El Sol Latino |February 2019 | 15.3

February 2019

Volume 15 No. 3

Un Peri贸dico Diferente / A Different Kind of Newspaper

Un Peri贸dico Diferente / A Different Kind of Newspaper

Puerto Rican Book Collection Donated to the Holyoke Public Library Un Peri贸dico Diferente / A Different Kind of Newspaper

Un Peri贸dico Diferente / A Different Kind of Newspaper

the puerto rican cultural project

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Editiorial / Editorial

contents

Fotos del Mes/Photos of the Month

New Nueva Esperanza, Inc., Board of Directors Nueva Esperanza Board of Directors. From left to right - Laura Pantoja, Dan Battat (Secretary), Jason Ferenc, Rosa Pantoja (President), Amneris Villanueva, Carlos Peña, Juan Gabriel Sánchez (Vice President), Reina Lorenzi (Treasurer).

Missing from picture Samuel Mateo Jr. (Photo credit: Zach from Virgilio Properties - via Facebook)

2 Portada / Front Page Less hurricane aid, slower response to Puerto Rico than to Texas, Florida 3 Valuable Puerto Rican Book Collection Donated to the HPL 4 Asociación de Estudios Puertorriqueños repudia el trato que recibe la UPR 5 A Vision of Peace and Justice: Remembering the Life of El Puente Founder Luis Garden Acosta 6 Seleccionan al CPI para reforzar su trabajo de fiscalización 7 Opinión / Opinion Housing myths that still exist in 2019 9 Libros / Books Los Divinos 10 CENTRO Releases Anthology of Previously Unpublished Plays of Victor Fragoso

Less hurricane aid, slower response to Puerto Rico than to Texas, Florida ANN ARBOR, MI | Michigan News / UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | January 21, 2019 —The federal response to hurricanes Harvey and Irma was faster and more generous than the help sent to Puerto Rico in preparation and in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, according to University of Michigan researchers.

“What we found is that there was a very significant difference in not only the timing of the responses but also in the volume of resources distributed in terms of money and staffing,” said lead author Charley Willison, a doctoral candidate in U-M’s School of Public Health.

“Overall, Hurricane Maria had a delayed and lower response across those measures compared to hurricanes Harvey and Irma. It raises concern for growth in health disparities as well as potential increases in adverse health outcomes.”

The well-defined eye of Hurricane Maria three hours before arriving in Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017 with maximum sustained winds of around 150 mph. Image credit: NOAA National Satellite, Data and Environmental Information Service (NESDIS) Colored infrared image of the Suomi NPP NOAA / NASA satellite.

For example, within nine days of the landfall of both Harvey and Irma, survivors had received nearly $100 million in FEMA dollars, while María

survivors had received slightly over $6 million.

Staffing efforts also fell short, the report notes. At its peak, federal personnel on-site for Hurricane Harvey in Texas reached 31,000 people, while 40,000 responded to Irma in Florida during the first 180 days post-hurricane. By comparison, at its peak during the same period, there were 19,000 federal personnel on-site helping with the recovery of Hurricane Maria.

In addition, it took four months for disaster appropriation funding to Puerto Rico to reach the levels that Texas and Florida received in two months.

Política / Politics Carlos González Leads the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus

11 Elizabeth Warren Remarks in Puerto Rico 13 E ducación / Education HCC and WSU Announce Nursing Degree Partnership

HCC Secures Grant to Create Hotel Training Lab

14 STCC Unveils Spring Ovations Series lineup

From Carnegie Mellon to STCC

15 Amherst and Holyoke School Districts Awarded Bilingual Education Grant

Ciencia / Science Food Coloring

“The analysis shows that the disaster response to the three hurricanes did not align with storm severity and may affect deaths and recovery rates,” Willison said.

Founded in 2004

Scott Greer, U-M professor of health management and policy and of global public health, said the findings are important because “not only was the lack of emergency response a likely contributor to thousands of avoidable deaths, it was also a reminder of the penalties of not being fully represented in federal politics. Democracy is a public health policy.”

Editor Manuel Frau Ramos manuelfrau@gmail.com 413-320-3826 Assistant Editor Ingrid Estrany-Frau Managing Editor Diosdado López

Art Director Tennessee Media Design Business Address El Sol Latino P.O Box 572 Amherst, MA 01004-0572

The study was published in the British Medical Journal Global Health. For the analysis, researchers used publicly available data from the Federal Emergency Management Authority, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, the Puerto Rican government and George Washington University.

Additional authors included Melissa Creary, U-M professor of health management and policy, and Phillip Singer, assistant professor of political science at the University of Utah.

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Volume 15, No. 3 n February 2019

Editorial Policy El Sol Latino acepta colaboraciones tanto en español como en inglés.

Nos comprometemos a examinarlas, pero no necesariamente a publicarlas. Nos reservamos el derecho de editar los textos y hacer correcciones por razones de espacio y/o estilo. Las colaboraciones pueden ser enviadas a nuestra dirección postal o a través de correo electrónico a: info@elsollatino.net.

El Sol Latino welcomes submissions in either English or Spanish.

We consider and review all submissions but reserve the right to not publish them. We reserve the right to edit texts and make corrections for reasons of space and/or style. Submissions may be sent to our postal address or via electronic mail to: info@elsollatino.net.

El Sol Latino is published monthly by Coquí Media Group.

El Sol Latino es publicado mensualmente por Coquí Media Group, P.O Box 572, Amherst, MA 01004-0572.

Portada / Front Page

El Sol Latino February 2019

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Valuable Puerto Rican Book Collection Donated to the HPL by MANUEL FRAU RAMOS On December 8th, 2018 the Puerto Rican Cultural Project (PRCP) and the Holyoke Public Library (HPL) received a donation consisting of a valuable collection of books and journals about Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rican experience in the mainland. The collection belonged to Celia Acosta Vice and was donated to the HPL by her daughter Cynthia Vice Acosta who had contacted María Pagán, Director of the Holyoke Public Library.

Manuel Frau-Ramos of PRCP and Holyoke Public Library Board member met with Cynthia in Fairfield, Ct. to receive the donation on behalf of the Library.

This collection of books and journals contains many volumes of significant historical value. In addition to their historical significance, some of the books also hold great sentimental and nostalgic value as, outside of private collections, there are only a few available copies left at this time.

This donation to the HPL gains particular importance when one considers that the city of Holyoke holds the highest concentration of Puerto Ricans outside of the mainland.

The Holyoke-Springfield metropolitan area is home to two of the largest public school systems in the region that have a high concentration of students of Puerto Rican origin. Given these demographics, it is surprising and unacceptable that at this time, Western Massachusetts has no public library or academic center with an archive of information about Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rican experience in the mainland. The Bilingual Collegiate Program (BCP) at UMass Amherst used to have an extensive collection of historical books on the subject. This program is no longer in place and the book collection is stored in the UMass Library. This limits the accessibility of the material for the majority of the residents in the Pioneer Valley.

Celia Acosta Vice (1919–1993) was born in Guayanilla, Puerto Rico, known as la Tierra de Agüeybaná (Agüeybaná’s Land). Acosta Vice founded the first library and bookstore about Puerto Rico in New York City, the Puerto Rican Heritage Bookstore at 157 West 14th Street. Her outstanding community leadership was recognized in 1960 when she was named the first female Grand Marshal of the New York City’s Puerto Rican Day Parade.

Latinas in the United States: A Historical Encyclopedia edited by Vicki L. Ruíz and Virginia Sánchez-Korrol, and published in 2006, profiled Acosta Vice as a businesswoman and community activist who left her mark on her birthplace and in New York City. “She arrived in New York in 1926 and by the 1940s was already organizing the fifty-member Council of Brooklyn Organizations. Soon recognized as a community leader, Acosta Vice sat on the committees for the city’s school decentralization and on the Brooklyn branch of The Urban League. The first Puerto Rican female real estate broker in the borough, she was also the first Latina grand marshal of the Puerto Rican Day Parade. Among the founders of the Fernando Sierra Vardeci Independent Democratic Club, Acosta Vice was named to the Commission on Human Rights in 1961. Acosta Vice was impressive for her community activism, but perhaps her greatest contribution to the Puerto Rican and Latino communities was her extensive library, which became part of El Museo del Barrio’s foundation. She started the first library and bookstore solely on Puerto Rican topics in New York, and later on, when she returned to Puerto Rico in 1979, established the Kiosko Cultural in Plaza de Las Americas, Puerto Rico’s most prominent commercial center. “

The establishment of a historical archive about Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rican experience could a be first step in providing the community in general with historical material that could prove a valuable resource for students, researchers, community organizations, and the general public in the Pioneer Valley.

The collection recently received by HPL could open the door to become the foundation on which to build a much-needed historical archive about Puerto Rico and Puerto Ricans in our region. This would constitute a step in the right direction to showcase and make widely available resource about the rich history of Puerto Rico and Puerto Ricans that might not be available elsewhere.

Advanced Manufacturing Certification & License Preparation Community Education Corporate Training

A small sample of the donated material:

English as a Second Language

• Memorias de Bernardo Vega: Contribución a la historia de la comunidad Puertorriqueña en Nueva York, César Andreu Iglesias (editor), 2013 • Island in the City: Puerto Ricans in New York by Dan Wakefield, 1960 • Puerto Rico: a success story by Ralph Hancock, 1960 • Puerto Rican Americans: The Meaning of Migration to the Mainland by Joseph P. Fitzpatrick, 1971 • Doña Licha’s Island: Modern Colonialism in Puerto Rico by Alfredo López, 1987 • Revista Chicano-Riqueña, Número 3, Año 2- 1974. Indiana University Northwest • Máscaras: Tradición de nuestro pueblo by Charlie Aguilar, 1983 • Enciclopedia Clásicos de Puerto Rico, 1970 (7 books), Lucas Morán Arce (editor) • Borinquén: An Anthology of Puerto Rican Literature by María Teresa Babín and Stan Steiner (editors), 1974 • El Arte Popular en Puerto Rico by Guillermo Ramírez, 1974 • Crónica Artesanal Puertorriqueña: Apuntes para una Historia Artesanal de Puerto Rico by Walter Murray Chiesa, 1996 • The Paso Fino Horse: its history by Dr. José M. Laracuente, 1983

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Workforce Development Center (413) 755 4225 workforcetraining@stcc.edu See all of our programs & classes and register at

stcc.edu/wdc

1-14-19 El Sol Latino 1/4 page: 4.75” x 5.75”

Whether you want to upgrade your skills or learn something totally new, we will provide the training!

We provide both instructor led and web-based workforce training and certifications to meet the ever-changing technology and workforce demands of business and industry in the region.

Our mission is to provide quality training at an affordable price to build career pathways.

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El Sol Latino January 2019

Asociación de Estudios Puertorriqueños repudia el trato que recibe la UPR Este artículo fue publicado originalmente en 80grados | 18 de enero de 2019

La Asociación de Estudios Puertorriqueños (PRSA) es una asociación profesional nacional, fundada en 1992 en White Plains, Nueva York. Somos académicos, educadores, expertos en políticas públicas, activistas comunitarios y estudiantes. Nuestro trabajo se centra en Puerto Rico y en los puertorriqueños en los Estados Unidos.

Nuestra recién concluida 13ª Conferencia Bienal, celebrada en la Universidad de Rutgers, New Brunswick, New Jersey, se dedicó al tema: “Navegando por la inseguridad: Crisis, poder y protesta en las comunidades puertorriqueñas.” En la conferencia, la membresía presente autorizó a nuestro Consejo Ejecutivo a escribir y emitir una carta como declaración de apoyo a la Universidad de Puerto Rico (UPR). Es en este contexto que aprobamos la siguiente declaración.

Escribimos* para expresar nuestra alarma ante los recortes presupuestarios draconianos que se imponen a la Universidad de Puerto Rico por la Junta de Control Fiscal (Fiscal Oversight Management Board: FOMB por sus siglas en inglés) y con el consentimiento de las autoridades gubernamentales y universitarias. Estos recortes pondrán en peligro el futuro de la principal institución de educación superior de la isla.

La intención recién anunciada de cerrar el programa de beneficios definidos del Sistema de Retiro UPR (Plan de Retiro) y de congelar los beneficios acumulados por sus participantes hará un gran daño a nuestros colegas en la UPR. Como ustedes saben, el impacto inmediato será el agotamiento de un flujo de ingresos para el sistema. Bajo la situación económica deprimida en Puerto Rico, es altamente improbable que los profesores activos puedan cambiarse a un programa de pensiones de contribución voluntaria operado por el sector privado. Sin una facultad estable y apoyada no hay una universidad vibrante.

Otra medida de austeridad que la Junta de Control Fiscal quiere implementar es reducir las pensiones de 8,800 empleados públicos jubilados. Educadores que han dedicado décadas de trabajo en el salón de clases están viendo su futuro en peligro por políticas mal orientadas y malversación de parte de los políticos y especuladores financieros. Reducir tales ingresos perjudica a los jubilados y alimenta la espiral descendente de la economía ya que sus empleos generan actividad económica, especialmente en pueblos con recintos más pequeños.

Si bien estas medidas traerían graves dificultades a nuestros colegas, nos preocupa igualmente ver como ponen en peligro el futuro de la UPR y del mismo Puerto Rico. Otros aspectos de la política educativa actual nos preocupan profundamente. En primer lugar, los recortes pondrán en peligro la acreditación de la institución, especialmente porque la Asociación Middle States expresó su preocupación por el impacto de la reestructuración propuesta por la JCF en el estatus de la UPR y de sus finanzas.

En segundo lugar, la creciente intervención de los intereses político partidistas en la universidad, junto con la renuencia de la JCF de considerar propuestas y planes fiscales alternos socavan la estabilidad y efectividad de la UPR. La universidad ha tenido al menos siete (7) presidentes en los últimos siete años; la mayoría de sus rectores, decanos y oficiales ejecutivos fueron despedidos abruptamente sin un proceso de transición adecuado.

Tercero, históricamente cada vez que la UPR ha reducido la disponibilidad de espacio y oferta de clases, son los estudiantes de bajos ingresos quienes tienden a quedarse fuera debido a las disparidades de la educación

recibida de kindergarten a duodécimo grado en el sistema de educación pública. Además, la consolidación de los recintos, propuesto en los planes recientes de la JCF, tiene el efecto de aumentar la desigualdad de ingresos en la sociedad.

Encontramos faltas en la negativa de la JCF al definir y hacer compromisos financieros claros para mantener los servicios esenciales de la isla después de la ayuda federal post-huracán María.

Esta falla permite que un aparato federal antidemocrático dé prioridad a los bonistas por encima del puertorriqueño promedio que necesita contar con los servicios esenciales. La Universidad de Puerto Rico debe verse como un proveedor de un servicio esencial. Le incumbe a la JCF tener un compromiso claro de dar prioridad a la financiación adecuada para la UPR (antes y después de la destrucción causada por los huracanes Irma y María). La actual postura de la JCF tiene el efecto de dejar la puerta abierta al uso de fondos públicos para privilegiar los pagos a los bonistas que, a sabiendas, explotaron las leyes coloniales federales y locales para recibir ganancias a expensas del puertorriqueño menos pudiente.

También está el tema del trato discriminatorio de las autoridades federales.

Es evidente que Puerto Rico recibió significativamente menos asistencia educativa post huracán que estados como Louisiana y Mississippi. Después del huracán María, la isla era elegible para acceder a $41 millones para manutención estudiantil, de los cuales solo una quinta parte (o $8.2 millones) fue recibido por la UPR. En cambio, los dos estados mencionados tuvieron acceso a $190 millones post-huracán Katrina. Estas son designaciones injustas por el Departamento de Educación de los Estados Unidos. Otros programas de ayuda tales como estudio y trabajo han sido severamente disminuidos y el llamado a la eliminación de las Becas Federales de Oportunidad de Educación Suplementaria (SEOG), que se conceden a estudiantes universitarios de bajos recursos, comprometen aún más el sistema UPR. Estos propuestos “ahorros” socavan la capacidad de los jóvenes de invertir en su propio capital humano y probablemente alimentarán la fuga de cerebros (“brain drain”) de los puertorriqueños fuera de la patria.

La UPR es un recurso fundamental de otras formas. Es la fuente de más de dos tercios de la investigación científica en la isla. Es una institución líder en la graduación de estudiantes STEM (currículos en ciencias, tecnología, ingeniería y matemáticas) en comparación con universidades en los cincuenta estados. Esto es claramente un área de fortaleza para la reconstrucción de Puerto Rico ahora que la isla está contemplando su futuro. La universidad contribuye significativamente a la salud de los puertorriqueños, especialmente a los indigentes. Maneja tres hospitales, una serie de instituciones médicas terciarias e investiga las condiciones que afectan a una gran proporción de la población. La UPR contribuye a la custodia y promoción del patrimonio cultural de la isla y posee o administra diversos museos y archivos. Por último, mejora el acceso educativo de las poblaciones desfavorecidas a través de numerosos programas de divulgación en escuelas y comunidades marginadas y provee un sistema de bibliotecas que está abierto al público en general.

Por último, hay un aspecto importante de esta situación relacionada con la sociedad puertorriqueña civil. Creemos que los esfuerzos actuales para socavar la integridad fiscal de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, así como la de su facultad, jubilados, personal y estudiantes son una amenaza a la capacidad de la universidad para producir profesionales autónomos, quienes son una fuente de contribuciones intelectuales y de políticas públicas que contribuyen para mejorar la calidad de vida de los puertorriqueños. La UPR enseña y entrena al grueso de profesionales en Puerto Rico e instituciones públicas como la Universidad de Puerto Rico

continued on next page

Portada / Front Page

El Sol Latino February 2019

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A Vision of Peace and Justice: Remembering the Life of El Puente Founder Luis Garden Acosta by CENTRO Staff Reprinted with permission from © Center for Puerto Rican Studies. Published in Centro Voices 10 January 2019 radio program on Latin American news, which quickly became a three-hour show called Dr. Salsa’s Medicine Show.

The show’s success eventually brought Mr. Garden Acosta back to New York City in 1980. However, his work at Greenpoint Hospital, which included a firsthand look at the youth violence in southside Williamsburg, convinced him to skip the syndication of his radio show in favor of helping his community. Mr. Garden Acosta recalled the death of a young hospital patient brought to the emergency room as a particularly impactful catalyst that would lead to the founding of El Puente. The organization would also serve as a institutional bridge between the progressive and religious circles to which Luis belonged, hence the name.

“I have a vision for a world of peace and justice, and I will settle for nothing less than a world at peace with justice.”

Luis Garden Acosta, (1945-2019). On Tuesday evening, Luis Garden Acosta, beloved founder and president of El Puente in Williamsburg, died at the age of 73. He leaves behind an enduring legacy of activism and community organizing that stretches from the southside of Williamsburg, Brooklyn to Puerto Rico. The Center for Puerto Rican Studies extends its condolences to the family of Mr. Garden Acosta and the El Puente family.

Luis Garden Acosta was born in 1945 in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, to a Dominican father and a Puerto Rican mother who had fled the island after her fiancé was killed during the Ponce Massacre of 1937. Mr. Garden Acosta would split his upbringing between the neighborhoods of Brooklyn Heights, Williamsburg, and Fort Greene. An early interest in community, as well as a strong influence from the Catholic Church, were fostered by the mentorship of a local pastor from St. Barbara’s Church. At the age of 15, Mr. Garden Acosta enrolled in St. Mary’s Seminary in Pennsylvania.

After earning a college degree, he prepared to become a priest but ultimately did not take his final vows. Mr. Garden Acosta credited watching Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1963 “I Have A Dream” speech with influencing his decision. Instead, he returned to Brooklyn, where he joined a Catholic antiwar movement, in addition to becoming involved with the Young Lords as a member. In 1970, Mr. Garden Acosta began to study medicine, spending three years at Harvard. A move to Amherst, Massachusetts in 1973 to work as a substance abuse counselor coincided with the launch of a five-minute

El Puente was founded in 1982 by Luis Garden Acosta, his wife, Frances Lucerna, and Gino Maldonado. Today, it is described as “a community human rights institution that promotes leadership for peace and justice through the engagement of members (youth and adult) in the arts, education, scientific research, wellness and environmental action.” An alternative high school, El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice, was founded by Mr. Garden Acosta and his wife, Frances Lucerna, and Hector Calderón in 1993. The couple would later receive a generous award from the Heinz Family Foundation in 1999 for their work with the southside community.

More recently, El Puente became involved in programs and initiatives aimed at combating climate change. The Latino Climate Action Network was founded in Puerto Rico in 2013. The Green Light District is another initiative recently launched by El Puente as “a strategic ten-year initiative to sustain, grow, green, and celebrate Williamsburg’s Southside community.”

“This is an immense loss,” said Centro Director Edwin Melendez. “Luis was a passionate and tireless advocate for both Puerto Rico and the southside community of Williamsburg. We are thankful for his support of the work of Centro, and his contributions to our mission. Thankfully, El Puente will carry on Luis’ commitment to the values of community organizing and social justice.”

According to Centro Librarian Anibal Arocho, Mr. Garden Acosta played an integral role in helping the Centro Library access the original issues of Palante, the official newspaper of The Young Lords, and convert them to microfilm. “This is a resource that has served numerous researchers over the years and is among one of the most requested resources available about the Young Lords,” said Arocho. More details on his life and contributions could be found in an extensive oral history interview as part of Centro’s 100 Puerto Ricans Oral History Project.

Asociación de Estudios Puertorriqueños repudia el trato que recibe la UPR continued from previous page deben ser espacios independientes, libres de las manipulaciones de los políticos. La UPR debe ser fortalecida, no debilitada, si queremos reconstruir a Puerto Rico.

En conclusión, la Asociación de Estudios Puertorriqueños (PRSA) protesta con vehemencia en contra del trato que se impone a los profesores, personal, jubilados y estudiantes de la Universidad de Puerto Rico. También protestamos en contra del socavamiento sistemático de la UPR. Se necesitan más soluciones creativas y menos perjudiciales para la crisis actual. La gente no puede, ni tolera “remedios” que solo enmascaran la austeridad general apoyada por aquellos que son los verdaderamente responsables de la crisis.

*Traducción al español por Brenda Domínguez Rosado y revisión de estilo por José Rodríguez Valentín, ambos docentes de UPR Bayamón.

PRSA is a non-profit professional organizational founded in 1992 that brings together hundreds of scholars, educator, public policy experts, community activists and students whose work focus on Puerto Rico, Puerto Ricans in the United States, or both. PRSA members represent virtually all fields of research and teaching in the Humanities, Social Sciences and Arts, including Anthropology, Architecture, Art History, Demography, Economics, Educational Studies, History, Linguistics, Literature, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Social Work, Sociology, Studio Arts, Theater and Dance, and Urban Planning, among others.

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Portada / Front Page

El Sol Latino February 2019

Seleccionan al CPI para reforzar su trabajo de fiscalización por CENTRO DE PERIODISMO INVESTIGATIVO Artículo publicado originalmente en periodismoinvestigativo.com | 18 de enero de 2019 El Centro de Periodismo Investigativo está entre 50 organizaciones seleccionadas para participar en la iniciativa de periodismo y servicio a la comunidad llamada Report for America y acogerá a un nuevo periodista para mejorar la cobertura y la fiscalización del proceso de recuperación en Puerto Rico luego del huracán María.

“Entre las organizaciones escogidas en 2019 por Report for America, que abarcan 26 estados y territorios, se encuentra el Centro de Periodismo Investigativo, un respetado grupo de fiscalización sin fines de lucro en Puerto Rico, Forum of Fargo-Moorhead en Dakota del Norte, el Cincinnati Enquirer y Associated Press, ganador del Premio Pulitzer”, indica el parte de prensa emitido hoy por The GroundTruth Project, la entidad que impulsa el programa.

Report for America es un programa que coloca periodistas en las salas de redacción de medios que atienden audiencias locales en sus estados o territorios. Para ser seleccionados en el programa, los medios tenían que identificar una brecha de información específica en sus comunidades y proponer un plan sólido sobre cómo integrar periodistas para atenderla.

El programa aporta la mitad del salario del o la periodista que se reclute por un año o dos, mientras que el CPI recaudará la otra mitad mediante distintas estrategias.

Entre los 50 puestos anunciados hoy, 18 se ubicarán en organizaciones sin fines de lucro, tres en semanarios, siete en estaciones de radio públicas y más de dos docenas en periódicos.

Los periodistas que deseen solicitar para unirse al programa y trabajar con el CPI por un año tienen hasta el 8 de febrero para solicitar. Para obtener más información sobre cómo solicitar, puede ir a reportforamerica.org/rfacorps-members/.

El programa tiene el apoyo financiero de una variedad de fuentes, entre ellas la Fundación John S. y James L. Knight, Facebook, Google News Initiative, Dirk y Natasha Ziff, la Galloway Family Foundation, la Tow Foundation, la Ford Foundation, Heising-Simons Foundation, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, Select Equity Group Foundation, Lenfest Institute for Journalism, Samuel I. Newhouse Foundation, Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, Joyce Foundation, The Steans Family Foundation, Henry L. Kimelman Family Foundation y Duo Collective.

El CPI es una organización sin fines de lucro que se ha caracterizado por fiscalizar al gobierno y su gestión pública, litigar a favor de la transparencia y abordar temas relevantes a la crisis fiscal, económica y política del país con rigor y profundidad.

El CPI reconoce que el requisito fundamental para una verdadera democracia es que la ciudadanía esté bien informada y que existan entidades independientes con la capacidad de fiscalizar los poderes que accionan en la sociedad, sean públicos o privados. Si tiene una solicitud de investigación, queja, aclaración, ‘orejita’, prueba, inquietud, u observación sobre alguna información publicada por el Centro de Periodismo Investigativo, Email: info@periodismoinvestigativo.com Facebook: Centro de Periodismo Invetigativo, Twitter: @cpipr Dirección postal: P.O. Box 6834 San Juan PR 00914-6834

Opinión / Opinion

El Sol Latino February 2019

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Housing myths that still exist in 2019 by MIGUEL ARCE and WALTER MULLIN Myths are succinct fictional stories or beliefs which are enduring forms of fiction, spread through written or oral transmission. When untrue myths persist they become destructive. With regard to people who live in poverty, the myths and assumptions about their lives make their lives worse. This is true about the housing needs for those who are poor and living with substandard housing or who are homeless.

There are 46 million Americans who are poor and living with in a housing crisis.

Their problem, being able to afford adequate housing, is an issue of not having enough income. Limited income is the primary problem. If a household has to spend more than 30 percent of its income on housing, they have a housing affordability problem. Low income households spend most of their income on necessities, like housing. Their low income is the reason they live in units that are inadequate or unavailable to them.

The number of homeless individuals and families is high. For those individuals and families, housing is seen as a commodity and a valuable asset, while they sleep in doorways, or abandoned buildings, or other places not fit for human habitation. The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty estimates that each year at least 2.5 to 3.5 million Americans sleep in shelters, transitional housing, or public places not meant for human habitation. At least an additional 7.4 million have lost their own homes and are doubled-up with others due to economic necessity. The causes of homelessness is insufficient income.

In 2012, 10.3 million renters (approximately one in four) had “extremely low incomes”. In that same year, there were only 5.8 million rental units affordable to people with that income. In reality, there are simply not enough affordable units available for those with limited financial resources.

Myth # 1: The real problem with housing is that poor people are lazy.

Reality: This myth is generally a projection by people who do not live in poverty and who do not have much contact with those who do. The myth contends that even though a person is in poverty, if they show effort and work hard, adequate housing will be available to them. While it is definitely true that being aware of housing assistance programs such as Wayfinders (formerly the Housing Allowance Program) or Section 8 is essential, the reality is that adequate financial resources allow the individual or family to make choices about the type of home and location they want. Attributing negative characteristics to people who are experiencing a problem never solves the problem and is never helpful to the person with the problem.

Myth # 2: Because there are local regulatory bodies, housing conditions in neighborhoods with low-rent housing units, are adequate and meet safety and health codes.

Reality: There are governmental entities, most commonly the health department of a city, whose charge is to assure that renters are protected. Property owners have responsibility to maintain rental property in compliance with legal requirements. Renters are entitled to housing that meets the building codes and standards for protection of life, limb, health, property, safety and welfare. It is the property owners’ responsibility to maintain rental housing in conformity with the requirements. Although, codes contain provisions that establish mutual or shared responsibilities between renters and property owners for maintaining rental housing, those with low incomes do not have the financial resources to address the number of problems connected to the housing unit. Frequently property owners, having invested in the housing unit to earn extra income themselves, also do not have the financial resources to make improvements.

Finally, the regulatory bodies are overwhelmed and cannot adequately address the limitations of the unit.

developing affordable housing in a neighborhood with high numbers of people living in poverty had a positive impact on property values. Improving blighted or substandard housing stock, or replacing it, contributed to the local tax base.

The increased property value added to the tax role of a local community to make infrastructure improvements and repair roads. In this type of situation, schools then have additional revenue. People living in these housing units then make purchases from local businesses that then make improvements in their businesses and the cycle continues. Local businesses’ revenues are then positively benefited by families who live in the housing. Furthermore, when families can find adequate affordable housing, they are less inclined to leave them. This fact alone offers stability to children whose development is impacted by inadequate housing. Families who live in affordable housing seek the same thing every family does – a safe place to raise healthy, secure children.

Myth #4: Affordable housing is just another government hand-out for those poor people.

Reality: A “just society” ensures that all of its citizens are able to meet the basic needs of life. Being able to access reasonable housing is one of those needs.

There are countless reasons why a family might need to rely on the “safety net”.

This includes the reality that people have work that pays more than other jobs.

Importantly, these people are doing work that others who make more than them need them to do. Despite long hours at low paying jobs, sometimes they cannot make ends meet.

Current housing policy implementers (e.g. Dr. Ben Carson, Cabinet Secretary for the United States Housing and Urban Development) have made suggestions that public housing renters be punished by having their rent raised with the expectation that this would encourage them to find a better-paying job or work harder. This is a demeaning, unjust perspective that demonstrates a lack of understanding about the lives of fellow Americans.

Ironically and frequently unsaid, wealthy property owners benefit enormously from government housing programs. Homeowners receive tax deductions for mortgage interests and a similar write-off for property taxes paid.

When you factor in improvements in property values, increases in taxes paid by stable employment, enhanced revenues from a better educated populace, affordable housing provides a net gain to governments at every level.

Closing thought Everyone has a fundamental right to safe, affordable, secure housing. Poor people lack the purchasing power necessary to obtain adequate housing. There is little housing production aimed at low income families. There is a need to expand the supply of housing directly through various construction subsidies for low income housing production. Additionally, public housing authorities should provide opportunities to move to communities where there are expanded opportunities for mobility to neighborhoods without higher concentrations of poverty.

In older urban areas, the rental housing stock was constructed for the purposes of housing immigrants who worked in the factories that surrounded the housing. Even when the housing was built, often over a hundred years ago, the multifamily buildings were built for employees who were barely making enough for food much less rent. This housing, built in the late 1800s and early 1900s is still housing people who are in poverty and it is in desperate need of repair.

It has been demonstrated that families who are assisted with ongoing support, resource coordination and housing search assistance do succeed in advancing their families. It is the government’s obligation to assure that everyone lives in a dignified manner. The myths about people living in poverty and their housing needs perpetuate a problem that ultimately drives public policy. This is especially true with regard to housing policy and the economic problems in the current federal government. Federal policies favoring housing are being eroded. With the government shutdown emerging as the major federal policy issue, important housing policies persist in being unaddressed. Without a federal budget, federal rental assistance, which enables five million low-income households to afford modest homes, and support the three major programs — Housing Choice Vouchers, Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance, and Public Housing — are all in jeopardy of sending the housing crisis into a worsening downward spiral. As this crisis looms and the work to overcome it persists, the awareness that myths are not truths can assist in persisting with the values that support those who are living in poverty.

Myth #3: Spending government money on affordable housing only benefits a limited number of people and can be better spent in other ways.

Reality: Recent studies in Wisconsin and the Chicago area indicate that the

This guest opinion is one in a series on living in poverty. DR. WALTER MULLIN (wmullin@ springfieldcollege.edu), Professor of Social Work and MIGUEL ARCE (marce@ springfieldcollege.edu), Associate Professor of Social Work at Springfield College.

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El Sol Latino February 2019

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Los Divinos LAURA RESTREPO • Alfaguara: Mayo 2018 | 318 páginas Son cinco.

Y eran cinco cuando de jóvenes se conocieron en el Liceo Quevedo, “semillero de los hombres más poderosos de Colombia”. Se llaman los Tutti Frutti.

Todavía.

Son cinco todavía “pese a los años, ya superando la treintena”. Y se creen mejores, superiores a otros que no pertenecen a su misma clase social, la clase alta, rica, y para quienes todo está a su alcance, nada les falta. El narrador comenta que a “nuestro alrededor se desplaza, inaudible e invisible, una tropilla de jardineros, choferes, guardaespaldas y empleadas del servicio.”

Sí. Se creen “divinos”, un cinco aparte y por encima de las leyes que gobiernan y restringen a los demás.

Pero un día se descubre el delicado cuerpo de una niña pobre de siete años, Yuliana Zamboní, flotando en las aguas de un río que pasa por la vecindad de los cinco. Se la encuentra golpeada, violada, brutalmente desfigurada. A pesar de que la niña era de una clase baja y, por lo general, alguien de la clase baja que sufra algún desastre pasa sin que la gente de las otras clases sociales le preste atención, sin embargo, este ultraje enlaza la atención del público entero.* La gente exige que el criminal que hizo esta atrocidad sea encontrado y castigado.

Los Tutti Frutti saben quien fue que lo hizo.

Fue uno de ellos. El que Se les vuela a los guardaespaldas y se va por ahí, de intrépido, a la intemperie, exponiendo el pellejo y amenazando. Desafiando malevos y robachicos como si fuera chistoso, el Muñeco pasado de tragos y retando los límites, desparramándose por las esquinas, humillando indigentes, pellizcando nalgas y pateando muros…Cada vez más así, más retorcidas sus apetencias y más apremiante su afán por satisfacerlas. Demoledor, el balancín de su mece-mece: del placer a la desolación, ida y vuelta y otra vez ida. ¿¡Fue Muñeco, su compañero de casi toda la vida!? ¿¡Fue él que hizo esta atrocidad!?

Sí.

Sí, fue él.

La novela sigue dividida en seis partes, una dedicada a “La Niña” y cada una de las demás dedicada a uno de los Tutti-Frutti. Y es uno de ellos que nos cuenta todo: Hobbit (alias Hobbo, Bitto, Bobbi, Job) quien, ya adulto, es traductor de oficio. Utiliza sus habilidades y nos “traduce” la vida y los valores de los Tutti-Frutti. Hobbit caracteriza a sus compañeros así, diciendo que son “Apenas niños grandes, tanto hoy como ayer. Adultos infantilizados” y declara que “La inmadurez nos une…somos la generación que se niega a crecer.”

Se reúnen cada año porque “los Tuttis somos forever”.

Hasta ahora.

Con el crimen de Muñeco, la alianza empieza a fracturarse.

La primera parte de la novela se dedica al asesino, El Muñeco. Hobbit refleja sobre su “casi hermano”, “fanatiquedo con la coca,” y recuerda cuando Muñeco “anda avisando que lleva el demonio adentro”. Recuerda también cuando Muñeco camina por “allá, de solitario en territorio comanche, obedeciendo vaya a saber qué pulsón o qué deseo…” Lo analiza así diciendo que la “pérdida del gusto lleva al Muñeco a buscar pasiones cada

vez más sápidas.” Más y más lo observa experimentando “Éxtasis inducido por el sufrimiento ajeno.” No se contenta su compañero Muñeco; nada le satisface y este impulso de llenarse le lleva al “más retorcido de los crímenes”; le empuja a matar brutalmente a La Niña-niña, una “nadie” de la clase más baja de la sociedad.

Hobbit, quien anda “de hoodie,” se reconoce a sí mismo y a todos del grupo en lo que hizo su compañero: “En Muñeco podríamos mirarnos como en un espejo, uno de esos de feria que te distorsionan hasta la monstruosidad, sin que dejes de ser tú mismo...” ¿Y ahora? Dice Hobbit que los cinco son monicongos, (los monos gigantescos del Congo). ¿Y ahora? En su “tenida anual”, los Tutti Frutti se habían ratificado su juramento de lealtad. Pero, ¿ahora? Los “casi cuarentones”, ¿qué hacen ahora después de lo que hizo Muñeco? ¿de lo que les hizo a los Tutti Frutti?

La novela prosigue dirigiéndose a cada uno de los demás protagonistas. Envidian un poco a uno de su grupo, Tarabeo (alias Táraz, Taras Bulba, Dino-Rex, el gran Rexona): “Un tipo divinamente bien parecido, bien casado, bien vestido, rico, profesional destacado. Y al mismo tiempo más retorcido que un sacacorchos….La falta de escrúpulos es la clave de su éxito.” Tiene “la esposa perfecta, el de la vida feliz, el matrimonio ideal y las muchas amantes.”

Otro del grupo, El Duque (alias Nobleza, Dux, Kilbeggan), tiene una gran finca. ¡Pero qué raro! ¡Es una finca sin ganado! Es allí donde se reúnen con frecuencia los cinco. Hobbo le dice a Malicia, novia de Tarabeo, que “–Por qué crees que le pusimos Nobleza…él es de los que creen que en el campo la tierra no se compra, sino que se hereda.” Y Hobbo añade que al reunirse los cinco allí, “nos abrazamos para no olvidar cuánto nos amamos.”

Según Hobbo, el último del grupo, El Píldora (alias Pildo, Pilulo, Piluli, Dora, Dorila, Gorila), es “el único normal”. Sigue por explicar que es “el más normal de todos nosotros, el único que dentro del cuerpo lleva un alma.”

Cada uno de los Tutti Frutti se identifica por una variedad de apodos que reflejan varias etapas y varios sucesos de su historia. A veces, el mismo personaje se identifica por sus diferentes apodos en el mismo párrafo y esto puede confundir un poco al lector.

Los Divinos. Bueno, no son tanto. Si no fuera por basarse la novela en una realidad, yo habría dejado de leerla sin terminar por lo grotesco del crimen de que se trata. Aunque no me entretenía al leerla, está muy bien escrita, y me hizo pensar en cuestiones tan importantes: cuestionar, por ejemplo, si yo también tengo culpa en participar en una sociedad tan materialista, tan vacía, tan superficial, y tan brutal que menosprecia el valor de los más indefensos entre nosotros; y, si ahora, ¿vivimos en una sociedad sin valores que respetan la dignidad del ser humano, de todos los seres humanos? *La novela de Restrepo se basa en la verdadera historia del brutal secuestro y asesinado de la niña indígena Yuliana Zamboní, el 4 de diciembre de 2016, atrocidad cometida por el arquitecto Rafael Uribe Noguera de 38 años, miembro de una rica y acomodada familia de la clase alta bogotana. La autora dice que, en esta novela, sólo este hecho es verídico y todo lo demás es su intento de imaginar la historia de la crianza del asesino y los motivos de éste.

Reseña de CATHLEEN C. ROBINSON, profesora jubilada del castellano y de la historia de la América Latina que ahora se dedica a escribir.

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El Sol Latino February 2019

CENTRO Releases Anthology of Previously Unpublished Plays of Victor Fragoso by CENTRO Staff

Reprinted with permission from © Center for Puerto Rican Studies. Published in Centro Voices 30 November 2018

Luckily, she did. The ‘Víctor Fernández Fragoso Papers, 1968-1981,’ are currently housed at the Centro Library & Archives and are available in digital format on the Centro website. Fragoso is also featured in an exhibition on display at the Centro Library & Archives that highlights pioneers of the Puerto Rican community in New York, such as poet Tato Laviera, politician Herman Badillo, and theatre legend Miriam Colón.

Not the Time to Stay: The Unpublished Works of Víctor Fragoso, a new anthology published by the Centro Press, unearths the previously unpublished plays of Puerto Rican poet and playwright Victor Fragoso. “We see Fragoso as one of the greatest, most undiscovered writers,” remarked Centro Director Dr. Edwin Melendez at a presentation of the book held at the Centro Library & Archives.

It was while searching through the Centro Archives as a postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Puerto Rican Studies that the anthology’s editor Dr. Consuelo Martínez Reyes first came across the name Víctor Fragoso. At the time, she had been looking for an original research topic. After tracking down a copy of Fragoso’s curriculum vitae, she decided to contact his family in Puerto Rico. As it turns out, the family had boxes of Fragoso’s papers in storage. “I remember my hands were black from the dust of touching all these things,” Dr. Martínez Reyes said..

The trip to Puerto Rico had come at the behest of Dr. Meléndez. He had urged Dr. Martinez Reyes to convince the family to donate Fragoso’s papers to the Centro Archives after she approached him about the discovery. “We have to acquire this, we have to publish this—he’s so clever,” she recalled telling Dr. Meléndez..

Política / Politics

Not the Time to Stay: The Unpublished Works of Víctor Fragoso is just the latest in a series of efforts to bring attention to Fragoso’s creative work. The title is taken from one of the plays included in the anthology. “I chose that one because it has everything that Fragoso was trying to do with his theater, it’s very representative of his work,” Dr. Martinez Reyes told those in attendance at the book presentation. That includes using elements from the Theatre of the Absurd, Minimalism, and the exploration of important social issues—in addition to a mix of English and Spanish, references to Puerto Rican history and culture, and openly gay themes that reflected his queer identity.

In total, the anthology includes eight plays, seven of which were written in Spanish and subsequently translated and edited by Martinez Reyes. Many of the themes and style of these plays are described in an essay written by Dr. Martinez Reyes for Centro Voices that was adapted from an article published in an issue of the CENTRO Journal.

Sadly, Fragoso left us in 1982 at the age of thirty-seven, after contracting HIV. According to Dr. Martinez Reyes, Fragoso was among the first AIDS patients to die in New York City, though his death was initially attributed to advance stage cancer. “He was so loved that after he died, his students performed one of his plays to honor him,” she added.

Going forward, Dr. Martinez Reyes stated that there is still a lot of work to be done with regard to the study and staging of Fragoso’s writing. His poetry, which Dr. Martinez Reyes described as inflected with scientific metaphors— Fragoso had trained as a scientist before obtaining his PhD in Spanish Literature—is likely to be the subject of forthcoming anthology.

Not the Time to Stay: The Unpublished Works of Víctor Fragoso CENTRO Press, 2018 ISBN: 978-1945662003 404 pages; $24.99 [paper]

Carlos González Leads the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus BOSTON, MA | MBLLC | January 14, 2019— The Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus (MBLLC) will have a new Chairman as the body prepares for the 2019-2020 legislative session. Taking helm of the organization, Representative Carlos Gonzalez (D-Springfield) stated, “I am humbled and honored to serve as the new Chairperson and I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance the causes that impact the communities we all represent.”

privilege as well,” said former MBLLC Chairman, State Representative Frank Moran (D -Lawrence).

He continued, “I look forward to seeing Chairman Gonzalez continue the great work and tradition of this Caucus in creating a more just and inclusive Commonwealth for our communities of color.”

Representative Carlos Gonzalez (D-Springfield) comes into the role as he enters his third term in the legislature. Last session he served on the committee of Ways and Means, Community Development and Small Business, Technology and Intergovernmental Affairs and Global Warming.

“It was a distinct honor to serve as Chairman for our Caucus and I am thrilled to see that my colleague will have the opportunity to experience that

Representative Carlos Gonzalez (D-Springfield)

Chairman Gonzalez will lead the newest iteration of the Caucus as they welcome in three new legislators and one returning member. The bicameral Caucus was originally formed in 1973 by seven members and has grown to its current

membership of the following 13 legislators: Chairman Carlos González (D – Springfield) Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz (D - Boston) Representative Marcos Devers (D – Lawrence) Representative Nika Elugardo (D – Boston) Representative Russell Holmes (D – Boston) Representative Liz Miranda (D – Boston) Representative Frank Moran (D – Lawrence) Representative Jon Santiago (D – Boston) Representative José Tosado (D – Chicopee) Representative Chynah Tyler (D – Boston) Representative Vargas (D – Haverhill) Representative Aaron Vega (D – Holyoke) Representative Bud Williams (D – Springfield) The Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus is a group of state legislators seeking to define, highlight and analyze those issues and concerns affecting people of color in the Commonwealth. For more information, please visit: www.mablacklatinocaucus.com

Política / Politics Elizabeth Warren Remarks in Puerto Rico SAN JUAN, PR | ELIZABETH WARREN PRESIDENTIAL EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE | January 22, 2019 - Elizabeth Warren hosted a community conversation about Puerto Rico and its recovery at the Alejandro Tapia y Rivera Theater in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Hello, San Juan!

I want to thank my friend, Yulín, not just for that generous introduction, but for being a great partner and a real fighter for the people of her city and her island. She has been truly heroic in her efforts for Puerto Rico. I am thrilled to call her a friend and a fellow strong woman who is never afraid to fight for what’s right. Thank you for all you do, Yulín.

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Today, the island is struggling with $70 billion in government debt and more than $50 billion in pension obligations. A major chunk of that debt is held by Wall Street, which means that more than 3 million U.S. citizens who live here are at the mercy of Wall Street corporate executives who are focused on squeezing out every last penny of profit from this island.

These Wall Street firms are called ‘vulture funds.’ They buy the debt of a borrower in trouble, usually for pennies on the dollar, and then pick the bones clean when the borrower can’t pay. For Puerto Rico, that means the Wall Street investors get paid by slashing services, selling government assets, and undermining any real chance the island might have to recover economically.

Any borrower can get in trouble—and the law has rules for how to deal with debtors who can’t pay off their debts.

Yulín works hard and has worked miracles to help San Juan recover, but she needs resources to do her job. For a long time now, I’ve been talking about how Washington works hard for the wealthy and the well-connected, but it isn’t working for anyone else—and Puerto Rico, San Juan, and the University of Puerto Rico are all examples of what goes wrong when government isn’t working for the people.

If Puerto Rico were a big Wall Street corporation with this kind of financial trouble, it would file for bankruptcy—pay some of its debts, discharge the rest, then start rebuilding.

Thank you for welcoming me back to Puerto Rico.

But Puerto Rico isn’t a corporation or a city, or a country. Because of its unique status, none of those legal options are open to it. Congress could have created such a law, but it refused.

I was here in 2015 to meet with officials to work on the island’s economic challenges and to press Congress and the Administration for a fair, effective solution to its debt burden.

I was here again almost exactly a year ago to conduct oversight of recovery efforts after the hurricanes.

And I am here again today to talk about the dignity and respect this island deserves from our government—and the cruelty that it has been inflicted upon.

It has been sixteen months since Hurricane Maria and Hurricane Irma tore through this island.

The devastation you weathered was extraordinary. Three thousand—maybe more— of your brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, friends and neighbors were killed by the storm and its aftermath. The pain of your loss was more than anyone should be asked to bear.

And sixteen months later, the people of Puerto Rico have not received the help they need to rebuild.

Far too many homes still have blue tarps instead of roofs.

Far too many insurance claims still haven’t been paid.

Far too many people who lost loved ones have not received the federal funeral assistance they are entitled to.

Far too many in the U.S. Virgin Islands are also still waiting for help to restore their schools and medical facilities.

Far too many people who fled the island still can’t find housing, health care, or employment and can’t return.

Puerto Rico has not been treated with respect.

Even now, even after the Trump Administration has denied how many died and has dragged its feet on sending adequate disaster relief funds, the President of the United States has doubled down on the insult by toying with the idea of diverting your recovery funds to build a wall.

Make no mistake – this wall is dumb. Security experts, law enforcement, even people in the Trump Administration, describe it as unnecessary and ineffective. But it serves the President’s purposes, turning people against people, particularly against people of color, and stirring up the fear and hatred he so actively promotes.

Back when he was running for office, Donald Trump promised that Mexico would pay for this wall. Now he thinks that the people of Puerto Rico who are struggling to get back on their feet should get stuck with the bill instead.

It’s insulting. It’s disrespectful. This ugliness has gone far enough. Puerto Rico has suffered enough. We will not allow anyone to sabotage your recovery – not even the President of the United States.

The recent physical devastation of the island caught the world’s attention, but these storms were piled on top of a much longer-running economic devastation of Puerto Rico.

For over a decade, Puerto Rico has been a clear example of how well the federal government works for Wall Street and how poorly it works for everyone else.

If Puerto Rico were an American city with this kind of financial trouble, it would file for bankruptcy—pay some of its debts, discharge the rest, then start rebuilding.

Instead, two and a half years ago, over the strong objection of myself and many others, Congress imposed an oversight board on the island, giving seven political appointees the power to force Puerto Rico to pay Wall Street.

I voted against PROMESA, and many of my fears have come true. So far, the control board has slashed basic government services throughout the island, while generously helping out the Wall Street firms that hold your debt. That’s government that works for Wall Street, but not for working people—and I believe we should fight back!

Washington does not treat Puerto Rico with respect. Count the ways.

• President Trump reportedly tells his cronies that he doesn’t want one single dollar going to Puerto Rico – making it harder for you to rebuild.

• The Administration tries to block nutrition assistance for Puerto Rico – making it harder for people to eat.

• The Administration tries to use their own totally unnecessary government shutdown as an excuse to delay paying out disaster recovery funds to Puerto Rico.

• In the face of the deadliest natural disaster in recent U.S. history, the President and his allies in Congress want to pretend that nothing happened here.

This kind of treatment isn’t new for Puerto Rico. Just look at Vieques, where the Navy’s bombing exercises and use of toxic chemicals imposed terrible environmental damage and where residents now have high rates of serious illnesses. The legacy of colonialism dies hard.

I say it’s time to change that. It’s time to show the people of Puerto Rico some respect.

Respect starts with status. For over a hundred years, too many leaders have imposed too many decisions on you against your will. Respect for Puerto Rico means that you have the right to determine the nature of your association with the United States. Puerto Rico deserves self-determination on this question, and I will support the decision of the people of Puerto Rico.

Respect means treating workers with basic dignity. Unions have a critical role to play in rebuilding both Puerto Rico and making sure that every worker is treated fairly and has a real chance to build a future. Let’s strengthen our unions.

Respect means treating this beautiful island like the treasure that it is, protecting it from pollution and the threats of climate change and giving our children and grandchildren a chance to grow up strong and healthy. Let’s pass new laws to address climate change.

Respect also means taking real steps to get Puerto Rico on the road to recovery from the twin catastrophes of hurricanes and vulture debt. What will that take? Let me hit the highlights.

First, change the law to create a path to real, comprehensive debt relief for disasterstricken places like Puerto Rico. I have proposed a Territorial Relief Act, which would give this island a chance to get out from under the thumb of Wall Street speculators.

Congress should pass that proposal.

Second, a “Marshall Plan” for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Bernie Sanders and I have proposed a comprehensive plan that would allow the islands to rebuild.

Congress should pass that proposal.

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El Sol Latino February 2019

Elizabeth Warren Remarks in Puerto Rico continued from previous page Third, U.S. citizens living in Puerto Rico should have the same basic support that every other U.S. citizen is entitled to – a full child tax credit, full Medicaid funding, and full nutrition assistance. Congress should pass these proposals without delay.

Official Congressional Portrait of Democratic Senator, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.

And how about a couple more good government provisions? Let’s begin with facts. Audit the island’s debt completely and independently to understand exactly how big the hole is, how much of the debt ended up being issued in the first place, whether it was legally issued, and what it’s going to take to fix it. No more playing hide-and-seek with the basic information about what’s going on.

No more shutting out the people whose lives are on the line every day in Puerto Rico. The island’s municipalities and the people who live here should be fully included in the process of deciding how their communities are rebuilt.

And let’s put an end to shortsighted cuts and privatization to please the vulture funds while selling out Puerto Rico’s future. Instead of gutting the University of Puerto Rico, let’s strengthen this crown jewel and make it more affordable for Puerto Ricans who want to get an education and build a better future for themselves and their families.

We don’t build a future by forcing students to take on more student loan debt. We build a future by supporting our students.

And instead of hiding from it, let’s dig in on the federal government’s response— or lack of response—to the hurricanes. I’ve called for an independent, 9/11-style commission to understand how and why Washington’s response to these hurricanes was so inadequate—and to make sure nothing like this ever, ever happens again.

And one more thing. Let’s get some accountability for what’s gone wrong. Countless FEMA personnel have worked long and hard to help Puerto Rico dig out after the hurricanes. But they have had too few resources and too little support from Washington. FEMA’s Administrator, Brock Long, has enabled this negligence.

I’ve repeatedly called for investigations of waste and abuse in FEMA’s contracts here.

I’ve repeatedly called on FEMA to ensure the hurricane death tolls are accurate.

I’ve repeatedly called on FEMA to provide emergency housing for your family members who were forced to evacuate to the mainland.

I was one of only four Senators who opposed Brock Long’s nomination to run FEMA. But even I could not have imagined this level of incompetence.

Enough is enough. If accountability in government means anything, Brock Long should take responsibility for his failures. He should resign as head of FEMA—and if he isn’t willing to do that, he should be fired.

• A debt relief plan to stabilize the island, • a Marshall Plan to rebuild it, • equitable treatment for all US citizens on health and other social service programs, • real transparency about what’s gone on— • and real accountability for those responsible.

We can do all these things, and we should do all these things!

But there is more to this story.

Puerto Rico’s experience in recent years reflects the worst of what Washington has become – a government that works great for the rich and powerful, and not for anyone else.

And yes, Washington works great for the Wall Street bankers who want bailouts, tax cuts, and no regulations, but not for the people right here in Puerto Rico.

Nobody should be surprised that Congress won’t stand up to Wall Street when it comes to Puerto Rico’s financial challenges. Lobbyists swarmed Washington when it drafted PROMESA. They’re doing the same thing again right now in their neverending push to influence laws and policies that affect the island.

When government stops working for the people, when government only works for the rich and powerful, we need to call that what it is – corruption, pure and simple.

Call it out—fight back, and make change. We need real, structural reform, not just nibbles around the edges. We need to take back our federal government from the wealthy and well-connected and return it to the people.

In order to do that, we are going to need systemic change. Structural change. To root out Washington corruption, and to ensure that the wealthy and the well-connected play by the same rules as everyone else.

That’s why I’ve proposed the largest anti corruption reform legislation since Watergate.

My Anti-Corruption Act would completely transform the way Washington operates.

Federal corruption is a big problem, and my proposal has a lot of pieces.

End lobbying as we know it.

• Stop federal lobbyists from giving money to elected officials.

• Ban Members of Congress and senior Cabinet officials from turning around and becoming lobbyists themselves – not for one year, not for two years, but the rest of their lives.

• Block the revolving door between Wall Street and Washington There’s more.

Let’s cut off the ability of giant companies to strangle our government and prevent it from acting in the best interests of all of us.

• No more giant oil companies handpicking the head of the EPA. • No more giant drug companies pulling all the strings at the agencies that are supposed to regulate our drugs.

And one more: Let’s require anyone running for federal office to put their taxes online. I’ve done it. Everyone should do it.

I could go on. There are a lot more pieces to my proposal. But all of these changes are geared toward the same goal – to beat back the influence of money in every part of our federal government.

The choice is stark and you can see it right here on the island. Do we want a government that works for Wall Street, or a government that works for the people? I believe in government for the people.

Whatever brings you here today—justice for Puerto Rico, stronger unions, student loans, climate change—Washington corruption stands in our way and we need to make change.

None of this will be easy. There are a lot of people with a lot of money and power who like the way things are in Washington. They like the benefits of working for the rich and powerful.

And they are willing to sit by and watch as this administration uses the power of the United States government to inflict cruelty and sow division.

From ignoring the suffering inflicted by Maria and Irma, to building Trump’s ugly wall, to tearing families apart at the border, this administration has used the power of the United States government to inflict cruelty on immigrants and people of color.

With Trump, cruelty is not an accident; it is part of the plan.

The examples go far beyond what is happening in Puerto Rico.

But cruelty doesn’t deter, it doesn’t save money, and it sure doesn’t make us safer.

Washington works great for big drug companies raking in billions in profits, but it isn’t working for anyone trying to fill a prescription.

Cruelty sows division and distracts working people from noticing that the rich and powerful are taking so much for themselves and leaving so little for everyone else.

Washington works great for student loan outfits that make big bucks off kids trying to get an education, but it is not working for anyone who owes tens of thousands of dollars on student loans.

But we are here because we believe there is a better way. We believe in what we can do together.

Washington works great for millionaires and giant corporations that want a trillion dollars in tax cuts, but it isn’t working for U.S. citizens who want Washington to step up and rebuild after natural disasters.

Washington works great for fossil fuel companies that want to pump filth into the air, but it isn’t working for people living with the very real impact of dirty air and rising oceans.

We believe that when we come together, we can build a government that reflects our best values.

One based on respect.

One where we dream big and fight hard. And when we do that, I know that we can make real change. Thank you.

Educación / Education

El Sol Latino February 2019

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HCC and WSU Announce Nursing Degree Partnership HOLYOKE, MA | HOLYOKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE | January 14, 2019 – Officials from Holyoke Community College and Westfield State University today signed a dual admission agreement that streamlines the process for students who want to continue their nursing educations at Westfield after earning an associate degree in nursing at HCC. The RN-to-BSN completion program partnership was announced during a ceremony at HCC’s Center for Health Education on Jarvis Avenue, home to the college’s RN (registered nurse) and LPN (licensed practical nursing) programs and medical simulation center.

process for HCC nursing students who want to earn a BSN at Westfield – and can also significantly reduce the cost for that degree.

“We already have a really strong partnership with Westfield State and this is an opportunity to enhance that partnership,” said HCC President Christina Royal, “and it’s all for the sake of our students, who need and want easier options as they move from their two-year studies to their four-year studies. Many of our students prefer Westfield State, so we want to make that transfer process as seamless as possible.”

Officials said the new program will consist mostly of online coursework with limited on-campus requirements.

Applications are now being accepted for fall 2019 enrollment.

According to the agreement, graduates of HCC’s associate degree program can transfer up to 90 course credits into the BSN degree program at Westfield. HCC students need 72 credits to complete the requirements for their associate degree in nursing.

“The total cost of the 30 nursing degree credits for the completion program is $10,800, making the program one of the most cost-effective of its kind in the area,” said Shelley Tinkham, dean of the College of Graduate and Continuing Education at Westfield State.

Full-time students can complete the program as quickly as one year; students can also opt to complete the program on a part-time basis in 24 months.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 15 percent by 2026, significantly faster than the average for all occupations.

After the signing: Diane Prusank, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs at Westfield State University; Ramon Torrecilha, president of Westfield State University; Christina Royal, president of Holyoke Community College; and Mónica Pérez, vice president of Academic Affairs at Holyoke Community College.

“We’re delighted to be here today and excited about this new venture to expand our existing collaboration with HCC to offer a streamlined, efficient pathway to a bachelor of science in nursing degree for HCC students,” said Westfield State University President Ramon S. Torrecilha. “This is important because it underscores the values of both institutions – our commitment to accessibility and our commitment to affordability.”

By granting automatic admission, the new agreement simplifies the application

HCC Secures Grant to Create Hotel Training Lab HOLYOKE, MA | HOLYOKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE | January 23, 2019 – Holyoke Community College has secured a $35,000 grant to establish a hotel training lab on the second floor of the HCC MGM Culinary Arts Institute.

The award, announced by Gov. Charlie Baker and other administration officials, comes from the Massachusetts Skills Capital Grant Program, which funds the purchase of new equipment for educational initiatives linked to workforce needs.

The lab will be set up like a hotel reception area with front desk and adjoining guest room and equipped with the most up-to-date technology and software. It will be used for non-credit workforce training programs as well as credit-based associate degree and certificate programs in Hospitality Management.

Torrecilha said nursing professionals with BSN degrees will remain in high demand for the foreseeable future.

“This latest collaboration emphasizes both institutions’ commitment to growing this high-demand segment of the workforce, underscoring our mutual concern and interest in preparing future generations of nursing professionals,” he said.

Royal cited a recent report, the “Pioneer Valley Labor Market Blueprint,” that identified health sciences as a priority sector for western Massachusetts.

“It’s one of the economic engines that drive our region,” said Royal, “and so for us to stay focused on providing opportunities like these that are going to lead to vibrant jobs in this community is just going to bolster that sector of the economy.”

EMT Training Program and $229,500 in 2017 for kitchen equipment at the HCC MGM Culinary Arts Institute, which opened in January 2018 on Race Street in the Holyoke Innovation District.

This new round of Skills Capital Grants mainly targets educational programs for people who may need help overcoming barriers to employment – those who may be unemployed or underemployed, lack English proficiency, or do not yet hold college credentials and want to develop new skills.

“These grants create important career pathways for both students and adult learners across the Commonwealth to support key industries,” said Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito.

The hotel lab should be up and running in February, Hayden said.

“Hospitality is a growing industry in our region,” said Jeff Hayden, HCC vice president of Business and Community Services. “The hotel lab will give students the ability to learn in a model hotel room and reception lobby, gain knowledge about key card access systems, and understand point-of-sale technology. This is the kind of experiential training employers have been asking for.”

The competitive Skills Capital Grants require institutions to partner with local businesses and align the curriculum to meet industry requirements. HCC’s partners include the Lob Cabin Delaney House, the Tower Square Hotel Springfield and MassHire career centers in Holyoke and Springfield.

“The enhanced training will allow students to gain necessary hands-on skills for employment, transfer to a bachelor’s degree program, or advance their careers,” Log Cabin Delaney House president Peter Rosskothen wrote in a letter supporting the grant. “We look forward to working with HCC to increase our regional capacity to train students for the growing hospitality industry. The growth of a strong and qualified workforce will impact every hotel property in the valley.”

Over the past three years, HCC has been awarded nearly $400,000 through the Skills Capital Grant Program, including $127,741 in 2016 to expand and enhance its

HCC will set up a hotel training lab on the second floor of the HCC MGM Culinary Arts Institute on Race Street in downtown Holyoke.

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Educación / Education

El Sol Latino February 2019

STCC Unveils Spring Ovations Series lineup SPRINGFIELD, MA | SPRINGFIELD TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE | January 14, 2019 – Springfield Technical Community College announces the spring lineup for the Ovations Educational and Cultural Event Series.

The Ovations Series is sponsored by The Chicopee Savings Bank Endowment for Academic Excellence, the Office of Academic Affairs and the Honors Program at STCC. The events are all free and open to the public.

STCC and the community beyond. This year’s recipient, Ruth Butler, an instructor in the STCC Cosmetology Program, will accept the award on behalf of the entire program, which has lent its skills to numerous nonprofit events in the community.

Professor and author Elizabeth Stodeur Pryor, Feb. 13, 10:10 a.m. and 11:15 a.m., in Scibelli Hall Theater: Stodeur Pryor is an associate professor of history at Smith College. She will discuss her article “Etymology of (the n-word): Resistance, Language, and the Politics of Freedom in the Antebellum North,” which won the Ralph D. Gray Prize for the best article of 2016 in the Journal of the Early Republic.

About Springfield Technical Community College

Author/Illustrator and National Book Award Nominee Jarrett J. Krosoczk, March 28, 11 a.m., in Scibelli Hall Theater. Krosoczk, who was raised in Worcester, has published nearly 30 books and is a two-time winner of Children’s Choice Awards, Third to Fourth Grade. His graphic memoir, “Hey, Kiddo,” a recent nominee for the National Book Award, tells the story of growing up in an unusual household.

Founded in 1967 and located on 35 acres of the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, STCC is a major resource for the economic vitality of Western Massachusetts. As the only technical community college in Massachusetts, STCC, a designated Hispanic Serving Institution and an Achieving the Dream Leader College, offers a variety of career programs unequalled in the state. STCC’s highly regarded transfer programs in business, engineering, liberal arts, science and technology continue to provide the most economical options for students pursuing a four-year degree. With an annual enrollment of more than 7,400 day, evening, weekend and online students, STCC is a vibrant campus rich in diversity.

Dorothy Jordan Pryor Award, April 3, 12:15 p.m., 7th Floor, Scibelli Hall: The Dorothy Jordan Pryor Award is given to an STCC member has had an impact on

For more information about STCC, visit www.stcc.edu. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@S_T_C_C) and Instagram (@stccpics).

From Carnegie Mellon to STCC SPRINGFIELD, MA | SPRINGFIELD TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE | January 23, 2019 – Robin Song had graduated with a mechanical engineering degree from Carnegie Mellon University and was working as a design engineer in Amherst when she decided to expand her knowledge of manufacturing processes by going back to school.

She chose Springfield Technical Community College.

Song, a Northampton resident, designs Small Angle X-Ray Scattering (SAXS) instruments at SAXSLAB in Amherst. Approximately 90 percent of the parts she designs are machined parts. She realized that a better understanding of machining processes and tools would help her design parts that were easier and thus cheaper to manufacture.

Song searched for programs in Western Massachusetts that teach computer numeric control (CNC) machining and decided STCC was the best match for her.

“I had some background from an introductory machine shop class and wanted a class that would teach beyond the basics. I thought STCC’s class provided the most challenge and variety,” Song said.

The class allowed her to gain experience operating CNC mills and lathes in the Mechanical Engineering Technology lab.

“I really enjoyed my classes. I learned how to set up and operate CNC machines, and inspect parts,” Song said. “I thought the hands-on experience was really valuable because I now understand the amount of effort it takes to do all these processes, such as multiple setups, tool changes, and special tolerances, and why I should try to reduce them as a designer.”

Song also learned about the variations in a real world part versus in CAD (Computer Aided Design). For example, a shaft may not be perfectly straight, but actually may be tapered because the unsupported end deflects when cut in a lathe. As a result, not as much material is removed.

“I also learned that you can use a tailstock (a part of the lathe) to mitigate this problem. Knowing this, I can anticipate some of the problems that could arise,” she said.

The following semester, she took Manufacturing Processes, a course that teaches students methods used to create parts. The instructor, Joseph Sipitkowski, brought in examples to showcase different processes, and organized two field trips to local manufacturing shops.

“These were valuable experiences that I could only get by attending STCC, opposed to solely learning the material from reading textbooks,” Song said.

This spring, Song registered for another class in the Mechanical Engineering Technology program, Metrology & Geometry.

Robin Song, a working engineer, stands in the Mechanical Engineering Technology lab, where she gets hands-on experience using CNC (computer numeric control) machines.

With her employer’s support, Song signed up for two consecutive classes in CNC and learned about the automated control of machining tools. She continued to work during the day, and would drive from Amherst to Springfield for an early evening class, sponsored by SAXSLAB.

“These courses at STCC have improved my skills as an engineer,” Song said. “I’ve been very happy with the quality of the classes and the resources available. The instructors show a lot of enthusiasm and explain things well.”

While working in her office, Song discovered another application, not related to machining, of her classroom lessons.

“One day I had to modify my G-code (a numerical control programming language) of a 3D-printed part, and I recognized that these were the same commands I learned in the CNC class at STCC,” Song said. “I’m

happy that I’m seeing the connection between school and work. From the perspective of a working engineer, these classes are applicable to my everyday responsibilities, and I see the importance of continuing my education.”

Song, who grew up in Brookline, graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 2016.

She moved to Northampton after accepting her first job out of college at SAXSLAB in Amherst.

With over 90 programs, STCC offers professional development opportunities for people working in a variety of fields, said STCC President John B. Cook.

“Robin is a sterling example of what professionalism looks like in a time of technology and change,” Cook said. “It says a lot when a talented engineer pursues additional hands-on education in manufacturing design and equipment operations with us. STCC has the labs and equipment, and we have the talented faculty, to ensure we remain responsive to industry.”

Gary Masciadrelli, chair of the Mechanical Engineering Technology department, said he welcomes working engineers like Song who want to take advanced manufacturing classes as part of their professional development.

“We have a very diverse student body, from young adults just out of high school to working professionals who may be changing careers,” Masciadrelli said. “We have students enrolled in two-year degree programs and one-year certificate programs. We also have people who take just a few classes. It’s not unusual for companies to contact us and ask how we can help them improve the skills of their employees. We may suggest their employees take a class or two.”

“Our program is driven by industry needs,” Masciadrelli added. “If you complete our program, you will understand CNC machining. Our students get hands-on experience using state-of-the-art equipment – from CNC milling machines and lathes to coordinate measuring machines. Many companies are looking to hire our graduates because they know how to use this high tech equipment.”

Interested in applying to STCC? Visit www.stcc.edu/ apply or call Admissions at (413) 755-3333.

Educación / Education

El Sol Latino February 2019

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Amherst and Holyoke School Districts Awarded Bilingual Education Grant AMHERST, MA | AMHERST PUBLIC SCHOOLS HOLYOKE PUBLIC SCHOOLS | January 11, 2019.

Through a collaborative partnership, the Amherst Public Schools and Holyoke Public Schools have been awarded a Bilingual Education Grant in the amount of $300,000 from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

For the Amherst Public Schools, these funds will support the implementation of a new English/ Spanish Dual Language Program beginning in the 2019-2020 school year, starting with Kindergarten at Fort River Elementary School. Holyoke, home to the first Dual Language Program in Western Massachusetts, will utilize the funds in support of their efforts to expand their program to ensure their vision of a pathway for every student and provide students with the opportunity to earn the Seal of Biliteracy.

The innovative Dual Language Program offers students the opportunity to learn in two languages (English and Spanish) by using a curriculum aligned with the state’s curriculum framework. The goal of the program is to reach high levels of academic achievement, bilingualism and biliteracy in a safe

and engaging learning environment that values multiculturalism while preparing students for college and career.

Funds from the Bilingual Education Grant will allow both Districts to work in partnership with the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Westfield State University, Greenfield Community College, the International Language Institute and the Multistate Association of Bilingual Education (MABE) to provide coursework and other professional development opportunities for their staff.

UMass and Westfield State University will work with the Districts to offer staff the opportunity to take courses toward a new Bilingual Education

Endorsement program that is currently under development. Greenfield Community College is working with the Amherst district to provide entrylevel Spanish language classes, which will be offered to District staff at no cost and at a site in the District.

The International Language Institute will provide Spanish language courses for Holyoke District staff at no cost to the staff. MABE provides both conferences and in-house professional development for teachers, along with implementation guidance for new and expanding Dual Language Programs.

In addition to significant professional development opportunities and implementation/expansion support for both districts, grant funds will be utilized to purchase curriculum materials and assessment kits in Amherst. Holyoke Public will use the funds to update and expand the curriculum as they grow the program to various grade levels. There is also a significant family outreach component to the grant for both districts.

Amherst and Holyoke District leaders are excited about the Dual Language programs in their Districts because of their promising outcomes for all students, especially Spanish speaking English Learners.

Ciencia / Science Food Coloring by JORGE L. MURIEL MUNDO Food coloring is the term used for any dye, pigment or substance that imparts color to any food and/or drink. It has been used by domestic and food industries for thousand years. It makes the food easy to identify and more importantly, attractive for consumption. Food colorants are also used extensively by other non-food companies such as the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries.

A little bit of history. The addition of colorants to foods is thought to have occurred in Egyptian cities as early as 1500 BC, when candy makers added natural extracts and wine to improve the products’ appearance (Meggos, H. 1995). Consequently, with the onset of the industrial revolution, people became dependent on food produced by others - “The Legislation of Food Colours in Europe”(29 Apr 2011). Consequently, the adulteration of food then flourished. It is evidenced that coloring was applied to different products to increase their previous low-quality appearance. Mostly, heavy metals and other additives like inorganic metals were added to foods in order to restore their watered-down color. Interestingly, sellers at the time offered more than 80 artificial coloring agents, some invented for dyeing textiles, not for foods (Downham, Alison; Collins, Paul 2000).

Do synthetic food colors affect human health?

Artificial-synthetic colors have created a lot of concern during recent years. The typical case is that of Red No. 3, scientifically known as Erythrosine. It is a cherry or melonpink synthetic, primarily used for food coloring. In 1990 the U.S. FDA instituted a partial ban on erythrosine Food coloring has been part of the human diet culture since ancient times.

(Red #3), citing research that indicated that high doses were found to cause cancer in rats. It was banned as a color ingredient from all food products, cosmetics and even pharmaceutical drugs. (The Washington Post, February 7, 1990) However, most food companies are recently moving into more natural sources to

obtain their colors. Currently, extracting color from existing fruits is a big trend by food companies in order to compensate for the huge demand from consumers in recent years. As a result, food companies are using more natural ingredients to avoid allergic reactions and other health concerns by their customers.

Interestingly, the use of colors in foods is still very important nowadays. Food coloring is mostly used for food identification. People tend to identify certain ingredients based on the predominant color in a food-product. Example: When it comes to cakes, predominant strong-pink colored cakes are mostly strawberry ones. It is quite difficult to sell a pink-colored cake with a chocolate flavor.

Indeed, it will confuse customers. It is already settled in our brains, and whenever we see a food-product of a certain color, we assume that a predominant ingredient will be present in that specific food-product.

Secondly, based on what was mentioned earlier, food coloring is also used for flavor perception. The human brain tends to perceive or distinguish a singular flavor by the color of a food and/or drink, even before consuming it. An example would be the green-fluorescent dye used in drinks that tends to be associated with a lemon (sour) flavor. If the drink comes in a clear container where you can easily observe the green-fluorescent color, you will assume that the drink will taste sour-lemonish for the most part.

Finally, the intensity of the color can serve as an indicator about the quality conditions of the food-product and/or drink. In some cases, if something is wrong with the food, sometimes the main color will fade away. For example, when the food is about to expired, you can see how the intensity of the color is lost.

Colors play a unique and major role when it comes to choosing and consuming a particular food product.

JORGE L. MURIEL MUNDO (Murielmundojorge@gmail.com and/or jmurielmundo@umass.edu) is a Ph.D student at the Department of Food Science - UMass Amherst.

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El Sol Latino February 2019

Fine Arts Center ¡Eventos de Primavera!

CHRISTIAN SCOTT ATUNDE ADJUAH

Jueves, Febrero 14, 7:30 pm | Bowker Auditorium

PAUL D. MILLER, AKA DJ SPOOKY PRESENTS QUANTOPIA Jueves, Febrero 21, 7:30 pm | Bowker Auditorium

Quantopia es una experiencia de concierto multi-media de hip-hop sobre la historia y el crecimiento exponencial del Internet. DJ Spooky creará “live loops” y diferentes niveles de sonido y visualizaciones de data usando un instrumento “touch screen” diseñado por Greg Niemeyer, Archivista del Internet y artista de data.

Disfrute de jazz, baile y mucho más en el UMass Fine Arts Center Christian Scott Atunde Adjuah ha tenido una carrera relámpago que lo ha llevado a la vanguardia del jazz, el hip-hop, y el pop. Con raíces en las tradiciones de New Orleans, su ciudad natal, Scott es ampliamente reconocido como uno de los pioneros del “Stretch Music,” una forma musical con raíces en el jazz, la cual intenta “stretch” (extender) las convenciones rítmicas, melódicas y harmónicas del jazz para abarcar muchas otras formas musicales, lenguajes y culturas. Extienda su definición de jazz con este quinteto el Día de San Valentín.

KODO ONE EARTH TOUR 2019: EVOLUTION

Miércoles, Marzo 6, 7:30 pm | Fine Arts Center Concert Hall

Forjando nuevas direcciones para el tradicional tambor japonés, Kodo trae un despliegue de atletismo y maestría rítmica al público en Estados Unidos con su innovadora producción, Evolution.

Festival Odori Antes del Espectáculo: 6:30 pm en el Fine Arts Center Lobby con Mountain River Taiko asistido por Profesor Reiko Sono, UMass Languages, Literatures & Cultures y Anne Prescott, Directora del Five College Center for East Asian Studies.

Cena prix fixer disponible en el University Club antes del concierto. Detalles en fineartscenter.com/ prixfixe

Para boletos llamar al: 413-545-2511 ó al 800-999-UMAS ó en línea fineartscenter.com