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August 7-9, 2020

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How an Artist Has Fun While Waiting for a Catastrophe

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Do You Really (Really) Know Who You Are Voting For?

Voters Still Have Time to Learn About the Gubernatorial Hopefuls, Hundreds of Other Candidates and Their Proposals. The Star Tells You How

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US Lawmakers Want Island Bondholders Investigated P5 NOTICIAS EN ESPAÑOL P 14

Puerto Rico Could Become Pharmaceutical Hub P6

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The San Juan Daily Star

August 7-9, 2020

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August 7 - 9, 2020

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

High-ranking federal officials to see island’s biopharma potential firsthand

By JOHN McPHAUL jpmcphaul@gmail.com

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INDEX Local 3 Mainland 7 Business 10 International 11 Viewpoint 13 Noticias en Español 14

Entertainment Legals Sports Games Horoscope Cartoons

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ov. Wanda Vázquez Garced has invited Rear Admiral Peter J. Brown, the White House special representative to Puerto Rico, as well as representatives from both the White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy and the U.S International Development Finance Corp., along with other federal officials, to visit Puerto Rico for an opportunity to see for themselves Puerto Rico’s potential role as a key element in re-establishing domestic biomedical production in the U.S. economy.

Currently, Puerto Rico is the largest exporter of medical and pharmaceutical equipment in the United States, exporting over $53 billion in biopharmaceuticals within the past year. Puerto Rico is home to 49 U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved plans representing 12 of the top worldwide pharmaceutical companies that manufacture medical products on the island.

Recently Washington has been abuzz about the possibility of relocating pharmaceutical production from China to Latin America.

“It is worth noting that we will discuss preparedness and readiness for the 2020 hurricane season, ongoing federal projects, and the revitalization of the island. However, this trip will focus on the opportunity for Puerto Rico to re-insert itself within the United States’ national security system by means of strengthening the pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing market,” Vázquez said earlier this week. “As Puerto Rico continues to recover, it is incumbent upon me to aid in continuing the development of our economy and take advantage of our thriving industries.”

The pharmaceutical industry employs more than 21,000 educated employees, and labor costs on the island are 20-to-35 percent lower than on the mainland. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Transportation has granted an order for expanded cargo and passenger flexibility at Puerto Rico’s international airports, which position the island as a U.S. air cargo hub in the Caribbean.

“As the governor of Puerto Rico, my priority is to provide the best opportunities for our island and our people.

We invited these White House officials and stakeholders to showcase our pharmaceutical and medical device industry in an effort to position the island as a means to reduce the U.S. dependence on a foreign supply chain,” the governor said. “We have seen how dangerous it is to depend on a foreign supply chain, especially during this pandemic. Our island is well positioned to contribute to the development of a more robust U.S. medical supply chain, assuring our nation is protected from future pandemics and epidemics.”

Brown noted that Vázquez “and Congresswoman Jenniffer González Colón are working closely with the Trump Administration to bring critical jobs back to Puerto Rico.”

“I look forward to visiting key facilities with the federal

family and finding new ways to stimulate and strengthen Puerto Rico’s industrial sector,” he said. “We are meeting with textile companies, the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, and visiting key environmental sites.”

Juan Caro, a special adviser to the White House and the U.S. Department of Energy, said “[t]he Trump Administration is working hard with the government of Puerto Rico to ensure that Puerto Rico’s economy has the necessary infrastructure for success: reliable baseload power, clean water, clean air, access to transportation facilities, and a strong workforce.”

González Colón, Puerto Rico’s resident commissioner in Washington, thanked Brown “for his commitment to the people of Puerto Rico.”

“This visit is a follow up from previous trips highlighting the commitment of the federal government to advancing our work, in collaboration with local officials and stakeholders, toward economic development and reconstruction,” she said.

Vázquez added that “[a]s a leader in the pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing market, now more than ever, during these trying times amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential that federal officials experience firsthand the potential Puerto Rico has to offer.”

“Puerto Rico has come so far in the past year, and we are proud of our people’s spirit to overcome challenges and particularly this industry’s resiliency,” the governor said.

“We will continue collaborating with the White House, this Administration, and stakeholders as we continue exploring opportunities for the island’s development.”

Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration Executive Director Jennifer M. Storipan reiterated in a press release that Puerto Rico is well positioned to aid the United States in reducing its dependence on the foreign supply chain.

“It is essential that our island is well positioned to face and work with the damages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic as we move forward with our recovery,” she said. “We must explore options to grow, develop, and inject our island’s economy with every opportunity and resource available.”

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August 7-9, 2020

The San Juan Daily Star

Island voters have many options available to ‘turn things around’ in 2020 elections

By PEDRO CORREA HENRY Twitter: @PCorreaHenry Special to The Star

D

id you know there are around 700 hopefuls and candidates aspiring for more than 160 seats in the Puerto Rico government in the 2020 elections? Did you know there are 888 additional seats for municipal legislators? Are you aware of the hopefuls and candidates that will appear on your ballots? Still unsure if you will exercise your right to vote?

In order to answer these questions and help voters be informed on Sunday to choose their preferred candidates for the general elections, and later, on Nov. 3, to elect more than 1,000 people who will represent Puerto Rico, non-profit organization Espacios Abiertos (EA) has redesigned its website QuienMeRepresentaPR.com to make the voter-education process easier, as voting is a human right recognized by the United Nations.

As the Star reported recently, QuienMeRepresentaPR.com, which began as a database where citizens could find contact information for elected officers, had a makeover with the mission of helping voters gain knowledge about who may be representing the island from January onward. The website uses geolocation technology, in which users enter their street address or zip code to know to which district they belong, who the hopefuls and candidates they can vote for are, how the ballots will look once they enter the voting booth, and how to search for candidates’ proposals on their social media platforms and/or websites. In order to help readers understand the platform, the Star did an in-depth search on the website.

As the Star logged into QuienMeRepresentaPR.com, a note popped up saying that the site has been adapted temporarily to present the candidates in Puerto Rico for positions at the municipal, commonwealth and federal levels. It also said that, according to their residence, users will have a chance to meet all the hopefuls who will appear on the ballots for both the primary and general elections.

“In January 2021, QMR will return to its original format with contact information from elected officials,” the website said.

Once the pop-up closed, the site recommended that the user write down the street address, zip code or submit current location.

After submitting such information, a map of Puerto Rico zoomed in on the location and offered the following options: Senate, House, Government, Washington, D.C. and Mayoralty. If the location that appeared was not correct, the page let the user adjust the location manually.

At the moment netizens click on any option, they are able to navigate and look at the hopefuls that are entered in primary elections and the candidates that are up for the general elections.

However, the Star observed that both hopefuls and candidates didn’t have pictures uploaded, although the Star had reported that EA filed a petition in San Juan Superior Court against the State Elections Commission (SEC) to compel it to comply with the Transparency and Expedited Procedure for Access to Public Information Law and provide information such as official photographs that the SEC will use for both hopefuls and candidates on the ballots.

Meanwhile, guests can browse on social media platforms, websites and, in some cases, e-mail addresses from both hopefuls and candidates to look at their proposals and public policies. However, some had broken links or insufficient information available on their platforms.

QuienMeRepresentaPR.com also has links to sites such as the Office of the Election Comptroller, the Office of Government Ethics and the Office of the Comptroller of Puerto Rico so internauts can search for legal documents. The website also provides other links to projects such as Para Votar, which educates citizens on the electoral process in Puerto Rico; Proyecto 85, which promotes female representation in the political field; Voto con Conciencia, which is an educational project of the Psychologists Association of Puerto Rico; and Tu Voto No Se Deja, an educational campaign from the Puerto Rico chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union that is also developing a legislative history on current incumbents who are under electoral scrutiny.

EA executive director: Citizens must be well informed to make their vote ‘worth it’ In an interview with the Star, EA Executive Director Cecille Blondet noted that due to the information gap that the non-profit organization witnessed when it came to scrutinizing the people seeking elective office on the island, she reconsidered shifting the use of QuienMeRepresentaPR.com to a platform that would organize hopefuls and candidates into different categories, in alphabetical order, so citizens are able to go out and make their vote “worth it.”

“We decided to develop a tool that would facilitate that connection to people with elected officials,” Blondet said. “And, after the information gap that we witnessed, we noticed the great number of hopefuls and candidates in these elections, as we have the governor, the resident commissioner, the 78 mayors, 11 senators at-large, 11 representatives at-large, 16 district senators and 40 district representatives, and three minority spokespersons, which

means that there are 161 seats to be filled with our votes.”

Blondet said EA considered it necessary to deliver the platform given the extensive number of hopefuls in both the New Progressive Party (NPP) and Popular Democratic Party (PDP) primary elections, adding that despite the great number of aspirants, there was little representation from women.

“If we calculate the women who are participating in the primary elections, for the NPP, which has 142 hopefuls, only 32 [22 percent] are women; meanwhile, for the PDP, which has 148 hopefuls, only 34 [23 percent] are women. So of the 290 hopefuls in this primary election, only 66 [23 percent] are women,” she said. “It’s a small number of female hopefuls when you see that 53 percent of our population is female-identifying and, sadly, female representation within the government, in electoral and executive efforts, does not even represent half of a half of that proportion.”

Meanwhile, Blondet said that as the primary elections come to an end on Sunday, the website will be updated to include information on the official candidates that citizens will be able to vote for on Nov. 3, and will add the candidates for the municipal legislatures, while there will be tutorial videos available to educate citizens on how to search for documents on official websites.

In addition, she said that even though voting participation has been declining from past years, people have a chance to “turn things around” as there are many options to choose from. What voters mainly need to do, she said, is inform themselves before exercising their right.

“There are more than 1,000 people that voters end up choosing every four years to be in positions that are meant to represent citizens; however, we citizens don’t feel, not the responsibility, but the possibility, to communicate directly with the elected officials that were chosen,” Blondet said. “That representation should go further than a political representation, an idea, a platform; that representation, whether you voted or not (or it was the candidate you voted for or not), that official from my district should represent the interests of the majority.”

At press time, EA was still waiting for the SEC to provide documents, such as official photographs, from hopefuls and candidates, that were requested in the aforementioned court filing. Today, EA has a court hearing to evaluate if the commission must comply with the petition.

The San Juan Daily Star

August 7-9, 2020

5

Democratic Party postpones reorganization because of virus

By JOHN McPHAUL jpmcphaul@gmail.com

T

he executive committee of the Democratic Party of Puerto Rico (PDPR by its Spanish initials), in a virtual meeting earlier this week, unanimously determined to postpone its internal reorganization until Sept. 26, subject to the conditions related to COVID-19 that may exist on that date.

The decision was reported Thursday by PDPR President Charlie Rodríguez, who provided an account of the action taken in Tuesday’s virtual meeting in order to safeguard the health of voters.

Rodríguez confirmed that the decision was immediately reported to Rep. Rafael “Tatito” Hernández and ex-Gov. Alejandro García Padilla. Both agreed to the postponement, he said.

The former Puerto Rico Senate president noted that in recent weeks, a spike in COVID-19 cases has

emerged on the island, with more than 7,684 confirmed cases and 246 deaths. Gov. Wanda Vázquez Garced was thus forced to take restrictive measures, banning all mass activities, both in open and closed spaces.

The Arecibo Coliseum would have served as the venue for the reorganization process. However, the administrator of the venue reported to the committee on Monday that the facility was closed or “locked down” until further notice, due to the COVID-19 emergency and the executive order. Therefore, the use of the structure for the internal reorganization of the PDPR was canceled.

“After consulting with the Governor’s Office and several attorneys, everyone concluded that the internal reorganization of the Democratic Party of Puerto Rico scheduled for August 15, 2020, was contrary to the Executive Order,” Rodríguez said.

The leader of the Democratic Party on the island pointed out that an internal reorganization is an event

open to all Democratic voters, that it consists of a faceto-face vote and that it cannot be carried out virtually.

He also stressed that the internal reorganization is not carried out with public funds, nor is it an electoral event approved or administered by the State Elections Commission.

“We will continue monitoring the situation and reporting,” Rodríguez said of the postponement.

US lawmakers ask NY state attorney general to investigate island bondholders

By THE STAR STAFF

F

ive Democratic members of the U.S. Congress from NewYork want the state’s attorney general to investigate certain groups of Puerto Rico bondholders for insider trading, according to a letter sent this week.

The letter, signed by Reps. Alexandria Ocasio Córtez, Nydia M. Velázquez, Carolyn B. Maloney, José E. Serrano and Adriano Espaillat and addressed to New York Attorney General Letitia James, alleges that New York-based hedge funds “may have been engaging in insider trading and using the PROMESA [Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act] restructuring process to artificially manipulate bond markets.”

“We write to respectfully request consideration of an investigation into possible Martin Act violations by several New York-based hedge funds during the Title III proceedings under PROMESA, the federal law governing Puerto Rico’s debt restructuring process,” they wrote.

Allegations that some hedge fund groups may have been engaging in insider trading and using the PROMESA restructuring process to artificially manipulate bond markets have arisen in the PROMESA Title III litigation involving the restructuring of Puerto Rico’s central government bonds.

“Facts underlying these concerns are laid out in a motion filed by the Committee of Unsecured Creditors asking the court to order disclosures required by the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure 2019, and in a statement in support of this motion filed by companies insuring bondholders,” the congressional lawmakers said.

In response to that motion, Judge Laura Taylor Swain ordered hedge fund groups to release more details about their holdings earlier this summer.

“At the heart of these pleadings is the concern that by failing to publicly disclose the nature and amount of each economic interest as required by the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure 2019, various hedge fund groups were engaging in and obfuscating unlawful practices,” the letter says. “These include the possibility that hedge funds traded on non-public information while using the PROMESA restructuring process to artificially manipulate bond markets.”

One of the hedge fund groups Judge Swain ordered to make more detailed disclosures is the Lawful Consti-

tutional Debt Coalition (LCDC). Its members include: Aristeia Capital LLC, Whitebox Advisors LLC, Taconic Capital Advisors LP, and GoldenTree Asset Management.

The July 3 disclosures reveal that members of the LCDC significantly increased their holdings of bonds they argued in court were of no value while engaging in confidential mediation talks about their restructuring.

Throughout this time, those bonds increased in value and the restructuring plan revealed at the end of the mediation period increased their return, the members of Congress said in their letter.

“An investigation is needed to reveal whether some hedge funds may have made these trades with nonpublic information obtained through the mediation discussions, and without disclosing their true economic interests under Rule 2019,” they added. “Since the bonds at issue were governed by New York State law and sold and marketed within the state, this falls squarely within the jurisdiction of the New York Attorney General’s office. Your office has a powerful tool in the Martin Act to investigate possible wrongdoing by these financial actors and ensure the integrity of the municipal bond markets.”

The five members of the U.S. House of Representatives, three of whom are Puerto Rican, also noted in the letter that “Puerto Rico faces the COVID-19 pandemic with crumbling healthcare infrastructure, deep austerity measures, and a particularly vulnerable and aging population.”

“All the while, Wall Street continues to pillage and profit off of Puerto Rico’s $129 billion debt crisis,” they wrote.

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August 7-9, 2020

The San Juan Daily Star

Resident commissioner, US senator legislate for island to become hub for pharmaceuticals, medical equipment

By THE STAR STAFF

P

uerto Rico could become a hub or a national manufacturing center of pharmaceutical products and medical equipment if legislation to that effect drafted by island Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González Colón and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) becomes a reality.

The initiative seeks to have companies that produce medical and pharmaceutical equipment currently in foreign countries to relocate their operations to U.S. soil.

“The fact that these manufacturers that produce essential health materials for the American market are not within our reach, especially in times of crisis, represents a threat to the national medical supply chain,” González Colón said in a statement Thursday. “With this legislation we seek to correct this situation, offering federal incentives to these companies in exchange for job creation and capital investment, so that they relocate to American soil, specifically in places with levels of poverty designated as ‘Distressed Zones.’”

Moving large companies to places with high levels of poverty translates into a large investment in the area that, eventually, would help to transition them into economically stronger areas, generating a chain effect of proliferation of small businesses around the zone and offering well paying jobs, the resident commissioner said.

“Puerto Rico has the capacity, labor, experience, and infrastructure to become a national hub for the production of medical equipment and medicines, attracting manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies located abroad. Thus, we secure the national supply chain and boost our economy with well paying jobs,” González Colón said. “This is the proposal that I am promoting along with Senator Marco Rubio and for which I have also brought Rear Admiral Peter Brown

and a delegation from the White House to visit various plants in the pharmaceutical industry.”

Rubio added that “[t]he coronavirus pandemic has made it clear that we must rebuild our national manufacturing capacity, especially in our medical industry.”

“For too long, our manufacturing capabilities have moved to China, impacting communities across our

country, including Puerto Rico, which was once home to a strong manufacturing industry in the United States,” he said. “I am proud to join Congresswoman González Colón in this vital effort to rebuild our manufacturing capacity, especially in the economically marginalized areas that were most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Drought conditions greatly reduced in past week

By JOHN McPHAUL jpmcphaul@gmail.com

T

he drought in Puerto Rico was significantly reduced between Tuesday, July 28 and this past Tuesday, according to the report released Thursday by the United States Drought Monitor.

As of July 28, 17.3 percent of Puerto Rico was under the category of severe drought. As of Tuesday, that figure was reduced to zero.

Moderate drought, meanwhile, dropped from 45.2 percent to zero, the U.S. Drought Monitor reported.

The anomalous drought reached two-thirds, or 66.4 percent, of Puerto Rico as of July 28. It is now at 17.4 percent for a 49 percent reduction.

Almost all of the areas that are now under the anomalous drought category were in the severe drought category last week, the report said.

This significant drop in drought levels is due to several downpour events over Puerto Rico, especially Tropical Storm Isaias, which left up to about 10 inches of rain on the island between Thursday and Friday.

The rain deficit in Puerto Rico kept the flow of many rivers and most of the reservoirs that the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) uses to extract and purify water, to then send it to its subscribers, below normal.

The drought has been alleviated in recent weeks and water rationing by PRASA has been suspended.

The San Juan Daily Star

August 7-9, 2020

7

Trump’s bank was subpoenaed by N.Y. prosecutors in criminal inquiry

By DAVID ENRICH, BEN PROTESS, WILLIAM K. RASHBAUM and BENJAMIN WEISER

T

he New York prosecutors who are seeking President Donald Trump’s tax records have also subpoenaed his longtime lender, a sign that their criminal investigation into Trump’s business practices is more wide-ranging than previously known.

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office issued the subpoena last year to Deutsche Bank, which has been Trump’s primary lender since the late 1990s, seeking financial records that he and his company provided to the bank, according to four people familiar with the inquiry.

The criminal investigation initially appeared to be focused on hush-money payments made in 2016 to two women who have said they had affairs with Trump.

But in a court filing this week, prosecutors with the district attorney’s office cited “public reports of possibly extensive and protracted criminal conduct at the Trump Organization” and suggested that they were also investigating possible crimes involving bank and insurance fraud.

Because of its longstanding and multifaceted relationship with Trump, Deutsche Bank has been a frequent target of regulators and lawmakers digging into the president’s opaque finances. But the subpoena from the office of the district attorney, Cyrus R. Vance Jr., appears to be the first instance of a criminal inquiry involving Trump and his dealings with the German bank, which lent him and his company more than $2 billion over the past two decades.

Deutsche Bank complied with the subpoena. Over a period of months last year, it provided Vance’s office with detailed records, including financial statements and other materials that Trump had provided to the bank as he sought loans, according to two of the people familiar with the inquiry.

The bank’s response to the subpoena reinforces the seriousness of the legal threat the district attorney’s investigation poses for Trump, his family and his company, which in recent years have faced — and for the most part fended off — an onslaught of regulatory, congressional and criminal inquiries.

But while the subpoena of Deutsche Bank indicates the breadth of Vance’s investigation, his inquiry is still at an early stage, a person briefed on the matter said.

The district attorney’s office has spent the past year trying to obtain Trump’s personal and corporate tax returns, and the Supreme Court last month upheld prosecutors’ rights to seek the documents.

But legal wrangling continues, and Vance’s office has said that its investigation will be hamstrung unless prosecutors get the tax returns.

Trump and his company have denied wrongdoing and have sought to dismiss the inquiry by Vance, a Democrat, as a politically motivated fishing expedition. Trump’s representatives have accused his former lawyer and fixer, Michael D. Cohen, of lying when he told Congress that Trump exaggerated the value of his real estate assets as he sought loans and in dealings with his insurance company.

The subpoena to Deutsche Bank sought documents on various topics related to Trump and his company, including any materials that might point to possible fraud, according to two people briefed on the subpoena’s contents.

The bank’s cooperation with Vance’s office is significant

President Donald Trump conducts a news conference in the White House briefing room, in Washington, Monday, Aug. 3, 2020. because other investigations that have sought Trump’s financial records have been stymied by legal challenges from the president and his family.

Last month, the Supreme Court dealt a blow to congressional investigations into the president’s finances when it ordered lower courts to reconsider whether Deutsche Bank and Mazars USA, Trump’s accounting firm, had to comply with congressional subpoenas seeking his records. The ruling meant that the subpoenas would not be enforced until after the presidential election in November, if at all.

Vance’s office declined to comment.

Whatever records the Manhattan prosecutors obtain are subject to grand jury secrecy rules and might never become public unless the district attorney’s office brings charges and introduces the documents as evidence at a trial.

Even if investigators uncover what they think is evidence of fraud, criminal charges could be hard to prove. Valuing real estate assets involves subjective estimates and other assumptions, making it difficult to prove that someone intended to commit fraud. The New York Times reported previously that some Deutsche Bank officials viewed Trump’s financial statements as based on wildly optimistic assumptions and, in some cases, reduced his estimates of his assets’ values by up to 70%.

Some of the insurance and bank issues that have drawn scrutiny from reporters are also too old to be the focus of a criminal case.

Tax returns can be crucial evidence for proving that a defendant misstated the value of assets, said Daniel R. Alonso, who was Vance’s top deputy from 2010 to 2014 and is now in private practice. “Tax returns are an obvious place to look because of the

precision required by tax authoLast summer, after federal prosecutors concluded their investigation of the hush-money payments without bringing additional charges, Vance’s office resumed its inquiry. In August 2019, the office served a subpoena on Mazars, seeking the president’s tax returns and other financial records going back to 2011.

Trump filed a lawsuit last September seeking to block Mazars from complying. The case is still being litigated nearly a year later, even after the Supreme Court’s ruling last month affirming Vance’s right to criminally investigate the president. The justices said that Trump could go back to the lower court, where he first sued, and raise other objections to the subpoena.

Shortly after Trump filed his suit last year, Vance’s office provided the judge who has been overseeing the case, Victor Marrero, a two-page summary of its secret grand jury investigation, which was not made available to the public or to Trump. Days later, at a hearing in federal court in Manhattan, Marrero said the inquiry “clearly is very complex” and “involves a lot of parties, extends over many, many years.”

While Deutsche Bank has been cooperating with prosecutors, Vance’s office made it clear to Marrero last month that its inquiry had been stalled without the tax returns.

“It’s been nearly a year since we served our subpoena,” Carey R. Dunne, a senior official under Vance, told the judge, “and this lawsuit’s been very successful since then in delaying our ability to gather the central evidence.”

That delay, Dunne added, made it “ever more likely that the grand jury will be prevented from evaluating the evidence before the statutes of limitation expire.”

8

The San Juan Daily Star

August 7-9, 2020

Lawmakers aim to prevent Trump from bypassing ban on armed drone sales

The Trump administration announced in 2018 it was expanding drone sales, but officials then debated for two years on how to circumvent the arms control pact.

By EDWARD WONG

A

bill that Democratic and Republican senators plan to introduce Thursday would ban the sale of advanced armed drones to any nation that is not a close U.S. ally, according to lawmakers and congressional aides.

The measure is aimed at halting an effort by the Trump administration to bypass an arms control pact that the United States helped establish in 1987. The agreement, known as the Missile Technology Control Regime, is not legally binding, but its 35 signatories have generally abided by it.

The Trump administration announced in 2018 that it was expanding drone sales, but officials then debated for two years on how to

circumvent the arms control pact. U.S. officials failed to persuade counterparts from other member nations to agree to change the language in the pact that bans the sale of large armed drones.

But last month, President Donald Trump and the State Department announced they would simply ignore the restrictions set by the agreement and begin distributing licenses.

The move set off a wave of criticism from many Democratic and some Republican lawmakers, who said the decision undermined the pact. By ignoring a part of the agreement it finds inconvenient, they say, the Trump administration is encouraging other nations to do the same. And the sale of advanced armed drones could lead to the proliferation of the technology

across the globe.

The lawmakers are especially concerned about sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which have used U.S.-made weapons to carry out a devastating war in Yemen that has left thousands of civilians, many of them children, dead.

“If we allow Trump to start selling drones, we set a dangerous precedent that allows and encourages other countries to sell missile technology and advanced drones to our adversaries,” Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., a sponsor of the bill, said in a statement Wednesday. “In addition, the president’s action will only further enable the Saudis to continue killing more innocent civilians in Yemen by supplying them with advanced U.S.-made drones.”

Another sponsor of the bill, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, generally advocates limiting the powers of the federal government and restraining U.S. involvement in wars.

Under the bill, exceptions to the sales ban would include members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, as well as Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan and Israel.

Murphy said that by making parts of the arms control pact legally binding, “Congress can stop Trump in his tracks.” He noted that “doing so will protect innocent civilians, stop an arms race from spiraling out of control and strengthen U.S. national security and our interests abroad.”

U.S. intelligence agencies are also scrutinizing whether Saudi Arabia could trigger a nuclear arms race in the region. In recent weeks, they have circulated an analysis examining whether the kingdom aims to develop nuclear weapons based on early efforts at producing nuclear fuel.

The White House and Congress have long clashed over arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Last year, lawmakers passed a bipartisan resolution that would require the U.S. government to end its support for the

war in Yemen, but Trump vetoed the measure.

Since 2017, senators from both parties have put holds on packages of proposed arms sales to the two Persian Gulf countries. In May 2019, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared an “emergency” over Iran’s activities in the Middle East to push through $8.1 billion worth of sales of munitions to those countries, which are adversaries of Iran.

That incensed Congress, and some lawmakers asked the State Department inspector general at the time, Steve A. Linick, to investigate whether Pompeo had acted illegally. Linick did so in June 2019, and the inquiry was near completion this May when Trump fired Linick, at the urging of Pompeo. Three congressional committees are now investigating that dismissal and trying to scrutinize Pompeo’s push over the arms packages.

The arms control pact bans the sales of drones that can carry at least 500 kilograms, or over 1,100 pounds, of weapons over 300 kilometers, about 186 miles. That includes the MQ-9 Reaper made by General Atomics, based in San Diego. This year, General Atomics stepped up efforts to lobby U.S. officials to bypass the arms control pact and allow sales of advanced armed drones.

Arms sales to the Gulf nations have strong support in the White House. Trump has backed such sales, as have Peter Navarro, a trade adviser, and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and adviser on the Middle East. Using WhatsApp, Kushner stays in close touch with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, the de facto ruler of the country. Congressional opposition to arms sales to Saudi Arabia gained enormous traction after the killing in October 2018 of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi columnist for The Washington Post who lived in Virginia.

U.S. intelligence agencies assessed that Saudi agents killed Khashoggi at the orders of the young crown prince.

The San Juan Daily Star

August 7-9, 2020

9

Health experts to FDA: Make your vaccine deliberations public

By SHEILA KAPLAN

A

coalition of leading public health experts urged the Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday night to conduct full safety and efficacy reviews of potential coronavirus vaccines before making the products widely available to the public.

In a letter signed by nearly 400 experts in infectious diseases, vaccines and other medical specialties, the group called on Dr. Stephen Hahn, the FDA commissioner, to be forthcoming about the agency’s deliberations over whether to approve any new vaccine, in order to gain the public’s trust.

“We must be able to explain to the public what we know and what we don’t know about these vaccines,” noted the letter, which was organized by the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest. “For that to happen, we must be able to witness a transparent and rigorous FDA approval process that is devoid of political considerations.”

More than 30 experimental coronavirus vaccines are in clinical trials, with several companies racing to have the first product in the United States ready by the end of the year. The federal government has promised more than $9 billion to companies for these efforts to date. But many people are highly skeptical of these new vaccines, and might refuse to get them.

“Collaborations between scientists, the pharmaceutical industry and the federal government may bring us to a remarkable and historic achievement,” the letter said. “But an effective vaccine will only be truly useful if a large proportion of the public is willing to take it.”

The signers included academic researchers and former government officials from around the country, including the former surgeon general Dr. Joycelyn Elders; former FDA chief Dr. Jane E. Henney; and Dr. Luciana Borio, the former director for medical and biodefense preparedness at the National Security Council.

In an effort to reassure the public, Hahn said recently that he would seek the advice of the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, although he has not said when the group would meet or which vaccine candidates it would consider.

The FDA declined to comment on the letter Wednesday evening.

Dr. Paul Offit, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania and a member of the FDA’s vaccine advisory panel, was also among the signers. In an interview, Offit called the agency’s emergency authorization for hydroxychloroquine — a malaria drug that President Donald Trump has promoted as a treatment for COVID-19, despite no evidence that it works — a “warning shot.” The authorization was later revoked after a review found that 100 COVID-19 patients who

took the drug had serious heart problems, including 25 who died.

“I think the administration bent or imposed its will on the FDA,” Offit said. “There’s a concern that this would happen here, too.”

The letter said that scientists carrying out vaccine trials should share the details of their Phase 3 trials, which test thousands of volunteers to see whether the products prevent coronavirus infections and whether they cause side effects. It’s critical, the letter said, that the FDA not approve any product until Phase 3 data are complete. The group also requested that volunteers be monitored for unexpected side effects that occur after the trials.

Offit said that the advisory board, which includes experts from academia, industry and government and makes much of its discussions public, could handle as many of the vaccine candidates as are ready to review.

“Typically they are two-day meetings,” he said. “We could make them longer than that. We can go through all the data.”

Dr. Rebekah Gee, chief executive of Louisiana State University health care services, who also signed the letter, said that research data on the vaccines must be made public.

“Everyone in our nation is anxiously awaiting a COVID-19 vaccine,” she said. “It’s important to public health to save lives, and for our economy, but we want to make sure that whatever is done is done in an open process that is devoid of political influence.”

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The San Juan Daily Star

August 7-9, 2020

Liability shield is a stumbling block as lawmakers debate relief

By ANA SWANSON and ALAN RAPPENPORT

C

alls to protect corporations and schools from legal blame if workers fall ill from COVID-19 contracted on the job have incited a growing backlash as Congress and the White House negotiate over liability protections in economic relief legislation.

Businesses, hospitals, schools and the trade groups that represent them have pushed for any relief package to include protections from COVID-related lawsuits. But so far, there has been little sign of a surge in litigation as the economy reopens, and prominent voices have opposed such a measure, arguing that liability shields are unfair to workers and that businesses must take responsibility to keep them safe.

The issue has spilled into the world of sports. On Wednesday, College Athlete Unity, an organization that represents thousands of athletes at universities, wrote a letter to the NCAA and the Big Ten Conference urging them to revise plans for resuming fall sports. Among the proposals was to ban the use of COVID-19 waivers.

The players associations for the NFL, NBA, NHL, Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer have made a similar plea. In a letter to top Republican and Democratic lawmakers last Friday, they said that inserting liability protections in the legislation would be wrong.

“There is still much that is unknown about

this disease, how it spreads, and the long term consequences of exposure,” they wrote, arguing it was unclear how such legislation would affect safety agreements that have been made between employers and employees. “It makes little sense during these uncertain times to both ask employees to return to work and, at the same time, accept all the risk for doing so.”

Some businesses — including salons, amusement parks, gyms and even President Donald Trump’s campaign rallies — have required those who come in their doors to promise not to sue if they contract the virus. But a Republican proposal would offer a much bigger shield: It would provide five years of legal protection for businesses, hospitals, schools and nonprofits that make “reasonable efforts” to comply with government standards to protect their workers and customers from coronavirus-related lawsuits.

Neil Bradley, executive vice president and chief policy officer of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said that lawsuits have already been filed and that the number will grow as the economy continues to reopen.

“The right thing to do is provide an incentive for employers and universities to make sure they are adopting the right public health measures and give them the confidence that, having done so, they are not going to be dragged into court and second-guessed years from now,” he said.

Leaders from the N.F.L., Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer, among others, have all discouraged the use of liability protections in legislation.

The Republican proposal would funnel all coronavirus-related work claims into the federal courts, where plaintiffs would have the right to bring personal injury and medical liability suits until 2024 or the coronavirus is no longer a public health emergency, whichever comes first.

But those suits would face a high bar. Plaintiffs would need to prove that their illness resulted from gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the employer, not just carelessness or a lack of resources, like protective equipment.

It would also limit lawsuits relating to coronavirus testing and personal protective equipment, if that equipment meets the standards of the Food and Drug Administration.

Damages would be capped, and there is a provision that would make some employees think twice about suing: Those who bring claims without merit could be subject to punitive damages and civil penalties of up to $50,000.

Many unions and workers rights advocates have objected to the proposal, saying that it would result in negligent behavior on the part of businesses and schools and lead to more coronavirus cases and more deaths.

The issue remains a contentious one in Washington, even as Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the majority leader, insists that he will not allow any legislation to pass without the protections he has outlined.

“This is not just liability protection for businesses — they’re included along with everyone else dealing with this brand-new disease,” McConnell told CNBC late last month. “Unless you’re grossly negligent or engage in intentional misbehavior, you’ll be covered. And it will be in a bill that passes the Senate.”

The White House has been noncommittal, however. Trump has said he is focused on eviction protections and unemployment benefits.

And in a briefing July 31, the White House press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, said a liability protection provision was McConnell’s priority and reiterated Trump’s focus on unemployment.

Congressional Democrats have argued that the administration should focus instead on strengthening workplace protections through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and it remains unclear whether they could be enticed to accept some version of a liability waiver.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said last month that a liability shield could force workers to choose between their health and their financial well-being.

“If you get sick, you have no recourse because we’ve given the employer protection,” Pe-

losi, D-Calif., said on “Face the Nation” on July 26. “And if you don’t go to work because you’re afraid of being sick and you have that job opportunity you don’t get unemployment insurance.

This is so unfair.”

Polls have shown conflicting results on the public’s embrace of such a shield. A survey for the American Association for Justice, a group representing plaintiffs’ lawyers, showed nearly two-thirds of the public opposed such protections, while a U.S. Chamber of Commerce-funded poll found that 61% supported congressional protections from coronavirus-related lawsuits.

Julia Duncan, the senior director of government affairs at the American Association for Justice, said liability protections would take away an important tool for some of the country’s lowest-paid workers, who are disproportionately people of color, to secure more protections from big employers such as Amazon, Tyson Foods and McDonald’s.

“Bringing a lawsuit is the only leverage they have to say, ‘I would like to be treated safer, I would like to be provided protective equipment, I would like to be provided time to wash my hands,’” Duncan said. “And if these lawsuits go away, companies like Amazon and Tyson are going to be able to do anything and not be held to account.”

Other critics of the proposal say it could infringe on the rights of states, which typically regulate these kinds of legal protections. Many states, including Kentucky, Alaska and Missouri, have already expanded legal protections for businesses or offered expanded workers’ compensation to essential workers who contract coronavirus at work.

“Whatever happened to conservatives’ belief in states’ rights?” Amy Dru Stanley, a history professor at the University of Chicago, wrote in an op-ed in The Washington Post.

Opponents of the provision, including the American Association of Justice, also argue that the United States has not yet seen a profusion of coronavirus-related lawsuits, because the requirements for bringing such a suit are already high.

Companies that act reasonably are protected from such lawsuits, and plaintiffs have to prove that they contracted the coronavirus at the place of business, not somewhere else, they say.

Bradley, the Chamber of Commerce vice president, said some trial lawyers had already started advertising about coronavirus-related lawsuits. “You’re not advertising to attract clients to sue someone unless you think there’s an opportunity to sue,” he said.

The San Juan Daily Star

August 7-9, 2020

11

Funerals and fury in Beirut as scale of devastation comes into focus

By MARC SANTORA and MEGAN SPECIA

L

ebanon began an official period of national mourning on Thursday, two days after a powerful explosion in Beirut flattened whole neighborhoods in the bustling metropolis, even as rescue crews from around the world began arriving to help in the search for survivors.

The official death toll rose to 137, and with more than 5,000 people injured and miles of debris still covering the area around the epicenter of the blast at the Port of Beirut, officials said it would take time to determine the true number of victims.

Lebanese army bulldozers plowed through the wreckage, trying to clear roads so that emergency workers could reach the hardest-hit areas.

Residents of the capital, widely known for resilience forged during years of civil war, fanned out across the city to sort through the wreckage and start what promises to be a herculean task of rebuilding.

Rima Tarabay, who lives near the port, captured the public’s exhaustion with a government riven by factions, plagued by corruption and marked by incompetence.

“The Lebanese are in the streets, showing great solidarity, and the authorities are just absent,” she said. “It’s impressive on the one hand, desolating on the other.”

Residents were joined by crews of workers from across the region, filling truck after truck with remnants of people’s lives blasted from their homes out onto the street like so much flotsam.

With more than 250,000 people displaced from their homes, local leaders said they were scrambling to meet their needs. Several of the city’s main hospitals are no longer usable, and health officials said they were running out of supplies to treat the wounded.

The port was a crucial hub, with 60% of the nation’s imports flowing through it, in a city that is Lebanon’s economic engine. Port operations are now paralyzed, and the nation’s grain supply was wiped out in the blast, raising concerns about food security in the country of 6.8 million people.

The calamity has compounded an already dire financial and political crisis, with soaring inflation and widespread unemployment. The World Bank estimated in November that poverty in Lebanon was expected to rise from 30% to 50% this year — and that was before the coronavirus pandemic took a devastating toll on the economy.

The government estimates the physical damage from the blast to be $10 billion to $15

A Beirut man carrying his belongings near a destroyed house on Thursday. billion, and it is unclear how willing the international community will be to give financial aid to a Lebanese government known for dysfunction.

Prime Minister Hassan Diab has promised a full investigation into the blast, which officials said was caused by highly explosive materials stored at the port, and vowed to hold those responsible to account.

But his words did little to calm the swelling public anger as it was revealed that government officials had been aware for years of the danger posed by more than 2,000 tons of combustible ammonium nitrate stored at the port.

A group of doctors who were instrumental in anti-government demonstrations last year organized a protest for Thursday afternoon at St. Joseph’s Hospital in central Beirut.

“If we do not move today, please let’s shut up forever,” the organizers wrote on a flyer promoting the action, according to a local report.

They said the government had left people with two choices: “Die slowly (hunger and disease)” or “die acutely (blast injury).”

Ramez al-Qadi, a prominent television anchor, tweeted: “Either they keep killing us or we kill them.” A trending hashtag on Twitter in Lebanon on Wednesday was translated as “hang up the nooses.”

Images of the damage captured the scale of the devastation, with a smoking crater stretching more that 700 feet and the blast’s shock wave damaging buildings over a radius of nearly three miles. It registered as a 3.3-magnitude earthquake, and its power was captured in scores of

videos.

Behind each shattered window and battered building was a human story.

Funerals for those killed in the explosion began on Thursday, with small groups of mourners gathering across the city to bury the dead.

A funeral for Sahar Fares, a 24-year-old emergency medical worker who had joined the rush to the port to help extinguish an initial fire, only to be downed by the huge explosion, was aired on national television on Thursday morning.

Her white coffin, held by members of the armed forces, was carried through an honor guard of fire trucks and emergency responders as her grieving family followed. Trucks that lined the way were draped in banners with a photo of Fares, smiling and in uniform.

“My sister is a hero,” a woman could be heard yelling through sobs as Fares’ coffin was loaded into a vehicle. “She was someone who served who sacrificed her life to save the country.”

As international aid workers flooded into the country, President Emmanuel Macron of France visited downtown Beirut on Thursday and promised to provide assistance, including “several tons of medical equipment.”

“I want to meet with all Lebanese political forces for very frank discussions,” Macron said when he arrived. “Because beyond the explosion, we know that the crisis here is severe. It implies a historic responsibility for the current leaders.”

But as he toured the Gemmayzeh neighborhood, which was especially hard hit, he was soon surrounded by a crowd that angrily denounced the Lebanese government. Volunteers who were cleaning up the street chanted “The people demand the fall of the regime,” as Macron visited the area.

Over 50 French emergency workers joined teams from across Europe and around the world to help with the search-and-rescue operations.

France, a former colonial ruler of Lebanon, has long maintained deep ties with the country, epitomized by the close friendship between former President Jacques Chirac and Lebanon’s former prime minister, Rafik Hariri, who was assassinated in 2005.

Macron, who has sought to deepen the diplomatic ties between the two nations, was greeted at the airport on Thursday by President Michel Aoun.

But while Lebanon is in urgent need of international assistance, many were skeptical that the visit would bring significant change to the nation’s government.

“The Lebanese need support and encouragement, but is it going to change something?

That’s unlikely,” said Tarabay, who worked as an aide to Hariri. “France has long donated money to successive Lebanese governments,” she added. “But where did the money go?”

There were more immediate concerns on the ground, as search teams combed through fields of twisted metal and debris in hopes of finding survivors in what was both a frantic scramble and a delicate operation. Dozens of tents of rescue crews crowded the port area as teams tried to coordinate their efforts.

At the same time, families of the missing pleaded for help.

Emilie Hasrouty, whose brother, Ghassan Hasrouty, was working in the port at the time of the explosion, said she was putting hope before cold reason.

“Logic says that my brother evaporated,” she wrote on Twitter. “Hope says that he may have gone into hiding at the start of the fire.”

She added in another post that authorities had said they would not excavate the area, even after the family offered to pay for the equipment.

His daughter, Tatiana Hasrouty, told CNN that her father had been in the operations room of the grain store at the time of the explosion, and believes he and his colleagues may still be trapped under the rubble.

“He went on Tuesday to work and we never saw him again,” she said.

12

August 7-9, 2020

The San Juan Daily Star

China’s offer to help with virus testing spooks Hong Kong

By SUI-LEE WEE AND TIFFANY MAY

T

he offer was presented as a favor to Hong Kong, a city struggling with a surge in coronavirus infections: a team of 60 medical officials from mainland China who would help expand testing across the city.

But it is being viewed with skepticism by some residents, who worry about the growing reach of the Chinese Communist Party and the testing project’s potential implications for their privacy.

Hong Kong could use the help. The largest wave of coronavirus infections to hit the semiautonomous city has overwhelmed its isolation wards and testing facilities in recent weeks.

To reopen schools and lift restrictions on public gatherings and businesses, the local government needs an effective system of coronavirus testing that can help contain the outbreak. The problem is, the city is short of workers who can conduct testing, and the government’s labs are already running at maximum capacity.

By mid-July, labs were operating around the clock, processing 10,000 tests a day, a rate that is unsustainable, according to Carrie Lam, Hong Kong’s top leader. The government has had to limit access to testing in recent days, saying that it would allocate tests only to people with symptoms, or who had been in close contact with confirmed cases.

The ability to provide testing for all who need or want it is a challenge for many cities and countries. That is where China comes in.

“If you want to have a quantum jump in terms of the number of tests done per day, then we definitely need some help from other countries, or the mainland government,” said Leo Poon, head of the division of public health laboratory sciences at the University of Hong Kong.

When it comes to conducting widespread testing, China is in a league of its own. The Chinese government takes pride in its ability to marshal the resources needed for mass testing, citing it as an advantage of the Communist Party’s system of centralized control.

When officials in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, where the virus emerged, were confronted with a new outbreak in May, they tested 11 million people in roughly two weeks. In Beijing, the government mobilized close to 100,000 community workers in June to test roughly 2.3 mil-

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Collecting a swab sample from a taxi driver at a makeshift testing site in a Hong Kong parking garage last month. lion residents in about a week, as it tried to stamp out a new outbreak of its own.

In June, Guo Yanhong, a senior official with China’s National Health Commission, said that China had been able to triple its nationwide testing capacity to 3.8 million tests a day from three months earlier, according to a government statement. Based on this rate, testing 7.5 million, the entire population of Hong Kong, “should not be a problem,” the local pro-Beijing newspaper Wen Wei Po reported.

Beijing dispatched seven medical experts to Hong Kong on Sunday to help with testing, Chinese state media reported. Yu Dewen, a health official from the southern province of Guangdong who is in charge of the team, said that even with the help of third-party laboratories, Hong Kong could process only 20,000 to 30,000 tests a day, according to Southern Metropolis Daily, a state-run Chinese newspaper. He said the team’s goal was roughly 200,000 samples a day.

The seven experts were laying the groundwork for a larger team of technicians who would cross the border and work with three laboratories to ramp up testing. The labs are Hong Kong subsidiaries of mainland companies: Sunrise Diagnostic Center, established by the Chinese genomics giant BGI; Kingmed Diagnostics; and Hong Kong Molecular Pathology Diagnostic Center, according to The South China Morning Post.

BGI is one of the biggest companies conducting coronavirus testing in China. In just three days, it built an “air capsule” testing lab in Beijing that was capable of running 100,000 tests a day.

Its unit, Sunrise Diagnostic Center, could help build similar makeshift testing facilities in Hong Kong if needed, according to The Post. The firm would be able to process up to 30,000 tests a day by the end of this week. That ca-

pacity could be increased by five times — to 150,000 a day — by pooling five samples in one tube.

But many Hong Kong health experts are skeptical of universal testing, seeing it as a waste of resources and hard to achieve in a short time.

Instead, they say the government needs to test more people who are deemed to be at greater risk of infection, such as nursing home residents and public transportation workers.

Arisina Ma, president of the Public Doctors Association, a large union representing physicians in public hospitals and the Department of Health, said doctors were surprised by the government’s decision to invite Chinese experts.

Ma said the process was “very problematic” because of its lack of transparency. She noted that a top health official who heads the communicable diseases branch in the city’s health protection bureau had been unable to provide any information about what the Chinese team was doing in the city.

“It felt like a higher-level political decision,” Ma said.

Hong Kong’s medical facilities have the capacity to increase testing but have not been told by the government to do so, Ma said. She wondered if Beijing’s help was even necessary.

“We are not so devastated that we need to ask for help,” she said. “Even when hospitals in America and the United Kingdom are devastated, they just try to mobilize their own personnel. In Hong Kong, we have sufficient and adequate personnel to do it.”

The cost of taking a coronavirus test is also exacerbating the problem. At most private hospitals, tests may be done only after a consultation with a doctor. That means one test can cost about $200 — a price tag that adds up for families.

But for some residents, the prospect of more readily available tests was overshadowed by concern that the outreach by Beijing was only the Communist Party’s latest intrusion into their lives.

They found it especially unnerving in the wake of the sweeping national security law that Beijing imposed June 30 to quash dissent in Hong Kong. Police officers investigating alleged subversion crimes under the new law have been collecting DNA samples from people arrested at protests.

The Hong Kong government has not said who it plans to test, but it has pledged that DNA samples will not be transported to the mainland.

But the local government’s lack of transparency about the move to invite Chinese experts and the involvement of Chinese testing companies have raised alarm bells, activists say. Compounding such fears, the Hong Kong government said it was looking into the potential criminality of “spreading rumors” that the testing program could lead to the harvesting of DNA samples.

The chairman of Sunrise Diagnostic Center, Hu Dingxu, has said that samples would not be sent to the mainland, according to Wen Wei Po, the pro-Beijing newspaper.

The San Juan Daily Star

August 7-9, 2020

13

It’s not just you. We’ve all got a case of the COVID-19 blues.

By JENNIFER SENIOR

I

am trying to think of when I first realized we’d all run smack into a wall.

Was it two weeks ago, when a friend, ordinarily a paragon of wifely discretion, started a phone conversation with a boffo rant about her husband?

Was it when I looked at my own spouse — one week later, this probably was — and calmly told him that each and every one of my problems was his fault?

(They were not.)

Or maybe it was when I was scrolling through Twitter and saw a tweet from author Amanda Stern, single and living in Brooklyn, who noted it had been 137 days since she’d given or received a hug? “Hello, I am depressed” were its last four words.

Whatever this is, it is real — and quantifiable, and extends far beyond my own meager solar system of colleagues and pals and dearly beloveds. Call it pandemic fatigue; call it the summer poop-out; call it whatever you wish. Any label, at this point, would probably be too trivializing, belying what is in fact a far deeper problem. We are not, as a nation, all right.

Let’s start with the numbers. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, roughly 1 in 12 U,S, adults reported symptoms of an anxiety disorder at this time last year; now it’s more than 1 in 3. Last week, the Kaiser Family Foundation released a tracking poll showing that for the first time, a majority of American adults — 53% — believes that the pandemic is taking a toll on their mental health.

This number climbs to 68% if you look solely at African Americans. The disproportionate toll the pandemic has taken on Black lives and livelihoods — made possible by centuries of structural disparities, compounded by the corrosive psychological effect of everyday racism — is appearing, starkly, in our mental health data.

“Even during so-called better times, Black adults are more likely to report persistent symptoms of emotional distress,” Hope Hill, a clinical psychologist and associate professor in the psychology department at Howard University, told me. “So when I hear about that 15-point difference, it’s upsetting, but it’s not surprising, given the impact of long-term, race-based trauma and inequality.”

But even the luckiest among us haven’t been spared. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 36% of Americans report that coronavirusrelated worry is interfering with their sleep. Eighteen percent say they’re more easily losing their tempers. Thirty-two percent say it has made them over- or under-eat.

I’m solidly in the former category. Turns out the extra 10 pounds around my middle have moved in and unpacked, though I’d initially hoped they were on a month-to-month lease.

So. How to account for this national slide into a sulfurous pit of distress?

The most obvious answer is that the coronavirus is still claiming hundreds of lives a day in the United States, whipping its way through the South and heaving to the surface once again in the West. This is true, and on its face is awful enough. But I suspect it’s more than that.

America’s prodigious infection rates are also a testament to our own national failure — and therefore a source of existential ghastliness, of sheer perversity: Why on earth were so many of us sacrificing so much in these past 4 1/2 months — our livelihoods, our social connections, our safety, our children’s schooling, our attendance at

Lyfe Tavarres in his apartment in Portland, Ore. He has found support during the coronavirus crisis by reaching out to family members and friends. birthdays and anniversaries and funerals — if it all came to naught?

At this point, weren’t we expecting some form of relief, a resumption of something like life?

“People often think of trauma as a discrete event — a fire, getting mugged,” said Daphne de Marneffe, author of an excellent book about marriage called “The Rough Patch” and one of the most astute psychologists I know. “But what it’s really about is helplessness, about being on the receiving end of forces you can’t control. Which is what we have now. It’s like we’re in an endless car ride with a drunk at the wheel. No one knows when the pain will stop.”

Nor, I would add, do any of us know what life will look like once this pandemic has truly subsided. Will the economy remain in tatters? (One word for you: inflation.) Will our city centers be whistling, broken conch shells, gritty and empty at their cores? (Lord, I hope not.) Will President Donald Trump be reelected, transforming democracy as we’ve known it into an eerie photonegative of itself?

In her own therapeutic practice, de Marneffe has noticed that families with preexisting tensions and frailties are doing much worse: The pandemic has only provided more opportunities for struggling couples to communicate poorly, roll their eyes and project rotten motives onto one another. (“And marriage is already a hotbed of scapegoating,” she noted.)

Parents who were barely limping along, praying for school to start, are now brimming with despair and ruing their lack of imagination: How are they supposed to make it through another semester of remote schooling?

“Those of us who are average parents rely on structure,” she told me. “We need school.”

I recently thumbed through “The Plague,” to see if Albert Camus had intuited anything about the rhythms of human suffering in conditions of fear, disease and constraint. Naturally, he had. It was on April 16 that Dr. Rieux first felt the squish of a dead rat beneath his feet on his landing; it was in mid-August that the plague “had swallowed up everything and everyone,” with the prevailing emotion being “the sense of exile and of deprivation, with all the crosscurrents of revolt and fear set up by these.”

Those returning from quarantine started setting fire to their homes, convinced the plague had settled into their walls.

Camus sensed, in other words, that the four-month mark got pretty freaky in Oran. That’s more or less what happened here. If only we knew how it ended.

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The San Juan Daily Star

August 7-9, 2020

Departamento de Agricultura entrega vales para la compra de placas solares a agroempresarios Por THE STAR l secretario del Departamento de Agricultura (DA), CarEa agricultores los Flores Ortega, anunció el jueves, la entrega de vales para la compra de paneles solares bajo el Programa Agrosolar, de la iniciativa para la reducción del costo energético en la producción agropecuaria.

“El programa va dirigido a que los agricultores se vean beneficiados principalmente en la reducción de costos operativos y el aumento de sus ingresos. El proyecto aparece en buen tiempo, dado que en muchas partes del mundo se ha estado implementado la energía solar e instalando paneles en las fincas. Es una perfecta combinación entre el campo y la tecnología”, destacó Flores Ortega en comunicación escrita.

El Departamento logró a través de su Administración para el Desarrollo de Empresas Agropecuarias (ADEA), incentivar los esfuerzos de los agroempresarios en las Súper Regiones Agrícolas de Arecibo, Caguas, Lares, Mayagüez, Naranjito, Ponce, San Germán y Utuado. El programa beneficiará a 140 agricultores alrededor de la Isla.

La iniciativa es una colaboración con el Departamento de Desarrollo Económico y Comercio (DDEC), bajo el Programa Política Pública Energética deben desarrollar, establecer y requerir a entidades públicas y privadas la implementación y cumplimiento con políticas relacionadas

con la planificación de los recursos energéticos.

Asimismo, el secretario del DDEC, Manuel Laboy Rivera, señaló “continuamos el trabajo en equipo para apoyar el desarrollo de la agricultura puertorriqueña. Este proyecto generará 200 empleos directos e indirectos y el total de todos los proyectos, representará un ahorro anual en costos operacionales para los agricultores de aproximadamente 888,000 dólares. Actualmente este sector económico representa .7 por ciento del Producto Bruto Interno y como gobierno tenemos la responsabilidad de desarrollar diversas iniciativas que permitan su resiliencia, así como su expansión. Al fortalecer la agricultura, aumentamos la posibilidad de exportación de productos locales de alta calidad a diversos países y contribuimos a la reducción del consumo de alimentos importados”.

Además, el DDEC, tendrá la responsabilidad ambiental de reducir agresivamente el uso de combustibles fósiles, minimizar las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero y apoyar las iniciativas de Puerto Rico con respecto a la problemática del cambio climático en las vertientes de mitigación, adaptación y resiliencia en materia de energía.

El sector agrícola, representa hoy día, un alto consumo de energía en sus actividades rutinarias, siendo esta iniciativa una alternativa de ahorro sin generar problemas en los cultivos o cosechas.

La entrega de vales se llevó a cabo a través de la pla-

taforma digital Microsoft Teams, conectando a todas las regiones agrícolas simultáneamente y respetando los protocolos de prevención ante la pandemia del COVID-19.

Gobernadora anuncia envío de más de $160 millones en pagos de Impacto Económico Por THE STAR Wanda Vázquez GarLrioaceddegobernadora anunció el desembolso millonanuevos pagos de Impacto Eco-

nómico de $1,200 a miles de familias, incluyendo beneficiarios del Seguro Social que estaban en espera de la ayuda.

“Cerrando el mes de julio, los días 29, 30 y 31 y los días 3 y 4 de agosto, realizamos varios desembolsos de pagos de Impacto Económico a 134,411 familias, que totalizaron $166,595,639.

Estos desembolsos incluyen solicitudes de beneficiarios del Seguro Social que Hacienda logró depositar directamente en sus cuentas bancarias, gracias a que el Servicio de Rentas Internas (IRS) accedió a compartir la información necesaria”, explicó la Gobernadora.

Con estos pagos, el total desembolsado de este incentivo asciende a $2,624,211,604, para un total de 1,728,589 familias al 4 de agosto.

Vázquez Garced también informó que el secretario del Departamento de Hacienda, Francisco Parés Alicea y su equipo, están trabajando en conjunto con otras agencias, para atender las reclamaciones de ciudadanos que no han recibido la ayuda incluida en la Ley CARES, para aliviar el impacto causado

por el COVID-19 en las finanzas de las familias puertorriqueñas.

“Estamos conscientes de que hay ciudadanos que, por alguna razón, no han recibido el incentivo de $1,200 que comenzamos a distribuir en mayo. Para atender estos casos, el Departamento de Hacienda está trabajando en alianza con agencias concernidas para completar la información necesaria para el envío de los pagos pendientes a la brevedad posible”, agregó la mandataria.

Por su parte, Parés Alicea explicó que además del IRS, Hacienda está trabajando en conjunto con la Administración de los Sistemas de Retiro para continuar identificando beneficiarios que esperan por la ayuda.

“En esta etapa de la distribución de los fondos, contamos con los archivos de participantes de los Sistemas de Retiro y del Seguro Social para identificar a los ciudadanos que no han recibido el pago y estamos depositando el dinero

en las cuentas de banco que nos están proveyendo”, añadió.

Asimismo, instó a los beneficiarios del PAN que aún no han solicitado el incentivo, a entrar a SURI para completar la información en el enlace para las personas que no están obligadas a radicar planilla.

Sobre las reclamaciones de personas que, por diversas razones, no han recibido el incentivo o recibieron una cantidad menor a la que entienden les corresponde, el funcionario detalló que ya se han resuelto 35,324 casos y se han realizado pagos por 47.5 millones de dólares.

Mientras tanto, el secretario también anunció que se ordenó la impresión de aproximadamente 43,000 cheques de la fase 3.

“Todos los esfuerzos para identificar a los ciudadanos que aún esperan por el cheque de $1,200 son importantes.

Por esto, exhorto a estas personas a que accedan a la página principal de SURI (www.suri.pr.gov ) y opriman la opción de Pago de Impacto Económico (CARES Act) y luego la de Asistencia Adicional, donde encontrarán la opción de Reclamación Pago de Impacto Económico.

De esa forma nos ayudarán a identificarlos con mayor rapidez”, dijo Parés

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August 7-9, 2020

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August 7-9, 2020 INC โ ข Jueves, 6 de agosto de 2020 16 EDITORIAL SEMANA,

Cierre de Primarias 2020

Medidas de Seguridad y Proceso de Votaciรณn para las Primarias Locales La Comisiรณn Estatal de Elecciones (CEE), en su deber constitucional de celebrar los eventos electorales de Puerto Rico, estรก comprometida en celebrar las Primarias Locales el prรณximo domingo, 9 de agosto de 2020, de manera responsable y ordenada, velando por el bienestar de todos los electores que participen.

Debido a que la Organizaciรณn Mundial de la Salud declarรณ el coronavirus SARSCoV-2 (COVID-19) como una pandemia, se promulgan los presentes protocolos para velar tanto por la salud de los electores, como por la de los empleados de la CEE y funcionarios electorales.

Medidas de Seguridad Es de suma importancia que, antes de salir a ejercer su derecho al voto en las Primarias Locales, los votantes conozcan las medidas de seguridad establecidas por el bien de todos.

1. Serรก obligatorio utilizar una mascarilla para ir a votar. Esto no solo protege al elector, sino que protege al resto de los ciudadanos.

2. Se debe mantener un distanciamiento social de al menos seis (6) pies de distancia de persona a persona.

3. El uso de guantes desechables, provistos en el centro de votaciรณn, serรก requerido.

4. Si el votante se encuentra enfermo, se recomienda haga reposo en su hogar.

En los Centros de Votaciรณn se cumplirรก con las siguientes medidas: 1. Se colocarรกn letreros de orientaciรณn al elector sobre el protocolo de seguridad e higiene.

2. Habrรกn marcas colocadas en el piso con cinta adhesiva para seรฑalar la distancia de seis (6) pies entre un punto y otro dentro y fuera del colegio de votaciรณn.

3. En la entrada de cada centro de votaciรณn, estarรก ubicada la estaciรณn identificada con los productos desinfectantes provistos por la Comisiรณn.

4. Las estaciones dentro del aula cumplirรกn con las recomendaciones del distanciamiento social.

5. Los equipos serรกn desinfectados luego de cada elector, una vez haya desalojado el รกrea.

6. No se permitirรกn mรกs de cinco (5) electores a la vez.

Proceso de Votaciรณn dentro del Colegio 1. En la entrada, se verificarรก el entintado con una lรกmpara.

2. Luego se le echarรก sanitizador de manos (โ Hand sanitizerโ ) al elector antes de entrar al colegio.

3. El elector pasarรก al รกrea de espera en lo que le llega su turno. (Si aplica) 4. Cada votante pasarรก a la mesa de registro con su Tarjeta de Identificaciรณn Electoral (TIE) en mano y entregarรก la TIE

para ser cotejado en la lista.

5. Un bolรญgrafo con tinta negra, le serรก entregado para que el elector firme la Lista de Votaciรณn.

6. Se le entintarรก el dedo al elector con el gotero. (Nueva Forma de Entintar) 7. Otro funcionario u observador le entregarรก un par de guantes desechables al elector, quien deberรก colocรกrselos en presencia de los funcionarios.

8. El funcionario le entregarรก un marcador, las papeletas correspondientes y el cartapacio de confiabilidad al elector.

9. El elector se dirigirรก hacia la estaciรณn de votaciรณn para ejercer su dere-

cho al voto.

10. Una vez haya votado, el elector pasarรก las papeletas por la mรกquina de escrutinio electrรณnico.

11. El votante devolverรก el marcador al funcionario de colegio, se dirigirรก hacia la otra puerta de salida y desecharรก los guantes en el zafacรณn.

12. Al finalizar, se le verificarรก el entintado al elector antes de salir del colegio.

Estas medidas de seguridad son decretadas para velar tanto por la salud del elector, como por la de los empleados de la Comisiรณn y funcionarios electorales.

Este prรณximo 9 de agosto de 2020. Por Los Tuyos. Vota en las Primarias Locales. Mensaje de la Comisiรณn Estatal de Elecciones

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The San Juan Daily Star

August 2020 EDITORIAL SEMANA, INC • Jueves, 6 de 7-9, agosto de 2020

Cierre de Primarias 2020

Contundente Apoyo a la Candidata Cagüeña al Senado por el Distrito Humacao – Caguas La cagüeña Nina Valedon, va con paso firme a la primaria del Partido Popular Democrático (PPD) para Senadora por el Distrito Humacao-Caguas.

“Estoy muy agradecida de mi Ciudad de Caguas, del liderato del Distrito de Humacao y de los populares de la base, que como yo, hemos sudado la pava y creemos en el PPD para crear oportunidades y calidad de vida para nuestra gente. Cada conversación que he tenido a lo largo de la campana ha hecho que mi compromiso sea aun mas fuerte con cada uno de nuestros municipios. Yo vengo a trabajar, no por tradición, sino porque estoy convencida de que la política bien utilizada tiene el poder de transformas vidas. Les pido el voto con el compromiso de que la Fuerza de Cambio se hará sentir en el Distrito de Humacao.” estableció la miembro por Acumulación de la Organización de Mujeres Populares.

El senador José Luis Dalmau, quien ocu-

pa el #1 en la papeleta para el Senado por Acumulación, mencionó que “Estoy convencido de que con una joven de la calidad humana, preparación y trayectoria, de Nina Valedon, la gente de Caguas y el Distrito de Humacao estarán bien representados”.

Por su parte el Alcalde William Miranda Torres exhorto a que “Los cagüeños tenemos que votar por el equipo que mejor nos va a representar. Nina fue parte del equipo de William Miranda Marín, y ha sido parte de mi equipo. Se de su compromiso con Caguas y la Región. Hay que votar por la #4, Nina Valedón para el Senado.”

Así mismo, el legislador José “Conny” Varela destacó que “Conocemos de la determinación y liderato de Nina Valedón, de su valentía. Siempre esta presente en beneficio de la gente. Se que va a transformar las ideas que tiene para el Distrito de Humacao en una realidad”.

Conversando sobre la importancia de

apoyar a Valedon, el representante Jesús Santa, que ocupa el #2 en la papeleta para la Cámara por Caguas y Gurabo, señaló que: “En esta ocasión entra una joven mujer, preparada, que va a ser un complemento importante para el equipo de Caguas, y hace falta en el Senado de Puerto Rico”.

Valedon tiene trayectoria en el PPD. Es miembro del Consejo General del PPD, y fue Coordinadora Asociada de la Academia de Liderato Popular junto al ex Presidente del PPD Héctor Luis Acevedo y el ex Senador del Distrito de Humacao Jorge Suarez.

“Conocí del compromiso de Nina Valedon con el PPD hace años, cuando junto a Miguel Hernández Agosto, ella era una de las voces en la inscripción de nuevos electores en Caguas. Colaboró en la Academia. Expusimos a jóvenes y mujeres al pensamiento de Muñoz Marín y les dimos conocimientos para defender el ELA”, mencionó Acevedo.

Valedon cuenta con el respaldo de 9 de los 10 alcaldes y presidentes municipales del Distrito de Humacao, del liderato de base de la institución y de los jóvenes y las mujeres del PPD. Fue endosada por los aspirantes a la gobernación del PPD.

August 7-9, 2020 INC • Jueves, 6 de agosto de 2020 18 EDITORIAL SEMANA, 18

Cierre de Primarias 2020

The San Juan Daily Star

Caguas demuestra que se puede crear y transformar Por: Charlie Delgado Altieri “El nuevo país”, así visualizaba a su amada ciudad de Caguas el hijo de don José Miranda Gómez, un cortador de caña y de doña Rafaela Marín, una laboriosa despalilladora de tabaco. Ese muchacho humilde se convirtió en el General William Miranda Marín. Quien eventualmente demostró a todo un país cómo se podía crear y transformar el presente y futuro de un pueblo. Caguas nos debe servir a todos como ejemplo de que, como afirmaba William Miranda Marín, podemos transformar y crear si tenemos la firmeza, coraje y determinación para iniciar ese camino.

Hoy con orgullo “Willito”, como cariñosamente conocemos al alcalde Miranda Torres, ha sabido mantener y continuar ese desarrollo que su padre sembró en el “centro y corazón de Puerto Rico”. La tarea no ha sido fácil y, como alcalde que he sido por 20 años, me consta. Cada vez se les asignan menos recursos a los municipios, pero las responsabilidades y tareas son mayores.

Desde la izquierda Ivelisse Orozco, primera dama de Caguas junto al precandidato a la gobernación por el PPD, Charlie Delgado y el alcalde de Caguas William Miranda Torres

Esa precisamente es una de las visiones que me propongo instaurar en el gobierno con esta segunda transformación de Puerto Rico: los municipios serán pieza clave en el desarrollo económico del país. Con el establecimiento de polos económicos regionales comenzaremos la transformación que traerá mejores condiciones económicas y sociales a todos los puertorriqueños y puertorriqueñas.

Tanto para los cagüeños como para los ciudadanos de Juncos, Las Piedras, Gurabo, San Lorenzo, Aguas Buenas, Cidra, Cayey y toda la región, mi gobierno será facilitador para proyectos e iniciativas que fomenten ese bienestar común que muy bien puede lograrse trabajando en equipo y con un gobierno central que deje de ser un obstáculo y se convierte en un aliado.

En Caguas, por ejemplo, la iniciativa Arranque Empresarial Juvenil, que muy bien dirige la Primera Dama, Ivelisse Orozco, es un proyecto que tendrá todo nuestro respaldo y que buscaremos emular en toda la región ya que, como parte de nuestra propuesta de desarrollo económico, el empresarismo local es uno de los pilares para mover las economías regionales y promover la creación de empleos y la producción tanto para el mercado regional, local y para la exportación.

Impulsaremos la economía en cada polo regional con iniciativas como el Proyecto 3i (Innovación-Investigación-Inteligencia) para fomentar la educación en Ciencias, Tecnología, Ingeniería y Matemáticas (STEM) desde grados primarios hasta el nivel universitario (K-20). Esto nos permitirá nutrir otra iniciativa que estaremos implementando: las zonas libres de impuestos. Mediante estas zonas, jóvenes emprendedores iniciarán sus proyectos y mi gobierno fomentará la exportación de sus productos, ya bien sean softwares y creaciones de índole intelectual, productos agrícolas o manufactura en general. Esto promoverá movimiento económico e inyecciones de capital para toda la región.

Otra de las áreas a las que prestaremos atención especial es a la agricultura. En la región de Caguas tenemos excelentes condiciones para lograr la implementación exitosa de mi proyecto agrícola: Agricultura 2030, mediante la cual nos proponemos lograr que en un espacio de 10 años logremos llevar la producción agrícola a un 70% del consumo de la canasta básica del puertorriqueño. Para esta tarea serán esenciales pueblos como Las Piedras, San Lorenzo, Cayey y Cidra y la gran mayoría de los pueblos de la zona centro oriental. Vamos a darle a nuestros agricultores el sitial que merecen y a trabajar para de una vez lograr sustentabilidad alimentaria para todo el país.

Uno de los sueños de Don William Miranda Marín fue el Jardín Botánico de Caguas, hoy una hermosa realidad que brinda espacios de esparcimiento y contacto con la naturaleza a miles de turistas internos y de otros países que lo visitan. De esa misma forma fomentaré desde mi gobierno un circuito turístico basado en los recursos existentes, tanto naturales como museos, teatros, gastronomía y otros que podamos facilitar su creación y desarrollo para así allegar a toda la zona centro oriental turistas que inyecten dinero nuevo a esta zona. El potencial está en cada pueblo, ha faltado alguien a la cabeza del gobierno central que crea en los municipios y que los ayude: para eso tendrán en mi un aliado. De eso también se trata esta segunda transformación de Puerto Rico que estoy seguro iniciaremos juntos.

Todos a diario vemos con tristeza esas antiguas zonas industriales abandonadas y en desuso. Tenemos que rescatar esos espacios y volverlos a poblar de industrias que den trabajo a nuestra gente, en nuestros pueblos, sin necesidad de que tengan que viajar a la zona metropolitana, ni mucho menos abandonar nuestro país. Vamos a atraer y retener a científicos e investigadores de clase mundial mediante incentivos económicos y contributivos. Estableceremos un ecosistema científico-empresarial que permita que las iniciativas desarrolladas se manufacturen y comercialicen localmente. Además, crearemos el Centro de Inteligencia Artificial y Robótica (CIAR), junto con las universidades y la empresa privada, que nos permitirá insertarnos en el crecimiento económico y social relacionado a la cuarta revolución industrial.

Quiero dejar claro que para mi, los pueblos son los centros de ideas, cultura, ciencia, productividad y desarrollo social.

Es por ello que los respaldaré para mejorar la planificación y la gestión urbana y así lograr espacios más inclusivos, resilientes t sostenibles que nos ayudarán a poder poner en marcha los componentes de las distintas áreas de desarrollo de la segunda transformación del país.

Finalmente quiero hacer un llamado de país. Nuestro Partido Popular celebrará este próximo domingo un evento primarista en el cual dos hermanos Populares y yo nos hemos puesto a la disposición de ser el candidato a la gobernación.

Yo pido tu voto para que juntos demos a Puerto Rico esta segunda transformación que merecemos todos. La zona centro oriental es vital para que podamos cambiar el mal rumbo que lleva Puerto Rico. Podemos encaminar al país a la ruta del desarrollo y de creación de oportunidades y empleos para los nuestros, juntos podemos: ¡juntos ganamos!

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August 7-9, 2020 EDITORIAL SEMANA, INC • Jueves, Jueves, 6 de agosto de 2020

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Cierre de Primarias 2020 Experiencia, compromiso y honestidad: la mejor carta de presentación Este domingo, el pueblo podrá votar por aquellos candidatos que mejor le representen dentro del liderato político del país. Puerto Rico necesita líderes serios, con experiencia amplia en la empresa privada y el servicio público que rechacen dar continuidad a la ruta de la corrup-

ción, el clientelismo y el arribismo político de los pasados años.

Nuestro país ya ha pagado un precio demasiado alto por tener gente a cargo de la administración pública sin experiencia, honestidad ni compromiso, arriesgando el presente y futuro de nuestra gente.

Le toca al pueblo detener a quienes aspiran llegar a puestos electivos como la única manera que tienen de asegurarse un trabajo y repartir contratos pagados por el pueblo entre sus amigos y con fines de lucro personal.

Le toca al pueblo detener la incompetencia de quienes se victimizan para esconder su propia ineptitud.

El liderato requiere de carácter y temperamento para construir una agenda de trabajo encaminada al restablecimiento de nuestros municipios.

El Distrito 31 ya tiene un líder serio, respetado por nuestros alcaldes, así como por sus compañeros legisladores y demás funcionarios.

Este domingo, 9 de agosto, sal a votar por Jesús Santa Rodríguez y por los líderes del Partido Popular Democrático con la capacidad para adecentar el servicio público.

The San Juan Daily Star

El Reto para Puerto Rico Peter Norat Candidato a Senador por Acumulación PPD Miembro de la Junta de Gobierno del PPD Este fin de semana se celebra las primarias de ley. El próximo domingo, 9 de agosto de 2020.

Así como los eventos que provocaron las manifestaciones del verano del 2019 y que precipitaron en la renuncia de un gobernador electo, nuestro pueblo debe hacer un análisis profundo sobre la defensa de los valores y principios mas auténticos de nuestra democracia.

Durante los últimos años, Puerto Rico ha enfrentado una sucesión de catástrofes y desastres naturales a causa de los huracanes Irma y María; y luego con el embate de los terremotos en el sur oeste. Ahora enfrentamos el impacto directo de la pandemia del COVID-19, sobre la salud y economía del país. Es durante todo este tiempo, donde tristemente hemos visto un deterioro progresivo en la prestación de los servicios esenciales del gobierno central hacia la gente. Esta conducta inaceptable, ha puesto en precario la credibilidad y confianza del pueblo en sus instituciones gubernamentales. A su vez, el país entero vio como en menos de 24 horas se emitió un cheque por $20 millones de dólares para pagar a sobreprecio unas pruebas fraudulentas de COVID-19. Igualmente, vimos el manejo irregular de los suministros en los almacenes del

área sur y que provocaron investigaciones y referidos a la Oficina del Panel del Fiscal Independiente (PFEI).

Todas estas prácticas han provocado la indignación, frustración y desconfianza de nuestro pueblo en sus líderes e instituciones democráticas. Es en ese escenario que muchos de nuestros ciudadanos, han llegado a expresar su intención de no votar. He ahi el grave peligro para el país y nuestra democracia. Hacer lo contrario es abrirle la puerta a la injusticia y a la derrota.

El motor de la esperanza, es la fuerza vital que mueve las ilusiones, metas y aspiraciones de un pueblo en su capacidad creativa, para procurar un mejor futuro para todos. Es un ejercicio que nos obliga a estar vigilantes y defenderlo ante cada reto que se nos presente. Ahi estan los eventos del verano del 2019. Te pido que en lugar de ser expectador, des un paso al frente y seas protagonista con tu voto, en la búsqueda de un mejor futuro para el país. La oportunidad esta ahí. Sal a votar este próximo domingo, 9 de agosto de 2020, con conciencia y generosidad en el espíritu. Somos TODOS en el ejercicio de nuestro derecho al voto, los que tenemos el deber, la responsabilidad y obligación, para cambiar el curso de acción de los deberes en los asuntos públicos de nuestro gobierno, al servicio del pueblo.

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August 7-9, 2020 EDITORIAL SEMANA, INC • Jueves, 6 de agosto de 2020

Cierre de Primarias 2020

VA SEGURA A “NUEVO COMPROMISO CON LA HISTORIA” Por: Edgar Torres Especial para Editorial Semana Wanda Vázquez Garced, precandidata a la gobernación por el Partido Nuevo Progresista (PNP) -que se enfrentará este domingo al licenciado Pedro Rafael Pierluisi Urrutia en las primarias- subrayó estar lista para su segunda cita con la historia. “Sí. Estoy preparada. Esa decisión la tomé a conciencia, la analicé. Yo la analicé con mi familia para poder ponerme a la disposición del pueblo puertorriqueño para seguir sirviéndole. Vi la necesidad, escuché su reclamo y me he preparado. Todos estos 11 meses de situaciones difíciles, pero con mucho tesón, gallardía y viendo a mi pueblo, me han preparado para este nuevo compromiso que tengo con la historia el domingo 9 de agosto”, afirmó.

La Gobernadora dijo, tras soltar una carcajada, estar segura de su triunfo. “¡Sin duda! Lo hago convencida de escuchar a la gente. Lo digo porque lo escucho en la calle; la gente me lo dice dondequiera que voy”, puntualizó.

En días recientes, ha sentido más el abrazo del pueblo por “esos ataques viciosos… La gente ha entendido que toda esa campaña y todo ese dinero multimillonario que han utilizado para atacarme ha sido injusto. Es una campaña politiquera que ya los puertorriqueños han rechazado… Nosotros representamos un cambio y una manera diferente de ver las cosas”.

Enfatizó que los detractores se los deja al pueblo para que los evalúe. “El público me ha visto en estos 11 meses cómo les he respondido en las peores crisis… Aquí nadie puede

decir que lo hubiese resuelto de tal manera porque, verdaderamente, nadie lo había vivido. Lo que piensen de los opositores lo van a saber el 9 de agosto”, sentenció.

De resultar con el favor del pueblo, en enero de 2021 la Gobernadora evaluará minuciosamente a todos los jefes de agencia, porque busca servidores públicos que “tengan integridad y sean incorruptibles. Que puedan identificar las conductas incorrectas para que se tenga confianza en la administración que le vamos a ofrecer”.

Cuando le preguntamos si ha pensado que la contienda electoral de noviembre podría ser entre dos mujeres, de ganar las primarias del Partido Popular Democrático (PPD) la alcaldesa de San Juan, Carmen Yulín Cruz Soto -quien se medirá frente al senador Eduardo Bhatia Gautier y el alcalde de Isabela, Carlos Delgado Altieri- la mandataria respondió, “bueno, eso de verdad, todo es posible. Sería histórico…

(Hizo una pausa) Puerto Rico tendría una oportunidad para elegir a la primera mujer gobernadora estadista. Eso es lo más importante en las próximas elecciones”.

La incumbente juró estar en sintonía con los conciudadanos. “No es porque yo lo diga, es que lo siento. Voy a la calle, las personas me hablan, me dicen su sentir… Personas que siquiera son de mi partido, ni estadistas. Me dicen que son de tal partido, pero ‘yo voy a votar por usted’. Al pueblo hay que escucharlo, porque de eso se trata el mensaje que enviaron en el verano del ’19”, cerró en entrevista con La Semana.

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The San Juan Daily Star

El exgobernador Alejandro García Padilla endosa la candidatura de Rosamar Trujillo Plumey, para Senadora por el Distrito de Humacao

Exgobernador de Puerto Rico, Alejandro García Padilla, junto a la candidata para senadora por el Distrito de Humacao, Rosamar Trujillo Plumey.

Rosamar Trujillo Plumey, hija del fenecido alcalde de Humacao, Marcelo Trujillo Panisse, acogió con regocijo el endoso a su candidatura por el ex gobernador de Puerto Rico, Alejandro García Padilla. En un video colocado en las redes sociales, el ex gobernador pide a los populares un voto por Rosamar Trujillo Plumey y la describe como una profesional con vocación al servicio público, además de mencionar que lleva sangre de héroe, refiriéndose a su fenecido padre.

“La familia Trujillo Panisse, Trujillo Plumey ha sido parte de mi familia por los pasados 20 años, conozco de la verticalidad y la integridad moral que les identifica. Rosamar es una profesional con más de 20 años en el servicio público como Trabajadora Social, el Senado de Puerto Rico necesita mujeres como ella, con la entereza, integridad y el compromiso para trabajar con los más necesitados.

La sensibilidad que demuestra Rosamar en su trayectoria cómo trabajadora social la hace merecedora de ese escaño”, declaró García Padilla.

“Sé del respeto y la admiración mutua que existía entre mi padre y el exgobernador García Padilla, tanto así que su lanzamiento para su candidatura como gobernador fue anunciada en Humacao, su segundo hogar. Por otro lado, sigo trabajando fuertemente para lograr el escaño del Distrito de Humacao y firme con mis propuestas de legislación para la descentralización de servicios en el gobierno central, para pasar a los alcaldes, que son la primera línea de respuesta los recursos y el poder para brindar el servicio a sus ciudadanos. Hemos vivido huracanes, tormentas, terremotos y ahora mismo esta pandemia del Covid-19, los recursos tienen que estar accesibles a los ciudadanos, y los alcalde son la herramienta efectiva para brindar los mismos”, comentó Trujillo Plumey Rosamar Trujillo Plumey cuenta con una maestría en Trabajo Social y lleva más de 20 años como servidora pública. Corre por el escaño que dejó el senador José Luis Dalmau, que hoy corre por acumulación, y es la #1 en la papeleta para el Senado por el Distrito de Humacao.

The San Juan Daily Star

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August 7-9, 2020

The San Juan Daily Star

An artist having fun while waiting for catastrophe

The artist Heather Phillipson’s statue, The End, which was unveiled in Trafalgar Square in London, on Thursday, July 30, 2020. The statue includes a working drone, which films the square below.

By ALEX MARSHALL

T

he artist Heather Phillipson’s latest work is a 31-foot statue of a dollop of whipped cream, with a fly on it.

This one hasn’t been easy. In March, the work was meant to be installed on an empty plinth in Trafalgar Square, the latest in a series of commissions that brings contemporary art to the central London plaza. But on the day the installation was scheduled to begin, Britain went into lockdown.

Soon after, she was having conversations with the London city officials about whether the work could be installed during the pandemic at all. The work’s title, “The End,” didn’t have the best connotations at a moment when thousands were dying.

“It started to feel like there’d never be a good time, or a right time, for it to go up,” Phillipson said in a recent interview at her East London studio.

On Thursday, “The End” was finally unveiled. Phillipson said the work had been conceived in 2016, not long after Britain voted to leave the European Union, and she had wanted the creamy

sculpture, which looks as if it could ooze off its platform, to look precarious, because that’s how the world felt back then.

Recently, she added, things have gotten worse.

But people could read the statue however they wanted, Phillipson said: She would even be happy if they just saw it as a bit of fun.

“Personally, I’m drawn to stuff that baffles me,” she said. “If I don’t get it, that’s when I’m hooked.”

Enjoying being confused is central to the charm of Phillipson’s works, whose bright, over-the-top exteriors often belie their dark, urgent messages about environmental destruction or humanity’s treatment of animals. She is a vegan (since “before it was fashionable”) and her interviews are littered with talk of impending planetary doom.

“The End” is a more ambiguous piece, but a huge planned installation at Tate Britain is perhaps more typical: Phillipson will turn the museum’s central gallery into “a suite of deranged landscapes, addressing the earth as a thinking eruption, on the verge of termination,” she said. That work was supposed to be

unveiled this summer, but has been postponed because of the coronavirus and is now scheduled for 2021.

In 2018, she staged “The Age of Love” at the Baltic Center for Contemporary Art in northern England, in which she filled a floor of the museum with agricultural machinery and psychedelic videos of snails mating and swivel-eyed cats, all set to booming dance music. A critic from a local newspaper wrote that her work “speaks to our current environmental state, scaring us into working harder to change the world.”

That same year, Phillipson made a 260-foot-long installation on a disused subway platform in London. The work featured TV screens that seemed to be walking on giant chicken legs, and cartoonish egg sculptures, some of which appeared to be releasing bad smells. “It is all enough to turn you vegan,” critic Adrian Searle wrote in a review for The Guardian.

Phillipson insisted her work was not simply about her political views or lifestyle choices. “Yes, I’m a vegan, but I’m also a woman, a feminist,” she said. “All kinds of things feed into my art, because whatever ideologies I have will be in there at some level. But I’m not presenting an argument.”

Ekow Eshun, the chairman of the group that commissions works for the Fourth Plinth, as the pedestal in Trafalgar Square is known, said in a telephone interview that Phillipson was very good at “summoning the strangeness and discomfort and absurdity of the contemporary moment and assembling that into forms that are unexpected.” Her work also happened to be “extremely enjoyable,” he added.

Iwona Blazwick, director of London’s Whitechapel Gallery, which has commissioned work by Phillipson, said in a Zoom interview that her art managed to be both “hilarious and terrifying at the same time.”

“She reminds me of the Surrealists, actually,” Blazwick said. Like them, Phillipson juxtaposes unrelated items to give them new meaning. “That is what sets her apart, and makes her a great sculptor,”

Blazwick added.

In her studio, Phillipson — who has no gallery representation and worked as an office administrator until about five years ago — seemed surprised by her recent success. She never expected to get the Fourth Plinth commission, she said.

When she received an email in 2016 inviting her to submit an idea, her response, she said, was, “This is hilarious. There’s no way I’m going to get it.”

Born in London, Phillipson spent much of her teenage years in rural Wales.

Her mother was a social worker and her father a musician who also made art and wrote poetry. (Phillipson is a prizewinning poet herself, has DJed at illegal raves and makes sound collages that have played on BBC radio.)

She said she couldn’t remember any specific moment that turned her onto art — it was always there, she said. Likewise, she added, she couldn’t remember a time when she didn’t fear for the planet’s future.

But she insisted her worldview wasn’t actually just about doom and gloom. “The world is a disturbing place isn’t it? But there’s a lot of joy in there,” she said. Her works are “holding a position of conflict” between those points, she added.

On Thursday morning, Phillipson, wearing three Black Lives Matter badges, looked nervous as she waited in Trafalgar Square for “The End” to be unveiled. Her hands shook as she put on a face mask.

If she was still worried about whether it was a good time to unveil the sculpture, she needn’t have been. As soon as “The End” emerged from underneath a huge black sheet, the few passersby in Trafalgar Square stopped to gawk at it, then take photos with bemused smiles.

In interviews, three commuters and one tourist from Belgium all said they liked the work. “I love it!” said Cheryl Lawrence, a scuba diving instructor. “It’s colorful, it’s festive.”

When told about Phillipson’s political motivations in making the work, Lawrence waved the comment away. “The average person isn’t going to think about that,” she said: “It’ll probably just make them want an ice cream.”

The San Juan Daily Star LEGAL NOTICE Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico TRIBUNAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA Tribunal de Primera Instancia Sala Superior de SAN JUAN.

ORIENTAL BANK Demandante v.

JOHN DOE Y RICHARD DOE

Demandado(a) Civil: SJ2020CV01398 (602).

Sobre: CANCELACIÓN DE PAGARÉ EXTRAVIADO. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: JOHN DOE Y RICHARD DOE

(Nombre de las partes a las que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto) EL SECRETARIO(A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que el 27 de julio de 2020, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los (10) días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representado usted una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recurso de revisión o apelación dentro del término de 30 días contados a partir de la publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, el 27 de julio de 2020. En SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, el 27 de julio de 2020. GRISELDA RODRÍGUEZ COLLADO, Secretaria Regional. f/ DENISE M. AMARO MACHUCA, Secretaria Auxiliar.

LA SOCIEDAD DE BIENES GANANCIALES COMPUESTA ENTRE AMBOS, JOHN DOE Y RICHARD DOE

Demandada CIVIL NÚM.: JU2020CV00100.

SOBRE: CANCELACION DE PAGARÉ HIPOTECARIO EXTRAVlADO. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS, EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO. SS.

A: RAFAEL HUMBERTO APARICIO CALDAS POR SI Y COMO MIEMBRO DE LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE BIENES GANANCIALES COMPUESTA CON CELIMAR GONZALEZ SUAREZ, CELIMAR GONZALEZ SUAREZ POR SI Y COMO MIEMBRO DE LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE BIENES GANANCIALES COMPUESTA CON RAFAEL HUMBERTO APARICIO CALDAS Y LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE BIENES GANANCIALES COMPUESTA ENTRE AMBOS Estancias del Bosque, Calle Nogales.#348, Cidra, Puerto Rico

Quedan ustedes notificados que el demandante de epígrafe ha radicado en este Tribunal una demanda contra ustedes como codemandados, en la que se. solicita la sustitución judicial de un pagaré extraviado con fecha de 28 de febrero de 2004 por la sum~ principal de $77 ,640.00, con intereses al 7% anual y vencedero el 1 de marzo de 2034, conforme affidavit núm. 2484 ante el Notario Público José M. Birriel Barreto según consta de la Escritura Número 54, otorgad;¡¡ LEGAL NOTICE en Guaynabo, Puerto.Rico, el día ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE 28 de febrero de 2004, ante. el PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE Notarlo Públlce José M. Birriel PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA Barreto constituido sobre la siSUPERlOR DE JUNCOS. guiente propi.edad: URBANA : Solar marcado con el número 1 MIDFIRST BANK del bloque “b” de la Urbanización Demandante v.

Laderas de Juncos, radicado en PAN AMERICAN el Barrio Gurabo abajo del térmiFINANCIAL no municipal de Juncos, Puerto CORPORATION, INC., Rico; con una cabida superficial de MIL DOSCIENTOS OCHO RAFAEL HUMBERTO METROS PUNTO TREINTA Y APARICIO CALDAS, Y DOS DECIMETROS CELIMAR GONZALEZ TREINTA CUADRADOS (asl surge del ReSUAREZ, LA SOCIEDAD gistro}. En lindes por el NORTE, LEGAL DE BIENES en 20.38 metros con el Solar número dos.del bloque “D”; por GANANCIALES el SUR, distancia de 34.75 meCOMPUESTA ENTRE tros con “State Road PR-31 ; por AMBOS, WILSON el ESTE, en distancia de 25.07 PARRILLA HERNANDEZ, metros con el solar número 23 del bloque C y por el OESTE, SASHA TAMARIS en distancia de 39.86 metros R0DRIGUEZ COLON,

@

Friday, August 7, 2020 con el Solar número 27 del bloque “O”.’~ Enclava. casa para fines residenciales. Se encuentra afecta a Servidumbre de paso.

Inscrito al folio 65 del tomo 380. de Juncos, finca número 14,383, Registro de la Propiedad de Caguas·, sección segunda, inscripción primera. Se les advierte que este edicto se publicará en un (1} periódico de circulación general una (1) sola vez. Usted deberá presentar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SUMAC), al cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electrónica: https://unired.ramajudicial.pr, salvo que se represente por derecho propio, en cuyo caso deberá presentar su alegación responsiva en la secretaría del tribunal y notifique copia de la Contestación a la Demanda a las oficinas del Lcdo. ,Juan B. Soto Balbás, RUA Número: 7340, JUAN B. SOTO LAW OFFICES, P.S.C., 1353 Ave. Luís Vigoreaux, PMB 270, Guaynabo, PR 00966, TEL: (787) 273-0611, FAX: (787) 273-1540, E-mail: jsoto@lbsblaw.com, abogado de la parte demandante. Dentro del término de sesenta (60) días a partir de la publicación del Edicto, apercibiendo que de no hacerlo asl dentro del término indicado, el Tribunal podrá anotar su Rebeldía y dictar Sentencia, concediendo el remedio asl solicitado sin más citarle ni oírle. EXPEDIDO bajo mi firma y sello de este Tribunal, en Juncos, Puerto Rico, hoy día 3 de agosto de 2020. CARMEN ANA PEREIRA ORTIZ, Secretaria. Yaritza Rosario Placeres, Sec Auxiliar del Tribunal I.

Julia María Álvarez Guzmán, TAL, COMO HEREDEROS a/k/a/ Julia M. Álvarez Guzmán DESCONOCIDOS; no later than thirty (30) days afSUCESIÓN RAMON ter the publication of this Order GUTIERREZ MENDEZ by submitting your intentions in the United District Court for the COMPUESTA POR: JOHN District of Puerto Rico, and serDOE Y JANE DOE COMO ving copy to counsel for plaintiff: POSIBLES HEREDEROS Attorney: Charline M Jiménez, DESCONOCIDOS; GLS Legal Services, LLC at PO Box 367308, San Juan, PR CENTRO DE 00936-7308, telephone number RECAUDACION DE 787-758-6550. Should Luis BurINGRESOS MUNICIPALES gos Alvarez, Ines Marilia Burgos Demandados Alvarez, Nelly Burgos Alvarez, CIVIL NUM. AG2019CV01293.

Heidy Rodriguez Rivera, Carlos SOBRE: COBRO DE DINERO Rodriguez Rivera, Victor RodriY EJECUCION DE GARANguez Rivera and Irving Rodriguez TIAS. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS Rivera fail to plead or answer DE ANÉRICA EL PRESIDENTE to the Order as ordered by the DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS EL Court, the Court will proceed with ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE LEGAL NOTICE the case, and deem the Estate PUERTO RICO. SS. UNITED STATES DISTRICT of Julia María Álvarez Guzmán, COURT DISTRICT OF PUERTO a/k/a/ Julia M. Álvarez Guzmán A: LUZ IRENE FANTAUZZI ROSARIO, ABDIEL RICO. as accepted for all of the heirs who don’t not make their stateJOEL FANTAUZZI Reverse Mortgage ment of intention, and responsiLÓPEZ, GADDIEL Funding, LLC. ble for all the liabilities of said EsPlaintiff v.

JOARIS FANTAUZZI tate as established in Article 957 The Estate of Julia María of the Puerto Rico Civil Code (31 LÓPEZ, ISASHEI Álvarez Guzmán, a/k/a/ LPRA 2785). In San Juan, PuerDALLIE FANTAUZZI Julia M. Álvarez Guzmán to Rico, this 4th day of August, LÓPEZ, CARMEN JULIA composed of Luis Burgos 2020. MARIA ANTONGIORGI- FANTAUZZI MARTINEZ; JORDAN, ESQ.. Clerk of Court.

Alvarez, Ines Marilia JOHN DOE Y JANE BY: Vivian Diaz-Mulero, Deputy Burgos Alvarez, Nelly Clerk.

DOE COMO MIEMBROS

acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electrónica: http://unired.ramajudicial.pr, salvo que se represente por derecho propio, en cuyo caso deberé presentar su alegación responsiva en la secretaria del tribunal. Si usted deja de presentar su alegación responsiva dentro del referido término, el tribunal podrá dictar sentencia en rebeldía en su contra y conceder el remedio solicitado en la demanda, o cualquier otro, si el tribunal, en el ejercicio de su sana discreción, lo entiende procedente. Expedido bajo mi firma, y sello del Tribunal, en Caguas, Puerto Rico, hoy día 3 de agosto de 2020. Carmen Ana Pereira Ortiz, Secretaria. Eneida Arroyo Velez, SubSecretaria.

Burgos Alvarez, Heidy Rodriguez Rivera, Carlos Rodriguez Rivera, Victor Rodriguez Rivera and Irving Rodriguez Rivera; Centro de Recuadaciones de Ingresos Municipales; United States of America

Defendants CIVIL ACTION NO.: 3:16-cv2847-CCC. COLLECTION OF LEGAL NOTICE MONIES AND FORECLOSURE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE OF MORTGAGE. PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE To: The Estate of Julia PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA María Álvarez Guzmán, SUPERIOR DE CAGUAS.

REVERSE MORTGAGE FUNDING LLC. Demandante vs.

MAGNA LUISA CRUZ RODRIGUEZ; ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMERICA

Demandados CIVIL NUM. CG2020CV00583.

SOBRE: EJECUCION DE HIPOTECA. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO. SS.

A: MAGNA LUISA CRUZ RODRIGUEZ

POR LA PRESENTE se le emplaza para que presente al Tribunal su alegación responsiva a la demanda dentro de los treinta (30) días a partir de la publicación de este edicto. Usted deberá presentar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SUMAC), al cual puede

staredictos@thesanjuandailystar.com

25

a/k/a/ Julia M. Álvarez Guzmán composed of Luis Burgos Alvarez, Ines Marilia Burgos Alvarez, Nelly Burgos Alvarez, Heidy Rodriguez Rivera, Carlos Rodriguez Rivera, Victor Rodriguez Rivera and Irving Rodriguez Rivera

Pursuant to the Order for Service by Publication issued to the Estate of Julia María Álvarez Guzmán, a/k/a/ Julia M. Álvarez Guzmán and Article 959 of the Puerto Rico Civil Code (31 LPRA 2787) it is hereby ordered that Luis Burgos Alvarez, Ines Marilia Burgos Alvarez, Nelly Burgos Alvarez, Heidy Rodriguez Rivera, Carlos Rodriguez Rivera, Victor Rodriguez Rivera and Irving Rodriguez Rivera are required to notify to this Honorable Court if they accepts or renounces the inheritance of the Estate of

(787) 743-3346

LEGAL NOTICE

DESCONOCIDOS DE LA SUCESIÓN RANON GUTIERBEZ MENDEZ

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE POR LA PRESENTE se le emPRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA DE plaza para que presente al TriAGUADILLA. bunal su alegación responsiva a BOSCO CREDIT X, la demanda dentro de los treinta LLC, BY FRANKLIN (30) días a partir de la publicaCREDIT MANAGEMENT ción de este edicto. Usted deberá presentar su alegación responsiCORPORATION AS va a través del Sistema Unificado SERVICER de Manejo y Administración de Demandante vs.

Casos (SUMAC), al cual puede SUCESION DE JOSÉ acceder utilizando la siguiente diRA11ÓN GUTIÉRREZ rección electrónica: http: //unired.

GONZALEZ COMPUESTA rarnajudicial.pr, salvo que se represente por derecho propio, en POR: ANA LYDIA cuyo caso deberé presentar su GONZÁLEZ MÉNDEZ, alegación responsiva en la seEL FALLECIDO RAMON cretaria del tribunal. Si usted deja GUTIERREZ MENDEZ Y de presentar su alegación resLA FALLECIDA MARÍA ponsiva dentro del referido término, el tribunal podrá dictar senESTHER FANTAUZZI tencia en rebeldía en su contra MARTÍNEZ; SUCESION y conceder el remedio solicitado DE MARÍA ESTHER en la demanda, o cualquier otro, FANTAUZZI MARTÍNEZ si el tribunal, en el ejercicio de su sana discreción, lo entiende proCOMPUESTA POR: cedente. Se ordena que dentro CARMEN JULIA del mismo término de treinta (30) FANTAUZZI MARTÍNEZ, días contados a partir de la fecha JORGE LUIS FANTAUZZL de notificación, ACEPTEN O REPUDIEN la participación que les MARTÍNEZ, LUIS corresponda en la herencia del MIGUEL FANTAUZZI causante MARÍA ESTHER FANMARTÍNEZ, LUZ IRENE TAUZZI MARTÍNEZ y RANON FANTAUZZI ROSARIO, GUTIERREZ MENDEZ. Se les ABDIEL JOEL FANTAUZZI apercibe que de no expresarse dentro del término de treinta (30) LÓPEZ, GADDIEL días en torno a su aceptación o JOARIS FANTAUZZI repudiación de herencia, se tenLÓPEZ, ISASHEl DALLIE drá por aceptada.

Greenspoon Marder, LLP FANTAUZZI LÓPEZ; L. Asencio-Guido FULANO Y MENGANO DE Lcda. Frances R.U.A. 15,622

TRADE CENTRE SOUTH, SUITE 700 100 WEST CYPRESS CREEK ROAD FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33309 Telephone: (954) 343 6273 Frances.Asencio@gmlaw. corn Expedido bajo mi firma, y sello del Tribunal, en Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, hoy 4 de agosto de 2020.

Sarahi Reyes Perez, Secretaria.

Zuheily Gonzalez Aviles, SubSecretaria.

LEGAL NOTICE Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico TRIBUNAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA Tribunal de Primera Instancia Sala Superior de SAN JUAN.

AMERICAS LEADING FINANCE, LLC Demandante V.

ROBIN AGUILO PEREZ Y OTROS

Demandado(a) CASO NUM: SJ2020CV00849 (SALON 602). SOBRE: COBRO DE DINERO - ORDINARIO Y OTROS. NOTIFICACIÓN.

A: ALEJANDRO BELLVER ESPINOSA ALEJANDRO@ BELLVERLAW.COM FULANA DE TAL PARQ. SAN AGUSTIN 180 C/SAN AGUSTIN APT. 36 SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico 00901 GERARDO MANUEL ORTIZ TORRES GERARDO@ BELLVERLAW.COM ROBIN AGUILO PEREZ PARQ. SAN AGUSTIN 180 C/SAN AGUSTIN APT. 36 SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico 00901

El (la) Secretario (a) que suscribe certifica y notifica a usted que con relación al (a la) MOCION DE MOCION SOLICITADO ANOTACION Y SENTENCIA EN REBELDIA [11] este Tribunal emitió una SENTENCIA el 05 de agosto de 2020. SE LE ADVIERTE que al ser una parte o su representante legal en el caso sujeto a esta SENTENCIA, usted puede presentar un recurso de apelación, revisión o certiorari de conformidad con el procedimiento y en el termino establecido por ley, regla o reglamento. CERTIFICO que la determinación emitida por el Tribunal fue debidamente registrada y archivado hoy 05 de agosto de 2020, y que se envío copia de esta notificación a las personas antes indicadas, a sus direcciones registradas en el caso conforme a la normativa aplicable. En esta misma fecha fue archivada en autos copia de esta notificación. En San Juan, Puerto Rico, a 05 de agosto de 2020. GRISELDA RODRIGUEZ COLLADO, Secretaria Regional. F/MARIA M CRUZ RAMOS, Secretario(a) Auxiliar del Tribu-

nal.

LEGAL NOTICE IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF PUERTO RICO

CONDADO 3 CFL, LLC, PLAINTIFF, v.

PEDRO RIVERA FEBO A/K/A PEDRO LUIS RIVERA FEBO,

DEFENDANT CIVIL NO. 19-1462 (PAD).

DEFAULT JUDGMENT. Upon plaintiff Condado 3 CFL, LLC’s application for judgment (Docket No. 8), and it appearing from the records of this case that default was entered against defendant (Docket No. 7), plaintiff is entitled to a judgment by default. Accordingly: Defendant is ordered to pay plaintiff the total outstanding principal balance of $235,538.69, plus interest at a rate of $39.19 per diem as of October 16, 2019.

The interest continues to accrue until the debt is paid in full. Defendant is further ordered to pay plaintiff accrued late charges and any other advance, charge, fee or disbursements made by plaintiff on behalf of defendant, in accordance with the mortgage deeds, plus costs, charges and disbursements, expenses and attorney’s fees. In default of the payment of the sums hereinbefore specified, or of any part thereof, within fourteen (14) days from the date of entry of this judgment, the following mortgaged property, described in the Spanish language, shall be sold at public auction to the highest bidder, without an appraisal of right of redemption for the payment of plaintiff’s mortgage within the limits secured by it: PROPERTY A: URBANA: Finca compuesta de casa y solar señalada con el número cuatro (4) del Plano de la finca en la acera oeste de una calle abierta en terrenos de Antonio Salazar Arces, radicados en el caserío conocido por San Juan Moderno, sito Machuchal en la Sección Norte del Barrio de Santurce de esta ciudad de San Juan, siendo la casa de planta baja, con balcón al frente, construida con madera techada de hierro galvanizado de cinco metros de frente por doce metros de fondo con acometida de acueductos, instalación de luz eléctrica e instalación sanitaria y midiendo el solar 9 metros de frente por 18 metros de fondo, igual a 162.00 metros cuadrados. Linda a la derecha que es el SUR, con la casa número 2 perteneciente a Sabas Centeno Berrios; a la izquierda que es el NORTE, con la casa número 6, perteneciente a Modesta González Sofi; a la espalda que es el OESTE, con la casa número 70 de Felicita Estrain; al frente que es el ESTE, con la calle que radica. Segregada de esta finca una parcela de dos metros

26 con treinta y cinco centésimas de otro (2.35m), a favor del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, quedando la misma con una cabida de 159.65 metros cuadrados. Consta inscrita al folio 77 del tomo 54 de Santurce Norte, Finca número 2,088. Registro de la Propiedad, Sección I de San Juan. PROPERTY B: URBANA: Solar con casa sito en la Sección Norte del Barrio de Santurce de esta ciudad, siendo la casa terrera de madera y cobijada de zinc de seis metros de frente por catorce de fondo y está marcada con el número seis y el solar mide nueve metros de frente por dieciocho metros de fondo, equivalentes a ciento sesenta y dos metros cuadrados, en colindancia por el frente, ESTE, con la Avenida Pérez y; por el fondo OESTE, con Felicita Estrain; por la derecha NORTE, y por la izquierda SUR, con Antonio Salazar. Contiene una casa con balcón de concreto y verja de igual material. Consta inscrita al folio 52 del tomo 56 de Santurce, Finca número 3,058. Registro de la Propiedad, Sección I de San Juan. The court may appoint a Special Master to conduct the sale, but the Special Master shall not proceed to carry out the said sale, or do anything in connection with it, until further order by this court and under the form and conditions to be directed by the court. The sale shall be subject to the confirmation of this court, and the purchaser or purchasers thereof shall be entitled to receive possession. The minimum bid to be accepted at the first public sale in accordance with the mortgage deed is $135,000.00 for Property A and $135,000.00 for Property B. Any funds derived from the sale to be made in accordance with the terms of this judgment and such further orders of this court shall be applied as follows: . To the payment of all proper expenses attendant upon said sale, including the expenses, outlays, and compensation of the Special Master, which shall have been fixed and approved by this court. All expenses shall be deducted from the sum provided in the deed of mortgage for costs, charges and disbursements, expenses and attorney’s fees. b. To the payment of all expenses and advances made by the plaintiff. c. To the payment to plaintiff of the amounts due by defendant as of October 16, 2019 which amount to principal in the amount of $235,538.69, accrued interest which continues to accrue until full payment of the debt at the rate of $39.19 per diem, accrued late charges and any other advance, charge, fee or disbursements made by plaintiff on behalf of defendant, in accordance with the mortgage deed, plus costs, and 10% of modified mortgage note principal balance in attorney’s fees. d. If after making all the above payments there shall be a surplus, said surplus shall be delivered to the Clerk of this Court, subject to further orders of the court. e. If

after making all those payments there is a deficiency, plaintiff may seek further orders of the court to collect the deficiency from defendant. Plaintiff in this proceeding may apply to this court for such further orders as it may deem advisable to its interest in accordance with the terms of this judgment. SO ORDERED. In San Juan, Puerto Rico, this 5th day of August, 2020. s/Pedro A. Delgado-Hernández, United States District Judge.

LEGAL NOTICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE GUAYAMA SALA SUPERIOR.

BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO, Demandante, V.

LA SUCESIÓN ABRAHAM NIEVES NEGRÓN COMPUESTA POR MYRNA ROSARIO NIEVES GUTIÉRREZ, CÁNDIDA ROSA NIEVES LÓPEZ, JUAN CARLOS ORTIZ NIEVES, CARLOS ABRAHAM ORTIZ NIEVES, JOSÉ CARLOS ORTIZ NIEVES Y POR LA SUCESIÓN DE JOSÉ ANÍBAL NIEVES LÓPEZ COMPUESTA POR JOSÉ ANÍBAL NIEVES MONSERRATE, LYDIA IVELISSE NIEVES MONSERRATE, SOCORRO IVELISSE MONSERRATE ANSELMI, FERNANDO ABRAHAM NIEVES MONSERRATE, ABRAHAM NIEVES COMPANY, INC., Y BIENES NIEVES INCORPORADO,

Demandados CIVIL NÚM.: GM2020cv00174 (303). SOBRE: COBRO DE DINERO; EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA Y EJECUCIÓN DE GRAVAMEN MOBILIARIO. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMERICA EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO.

A: Myrna Rosario Nieves Gutiérrez, Cándida Rosa Nieves López, Carlos Abraham Ortiz Nieves, José Carlos Ortiz Nieves, como miembros de la Sucesión de Abraham Nieves Negrón; Abraham Nieves Company Inc. y Bienes Nieves Incorporado Fontianbleu Plaza, 3013 Ave. Alejandrino Apt. 2501, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico 00969-7077; Villa Rosa II, 4 Calle H,

The San Juan Daily Star

Friday, August 7, 2020

Guayama Puerto Rico 00784; Urb. Villa Rosa II, B-26 Calle C, Guayama, Puerto Rico 00785; Urb. Villa Rosa II, B-26 Calle C, Guayama, Puerto Rico 00784; Villa Rosa I, A3 Calle 7, Guayama, Puerto Rico 00784; Villa Rosa 1, A2 Calle 7, Guayama, Puerto Rico 00784; Urb. Costa Azul, 24 Calle A, Guayama Puerto Rico 00784; Guayama Pueblo, 2 Calle Derkes Este, Guayama, Puerto Rico 00754: Derkes 34, Guayama, Puerto Rico 00784; I Calle Derkes Sur, Guayama, Puerto Rico 00784; Derkes 4, Guayama, Puerto Rico 00784; 2 Calle Derkes Esq. Calimano, Guayama, Puerto Rico 0074: Urb. La Margarita II, 18 Calle F, Salinas, Puerto Rico 00751; Urb. La Vista, G2 Via Cordilleras, San Juan Puerto Rico 009244473; 1 Raymond St. Apt. lE, Aliston, MA 021341100; 5700 Highlands Plaza DR, Apt. 20, St. Louis, MO 63110-1324; 8 The Boulevard, Saint Louis Unit 27, St. Louis, MO 63117-1123; P.O. Box 1941, Guayama, Puerto Rico 00785-1941; P.O. Box 2580, Guayama, Puerto Rico 00785;

Por ¡a presente se le notifica que se ha radicado en su contra una Demanda de Cobro Dinero y Ejecución de Hipoteca. Se le emplaza y requiere para que notifique a:

Ferraiuoli

Looking Forward

Lcdo. Luis G. Parrilla Hernández P.O. Box 195168 San Juan, PR 00919-5168 Tel.: 787-766-7000 / Fax: 787-766-7001 lparrillaferraiuoli.com

Abogados de la parte demandante, con copia de respuesta a la Demanda dentro de los treinta (30) días siguientes a la publicación de este edicto y radicar el original de dicha contestación en este Tribunal en donde podrá enterarse de su contenido. Si dejare de hacerlo, podrá anotársele la rebeldía. EXPEDIDO bajo mi firma y sello del Tribunal, en Guayama, hoy 13 de julio de 2020. Marisol Rosado Rodriguez, Secretaria Regional.

LEGAL NOTICE United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico.

FORM H

ABBEY CAYMAN ASSET COMPANY; Plaintiff, v.

THE ESTATE OF NYDIA PIÑEIRO CARMONA formed by MARISBEL SÁNCHEZ PIÑEIRO A/K/A MARIBEL SÁNCHEZ PIÑEIRO, CALUIN SÁNCHEZ PIÑEIRO, RAMÓN EDGARDO SÁNCHEZ PIÑEIRO, HÉCTOR MANUEL SÁNCHEZ PIÑEIRO, CARLOS EDGARDO RAFAEL RIVERA SÁNCHEZ, CARLOS AUGUSTO RIVERA SÁNCHEZ, CARLOS ERNESTO RIVERA SÁNCHEZ, AND CARLOS SÁNCHEZ MATOS by himself and as member of the ESTATE OF NYDIA PIÑEIRO CARMONA;

Defendants.

Civil No. 3:20-cv-1062 (GAG).

COLLECTION OF MONIES AND FORECLOSURE OF MORTGAGE. SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION.

TO: CARLOS AUGUSTO RIVERA SÁNCHEZ by himself and as member of the Estate of Nydia Piñeiro Carmona 9935 Warm Stove Street Thonotosassa, FL 33592

The plaintiff, Abbey Cayman Asset Company (“Abbey”) has filed proceedings for the foreclosure of mortgage executed by the Defendant on a property situated at: Lot of land marked with number 221 of the Rural Community of Sabana Seca Ward, of the municipality of Toa Baja, Puerto with a capacity of 793.96 square meters recorded in the Registry of Property of Bayamon, Second Section, at page 180 of volume 369 of Toa Baja, Registry of Property of Bayamon, Second Section, property number 21,756. The property is subject to a mortgage which secures payment of the mortgage loan and the mortgage note payable to Abbey Cayman Asset Company, which mortgage appear recorded in the Registry of Property of Bayamon, Second Section, at page 85 of volume 547 of Toa Baja, Registry of Property of Bayamon, Second Section, property number 21,756. As of December 31, 2019, the defendant(s) owe(s) plaintiff the following amounts: (a) $81,008.05 in principal; accrued interests in the amount of $45,236.08 which continues to accrue, even post-judgment as per the agreement of the parties, until full payment of the debt at $17.89 per diem, accrued late charges in the amount of $26.83; other expenses in the amount of $1,253.50, plus any other advance, charge, fee or disbursements made by Abbey Cayman Asset Company, on behalf of Defen-

dants, in accordance with the Mortgage Note and Mortgage, plus costs and agreed attorney’s fees in the amount of $12,800.00.

Defendants are responsible and jointly liable for the payment of the Obligations in accordance with the Mortgage Note and Mortgage, as well as under the other loan documents. Carlos Augusto Rivera Sánchez as member of the Estate of Nydia Piñeiro Carmona must express his acceptance or rejection of his participation in the estate within thirty (30) days of notification of the instant action and upon failure to do so, it will be understood that the estate or inheritance was accepted by him. See, Rivera Rivera v. Monge Rivera, 17 P.R. Offic. Trans. 561 (1986), 117 D.P.R. 464 (1986), 1986 WL 376778 and P.R. Laws Ann. tit. 31, § 2787. You are requested and required to notify Luis G. Parrilla Hernández, Esq., FERRAIUOLI LLC, 221 Ponce de León Avenue, 221 Plaza, 5th Floor, San Juan, PR 00917, P.O. Box 195168, San Juan, PR 00919-5168, telephone number (787) 766-7000, email: lparrilla@ ferraiuoli.com, attorney for plaintiff, with a copy of the answer to the Complaint within thirty (30) days of the publication of this summons and file the original of said answer in this Court where you can find out its content. This Court has entered an order providing for summons by publication in accordance with the provisions of Rules 4.6 and 4.7 of the Rules of Civil Procedure for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. THEREFORE, notice is hereby given to you so that you may appear and answer the Complaint within thirty (30) days after publication of this summons and in case of failure to do so, judgment by default will be rendered for the relief demanded in the complaint and the court shall proceed to an adjudication without further notice.

San Juan, Puerto Rico, on this 15th day of July, 2020. MARIA ANTONGIORGI, ESQ., CLERK OF THE COURT U.S. DISTRICT COURT. BY: Viviana Diaz-Mulero, Deputy Clerk.

LEGAL NOTICE Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico TRIBUNAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA Tribunal de Primera Instancia Sala Superior de TOA ALTA.

FIRST AMERICAN TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY Demandante vs.

ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMERICA Y OTROS

Demandados caso Civil Núm.

TA2020CV00019. Sobre: CANCELACION DE HIPOTECA REPRESENTADA POR PAGARE HIPOTECARIO EXTRAVIADO. NOTIFICACION DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

be le notifica a usted que el 21 de JULIO de 2020, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los (10) días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recurso de revisión o apelación dentro del término de (30) días contados a partir de la publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 2 de AGOSTO de 2020. En TOA ALTA, Puerto Rico, el 2 de AGOSTO de 2020. ce: LCDA. SANDRA DE L. TOUS CHEVRES-EDIFICIO LA ELECTRONICA, 1608 CALLE BORI, SUITE 205, SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO, 00927-0000 LCDA. LAURA l. SANTA SANCHEZ, Secretaria Regional Int. LIRIAM M. HERNANDEZ OTERO, Secretaio (a) Auxiliar.

LEGAL NOTICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA DE GUAYAMA.

Finance of America Reverse, LLC DEMANDANTE VS.

Sucesión de Herminia Ortiz Burgos, t/c/c Herminia Ortiz compuesta por Fulano de Tal y Sutano de Tal como posibles herederos desconocidos; Centro de Recaudación de Ingresos Municipales; y a los Estados Unidos de América.

DEMANDADOS CIVIL NUM.: GM2019CV00251.

SOBRE: Cobro de Dinero y Hipoteca por la Vía Ordinaria. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMERICA EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO.

A: Fulano de Tal y Sutano de Tal como posibles herederos de nombres desconocidos de la Sucesión de Herminia Ortiz Burgos, t/c/c Herminia Ortiz

POR LA PRESENTE, se les emplaza y se les notifica que se ha presentado en la Secretaria de (Nombre de las partes a las que se este Tribunal la Demanda del le notifican la sentencia por edicto) caso del epígrafe solicitando la EL SECRETARIO (A) que suscri- ejecución de hipoteca y el cobro

A: FULANO DE TAL Y MENGANO MAS CUAL

de dinero relacionado al pagaré suscrito a favor de Senior Mortgage Bankers, o a su orden, por la suma principal de $120,000.00, con intereses computados sobre la misma desde su fecha hasta su total y completo pago a razón de la tasa de interés de 3.186% anual, la cual será ajustada mensualmente, obligándose además al pago de costas, gastos y desembolsos del litigio más honorarios de abogados en una suma de 12,000.00, equivalente al 10% de la suma principal original. Este pagaré fue suscrito bajo el affidávit número 3,153 ante el notario Samuel Soto Alonso. Lo anterior surge de la hipoteca constituida mediante la escritura número 130 otorgada el 30 de julio de 2013. ante el mismo notario público, inscrita al folio 193 del tomo 497 de Guayama, Finca numero 7406 inscripción 3ra en el Registro de la Propiedad. La Hipoteca Revertida grava la Propiedad que se describe a continuación: URBANA: Solar marcado con el numero once (11) del bloque “Q” de la Urbanización Costa Azul, radiada en el término municipal de Guayama, Puerto Rico, con un área superficial de trescientos veinticinco punto cero cero (325.00 mc) metros cuadrados. Colindando por el NORTE, en veinte y cinco punto cero cero metros (25.00 m) con el solar numero diez (10) del bloque “Q”; por el SUR, en veinte y cinco punto cero cero metros (25.00 m) con el solar número doce (12) del bloque “Q”; por el ESTE, en trece punto cero ¯ cero metros (13.00 m) con la calle número veinte y nueve de la Urbanización y por el OESTE, en trece punto cero cero metros (13.00 m) con el solar número seis (6) del bloque “Q”. Sobre el solar antes descrito enclava una casa de concreto dedicada a vivienda Finca número 7,406, inscrita al folio 40 del tomo 246 de Guayama, Sección de Guayama. Se apercibe y advierte a ustedes como personas desconocidas, que deberá presentar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Administración y Manejo de Casos (SUMAC), al cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electrónica: https://unired.jamajudicial.pr, salvo que se represente por derecho propio, en cuyo caso deberá presentar su alegación responsiva en la secretaría del Tribunal. De no contestar la demanda radicando el original de la contestación ante la secretaria del Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de Guayama, y notificar copia de la contestación de esta a la parte demandante por conducto de su abogada, GLS LEGAL SERVICES, LLC, Atención: Lcda. Nicole Marie Cobb Vélez, Dirección: P.O. Box 367308, San Juan, P.R. 00936-7308, Teléfono: 787-7586550, dentro de los próximos 60 días a partir de la publicación de este emplazamiento por edicto, que será publicado una sola vez en un periódico de circulación diaria general en la isla de Puerto Rico, se le anotará la rebeldía y

se dictará sentencia, concediendo el remedio solicitando en la Demanda sin más citarle ni oírle.

Expedido bajo mi firma y sello del Tribunal hoy 1 de mayo de 2020.

Marisol Rosado Rodriguez, Secretario Regional I. Margarita

LEGAL NOTICE Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico TRIBUNAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA Tribunal de Primera Instancia Sala Superior de GUAYNABO.

BOSCO IX OVERSEAS LLC., BY FRANKLIN CREDIT MANAGEMENT CORPORATION AS SERVICER Demandante V.

CARLOS DAVID TRINIDAD CASTILLO, LOURDES MARIE MARQUEZ CLEMENTE Y LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE BIENES GANANCIALES COMPUESTA POR AMBOS

Demandado(a) Civil: GB2019CV01262. Sala: 201. Sobre: EJECUCION DE GARANTIAS (IN REM). NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: CARLOS DAVID TRINIDAD CASTILLO, LOURDES MARIE MARQUEZ CLEMENTE, POR SI Y EN REPRESENTACION DE LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE BIENES GANANCIALES COMPUESTA POR AMBOS

(Nombre de las partes a las que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto) EL SECRETARIO(A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que 31 de julio de 2020 , este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los 10 días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recurso de revisión o apelación dentro del término de 30 días contados a partir de la publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 4 de agosto de 2020. En GUAYNABO, , Puerto Rico, el 4 de agosto de 2020. LCDA. LAURA I SANTA SANCHEZ, SEC REG. II. F/ SARA ROSA VILLEGAS, Sec del Tribunal. Conf. I.

The San Juan Daily Star

August 7-9, 2020

27

Swabs, sensors and personal Gatorade: Snapshots of NBA’s bubble life

By MARC STEIN

I

’ve covered the NBA for nearly 30 years, but life in the league’s bubble introduces new sights and sounds almost daily. Allow me to share a few snapshots — things you would see only in the tightly controlled campus at Walt Disney World.

Everyone in the bubble is asked to wear a proximity sensor to promote social distancing. A chirping alarm sounds if two people wearing sensors are within 6 feet each of other for 10 seconds — provided both are actually wearing them and have charged them overnight.

Sensors are optional for players, many of whom privately scoff at the idea of wearing a device that is not a movement tracker but is widely described that way. Everyone else, including reporters, is required to wear them.

That leads to lots of chirping on bus rides and in postgame news media scrums when maintaining 6 feet of distance is nearly impossible.

Every day in the bubble starts the

same for reporters. We record our temperature and oxygen saturation readings via a league-sanctioned app to receive access at checkpoints within the bubble.

Then we head to the testing room,

with access set aside exclusively for reporters in the 9 a.m. hour, to receive three shallow throat swabs and one shallow swab of each nostril — daily.

The traditional NBA bench is gone.

To keep the area as safe as possible,

there are three rows of socially distanced chairs. Players are assigned seats furnished with an individual Gatorade station to ensure no sharing of drinks.

San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich, at 71, is the oldest coach in the NBA He is among the few coaches who wears a mask while coaching games, despite the impediment to voice projection.

When asked why he stays faithful to the mask, Popovich replied, “I don’t want to die.” Coaches such as Popovich and Houston’s Mike D’Antoni have expressed surprise about the quality of play after the long layoff. There is cautious optimism that the bubble can hold through October to allow the NBA to produce a legitimate conclusion to the 2019-20 season.

Of course, there is no guarantee that the NBA can continue to keep the coronavirus from infiltrating this first-ofa-kind village that houses 22 teams. But it already seems clear that the bubble approach was the only approach that had any shot in 2020, especially given the challenges Major League Baseball has already faced in its comeback.

LeBron James says he doesn’t care if Trump shuns NBA over protests

By MARC STEIN

L

eBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers provided a pointed response Wednesday night to President Donald Trump’s criticism of players’ kneeling during the national anthem: The games will go on without you watching.

After Trump said earlier Wednesday that he regarded NBA players’ kneeling during the national anthem as “disgraceful” and vowed to stop watching games, James said that the basketball community was not “sad about losing his viewership.”

In a Wednesday morning telephone interview with Fox & Friends, Trump said he turned off NBA games “when I see people kneeling” and “disrespecting our flag and disrespecting our national anthem.” Asked about Trump’s comments after the Lakers’ 105-86 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder later in the day, James fired back.

“The game will go on without his eyes on it,” James said at his postgame news

conference from the NBA’s so-called bubble at Walt Disney World in Florida. “I can sit here and speak for all of us that love the game of basketball: We could care less.”

The practice of teams lining up and kneeling during the national anthem to protest systemic racism and police brutality has become a standard feature of every game at the NBA restart since the league officially resumed its season July 30.

There have been only a few exceptions; Orlando’s Jonathan Isaac, Miami’s Meyers Leonard, San Antonio Coach Gregg Popovich and his assistant coach Becky Hammon have chosen to stand.

Adam Silver, the NBA commissioner, said last week that he would not enforce the league’s rule — which dates to 1981 — mandating that players, coaches and team staff members line up and stand in a “dignified” posture for the playing of the national anthem before every game.

“I respect our teams’ unified act of peaceful protest for social justice, and un-

der these unique circumstances will not enforce our long-standing rule,” Silver said.

Trump tweeted last month that he would turn off games if players knelt, then broadened his criticism in Wednesday’s Fox & Friends interview.

“It’s not acceptable to me,” Trump said, expressing disappointment because the White House, he said, worked “very hard” with the NBA to help the league reboot after the season was suspended March 11 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“When I see them kneeling, I just turn off the game,” Trump said. “I have no interest in the game.”

Trump has often criticized athletes for kneeling during the anthem in what is broadly seen as a strategy to appeal to his political base. In 2017, Trump urged NFL team owners to fire anyone who would not stand for the anthem. In June, he said he would not watch the NFL if players continued to kneel.

James had criticized Trump before, calling him “U bum” in a 2017 tweet in which he said it had been “a great honor” to go to the White House — a tradition for champion sports teams — until Trump took office.

In Wednesday’s Fox interview, Trump said that no president had done more for Black people than he had — “with the possible exception of Abraham Lincoln.”

When told of those comments, James said: “You trying to make me laugh right now? I appreciate that.”

28

The San Juan Daily Star

August 7-9, 2020

Cancellations, opt-outs and virus cases put heat on college football

By ALAN BLINDER and BILLY WITZ

E

xactly one month before most of the college football world once expected to start a new season, Wednesday showed just how difficult it will be to stage autumn sports during the coronavirus pandemic.

The University of Connecticut canceled its football season. More college athletes around the country opted out from playing. Even the publication of the Big Ten football schedule Wednesday came with the dispiriting qualifier that not one game might actually be played, and Maryland said it expected to begin its season without fans at Maryland Stadium.

Then the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Divisions II and III canceled championships in fall sports. Louisville, which plays in Division I, said it had suspended athletic activities in field hockey, volleyball and men’s and women’s soccer after 29 players tested positive for the virus. And the College Football Playoff said it would delay the release of its all-important final rankings until close to Christmas.

Taken together, Wednesday’s announcements again starkly demonstrated the newly persistent precariousness of college sports, an industry that has seen its plans — and its revised plans — upended throughout the pandemic.

“It’s fluid,” Kevin Warren, the Big Ten commissioner, said in an interview Wednesday. “It changes by the day.

There’s no guarantee that we’re going to have sports in the fall.”

“We are,” he added, “absolutely living in an uncertain time.”

UConn put an end to some of its uncertainty by becoming the first Football Bowl Subdivision school to abandon its football season fully. Although the decision came after a third of the university’s expected games had been canceled because of the scheduling policies of assorted leagues, the school, an independent in football, said health concerns were too grave to proceed with a season in any form.

The Ivy League, as well as many historically Black colleges and universities, reached similar conclusions earlier this summer.

“The safety challenges created by COVID-19 place our football student-athletes at an unacceptable level of risk,” David Benedict, the athletic director at Con-

In this Sept. 7, 2019, file photo, Connecticut football helmet rests on the sideline during an NCAA college football game in East Hartford. necticut, where the football team posted a 2-10 record last season, said in a statement. “The necessary measures needed to mitigate risk of football student-athletes contracting the coronavirus are not conducive to delivering an optimal experience for our team.”

UConn officials said the team’s football players drove the decision. In a statement released through the university, the players said they did so in part because “not enough is known about the potential long-term effects of contracting” the virus.

“We came to campus in the beginning of July knowing there would be challenges presented by the pandemic, but it is apparent to us now that these challenges are impossible to overcome,” the players said.

Although the team did not have any athletes who had recently tested positive for the virus or been in quarantine, Connecticut has gone through periods when it was down at least 10 men because of symptoms or possible exposure to infected people.

UConn’s athletic program has struggled financially, and the football team posted a deficit of more than $13 million last year. University officials insisted, though, that any financial effects of skipping the season had not been decisive.

Speaking on a conference call with

reporters on the day his team was supposed to begin practice, Randy Edsall, UConn’s coach, said, “These young men’s lives are more important than money.”

But billions of dollars are at stake across college sports this fall. Although the industry’s top executives have pledged to prioritize health and safety, they have also found themselves weighing how to balance lucrative competitions with the virus’s largely unchecked rampage across America.

They are also increasingly facing alarmed athletes. Some players, emboldened by this year’s wave of student activism across college sports, have voiced concerns about taking the field and threatened boycotts if certain demands are not met.

But big-time college football is a largely decentralized sport, with the NCAA having only limited authority, and responses to the pandemic are fragmented on everything from testing protocols to start dates.

Some conferences, like the Southeastern, shrank schedules and pushed the first games of their football seasons deeper into September, a decision that some university officials said would allow them to assess the pandemic’s course once more students returned to campuses.

The Big Ten said Wednesday that it would attempt to start its conference-only

slate Sept. 3, when Ohio State is to play at Illinois. Under the conference’s current plan, the regular season will end Nov. 21, one week earlier than originally intended, and the league’s championship game will be held, as long scheduled, on Dec. 5 in Indianapolis.

Still, the jigsaw puzzle that is a conference football schedule is far more pliable than normal. The start of the Big Ten’s season could be moved to three other weekends in September, and the title game could be played as late as Dec. 19.

Indeed, the league pointedly noted in a statement that “issuing a schedule does not guarantee that competition will occur” and that it was prepared to cancel games.

“While this seems like a step in the right direction to the return of collegiate athletics, I can’t help but feel conflicted knowing that even in the best-case scenario, our return to football will be nothing like the experience we all love,” Barry Alvarez, the athletic director at Wisconsin, said in a letter to football season-ticket holders Wednesday, when he said it would “not be appropriate for thousands of fans to gather in Camp Randall on Saturdays this fall.”

The missive itself, a plea to donate to Wisconsin, was a reminder of the pandemic’s growing financial toll. The athletic department, Alvarez said, was facing a revenue loss of at least $60 million, a figure that could rise as high as $100 million depending on how the football season evolved. Other universities expect to lose tens of millions of dollars. In the end, the repercussions could be most acutely felt in sports without large television contracts or games that draw more than 80,000 spectators.

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August 7-9, 2020

29

Sudoku How to Play: Fill in the empty fields with the numbers from 1 through 9.

Sudoku Rules: Every row must contain the numbers from 1 through 9 Every column must contain the numbers from 1 through 9 Every 3x3 square must contain the numbers from 1 through 9

Crossword

Answers on page 30

Wordsearch

GAMES

HOROSCOPE Aries

30

(Mar 21-April 20)

Speak out and draw attention to an unfair situation. A senior colleague is on a power trip. An oppressive atmosphere can be made more pleasant but only by making people aware of an unfair situation. Get your voice heard. Don’t take any notice of rumours going around your neighbourhood. You won’t like what is being said, anyway.

Taurus

(April 21-May 21)

Gemini

(May 22-June 21)

Cancer

(June 22-July 23)

Be ready to grasp opportunities that are opening up around you. Good news will lift your spirits. Expect some good fortune to come your way. Your positive attitude will be contagious and someone else’s good news will delight you. Look into events that are starting to open up in your area.

Your ability to observe and take mental notes will stand you in good stead when it comes to taking an interview, test or examination. With your sharp intellect, you can accomplish anything. An online seminar will introduce you to some interesting people. Your goals are changing and this is no bad thing.

Chatting with a friend will lead to an important observation. You hadn’t realised until now how predictable your life has become.

Someone might suggest something new and you will be excited to rise to the challenge.

Every new experience will be a learning opportunity and you are more receptive to different possibilities.

Leo

(July 24-Aug 23)

It doesn’t matter whether or not you’re in the mood to deal with it, a family matter needs your attention. Housemates are looking to you to help them out and you seem to have no choice. After all, you did say that if ever they needed you, you would be there for them.

Don’t forget this promise.

Virgo

(Aug 24-Sep 23)

The San Juan Daily Star

August 7-9, 2020

You need to put your thoughts and feelings into words and you should make sure a partner is listening. After some initial apprehension you could be surprised by their response.

People understand you more than you realise and they will want to do their best to make life easier for you, whatever it takes.

Libra

(Sep 24-Oct 23)

A controversial issue is causing tension around you. You can see all sides of this situation. It’s hard to give an opinion because of this. Instead, you might encourage others to respect that there are other perspectives to consider before making a decision. Whatever is begun today will carry on for some time to come.

Scorpio

(Oct 24-Nov 22)

Some people can be persistent when they want something from you. A friend or colleague needs your help or advice and they will keep asking until they get your attention. The only way you are likely to get a job completed is to continue with this task behind the scenes.

Sagittarius

(Nov 23-Dec 21)

Capricorn

(Dec 22-Jan 20)

A study course could give your career prospects a nudge in the right direction. You’re keen to do some extra training but a number of factors have prompted changes in your workplace and you aren’t sure now how to go about it. Talking to a senior manager will help you explore your options.

Keeping your thoughts to yourself might seem like a good idea but not if this means your silence is interpreted the wrong way by someone you care for. A close friend or loved one might accuse you of being secretive. All you are trying to do is avoid an argument but this strategy does not seem to be working.

Aquarius

(Jan 21-Feb 19)

An older friend or colleague will alert you to opportunities for advancement. You could do with a change and this is your chance to do something positive to improve your life. Studying something new will stretch your mind and adding to your qualifications will improve your job prospects. A supervisor who appreciates your sharp intellect will offer you a promotion.

Pisces

(Feb 20-Mar 20)

Some people just like being awkward for the sake of it. You know it’s going to be extra hard to please a relative because it doesn’t matter what you do for them, they are never satisfied. It’s not worth arguing as this person is always right and isn’t interested in your opinion.

Answers to the Sudoku and Crossword on page 29

August 7-9, 2020

31

CARTOONS

Herman

Speed Bump

Frank & Ernest

BC

Scary Gary

Wizard of Id

For Better or for Worse

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Ziggy

32

August 7-9, 2020

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