special limited critical situations. However, we continue providing our services by phone and the internet. If you have questions on Social Security benefits and services, please access www.socialsecurity.gov.

You could also access our automated services at 1-800-772-1213 or call your local Social Security office Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

To locate the telephone number of your local field office, please input your residential zip code at www.ssa.gov/locator/.

Please share this information with your family and friends.

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/ Wednesday, January 5, 2022

Looking Back at 19 Years as a Tattoo Artist

Juan Salgado recounts his experience amidst a changing industry

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Zoe Landi Fontana, The Weekly Journal

ven Chile’s new president, Gabriel Boric, has a tattoo. A lighthouse riding on Hokusai-esque waves shines into the dark upon the young president’s forearm paying homage to his homeland.

The fact is, tattoos are mainstream. They’ve rid themselves of their previous negative associations with the underworld, and now they’re even common enough to face restrictions from governments –such as the European Union’s recent banning of certain chemicals used in tattoo inks.

Around 30% of Americans over the age of 18 have at least one tattoo, according to data from IBISWorld, who also projects the tattoo industry’s annual market growth rate to be 13% with a reported $1.5 billion in yearly revenue. An estimated 21,000 tattoo parlors operate in the US. “Here, it’s like a national sport –there are fights in bars over favorite tattoo artists,” explained Juan Salgado, a world-renowned tattoo and multimedia artist, of Puerto Rico’s tattoo scene. “It’s so small but there’s so much talent. Obviously, it’s an island where tattoos show the whole year round.”

He brought his machines, and all the kit,” Salgado recounted. He tattooed himself for the first time –a five-pointed star in red and yellow surrounded by a blue-green glow on his ankle.

From there, the next 19 years snowballed.

Working in different tattoo studios around the island, traveling internationally for competitions, winning over 150 of them, Salgado became known globally for his visionary style and glowing colors.

Salgado’s Journey To Tattoo-Stardom

Becoming An Icon

Puerto Rican tattoo artist Juan Salgado’s clients include performers Miky Woodz, Ricky Martin, Daddy Yankee and boxing champion Miguel Cotto, among other celebrities.

Salgado started creating when he was young. “I If by some chance you don’t know Salgado, you was a little kid, I was super shy - the outlet I found definitely have heard of at least one of his clients. to socialize was through art,” he recalled during an The impressive list includes Miky Woodz, Ricky interview with THE WEEKLY Martin, Rauw Alejandro, Jaime JOURNAL. “I took a pencil and Mayol, Yandel, Miguel Cotto, started drawing, and soon I could Daddy Yankee, Wisin, and Ozuna. draw better than any of them. I He opened his own studio, Color couldn’t look people in the eye Conspiracy, in 2011. before. I’ve been through an “19 years ago, it was evolution.” impossible to think about that Around 30% of As a teenager, Salgado - a tattoo-artist as a career.

Americans over the was into extreme sports and There were no role-models, it age of 18 have at metal and punk bands, whose was a crazy lifestyle,” Salgado least one tattoo. members’ tattoos sparked his reminisced about the changing Source: IBISWorld interest in skin art. He got his industry. “As I started tattooing, own first tattoo at 17 on a whim.

I didn’t see it as a career option By 20, he was studying painting until I was six years into it. The and sculpture in college when an money was incredibly good.” old friend showed up.

In 2021 the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported “Someone knocks on my door. I open the door, that on average, a tattoo artist in the US makes and it’s one of my best friends from childhood $49,520. “It’s art and nobody realizes it. I’m one of the who had moved to Boston. This long-haired dude first ones that moved from art school to tattooing,” with a lot of tattoos, he came from Boston to visit. said Salgado.

In fact,

It’s art and nobody realizes it. I’m one of the first ones that moved from art school to tattooing.

- Juan Salgado, tattoo artist

In addition to tattoos, Salgado paints murals and has even created and sold NFTs, a new venture for many artists at the forefront of the crypto-blockchain wave. He’s always been at the cutting-edge of the arts scene. Salgado’s genesis piece (a.k.a. the first NFT the artist created) “The Lotus Diamond” sold for $32,000 (7.5 Ethereum).

The Future Of Tattoos In Puerto Rico

“I want to educate people to see tattooing as a career, an alternative type of school. It’s not just my plan, it’s the future of tattooing. There are a lot of schools now where people can learn to do hair tattoo schools are something that is going to happen too,” he said.

Salgado is currently working on campaigns with Ford, Ana G. Mendez University, and McDonald’s.

In the past, he has used his platform to raise over $300,000 to build a home for cancer patients. “I like to promote positivity with my art - and Puerto Rico as well,” said the artist.

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/ Wednesday, January 5, 2022

Cooking With Wine 101 It is one of the best ingredients to always have in the kitchen

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ou probably won’t believe it until you try it but cooking with wine helps to enhance the flavor of your recipes.

And you can get sauces, vegetables, meats, and pasta or seafood dishes “drunk” in just seconds.

Chef Doreen Colondres That pinch you add will give them a touch of strength, depth and sometimes even a very delicate sweet touch. Once you’ve tried it, it will become one of the best ingredients to always have available in your kitchen.

The rule in my kitchen is simple: one glass for the cook and one for the plate. Always avoid cheap, “regular cooking wine” and use the same wine you enjoy. You want the wine to enhance the flavor and not destroy the recipe –the same rule applies to olive oils– so use it as a condiment. I always keep leftover wine in my refrigerator, even for several weeks.

For cooking, I prefer white wine to red because it is more versatile. I always have some Albariño,

can sometimes cause astringent or Sauvignon Blanc leftover. flavors.

Or maybe a dry Riesling or a On the other hand, avoid Gewürztraminer. You should Pinot Noir, since it is too light to avoid Pinot Grigio, which is cook with. We need some drama usually too watery, and woodand Pinot Noir won’t bring it to aged white wines. The most Check out Chef the scene. important things to consider are Doreen’s blog at Mushrooms go very well with sweetness and acidity, and both lacocinanomuerde.com white or red wine, but if you are will become more pronounced as cooking pork, meat, a poultry you reduce the wine. stew or any baked recipe, it is I cook poultry, vegetables best to bathe them with red and all seafood with white wine. wine. The other day I added a splash of Chianti I love using sparkling wine for pasta, and if it’s a risotto… even better. Don’t ask me why, just give it a just before finishing a pork loin I was browning on the skillet, and it was delicious. So, it doesn’t have try and then tell me. to be a fancy recipe, just one touch will make a The best red wines to cook with are medium bodied with delicate tannins, such as Tempranillo difference. and Merlot. Although, cooking with Malbec is A churrasco with beer, some clams with a Sherry happening more frequently in my kitchen. You just wine will also be delicious. A reduction of a port or have to be careful with how much you use. High Pedro Ximénez would be great in a sweet sauce tannin wines –Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc– for a meat dish or dessert. In other words, if you don’t have any wine, there are more options. Even a dash of tequila or rum can work depending on the recipe. Let the imagination flow. For example, some shrimp or lobster in a sauce of onion, garlic and coriander with a pinch of a good golden rum, would be memorable.

Most of the alcohol evaporates when you literally let the wine “boil.” Some will recommend “boiling” the wine for 20-30 seconds to reduce it before cooking. But to be honest, I only do this if I’m making a sauce and want to intensify the flavor even more. If I’m cooking with it, I add it directly -Chef Doreen Colondres to the recipe just like any another vinegar or seasoning.

In fact,

The most important things to consider are sweetness and acidity, and both will become more pronounced as you reduce the wine.

15

/ Wednesday, January 5, 2022

Three Kings Day,

the first holiday in Puerto Rico’s calendar The Three Magi have been favorites of Puerto Rican for decades

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Juan A. Hernández, The Weekly Journal

on’t get any ideas Santa Claus.

The Three Kings always come first… in January, that is.

Although the debate has been present in Puerto Rico since the late 1950s, when the image of the jolly old fellow started to be widely advertised in local media and businesses, the fact is that the Three Kings have been favorites of Puerto Rican children and adults since the island was under Spanish rule.

It may sound strange for some that in Puerto Rico, like so many other countries in Latin America and Europe, it is not Santa Claus, but the Three Kings –a.k.a. the Magi, or the Wise Men– who bear the gifts in Christmas, but the explanation for that is rooted in these countries’ deeply Catholic history.

The Gospel of Matthew is the only one of the four canonical gospels to mention the Magi.

According to Matthew, they came “from the east” to worship the “king of the Jews”. It should be noted the gospel never mentions the number of Magi. Still, most western Christian denominations have traditionally assumed them to have been three, based on the gifts presented to Jesus.

The gospel identifies the Magi as Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar, who traveled for 12 days to reach Jesus. They each brought a unique gift – gold, incense and myrrh.

The text specifies no interval between the birth of Jesus and the Kings’ visit, though artistic depictions and the closeness of the traditional dates of December 25 and January 6 encourage the popular assumption that the visit took place the same winter as the birth. Nevertheless, later traditions put the visit as taking place up to two years later.

There is also some controversy with the origin of the Three Kings. The online version of Encyclopedia Britannica states: “According to Western church tradition, Balthazar is often represented as a king of Arabia or sometimes Ethiopia, Melchior as a king of Persia, and Gaspar as a king of India.”

Regardless of their origins, very much like they did to Jesus, each year the Three Kings bring gifts to children throughout the Christian/

Catholic world. main celebrations during the holiday season, and On January 5th, the eve of Three Kings Day it is, in fact, the first holiday of the year. Three (known as Víspera de Reyes) children go out to Kings Day is so important for Puerto Ricans that collect freshly cut grass leave the celebration extends for out for the Kings’ camels an additional eight days after (because they come from the date in a period called the Far East) or their horses “Octavitas.” (because Puerto Rican folklore After all the presents have has appropriated the myth), in been opened and the children shoeboxes under their beds. In have played to exhaustion, The gospel identifies exchange, the Kings leave the the Three Kings feast begin. the Magi as gifts they have brought from Traditional foods include the Melchior, Caspar, the Far East. ever present “lechón” (roasted and Balthazar, who Early morning on January pork), “morcillas” (blood traveled for 12 6th, children wake up to find sausages), “pasteles,” rice with days to reach Jesus. a treasure trove of gifts left by pigeon peas and “tembleque” They each brought the Three Kings under their (coconut custard), for dessert. a unique gift –gold, beds.

Of course the adults will enjoy incense and myrrh.

While this longstanding a cup, or two, of “coquito.” tradition, also known as So, if someone claims that Epiphany, is celebrated we Puerto Ricans have the worldwide, in Puerto Rico it has longest Christmas season in a cultural significance that transcends its religious the world, don’t even try to argue because we roots. Three Kings Day is considered one of the truly have it. ¡Feliz Día de Reyes!

In fact,

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