Friday to Sunday Mar 24-26, 2023

Photo by Tammy Olivencia

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.

UPR president opposes university reform bill, says it would jeopardize accreditation

By THE STAR STAFF

University of Puerto Rico (UPR) President Luis A. Ferrao Delgado said Thursday that he opposes university reform legislation introduced by Speaker of the House of Representatives Rafael Hernández Montañez at the request of the Multisectoral Commission for University Reform (CMRU by its Spanish initials).

Ferrao said House Bill (HB) 1314 would put at risk the accreditation of the three UPR main campuses and eight institutional units because it does not provide the economic resources necessary for its execution.

“In the context of the criteria of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education [MSCHE], several of the proposals contained in the legislation put at risk the funds and the accreditation of the UPR that, in the month of June 2018, after an extensive process, the university was able to obtain for a term of eight years for the entire system,” Ferrao highlighted in a presentation before the House Education Committee.

Ferrao, accompanied by UPR Dean of Academic Affairs Sonia Balet Dalmau, pointed out to the committee that in particular, HB 1314 “does not comply with MSCHE standards six and seven.”

Both officials highlighted that the MSCHE is clear with its standards and the bill does not take into consideration that any substantial change to the university system must be governed by the policies and procedures established by the MSCHE for institutions.

“For example, on its informative website (MSCHE) explains the steps to follow when an institution wishes to make substantial changes in its structure,” Ferrao told the committee. “The Middle States classifies the change in the legal status or in the form of control of a university as a ‘substantive change’ and not only requires that it be previously reported, but that there is a prior visit by a team from accreditation and a payment in the amount of $18,500.”

Balet warned that if the bill is approved, it would imply a legal change in the management structure of UPR and “by not having followed the indications established by the MSCHE, the accreditation that the institution has defended with so much effort could be put at risk.”

The officials also warned that the bill would leave the UPR president devoid of autonomy to develop and implement institutional plans and select personnel, among other functions for which any authorization from the university’s governing board would be required, “which also puts at risk the accreditation,” Ferrao said.

Ferrao in his deposition also highlighted that he “would support any university reform bill that brings more funds to the UPR and strengthens university autonomy.”

“That bill is not 1314,” he said.

However, UPR Mayagüez Prof. Juan Carlos Martínez Cruzado, UPR Río PIedras Physical Sciences Prof. Ethel Ríos Orlandi, and the student representative of the UPR Medical Sciences Campus, Yesenia Acevedo Rivera, supported the legislation. The three are members of the CMRU.

“In an attempt to discredit the work of the CMRU and the university community, UPR’s upper management has alleged that if House Bill 1314 is approved, the accreditation of the UPR units by the MSCHE would be jeopardized,” they said in a statement. “The CMRU carried out a detailed study of the different requirements of this agency and found that, far from endangering the accreditations by the MSCHE, the measure under discussion substantially strengthens the capacity of the UPR to meet the accrediting entity’s expectations and requirements.”

Martínez Cruzado dismissed Ferrao’s assertions about the governance structure. He said HB 1314 establishes a clearly articulated and transparent governance structure that describes the roles, responsibilities and the necessary accountability by a university council, the university board, the president, the chancellors, the academic senates, administrative boards, deanships and the department or program directorates.

“The priorities that the upper management of the UPR have shown with their actions are worrisome,” the CMRU representatives said, “when they have dedicated much more time and effort to opposing the consideration of House Bill 1314 by the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico, instead of advocating for the allocation of a stable and robust budget that allows UPR to fully fulfill its mission and future development.”

University of Puerto Rico President Luis A. Ferrao Delgado said he opposes House Bill 1314 on the grounds that “several of the proposals contained in the legislation put at risk the funds and the accreditation of the UPR.”

ICP, Inter-American University agree to promote PR culture

By THE STAR STAFF

Institute of Puerto Rican Culture (ICP by its Spanish initials) Executive Director Carlos Ruiz Cortés and Inter-American University of Puerto Rico Interim President Dr. Rafael Ramírez Rivera signed a collaborative agreement between the institutions this week to create projects and promote the development of education, training and research in areas of art and culture.

The agreement also serves as a preamble to the planning of the next edition of the Campechada, to be held during November in San Germán, the municipality where the university was founded in 1912.

During the signing, the San Germán campus chancellor, Prof. Vilma S. Martínez Toro, and the executive director of the university’s board of trustees, Dr. José Luis Colón González, were present.

“We believe in collaborations as a model to strengthen our mission and we are sure that the exchange between our two institutions will favor the realization of large projects, which will promote education and the dissemination of our culture,” Ruiz Cortés. “This agreement will allow us to share resources between both parties to achieve common objectives and will guide our preparation for the next

Campechada in San Germán.”

In effect until Dec. 31, 2024, the collaborative agreement promotes the exchange of human resources between the two institutions, and the creation of educational, programmatic and self-management projects. It serves as a framework for collaboration in the

realization of joint activities, development of special programs and projects that are determined by mutual agreement and that benefit the public.

“Inter-American University has stood out for being a promoter and defender of the culture of our country through multiple educational and social projects,” Ramírez Rivera said. “We trust that our collaboration will promote the development of meritorious projects to preserve our essence as a people.”

The two institutions agreed to maintain broad cooperation in the following: cultural management programs, ICP and Inter-American publishing houses, study and practice experiences, graphic design and photography, and topics in history, archaeology, architecture, ethnography, arts economics, geography, anthropology, cartography, business administration, education, and law and information sciences.

The mission of the ICP is to research, preserve, promote and disseminate Puerto Rican culture in its diversity and complexity.

Inter-American University is a non-profit organization that for over 111 years has been dedicated to preparing students in all branches of humanistic, social and scientific work, and has served as a cultural bridge between the different regions of the American continent.

Ponce campaign worker gives version of alleged corruption scheme

By THE STAR STAFF

Luis Herrero Acevedo, who worked for the electoral campaign of Ponce Mayor Luis Manuel Irizarry Pabón and was a contractor for the municipality for several months, provided a version earlier this week of an alleged corruption scheme in which the mayor arranged for the payment of a loan from his electoral campaign by at least one director of a municipal agency and other municipal employees.

“What we know so far is that he was paying that loan since he took it out [and] until he threw out Oso [Luis Báez, Irizarry Pabón’s former campaign manager] in March 2021; he was paying it,” Herrero Acevedo said Wednesday on his podcast “Puestos Pal Problema,” which is broadcast on YouTube and co-moderated by journalist Jonathan Lebrón Ayala. “Then, when he throws Oso out, he apparently and allegedly gives the payment book to the [municipal] director of Public Works. The director of Public Works tells him ‘Mr. Mayor, I don’t have kids to pay for that,’ and that’s when the mayor increases his salary. As the salary of the director is established by ordinance, it is necessary to create or approve an ordinance or amend it or give it a differential, and that is where the Municipal Legislature increases the salary of the director of Public Works by 600 and something pesos [dollars].”

“The director of Public Works is paying off that loan for several months,” Herrero Acevedo continued. “Until at some point he gets fed up and returns the notebook and says ‘Doctor, I’m not going to continue paying for this. If you want to, throw

me out, but [I can’t] pay for it.’ And so that’s when the mayor gives the [payment] book to one of his top aides, who if I’m not mistaken is called, well, I don’t know. In fact, he could be one of the accused. And that main assistant, who cannot pay it alone either … goes to other agency heads and asks them to ‘give me 50 [dollars] every month, give me 80 every month and in that little package, in that little pot, he paid the loan.”

The podcasters added that the payments reportedly were made in a bank in Plaza del Caribe and at a branch adjacent to the City Hall.

On Monday, Justice Secretary Domingo Emanuelli Hernández recommended to the Office of the Special Independent Prosecutor Panel (OPFEI by its Spanish initials) that it appoint a special independent prosecutor to investigate Irizarry Pabón for allegedly requesting monetary contributions from trust employees in violation of various legal provisions.

Emanuelli Hernández accepted the recommendation of the Justice Department’s Division of Public Integrity and Comptroller’s Affairs (DIPAC), and sent the OPFEI the report on the preliminary investigation, along with the case file. The DIPAC’s determination was the result of a preliminary investigation by DIPAC and the department’s Bureau of Special Investigations.

The evidence collected, besides showing that the Ponce mayor, through intimidation, managed to get his subordinates to provide financial contributions and make payments on the aforementioned personal loan to partially cover the expenses of his political campaign, also established among other things

that prior to assuming the position of mayor, Irizarry Pabón received illegal donations that he did not report in the quarterly reports he presented to the Office of the Elections Comptroller of Puerto Rico.

The Justice Department’s preliminary investigation began with a communication received from the Office of the Comptroller, which was referred to the Justice secretary. Because Irizarry Pabón is an official to whom Law Number 2-1988, known as the Office of the Special Independent Prosecutor Panel Law, applies, Emanuelli Hernández referred the comptroller’s communication to the DIPAC for the development of the corresponding investigation.

In

effect through 2024, the collaborative agreement promotes the exchange of human resources between the two institutions, and the creation of educational, programmatic and self-management projects.

Ponce Mayor Luis Irizarry Pabón

Defense team: Ex-Guaynabo mayor will appeal conviction

By THE STAR STAFF

Lawyers for former Guaynabo mayor Ángel Pérez Otero, who was convicted this week for engaging in a bribery scheme, will appeal the conviction on several grounds, including violations to his right to a fair jury and trial.

The lawyers, including Osvaldo Carlo, plan to appeal arguing that Pérez Otero’s right to a fair trial was violated because prosecutors released photos in which the convicted mayor appeared taking an envelope containing cash from contractor Oscar Santamaría.

The STAR learned that the defense will also appeal because of errors related to the theory of quid pro quo, or that Santamaría gave Pérez Otero the money for a city contract. Carlo told another media outlet that there were errors in the jury’s instructions.

According to the lawyers, Pérez Otero insisted on going to trial instead of negotiating a plea bargain because he did not instruct city employees to favor Santamaría’s Island Builders waste collection company.

A jury found Pérez Otero guilty of conspiracy, federal program bribery, and extortion late Wednesday. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Pérez Otero, 52, was involved in a bribery conspiracy in

which, from about late 2019 through May 2021, he accepted thousands of dollars in cash bribes on a regular basis from the owner of a construction company. In exchange for those payments, Pérez Otero agreed to obtain and retain contracts for the company and ensured that its invoices were promptly paid, prosecutors said.

Pérez Otero is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 8 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the extortion charge and 10 years in prison on the bribery charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Orocovis Mayor Jesús Colón Berlingeri lamented the verdict but said citizens should continue to trust public institutions.

“Ángel was a mayor we appreciated a lot, was president of the Mayors Federation,” he said.

Cataño Mayor Julio Alicea Vasallo said the verdict should serve as a lesson to all those who are blinded by power and greed that they must perform their work with ethical standards.

Next month’s PR parade & festival in Orlando dedicated to Loíza

By THE STAR STAFF

This year’s Florida Puerto Rican Parade and Festival, to be held on Saturday, April 22 in Orlando, will be dedicated to Loíza and its culture.

At a press event held this week at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel at SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida Puerto Rican Parade Committee Chairman Ralph Morales said “the Puerto Rican Parade and Festival are the emblematic events of our organization, in order to provide residents and visitors with the opportunity to highlight the enriching culture, heritage and contributions of the Puerto Rican community in the state of Florida.”

“This year’s theme of the festivities is ‘Economic Development and Business Opportunities’ for our communities,” he added.

Loíza Mayor Julia Nazario Fuentes, who participated in the press conference along with Loíza Municipal Assembly Speaker Joel Osorio Chiclana, said that “for us it is a great

joy to have been selected by the Florida Puerto Rican Parade organization.”

“This activity is a unique exhibition platform to highlight our culture and gastronomy, and promote tourist attractions here in Florida and throughout the United States,” she said. “We are very grateful.”

Osorio Chiclana added that “cultural promotion is directly tied to economic and sports development, because in Loíza we have everything from first class gastronomy to cultural expressions that are unique in the world.”

The parade will begin at 11 a.m. and end at 3 p.m. leaving the intersection of North Rosalind Avenue and East Robinson Street, running along North Orange Avenue and ending at the intersection with West Livingston Street. The festival, which will take place in different stations from West Amelia Street to Orange Avenue until 11 p.m, will include musical performances and more than 100 food, drink and amenities stalls.

The event’s grand marshal is Puerto Rican doctor Arcilio Alvarado, president of Advantage Medical Group. The prominent medical industry entrepreneur stated that “it is a great joy to serve and be part of this great event.”

“Our mission is to serve and on this occasion, celebrate our magnificent culture,” he said.

Dr. Alvarado is the grandson of Arcilio Alvarado Alvarado, who was speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives from 1965 to 1968.

The event will feature the participation of loiceños musical groups that will travel to Orlando for the occasion, such as Grupo Belelé, Junte Loiceño, Comparsa Tradiciones Loiceñas, Florecer Loiceño, Grupo Afrikta’al and Parranderos de Loíza, among others. Also participating, on behalf of SBS and El Nuevo Zol 95.3 FM, will be the talents El Molusco, La Burbu, Pamela Noa, Rocky The Kid, El Giga and Robert

FantaCuca.

The Florida Puerto Rican Parade and Festival will be honored with the presence of loiceña Marilyn Mercado, a native of the Tocones Community who arrived at age 12 in Boston.

“I have always held high my racial, cultural and Puerto Rican background, as a beauty queen, actress and model on Univision and Telemundo,” Mercado said.

On behalf of the office of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Jeannette Quiñones Hernández, who is in charge of the office’s Hispanic Outreach section, confirmed the presence of that office at the event.

“For Senator Rubio, the Puerto Rican community and the culture is very important,” she said, emphasizing “the unique blend of Taino and African cultures” found on the island and celebrated perhaps most proudly in Loíza.

Former Guaynabo mayor Ángel Pérez Otero

From left, Florida Puerto Rican Parade Committee Chairman Ralph Morales, Loíza Mayor Julia Nazario Fuentes and committee member Pablo Cáceres.

Economist: Growing insurance industry is integral part of island’s reconstruction

By THE STAR STAFF

Despite inflation and rising interest rates, the insurance sector continues to grow. Still, José Joaquín Villamil, the CEO of economic planning and advisory firm Estudios Técnicos Inc. (ETI) urged the government Thursday to consider measures to support the industry, which he pointed out is crucial in the reconstruction of Puerto Rico’s economy.

“The insurance industry is highly regulated but should also be supported in some areas related to development. In the short and mid-term, economic growth will depend on construction more than anything else,” Villamil said in a presentation to the International Association of Insurance Professionals. “Insurance is essential for investment in construction, including infrastructure. Access to reinsurance services is key, but an adequate legal framework supports and strengthens the industry’s role as an important development infrastructure. This may call for changes in the current legislation and the responsibilities of the Office of the

Insurance Commissioner.”

Villamil highlighted that the insurance industry’s gross domestic product (GDP) amounted to $1.45 billion in fiscal year 2021, representing 28% of the financial sec-

tor’s GDP. The insurance industry employed 14,000 workers in fiscal year 2021 (32% of finance employment), and has created 1,125 additional jobs since fiscal year 2010.

Likewise, the number of establishments in

the insurance industry increased moderately, although written premiums have risen notably by $7.7 billion since 2014, he said.

ETI’s report on the insurance industry also noted that the premiums in the property and casualty segments increased more. In contrast, life and disability premiums remained stable in recent years.

Regarding Puerto Rico’s economic outlook, Villamil emphasized that “investment in infrastructure projects will be the primary driver of short-term economic growth.”

“In addition, $2.7 billion of annual debt service savings could help finance public sector capital improvement projects,” he said. “Because of this, the disbursement of reconstruction funds is essential to support short-term economic growth. However, of the $74.2 billion in funds allocated by the U.S. Congress for the reconstruction efforts in Puerto Rico, only $21.7 billion have been disbursed as of January 23, 2023.”

The economist said the government must accelerate the disbursement of funds for reconstruction to continue and for the economy to benefit.

DACO chief to businesses: Know the regulations and abide by them to avoid incurring fines

By THE STAR STAFF

The Department of Consumer Affairs (DACO by its Spanish acronym) issued close to $140,000 in fines to businesses in the greater San Juan metro area in February. Therefore, the agency’s secretary said Thursday that he is rein-

forcing business orientation regarding regulations.

DACO levied 39 fines in February for various violations of its regulations and laws in force in the San Juan region, issuing over $139,000 in administrative penalties in total.

“As part of our efforts to continue

defending consumer rights, personnel from the San Juan Regional Office carried out various operations in February that resulted in the issuance of 39 administrative fines for various violations of the agency’s current regulations,” DACO Secretary Hiram Torres Montalvo said. “Our interest is always to protect consumers since we guide businesses on commercial practices that comply with the laws established by DACO.”

The 39 fines and amounts were as follows: 25 to construction contractors for not having their licenses up to date, for a total of $125,000 ($5,000 for each fine); four for food quality and safety violations totaling $4,000; and four for misleading price and discount advertising, also for a total of $4,000. In addition, DACO levied fines of up to $2,000 against two service providers for not having a license to operate, up to $2,000 in fines against two public parking facilities for not having a permit, and up to $2,000 in fines against

two businesses for not providing alternative payment methods to consumers.

“Our inspectors are always on the street. Among the fines issued, we highlight the one for quality and safety, which refers to expired products sold to consumers,” the DACO chief said. “We are very aware of this area due to the health problems it could cause. Therefore, we urge businesses to be very aware of the expiration dates of edible products so that they can withdraw them at the end of that period.”

“We reiterate our call to construction contractors, who continue to be one of the sectors of greatest consumer complaints, to comply with all the parameters of Act 146 of August 10, 1995, which establishes the Regulation for Registration of Contractors, and thus be in compliance to carry out the contracted work,” Torres Montalvo said. “In the same way, we urge consumers to ensure that they hire contractors registered with DACO.”

Economist José Joaquín Villamil, CEO of Estudios Técnicos Inc.

DACO Secretary Hiram Torres Montalvo

DeSantis calls Putin a ‘war criminal,’ clarifying earlier comment on Ukraine

By MAGGIE HABERMAN and JONATHAN SWAN

Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida this week clarified his description of the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a “territorial dispute” and said that Russian President Vladimir Putin was a “war criminal” who should be “held accountable.”

DeSantis, a Republican who is expected to announce a presidential campaign in the coming months, made his latest comments in an interview with British broadcaster Piers Morgan, who shared them with The New York Post and Fox News, both owned by Rupert Murdoch.

Last week, DeSantis made one of the most significant statements of the 2024 presidential campaign to date, to influential Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who has criticized the Biden administration’s approach to Ukraine. “While the U.S. has many vital national interests,” DeSantis said in his statement, “becoming further entangled in a territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia is not one of them.”

DeSantis did not mention Putin then and criticized President Joe Biden’s policy as a “blank check” to Ukraine with no clear objectives, one that distracts from U.S. problems.

The line about a “territorial dispute” was heavily criticized by foreign policy hawks, Republicans in Congress and, privately, some Republican donors. It also put DeSantis’ views more in line with those of former President Donald Trump.

But DeSantis used an apparently lengthy interview with Morgan early this week to clarify his statement to Carlson.

“I think he is a war criminal,” DeSantis said of Putin, for whom the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant related to war crimes. “I don’t know about that route,” he said of the arrest warrant, “but I do think that he should be held accountable.”

To Morgan, DeSantis insisted that his comment about a “territorial dispute” had been “mischaracterized,” but he acknowledged he could have been clearer.

“Obviously, Russia invaded” in 2022, DeSantis said. “That was wrong. They invaded Crimea and took that in 2014 — that was wrong.”

The change appeared not to have been lost on Carlson. Just hours after DeSantis’ new comments about Putin were made public, Carlson attacked what he said were people who give in to the news media, asserting that they are forced “to repeat whatever childish slogan they’ve come up with this week.” In a mocking voice, he said, “Vladimir Putin is a war criminal.”

While he was a congressman from Florida, DeSantis faulted President Barack Obama’s administration for not doing more, as Russia annexed Crimea.

“What I’m referring to is where the fighting is going on now, which is that eastern border region, Donbas, and then Crimea,” DeSantis said. “There’s a lot of ethnic Russians there. So, that’s some difficult fighting, and that’s what I was referring to, and so it wasn’t that I thought Russia had a right to that, and so if I should have made that more clear, I could have done it.”

But he added, “I think the larger point is, OK, Russia is not showing the ability to take over Ukraine, to topple the government or certainly to threaten NATO. That’s a good thing. I just don’t think that’s a sufficient interest for us to escalate more involvement. I would not want to see American troops involved there. But the idea that I think somehow Russia was justified” in invading is “nonsense.”

He added that he did not believe that the conflict would end with “Putin being victorious. I do not think the Ukrainian government is going to be toppled by him, and I think that’s a good thing.”

DeSantis’ stance on Russia has been of significant interest to Republicans looking for an alternative to Trump. Many Republican voters have come to say that the U.S. is providing too much support for Ukraine.

The governor’s record as a congressman left some people believing DeSantis shares their foreign policy views, even when their views are on opposite ends of the spectrum.

But his comments to Carlson were roundly condemned by a number of Republican senators, former Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and prospective 2024 rivals including former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. And the lack of initial criticism of Putin was noted, particularly as DeSantis, in his statement to Carlson, derided the notion of regime change in Russia.

Los Angeles school workers are on strike, and parents say they get it

By KURTIS LEE and JILL COWAN

Since Tuesday, Diana Cruz has juggled her stay-at-home job as an executive assistant with the care of her children after the Los Angeles school strike forced their classes to be canceled for three days.

Cruz earns $36,000 a year and is raising her two daughters and teenage son in a twobedroom apartment in Los Angeles, where she splits the $1,700 rent with her mother.

A few miles away, Yolanda Mims Reed makes about $24 an hour as a part-time special education assistant at Hamilton High School. She supplements her income by caring for an older woman and by doing hair.

Parents like Cruz may be flustered by the strike, but few are angry with strikers like Reed.

The parents see their lives mirrored in the struggles of the bus drivers, cafeteria workers and classroom aides walking the picket lines — working-class residents who take on multiple jobs to survive in Southern California.

“If you’re not making massive six-figure salaries, then, yeah, it’s hard,” Cruz, 33, said. “How can you not support their cause?”

The strike has sharply illustrated the economic divide in modern Los Angeles, where low-wage workers can barely scrape together rent while affluent professionals blocks away are willing to pay $13 for a coconut smoothie. In this case, the school district’s working-class parents and school workers are on the same side of the divide.

The Los Angeles Unified School District, the nation’s second-largest, relies on tens of thousands of staff members who are struggling to keep up with rising costs in a state that lacks enough housing. Most of the families they serve are in the same boat, with 89% of the district’s households qualifying as economically disadvantaged, according to district data.

Housing is the biggest expense for people living in the Los Angeles area, according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Residents devote 38% of their yearly spending to housing, compared with the national average of roughly 34%, according to the agency.

Griselda Perez, 51, said that her family stretched to afford their $2,000 rent for a two-bedroom apartment in the Boyle Heights neighborhood. Her eldest son, 20, shares a room with his two younger brothers, 11 and 9, who attend district schools. Every day, she said, the family feels the squeeze of gentrification, as more people with higher incomes move east from downtown.

Perez said she tried to explain the strike to her sons by likening their situation — they cannot afford birthday parties and trips to Disneyland — to the challenges faced by the people who work at their schools.

“When I see the cafeteria workers, when I see the lady at the front door, when I see the lady working at the parent center, we talk mom to mom,” she said. “The struggles that they have are the same struggles that we have.”

The walkout continued on Wednesday with picket lines at schools and campus facilities, including at district headquarters in downtown Los Angeles. School support employees have been joined by the district’s 35,000 teachers in the work stoppage. The strike is expected to end on Thursday.

The Local 99 branch of the Service Employees International Union, which represents

30,000 support workers in Los Angeles Unified, said that half of its members who responded to a 2022 internal survey said they worked a second job.

The union also said that its members earned an average of $25,000 a year — a figure that Los Angeles Unified officials said included both part- and full-time employees. The full-time salary average was unclear.

The union noted that 64% of its members were Latino and 20% were Black. The families they serve are likewise overwhelmingly Latino, about 74%, an outgrowth of broad migration and population trends.

Austin Beutner, who served as the district’s superintendent during the coronavirus pandemic, said that a vast majority of parents understood the plight of the Local 99 members because they lived in the same neighborhoods. He said the half-dozen school principals he spoke to Tuesday said they were seeing overwhelming support from parents for the staff members.

“The intersection of school staff and the community is tight and close,” Beutner said. “They are the community. So many of them have family members in schools or neighbors in schools.”

Local 99 has leaned on that support and tried to frame its contract battle as a fight for lowwage workers across Los Angeles. And parental backing — for now — could help the union at the negotiating table.

Workers are seeking a 30% overall raise, as well as an additional $2-an-hour increase for the lowest-paid employees. The union’s members have been working without a contract since 2020.

In a statement, Alberto Carvalho, the district superintendent, on Tuesday acknowledged “historic inequities” that workers had faced.

“I understand our employees’ frustration that has been brewing, not just for a couple years but probably for decades,” Carvalho said.

School districts cannot raise revenues as quickly as private-sector businesses might through price increases during an inflationary period. The Los Angeles district relies on funds that are determined at the state level, and, after years of growth, California is projected to face a deficit in the coming fiscal year. The school district also continues to lose students each year, which means it receives less money because funding is based on enrollment.

The district has countered with a 23% wage increase, spread across several years, and a 3% one-time bonus. Carvalho said that the latest proposal sought to address the union’s needs “while also remaining fiscally responsible and keeping the district in a financially stable position.”

Thousands of demonstrators gather during a rally in support of public school teachers in front of the Los Angeles Unified School District headquarters in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, March 21, 2023.

A water system so broken that one pipe leaks 5 million gallons a day

By SARAH FOWLER

On an abandoned golf course, overgrown with shrubs and saw grass, you can hear the rushing water from 100 yards away.

Near Hole 4, past the little bridge and crumbling cart paths, what looks to be a waterfall comes into view, pouring down through the brush and into the creek below. Except the torrent of water gushing up through the mud isn’t from a spring-fed stream or a bubbling brook.

It is spewing from a broken city water line.

As residents had to boil their tap water and businesses closed because their faucets were dry, the break at the old Colonial Country Club squandered an estimated 5 million gallons of drinking water a day in a city that had none to spare.

It is enough water to serve the daily needs of 50,000 people, or one-third of the city residents who rely on the beleaguered water utility.

No one knows for sure when the leak reached its current size. But newly appointed water officials say the city discovered the broken mainline pipe in 2016 and left it to gush, even as the water gouged out a swimming pool-size crater in the earth and city residents were forced to endure one drinking water crisis after another.

Jackson’s water system has been flirting with collapse for decades thanks to a combination of mismanagement, crumbling infrastructure and a series of ill-fated decisions that cost the utility money that it did not have. In 2022, the Justice Department reached an agreement with the city requiring it to bring in an outside manager to run the water department.

Residents of the city have been forced to endure chronic boil water notices that traverse the city like rolling blackouts. Many have learned to hoard bottled water against the next round of boil notices. Intermittent bouts of low water pressure can make faucets unusable for thousands of people at a time.

“The size of the leak is probably not uncommon,” said Jordan Hillman, chief operating officer of JXN Water, the management company formed last year to lead Jackson’s effort to stabilize its water service. “The time it took to respond to it is very uncommon. Most places would see this as an immediate threat because that’s a ticking time bomb. As it eats the ground out away

from it, you’re eventually going to have a catastrophic failure.”

It is unclear why the city and water department did not repair the leak sooner. Melissa Faith Payne, a city spokesperson, did not immediately respond to questions Wednesday regarding the broken line. Tony Yarber, the former mayor of Jackson, and Kishia Powell, the former public works director — both in leadership positions in 2016 — could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

The size of the Colonial Country Club leak and the fact that it went unaddressed for so long hints at the monumental task that city and state leaders face as they work to find a lasting solution. Under the direction of a newly appointed water czar, Ted Henifin, a two-person team has scoured the city searching for leaks or closed water valves, which also can affect water pressure. Often, they have turned the valves back on themselves. Leaks generally require more time and resources to address. One of the leaks is spewing water 30 feet in the air like a geyser and losing the city as much as 1 million gallons a day, Hillman said.

The broken pipe under the golf course is one of two main lines that move water from the OB Curtis Water Plant to smaller transmission lines that eventually connect to thousands of customers across the city. The 48-inch pipe is critical to south Jackson,

a part of the city that has suffered the most from outages and boil water notices.

Luke Guarisco, who owns the land where the golf course once operated, said he reported the leak several years ago when he noticed a broken pipe pushing water into the creek along the back of his property line. Guarisco said he lived out of state and wasn’t aware of the giant hole that has since been created by the leak.

Leaks are common in water systems. However, in Jackson, the city’s problems with leaks are so extensive, its systems so antiquated, its chronic staffing problems so overwhelming, that many leaks, seemingly of any size, have gone undetected or unaddressed.

One of the water plants that serves

Jackson was built in 1914, the other in the late 1980s. Water lines under the city can be more than 100 years old, and no one knows when or where a piece of pipe or equipment will fail. A combination of Jackson’s aging infrastructure and recent freezes may have exacerbated the current leaks.

The system faced near-total shutdown in March 2021 when residents went weeks without water. In August 2022, another crisis unfolded at O.B. Curtis, and Mississippi declared a state of emergency for the capital city as water was, once again, deemed unsafe to drink.

Henifin, a retired manager for a wastewater company out of Virginia that serves 1.8 million people, who has spent 40 years in public service, was working with a national nonprofit on a “small, part-time basis” to address water equity in Jackson. In July, he was working from home in Virginia, one day a week. By November, he was living part time in Mississippi, appointed by the Justice Department to manage the federal takeover of the water system. He officially moved to the state in January.

In the months since, he has talked with state and local leaders about how to create a sustainable water system. But he is seeking solutions in a state where Black city leaders and white state leaders often spar over what is and is not in the best interest of Jackson.

Outside the country club Tuesday afternoon, construction crews were preparing to begin repairs, which are expected to take a couple of weeks. Residents should see reduced water pressure for only a few hours and water should remain safe to drink, Hillman said.

Curious neighbors could see stacks of new pipe and hear the sound of trees being cut.

The OB Curtis Water plant in Jackson, Miss., on March 10, 2023. The broken pipe under the golf course is one of two main lines that move water from the OB Curtis Water Plant to smaller transmission lines that eventually connect to thousands of customers across the city.

The Fed, still inflation-focused, raised rates amid bank uncertainty

By JEANNA SMIALEK

Federal Reserve officials raised interest rates by a quarter-point earlier this week as they tried to balance two conflicting problems: the risk that inflation could remain rapid and the threat that turmoil in the banking system could slow the economy drastically.

The Fed on Wednesday pushed interest rates to a range of 4.75% to 5%, and officials forecast one more rate increase in 2023 — although they hinted that even that is uncertain. In doing so, policymakers tried to signal that they remained focused on wrestling down price increases but were also paying attention to financial threats.

“In assessing the need for further hikes, we’ll be focused on incoming data and the evolving outlook, and in particular on our assessment of the actual and expected effects of credit tightening,” Fed Chair Jerome Powell suggested at his post-meeting news conference.

The Fed’s statement said that some additional rate moves “may be” warranted, and Powell emphasized that “may” was crucial: Officials do not know that yet.

His comments underlined that the outlook for whether rates would rise further — and, if so, by how much — had been made uncertain by turmoil in the banking industry that could make loans harder to come by, slowing the economy.

Officials forecast that next year they would lower rates more slowly than they had anticipated, so that rates linger at 4.3% by the end of 2024, up from 4.1%. That suggested that the fight for stable inflation could be a

longer and more gradual one than many had expected even a few months ago, although the outlook is complicated by the bank turmoil.

The forecasts and Powell’s remarks together underlined that his central bank is confronting a complicated moment — and trying to buy itself the time to decide how to react.

The Fed has raised interest rates at the fastest pace since the 1980s over the past year to try to cool a hot economy. Yet inflation has been surprisingly stubborn, and the job market remains strong. Those facts would likely have called for a more aggressive Fed response.

But high-profile bank collapses in recent weeks have underscored the risk that rapid Fed rate moves could stoke financial instability. Silicon Valley Bank, which failed March 10, did so partly because it had amassed big losses on its portfolio of securities as interest rates climbed. And even more critically, the bank problems threaten to weigh on lending and spending, which ramps up the risk of a recession.

“The bottom line is: Credit conditions are going to tighten, and the Fed is acknowledging that,” said Diane Swonk, the chief economist at KPMG. The Fed “would like a slow cooling,” she added. “They just don’t want a deep freeze. And this increases the chances that the economy falls through the ice.”

Stocks, which initially jumped after the Fed’s decision was announced, fell sharply Wednesday, finishing the day down 1.65% as investors digested the Fed’s interest rate move and comments by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen suggesting that the government was not looking into a plan to extend broad protection for uninsured deposits.

The continuing jitters about the banking system come at a time when the economy has otherwise appeared strong — despite the Fed’s policy adjustments.

The Fed has been rapidly raising its policy interest rate since March 2022, making it more expensive to borrow money in hopes of cooling spending and eventually weighing down inflation. Officials made four straight three-quarter-point rate increases last year before slowing to a half-point in December and a quarter-point in early February.

Just two weeks ago, many economists and investors thought central bankers might speed their rate moves back up at this meeting because incoming economic data had retained so much momentum. Policymakers had hinted that they might revise up their forecasts for how much interest rates would rise in 2023.

“As of a couple of weeks ago, it looked like we’d need to raise rates — over the course of the year — more than we’d expected,”

Powell acknowledged Wednesday.

But the Fed chair explained that the bank problems had changed the outlook. By making it harder for consumers to access credit to buy houses or cars, or make other big purchases, the issues could weigh on demand, allowing the Fed to adjust interest rates less drastically.

“Recent developments are likely to result in tighter credit conditions for households and businesses and to weigh on economic activity, hiring and inflation,” the Fed’s policy committee said in its post-meeting statement. “The extent of these effects is uncertain.”

Economists at Goldman Sachs estimate that the effect could be equivalent to the slowdown prompted by one or two Fed rate increases. Powell seemed to suggest during his news conference that his estimate — while far from clear — was in that ballpark.

“You can think of it as being the equivalent of a rate hike, or perhaps more than that,” he said. “Of course, it’s not possible to make that assessment today with any precision whatsoever.”

But even with a bank-induced hit to the economy, the process of restoring stable inflation could take time.

Policymakers expected rapid price increases to be a more lasting problem, based on their fresh economic estimates. Officials thought inflation would finish 2023 at 3.3%, up from 3.1% in their December projections. That inflation measure was 5.4% in January.

Central bankers aim for 2% inflation on average over time. While price increases have been slowing from very elevated levels last year — the Fed’s preferred inflation index peaked at about 7% last summer — that progress has not been as steady as many hoped.

Continued price increases are weighing on family budgets, and there is a risk that a long period of quick inflation could make price increases a more permanent feature of the American economy.

A critical question is whether the Fed will be able to slow the economy enough to cool inflation without a recession. Powell suggested that he still thought such a “soft landing” was possible — although he acknowledged that the recent banking upheaval has not helped.

“I think that pathway still exists,” Powell said. “We’re certainly trying to find it.”

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell speaks during a press conference to announce a new interest rate decision, in Washington on Wednesday, March 22, 2023.

Wall St gains as hopes of Fed rate-hike pause grow

Wall Street’s main indexes climbed on Thursday as major rate-sensitive technology and growth stocks advanced after the Federal Reserve hinted it was close to pausing interest rate hikes amid turbulence in the banking sector.

The U.S. central bank on Wednesday raised rates by an expected 25 basis points, but its policy statement no longer said “ongoing increases” would likely be appropriate, indicating a clear shift in its stance.

The Fed’s softer tone relieved markets that have been roiled by concerns about a liquidity crisis in the banking sector since the failure of two U.S. regional lenders earlier this month.

Wall Street’s main indexes had closed sharply lower on Wednesday after Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the central bank was still intent on fighting inflation even as he flagged credit issues due to banking troubles could have “significant” implications for the economy.

“Markets are hoping that you have one more interest rate hike to go, probably,” said Robert Pavlik, senior portfolio manager, Dakota Wealth in Fairfield, Connecticut.

“I would imagine the hopes (of a rate cut) are smashed. You don’t want things going so south that you need a rate cut.”

Traders’ bets are almost equally split between the Fed pausing its rate hikes in May and another 25 bps hike, according to CME Group’s Fedwatch tool.

As U.S. Treasury yields slipped on growing hopes of an end to the Fed’s tightening cycle, Apple Inc, Microsoft and Amazon.com jumped between 0.9% and 1.6% in early trading.

Communication services and information technology led the gains among the S&P 500 sector indexes, all of which rose, except utilities.

Bank of America and UBS now see the Fed funds rate target peaking at 5-5.25% in May compared to earlier forecasts of 5.25-5.5%.

Troubled regional lender First Republic Bank jumped 4.6% after slumping on Wednesday following Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s remark that there was no discussion on insuring all bank deposits.

PacWest Bancorp and Western Alliance Bancorp gained 2.7% and 7.1% , respectively.

Meanwhile, data showed jobless claims falling to 191,000 last week from the week prior, against expectations that the number would rise to 197,000.

At 9:33 a.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 195.44 points, or 0.61%, at 32,225.55, the S&P 500 was up 33.23 points, or 0.84%, at 3,970.20, and the Nasdaq Composite was up 155.00 points, or 1.33%, at 11,824.95.

Shares of Block Inc fell 20% after Hindenburg Research said it held short positions in the Jack Dorsey-led payments firm.

Among others, Nvidia Corp rose 3.0% after Needham raised its price target on the chipmaker on likely benefit from near-term data center strength.

Coinbase Global Inc slid 16% after the U.S. Securities

MOST ASSERTIVE STOCKS

and Exchange Commission (SEC) threatened to sue the crypto exchange over some of its products.

Accenture Plc rose 3.8% after the company said it would cut about 2.5% of its workforce.

Strikes, marches and clashes in France as pension anger persists

By CATHERINE PORTER and AURELIEN BREEDEN

Huge street protests and widespread strikes rocked France on Thursday as demonstrators mounted a fierce display of resistance to a new law raising the retirement age and of fury at President Emmanuel Macron, who bypassed a full vote in Parliament to force the measure through.

The outpouring of protest, marked by clashes with the police, came a day after Macron doubled down on pushing retirement back from 62 to 64, characterizing the reform as “unpopular” but “necessary.” But if he seemed determined not to back down, so did the protesters.

“The government was counting on the movement losing steam,” Philippe Martinez, leader of the Confédération Générale du Travail, France’s second-largest union, told reporters at the start of the protest in Paris on Thursday.

“The determination is there,” Martinez said. “The willingness to fight is there, and the objective is the same: repeal the law.”

Although most marchers remained peaceful, there was a surge in violence in some cities, among them Paris, Nantes and Rennes, where groups of black-clad and masked protesters smashed windows, lit fires and threw cobblestones and bottles at the riot police, who responded with tear gas, water cannons and dispersal grenades. About 12,000 officers were deployed across France on Thursday to police the protests, including 5,000 in Paris.

The head of the country’s largest union condemned all violence.

“We have to keep public opinion with us until the end,” Laurent Berger, head of the French Democratic Confederation of Labor, warned at the march’s start.

By the time the march in Paris reached its final destination four hours later, protesters were coughing and sneezing through clouds of tear gas. The police had cordoned off most exits.

Across the country, daily life was disrupted.

One in five teachers was on strike, train service and regional flights were reduced, and many oil refineries and fuel depots were blocked by strikers, sparking fears of gas shortages. Famous tourist spots were shuttered, including the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the nearby Château de Versailles.

Students blocked access to dozens of high schools and universities, protesters blocked ports and roads, and electricity workers said they had briefly cut power to symbolic locations — including the president’s official summer residence in southern France.

It all amounted to what was clearly the biggest challenge Macron has faced since his reelection last year.

“It was a social crisis, and we have moved to a political crisis — one might even say a crisis of the regime, because the president is increasingly isolated,” said Karel Yon, a sociologist and expert on French unions and social movements at the University of Paris Nanterre.

Last week, Macron’s government survived a no-confidence vote in Parliament set off by his decision to push the retirement change through without a full vote — but Thursday made clear that the street is not done having its say.

Since then, France has thronged with protest, with organized union actions around the country and many smaller, spontaneous protests breaking out at night. These are led mostly by youths who chant and light afire the piles of garbage clogging the city because of strikes by garbage workers.

“The union marches have shown their limits,” said Hélène Aldeguer, a comic book artist who marched in all eight national union-organized protests before deciding to join in with the spontaneous ones. “People think that mode of protest doesn’t work.”

In his television interview Wednesday, Macron characterized his decision to champion the retirement change as one of responsible governance. He said that he had known it would be unpopular, but that it would ensure the country’s pension system’s long-term viability. His only regret, he said, was that he hadn’t managed to get the country to agree with him.

While Macron said he was listening to anger rising off the street, he offered no concessions. “There aren’t 36 solutions,” he said. “This reform is necessary.”

Yon said Macron’s inflexibility has “reactivated the feeling of a disconnect with the state and its institutions” that marked the Yellow Vest crisis of Macron’s first term. That protest movement emerged spontaneously, outside a union or political framework, amid anger over a fuel tax, then morphed into far broader and sometimes violent protests.

“The yellow vests were the only social movement of the past years that made the government back down,” Yon said.

That hope, along with fury at the intransigence of their president, is what drew thousands out to the streets Thursday.

One protester, Christèle Le Manac’h, said she had been close to abandoning the fight. But then she saw Macron “smirking on national television yesterday,” she said.

“Smiles are not welcome these days,” said Le Manac’h, 57, an export controller, who was in a crowd of protesters in Paris dotted by giant union balloons and flags. “How can he just grin while talking about our pensions?”

Faced with enormous protests, she pointed out, the

French government scrapped a youth-jobs contract in 2006 after it had become law. “It worked in 2006,” she said. “Why can’t it work now?”

The government’s critics say its response to the protests has worsened the crisis, as it did during the yellowvest protests. Once again, there have been accusations of police brutality and reports of the large-scale corralling of demonstrators and preventive arrests.

Claire Hédon, France’s defender of rights — an official ombudsman whom citizens can petition if they believe their rights have been violated — said this week that she was “worried” by videos circulating on social media and by reports of police misconduct. She pledged to “remain vigilant.”

Some believe that despite the fierce public passions, the retirement law’s opponents have already lost the battle.

“The unions did everything to maintain unity, to mobilize, and they did that very well,” said Guy Groux, a sociologist at Sciences Po who specializes in political activism and trade unions. “But the reform has been pushed through and will stand until the Constitutional Council rules on it in one month.”

Opponents of Macron have filed legal challenges against his pension overhaul with the council, which examines legislation to ensure it complies with the constitution.

Groux predicted that, like past protests against changes to the much-lauded French retirement system, the movement new would fizzle — even the spontaneous protests — “and Macron will still have four more years as president of France.”

Even if that is the case, Macron’s party, Renaissance, and its centrist allies have only a slim majority in Parliament, and the dispute over pensions has added to doubts about his ability to get his policies enacted.

Already, the government has been forced to postpone an immigration bill that was supposed to come up for debate in the Senate, France’s upper house, next week, because it was unclear whether a majority of lawmakers will back it.

Macron’s allies say they are confident the turbulence is temporary.

Sacha Houlié, a Renaissance lawmaker who leads the National Assembly’s law committee, acknowledged that the government had failed to convince people about the merits of the pension law, but he noted that it had gotten other laws through the lower house despite its weak majority, like a new nuclear investment plan that was adopted with a large majority this week, one day after the Cabinet narrowly survived the no-confidence vote.

“There are political difficulties that are significant, there is a social crisis which is important,” Houlié said. “But the idea that we’re now blocked is false.”

Macron has asked his prime minister to seek out lawmakers from other parties still willing to work with his majority on some bills, but opponents do not seem eager to cooperate.

“Emmanuel Macron has brought the country into a political and social dead end,” Olivier Faure, head of the Socialist Party, told the newspaper Libération on Thursday. “Who wants to govern with him?”

Police respond to protesters at a demonstration during the ninth day of nationwide strikes and protests against French government’s pension reform, in Paris, March 23, 2023.

Geothermal power, cheap and clean, could help run Japan. So why doesn’t it?

By HIROKO TABUCHI

Atreasured getaway for travelers in Japan is a retreat to one of thousands of hot spring resorts nestled in the mountains or perched on scenic coasts, some of which have been frequented for centuries.

All are powered by Japan’s abundant geothermal energy. In fact, Japan sits on so much geothermal energy potential, if harnessed to generate electricity, it could play a major role in replacing the nation’s coal, gas or nuclear plants.

For decades, however, Japan’s geothermal energy ambitions have been blocked by its surprisingly powerful hot spring owners.

“Rampant geothermal development is a threat to our culture,” said Yoshiyasu Sato, proprietor of Daimaru Asunaroso, a secluded inn set next to a hot spring in the mountains of Fukushima prefecture that is said to date back some 1,300 years. “If something were to happen to our onsens,” he said, using the Japanese word for hot springs, “who will pay?”

Japan, an archipelago thought to sit atop the third-largest geothermal resources of any country on Earth, harnesses puzzlingly little of its geothermal wealth. It generates about 0.3% of its electricity from geothermal energy — a squandered opportunity, analysts say, for a resource-poor country that is in desperate need of new and cleaner ways of generating power.

One answer to that puzzle lies in Japan’s venerable hot springs like the one at the inn run by Sato. For decades, inns like his have resisted geothermal projects out of fears that they will damage their mineral-rich hot springs.

In a preemptive move, Sato has fit Asunaroso with monitoring equipment that tracks water flows and temperatures in real time, and is pushing for onsens across the country to do the same. He has led the opposition to geothermal development as the chair of an organization that translates loosely as the Society to Protect Japan’s Secluded Hot Springs.

Bureaucrats in Tokyo, Japan’s giant electrical utilities and even the nation’s manufacturing giants have been no match. “We can’t forcibly push a project forward without the proper understanding,” said Shuji Ajima of the Tokyo-based Electric Power Development Co., also called J-Power, which operates just one geothermal plant in Japan, accounting for 0.1% of its power generation. The utility has been forced to give up on a number of geothermal projects in past decades.

“Geothermal plants are never going to be game-changers, but I believe they can still play a role in carbon-free energy,” he said.

‘It’s all the things Japan needs’

Hot springs are a small miracle of nature,

fed by rainwater that seeps into the rock that is heated by the Earth’s interior before bubbling up to the surface, a process that takes years, even decades.

More than 13,000 onsen inns and baths dot the country. There are strict rules, displayed in numerous languages on posters plastered on onsen walls. No bathing suits. No soapy bodies allowed. And an additional COVID-era requirement, “mokuyoku,” or silent bathing — no chatter in the baths.

Geothermal power plants, on the other hand, draw on wells drilled deeper in the Earth’s crust, pumping up steam and hot water to power giant turbines that generate electricity. Developers say that because plants draw from sources deep beneath onsen springs, there is little possibility one will affect the other.

Still, the interconnection between hot springs and deeper geothermal heat remains something of a mystery. When hot spring flows change, it’s often difficult to pin down a cause.

We don’t yet fully understand the full consequences of geothermal development, said Yuki Yusa, a professor emeritus and expert in geothermal sciences at Kyoto University.

Japan, the world’s fifth-largest emitter of planet-warming gases, needs more clean energy to meet its climate goals and to rein in its dependence on fossil fuel imports. Much of its nuclear power program remains shuttered after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. Geothermal power’s green credentials, combined with its relatively low cost and its ability to produce electricity consistently round the clock, have made it a promising source of renewable energy.

The Japanese government, which seeks to triple the country’s geothermal capacity by 2030, has tried to smooth the way for more projects by opening up geothermal development in national parks and speeding up envi-

ronmental assessments.

If Japan were to develop all of its conventional geothermal resources for electricity production, it could provide about 10% of Japan’s electricity, according to the Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies in Tokyo. That would be more electricity than Japan generated from hydropower, solar, wind or nuclear in 2019.

“It’s domestic. It’s renewable,” said Jacques Hymans, an energy expert at the University of Southern California. “It’s all the things Japan needs.”

But across Japan, local governments have recently introduced a fresh round of restrictions. Kusatsu, an onsen resort town north of Tokyo, passed an ordinance last year that would place the onus on developers seeking the town’s approval to prove that a geothermal project wouldn’t affect local hot springs, a difficult hurdle. Oita, a prefecture that has more onsen springs than any other in Japan, recently expanded a no-drill zone in the city of Beppu, considered Japan’s onsen capital.

“We understand the nation’s energy needs,” said Yutaka Seki, an executive director at the National Hot Spring Association, which represents inns nationwide. “We aren’t opposed to geothermal energy for the sake of opposing it,” he said. “But we strongly caution against unchecked large-scale development.”

Signs of change

Yuzawa, in the snowy northern province of Akita, is a rare example of a hot spring town that has embraced geothermal energy.

An early developer, Dowa Mining, involved local community leaders in its planning, hiring the city’s best graduates, sending officials to local festivals and even offering to drill springs for local onsens. The local government,

for its part, was eager to foster a new industry in a remote region of Japan. A local milk farmer now uses the hot spring water to pasteurize his milk and yogurt.

Japan had hoped for more Yuzawas. The nation opened its first commercial, large-scale geothermal power plants in 1966, and in the following decades, operators added about a dozen more, including one in Yuzawa. But with rising local opposition from hot spring inns, Japan has added almost no geothermal capacity since the 1990s.

That’s even as Japanese manufacturing giants, like Toshiba, have come to dominate the global market for geothermal turbines. Very little of their business is on their home turf.

So in 2019, when Japan’s first large geothermal plant in 23 years opened in Yuzawa, with the ability to power almost 100,000 homes, it was a breakthrough.

The toughest challenge facing any geothermal project in Japan isn’t related to the geology or technology, said Shun Iwata, a retired Dowa Mining executive who embedded in Yuzawa for nearly two decades to bring locals round on the idea. He is now an adviser to the city. “What’s more important is working on the community and building relationships,” he said.

Even in Yuzawa, though, there has been controversy. Since late 2020, a local inn has had to periodically close after its spring dwindled.

Yuzawa city maintains the city’s geothermal development wasn’t the cause.

“I can’t say I’m not concerned,” said Masami Shibata of Abe Ryokan, one of Yuzawa’s hot spring inns. Still, geothermal energy has become a part of Yuzawa city’s fabric, she said. “I think it’s possible for both hot springs and geothermal to coexist.”

A thermal pool named “Blood Pond Hell” that is naturally red from minerals and geothermal heat, in Beppu, Japan, March 14, 2023.

Ferraris and hungry children: Venezuela’s socialist vision in shambles

By ISAYEN HERRERA and FRANCES ROBLES

In the capital, a store sells Prada purses and a 110-inch television for $115,000. Not far away, a Ferrari dealership has opened, while a new restaurant allows well-off diners to enjoy a meal seated atop a giant crane overlooking the city.

“When was the last time you did something for the first time?” the restaurant’s host boomed over a microphone to excited customers as they sang along to a Coldplay song.

This is not Dubai or Tokyo, but Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, where a socialist revolution once promised equality and an end to the bourgeoisie.

Venezuela’s economy imploded nearly a decade ago, prompting a huge outflow of migrants in one of worst crises in modern Latin American history. Now there are signs the country is settling into a new, disorienting normality, with everyday products easily available, poverty starting to lessen — and surprising pockets of wealth arising.

That has left the socialist government of authoritarian President Nicolás Maduro presiding over an improving economy as the opposition is struggling to unite and as the United States has scaled back oil sanctions that helped decimate the country’s finances.

Conditions remain dire for a huge portion of the population, and while the hyperinflation that crippled the economy has moderated, prices still triple annually, among the worst rates in the world.

But with the government’s ease of restrictions on the use of U.S. dollars to address Venezuela’s economic collapse, business activity is returning to what was once the region’s wealthiest nation.

As a result, Venezuela is increasingly a country of haves and have-nots, and one of the world’s most unequal societies, according

to Encovi, a respected national poll by the Institute of Economic and Social Research of the Andrés Bello Catholic University in Caracas.

Maduro has boasted that the economy grew by 15% last year over the previous year and that tax collections and exports also rose — though some economists stress that the economy’s growth is misleading because it followed years of huge declines.

For the first time in seven years, poverty is decreasing: Half of the nation lives in poverty, down from 65% in 2021, according to the Encovi poll.

But the survey also found that the wealthiest Venezuelans were 70 times richer than the poorest, putting the country on par with some countries in Africa that have the highest rates of inequality in the world.

And access to U.S. dollars is often limited to people with ties to the government or those involved in illicit businesses.

A study last year by Transparency International, an anticorruption watchdog, found that illegal businesses such as food, diesel, human and gas smuggling represented more than 20% of the Venezuelan economy.

Although parts of Caracas bustle with residents who can afford a growing array of imported goods, 1 in 3 children across Venezuela was suffering from malnutrition as of May 2022, according to the National Academy of

Medicine.

Up to 7 million Venezuelans have simply given up and abandoned their homeland since 2015, according to the United Nations.

And despite the Maduro administration’s new slogan — “Venezuela is fixed” — many scrape by on the equivalent of only a few dollars a day, while public-sector employees have taken to the streets to protest low salaries.

“I have to do back flips,” said María Rodríguez, 34, a medical lab analyst in Cumaná, a small city 250 miles east of the capital, explaining that, to pay for food and her daughter’s school tuition, she relied on two jobs, a side business selling beauty products and money from her relatives.

Yrelys Jiménez, a preschool teacher in San Diego de los Altos, a half-hour drive south of Caracas, joked that her $10 monthly salary meant “food for today and hunger for tomorrow.” (The restaurant that allows diners to eat 150 feet above the ground charges $140 a meal.)

Despite such hardship, Maduro, whose administration did not respond to requests for comment, has focused on promoting the country’s rising economic indicators.

“It seems that the sick person recovers, stops, walks and runs,” he said in a recent speech, comparing Venezuela with a suddenly cured hospital patient.

The U.S.’ shifting strategy toward Venezuela has in part benefited Maduro’s administration.

In November, after the Maduro administration agreed to restart talks with the opposi-

tion, the Biden administration issued Chevron an extendible six-month license to pump oil in Venezuela. The deal stipulates that the profits be used to pay off debts owed to Chevron by the Venezuelan government.

And while the United States still bans purchases from the state oil company, the country has increased black-market oil sales to China through Iran, energy experts said.

Maduro is also emerging from isolation in Latin America, as a regional shift to the left has led to a thaw in relations. Colombia and Brazil, both led by recently elected leftist leaders, have restored diplomatic relations. Colombia’s new president, Gustavo Petro, has been particularly warm to Maduro, meeting with him repeatedly and agreeing to a deal to import Venezuelan gas.

With presidential elections planned next year and the opposition’s parallel government having recently disbanded, Maduro seems increasingly confident about his political future.

Last year’s inflation rate of 234% ranks Venezuela second in the world, behind Sudan, but it pales in comparison to the hyperinflation seen in 2019, when the rate ballooned to 300,000%, according to the World Bank.

With production and prices up, Venezuela has also started to see an increase in revenues from oil, its key export. The country’s production of nearly 700,000 barrels a day is higher than last year’s, though it was twice as high in 2018 and four times as high in 2013, said Francisco J. Monaldi, a Latin America energy policy fellow at Rice University.

Maduro took office nearly 10 years ago and was last elected in 2018 in a vote that was widely considered a sham and was disavowed by much of the international community.

The widespread belief that Maduro won fraudulently led the National Assembly to deem the presidency vacant and use a provision in the Constitution to name a new leader, Juan Guaidó, a former student leader. He was recognized by dozens of countries, including the United States, as Venezuela’s legitimate ruler.

But as the figurehead of a parallel government that had oversight over frozen international financial accounts, he had no power within the country.

In December, the National Assembly ousted Guaidó and scrapped the interim government, a move some observers considered a boost to Maduro. A number of opposition figures have announced that they will run in a primary scheduled for October, even though many political analysts are skeptical that Maduro will allow a credible vote.

A television for sale at over $10,000 USD at an electronics store in Caracas, the Venezuelan capital, on Jan. 8, 2023.

APARTAMENTOS EQUIPADOS CON NEVERA, ESTUFA Y CALENTADOR. CONTROL DE ACCESO, LAVANDERIA, ELEVADOR.

Can’t read? Here’s a ‘Barefoot College’ for you.

By NICHOLAS KRISTOF

It’s the Harvard of rural India, minus wingtips or heels: a 50-year-old institution called Barefoot College that offers lessons for empowering people worldwide. Maybe even in America.

Barefoot College does empowerment as well as any institution I’ve ever seen, and here’s what that looks like in the rural state of Rajasthan: An illiterate woman named Chota Devi who never attended a day of school is hunched over a circuit board, carefully using color-coded instructions to solder resistors and diodes into place.

Chota, who has no idea how old she is, is a Dalit, those at the bottom of the caste system once known as untouchables, and from a particularly low-ranking group called the Valmiki who often cleaned human waste.

But now Chota is learning how to be a solar power technician. Barefoot College trains illiterate, low-status villagers like her to make solar-powered lanterns and install solar lighting systems. After three to six months of training, they return to their communities and earn a decent living as they bring solar power to communities without reliable electricity — and in the process, they upend the social hierarchy.

“I will have more knowledge than my husband,” Chota noted slyly. When she goes home, villagers now call her

“Madam.” It’s partly a joke, partly a show of respect. With a new income of perhaps $80 a month, Chota plans to pay off debts, buy a simple cellphone and build an outhouse.

Chota has five children, none of whom now attend school, but her trainers at Barefoot College have left an impression. “I’m working with women who know how to read and write, so now I want my children to learn as well,” she said.

Bunker Roy, 77, was a three-time Indian national squash champion and an activist inspired by Mahatma Gandhi when in 1972 he moved to this remote village to see what he could do to tackle entrenched poverty. That year, he started Barefoot College here.

Roy focused on putting technology skills in the hands of the least educated and most scorned people in the community — because they were the ones who most needed the help and because he believed that nurturing dignity and self-confidence were crucial elements of overcoming poverty.

“We wanted to start a college with a difference, where people were not penalized because they were illiterate,” Roy said.

So Barefoot College takes illiterate villagers — most of them Dalits or women — and trains them in technical skills such as solar panel installation. With funding from foundations, donations and the Indian government, the college also runs literacy classes, health campaigns, a water resources department, study centers and a sanitary pad factory.

“There are millions of people who are illiterate, and they have much to contribute,” Roy said.

The urban-rural divide exists worldwide, with opportunity lagging in rural America as well as in rural India. Those left behind sometimes self-medicate, creating cycles of despair; in India, all this is complicated by caste and gender. Barefoot College nurtures opportunity by offering skills training in the way that community colleges do in the United States, but there’s a particular emphasis here on the absolutely most impoverished.

That benefits the entire society: Marginalized people are often a nation’s most underutilized assets. And there’s something delicious about the way the success of lowstatus people messes with people’s heads.

One of Barefoot College’s first initiatives was to train Dalits to install water pumps. Initially, this was in their own communities, because they were not allowed to use the same wells as those from higher castes.

The upshot was that the most reliable water source in a village became one in the most scorned neighborhood. When high-caste villagers found their wells running dry, they would awkwardly get water from the Dalit pump. “It’s just for the livestock,” they might say at first.

When their own pumps broke, they also found

themselves having to summon a Dalit pump technician. Since Dalits traditionally were not supposed to touch food or water containers used by higher caste people, the headspinning only increased.

We in America could learn from this approach in rural India. The United States as well must do better providing training in technical skills to people who have been left behind so that they can earn a living — as electricians, wind turbine installers, carpenters and more. And there’s a belated recognition that we worry too much about formal educational qualifications; bravo to Pennsylvania for opening up state jobs this year to those without four-year college degrees.

Over the decades, Barefoot College has attracted international and local funding to expand. The college now has water programs around India, and the Indian government brings in women from Africa and elsewhere to study solar engineering at Barefoot College for six-month courses, and they then return home to bring electricity to their villages. Here, “empowerment” is not a buzzword but a way of life.

“The illiterates of the 21st century,” Roy said, “are not those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn and relearn.”

A woman learns how to make solar lamps at the Barefoot College in Tilonia, India, March 20, 2023.

POR CYBERNEWS

LARES – Miembros del sector cafetalero fueron reconocidos este jueves por el Departamento del Trabajo y Recursos Humanos (DTRH) en el “Día de Logros Cosecha del Café”. Teniendo como escenario la Hacienda Los Eucaliptos de Lares, el titular de la agencia, Gabriel Maldonado González, premió a patronos y trabajadores de las regiones agrícolas de Arecibo, Caguas, Lares, Mayagüez, Naranjito, Ponce, San Germán y Utuado.

El secretario del Trabajo destacó en comunicación escrita que “los logros de estos trabajadores y patronos son el reflejo de un esfuerzo colectivo que ha conseguido mantener en pie una industria tan importante como la del café, que genera miles de empleos directos e indirectos. En el DTRH estamos comprometidos con nuestros agricultores y continuaremos promoviendo que el sector agrícola siga allegando más trabajadores, tanto de Puerto Rico como extranjeros por medio de la visa H-2A. Asimismo, que los patronos tengan el conocimiento y las herramientas necesarias para operar su negocio en cumplimiento con las leyes y reglamentos aplicables, así como espacios de trabajo salubres y libres de riesgos”.

Por su parte, el titular del Departamento de Agricultura, Ramón González Beiró, enfatizó en la importancia del café como uno de los principales productos

agrícolas que promueve la economía de la montaña.

La administración realizó los ajustes necesarios en el precio del café, en comparación al mercado, logrando un sistema más equitativo que busca evitar competencia desleal entre el café local y el importado. Además, se continúa otorgando incentivos, bonos de recogido, subsidios salariales y asistencia de abono y maquinaria con fondos que sobrepasan los $10 millones de dólares, con el fin de robustecer la industria.

En cuanto a las premiaciones se reconoció los patronos que más café recolectaron. Estos fueron: Siembra Finca FVE/Coffee Roaster (región agrícola Arecibo), Frankie González Morales (región agrícola Caguas), José L. Torres Olivencia (región agrícola Lares), José L. Rodríguez (región agrícola Mayagüez), Rafael Meléndez Figueroa (región agrícola Naranjito), Carlos Acevedo Rivera (región agrícola Ponce), Evaristo Lebrón Rivera (región agrícola San Germán) y Hacienda Monte Alto (región agrícola Utuado).

Los premios para trabajadores agrícolas mayores recolectores de café se otorgaron a: Wilson Sanabria Alicea (región agrícola Arecibo), Abraham González (región Agrícola Caguas), Luis Geraldo Silva (región agrícola Lares) y José Rivera Curet (región agrícola Mayagüez). Del mismo modo, Carmen Meléndez Colón (región agrícola Naranjito), Jaynell Albert Díaz (región agrícola Ponce), Madeline Ruiz Orengo (región agrícola San Germán) y Marcos A. Mantos Pérez (región

agrícola Utuado).

Finalmente, el reconocimiento al patrono que más utilizó el Servicio de Empleo para reclutar empleados lo recibió José L. Torres Olivencia, propietario de la Hacienda Los Eucaliptos de Lares y la empresa Café Oro de Puerto Rico.

POR CYBERNEWS

WASHINGTON, D.C. – La comisionada residente, Jenniffer González Colón, invitó a los estudiantes de escuela superior a participar de la feria de oportunidades de estudios en academias militares que ofrecerá este sábado 25 de marzo y en la competencia de arte que lleva a cabo el Congreso. Estudiantes de escuela superior, padres y orientadores tendrán la oportunidad de conocer los requisitos y procesos para ingresar a las academias militares en la feria de orientación que realiza la comisionada este sábado 25 de marzo, de nueve de la mañana a una de la tarde en el Salón Protocolar del antiguo edificio de Medicina Tropical en San Juan.

Parte de los requisitos para ingresar a una academia militar es tener una recomendación escrita de ciertos oficiales entre ellos, del congresista donde re-

side el estudiante. Es por esto que, todos los años los miembros del Congreso realizan orientaciones sobre el proceso de admisión.

El proceso para poder ingresar a una academia militar comienza con la entrega de documentos requeridos a la academia militar de predilección del estudiante y luego con la solicitud de nominación a la oficina del congresista de donde es residente el solicitante.

Las cuatro academias militares para las cuales se necesitan la recomendación del congresista de donde reside el solicitante son: la Academia Militar de Estados Unidos, West Point, Nueva York; la Academia Naval de Estados Unidos, Annapolis en Maryland; la Academia de la Fuerza Aérea de Estados Unidos en Colorado Springs, Colorado; y la Academia de la Marina Mercante, Kings Point, Nueva York. La quinta academia militar es U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA), New London, Connecticut, pero para esta no es necesaria la nominación de un congresista.

Jenniffer González invita a estudiantes a participar de oportunidades de estudio y competencia de arte del Congreso

Patronos y trabajadores cafetaleros son reconocidos durante el “Día de Logros Cosecha del Café”

With films like ‘Inside,’ one actor does the heavy lifting

By CARLOS AGUILAR

By reducing their cinematic tool kit to only a few essentials, the directors of movies where one character is confined to a single interior space can stretch the audience’s imagination.

In these stories, which so far have seem to mostly feature men, the protagonists undergo a transformative experience without ever leaving the microcosm where we first encountered them. No official name has been coined to refer to this specific type of subgenre. But based on these films’ limited components, perhaps we should call them one-in-ones (one person in one set).

“Inside” (now in theaters) is the latest example of this bare storytelling model. From the Greek director Vasilis Katsoupis, the psychological thriller stars the chameleon-like Willem Dafoe as an art thief trapped within the walls of a collector’s high-tech apartment.

What begins as a physically demanding, survivalist ordeal transforms into an introspective exploration of our relationship to art, free of external distractions.

“For an actor, this was a very complete opportunity to inhabit something in a deep way, stripped of certain social and narrative conventions,” Dafoe said over a recent video call.

But what compels a filmmaker to even pursue such a constraint-heavy endeavor, which inherently requires that they come up with solutions unique to their framework?

For the British writer and director Steven Knight, the stripped-down “Locke (2014),” in which Tom Hardy plays a man driving from Birmingham to London for the birth of his child, served as a kind of an experiment in sparsity.

“When you’re directing a conventional film, practicalities get in the way,” Knight said. “I wondered if it’s possible for what you had in your head when you were writing to be as close as possible to what appears on the screen.”

Gustav Moller, the Danish director behind “The Guilty” (2018), a tense crime thriller about an embattled police officer (Jakob Cedergren) tasked with answering emergency

calls, echoed that one of the unforeseen benefits of these films is that there is less narrative clutter that can blind you from what truly matters: the screenplay and the believability of the acting.

“Films that dare to be more minimalistic or condensed often stand out to me more than films that are plastered with information,” Moller said in a phone interview. (His film, which he co-wrote with Emil Nygaard Albertsen, was adapted into a 2021 English-language remake starring Jake Gyllenhaal and directed by Antoine Fuqua.)

The key for these films to work, Moller said, is for the creator to fully commit to the formal parameters of the premise from beginning to end. An audience can accept any concept if the maker sticks to it.

For example, one of Katsoupis’ steadfast visual mandates on “Inside” was to never look from the outside in.

“From the moment that he is locked in, the camera never leaves the house,” the director said of Dafoe’s character in a video conversation. “We never have a shot from the balcony, it’s always through the windows.”

For “Buried” (2010), a claustrophobic tale starring Ryan Reynolds that is told in near darkness, what enticed the Spanish director Rodrigo Cortés to Chris Sparling’s screenplay was

the monumental challenge of making a movie that occurs entirely inside a coffin underground. And while there were plenty of practical complications, Cortés spoke of an uncommon filmmaking perk.

“One major advantage of these kinds of films is that this might be one of the few times you will be able to shoot a movie chronologically, because you don’t have to change location and you’ll be able to allow yourself to move forward page by page,” Cortés said in Spanish during a video interview.

Indeed, all four of these projects were shot in chronological order. In each case, the decision both eased technical concerns and helped with the actor’s emotional arc.

“Locke” was shot from beginning to end twice a night for 10 nights with the car on a low loader truck going around on a circuit. Moller captured “The Guilty” with three cameras and in very long takes to get a variety of angles on Cedergren’s performance.

For “Buried,” seven different boxes with movable walls were built to suit the needs of each of Reynolds’ shots. And on “Inside,” the chic home with high ceilings was created in a studio in Cologne, Germany. Filming in sequence was paramount since Dafoe’s character slowly destroys and rearranges furniture as days go by.

Each director agreed that the most important asset is collaborating with an actor who is intriguing enough to carry a whole film alone. And certainly fame doesn’t hurt.

“You have to have charisma that entices the audience to keep looking at you, and only you, for an hour and a half,” said Cortés about Reynolds. “Ultimately, there’s no landscape more interesting than the human face, but that’s not to say it can be the human face of just anybody.”

For Katsoupis, what Dafoe brought to his role in “Inside,” a movie with little dialogue, was “a thousand stories written on his on his face and his body,” he said.

For his part, Dafoe said that the more time he spent onscreen, the less pressure he felt.

“When you’re in every frame, you can relax,” he said. “You’re aware of the shots, but your relationship to the camera becomes the most natural thing in the world.”

Willem Dafoe plays an art thief trapped in an apartment in “Inside.”

BLT pasta

By COLU HENRY

When another summer tomato sandwich just won’t do, try this BLT pasta instead. This clever twist on the classic sandwich substitutes spicy arugula for lettuce and in-season cherry tomatoes for heirlooms, which cook in bacon fat and produce a silky, smoky sauce. If baby arugula is out of reach, baby spinach, watercress or Swiss chard would work well in its place. Serve with a raw, shaved zucchini salad tossed with lemon juice, olive oil and mint.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Total time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

1 pound paccheri pasta or other tubelike shape, such as penne or rigatoni 8 ounces bacon, diced into 1/2-inch pieces 1 pound cherry tomatoes, halved Kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal) and black pepper

5 ounces baby arugula

1/2 cup grated Pecorino Romano, plus more for serving Flaky salt, for serving (optional)

Preparation:

1. Bring a large pot of well-salted water (2 heaping tablespoons kosher salt to about 7 quarts water) to a boil. Add pasta and cook until it is just under al dente, 1 minute less than package directions. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water, and drain the pasta.

2. Meanwhile, make the sauce: Place the bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-low heat until crisp, stirring occasionally to make sure it does not burn, about 8 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside on a plate lined with paper towels. Turn heat to medium and add the tomatoes to the skillet, tossing them to coat in the bacon fat. Season with salt and pepper. As the moisture from the tomatoes releases, scrape any browned bits that have

accumulated at the bottom of the pan (add a few tablespoons of the pasta water if you need to) and continue to cook until the tomatoes begin to fall apart, about 5 to 7 minutes more. Add half of the cooked bacon back to the skillet and toss to combine.

3. Increase the heat to medium-high and add the pasta directly to the skillet tossing to coat with the sauce. Add the arugula and 1/4 cup of the pasta water, and carefully

toss (you’ll have a very full pan) until the arugula wilts. Add the cheese and another 1/4 cup pasta water, and toss together until the cheese emulsifies and the pasta is glossy with sauce. If needed, add another 1/4 cup pasta water to loosen the sauce.

4. Serve in bowls and top with remaining bacon. Pass the grated Pecorino Romano at the table and season with flaky salt, if desired.

The San Juan Daily Star

When another summer tomato sandwich just won’t do, try this BLT pasta instead.

Introductory Reception for new honorary consul of Japan in San Juan Puerto Rico

By JUDY GORDON-CONDE and JENNIFER CONDE-POWERS

Avery intimate and distinguished group of top officials from the island government, Chamber of Commerce and the board of directors of the Consular Corps of Puerto Rico, along with close friends and family members, were invited recently to the Introductory Reception at the AFDA hosted by Mikio Mori, consul general of Japan in New York, to pay homage to the former honorary consul of Japan in San Juan, Manuel Morales, and the new honorary consul of Japan, Cameron McKenzie Hertell.

Special guests at the lovely reception honoring the new consul were Gov. Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia, Secretary of State Omar J. Marrero Díaz, Economic Development and Commerce Secretary Manuel Cidre Miranda and Senate President José Luis Dalmau Santiago, as well as Kawamoto Kenichi, president of JETRO New York, and Ramón A. Pérez Blanco, president-elect of the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce.

During the evening, waiters passed champagne and delicious bites while the guest musicians played traditional songs for all to enjoy. A delectable dinner of miso soup, black miso cod with seaweed salad, and purin for dessert was soon followed by a pairing of sublime wines to end a wonderful experience.

Omar J. Marrero Díaz (Puerto Rico secretary of state) and Gabriel Maldonado González (Labor and Human Resources secretary)

Wallace González, Hans Hertell, Eric Stubbe

Manuel Cidre Miranda (Economic Development and Commerce secretary), Cameron McKenzie, Omar J. Marrero Díaz (Puerto Rico secretary of state)

José Luis Dalmau Santiago (president of the Puerto Rico Senate), Omar J. Marrero Díaz (Puerto Rico secretary of state), Ambassador Mikio Mori, Nicolás, Cameron McKenzie, Stephania González, Anabelle and Leonardo McKenzie

From left, Milton Rafael González, Lisa Cappalli, Eduardo Fernández, Manuel Cidre (secretary of the Department of Economic Development and Commerce)

Erika Hertell, Kiana McKenzie, Carmen Ana Hertell McKenzie, Anabelle McKenzie

Gretchen Stubbe, Tere Stubbe, Sonia Caso, Jayne Arrieta

Marie and Hans Hertell

Andrés Ramírez de Arellano and Victoria Sánchez Lincoln John Bozek and Brad Dean

Alberto Fernández, Ramón González, Vilma Colón

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA

SALA SUPERIOR DE HUMACAO

RENATO GARCIA GARCIA

Parte Peticionaria EXPARTE

Caso Núm.: HU2023CV00099.

Sala: 207. Sobre: EXPEDIENTE DE DOMINIO. EDICTO.

ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS E.E.U.U., EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PR, SS.

A: JOHN DOE, JANE DOE, RICHARD DOE, LAS PERSONAS IGNORADAS Y DESCONOCIDAS A QUIENES PUDIERA

PERJUDICAR LA INSCRIPCIÓN DEL DOMINIO A FAVOR DE LA PARTE PETICIONARIA EN EL REGISTRO DE LA PROPIEDAD DE LA FINCA

QUE MÁS ADELANTE SE DESCRIBIRÁ Y A TODA

PERSONA EN GENERAL

QUE CON DERECHO PARA ELLO DESEE OPONERSE A ESTE EXPEDIENTE.

POR LA PRESENTE se les notifica para que comparezcan, silo creyeren pertinente, ante este Honorable Tribunal dentro de los veinte (20) días contados a partir de la última publicación de este edicto a exponer lo que a sus derechos convenga en el expediente promovido por la parte peticionaria para adquirir su dominio sobre la finca que se describe más adelante. Usted deberá presentar su posición 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 presente por derecho propio, en cuyo caso deberá presentar su alegación en la secretaría del Tribunal.

Si usted deja de expresarse dentro del referido término, el Tribunal podrá dictar sentencia, previo a escuchar la prueba de valor de la parte peticionaria en su contra, sin más citarle ni oírle y conceder el remedio solicitando en la petición o cualquier otro, si el Tribunal, en el ejercicio de su sana discreción, lo entiende procedente. RÚSTICA: Parcela de terreno radicada en el Barrio Tejas, sector Los Perales, del municipio de Las Piedras, Puerto Rio, con una cabida superficial de Cuatro Mil Seiscientos Cuarenta y Siete Punto Seis Mil Seiscientos Setenta (4,647.6670) Metros

Cuadrados, equivalentes a Uno Punto Mil Ochocientos Veinticinco (1.1825) Metros Cuadrados. En lindes por el NORTE, con Henry Rivera; por el SUR, con Renato García García; por el ESTE, con Francisco Castro; y por el OESTE, con Idalia Sánchez. Número de Catastro: 304-031-319-20-000. Valor de la propiedad es de Treinta Mil Dólares ($30,000.00). La abogada de la parte peticionaria es la Lcda. Lizibel Salazar Acevedo, con oficina en la Avenida Ponce de León 452, Edif. Asociación de Maestros, Oficina 514, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918-3412, dirección postal P.O. Box 367265, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936, Tel. 787-475-2288. Se le informa además, que el Tribunal ha señalado vista en este caso para el a las en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia Sala de Guaynabo, a la cual usted puede comparecer asistido por abogado y presentar oposición a la petición. Este edicto deberá ser publicado en tres (3) ocasiones dentro del término de veinte (20) días, en un periódico de circulación general diaria, para que comparezcan si quieren alegar su derecho. Toda primera mención de persona natural y/o jurídica que se mencione en el mismo. Se identificará en letra tamaño 10 punto y negrillas, conforme a lo dispuesto en las Reglas de Procedimiento Civil, 2009. Se le apercibe que de no comparecer los interesados y/o partes citadas, o en su defecto los organismos públicos afectados en el término improrrogable de veinte (20) días a contar de la fecha de la última publicación de edicto, el Tribunal podrá conceder el remedio solicitado por la parte peticionaria, sin más çitarle ni oírle. En Humacao, Puerto Rico, a 22 de febrero de 2023. IVELISSE C. FONSECA RODRÍGUEZ, SECRETARIA REGIONAL. DALISSA REYES DE LEÓN, SECRETARIA AUXILIAR DEL TRIBUNAL.

***

LEGAL NOTICE

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF PUERTO RICO

LIME HOMES, LTD.

Plaintiff Vs. LUIS BONNET MERCIER; EDNA NAZARIO FIGUEROA AND THEIR CONJUGAL PARTNERSHIP; ENTERTAINMENT UNLIMITED, INC.

Defendants

Civil No.: 19-CV-01756. Re: COLLECTION OF MONIES, FORECLOSURE OF MORTGAGE. NOTICE OF SALE.

To: LUIS BONNET

MERCIER; EDNA NAZARIO FIGUEROA AND THEIR CONJUGAL PARTNERSHIP; ENTERTAINMENT UNLIMITED, INC., AND ANY OTHER PARTY WITH INTEREST OVER THE PROPERTY MENTIONED BELOW, GENERAL PUBLIC.

WHEREAS: Judgment was entered in favor of plaintiff to recover from defendants the sum of $538,326.68 in principal, interest rate of 3.50% per annum since April 1st, 2015. Such interest will continue to accrue until the debt is paid in full. In addition, the defendants owes the Plaintiff the late charges amounting to 5.000% of each and any monthly installment not received by the note holder within 15 days after the installment was due. The Defendants also owe the Plaintiff all of the advances made pursuant to the provisions and/or dispositions of the Mortgage Note and the Mortgage Deed. The Defendants also woe an amount equivalent to 10% of the original principal balance as liquidated amount to cover costs, expenses and attorney’s fees. The records of the case and of these proceedings may be examined by interested parties at the Office of the Clerk of the United States District Court, Room 150, Federal Office Building, 150 Chardon Avenue, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico. WHEREAS: Pursuant to the terms of the aforementioned Judgment, Order of Execution, and the Writ of Execution thereof, the undersigned Special Master was ordered to sell at public auction for U.S. currency in cash or certified check without appraisement or right of redemption to the highest bidder and at the office of the Clerk of the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, Room 150 – Federal Office Building, 150 Carlos Chardón Avenue, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico, to cover the sums adjudged to be paid to the plaintiff, the following property (as described in the Property Registrar in the Spanish language): Property located at: Torre del Mar Condominium, Apt. 2307, 1477 Ashford Ave., San Juan, PR. URBANA: PROPIEDAD HORIZONTAL: Apartamento residencial denominado “Pent-house” número dos mil trescientos siete (2307), de dos niveles, localizado en la vigésima cuarta (24) planta del Edificio Torre del Mar, en el Sector Norte de Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico, con una cabida total privada de tres mil seiscientos sesenta (3,660)

pies cuadrados, equivalente a trescientos cuarenta (340.00) metros cuadrados. El primer nivel de este apartamento lo constituye la caja de la escalera privada de entrada a la parte superior o nivel superior. La escalera privada que forma parte de la unidad de vivienda se encuentra situada en el extremo del corredor común del piso y tiene los siguientes linderos y medidas: por el NORTE en trece pies y seis pulgadas (13’6”) con el corredor común del piso, dando ésta la puerta de entrada de esta escalera; por el SUR, en trece pies seis pulgadas (13’6”) con el apartamento número dos mil trescientos uno (2301); por el ESTE, en siete pies y nueve pulgadas (7’9”) con el apartamento número dos mil trescientos uno (2301); y por el OESTE, en siete pies y nueve pulgadas (7’9”) con el apartamento número dos mil trescientos uno (2301). Esta escalera constituye la entrada de este apartamento y forma parte del mismo. El nivel superior (segundo nivel) tiene una medida de cincuenta y seis pies (56’) en su mayor longitud de sesenta y seis pies y diez pulgadas (66’10”) en su parte más ancha.

Consta de escalera de entradas, foyer, sala, comedor, cocina, con mesa de trabajo, estufa, gabinetes de pared, fregadero y calentador de agua, gimnasio con su medio baño, cuarto de lavandería, dormitorio principal con su vestidor, un baño y su closet, vestidor, dos cuartos dormitorios con sus closets y un baño para uso de ambos, cuartos de servicio con su baño y closet, terrazas al Norte, Oeste, y Sur. Colinda por el NORTE en cuarenta y siete pies y dos pulgadas (47’2”) con el patio exterior separado por baranda de la terraza y pared exterior y en trece pies cinco pulgadas (13’5”) con la unidad familiar o apartamento número dos mil trescientos tres (2303) separado por paredes interiores; por el SUR, en cincuenta y seis pies (56) con el espacio exterior que mira hacia la Avenida Ashford, separado por pared exterior; por el ESTE, en treinta y un pies (31’00”) con el apartamento número dos mil trescientos dos (2302), separado por pared de carga en una línea irregular de treinta y cinco pies y diez pulgadas (35’10”), con baño común del piso corredor central y cuarto de servicio de la unidad familiar o apartamento número dos mil trescientos tres (2303) separados de ellos por paredes inferiores; y por el OESTE, en una distancia de sesenta y seis pies y diez pulgadas (66”10”) con el espacio exterior que mira hacia la calle Nairm, la puerta de entra-

da de este apartamento se encuentra en la escalera que conduce al nivel superior y desemboca en el foyer y por esta escalera privada se comunica con el corredor común limitado por el cual se sale al exterior. Le corresponde un porcentaje de uno punto cinco mil ochocientos seis por ciento (1.5806%) en los elementos comunes generales. Finca 29047, Inscrita al Folio 81 del Tomo 861 de Santurce Norte, registro de la Propiedad de San Juan, Sección Primera. The mortgage is recorded at page number page number 86 of volume number 861 of Santurce North of property number 29,047, 14th recording in the Registry of Property of San Juan, Section I. On August 30th, 2013, the note and Deed of Mortgage were modified pursuant to Deed of Modification of Mortgage number 582 executed before Notary Nestor Machado Cortes to decrease the principal balance to $551,629.77 and modify the annual interest rate. The Deed of Modification is recorded at Karibe page property number 29,047 of Santurce North, in the Property Registry San Juan, Section I, 15th inscription.

WHEREAS: This property is subject to the following liens:

Senior Liens: None.

Junior Liens: Sentencia del 25 de octubre de 2017, Orden del 18 de enero de 2018 y Mandamiento del 22 de enero de 2018 dictados en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia Sala de San Juan caso civil #KCD20161516 (901) sobre Cobro de Dinero (Ley de Condominios Gastos Comunes) seguido por Consejo de Titulares del Condominio Torre del Mar representado por su Junta de Directores vs. Entertainment Unlimited, Inc. donde se anota Sentencia por la deuda de $37,582.97 en concepto de cuotas de mantenimiento, penalidades, intereses y primas de seguro comunal, anotada el 10 de agosto de 2022 en el tomo Karibe finca 29047 de Santurce Norte anotación “A”.

Other Liens: None. Potential bidders are advised to verify the extent of preferential liens with the holders thereof. It shall be understood that each bidder accepts as sufficient the title and that prior and preferential liens to the one being foreclosed upon, including but not limited to any property tax, liens, (express, tacit, implied or legal) shall continue in effect it being understood further that the successful bidder accepts them and is subrogated in the responsibility for the same and that the bid price shall not be applied toward their cancellation. THEREFORE, the FIRST

PUBLIC SALE shall be held on the 4TH DAY OF APRIL OF 2023, AT: 9:30 DE LA MAÑANA. The minimum bid that will be accepted is the sum of $551,629.77. In the event said first auction does not produce a bidder and the property is not adjudicated, a SECOND PUBLIC AUCTION shall be held on the 11TH DAY OF APRIL OF 2023, AT: 9:30 AM., and the minimum bid that will be accepted is the sum $367,753.18, which is two-thirds of the amount of the minimum bid for the first public sale. If a second auction does not result in the adjudication and sale of the property, a THIRD PUBLIC AUCTION will be held on the 18TH DAY OF APRIL OF 2023, AT: 9:30 AM., and the minimum bid that will be accepted is the sum of $275,814.89, which is one-half of the minimum bid in the first public sale. Should there be no award or adjudication at the third public sale, the property may be awarded to the creditor for the entire amount of its debt if it is equal to or less than the amount of the minimum bid of the third public sale, crediting this amount to the amount owed if it is greater. The Special Master shall not accept in payment of the property to be sold anything but United States currency or certified checks, except in case the property is sold and adjudicated to the plaintiff, in which case the amount of the bid made by said plaintiff shall be credited and deducted from its credit; said plaintiff being bound to pay in cash or certified check only any excess of its bid over the secured indebtedness that remains unsatisfied. WHEREAS: Said sale to be made by the Special Master subject to confirmation by the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico and the deed of conveyance and possession to the property will be executed and delivered only after such confirmation. Upon confirmation of the sale, an order shall be issued cancelling all junior liens. For further particulars, reference is made to the judgment entered by the Court in this case, which can be examined in the Office of Clerk of the United States District Court, District of Puerto Rico. In San Juan, Puerto Rico, this 24th day of February of 2023. PEDRO A. VÉLEZ-BAERGA, SPECIAL MASTER, SPECIALMASTERPR@GMAIL.COM, 787-6728269.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE BAYAMÓN SALA SUPERIOR

SUCESIÓN DEL SR. PEDRO RIVERA

PACHECO

Peticionario

Civil Núm.: NJ2022CV00112.

Sala: (705). Sobre: EXPEDIENTE DE DOMINIO; USUCAPIÓN. EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO, SS.

A: CUALQUIER PERSONA INTERESADA, SUS HEREDEROS, CAUSAS HABIENTES, DERECHOS HABIENTES Y A LAS PERSONAS

IGNORADAS A QUIENES

PUEDA PERJUDICAR LA PRETENSIÓN DE LOS PETICIONARIOS

SOBRE LA SIGUIENTE

PROPIEDAD:

Predio A: “RÚSTICA: Compuesta de 5.5133 cuerdas de terreno en el barrio Lomas de Naranjito, Puerto Rico, colindante por el NORTE, con camino municipal; por el SUR, con remanente perteneciente a Juan Rivera Vázquez y con terrenos de Jenny Matos; por el ESTE, con camino municipal y con remanente de la finca principal de la cual se segrega perteneciente a Juan Rivera Vázquez; por el OESTE, con camino municipal y en un punto con terrenos de William Santiago”. Núm. Catastro: 140000-010-77; 140-000-010-78.

Predio B: “RÚSTICA: Predio de terreno en el barrio Lomas de Naranjito, Puerto Rico, compuesto de 0.1716 cuerdas, en lindes por el NORTE, ESTE y OESTE, con Rosendo Pacheco; por el SUR, con camino municipal.” Núm. Catastro: 140000-005-32. Los predios descritos no constan inscritos en el Registro de la Propiedad. Se le notifica que deberá presentar en un término de 20 días lo que sus derechos convengan ante la Secretaría del Tribunal Superior, Sala de Bayamón y enviando copia a la parte peticionaria: Lcda. Grace M. Figueroa Irizarry; PO Box 193813, San Juan, PR 00919 o via correo electrónico a gracefigueroalawoffice@ gmail.com. Se le apercibe que, de no hacerlo el Tribunal, luego de examinar la prueba podrá dictar una Sentencia aprobando el expediente de Dominio. Expido bajo mi firma y sello del Tribunal a 13 de febrero de 2023. LCDA. LAURA I. SANTA SÁNCHEZ, SECRETARIA REGIONAL. NÉLIDA OCASIO ORTEGA, SECRETARIA AUXILIAR DEL TRIBUNAL I.

GENERAL DE JUSTICIA TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA DE VEGA BAJA

ORIENTAL BANK

Demandante V. VÍCTOR JIMENEZ PAGÁN

Demandada Civil Núm.: BY2022CV01386. Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA. LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS EE.UU., EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE P.R., SS. AVISO DE PÚBLICA SUBASTA. El que suscribe, Alguacil del Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala Superior de Vega Baja, hago saber a la parte demandada VÍCTOR JIMENEZ PAGÁN y al PÚBLICO EN GENERAL; que en cumplimiento del Mandamiento de Ejecución de Sentencia expedido el 23 de agosto de 2022, por la Secretaría del Tribunal, procederé a vender y venderé en pública subasta por el precio mínimo de $221,184.00 y al mejor postor, pagadero en efectivo, cheque de gerente o giro postal, a nombre del alguacil del tribunal, la propiedad que se describe a continuación: 1510 CALLE VALLE ESCONDIDO, BARRIO LAS GRANJAS, VEGA BAJA, PR 00694, y que se describe de la siguiente manera: RÚSTICA: Solar identificado con el #5 en el plano de inscripción sustituyo II, ubicado en el Barrio Pugnado Afuera, Sector Las Granjas, del término municipal de Vega Baja, Puerto Rico. Área del solar: 782.7231 metros cuadrados. En lindes por el Norte, con calle dedicada a uso público; por el Sur, con las granjas #10 y #7; por el Este, con solar #7, y por el Oeste, con calle dedicada a uso público. Finca 32313 inscrita al folio 222 del tomo 443 de Vega Baja, Registro de la Propiedad de Bayamón, Sección IV. La finca antes descrita se encuentra afecta a los siguientes gravámenes: (i) HIPOTECA constituida por Víctor Jimenez Pagan, soltero, en garantía de un pagaré, aff#.4244, a favor de Scotiabank de P.R., o a su orden, por $221,184.00, al 3.25%, vencedero el 1 de abril de 2045, según Esc. #48, en San Juan, a 31 de marzo de 2015, ante Rina Cofiño Hernández, inscrita al Sistema Karibe de Vega Baja, finca #32313, inscripción 7ma, Registro de la Propiedad de Bayamón, Sección IV. La hipoteca objeto de esta ejecución es la que ha quedado descrita en el inciso (i). Será celebrada la subasta para con el importe de la misma satisfacer la sentencia dicta el 15 de junio de 2022, mediante la cual se condenó a la parte demandada pagar a la parte demandante la suma de $194,514.23 de principal, más

indicado venderé en pública subasta al mejor postor de contado y en moneda legal de los Estados Unidos de América, el DÍA DOCE (12) DE ABRIL DE 2023, A LAS DIEZ DE LA MAÑANA (10:00 AM) en mi oficina, sita en el Centro Judicial de Caguas, Puerto Rico, el siguiente inmueble: RÚSTICA:

Parcela de terreno de forma irregular radicado en el Barrio Rio Cañas del término municipal de Caguas, Puerto Rico, con una cabida superficial de tres mil ciento cincuenta y un metros veintisiete centímetros cuadrados (3,151,27); colinda por el NORTE, en cuarenta y ocho metros y cuarenta y ocho milímetros (48.048), con el Lago; por el SUR y OESTE, en setenta y ocho metros y cuatrocientos sesenta y dos milímetros (78.462) y sesenta y dos metros y quinientos cincuenta y cuatro milímetros (62.554), respectivamente, con el remanente de la finca principal de la cual se segrega; y por el ESTE, en treinta y cinco metros trescientos setenta y ocho milímetros (35.378), con una parcela compuesta de mil trescientos treinta metros y veinticuatro centímetros (1,330.24) a segregarse de la finca principal y en cuatro metros novecientos cuarenta y un milímetros (4.941), con un camino municipal. Inscrita al folio cuarenta y cinco (45) del tomo quinientos diecinueve (519) de Caguas, finca número dieciséis mil seiscientos setenta y ocho (16,678), Registro de la Propiedad de Caguas, Sección Primera. Dicha propiedad está afecta a una (1) hipoteca a favor de la parte demandante, la cual se desglosa a continuación: a. Hipoteca en garantía de un pagaré a favor de la Cooperativa de Ahorro y Crédito de Caguas, o a su orden, por la cantidad de $339,150.00, con intereses al 7% anual, vencedero el primero (1ro.) de febrero de 2040, según la escritura número 4, otorgada en Caguas, el 3 de enero de 2010 ante el notario público Manuel U. Rivera Giménez, inscripción vigésima primera, Registro de la Propiedad de Caguas, Sección Primera. La dirección física de la propiedad es: Barrio Río Cañas, Sector La Ponderosa, Carr. 798, Km. 2.0, Caguas, Puerto Rico 00725. Se ha ordenado la venta en pública subasta de la finca antes mencionada para satisfacer el monto adeudado de la hipoteca y se llevará a efecto por un precio mínimo de $339,150.00 y su producto servirá a la demandante como abono al importe de la Sentencia que ha obtenido ascendente a $335,709.38 de principal de la primera hipoteca, más los intereses devengados a razón del 7% anual, más la suma de $33,915.00 para costas, gastos y honorarios de abogado establecidos en la sentencia. Los autos y todos los documentos correspondientes al proce-

dimiento incoado estarán de manifiesto en la Secretaría del Tribunal durante las horas laborables. Todo licitador deberá asumir la parte proporcional de la carga que afecta la propiedad así subastada. Si se declarare desierta la subasta señalada, la misma será nuevamente celebrada el DIECINUEVE (19)

DE ABRIL DE 2023 A LAS DIEZ DE LA MAÑANA (10:00 AM) en el mismo lugar antes señalado por la suma de $226,100.00, equivalente a 2/3 partes del tipo mínimo original pactado para la hipoteca. A su vez, de declararse desierta dicha segunda subasta, la misma será celebrada por tercera y última vez el VEINTISÉIS (26) DE ABRIL DE 2023 A LAS DIEZ DE LA MAÑANA (10:00 AM) en el mismo lugar antes señalado por la suma de $169,575.00, equivalente a la 112 parte del tipo mínimo original pactado para la hipoteca. No obstante, si se declarare desierta la tercera subasta se dará por terminado el proceso y se podrá adjudicar el inmueble a la parte demandante, conforme lo dispuesto en el Artículo 104 de la Ley del Registro de la Propiedad Inmobiliaria de 2015. Que se entenderá que todo licitador acepta como bastante la titularidad y que las cargas y gravámenes anteriores y los preferentes, si los hubiere, al crédito del ejecutante continuarán subsistentes. Se entenderá, que el rematante los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de éstos sin destinarse a su extinción el precio del remate. Que la propiedad objeto de ejecución está afecta a los siguientes gravámenes preferentes: Hipoteca en garantía de un pagaré a favor de Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, o a su orden, por la cantidad de $160,000.00, con intereses al 8.75% anual, vencedero a la presentación, según la Escritura número 149, otorgada en Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico el día 15 de junio de 1994 ante el Notario Público Juan Rivera Torres, la cual consta inscrita al folio doscientos setenta y nueve (279) del tomo mil ciento cincuenta y siete (1,157) de Caguas, finca número dieciséis mil seiscientos setenta y ocho (16,678), inscripción décimo sexta, Registro de la Propiedad de Caguas, Sección Primera. Por la presente se notifica a los acreedores que tengan inscritos o anotados sus derechos sobre los bienes hipotecados con posterioridad a la inscripción del crédito del ejecutante o acreedores de cargos o derechos reales que hubiesen pospuesto a la hipoteca del actor y a los dueños poseedores tenedores o de interesados en títulos transmisibles por endoso o al portador garantizados hipotecariamente con posterioridad al crédito del actor y con los cuales no hubiese tenido efecto la notificación personal del escrito inicial y del Mandamiento

del requerimiento de pago, para que puedan concurrir a la subasta si les conviniere o satisficiera antes del remate el importe del crédito de sus intereses, costas y honorarios de abogados asegurados quedando subrogados en los derechos del acreedor ejecutante. Que la propiedad a ser ejecutada se adquirirá libre de cargas y gravámenes posteriores. Que los autos y todos los documentos correspondientes al procedimiento incoado están de manifiesto en la Secretaría de este tribunal, pudiendo ser revisados por cualquier parte durante horas laborables. Y para su publicación de acuerdo con la Ley en un periódico de los de mayor circulación, y para conocimiento de la parte demandada y del público en general, y para conocimiento del Departamento de Hacienda y/o al Centro de Recaudación de Ingresos Municipales (CRIM) que pueda tener algún crédito por concepto de contribuciones territoriales o de cualquier otra índole, y para su publicación además, en los sitios públicos de costumbre, expido el presente Edicto de Subasta bajo mi firma y sello del Tribunal Superior de Puerto Rico, Sala de Caguas, hoy 8 de marzo de 2023. ÁNGEL GÓMEZ GÓMEZ, ALGUACIL PLACA #593, ALGUACIL DEL TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA. ***

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA

TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE MAYAGÜEZ

REVERSE MORTGAGE

FUNDING, LLC

Demandante V.

SUCESION BENITO

PEREA CRESPO COMPUESTA POR WILFREDO PEREA

LOPEZ, MARGARITA

PEREA LOPEZ, MIRIAM PEREZ LOPEZ, GILBERTO PEREZ LOPEZ COMO HEREDEROS DE NOMBRE CONOCIDO, FULANO DE TAL Y SUTANO DE TAL

COMO HEREDEROS DE NOMBRES DESCONOCIDOS, SUCESION DE ANA

GONZALEZ ACEVEDO COMPUESTA POR

CARLOS RIOS

GONZALEZ, RAUL RIOS

GONZALEZ, SARA RIOS

GONZALEZ, MAYRA

RIOS GONZALEZ, COMO HEREDEROS DE NOMBRE CONOCIDO, FULANO DE TAL Y SUTANO DE TAL COMO

POSIBLES HEREDEROS DE NOMBRE DESCONOCIDO, CENTRO DE RECAUDACION DE INGRESOS MUNICIPALES Y LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMERICA

Demandado(a)

Civil: MZ2022CV00031. Sobre: EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECAIN REM. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: FULANO DE TAL Y SUTANO DE TAL

POSIBLES HEREDEROS DE NOMBRES DESCONOCIDOS DE SUCESION DE BENITO PEREA CRESPO, SUCESION DE ANA GONZALEZ ACEVEDO COMPUESTA POR CARLOS RIOS GONZALEZ, RAUL RIOS GONZALEZ, SARA RIOS GONZALEZ, MAYRA RIOS GONZALEZ, COMO HEREDEROS DE NOMBRE CONOCIDO, FULANO DE TAL Y SUTANO DE TAL COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS DE NOMBRE DESCONOCIDO DE LA SUCESION DE ANA GONZALEZ ACEVEDO. (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 06 de marzo de 2023, 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 21 de marzo de 2023. En Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, el 21 de marzo de 2023. LCDA. NORMA G. SANTANA IRIZARRY, SECRETARIA. NILDA TORRES ACEVEDO, SECRETARIA AUXILIAR.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA

TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE MAYAGÜEZ

MTGLQ INVESTORS LP

Demandante V. SUCESION DE RUBEN RODRIGUEZ SANCHEZ COMPUESTA POR

MADELINE RODRIGUEZ

OLAN, CARLOS

RUBEN RODRIGUEZ

OLAN, FULANO Y SUTANO DE TAL COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS; IVETTE

MERCED VEGA POR SI Y COMO CONYUGE SUPERSTITE; CENTRO DE RECAUDACION DE INGRESOS MUNICIPALES

Demandado(a)

Civil: MZ2022CV00797. Sobre: EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECAIN REM. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: SUCESION DE RUBEN RODRIGUEZ SANCHEZ COMPUESTA POR

MADELINE RODRIGUEZ

OLAN, CARLOS RUBEN RODRIGUEZ

OLAN, FULANO Y SUTANO DE TAL COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS DE LA SUCESION RUBEN RODRIGUEZ SANCHEZ. (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 15 de febrero de 2023, 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 21 de marzo de 2023. En Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, el 21 de marzo de 2023. LCDA. NORMA G. SANTANA IRIZARRY, SECRETARIA. NILDA TORRES ACEVEDO, SECRETARIA AUXILIAR.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA

TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE CIALES BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO

Demandante V. CARLOS RUBEN RODRIGUEZ CRUZ

Demandado(a)

Civil: CI2022CV00374. Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: CARLOS RUBEN RODRIGUEZ CRUZ.

(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 17 de marzo de 2023, 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 20 de marzo de 2023. En Ciales, Puerto Rico, el 20 de marzo de 2023. VIVIAN FRESSE GONZÁLEZ, SECRETARIA. JANETTE GONZÁLEZ VARGAS, SECRETARIA AUXILIAR.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA MUNICIPAL DE MANATÍ

FIRSTBANK PUERTO RICO

Demandante V.

ANTHONY BONET TORRES

Demandado(a)

Civil: AR2022CV00957. Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: ANTHONY BONET TORRES.

(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 21 de marzo de 2023, 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 21 de marzo de 2023. En Manatí, Puerto Rico, el 21 de marzo de 2023. VIVIAN Y. FRESSE GONZÁLEZ, SECRETARIA. CARMEN J. ROSARIO VALENTÍN, SECRETARIA AUXILIAR.

LEGAL NOTICE

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

Luna Performance II LLC

Demandante v.

Migdalia Malpica Ortiz, por sí y como miembro conocido de la Sucesión de Faustino Peña

Pimienta; Norma Peña Valdiria, Raúl Peña Valdiria como miembros conocidos de la Sucesión de Faustino Peña

Pimienta; Fulano de Tal y Fulana de Tal como miembros desconocidos de la Sucesión de Faustino Peña Pimienta Demandado(a)

Civil: AR2022CV01253. Sobre: Cobro de dinero y Ejecución de hipoteca. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: Migdalia Malpica Ortiz y Norma Peña Valdiria, miembros conocidos de la Sucesión de Faustino

Peña Pimienta; Fulano de Tal y Fulana de Tal como miembros desconocidos de la Sucesión de Faustino Peña Pimienta76 Calle Pedro Muñiz, Urb. Luchetti, Manatí, PR 00674; HC 91 Box 8962, Vega Alta, PR 00692 (Nombre de las partes a las que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto)

EL SECRETARIO(A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que 16 de marzo de 2023 , este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted en-

terarse 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 17 de marzo de 2023. En Manatí , Puerto Rico, el 17 de marzo de 2023. Vivian Y. Fresse González, Secretaria. f/ Carmen J. Rosario Valentín, Secretaria Auxiliar.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE BAYAMÓN DELIA ESTHER REVERON; JOSÉ ANGEL REVERÓN KUILAN; SUCESIÓN DE HIPÓLITO REVERÓN KUILAN COMPUESTA POR: CARLOS JAVIER REVERON RODRÍGUEZ, VÍCTOR LUIS REVERÓN RODRÍGUEZ Y MARÍA LUISA RODRÍGUEZ CORREA Demandante Vs. SUCESIÓN DE WILFREDO REVERÓN KUILAN, COMPUESTA POR: EULALIA REVERÓN GARCÍA, WANDA MICHELLE REVERÓN, MAYRA REVERÓN, WILFREDO REVERÓ, ANNETTE REVERÓN; SUCESIÓN DE LINO REVERÓN SALGADO, COMPUESTA POR: LINO REVERÓN MARRERO, IVETTE REVERÓN MARRERO, MIGUEL REVERÓN MARRERO, RICHARD REVERÓN MARRERO, ROBERTO REVERÓN MARRERO, IVELISSE REVERÓN MARRERO, WANDA REVERÓN MARRERO, MARGARITA REVERÓN MARRERO, ANA MERCEDEZ REVERÓN MARRERO, EDDIE REVERÓN MARRERO, EDWIN REVERÓN MARRERO, JOSÉ ANGEL REVERÓN MARRERO,

PROVIDENCIA

REVERÓN MARRERO, LILLIAN REVERÓN MARRERO, ALFREDO REVERÓN MARRERO; SUCESIÓN DE RAFAEL REVERÓN SALGADO, COMPUESTA

POR: RAFAEL REVERÓN GARCIA, SAMUEL REVERÓN, ANA GARCÍA; ISABEL REVERÓN SALGADO; FULANO DE TAL Y MENGANO DE TAL Demandados

Civil Núm.: BY2023CV01107.

Sobre: LIQUIDACIÓN DE CAUDAL HEREDITARIO. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO.

LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO, ss.

A: LA PARTE DEMANDADA, COMPUESTA POR TODOS

LOS HEREDEROS, CONOCIDOS Y DESCONOCIDOS DE, SUCESIÓN DE WILFREDO REVERÓN

KUILAN, COMPUESTA

POR: EULALIA REVERÓN

GARCÍA, WANDA

MICHELLE REVERÓN, MAYRA REVERÓN, WILFREDO REVERÓ, ANNETTE REVERÓN; SUCESIÓN DE LINO REVERÓN SALGADO, COMPUESTA POR: LINO REVERÓN MARRERO, IVETTE REVERON MARRERO, MIGUEL

REVERÓN MARRERO, RICHARD REVERON

MARRERO, ROBERTO REVERÓN MARRERO, IVELISSE REVERÓN

MARRERO, WANDA

REVERÓN MARRERO, MARGARITA REVERÓN MARRERO, ANA

MERCEDEZ REVERÓN

MARRERO, EDDIE

REVERÓN MARRERO, EDWIN REVERÓN

MARRERO, JOSÉ ANGEL

REVERÓN MARRERO, PROVIDENCIA REVERÓN

MARRERO, LILLIAN

REVERÓN MARRERO, ALFREDO REVERÓN MARRERO; SUCESIÓN

DE RAFAEL REVERÓN

SALGADO, COMPUESTA

POR: RAFAEL REVERÓN

GARCÍA, SAMUEL

REVERON, ANA GARCIA; ISABEL REVERON

SALGADO; FULANO DE

TAL Y MENGANO DE TAL.

Por la presente se le emplaza y

se le notifica que una demanda ha sido presentada en su contra y se le requiere para que conteste la demanda dentro treinta (30) días siguientes a la publicación de este edicto. Usted debe 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 correspondiente, notificando copia a la parte demandante a la siguiente dirección: LCDA.

OMARY RIVERA GONZALEZ, PO BOX 441 BAYAMÓN PR 00960-0441. Por la presente se le apercibe que de no comparecer a formular alegaciones dentro de treinta (30) días contados a partir de la fecha de la publicación de este Edicto, se le anotará la rebeldía y se dictará sentencia de acuerdo con lo solicitado en la Demanda, sin más citarle ni oírle. EXPEDIDO BAJO MI FIRMA Y SELLO DEL TRIBUNAL, EN BAYAMÓN, PUERTO RICO, A 13 DE marzo de 2023. LCDA. LAURA I. SANTA SÁNCHEZ, SECRETARIA

REGIONAL. LUREIMY ALICEA GONZÁLEZ, SECRETARIA

AUXILIAR DEL TRIBUNAL.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU-

NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA

CENTRO JUDICIAL DE BAYAMÓN SALA SUPERIOR

BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO

Parte Demandante Vs. SUCESIón DE BENJAMín RIVERA TORRES COMPUESTA

POR FULANO Y MENGANO DE TAL, POSIBLES HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS;

SUCESIÓN DE SILVIA

BETANCOURT

RAMOS T/C/C SILVIA

MARÍA BETANCOURT

RAMOS T/C/C SYLVIA

MARÍA BETANCOURT

RAMOS T/C/C SYLVIA

M. BETANCOURT

RAMOS T/C/C SYLVIA

BETANCOURT

RAMOS COMPUESTA

POR SUTANO Y PERENCEJO DE TAL, POSIBLES HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS;

ANGÉLICA MARÍA

RIVERA BETANCOURT, JOSÉ MANUEL RIVERA BETANCOURT, POR SÍ

Y COMO HEREDEROS DE BENJAMÍN RIVERA

TORRES Y DE SILVIA

BETANCOURT

RAMOS T/C/C SILVIA

MARÍA BETANCOURT

RAMOS T/C/C SYLVIA

MARÍA BETANCOURT

RAMOS T/C/C SYLVIA

M. BETANCOURT

RAMOS T/C/C SYLVIA

BETANCOURT RAMOS; ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA

Parte Demandada

Civil Núm.: BY2021CV05214.

(505). Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA POR LA VÍA ORDINARIA. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS, EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO, SS. AVISO DE PÚBLICA SUBASTA. El Alguacil que suscribe por la presente anuncia y hace constar que en cumplimiento de la Sentencia dictada el 30 de septiembre de 2022, la Orden de Ejecución de Sentencia del 28 de febrero de 2023 y el Mandamiento de Ejecución del 1 de marzo de 2023 en el caso de epígrafe, procederé a vender el día 27 DE ABRIL DE 2023, A LAS 9:15 DE LA MAÑANA, en el Cuarto Piso de la Oficina del Alguacil de Subastas, localizada en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Centro Judicial de Bayamón, Sala Superior, ubicado en la Carretera Número Dos (#2), Kilómetro

10.4, Esquina Esteban Padilla, Bayamón, Puerto Rico, al mejor postor en pago de contado y en moneda de los Estados Unidos de América, cheque de gerente o giro postal a nombre del Alguacil del Tribunal; todo título, derecho o interés de la parte demandada sobre la siguiente propiedad: URBANA: Parcela de terreno en la Urbanización Rexville, situada en el Barrio Pájaros de Bayamón, Puerto Rico, marcado con el Número siete (7) de la manzana CA, con un área de 240.00 metros cuadrados. En lindes por el NORTE, con el Solar Número seis (6), distancia de 24.00 metros; por el SUR, con el Solar Número ocho (8), distancia de 24.00 metros; por el ESTE, con la Calle Número trece (13), distancia de 10.00 metros; y por el OESTE, con el Solar Número treinta y ocho (38), distancia de 10.00 metros. Enclava una casa residencial para una familia. Inscrita al folio 176 del Tomo 976 de Bayamón, Finca 43800. Registro de Bayamón, Sección I. La hipoteca consta inscrita al folio 70 del tomo 1811 de Bayamón, Finca 43800. Registro de Bayamón, Sección I. Inscripción séptima (7ma). La modificación de hipoteca consta inscrita al folio 70 vuelto del tomo 1811 de Bayamón, Finca 43800. Registro de Bayamón, Sección I. Inscripción décima (10ma).

Dirección Física: Urb. Rexville, CA7 Calle 13, Bayamón, PR

00957-4012. Número de Catastro: 15-084-100-441-29-001.

El tipo mínimo para la primera subasta será de $103,887.39.

De no haber adjudicación en la primera subasta se celebrará una SEGUNDA SUBASTA, el día 4 DE MAYO DE 2023, A LAS 9:15 DE LA MAÑANA, en el mismo lugar, en la cual el tipo mínimo será de dos terceras partes del tipo mínimo fijado en la primera subasta, o sea, $69,258.26. De no haber adjudicación en la segunda subasta, se celebrará una TERCERA

SUBASTA el día 11 DE MAYO DE 2023, A LAS 9:15 DE LA MAÑANA, en el mismo lugar, en la cual el tipo mínimo será la mitad del precio pactado, o sea, $51,943.69. Si se declarase desierta la tercera subasta, se adjudicará la finca a favor del acreedor por la totalidad de la cantidad adeudada si ésta es igual o menor que el monto del tipo de la tercera subasta, si el tribunal lo estima conveniente. Se abonará dicho monto a la cantidad adeudada si esta es mayor. Dicho remate se llevará a cabo para con su producto satisfacer a la demandante el importe de la Sentencia por la suma de $98,903.01 de principal, más intereses sobre dicha suma al 6.875% anual desde el 1 de octubre de 2020 hasta su completo pago, más $1,299.70 de recargos acumulados, los cuales continuarán en aumento hasta el saldo total de la deuda, más la cantidad estipulada de $10,160.00 para costas, gastos y honorarios de abogados, así como cualquier otra suma que contenga el contrato del préstamo, así como cualquier otra suma que contenga el contrato del préstamo. Surge del Estudio de Título Registra! que sobre esta propiedad pesan los siguientes gravámenes posteriores a la hipoteca que por la presente se pretende ejecutar:

a. Embargo Federal: Anotado contra José Rivera, seguro social (no expresado), por la suma de $39,948.00, según notificación número 110180WP, presentada el 26 de febrero de 2014, al asiento 1 de la página 149 del Libro de Embargos Federales número 12. b. Aviso de Demanda: Pleito seguido por Doral Bank como agente de Servicios del Banco Popular de Puerto Rico vs. Silvia Betancourt Ramos t/c/c Silvia María Betancourt Ramos t/c/c Sylvia María Betancourt Ramos t/c/c Sylvia M. Betancourt Ramos t/c/c Sylvia Betancourt Ramos por sí y como heredera de la Sucesión de Benjamín Rivera Torres compuesta por John Doe y Richard Roe, ante el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala Superior de Bayamón, en el caso civil número DCD20121952, sobre Cobro de Dinero y Ejecución de Hipoteca, en la que se reclama el pago de hipoteca, con un balance de $85,726.84 y otras cantidades, según demanda de fecha de

16 de julio de 2012. Anotada al folio 70 del Tomo 1811 de Bayamón. Anotación A. c. Aviso de Demanda: Pleito seguido por Banco Popular de Puerto Rico Vs. Sucesión de Benjamín Rivera Torres, compuesta por Fulano y Mengano de Tal, la Sucesión de Silvia Betancourt Ramos t/c/c Silvia María Betancourt Ramos t/c/c Sylvia María Betancourt Ramos t/c/c Sylvia M. Betancourt Ramos t/c/c Sylvia Betancourt Ramos compuesta por Sutano y Perencejo de tal, Angélica María Rivera Betancourt, José Manuel Rivera Betancourt y Estados Unidos de América, ante el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala Superior de Bayamón, caso Civil Número BY2021CV05214, sobre Cobro de Dinero y Ejecución de Hipoteca, en la que se reclama el pago de hipoteca, con un balance de $98,903.01 y otras cantidades, según demanda de fecha de 22 de diciembre de 2021. Anotada al folio 70 del Tomo 1811 de Bayamón. Anotación B. Se les advierte a los interesados que todos los documentos relacionados con la presente acción de ejecución de hipoteca, así como los de Subasta, estarán disponibles para ser examinados, durante horas laborables, en el expediente del caso que obra en los archivos de la Secretaría del Tribunal, bajo el número de epígrafe y para su publicación en un periódico de circulación general en Puerto Rico por espacio de dos semanas y por lo menos una vez por semana; y para su fijación en los sitios públicos requeridos por ley. Se entenderá que todo licitador acepta como bastante la titularidad y que las cargas y gravámenes anteriores y los preferentes, si los hubiere, al crédito del ejecutante, continuarán subsistentes; entendiéndose que el rematante los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de los mismos, sin destinarse a su extinción el precio del remate y que la propiedad a ser ejecutada se adquirirá libre de cargas y gravámenes posteriores, tal como lo expresa la Ley Núm. 2102015. Y para el conocimiento de los demandados, de los acreedores posteriores, de los licitadores, partes interesadas y público en general, EXPIDO para su publicación en los lugares públicos correspondientes, el presente Aviso de Pública Subasta en Bayamón, Puerto Rico, hoy 10 de marzo de 2023. EDGARDO ELÍAS VARGAS SANTANA, ALGUACIL AUXILIAR PLACA #193, TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA, CENTRO JUDICIAL DE BAYAMÓN, SALA SUPERIOR.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA DE CAMUY

DOMINGO VIDAL RIOS ALICEA

Demandante V. ORIENTAL BANK ET ALS

Demandado(a)

Civil: HA2022CV00263. Sobre: CANCELACIÓN DE PAGARÉ EXTRAVIADO. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: JOHN DOE Y RICHARD ROE. (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 13 de marzo de 2023, 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 17 de marzo de 2023. En Camuy, Puerto Rico, el 17 de marzo de 2023. VIVIAN Y. FRESSE GONZÁLEZ, SECRETARIA. YOLANDA RIVERA COLÓN, SECRETARIA AUXILIAR.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE CAROLINA

BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO

Demandante Vs. SUCESIÓN DE ELSIE

ANTONIA GONZALEZ

QUIÑONES, COMPUESTA

POR SU HIJA ELSIE

REBECA MARENGO

GONZALEZ Y LUIS M.

CEPEDA ROMERO, EN CUANTO A LA CUOTA VIUDAL

USUFRUCTUARIA; CENTRO DE RECAUDACION DE INGRESOS MUNICIPALES (“CRIM”)

Demandados

Civil Núm.: CA2022CV02842. (407). Sobre: EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA POR LA VÍA ORDINARIA “IN REM”. EDICTO DE SUBASTA.

Al: PÚBLICO EN GENERAL. A: SUCESIÓN DE ELSIE ANTONIA GONZALEZ QUIÑONES, COMPUESTA POR SU HIJA ELSIE REBECA

MARENGO GONZALEZ Y LUIS M. CEPEDA

ROMERO, EN CUANTO

A LA CUOTA VIUDAL USUFRUCTUARIA; CENTRO DE RECAUDACION DE INGRESOS MUNICIPALES (“CRIM”).

Yo, HÉCTOR L. PEÑA RODRIGUEZ, ALGUACIL PLACA #278, Alguacil de este Tribunal, a la parte demandada y a los acreedores y personas con interés sobre la propiedad que más adelante se describe, y al público en general, HAGO SABER: Que el día 4 DE MAYO DE 2023, A LAS 1:15 DE LA TARDE en mi oficina, sita en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala Superior de Carolina, Carolina, Puerto Rico, venderé en Pública Subasta la propiedad inmueble que más adelante se describe y cuya venta en pública subasta se ordenó por la vía ordinaria al mejor postor quien hará el pago en dinero en efectivo, giro postal o cheque certificado a nombre del o la Alguacil del Tribunal de Primera Instancia. Los autos y todos los documentos correspondientes al procedimiento incoado, estarán de manifiesto en la Secretaría del Tribunal de Carolina durante horas laborables. Que en caso de no producir remate ni adjudicación en la primera subasta a celebrarse, se celebrará una SEGUNDA SUBASTA para la venta de la susodicha propiedad, el día 11 DE MAYO DE 2023, A LAS 1:15 DE LA TARDE y en caso de no producir remate ni adjudicación, se celebrará una TERCERA SUBASTA el 18 DE MAYO DE 2023, A LAS 1:15 DE LA TARDE en mi oficina sita en el lugar antes indicado. La propiedad a venderse en pública subasta se describe como sigue: URBANA: Solar marcado con el número W guión Cuarenta y Dos (W-42) del plano de inscripción del proyecto VBC demoninado Villa Cooperativa también conocido como JARDÍNES DE BORINQUEN radicada en el Barrio Hoyo Mulas del término municipal de Carolina, Puerto Rico, con una cabida de CIENTO VEINTIOCHO PUNTO DIEZ (128.10) METROS CUADRADOS. En lindes por el NORTE, con el solar número Nueve (9), con una distancia de seis punto diez (6.10) metros; por el SUR, con la calle número Dieciséis (16), con una distancia de seis punto diez (6.10) metros; por el ESTE, con el solar número Cuarenta y Uno (41), con una distancia de vein-

tiuno punto cero cero (21.00) metros; y por el OESTE, con el solar número Cuarenta y Tres (43), con una distancia de veintiuno punto cero cero (21.00) metros, con el solar aquí descrito. Enclava una casa de hilera su pared medianera por el Este colinda con la pared medianera de la vivienda número Cuarenta y Uno (41) y por el Oeste colinda con la pared medianera de la vivienda número Cuarenta y Tres (43) en el lado Norte se grava una servidumbre de la Puerto Rico Telephone Company de cinco pies (5’). La escritura de hipoteca se encuentra inscrita al folio móvil del tomo 1335 de Carolina, Registro de la Propiedad de Carolina, Sección Segunda, finca número 38,728, inscripción séptima. La dirección física de la propiedad antes descrita es: Urbanización Jardines de Borinquen, Calle Violeta, W-42, Carolina, Puerto Rico. La Subasta se llevará a efecto para satisfacer a la parte demandante la suma de $54,772.06, intereses al 9% anual desde el 1ro. de febrero de 2018, hasta su completo pago, más la cantidad de $6,960.00 estipulada para costas, gastos y honorarios de abogado más recargos acumulados, todas cuyas sumas están líquidas y exigibles. Que la cantidad mínima de licitación en la primera subasta para el inmueble será de $69,600.00 y de ser necesaria una segunda subasta, la cantidad mínima será equivalente a 2/3 partes de aquella, o sea, la suma de $46,400.00 y de ser necesaria una tercera subasta, la cantidad mínima será la mitad del precio pactado, es decir, la suma de $34,800.00. De declararse desierta la tercera subasta se adjudicará la finca a favor del acreedor por la totalidad de la cantidad adeudada si esta es igual o menor que el monto del tipo de la tercera subasta, si el Tribunal lo estima conveniente. Se abonará dicho monto a la cantidad adeudada si esta es mayor. La propiedad se adjudicará al mejor postor, quien deberá satisfacer el importe de su oferta en moneda legal y corriente de los Estados Unidos de América en el momento de la adjudicación y que las cargas y gravámenes preferentes, si los hubiese, continuarán subsistentes, entendiéndose que el rematante los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de los mismos, sin destinarse a su extinción el precio del remate. La propiedad a ser vendida en pública subasta se adquirirá libre de cargas y gravámenes posteriores. Podrán concurrir como postores a todas las subastas los titulares de créditos hipotecarios vigentes y posteriores a la hipoteca que se cobra o ejecuta, si alguno o que figuren como tales en la certificación registral y que podrán utilizar el montante de sus créditos o parte de alguno en

For Argentina’s champions, back to work means back to earth

By RORY SMITH

When Alexis Mac Allister returned to his day job, he was greeted by a standing ovation, an Argentine flag and a set of strategically placed cannons that showered him with blue, white and gold glitter. His Premier League team, Brighton, had even gone to the trouble of commissioning a scale-model replica of the World Cup trophy for him to lift.

Few of Mac Allister’s teammates on the Argentina squad that became world champions three months ago experienced such a lavish welcome when they returned to their clubs, but most were treated to some sort of celebration, a heartfelt recognition of their achievement.

Defender Lisandro Martínez was applauded onto the field at Manchester United. Reserve goalkeeper Franco Armani has received at least one commemorative jersey from his opponents. Midfielder Exequiel Palacios spent a portion of his first day back at Bayer Leverkusen signing autographs for his co-workers.

Marcos Acuña, Alejandro Gómez and Gonzalo Montiel — the scorer of the penalty that brought his nation its third World Cup — were invited to take part in a ceremonial kickoff before their first home game for their club, Sevilla. Acuña and Montiel appeared with their gold medals around their necks. Gómez, wearing a black trench coat, clasped his in his fist.

Others opted for a more low-key approach. Lionel Messi was granted a guard of honor at his first training session with Paris St.-Germain; the club, probably sensibly, had presumably decided that the French public would not be in the mood to toast Argentina’s success at its expense.

Thiago Almada, who at 21 is the youngest official member of Argentina’s squad, found something similar waiting for him at Atlanta United. “We gave him a túnel, and I addressed him in front of the team,” said Gonzalo Pineda, Atlanta’s head coach. “It’s a massive achievement for him, of course, but we want to keep him grounded, too.”

How to do that is the dilemma facing not only the 19 clubs that were represented on the victorious Argentina squad, but the 26 players themselves. (That figure rises to 27 if Federico Gomes Gerth, a goalkeeper with the Argentine club Tigre who was brought to Qatar to help in training, is included; the 19-year-old was sent his own medal last week.)

Winning the World Cup, after all, will likely be the pinnacle of each of their careers, an achievement that midfielder Rodrigo De Paul has described as “the key to eternity.” They are conscious that it is a triumph that they may well be unable to match, and which they certainly will not be allowed to forget: Emiliano Martínez, the goalkeeper, has noted that “people keep telling me that I have achieved the maximum in soccer.”

Argentina’s mood, naturally, remains celebratory. On Thursday, the team will take the field for the first time since its World Cup win in Qatar, wearing jerseys proudly embroidered with three stars. At the end of the team’s friendly against Panama in Buenos Aires, Messi will present the World Cup trophy to the crowd. It is such an enticing prospect that some 1.8 million people — 4% of the country’s population — applied for tickets. They sold out in two hours. “There is a madness that is still being lived, and will be lived for a long time,” De Paul said.

For the players, that intense interest has presented a considerable challenge. All World Cup winners have to descend to Earth at some point, of course, but most do not have to do it quite so quickly.

The scheduling of Qatar 2022, in the middle of the European season, meant that a majority of the players on Lionel Scaloni’s squad were summoned back to the relative mundanity of club soccer within a couple of weeks.

They had been marked, figuratively and literally, by what they had achieved — Ángel

Di

María and

Emiliano Martínez both now

have the World Cup trophy tattooed on their legs; Montiel has three stars on his neck — but now they found themselves commanded, almost instantly, to turn the page on the most glorious chapter of their careers.

“It is the most difficult stage after you have achieved something so big,” Palacios told Infobae in January. “You have to change your focus quickly and continue training.”

In most cases, the players seem to have made that transition relatively smoothly. Those who work with them say the gold medals have been a source of inspiration rather than a token of satisfaction. “He’s got a spring in his step,” Evan Ferguson, Mac Allister’s teammate at Brighton, said of the 24-year-old midfielder. “But he’s still grounded. He’s still giving his all in training.

He doesn’t think he’s better than us now.”

That does not mean, though, that waking up every morning as a World Cup winner does not have an impact. Xabi Alonso, a world champion with Spain in 2010 and now Palacios’ coach at Leverkusen, has noticed that the 24-year-old has a little bit more “confidence about what he has achieved” in his career since he returned from Qatar. “Being part of that historic win, the way the team played and the fact he was part of it has helped him enormously,” Alonso said.

Atlanta has not seen any signs that Almada is prepared to rest on his laurels, though the relatively muted celebration that greeted his return indicates that the club was aware of the risk. “His objective has always been to be a major player on a team in Europe,” Pineda said. “He wants to succeed there, to be a starter for the national team, to be on the top level. He is young and he is super-talented, but he still has a couple more things to prove.”

Winning the World Cup before his 22nd birthday, as far as the club is concerned, has not changed any of that. At the start of this season, Atlanta provided each member of its squad with an individual development plan, a way of tracking every player’s growth, reminding them both of where they are and where they want to be.

Almada’s has not been updated to reflect the fact that he has lifted the World Cup, completed his ultimate dream, obtained his key to eternity. He, like his teammates on that Argentina squad, might never be able to match what they achieved in Qatar. But that does not mean that they should not try.

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Argentina’s Nahuel Pérez, Emiliano Martínez and Nicolás Domínguez during training at Julio Humberto Grondona Training Camp, Ezeiza, Argentina.

Forged after a tumultuous era, World Golf Championships fade in another

By ALAN BLINDER

It was not all that long ago — Tom Kim, after all, is only 20 years old — but before Kim emerged as one of the PGA Tour’s wunderkinds-in-progress, he would watch the World Golf Championships.

“For sure, 100%,” Kim cheerfully reminisced as he clacked along this week at Austin Country Club in Texas, the site of the championships’ match play event. “There was WGC in China. There was Firestone before. You had Doral. You had this.”

Had, because once one man wins Sunday, the championships appear poised to fade away. An elite competition forged, in part, because of another era’s tumult has become a casualty of this one’s.

“Everything runs its course and has its time,” said Adam Scott, who has twice won WGC events. Barring a resuscitation, which seems improbable given the PGA Tour’s business strategy these days, the WGC’s time was 24 years.

The WGC circuit was decaying before LIV Golf, the Greg Norman-fronted league that is cumulatively showering players with hundreds of millions of dollars from Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, cleaved men’s professional golf last year. Two WGC events vanished after their 2021 iterations, and a third, always staged in China, has not been contested since 2019 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

And as the PGA Tour has redesigned its model to diminish LIV’s appeal, even the Texas capital’s beloved match play competition has become vulnerable to contractual bickering and shifting priorities.

“We’ve had great events and great champions, but the business evolves and it adapts,” PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said this month, when the tour reinforced its decision to wager its future on “designated events” that should command elite fields and, in some cases beginning next year, be no-cut tournaments capped at 80 players or less. (LIV, whose tournaments always have 48-man fields and no cuts, responded with a wry tweet: “Imitation is the greatest form of flattery. Congratulations PGA Tour. Welcome to the future.”)

With a $20 million purse, doubled in size from five years ago, the match play competition that began Wednesday is a designated event under the 2023 model.

Next year, though, it will not be on the calendar at all, winnowing the WGC to one competition. And Monahan has said it would be “difficult to foresee” when his circuit’s schedule might again include the HSBC Champions, the WGC event in China that will be the last remaining event formally existing in the series.

The Chinese tournament’s website has had few updates in recent years, and an inquiry with the event’s organizers went unanswered. HSBC, the British banking powerhouse that is the tournament’s title sponsor, declined to comment.

But the PGA Tour’s freshly calibrated distance from the Shanghai competition is fueling what looks to be an unceremonious end for the WGC, which were announced to immense fanfare in 1997, when the tour and its allies were smarting over Norman’s failed quest to start a global circuit for the sport’s finest players. The events, which debuted in 1999 with a match play event that sent some of the game’s best home after the first day, were intended to entice and reward the elite without challenging the prestige of the four major tournaments, as well as to give men’s professional golf a greater global footprint.

It worked for a spell, and five continents hosted WGC events, many of which Tiger Woods dominated. With the exception of the Chinese tournament, though, the circuit had lately been played in North America.

“The ‘world’ part of the World Golf Championships wasn’t really in there,”

Rory McIlroy, the four-time major tournament winner whose WGC résumé includes a victory in the 2015 match play event, said in an interview by the practice putting green.

McIlroy, among the architects of the tour’s reimagining as Norman’s unfinished ambitions proved more fruitful this time around, said he had also worried that the WGC events had come to lack “any real meaning,” even as they had been “lovely to be a part of, nice to play in and nice to win.” The tour’s emphasis on select tournaments, many executives and top players like McIlroy believe, will lend more consequence to its season and make it a more appealing, decipherable and concentrated product that can fend off the assault by a LIV circuit bent on simplifying — its critics say diluting — professional golf.

The Austin tournament’s end will, at least for now, reduce match play opportunities on the circuits that have been aligned with the WGC. Although the Austin event — which has three days of group-stage play, followed by single-elimination rounds — has a field of only 64 players, less than half of the size of last year’s British Open, it has been larger and more accessible than other signature match play tournaments.

But given the format’s popularity, it will linger, if a little less, on the international golf scene. The Presidents Cup, Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup will remain fixtures — the Solheim will be contested in Spain in September, with the Ryder decided soon after in Italy — and more modest events, such as the International Crown women’s tournament that will be played in May, still dot the calendar.

Some players this week appeared more mournful than others about the erosion of the WGC and the decline of match play. Scott said he hoped the tour’s new system would be able to accommodate the next generation of ready-for-stardom players from around the world, as the WGC did, even as he said he was not insistent that match play be a staple.

“We don’t play much match play, so the kind of logic in me questions its place in pro golf, but also we’ve got to entertain as well, and if people like to see it and sponsors want to see it, yep, I’m up for it,” Scott said.

He grinned.

“Maybe we should have some more, get a bit more head-to-head and see if guys like each other so much after,” he offered mischievously. “The year of match play!”

Rory McIlroy said that while W.G.C. events had been “lovely to be a part of,” they had come to lack “any real meaning.”

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

Aries (Mar 21-April 20)

A new phase begins today as Pluto moves into Aquarius, where its presence can transform your friendships and social life. For now, you’re getting a taster before it makes its presence truly felt next year. Some long-standing connections may go, while others that are in line with your lifestyle, might show up. Have a dream you’re keen to realize? Doing so could change your life.

Taurus (April 21-May 21)

Your ambitions could reach new heights, as Pluto heads into your career zone. For now, this is a temporary phase, but next year it will become a permanent fixture for the next twenty-four years. Your career and goals could change dramatically, and you’ll want to make an impact on the world in one way or another. You’ll get noticed too, so make sure it’s for all the right reasons.

Gemini (May 22-June 21)

As Pluto powers into Aquarius, it can trigger a desire for the ultimate adventure, Gemini. If you’ve had an urge to travel the world, this influence could encourage you to plan it and get going. And while Pluto will soon revert to Capricorn for much of this year, next year it really gets going, and this is when your thirst for fresh opportunities will truly kick in for the long-term.

Cancer (June 22-July 23)

Potent Pluto moves into an intense zone, giving you a preview of how it will be next year, when it moves in for the long haul. The coming months may bring a deepening interest and focus on the mysteries of life, as well as finance, business and shared assets. You may benefit from money and resources linked to a partnership. Control battles associated with these matters are possible too.

Leo (July 24-Aug 23)

A shift could take place in your relationships due to Pluto’s move into Aquarius for the coming three months. This is only the beginning though, as from next year it moves in full time for the long haul. You may understand yourself in more depth as you interact with others. Some can bring out the best in you and some the worst, but because of this you’ll be transformed, Leo.

Virgo (Aug 24-Sep 23)

Your working methods, routines and lifestyle look set to change, as radical Pluto moves into Aquarius for the next few months. Next year it will be here for the long-term, but for now, you’ll get to experience a sample of what this potent influence might feel like. If you get excited by a project, you may be tempted to overwork. Part of this phase is knowing when to take it easy.

Libra (Sep 24-Oct 23)

As Pluto begins its test run in Aquarius and your leisure zone, you’ll be more focused on your creative talents and keen to do something with them. Whatever you get involved with over coming months, can devour your interest. A romance may be fairly intense, or you could get hooked on a sport and be keen to prove yourself. There’s no superficial, it’s all deep stuff.

Scorpio (Oct 24-Nov 22)

The dynamics of your domestic life may start to go through a shift, as Pluto your guide planet moves into Aquarius for a few months. You’re getting an initial experience of how this planet works in this sector, before it moves fully into your home zone next year. You’ll change from the inside out, and this will impact your role within the family and how you perceive yourself.

Sagittarius (Nov 23-Dec 21)

You’re entering a time when Pluto’s initial move into your sector of talk and thought, brings a chance to change your mindset. This may happen more than once over the long-term. For now, you’ll be interested in how your outlook and self-talk affect your day-to-day experience of life. It’s a good time for research, investigation and for intense study. You’ll be very persuasive too.

Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 20)

You’re entering a time when you’ll want to explore your many talents, especially those that have lain dormant but that could be in demand. Circumstances could also assist you in discovering what you’re naturally good at, and where your purpose lies. As Pluto leaves your sign and moves into Aquarius, your attitude to finances, material goods and your values, will also begin to shift.

Aquarius (Jan 21-Feb 19)

As Pluto enters your sign for a preparatory period of around three months, you’ll begin to appreciate how this potent influence works, and the effect it will have on you. You may notice how you are drawn into relationships and projects in a compelling way, and that your desire to succeed could become stronger. You’ll make quite an impact, whatever you do, Aquarius.

Pisces (Feb 20-Mar 20)

You’ll be learning a lot about what really motivates you, as powerful Pluto moves into Aquarius and your spiritual and psychological zone. The ancient saying. “Know thyself” could become something of a quest for you, and you’ll be fascinated to learn more about your inner game and even to improve it. A teacher or life coach could have a profound impact on you, Pisces.

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