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November 13-15, 2020

Help Is on the Way for Hurricane Eta Victims in Honduras Thanks to Island Organization

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Is (at Least) a Nonpartisan Judicial System Possible?

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Oversight Board Scolds Gov’t Bar Association & President’s Special Commission for Implementing Laws on Appointment and Judicial Promotions: That ‘Are Significantly Judicial Appointments Must Respond to People’s -Not Political Parties’ -- Interests Inconsistent with P4 the Fiscal Plan’ P4 NOTICIAS EN ESPAÑOL P 19

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The San Juan Daily Star

November 13-15, 2020

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November 13-15, 2020

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

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House speaker: It’s too early to discuss positions for next term

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By JOHN McPHAUL jpmcphaul@gmail.com

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peaker of the House of Representatives Carlos “Johnny” Méndez Núñez said Thursday that it is too early to discuss positions for the new legislative term that will start in January.

“It is very premature to speak today of leadership positions in the Puerto Rico House of Representatives given the reality that there are some five representative districts that are still in electoral dispute,” Méndez said in a written statement. “That is why we consider it prudent to wait for the final certification of candidates from the State Elections Commission before entering into that discussion.”

On Wednesday, the Popular Democratic Party leadership met to vote and choose the next Senate president and House speaker. At-large Sen. José Luis Dalmau will lead the Senate, while Rafael “Tatito” Hernández will serve as House speaker.

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House Speaker Carlos “Johnny” Méndez

“I understand the urgency of colleague Rafael ‘Tatito’ Hernández in seeking a leadership position, but, as I said before, it is important that the Commission complete the process to determine the composition of the House of Representatives,” Méndez said. “Every decision depends on the official certification, something that has not yet been given. The time will come for that discussion and the New Progressive Party delegation has to be part of that dialogue for Puerto Rico.”

Méndez added that “[o]n the contrary, we are going to listen carefully to all the sectors, all the members that make up the Chamber, in order to together plot the path of that dialogue that the people requested on November 3 -- a frank and open dialogue with the Executive [branch], led by the governor-elect Pedro Pierluisi, and the municipalities.”

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November 13-15, 2020

The San Juan Daily Star

Puerto Rico Bar Association calls for nonpartisan judicial appointments

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

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he Bar Association of Puerto Rico (CAAPR by its Spanish initials) and the President’s Special Commission on Appointment and Judicial Promotions on Thursday announced their criteria for the next judicial appointments, saying that “courts are the only source of justice left in the country.”

In addition, CAAPR president-elect Daisy Calcaño López, who has become the fourth woman to lead the association, said that every judicial appointment “must respond to the people’s interests, not to political parties’ interests.”

“Our society has witnessed the erosion and credibility of the three branches of government: the executive, the legislative and, to a lesser extent, the judicial branch,” Calcaño López said. “Political scandals and acts of corruption publicize the actions of some public or elected officials that have culminated in accusations and convictions [and] have produced a mistrust in our civil society that undermines participatory democracy, something that we all exalt as a pipe dream, but we cannot reach it.”

Moreover, the attorney said, candidates must have qualities such as academic preparation and formation, both judicial and non-judicial professional experience, impartiality and objectivity, among others.

“This is the moment in history to begin a reform in the judicial appointment processes, to adopt objective criteria that tend toward choosing the most suitable candidates so that they can deliver justice without party ties,” Calcaño López said.

She said further that, at a time when citizens have elected legislators with diverse backgrounds, Gov. Wanda Vázquez Garced should provide the platform for evaluat-

ing and acknowledging the backgrounds of every nominee.

Calcaño López lamented that, even though citizens have raised greater awareness on who’s who in the government, “in recent days, we were able to observe in Senate hearings that appointments fell due to discharge.”

“That is a concern because civil society itself and the people of Puerto Rico are deprived of being present at those hearings,” Calcaño López said.

Meanwhile, President’s Special Commission on Appointment and Judicial Promotions Chairman Mark Anthony Bimbela said that with Associate Justice Anabelle Rodríguez Rodríguez expected to retire from the Puerto Rico Supreme Court on Dec. 26, the next appointee must comply with “qualifications of major excellence, such as superior knowledge of the law in general and the Puerto Rican legal system, with particular emphasis on knowledge of constitutional law.”

“In turn, they must demonstrate vast legal experience in the largest number of areas that make up the general practice of law … as well as a superior sensitivity to the problems and realities of lawyers admitted to the practice of the profession,” Bimbela said. “It is of utmost importance that they should have a capacity for analysis, understanding of history in general and the social, political, and economic environment that serves as a framework for Puerto Rican legal work.”

When the Star asked if the CAAPR is capable of swaying the government away from a perceived pattern whereby previous Supreme Court appointments have taken conservative postures that could jeopardize the welfare of vulnerable communities, Calcaño López replied that since no official appointments from La Fortaleza have yet been issued, it would be premature to take action amid rumors, such as one that says the governor is planning to appoint Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz to Rodríguez’s seat.

“There’s no doubt that the CAAPR will be very aware of the criteria and qualifications of the [Supreme Court] candidate for the very reason that it is the highest [judicial] forum, it is the one that makes the decisions on the controversies of the citizens, which have to do with civil rights, human rights, constitutional rights,” she said. “It is very important that there is a balance in our highest forum, that there is an independence of criteria, and that when a decision arrives, the Supreme Court has an ideal and balanced position [from which] to issue a fair decision for the people and groups you are mentioning.”

Oversight board calls gov’t irresponsible for implementing laws against fiscal plan

By THE STAR STAFF

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FOMB executive director Natalie Jaresko

he Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico is accusing the island government of being irresponsible for its insistence on implementing laws that go against the commonwealth fiscal plan.

In some six lawsuits titled Vazquez Garced et al v The Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico filed in the U.S. District Court, the oversight board criticized the government for trying to enforce two laws that hike annual vacations and sick days for government workers and that require managed care organizations (MCOs) to accept healthcare providers into their networks irrespective of the price charged for services.

The oversight board says that enforcing Acts 138 and 176 is unlawful under the federal Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA).

Under PROMESA the board has the authority to enjoin

the government from enforcing certain laws, something the government has said is not correct.

“By increasing annual vacation and sick days, Act 176 allows public employees to work less for the same pay. By requiring MCOs to accept high-cost providers into their networks, Act 138 necessarily reduces price competition and allows higher costs,” the oversight board stated in a motion. “Both laws are significantly inconsistent with the Fiscal Plan, yet the Governor and the AAFAF (Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority) stand by their section 204(a) submissions, insisting the laws have no fiscal impact.”

“The government’s actions are not merely fiscally irresponsible; they are unlawful under PROMESA,” the board added.

The oversight board says that under PROMESA it has the authority to enjoin the government from enforcing certain approved laws it deems fiscally irresponsible, but the government says the board has to go to court to do that.

The San Juan Daily Star

November 13-15, 2020

5

UTIER to ratchet up fight against PREPA-LUMA contract it says is likely to double in cost

By THE STAR STAFF

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he Electrical Industry and Irrigation Workers Union (UTIER by its Spanish acronym) says it will strengthen its fight against the LUMA Energy management contract, whose cost may be doubled if the firm fails to obtain several tax exemptions.

“LUMA is looking for a tax exemption that as a practical matter it will not get, and it will double the cost of the contract by $100 million and, you know it will come from our salaries and rates,” UTIER Vice President Freddyson Martínez said on the union’s radio program while remarking on a STAR report.

The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA), which is already in bankruptcy to restructure $9 billion in debt, may have to pay $100 million more than it currently pays to its transmission and distribution (T&D) administrator, LUMA Energy, if the management contract does not bring in certain federal tax exemptions.

The contract with the private operator has to meet the requirements of Revenue Procedure 2017-13 of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), a provision that contains safe harbor criteria under which the IRS can conclude that a management contract does not result “in private business use of property financed with governmental tax-exempt bonds under the tax code or cause the modified private business use test for property financed with certain qualified bonds to be met.”

To meet the safe harbor requirement, the 15-year term of the LUMA Energy contract “including all renewal options, must be no greater than the lesser of 30 years or 80 percent of the weighted average reasonably expected economic life of the managed property.”

It appears it does not meet the requirement so far, according to information that came out during a recent

PREPA meeting, because the T&D system that is managed

by LUMA is already too old.

A legal opinion by Nixon & Peabody said an engineering firm must be selected to conduct the study on the managed infrastructure and conclude that the economic life span of the managed property is at least 19 years for the contract to be exempted under Revenue Procedure 2017-13.

UTIER also revealed that by the end of October, positive COVID-19 cases were detected in 27 workstations but that some of PREPA’s supervisors are required to work despite the risks. UTIER has requested a probe by health authorities. UTIER also urged its membership to appear at any job interviews with LUMA. The union noted that workers already work for PREPA and should not be required to apply for employment with LUMA to keep their jobs.

Teachers Association calls for interagency support for education

By JOHN McPHAUL jpmcphaul@gmail.com

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uerto Rico Teachers Association President Elba Aponte Santos emphasized in a radio interview Thursday the need for interagency support for education in Puerto Rico.

“The interagency work [must be] with all the agencies, to be able to support the schools in what is education. …

[I]f there is a student who is not connecting [for online instruction], then referrals are very important to social workers” in order to connect the student and his or her family with the Family Department, Aponte said in an interview on “Pegaos en la Mañana” on Radio Isla 1320 AM.

“I think we also need to have a campaign to [accomplish] this integration of the family into all the processes and to be able to provide the tools to the parents and the students themselves,” Aponte added. “And the important thing about this campaign, which can be worked on, is that the opportunity they have to study, to have a trained teacher, and that the students can internalize that, is valued.”

The union leader said curriculum content is “[a]nother thing that would have to be reviewed.”

“We have already had [the same] curriculum maps for about 10 years, so I think it is also time to review that curriculum and then see what the general interests are, and the changes we have to make,” Aponte said.

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The San Juan Daily Star

November 13-15, 2020

Community organization opens collection center to help Hurricane Eta victims in Honduras Want to help? Here’s what you must know

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

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ommunity Workshop La Goyco has opened a collection center at their headquarters in the Machuchal neighborhood of Santurce to gather essential products for Honduran citizens who were harmed last week by Category 4 Hurricane Eta, which left some 46 dead, 96 missing and almost 700,000 afflicted by landslides and floods, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Beatriz Ramírez, who is one of the collection center’s coordinators along with husband and Honduran citizen Manuel Cardoza, told the Star that after going through Hurricane Maria together, they understood “what it means to be in need.”

“Even though gust winds were not as strong [as Hurricane Maria], the floods have been horrible. They have left the villages isolated; there are towns that are under water, which are large areas. There are people who lost absolutely everything,” Ramírez said, noting that some of the most requested items have been non-disposable plastic cutlery, personal hygiene products and boxes for shipping supplies.

In order to help family members in the Central American

country and many other citizens, the teacher said she and Cardoza teamed up with Lydia Platón, a volunteer at the community workshop who advised them to gather other neighbors, organize and collect resources.

“People from Yabucoa and Jayuya have called to help.

Puerto Ricans respond to these calls quickly and with much generosity; once again, they prove that they’re able to help,” Ramírez said as she invited others to cooperate as recovery might take as long as two years. “We are managing to get transportation for the collection, we are knocking on several airlines’ doors. We are quite happy with the response.”

Meanwhile, Cardoza said that such help is important as the Honduran government’s response has been slow and farmers need as much help as they can because most crops were affected by the flood.

“When you are in another country, no matter your nationality, you notice and inform yourself more about what your people need, and when you see something like this from a colder and critical perspective, you acknowledge that the country has practically abandoned us,” Cardoza said. “My family is doing well, at least, as they were not affected by the floods, but what moved me is that I have been through similar struggles and that I come from a family of farmers, which were heavily affected.”

Cardoza said organizations such as the Honduras Campesino National Association, which is the largest farmers’ association in the country, and Cooperativa Carnel, will

be responsible for delivering and distributing relief supplies within the country.

As for other supplies, here’s what Honduran citizens also need: * Adult and children’s clothes and footwear * Adult and children’s undergarments * Bath towels * Blankets * Flashlights * Batteries * Solar-powered lanterns * 4-inch mattresses * UHT or powdered milk * Adult and children’s diapers * Canned food * Toothpaste * Toothbrushes * Soap * Shampoo * Deodorants * Sanitary towels * Feminine hygiene products * Feeding bottles * Over-the-counter medicines.

For more information, call or text 787-205-7588 or 787-205-7764. Supply collection is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Nov. 21 at the former Pedro Goyco School in Santurce.

$5.7 million obligated by FEMA for Fire Dept.

By JOHN McPHAUL jpmcphaul@gmail.com

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he Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has assigned nearly $5.7 million to the Puerto Rico Fire Department as part of the recovery efforts on the island as a result of Hurricane Maria. The funds include projects to replace fire trucks as well as for the repair of facilities that provide response services related to all types of emergencies.

The Fire Department has some 1,535 staff across 95 stations distributed in six fire zones. In addition to preventing, fighting and determining the causes of fires

to protect life and property, the team handles emergency calls in disasters and provides guidance to the public through seminars and conferences.

“Our brave Fire Department men and women are part of our first line of defense in disasters,” said José Baquero Tirado, the federal disaster recovery coordinator for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. “With these funds we are supporting our mission to help strengthen critical services on the island for the safety of all citizens.”

The awards include $542,000 for the Barceloneta station, which was recently inaugurated as repairs were completed. Of these funds, just over $17,000 went to measures to prevent similar damage in the future such as an anti-filtration treatment and strengthening the electrical system against power surges.

“The renovation took approximately eight months, in which the roof and other areas of the station were completely replaced,” said Capt. Manuel Medina Moya, head of the Barceloneta District of the Puerto Rico Fire Department. “As a result, we are now able to serve the citizens of Barceloneta.”

Meanwhile, just over $9,000 was obligated to the Training Academy located in the Jueyes neighborhood in Salinas. The educational center, comprising 160 students, will receive funds to repair classrooms, hazardous material simulators and training areas, among other repairs.

There both civilian and emergency response and brigade personnel receive the necessary training on the

latest fire prevention and extinction techniques.

To date, FEMA has obligated over $19.2 billion for costs related to hurricanes Irma and Maria, including projects to help rebuild infrastructure throughout Puerto Rico. FEMA works with the commonwealth’s Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience through the federal agency’s Public Assistance program to obligate recovery funds to private nonprofit organizations, municipalities and agencies of the Puerto Rico government.

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The San Juan Daily Star

November 13-15, 2020

7

Biden names Ron Klain as White House chief of staff

By MICHAEL D. SHEAR, KATIE GLUECK, MAGGIE HABERMAN and THOMAS KAPLAN

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resident-elect Joe Biden named Ron Klain, a veteran Democratic operative and a decadeslong confidant, to be his White House chief of staff Wednesday evening, the first step toward putting in place his administration’s senior leadership.

Klain, a lawyer with deep experience on Capitol Hill, advising President Barack Obama and in corporate board rooms, served as Biden’s chief of staff when he was vice president and has been seen for months as the likeliest choice to manage his team in the White House. Known for steady nerves, he also has a fierce wit, which he has frequently unleashed on President Donald Trump on Twitter.

He was particularly critical of Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, having served as the “Ebola czar” under Obama during an outbreak of the deadly disease in his second term. A video of Klain lecturing Trump about the pandemic was widely seen during the campaign.

In a statement, Biden called Klain an “invaluable” adviser, noting in particular the work they did together during the economic crisis in 2009 and the Ebola outbreak in 2014.

“His deep, varied experience and capacity to work with people all across the political spectrum is precisely what I need in a White House chief of staff as we confront this moment of crisis and bring our country together again,” Biden said.

The choice of Klain, 59, who first went to work for Biden in the late 1980s when Biden was a senator from Delaware and Klain was a recent graduate of Harvard Law School, signals that Biden intends to rely on a tight circle of Washington insiders who have been by his side for years.

Advisers have said that the president-elect will announce other top White House staff in the coming days, even as Trump refuses to accept the results of the election, tweeting “WE WILL WIN!” on Wednesday evening.

Biden is not likely to reveal his Cabinet picks until around Thanksgiving, several people close to the transition said.

As a political tactician, Klain is well versed in the levers of power in both the executive and legislative branches of government. But he will quickly come under pressure to assemble a White House staff that extends beyond the moderate members of the Democratic establishment with whom Biden has surrounded himself over four decades in politics.

Even before Biden’s announcement, liberals in the party had already begun demanding that

progressives be given a significant voice in the West Wing. And the president-elect will also be pressed to fulfill his campaign pledge to make his administration “look like the country” by tapping people of color, LGBTQ Americans and other minorities to be part of the White House staff.

In a statement, Klain said he looked forward to assembling “a talented and diverse team to work in the White House as we tackle their ambitious agenda for change and seek to heal the divides in our country.”

Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, one of Biden’s liberal rivals for the presidential nomination, praised Klain on Twitter, calling him “a superb choice” and saying that he “understands the magnitude of the health and economic crisis and he has the experience to lead this next administration through it.”

In the meantime, Biden is moving quickly to demonstrate that the president’s unprecedented behavior will not interfere with the transfer of power that will take place on Jan. 20.

Klain clerked for Justice Byron White at the Supreme Court in the late 1980s and has been a fixture by Biden’s side for much of the past 30 years, serving at one point as the chief counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee, which Biden led.

Klain was Biden’s top legal adviser on the committee during the racially charged and sexually explicit collision with the Bush administration over the confirmation of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court. Many of Biden’s allies saw his handling of the confirmation — managed in large part by Klain and his team of committee lawyers — as one of the stains on his record in the Senate.

Klain took a detour to serve as Al Gore’s chief of staff while he was vice president and later oversaw Gore’s unsuccessful recount effort in Florida (for which he was portrayed by Kevin Spacey in the HBO film “Recount”).

But Klain has always remained close to Biden. In 2009, he became the vice president’s chief of staff, reprising the role he had played a decade earlier for Gore.

Klain has gone in and out of government over the past several decades, at times practicing as a lawyer and later working with Steve Case, the founder of AOL, in a venture capital investment firm called Revolution. His initial agreement with Case in 2005 included the right to take unpaid leave in September and October every four years to participate in presidential politics.

“He can process a lot of information, focus on the things that matter and balance a lot of balls,” Case said of Klain, calling him “unflappable” and pragmatic when it comes to confronting a

Then Ebola Response Coordinator Ron Klain listens to President Barrack Obama during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Oct. 22, 2014. Presidentelect Joe Biden will name Ron Klain, a veteran Democratic operative and a decades-long confidant, to be his White House chief of staff as early as Thursday morning, Nov. 12, 2020, according to several people familiar with Biden’s decision. challenge: “‘Here’s the problem or the opportunity.

Let’s narrow in on what matters and get the right team in place.’”

Case dismissed concerns from some people that Klain was too much of a Washington insider for this moment in history, noting that as an Indiana native, Klain often goes home for the Indianapolis 500.

“He’s been in Washington a long time,” Case said. But he added, “He’s an Indiana guy.”

Over his years mingling among the nation’s top Democratic politicians, Klain has become a specialist in helping presidents win confirmation battles in the Senate. During Obama’s first term, he played a central role in helping win confirmation of Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court.

Throughout the 2020 campaign, Klain was a top adviser to Biden and was deeply trusted by a candidate known for maintaining a tight-knit inner circle. He was not especially involved in logistical, day-to-day decisions, but along with Anita Dunn, a senior Biden adviser, he played a central role in guiding Biden’s debate preparations and message.

A number of Biden allies have noted Klain’s experience dealing with economic and health crises during the Obama administration, when the

country was reeling from the Great Recession. In the 2016 campaign, Klain helped Hillary Clinton prepare for debates, a task he began working on before Biden announced he would not mount his own presidential bid.

“It’s been a little hard for me to play such a role in the Biden demise — and I am definitely dead to them — but I’m glad to be on Team HRC,” Klain wrote to John D. Podesta, Clinton’s campaign chairman, in an October 2015 email that was later disclosed by WikiLeaks. A week after Klain sent the email, Biden announced he would not run for president in 2016.

Klain was also the inaugural guest on a short-lived podcast that Biden hosted this year, speaking about the pandemic. “I’m going to call on you a lot more,” Biden told him at the end of the episode. “You know, I call on you almost every day for non-pod advice.”

At a Biden virtual fundraiser in June for Indiana donors, former Sen. Joe Donnelly made note of Klain’s work on the Ebola outbreak for the Obama White House.

At the virtual event, Klain, it turned out, was not far out of mind for the former vice president.

“As a matter of fact, coincidentally, literally five minutes before I walked into this makeshift studio, I was on the phone with Ron Klain,” Biden said.

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November 13-15, 2020

The San Juan Daily Star

What places are hardest hit by the coronavirus? It depends on the measure.

Health care workers at a drive-thru coronavirus testing site at Miller Park in Milwaukee, Nov. 5, 2020.

By MITCH SMITH, AMY HARMON, LUCY TOMPKINS and THOMAS FULLER

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he coronavirus is tearing across the United States at an alarming pace. Hospitals are filled to perilous levels. More than 120,000 new cases are being identified every day. And ever higher and more miserable records — of states’ cases, of positive testing rates, of hospitalizations — are being set, day after day.

A pandemic that was once raging in New York and later across the Sun Belt is now spread so widely across the country that any number of cities and states might now be considered the worst off, depending on the measurement used.

The Minot, North Dakota, area has seen more cases per capita in this upsurge than anywhere in the country. Wisconsin’s outbreak has escalated more rapidly than those in other states. The county that includes Los Angeles has reported more COVID-19 cases since the pandemic’s start than anywhere else. Texas has the most cases of any state, and the most cases reported on college campuses.

The list of deeply troubled locations — each with its own, different gauge of the problem — goes on and on. If anything, the sheer number of hot spots comes as a reminder of how widespread this outbreak has grown.

“The entire country is out of control,” said Dr. Dara Kass, an associate professor of emergency medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in NewYork who treated numerous COVID-19 patients this spring and had the virus herself. “When you see the Dakotas and Montana and Oklahoma and Utah and Iowa and Texas — all these states — overrun with cases, it’s jarring to know that no matter what we do here, it’s going to depend on the action or inaction of leadership and people everywhere else.”

Here is a snapshot at some of the places in the country that might be considered the most trouble-prone when it comes to COVID-19.

Minot, North Dakota The metro area with the most recent cases per capita.

It is not immediately obvious in Minot, a city of 47,000 that is known for its Air Force base, that a spike of virus cases is unfolding. Schools are proceeding in person and indoor dining, though limited, is still allowed.

But inside Trinity Hospital, a crisis is clear. Doctors and nurses are working overtime to care for the rapidly increasing number of coronavirus patients. An entire hospital floor — 35 beds — is

dedicated to COVID-19 patients, but hospital officials say it is not enough and an expansion is being considered, as other large hospitals in the state are full and unable to help.

“It’s very scary,” said Lisa Clute, a public heath official in Minot. “One day my mom called and she said, ‘I lost three friends last night to COVID.’ It’s heartbreaking. I just don’t know how else to say it.”

Sioux City, Iowa The metro area that may have faced the most prolonged suffering.

Other places have had bigger outbreaks, worse days and faster surges. But few have seen the sustained pain of the Sioux City metro area.

It has had more known cases per capita than any metro area except Bismarck, North Dakota, according to a New York Times analysis. Nearly 9% of people in the area, known to locals as Siouxland, have tested positive.

The troubles started this spring, when outbreaks at meatpacking plants sickened hundreds of people.

After a relatively quiet summer, infections have started rising again, with daily case levels across the Sioux City metro area exceeding 180 a day, almost as many as at the May peak.

School officials have said they could soon ask the state for permission to close some buildings. Mayor Bob Scott said pretty much everyone at an outdoor Veterans Day event was wearing a mask, a level of compliance he would not have expected even a few weeks ago.

But the struggle has been so prolonged, and so relentless, that Scott said he did not think most people in Sioux City realized their area had one of the country’s highest case rates.

Pedestrians at Union Square in Manhattan, Nov. 9, 2020.

“It’s been so gradual,” he said, “that we’ve just sort of learned how to live with it.”

New York City The big city with the highest death toll.

In New York City, the U.S. center of the pandemic in its first dark months this spring, there is a distinct feeling of posttraumatic stress disorder as the number of new infections rise to a level — more than 1,000 cases a day — that last occurred in May. “A second wave is knocking at the door,” Bill Neidhardt, the press secretary for Mayor Bill de Blasio, tweeted on Wednesday morning.

More than 24,000 deaths in New York City have been linked to the virus, more than in any other American city. And even as hospitalizations and death rates remain at a small fraction of what they were at their height, the sound of ambulance sirens can touch off a sense of dread.

“It’s a scary time,” said David Lat, a 45-year-old lawyer who chronicled his hospitalization in March on Twitter. “Everyone is worried about another spike.”

Los Angeles County The county with the most known cases since the start of the pandemic.

Phones lit up across Los Angeles this week with an emergency alert: Coronavirus infections were on the rise after months of remaining steady.

Los Angeles County is seeing daily case counts at levels not seen since the late summer.

“This isn’t a blip,” Barbara Ferrer, the county public health director, said. “This is now a surge.”

The San Juan Daily Star Los Angeles County, with 10 million people, is more populous than most states and has seen more known cases than any other county: 326,000. Factoring for population, its numbers look far different. On a per-capita basis, nine California counties have more cases.

Avenal State Prison, California The biggest known cluster.

Avenal State Prison, in California’s San Joaquin Valley, is the nation’s largest known coronavirus cluster of any kind, with at least 3,314 infected inmates and correctional officers over the course of the pandemic, according to the Times database. Eight inmates have died.

As of Wednesday, more than 85% of the prison’s inmates had tested positive, according to state prison data. Twenty inmates remained ill. A spokeswoman for the California prison system did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Michelle Tran said her husband, who is incarcerated in Avenal, had so far tested negative for the virus. But she is worried.

“I don’t want to bring him out in a bag,” she said. “I don’t want to bring him home like that.”

Norton County, Kansas Among the most cases per capita of any county.

Before the outbreak at the Andbe Home, a nursing home in Norton, Kansas, the county had gone months with almost no known cases. Then all at once, the virus spread through the nursing home, infecting all 62 residents and killing at least 10. More than 500 inmates in the nearby Norton Correctional Facility have also been infected.

“I think it’s opened everybody’s eyes up,” said Tammy Steinmetz, whose 89-year-old father tested positive for the virus in the Andbe Home. “I don’t know if we thought we were immune to it, but you just didn’t think it would be as bad as it was here.”

Steinmetz has not seen her father, who has dementia, since mid-September. He has a flip phone, and no way to make a video call. She is anxiously waiting for him to be moved to a room with a window so she can at least get a look.

“I’ll be right up there looking at him through the window and talking to him on his phone,” she said.

Navajo Nation The Native American reservation with the most known cases.

Cases are rising again on the sprawling Navajo Nation, which already had far more known cases and deaths than any other Native American reservation, and more than most places in the country. More than 12,000 people have been infected and at least 595 people have died.

A dairy farm in Maurice, Iowa, on Wednesday, March 4, 2020.

November 13-15, 2020

A COVID-19 testing facility in Sioux Falls, S.D., the state with the highest hospitalization rate in the country, on Oct. 28, 2020.

Tribal officials have reimposed nightly curfews, announced weekend lockdowns and installed highway checkpoints aimed at keeping outsiders from bringing the virus in. President Jonathan Nez said there had been little organized pushback to the restrictions.

“People are not saying you’re taking away my freedoms by forcing me to wear a mask,” Nez said. “It’s because we got hit hard.”

Wisconsin The state that has unraveled the fastest.

The pandemic has worsened across the country over the last two months, but perhaps nowhere as quickly as in Wisconsin.

At the beginning of September, Wisconsin was averaging about 700 cases a day. By this week, it was averaging more than 6,000. Hospitals are packed and more than 300 deaths were reported in the state over the last week, a record. Last week, Wisconsin’s chief health officer quit, noting the enormous pressure on public health officials during the pandemic.

“It took us 7 1/2 months to get to 100,000 cases,” Gov. Tony Evers said at a news conference on Tuesday evening, after issuing an executive order advising residents to stay home. “But it only took 36 days to add another 100,000. The way things are going, it will take us only 20 days to reach another 100,000.”

Testing centers are overwhelmed, raising the risk of further spread as people who might otherwise learn they are infected delay isolating themselves.

“They told us, ‘Yeah, you should get tested, but we’re out of tests,’” said Tim Cigelske, 39, of Whitefish Bay, of a local testing site he called when his family grew sick. It required multiple phone calls, virtual doctor visits and four trips to testing sites over three days to get himself, his wife and their two children tested, Cigelske said.

All were positive for the virus.

South Dakota The state with the highest hospitalization rate.

South Dakota has the highest hospitalization rate in the country, with about 42 of every 100,000 South Dakotans hospitalized with COVID-19, according to the COVID Tracking Project.

Still, the state has no mask mandate, and on Tuesday night,

9

Mayor Paul TenHaken of Sioux Falls cast the tiebreaking vote to strike down a citywide mask mandate, which he has called “simply unenforceable.”

On Wednesday afternoon, Kate Dossett, 39, arrived home from a Sioux Falls hospital, still hooked up to a portable oxygen machine. She had spent eight days on a floor that was usually meant for stroke patients but was, she said, overrun with people sick from the virus.

“I don’t know how the nurses can keep going,” she said.

“It’s just day after day after day.”

With so many patients, staff members from other departments were stepping in to care for COVID-19 patients, Dossett said. A physical therapy assistant had helped care for her at one point, she said.

“It’s clearly all hands on deck,” she said.

Texas The state with the most total cases, and the most cases linked to colleges.

More than 1 million cases have been reported in Texas, more than any other state. And more than 20,000 of those cases have been linked to colleges and universities, also the highest in the country.

While those records are partly a function of the state’s large population, major outbreaks have emerged this fall in cities like El Paso and Amarillo, as well as on several university campuses.

More than 2,200 cases have been reported at Texas Tech, more than 2,000 at Texas A&M and more than 1,500 on the Austin campus of the University of Texas. Hunter Heck, the student body president at Texas Tech, says there has been a disconnect between life on campus, where students for the most part are socially distanced and wear masks, and raucous off-campus parties.

She said the toll of the pandemic has been broader than just infections, especially among students who are following the rules on social distancing.

“People just feel alone,” Heck said. “I’m a firm believer that humans are created for one another. We crave community.”

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10

November 13-15, 2020

The San Juan Daily Star

Lucille Bridges, mother of civil rights trailblazer, dies at 86 Curtis Commadore and Amy Commadore (nee Jackson), were sharecroppers, and she stopped attending school after the eighth grade so that ucille Commadore Bridges, who in 1960 she could help them in the fields, Ruby Bridges broke through the segregated education said. Her mother worked as a housekeeper, and system of the Deep South by enrolling in 1953 she married Abon Bridges, a mechanic. her 6-year-old daughter Ruby in an all-white The couple had eight children and separated in elementary school in New Orleans, and escorting the late 1960s. Abon Bridges died in 1978. her there during her first year of classes, died at In 1956, the family relocated from her home in Uptown New Orleans on Tuesday.

Mississippi to New Orleans because the Bridgeses She was 86. wanted to give their children a chance at a better The cause was cancer, according to Ruby education than they had, Ruby Bridges said.

Bridges.

“We decided to leave so that we could Lucille Bridges and her daughter braved a make it better,” Lucille Bridges said in an fusillade of abuse from white protesters as they interview in 2016 for the “Power of Children” walked up to the doors of the William Frantz exhibit at the Altharetta Yeargin Art Museum in Elementary School in New Orleans on Nov. Houston. “I wanted it better for my kids than it 14, 1960, under the escort of federal marshals, was for us.”

In 1960, 165 Black children took a test for admission to the all-white William Frantz Elementary School, Lucille Bridges said, and her daughter Ruby was among only five who passed the exam. She and her husband met with the school district superintendent before Ruby began classes. The superintendent explained that, as religious people, they should pray, because things were about to get much worse, she recalled.

When she and Ruby arrived at the school for Ruby’s first day of school, she recalled, there were large numbers of federal marshals and protesters present. Some of the protesters screamed, “Two, four, six, eight, we don’t want to integrate,” and hurled eggs and tomatoes at Bridges and her daughter, she said. But the marshals prevented them from being struck.

Ruby Bridges said Wednesday that she could not recall her mother and father telling her anything other than that she would be going to a new school. “They didn’t try to explain to me Lucille Bridges next to the Norman Rockwell painting “The Problem We All Live what I was about to venture into,” she said. “But With,” which depicts her daughter Ruby being escorted into a New Orleans school. I just think that’s because it would be hard for

By JOHN ISMAY

L

making good on the U.S. Supreme Court’s unanimous 1954 decision in Brown v. Board of Education, which ruled that school segregation was unconstitutional.

Bridges escorted her daughter to school every day for a year because of continuing protests, according to the National Women’s History Museum.

“She was very determined, and she took education very seriously,” Ruby Bridges, an author and activist, said in an interview on Wednesday.

“I think it was because it was something that neither her nor my father was allowed to have.

And ultimately that’s what she wanted for her kids — having a better life for them.”

Lucille Commadore was born in Tylertown, Mississippi, on Aug. 12, 1934. Her parents,

any parent to prepare their kids to walk into an environment like that, so they didn’t try.”

Lucille Bridges recalled in the 2016 interview that two city police officers blocked their path as she tried to escort her daughter through the school doors, saying they could not come in. She remembered two of the marshals replying, “The United States president said we can.”

The marshals who took Ruby to and from school were heavily armed, keeping a machine gun in the car they drove. “And that’s the way we lived it for a whole year,” Lucille Bridges said.

The NAACP supported Lucille and Abon Bridges for several years because they lost their jobs when the integration of the school made headlines, and friends in their all-Black neighborhood took turns guarding their home.

Lucille Bridges, who enjoyed gardening, moved from New Orleans to Houston because of Hurricane Katrina, her daughter said. She remained in Houston for access to better health care and returned to New Orleans about five years ago.

Later in life, Bridges did not harbor ill will against the protesters. “All those people calling us names, you just have to charge that to their ignorance and just go on,” she said. “Be yourself, and God will bring you through.”

Lucille Bridges is survived by six children, numerous grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren.

“Study, listen to what their teachers tell them, and their mothers and fathers,” Lucille Bridges advised children during the 2016 interview. “After they get their education, they can be any person they wanted to be: doctors, lawyers or anything. But you have to have that education, and I would love for them to just listen to my story so they can know how hard it was for my kids to go to school.”

The San Juan Daily Star

November 13-15, 2020

11

Facebook plans to continue a ban on political ads for another month

By MIKE ISAAC

F

acebook said Wednesday that it plans to continue a moratorium on political advertising for another month, a move that may affect Democrats and Republicans as they continue vying against each other in key Senate races in Georgia.

“The temporary pause for ads about politics and social issues in the U.S. continues to be in place as part of our ongoing efforts to protect the election,” Facebook said in an update to its government and policy blog. “Advertisers can expect this to last another month, though there may be an opportunity to resume these ads sooner.”

Facebook initially said in October that it would ban all political advertising on the site after polls closed Nov. 3, an attempt to minimize the spread of election-related misinformation. At the time, Facebook did not commit to when it would resume running the ads, though it estimated the ban would last a week after the election.

But that timeline changed after President Donald Trump refused to concede to President-Elect Joe Biden. Facebook sent a private note to its advertisers earlier this week announcing the ban’s extension, which was earlier reported by The Wall Street Journal.

The advertising ban is contentious among Democratic and Republican campaign staff members and strategists because political candidates often rely on Facebook to raise funds and spread the word. In Georgia, two Senate races are headed to a Facebook is continuing a moratorium on political advertising for the time being. runoff between the Democratic and Republican candidates Jan. 5.

Facebook was crucial for politicians.

Facebook with fundraising, persuasion, volunteer recruitment, Last week, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., “I’ve looked through a lot of these campaigns that lost, get-out-the-vote the week before the election, you are not firing said in an interview with The New York Times that and the fact of the matter is, if you’re not spending $200,000 on on all cylinders,” she said.

Tweets from Biden aide show campaign’s frustration with Facebook

By CECILIA KANG

B

ill Russo, a spokesperson for Joe Biden’s presidential campaign, posted a flurry of tweets late Monday to decry the election-related misinformation and calls for violence spreading widely on Facebook.

“We knew this would happen. We pleaded with Facebook for over a year to be serious about these problems.

They have not,” Russo said in one of the tweets. “Our democracy is on the line. We need answers.”

Russo’s pointed comments illustrated the cumulative anger within the campaign after months of back and forth with Facebook to take down numerous ads and posts by President Donald Trump, his campaign and his allies that spread false conspiracy theories about Biden.

Facebook defended its actions, saying in the lead-up to the election that it put into effect several efforts to “ensure fewer people see false information and are made aware of it when they do and highlighted reliable election information where nearly everyone on Facebook and Instagram saw that

Vice President Biden was the projected winner of the U.S. election.”

The Biden campaign first aired its frustrations with Facebook in October 2019, when the Trump campaign posted an ad accusing Biden of trying to bribe the Ukrainian government by offering $1 billion to fire the prosecutor investigating a company affiliated with his son, Hunter Biden.

Greg Schultz, a Biden campaign manager, wrote a letter to Facebook’s executives, including Mark Zuckerberg, its chief executive, and Sheryl Sandberg, its chief operating officer, asking the company to take down the false ad.

Facebook refused. “Our approach is grounded in Facebook’s fundamental belief in free expression, respect for the democratic process, and the belief that, in mature democracies with a free press, political speech is already arguably the most scrutinized speech there is,” Facebook’s head of global elections policy, Katie Harbath, wrote back to the Biden campaign.

In March, a doctored video appeared on Facebook that manipulated Biden’s speech, making

him seem impaired, with trouble speaking.

Dan Scavino, a senior adviser to Trump, shared the video and commented on Facebook, “Sleepy Joe in St. Louis, Missouri today: ‘We can only re-elect @realDonaldTrump. #KAG2020LandslideVictory.”

Facebook kept the video up but labeled it as partly false.

In late May, Facebook initially refused to touch Trump’s posts that cast doubt on mail-in voting. Twitter labeled the posts for potential voter misinformation. And Facebook left untouched Trump’s call for shooting in response to looting in demonstrations for racial justice, while Twitter labeled the post for “inciting violence.”

In July, Biden’s campaign circulated a petition to its millions of supporters that called for Zuckerberg to end the company’s hands-off approach to political lies.

“Real changes to Facebook’s policies for their platform and how they enforce them are necessary to protect against a repeat of the role that disinformation played in the 2016 election and that continues to threaten our democracy today,” Russo said at the time.

12

The San Juan Daily Star

November 13-15, 2020

California is trying to jump-start the hydrogen economy

By IVAN PENN and CLIFFORD KRAUS

S

ince President George W. Bush fueled a minivan with hydrogen 15 years ago, the promise of cars and trucks powered by the fuel has come up mostly empty.

That hydrogen pump, in Washington, closed long ago. But in California, the beginnings of a hydrogen economy may finally be dawning after many fits and starts.

Dozens of hydrogen buses are lumbering down city streets, while more and larger fueling stations are appearing from San Diego to San Francisco, financed by the state and the federal government. With the costs of producing and shipping hydrogen coming down, California is setting ambitious goals to phase out vehicles that run on fossil fuels in favor of batteries and hydrogen. Large auto and energy companies like Toyota Motor and Royal Dutch Shell have committed to supplying more cars and fueling stations.

“In past cycles, there was always something missing,” said Matthew Blieske, Shell’s global hydrogen product manager.

“There was a policy missing, or the technology wasn’t quite ready, or people were not so serious about decarbonization. We don’t see those barriers anymore.”

Some energy executives said they expect investment in hydrogen to accelerate under President-elect Joe Biden, who made

climate change a big part of his campaign and proposed a $2 trillion plan to tackle the problem.

A recent McKinsey & Co. study estimated that the hydrogen economy could generate $140 billion in annual revenue by 2030 and support 700,000 jobs. The study projected that hydrogen could meet 14% of total American energy demand by 2050.

The use of hydrogen, the lightest and most abundant substance in the universe, is still in its infancy, and California is determined to be its cradle in the United States, with $20 million in annual funding from the California Energy Commission through vehicle license fees. California will have spent about $230 million on hydrogen projects by the end of 2023. The state now has roughly 40 fueling stations, with dozens more under construction. While those numbers are tiny compared with the 10,000 gasoline stations across the state, officials have high hopes.

With about 7,500 hydrogen vehicles on the road, an aggressive state program of incentives and subsidies from cap-andtrade dollars envisions 50,000 hydrogen light-duty vehicles by middecade and a network of 1,000 hydrogen stations by 2030.

The infrastructure required for producing, transporting and dispensing the gas alone will cost about $10 billion, according to California hydrogen researchers, who expect

A motorist fills their Toyota Mirai, a hydrogen-powered car, at a gas station in Fountain Valley, Calif., Oct. 14, 2020. The fuel could play an important role in fighting climate change, but it has been slow to gain traction because of high costs.

both private and government investment.

Other states are much further behind.

A vast majority of the country’s hydrogen fueling stations and vehicles are in California.

Hydrogen-powered vehicles are similar to electric cars. But unlike electric cars, which have large batteries, these cars have hydrogen tanks and fuel cells that turn the gas into electricity. The cars refuel and accelerate quickly, and they can go for several hundred miles on a full tank. They emit only water vapor, which makes them appealing to California cities that are trying to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

“Almost any objective analysis for getting to zero emissions includes hydrogen,” said Jack Brouwer, director of the National Fuel Cell Research Center at the University of California, Irvine.

Brouwer does not think hydrogen will become the dominant energy source soon, but he argues that it has great potential as a fuel for vehicles, power plants and appliances.

Hydrogen, he said, will complement the use of lithium-ion batteries, solar panels, wind turbines and natural gas.

UC Irvine has experimented with hydrogen for years and formed partnerships with local governments and major corporations to popularize its use in Southern California.

Just over a decade ago, Tim Brown worked on gasoline systems at General Motors. He went back to school in 2004, studied hydrogen with Brouwer and “became a believer.”

Five years after earning his doctorate in 2008, he founded First Element Fuel, which operates 21 hydrogen fueling stations, including a four-pump unit at an Arco gas station in Fountain Valley, California, about a 10-minute drive from UC Irvine. The company plans to build up to 80 stations across the state, under the brand name True Zero.

One recent afternoon, Karen Harelson pulled up to the Arco station in her Toyota Mirai, a hydrogen-powered sedan that she bought two years ago. “I personally don’t think they should make another car without it,” said Harelson, 66, a retired professor at Golden West College. “It’s the best car I’ve ever had. The problem is, there’s just not enough stations around.”

That’s a common complaint. Because of the paucity of hydrogen pumps, car owners often wait in line. But unlike battery-powered electric cars, which can require 45 minutes to several hours to fully charge, hydrogen

cars, like gasoline ones, fill up in less than 10 minutes and are good for 300 miles or more on a full tank.

While there have been many technical advances, hydrogen is still expensive to make and transport. Fuel-cell vehicles also cost more than comparable electric cars. A Toyota Mirai sells for nearly $60,000 before subsidies. A Tesla Model 3 starts at about $38,000 before subsidies. Then there is the chicken-or-egg issue of trying to get people to buy hydrogen vehicles before there is a comprehensive fueling infrastructure.

Critics, including Tesla’s chief executive, Elon Musk, point out that hydrogen’s promoters have long failed to deliver on their promises.

In his 2003 State of the Union address, Bush said that “the first car driven by a child born today could be powered by hydrogen and pollution-free.” Those hopes were propelled mainly by the rising cost of oil and natural gas at the time. After a boom in hydraulic fracturing helped drive down energy prices, hydrogen took a back seat.

Still, hydrogen’s potential continues to entice governments, researchers and corporations. Countries like France, Germany, China, Australia, South Korea and Japan have invested tens of billions of dollars in hydrogen, in part to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and to address climate change.

Toyota, Hyundai, Daimler and several other automakers are betting on hydrogen cars and trucks. And Shell is building hydrogen stations in Europe and California.

The best use for hydrogen, some experts argue, is to power trucks, buses and airplanes.

That’s because the fuel packs energy in a smaller and lighter package than the current generation of batteries, leaving more room for cargo and passengers. Hyundai is prepared to introduce the first mass-produced heavyduty fuel-cell truck in a few months. Toyota, which has been testing fuel-cell trucks at the Port of Los Angeles since 2017, recently said it would develop heavy-duty fuel-cell trucks for North America.

The hydrogen business may be in its infancy, but interest in it is robust and growing, said Michael Webber, a mechanical engineering professor at the University of Texas at Austin and chief science and technology officer at Engie, a French energy company.

“The customers for hydrogen are there,” Webber said. “They’re just waiting for the hydrogen to show up.”

The San Juan Daily Star

November 13-15, 2020

13 Stocks

Dow, S&P 500 fall as COVID-19 pandemic rages on T he S&P 500 and the Dow slipped on Thursday as U.S. coronavirus infections surged and investors weighed the timeline of the mass roll-out of an effective vaccine.

New York became the latest state to introduce social distancing restrictions on Wednesday, as new infections in the country surged above 100,000 for an eighth consecutive day.

The blue-chip Dow dropped 0.5% as industrial and financial companies sensitive to economic growth fell, with Boeing Co and Goldman Sachs down about 2% each.

Airlines and cruise operators, among the hardest hit by the outbreak, also fell. The S&P 1500 airlines index declined 0.5%, while Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd dropped 1% and Carnival Corp tumbled 3.7%.

Wall Street’s three main indexes have climbed between 8% and 10% in less than two weeks on prospects of measured industry regulation from a potentially divided Congress, as well as an encouraging update from a late-stage coronavirus vaccine trial.

“The focus has shifted back from politics, election, stimulus to where it was before, the virus and its economic impact,” said Keith Buchanan, senior portfolio manager at Globalt Investments in Atlanta.

“Given the fact that the virus spread is more geographically diverse than it was in the summer and early in spring, it is causing some alarm in the public health community and policy makers have started to think if restrictions can be effective and how to go about implementing them.”

Latest data showed U.S. jobless claims fell to a sevenmonth low last week, but the pace of job recovery slowed as fiscal stimulus waned and further improvement could be limited by a raging pandemic.

At 11:23 a.m. ET the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 134.81 points, or 0.46%, to 29,262.82 and the S&P 500 lost 10.87 points, or 0.30%, to 3,561.79. The Nasdaq Composite gained 16.52 points, or 0.14%, to 11,802.93.

Amazon.com Inc, Netflix Inc and Microsoft Corp edged higher, adding to gains from the previous session.

These companies, which have logged strong demand during the work-from-home shift, fell sharply earlier this week as investors rotated to value stocks on hopes of a faster economic rebound following positive COVID-19 vaccine data.

Among the biggest boosts to the Nasdaq was a 20% surge in the U.S.-listed shares of Chinese e-commerce company Pinduoduo Inc, after it reported better-than-expected quarterly revenue.

Rival JD.com Inc’s shares also climbed 7%.

Financials and energy posted the sharpest percentage losses among major S&P sectors, while technology and communication services were the only two indexes posting gains.

Moderna Inc added 4% after the drugmaker said it had enough data for a first interim analysis of the late-stage trial of its experimental COVID-19 vaccine. It did not say when it plans to release the data.

Walt Disney Co and network gear maker Cisco Systems Inc slipped ahead of their quarterly results due after markets close.

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November 13-15, 2020

The San Juan Daily Star

Would he or wouldn’t he? Johnson is relieved that Biden called

By MARC LANDLER

A

t least he wasn’t left waiting by the phone.

British officials expressed relief that Prime Minister Boris Johnson was included in President-elect Joe Biden’s first round of calls with foreign leaders Tuesday, along with Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, President Emmanuel Macron of France and Prime Minister Micheal Martin of Ireland.

Some worried that Johnson’s ideological kinship with President Donald Trump and his backing of Brexit, which Biden had opposed, would put him at the back of the queue, as President Barack Obama once warned Britain if it voted to leave the European Union.

But the inclusion of pint-size Ireland on the list was at least as telling as Britain’s, a red flag to diplomats that Brexit could still get in the way of the country’s cherished special relationship with United States.

Biden spoke to Martin right after Johnson, according to Irish officials. He delivered the same message to both men — that he “reaffirmed his support for the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland,” according to a statement issued by the Biden transition office.

Downing Street made no mention of Northern Ireland in its account of the call, preferring to focus on how Johnson and Biden pledged to cooperate on “shared priorities, from tackling climate change, to promoting democracy and building back better from the coronavirus pandemic.”

A crowd at Times Square in Manhattan watches President-elect Joe Biden addresses the nation, Nov. 7, 2020. British officials expressed relief that Prime Minister Boris Johnson was included in Biden’s first round of calls with foreign leaders on Tuesday.

The Good Friday Agreement, brokered in 1998 under President Bill Clinton, ended decades of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland. It has become a potential source of conflict between Biden and Johnson because Britain’s trade negotiations with the EU could put the accord in jeopardy.

“It’s really quite pointed and deliberate that Biden raised the Good Friday Agreement with Johnson,” said Bobby McDonagh, a former Irish ambassador to Britain. “The British do not like it in general when American presidents raise Ireland with them, going back to Thatcher and Reagan.”

Biden, who speaks often of his Irish roots, warned Johnson during the

campaign not to take any steps that would undermine the accord. That came after the Johnson government introduced legislation to rewrite parts of its Withdrawal Agreement with the EU that address Northern Ireland. The revisions, critics say, could lead to the resurrection of a hard border across Ireland.

Downing Street contends that the legislation, known as the Internal Market Bill, is meant to ensure that trade flows freely between Britain and Northern Ireland and is merely a safety net in case there is no trade deal. If Johnson does strike one, he could always remove the offending language.

By all accounts, Biden and Johnson did not get into the weeds in their 20-minute exchange. The two have never met, and the prime minister carries some baggage. He alienated people in Obama’s circle by once referring to “the part-Kenyan president’s ancestral dislike of the British Empire.”

This time, Johnson seemed determined to get off on the right foot.

He invited Biden to attend a climate change conference in Glasgow next November and hailed Vice President-

elect Kamala Harris for her “historic achievement.” And it was noteworthy that he invoked the slogan “building back better,” one used by both the Biden campaign and his government.

The Irish were evidently less nervous about a call to Martin. His office tweeted that he had a “very positive” conversation with Biden, then abruptly deleted it — he had not yet spoken to the president-elect.

For many in Britain, it was enough that Johnson remained near the top of the incoming U.S. president’s call sheet. British newspapers crowed that Biden spoke to Johnson before Merkel or Macron, though Biden officials declined to clarify the order of the calls.

Either way, it was a better showing than four years ago, when British diplomats were chagrined to learn that President-elect Donald Trump had taken calls from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi of Egypt before one from Prime Minister Theresa May. Even Australia’s prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, got through, thanks to a private number for Trump that he got from golfer Greg Norman. (That turned out to be a mixed blessing: In another call a month later, the new president heatedly rejected an Obamaera deal to take refugees from Australia, and eventually hung up on the prime minister.)

Kim Darroch, the former British ambassador to the United States, finally connected his boss to Trump by tracking down the president-elect through his secretary at Trump Tower.

It was an off-the-wall experience that has little in common with Biden’s meticulously choreographed outreach to foreign leaders.

“It was a helpful signal for the British that Johnson was in the batch of the first four Europeans, and, I assume, quite a big relief for Downing Street,” Darroch said. “As expected, the Biden team are a whole lot more organized about this than Trump. You didn’t find Erdogan and Sissi getting the first two calls.”

The San Juan Daily Star

November 13-15, 2020

15

BBC orders inquiry into Diana interview after claim Princess was misled

By ISABELLA KWAI

T

he extraordinarily candid interview with Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1995 — in which she spoke of her “crowded” marriage to Prince Charles, admitted an affair of her own and told how in her despair she suffered from “rampant bulimia” — rocked England.

Hailed by British journalists at the time as “the scoop of the century,” it was viewed by an estimated 23 million people and catapulted her BBC interviewer, Martin Bashir, to an international profile.

But this week, old questions about how Bashir secured the interview have resurfaced in a two-part documentary that aired on the British network ITV on Monday and Tuesday, including allegations that Bashir used dishonest tactics to earn Diana’s trust and persuade her into the interview.

Specifically, the documentary claims that doctored bank statements — purportedly proving that royal employees close to the princess were being paid for spying on her — were used to gain Diana’s trust.

The British Broadcasting Corp., which aired the interview on its “Panorama” program and sold international rights for $1.6 million, announced that it would open an independent investigation into the allegations.

“The BBC is taking this very seriously, and we want to get to the truth,” Tim Davie, the corporation’s director general, said Monday.

“We are in the process of commissioning a robust and independent investigation.”

Bashir, now the religion editor of BBC News, has in the past faced questions about the tactics he used to secure the interview, only to be exonerated in an earlier BBC internal investigation, and has been unable to respond

to the latest allegations because he is sick.

The BBC has reported that he has been recovering from quadruple heart bypass surgery and complications from COVID-19, which he contracted earlier in the year. Neither the BBC nor Bashir immediately offered further comment.

Diana, who was legally separated from Prince Charles at the time of the interview but not yet divorced, died in 1997 in a car crash in Paris at age 36.

Michael Grade, a former BBC chairman, called the allegations “a very, very serious matter,” in a radio interview with the corporation, adding it left “a dark cloud hanging over BBC journalism.”

The BBC ordered an investigation into allegations of impropriety in 1996, and Bashir was cleared of wrongdoing by the corporation’s news chief at the time, Tony Hall. Hall himself later went on to lead the BBC, retiring as its director general in August this year.

Internal documents obtained in a Freedom of Information request by journalist Andy Webb, who directed a documentary about the interview for another British network, Channel 4, show that Hall cleared Bashir while punishing a graphic designer, Matthias Wiessler, who produced the altered bank statements.

According to the documents, reported in the ITV documentary, Hall said that while Bashir was “an honest man” who was “deeply remorseful,” Wiessler would never work at the BBC again because he had spoken to the media about the events.

Speaking publicly for the first time, Wiessler said in an interview for the ITV documentary that the internal documents made it clear that he had been used as a scapegoat.

He went on to claim that Bashir had asked

him to mock up bank statements to be used as props for “filming purposes.”

He said that he did not know what they were used for until the interview aired. When he approached BBC managers about his concerns, he said, he was cautioned not to speak to the media. But after an unsatisfying confrontation with Bashir, he ultimately spoke to a journalist, which helped set off the first inquiry.

“I quite clearly felt that I was the one that was going to be the fall guy in this story,” Wiessler said.

His contract was not renewed, and he ultimately left the industry when work dried up, he said.

In a statement, Hall told BBC radio that the original investigation had focused on whether the princess had been misled, and that the corporation’s new inquiry would doubtless look at this alongside any new issues raised.

He did not immediately respond to further requests for comment.

Wiessler told ITV that he wanted an apology, and that at the time BBC’s senior management, producers and presenters were “protecting themselves at all costs.”

He told the BBC on Tuesday that Bashir needed to speak out publicly.

“He’s the only one that has the answers,” he said.

Martin Bashir’s 1995 interview with Diana, Princess of Wales, attracted an audience of 23 million, according to the BBC.

16

November 13-15, 2020

China targets Hong Kong’s lawmakers as it squelches dissent

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hina moved Wednesday to quash one of the last vestiges of democracy and dissent in Hong Kong, forcing the ouster of four pro-democracy lawmakers from their elected offices in a purge that prompted the rest of the opposition to vow to resign en masse.

The departures will reshape the city’s political landscape, which has been upended since China imposed a sweeping national security law on Hong Kong this summer that gave authorities broad powers to crack down on resistance. They mark the intensification of a campaign that has damaged Hong Kong’s global reputation as a bastion for freedom of speech and rule of law.

The targeting of the democratically elected lawmakers comes at a time when the United States, which has recently protested China’s treatment of Hong Kong and imposed sanctions, is distracted by its own struggles over the U.S. presidential election.

In Hong Kong in recent months, Beijingbacked authorities have arrested pro-democracy leaders and activists as they resolved to bring Hong Kong to heel and put an end to the protests that engulfed the semi-autonomous Chinese territory for much of last year. Beijing and its supporters have also raised pressure on

Hong Kong’s independent court system and on news outlets that strike a defiant tone.

Their target Wednesday was Hong Kong’s legislature, the Legislative Council, which has stood as a symbol of the “one country, two systems” legal framework designed to preserve democratic freedoms in the former British colony after it returned to Chinese rule.

The legislature has proved an irritant for Beijing, as a group of pro-democracy lawmakers have argued that China’s campaign threatens to erode Hong Kong’s status as a global, open city.

Beijing officials moved Wednesday to silence those voices, granting broad new powers that allow the Hong Kong government to remove lawmakers from office who do not show clear loyalty to China.

Within minutes of Beijing’s announcement, Hong Kong officials ejected the four lawmakers, Dennis Kwok, Kwok Ka-ki, Kenneth Leung and Alvin Yeung. Hours after their removal from office, the remaining 15 members of their bloc said they were stepping down in solidarity.

“Together we stand!” lawmakers in the pro-democracy camp chanted as they held hands in a conference room in the Legislative Council building. One of the legislators, Wu Chiwai, told reporters that they would tender their resignations in protest Thursday.

“Under authoritarianism, the road to democracy will be extremely long and arduous,

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Four lawmakers, from left, Dennis Kwok, Kenneth Leung, Kwok Ka-ki and Alvin Yeung, were ousted from the Hong Kong Legislative Council on Wednesday.

The San Juan Daily Star but we will absolutely not be defeated by its pressures,” Wu said. “We will inevitably find new paths.”

The lawmakers said they believed that the legislature is now so compromised by the government’s power to stamp out opposition that they must work outside the system.

“Many people will consider today a dark day. It is hard for me to say it isn’t,” Kwok Ka-ki said. “As long as our resolve to fight for freedom, equality and justice remains unchanged, one day we will see the return of the core values we cherish.”

Hong Kong government appeared to welcome the resignations, which will give it much freer rein to pursue its agenda. Carrie Lam, Hong Kong’s chief executive, dismissed suggestions that the absence of the opposition lawmakers would tarnish the legislature if it pushed through policies favored by Beijing’s supporters.

“Of course we want the Legislative Council to pass the bills that we propose. We feel all the more excited when they can be passed in an efficient manner,” she said. “As the executive branch, we work in the hopes that the council will support and pass our bills.”

U.S. officials condemned the disqualification of the lawmakers, with the national security adviser, Robert C. O’Brien, saying China “has flagrantly violated its international commitments under the SinoBritish Joint Declaration and its promises to the people of Hong Kong.” He added that the “one country, two systems” framework “is now merely a fig leaf covering for the CCP’s expanding one-party dictatorship in Hong Kong,” referring to the Chinese Communist Party.

Democracy in Hong Kong has always come with caveats. Its top leader, the chief executive, is appointed in a process controlled

by Beijing. Half of the Legislative Council’s 70 members are selected by groups called functional constituencies that represent various industries and other establishment groups.

But the legislature, nicknamed LegCo, had been one of the most visible signs that Hong Kong remained distinct from mainland China, where the Communist Party dominates government and dissent is swiftly silenced.

Many of the seats are elected directly by the public, helping to give the pro-democracy camp a sizable minority and a forum to express its views to the establishment. Hong Kong’s local constitution, which came into effect upon the 1997 handover, even promised eventual direct elections for the entire legislature as well as the chief executive.

Instead, the room for opposition voices in the legislature is shrinking rapidly.

Last summer, weeks after the national

November 13-15, 2020

Carrie Lam, Hong Kong ’s chief executive, appeared to welcome the planned resignations of pro-democracy lawmakers. security law was enacted, the Hong Kong government postponed an election set for September by a year, citing the coronavirus pandemic. The move was criticized by prodemocracy lawmakers as a naked effort to avoid defeat at the polls.

Before the postponement, the government had also forbidden the four lawmakers who were ousted Wednesday from running for reelection. They were accused of planning legislative moves aimed at undermining the local government and of supporting, or even failing to condemn, U.S. sanctions on officials deemed responsible for rights abuses.

On Wednesday, Chinese officials outlined the new measure designed to keep the Legislative Council in line. The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, China’s top legislative body, said that lawmakers who support Hong Kong independence, refuse to recognize the country’s sovereignty over the city, seek out foreign or external forces to interfere with domestic affairs, or engage in acts that endanger national security will face immediate disqualification.

Lawmakers who fail to meet the statutory requirements for upholding the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s local constitution, and swearing “allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China” will also be ousted, it added.

The Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Hong Kong, Beijing’s top emissary in the city, said the rules would ensure that politicians “fulfill their constitutional responsibility of loyalty to the country.”

17

18

November 13-15, 2020

The San Juan Daily Star

NEW YORK TIMES EDITORIAL

Pick the worst of Trump’s worst

By GAIL COLLINS

W

e’ve been through a lot these last few days, people. Decades from now, some of you are going to have to answer your grandchildren when they ask you about the Time of the Two Presidents.

Donald Trump’s resistance to the idea that he lost the election isn’t a surprise. This is a man, former star of a phony-reality TV show, who almost never admits he’s lost/failed/come in second at anything. Who knows what new adventures we’ll have before Inauguration Day? I’m hoping he’ll refuse to leave his room and security agents will end up carrying him out of the White House in a blanket.

Which blanket would then be shredded into little bitty tufts of cloth and sold to benefit Trump’s Official Election Defense Fund. Or perhaps its successor, the Make Mar-a-Lago Great Again Crusade.

Meanwhile, if you had to pick one seminal moment in the Trump resistance, it really ought to be Rudy Giuliani’s press conference announcing the president would not concede. So many reasons this gets top billing. Not the least was that Giuliani’s prime witness,

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introduced to back up claims of voter fraud, turned out to be a convicted sex offender.

Like many of the witnesses Trump’s team was mobilizing, Daryl Brooks seemed to have a vague mission in election oversight — he said he “wanted to go to the polls to watch.” There were definitely a lot of Republicans who, like Brooks, felt they hadn’t been allowed to get close enough to the action and suspected something was being hidden.

But experts searching high and low failed to find any evidence of the kind of serious, widespread irregularities that might call the results into question. Instead, the public got … Giuliani. Who held his press conference at a place called Four Seasons Total Landscaping in Philadelphia.

This seemed to give Trump the pleasant impression the event was in the swank Four Seasons Hotel, instead of a humble gardening service store near a crematory and a sex shop.

Rudy emphasized that Brooks was just the first of what were going to be “many, many witnesses” of election fraud. Inquiring minds wanted to know why, in that case, he chose to lead off with a guy who served jail time for exposing himself to two girls, owed a great deal of money in overdue child support payments and, if known at all in his home state, New Jersey, it is as one of those guys who keeps running for offices he’s never going to win in a million years.

The whole Trump resistance has a nutty flavor.

The family is sending out emails assuring supporters that victory is around the corner, just so long as a check is in the mail. “We’ve found ballots in drainage ditches,” warned Eric Trump, who reminded his readers that the Official Election Defense Fund was open for donations.

We’re just two weeks from Thanksgiving, and I know you all have a lot of priorities. Tell me which you would rather invest your money in: A. Charities that give food for the poor.

B. Outdoor heaters so you can, maybe, have a safe little party for friends and family.

C. Trump Official Election Defense Fund.

We may be going into a very weird and freaky holiday season. The current leader of The Most Powerful Nation on the Globe is refusing to acknowledge, let alone offer any help, to President-elect Joe Biden. Instead, Trump was busy pushing out top officials in the Defense Department. Hey — do you remember all the times you talked over the last year about what would happen if Trump lost and refused to go away? Everybody agreed that the military would never allow that kind of coup d’état, right? The guys from … the Defense Department.

No reason to get panicky here. But the way Trump’s minions are standing behind his rebellion is pretty disgusting. The head of the General Services Administration isn’t working with the incoming Biden folk, leaving them unable — among many, many other things — to process financial disclosure and conflict-ofinterest forms for their nominees.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, given the chance to encourage his staff to help Biden, predicted “there will be a smooth transition to a second Trump administration.”

Pompeo, do you really think this is a good plan?

We know you want to hang onto the Trump supporters in case you run for the Senate — or, what the hell, go off and become a pathologically wealthy lobbyist/ consultant. But really, do you want to be known as the guy who out-Rudied Rudy?

And Attorney General Bill Barr is just encouraging his boss’s monomania, calling for his own Justice Department to investigate “substantial allegations” of voter fraud. The official in charge of such investigations quit in response.

Hey, we’ve got a real competition underway here.

Who’s the most irresponsible member of the Trump orbit? Besides, obviously, Himself.

— Attorney General Bill Barr — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo — Emily Murphy, head of the General Services Administration — Mike Pence, on general principles — Rudy Giuliani Winners to be announced before the turkey and stuffing are ready.

The San Juan Daily Star

November 13-15, 2020

19

Presidente de AMA rechaza alegaciones sobre falta de atención a empleados por casos de COVID-19 Por THE STAR

L

a Autoridad Metropolitana de Autobuses (AMA) rechazó el jueves negligencia alguna en la atención y cuidado de todos los empleados de la agencia, esto ante la gravedad en la salud pública que ha representado el COVID-19.

Josué Menéndez, presidente de la AMA, ha destacado los diversos servicios del cuidado de la salud que han sido brindados a la matrícula de la agencia, protegiendo así los mejores intereses. “Nuestros empleados son la zapata sobre la cual se levanta la estructura de servicio responsable y de excelencia que se ofrece a los pasajeros”, expresó en comunicación escrita.

El funcionario indicó que se han adoptado todas las acciones preventivas para atender la pandemia.

Activando los protocolos estrictos para la limpieza,

higienización y desinfección de los autobuses, así como también en las áreas de oficinas y comunales de la corporación pública. Cabe señalar, que todos los protocolos fueron discutidos con la dirección de las uniones obreras que representan a nuestros empleados.

“Nuestros autobuses son limpiados y desinfectados al culminar cada ruta de servicio. En adición se remueve cualquier material sólido que puedan haber dejado algún pasajero, de manera que las unidades estén libres de cualquier foco de contagio. Cada conductor se mantiene protegido mientras conduce su autobús por los protectores de acrílico”, dijo.

“Continuaremos día a día procurando el bienestar de nuestros empleados para evitar el contagio.

Esto seguirá así hasta que finalmente se disponga de la vacuna para enfrentar y controlar esta devastadora pandemia”, finalizó Menéndez.

DTOP añade más Cescos al programa de Renovación Digital de identificaciones y licencias de conducir Por THE STAR

E

l programa de Renovación Digital de identificaciones y licencias de conducir a través de la aplicación CESCO Digital, contará con siete Centros de Servicios al Conductor para atender a los ciudadanos que completen el proceso de forma remota y entregarles sus tarjetas físicas en un ambiente rápido y seguro, trascendió el jueves.

Desde el pasado 27 de octubre, cuando se estrenó el programa de Renovación Digital, se han renovado exitosamente cerca de 4 mil licencias e identificaciones desde la comodidad de la aplicación CESCO Digital.

Esto, a pesar de que, por tratarse de un plan piloto, solo estaba disponible el Centro de Servicios al Conductor (CESCO) de Carolina para recibir a los ciudadanos que realizaban la transacción por su celular, imprimir y entregarles la tarjeta física.

Sin embargo, tal y como explicó en comunicación escrita el secretario de Transportación y Obras Públicas, Carlos Contreras Aponte, “fuimos monitoreando el proceso, haciendo los ajustes necesarios para mejorar cada vez más el programa piloto, y ya hoy estamos listos para ampliar la oferta para un número extraordinario de ciudadanos que cualifican para renovar su licencia o identificación de manera digital.”

“Hoy añadimos seis Centros de Servicios al Conductor, pero tan pronto reabramos el resto de los CESCO que hemos tenido que cerrar en cumplimiento con los protocolos aplicables, a raíz de algunos casos positivos de COVID-19, se irán añadiendo el resto. Por tanto, antes que termine el mes de noviembre proyectamos que contaremos con el 100% de los CESCO para expedir y entregar las licencias e identificaciones renovadas de

forma digital, a través de la aplicación de CESCO Digital”, añadió.

El Departamento de Transportación y Obras Públicas (DTOP) cuenta con 14 Centros de Servicios al Conductor (CESCO) alrededor de toda la Isla. El programa de Renovación Digital, a partir de las 3:00 p.m. de hoy estará disponible para emisión y recogido de las licencias e identificaciones en los CESCO de Arecibo, Barranquitas, Caguas, Carolina, Fajardo, Humacao y Mayagüez.

Con el programa de Renovación Digital, un promedio de poco más de 30 mil personas podrá renovar sus identificaciones y licencias de conducir mensualmente, sin la necesidad de visitar un Centro de Servicios al Conductor (CESCO), sacar un certificado médico, o pasar por una colecturía del Departamento de Hacienda para comprar sellos y comprobantes. Estas deberán cumplir con varios requisitos, tales como: Tener una licencia categoría 3 (conductor) o identificación oficial emitida por DTOP, cuya fecha de vencimiento sea a partir del 1 de enero de 2020. Tener los documentos vigentes en el sistema, tener entre 21 y 70 años, y ser ciudadano americano.

No será necesario presentar un certificado médico y se utilizará la misma foto que tiene en la licencia o identificación actual.

No podrán renovar de forma digital aquellos cuyos documentos no estén vigentes en el sistema, tengan una dirección distinta a la de la licencia actual, tengan más de 24 puntos en su licencia, gravámenes de ASUME o ACAA, o que su licencia esté suspendida.

Una vez los ciudadanos completen el proceso de Renovación Digital, tendrán disponible su licencia virtual en la aplicación CESCO Digital, y recibirán una no-

tificación con las instrucciones de cuándo y en cual de los 7 CESCO integrados en el programa podrá pasar a recoger su licencia física.

Cabe destacar que, si la persona es elegible para la Renovación Digital, esta funcionalidad se le activa de forma automática en su cuenta de CESCO Digital. Si la funcionalidad no le aparece, significa que la renovación tendrá que hacerla de forma presencial en un Centro de Servicios al Conductor (CESCO).

“Sin embargo, aún aquellos que tengan que renovar de forma presencial, disfrutarán del beneficio de esta iniciativa. Primero, porque habrá menos personas sacando citas y visitando los CESCO, por lo que tendrán más espacios disponibles para hacer sus renovaciones sin siquiera hacer una fila. Segundo, porque sus documentos serán escaneados correctamente bajo los nuevos parámetros del CESCO 2.0, lo que permitirá que, a los ocho años, cuando le toque renovar nuevamente, lo pueda hacer de forma digital sin problemas,” reiteró Contreras Aponte.

20

November 13-15, 2020

The San Juan Daily Star

Meet Maria Bakalova, the breakout star of the ‘Borat’ sequel

By DAVE ITZKOFF

S

acha Baron Cohen may be the star of “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” but it is Maria Bakalova who has emerged its hero.

In this raucous prank comedy, now streaming on Amazon, Bakalova plays Tutar Sagdiyev, the downtrodden 15-year-old daughter of the titular Kazakh journalist portrayed

by Baron Cohen. Raised in a barn and miseducated by her oblivious father, Tutar contrives a way to accompany Borat on his latest journey to the United States, becoming both the bait and the co-conspirator in her father’s schemes to deliver her to Vice President Mike Pence.

Through numerous awkward encounters with unsuspecting marks — including a now-infamous interview with Rudy Giuliani — Tutar discovers her self-worth while calling attention to the quiet (and sometimes not-so-quiet) misogyny around her.

It is a breakthrough performance for Bakalova, a 24-yearold Bulgarian actress whose previous film and television work (including an Italian TV crime drama, “Gomorrah”) had yet to bring her the kind of acclaim that one gains for playing a naïve teen who is unaware that women can read, drive or masturbate.

As Bakalova explained in a Zoom conversation Tuesday, she sees the “Borat” sequel as being fundamentally the story of Tutar’s education and liberation. “It’s a movie of how a girl can grow up and should grow up,” she said, speaking from Los Angeles, where she currently lives. “How people can treat you as not equal because you’re a woman and what kind of options you have.”

For Bakalova, a prominent role in a major U.S. film is also a satisfying opportunity to honor her home country.

“Things like that are not happening to people like us, Bulgarians,” she said. “Most of the time, there is eventually a small, small extra part in a movie, two or three lines as like a prostitute or a Mafia guy. I will be really grateful to Sacha for giving this platform to an Eastern European, to play a strong and complicated character who’s not just one thing.”

Bakalova spoke further about her work with Baron Cohen and her highly scrutinized scene with Giuliani. These are edited excerpts from that conversation.

Q: How did you come to be cast in the sequel?

A: I heard from a friend there was an open call for the lead role in a Hollywood movie. And I was like, that’s not possible. We are Bulgarians. Nobody can actually see us in lead roles. I sent out self-tapes, then they called me for a screen test in London. But the project was so confidential, I was like, is this actually a project? I was sure it was going to be a human trafficking situation. I had no idea I was going to meet Sacha — it was a surprise.

Q: As you started making the film, how did Sacha describe the character of Tutar to you?

A: Sacha explained that Tutar should be as crazy as Borat,

The actress Maria Bakalova in West Hollywood, Calif., Nov. 10, 2020. The 24-year-old Bulgarian actress, who plays the title character’s daughter in the “Borat” sequel, talks about body hair, her “nonbiological father” Sacha Baron Cohen, and that scene with Rudy Giuliani. maybe even crazier. She should be completely disoriented — what is right, what is wrong — and through this journey, she should learn how to be a normal human. It’s a satirical movie, it’s over the top, but he got me thinking about what it would be like, living this life, even if it’s fake. He’d be like, would you be happy if people treated you this way — if the whole purpose of your life was to get married and live in a cage?

Q: And how her perspective would be warped by a sexist manual that misinforms her about her own body?

A: The manual is a metaphor for how society and the patriarchy are asking us to behave and what people are expecting. Should I be ashamed that I menstruate? Should I be ashamed that I have body hair? Should I be ashamed that I’m a woman? That’s what Tutar has believed from the beginning, and Sacha wanted to show that in 2020, this is a moment when people should start treating each other equally.

Q: When we first meet Tutar, she is in an extremely degraded state. How did you approach those scenes?

A: It’s something like hypnosis. You’re just going for it.

We actually decided that I would grow out my real body hair.

LA’s hot almost all the time. Every time I’m supposed to wear a dress or a top, you were able to see my armpit hair and leg hair. It was kind of gross. My facial hair never grows. I tried

my best. But my eyebrows are never growing out. The facial part is because of my makeup artist, Katy Fray, but everything else is completely natural. It was so interesting when I finally shaved — I was able to feel the wind on my arms and my legs.

Q: Were there any marks that you sympathized with?

Jeanise Jones, the woman hired as Tutar’s babysitter, was extremely kind to you — did you feel you were deceiving her?

A: We spent maybe five, six hours with Jeanise, and she is the person you see onscreen. She is just incredible. She’s not an actress. She just wanted to help Tutar and for Tutar to appreciate herself, to follow her dreams and educate herself.

We need people like Jeanise. She is an angel.

Q: Did you know who Giuliani was before you recorded your interview with him?

A: I knew who he was, because 9/11 is something everybody should know. It’s one of the hardest moments in recent history. But I’m not American, I don’t get into American politics. I don’t think I’m that informed with the situation in America and its political system. Sacha has been living here for a long time. I trust him.

Q: How did you and Sacha prepare to shoot that scene?

A: We’d been talking a lot about different scenarios.

How should I act, this way or this way? What should I do?

What is smarter? But in all of the scenarios, I was confident that Sacha will save me and he will save the scene, so it’s not going to be a disaster. He’s my guardian angel.

Q: Were you still nervous about filming it?

A: Yeah. I was nervous. My heart was racing. But Sacha was like, you should be nervous in this situation. So use your nerves. Convert them and accept them and they’re going to help you through everything.

Q: Giuliani has said that he was never inappropriate to you and that he was tucking in his shirt, but other viewers believe he was doing something illicit. What happened in that scene?

A: (Laughs) I saw everything that you saw. If you saw the movie, that’s our message. We want everybody to see the movie and judge for themselves.

Q: Did Giuliani think that Tutar was 15 years old when he agreed to do the interview?

A: I’m not the person who is actually booking these people, so when we get to the scene, I’m just doing the scene, without introducing myself. I’m not sure what he knows or does not know.

Q: Giuliani has been widely mocked and criticized for being duped by you and the “Borat” filmmakers. Do you feel bad at all for that?

A: Movies like this are showing people’s true colors. It’s going to show Jeanise’s true colors. It’s going to show the real character of (Judith Dim Evans), the lady in the synagogue.

It’s going to show Rudy’s real character. You’re responsible for your own decisions. So, no, I don’t feel bad.

The San Juan Daily Star

November 13-15, 2020

21

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade revives Broadway for a day

By JULIA JACOBS

B

roadway may be dark for several months to come, but actors from four shuttered shows have been given the opportunity — a rare one during the coronavirus pandemic — to put on their costumes and perform. The venue: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The term parade is being used loosely this year. The helium-filled balloons and star-studded floats will not be traveling their typical jam-packed, 2 1/2-mile route starting at West 77th Street. They will be gliding just one city block down 34th Street, near the flagship department store, and without an audience.

But even if it’s more television show than crowd fest this year, the parade will provide a brief respite from the doldrums of a darkened Broadway with performances by the casts of “Hamilton,” “Mean Girls,” “Jagged Little Pill,” and “Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations,” all shows that have not taken the stage since March.

Parade organizers said the Broadway performances will be filmed sometime in the next few weeks but aired with the rest of the parade on the morning of Nov. 26. Given the virus and the long layoff since March, the appearances are requiring rigorous rehearsals and meticulous planning to make sure that the entertainers are back on game and the performers and production team do not pose a health risk to one another.

Sergio Trujillo, the Tony Award-winning choreographer of “Ain’t Too Proud,” said that he choreographed a new number to a medley of two iconic Temptations songs, “My Girl” and “Get Ready.” Last year, the entire cast of the show performed at the outset of the parade broadcast, but this time, Trujillo kept the number to the five stars. He said he choreographed with social distancing in mind, making sure that the formations were staggered and the performers could keep separated while dancing.

“Anything we can do to make sure our Broadway lovers stay engaged and invested,” Trujillo said.

Anyone involved in the performance receives coronavirus tests and temperature checks before convening, and everyone will wear masks on the set, though the performers will be able to remove them to sing, he said.

In a typical year, Macy’s and NBC work together to select the Broadway shows that will perform live on Thanksgiving Day, usually emphasizing productions with flashy, dance-

Viola Dr. Crew members prepare the Snoopy balloon for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2019. Broadway may be dark for several months to come, but actors from four shuttered shows have been given the opportunity — a rare one during the coronavirus pandemic — to put on their costumes and perform during the 2020 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. heavy numbers. This year, some producers said that they would not be able to make the performance work because their cast members were spending the pandemic shutdown period outside the state or country, said Wesley Whatley, the parade’s creative producer.

The four performances that ultimately came together are being paid for by NBC, giving the performers a welcome paycheck after months of no work.

This is the 94th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and it has been reimagined in almost every way. In a typical year, it has between 8,000 and 10,000 people working the route, said Susan Tercero, the event’s executive producer. This year, there will be about 1,500. And there will be an in-person audience of zero. (The area surrounding the parade route will be shut down, even during planning, so there will be no opportunity for street viewing.)

Participants must be at least 18 years old and cannot come from outside the tri-state area. And the massive balloons will no longer be flown by smiling, uniformed handlers but instead driven by utility vehicles to limit the number of people involved.

“We still wanted to deliver what people expect on a Thanksgiving morning,” Tercero said. “But it’s going to look like a

parade during COVID times: We’re going to have people in masks, and we’re going to be socially distanced.”

The show, to air on NBC, will be hosted

by Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker and will feature a typical roster of celebrities from the worlds of music and television. The lineup includes Lauren Alaina; Jimmie Allen; Noah Cyrus; Ally Brooke; Sofia Carson;

CNCO; Jimmy Fallon and The Roots; Karol G; Tori Kelly; Patti LaBelle; Ella Mai; the current Miss America, Camille Schrier; the cast and Muppets of Sesame Street; Leslie Odom Jr.; Keke Palmer; Dolly Parton; Pentatonix; Bebe Rexha; Jordin Sparks; Sebastián Yatra; and Brett Young.

They will be followed, as usual, by Santa Claus, who is in good health despite the fact that the coronavirus has even made it to the Arctic.

In New York, where the worst impact of the virus has waned but cases are climbing again, the parade planning team at Macy’s aimed to feature artists who have been deprived of the opportunity to perform over the past several months. So one appearance will be by a ballerina with New York City Ballet who will dance as the Sugar Plum Fairy from George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker,” which has been canceled entirely this season.

And in a display of empathy for their fellow parades of New York City, the event is integrating performers whose appearances at various events in recent months were canceled because of COVID-19. The pretaped entertainment will include those who were scheduled to participate in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the Pride March, the National Puerto Rican Day Parade and the West Indian American Day Carnival Association, which were all canceled this year.

“Why not showcase New York at a time when a lot of people have missed being able to participate and watch these types of performances and cultural displays?” Tercero said.

22

The San Juan Daily Star

November 13-15, 2020

Good wines won’t fix thanksgiving, but they couldn’t hurt

By ERIC ASIMOV

I

n this strange and disquieting year, Thanksgiving planning begins with the question of whether to have any sort of gathering at all. Which wines to drink with the meal will be the least of your worries.

That’s as it should be. Selecting wines may cause a mild quiver of anxiety, but it’s never really a problem.

Even in the best of times, when you’re embracing aunts, third cousins and your best friend’s sister’s daughter, the joy of the feast and the renewal of ties go a long way toward mitigating the quality of whatever happens to be in your glass.

Still, good wine can be a significant asset. It can compel guests to take notice, to pause and ponder rather than gulp and disregard. If bottles are to be opened, why not select them with the same diligence you apply to choosing the perfect recipe for mashed potatoes?

Thanksgiving comes as COVID-19 cases are spiking nationwide. Every family will decide how to approach this often joyously rambunctious holiday.

Many gatherings will be diminished as people, protecting their loved ones and themselves, decide not to travel or entertain.

Thanksgivings for four, or two or even one will not be unusual.

Somehow, families will manage to bridge the distance. Whether through Zoom or the phone, people will find a way to share their blessings, maybe through a prayer or a toast. Wine can help forge these links, possibly by opening the same bottles from afar.

Our wine panel was not immune to the 2020 winnowing. Typically, we assemble monthly in a room at The New York Times building, where we consider and discuss a range of bottles. In deference to the pandemic, we have not gathered since February.

Still, we did not want to let Thanksgiving pass, so we got together outdoors, in the rooftop space of the NoMad restaurant in Manhattan. Even so, we were not entirely whole. Bernard Kirsch, our tasting coordinator, always joins us, but this year he opted out. Our colleague Pete Wells, like so many parents dealing with home-schooling, faced a last-minute childcare issue and could not attend.

That left Florence Fabricant, Julia

Refreshing and ready for Thanksgiving wine options, from left: Lioco Sonoma County Chardonnay 2018; Gia Coppola Lake County Orange Riesling 2019; Domaine les Aphillanthes Côtes du Rhône Clémentia Blanc 2019; Mosel Riesling “1,000L” 2018; Forlorn Hope Queen of the Sierra Rorick Heritage Vineyard Calaveras County 2017; Castello di Verduno Verduno Basadone 2018; Hound’s Tree High Wire North Fork of Long Island Pinot Noir NV; Franck Balthazar Selections Côtes du Rhône 2018, in Manhattan on Oct. 7, 2020.

Good wines won’t fix Thanksgiving 2020, but they couldn’t hurt.

Moskin and me, so we invited Thomas Pastuszak, NoMad’s wine director, to contribute a couple of bottles. We would be tasting eight wines in all.

We stuck with our usual ground rules: Each of us would bring two wines, one white and one red. None would retail for more than $25. We adopted these guidelines years ago, believing that for big gatherings, nobody wants to spend a lot of money on wine.

Smaller gatherings offer different opportunities. You don’t need as much wine, so if you like you can open your finest bottles.

Dinner for four, for example could begin with hors d’oeuvres and sparkling wine.

It could be Champagne. But if you want to emphasize American wines, I have found wonderful choices from the West Coast: Blue Ox, Cruse, Schramsberg, Iron Horse, Soter and Under the Wire are a few names worth knowing about.

Follow that with a good white wine, whatever strikes your fancy. Chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, chenin blanc, riesling, all will be great, but don’t stop there. You might like an assyrtiko, or maybe a carricante.

Maybe you’re beginning with a creamy

soup? Any of these wines will work, as long as they are not too oaky.

I would follow up with a red — a pinot noir or syrah, or maybe a Barolo or a Beaujolais. Whether serving turkey, or downsizing to a duck or chicken, these are all flexible with wine, so match the bottle to your sense of the occasion rather than with the food.

Maybe you would prefer two whites, or no whites at all. Why not? This is the year to eliminate rigid constraints.

Even so, the wine panel stayed with its philosophy of seeking out lithe, agile wines.

If you have followed us over the years, you will have seen the recommendations for many different specific bottles — Beaujolais, Loire reds, Italian reds, Oregon pinot noirs, rosés, sparklers and even ciders.

These all continue to be great choices.

But we have come to realize that the specifics don’t matter nearly so much as the character and energy of the wines. Acidity, balance and relatively low alcohol are the watchwords.

We have gotten good at finding bottles that fit these criteria, and this year was no exception. In fact, all eight bottles earned three stars, the equivalent of excellent choices.

What separates them are scant degrees of

preference. They were all that good.

For her white, Julia brought a Côtes du Rhône blanc, a 2019 Clémentia from Domaine les Aphillanthes, made from biodynamically farmed viognier, roussanne and clairette.

This was a counterintuitive wine, as viognier in particular can be overbearing, but this was well-focused and lively, a “sunny wine,” Julia said, that offered its tropical fruit flavors without being too heavy.

Her red was our favorite, a 2018 Verduno Basadone from Castello di Verduno, made of pelaverga piccolo grapes organically farmed in the Langhe region of Italy.

While the area is best known for its Barolo and Barbaresco, Langhe also grows pelaverga piccolo, one of a group of lesserknown grapes that offer excellent values. It was fresh, bright, spicy and intriguing.

Florence, too, went against the grain with her white, selecting a so-called orange wine, a white with some of the characteristics of a red.

Many orange wines can seem idiosyncratic, and I often wonder whether people will want to drink them over the course of a long meal. This would be a good candidate to try.

Her red was a nonvintage pinot noir, the High Wire from Hound’s Tree on the North Fork of Long Island — fresh, lively and refreshing.

I loved Thomas’ white, a 2018 Mosel riesling from Julian Haart that was textured and rich with floral and stony mineral flavors. I called it a wake-up wine for the way it snapped me to attention, though Julia suggested it was maybe too bold.

Thomas’ red came from Franck Balthazar, one of my favorite Cornas producers, who also has a small négociant operation. This 2018 Côtes du Rhône is 60% syrah and 40% grenache, farmed organically. It was spicy, earthy and complex, a lovely wine.

I stuck with American wines for my picks. My white, a 2018 Sonoma County chardonnay from Lioco, was tangy, textured and balanced, the sort of white wine that will go with almost anything.

My red was the 2017 Queen of the Sierra from Forlorn Hope, a blend of trousseau noir, mondeuse, zinfandel and a few other grapes, all organically grown in Calaveras County in the Sierra Foothills.

The San Juan Daily Star

November 13-15, 2020

23

Peak anxiety? Here are ways to calm down

By TARA PARKER-POPE

C

an’t concentrate? Losing sleep? Binge-eating your feelings?

In a stressful year, the nation collectively appeared to be experiencing peak anxiety last week. People shared stories of stress eating, clearing their calendars (who could sit through a Zoom meeting during a time like this?) and threatening to stay in bed.

The stress has consumed both sides of the political aisle.

A poll released by the American Psychological Association showed that 76% of Democrats and 67% of Republicans found the 2020 election to be a significant source of stress.

“We’ve had this unending momentum of a steady stream of stuff just going wrong since the beginning of March,” said the Rev. angel Kyodo williams, a meditation teacher and author of the book “Radical Dharma.” “The groundlessness that people feel is not really something the human body was meant to sustain over long periods of time.”

While there’s nothing you can do to speed election results or a coronavirus vaccine, you do have the power to take care of yourself. Neuroscientists, psychologists and meditation experts offered advice about the big and small things you can do to calm down. Here are things you can try to release anxiety, gain perspective and gird yourself for whatever comes next.

Interrupt Yourself As you feel your anxiety level rising, try to practice “self interruption.” Go for a walk. Call a friend. Run an errand.

Just move your body and become aware of your breathing.

“Interrupt yourself so you can shift your state,” williams said. “Get your attention on something else. Focus on something that is beautiful. Get up. Move your body and really shift your position. I think people really need to move away from wherever it is they are and break the momentum.”

Focus on Your Feet When you feel your stress level rising, try this quick calming exercise from Judson A. Brewer, director of research and innovation at the Mindfulness Center at Brown University: Take a moment to focus on your feet. You can do this standing or sitting, with your feet on the ground. How do they feel? Are they warm or cold? Are they tingly? Moist or dry? Wiggle your toes. Feel the soles of your feet. Feel your heels connecting with your shoes and the ground beneath you.

“It’s a different way to ground yourself,” Brewer said.

“Anxiety tends to be in your chest and throat. Your feet are as peripheral as you get from your anxiety zones.”

Move for Three Minutes It just takes a short burst of exercise — three minutes to be exact — to improve your mood, said Kelly McGonigal, a health psychologist and lecturer at Stanford University whose latest book is “The Joy of Movement.” Do jumping jacks. Stand and box. Do wall push-ups. Dance.

“Anytime you move your muscles and get your heart rate up, you’ll get a boost in dopamine and sense yourself as alive and engaged,” McGonigal said.

Stress has consumed both sides of the political aisle. A poll released by the American Psychological Association showed that 76 percent of Democrats and 67 percent of Republicans are finding the 2020 election to be a significant source of stress.

Tackle a Home Project Get rid of clutter, make a scrapbook, get a new comforter, hang artwork.

“It’s not frivolous to do something like declutter, organize or look around your space and think about how to make it a supportive place for you or anyone else you live with,” said McGonigal, whose TED Talk on stress has been viewed over 25 million times. “It’s one of the ways we imagine a positive future.”

Try Five-Finger Breathing This simple practice is easy to remember and is often taught to children to help them calm themselves in times of high stress. Brewer has created a video explaining the technique, which works by engaging multiple senses at the same time and crowding out those worrying thoughts.

— Hold your hand in front of you, fingers spread.

— Using your index finger on the opposite hand, start tracing the outline of your extended hand, starting at the wrist, moving up the pinkie.

— As you trace up your pinkie, breathe in. As you trace down your pinkie, breathe out. Trace up your ring finger and breathe in. Trace down your ring finger and breathe out.

— Continue finger by finger until you’ve traced your entire hand. Now reverse the process and trace from your thumb back to your pinkie, making sure to inhale as you trace up, and exhale as you trace down.

Connect With Nature Spend time outside. Watch birds. Wander amid the

trees. Recent research shows that consciously taking in the wonders of nature amplifies the mental health benefits of walking.

Numerous studies support the notion that spending time in nature and walking on quiet, tree-lined paths can result in meaningful improvements to mental health, and even physical changes to the brain. Nature walkers have “quieter” brains: Scans show less blood flow to the part of the brain associated with rumination. Some research shows that even looking at pictures of nature can improve your mood. Our brains, it seems, prefer green spaces. One small study found that exercisers exposed to the color green found it easier to exercise and were in a better mood than exercisers exposed to gray or red.

Rediscover Your Diaphragm Many of us are vertical breathers: When we breathe, our shoulders rise and fall, and we’re not engaging our diaphragm. To better relax, learn to be a horizontal breather.

Inhale and push your belly out, which means you’re using your diaphragm. Exhale and your middle relaxes.

For a deep (and somewhat complicated) dive on belly breathing, grab a tape measure and take this “breathing IQ” self-exam from Belisa Vranich, a clinical psychologist and author of “Breathing for Warriors.”

“If you’re breathing with your shoulders, you’re using auxiliary muscles, and you’ll have a higher heart rate, higher blood pressure and higher cortisol,” Vranich said. “If you breathe diaphragmatically, you’re more apt to be calmer.”

24 LEGAL NOTICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE BAYAMÓN.

JUAN RAMÓN QUIÑONES MANZO Demandante Vs.

IVONNE GUERRA ENCARNACIÓN

WORLD FINANCIAL CORPORATION H/N/C WORLD MORTGAGE BANKERS; IVELISSE MARTÍNEZ FIGUEROA, FULANO Y MENGANO DE TAL, POSIBLES TENEDORES DESCONOCIDOS DEL PAGARÉ

Demandada CIVIL NUMERO: JORGE LUIS CG2020RF00603. SALA: 503.

BAEZ GUZMAN SOBRE: DIVORCIO RI. EDICPeticionario TO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE EX-PARTE AMÉRICA PRESIDENTE DE CIVIL: BY2020CV02425. LOS E.E.U.U. ESTADO LIBRE PARTE DEMANDADA SOBRE: EXPEDIENTE DE ASOCIADO DE P.R. S.S. CIVIL NÚM. FA2020CV00508.

DOMINIO/ Catastro: 171-001A: IVONNE GUERRA SOBRE: CANCELACIÓN DE 940-72-000. EDICTO. ESTAPAGARÉ EXTRAVIADO POR ENCARNACIÓN DOS UNIDOS DE AMERICA Por la presente se le emplaza LA VÍA JUDICIAL. ESTAEL PRESIDENTE DE LOS y se le notifica que la parte de- DOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA EE.UU. ESTADO LIBRE ASOmandante ha presentado ante EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS CIADO DE PUERTO RICO. este Tribunal una Demanda en E.E.U.U. EL ESTADO LIBRE SS. DE PUERTO la cual se solicita el siguiente ASOCIADO A: SUCN. DESCONOCIDA remedio en su contra: Divorcio RICO. EDICTO.

DE GREGORIO BÁEZ Y MARÍA CAMACHO COMO ANTERIORES DUEÑOS y CUALQUIER PERSONA IGNORADA QUE PUEDA PERJUDICARSE

POR CUANTO: El peticionario solicita se declare a su favor el dominio de la finca que se describe según sus títulos del siguiente modo: “RUSTICA: Predio de terreno radicado en la calle Flamboyán, Barrio Mamey de Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, con una cabida de 1705.732 rn/c, equivalentes a 0.4339 de cuerda. En lindes por el NORTE: con Sucesión de Gregorio Báez y María Camacho (hoy) Maximina Santos Guzmán; por el SUR: Calle municipal Flamboyán; por el ESTE: con María Meléndez Sierra (hoy) Marisol Figueroa Báez y por el OESTE: con Sucn. Gregorio Báez y María Camacho (hoy), Valentín Carrillo Carrillo.” Esta pretensión se publicará tres veces en veinte días en este periódico. El que tenga interés o derecho real en el inmueble, los anteriores dueños y personas ignoradas que puedan perjudicarse y deseen oponerse tienen 20 días para ello a contar desde la última publicación, siendo abogado de los peticionarios, Lic. Jaime Rodríguez Rivera, cuya dirección es #30 Calle Reparto Piñero, Guaynabo, PR 009695650, Teléfono 787-720-9553.

En Bayamón, Puerto Rico, a 20 de octubre de 2020. LCDA. LAURA I SANTA SANCHEZ, Secretaria Reional. Sandra I. Cruz Vázquez, Secretaria Servicios a Sala. ****

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE CAGUAS SALAS DE FAMILIA Y MENORES.

@

por Ruptura Irreparable. Dentro del término de treinta (30) días desde la publicación del presente edicto usted, la parte demandada, deberá presentar ante este Tribunal original de su contestación a dicha demanda y notificar con copia de la misma al Lcdo. Jaime F. Rodríguez Ortíz, cuya dirección es la siguiente: Calle Carazo #10 (Bajos) Guaynabo, Puerto Rico 00969. Su teléfono es el 787-642-0506. c/ e: jfrolawgmail.com Se le apercibe que de no hacerlo, se le anotará la rebeldía y se podrá dictar sentencia en su contra, concediendo los remedios solicitados o cualquier otro si el Tribunal, en el ejercicio de su sana discreción, lo entiende procedente, Expedido bajo mi firma y sello del Tribunal en Caguas, Puerto Rico, hoy 26 de octubre de 2020. Carmen Ana Pereira Ortiz, Secretaria. Ivelisse Gomez Falcon, SubSecretaria.

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

BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO

PARTE DEMANDANTE vs.

DORAL FINANCIAL CORPORATION POR CONDUCTO DE SU AGENTE RESIDENTE; FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION (FDIC) COMO SÍNDICO DE DORAL BANK; DORAL MORTGAGE CORPORATION T/C/C DORAL MORTGAGE, LLC., POR CONDUCTO DE SU AGENTE RESIDENTE CT CORPORATION SYSTEM;

A: FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION (FDIC) COMO SÍNDICO DE DORAL BANK a las siguientes direcciones: FDIC SAN JUAN FIELD. OFFICE, 235 CALLE FEDERICO COSTA, STE 335, SAN JUAN, PR 00918-1341, 350 5TH AVE STE 1200, NEW YORK NY 10118-1201 Y 1601 BRYAN ST., DALLAS TX 75201-3401. IVELISSE MARTÍNEZ FIGUEROA a sus últimas direcciones conocidas: URB JOSE H RAMIREZ, C5 CALLE 2, RIO GRANDE, PR 00745-3130, URB PARQ DEL RIO, 124 VÍA DEL PARQUE, TRUJILLO ALTO, PR 00976-6070 Y URB. PARQUE DEL RIO, PB5 BUZÓN 124 ENCANTADA, TRUJILLO ALTO, PR 00976.

FULANO Y MENGANO DE TAL, POSIBLES TENEDORES DESCONOCIDOS DEL PAGARÉ.

Queda usted notificado que en este Tribunal se ha radicado demanda sobre cancelación de pagaré extraviado por la vía judicial. El 22 de noviembre de 2003, Ivelisse Martínez Figueroa (soltera) constituyó hipoteca en San Juan Puerto Rico, mediante la Escritura núm.

1453 autorizada por la notaria Teresita D. Navarro García en garantía de un pagaré bajo el testimonio número 18,473 por la suma de $80,000.00, a favor de Doral Mortgage intereses al 6.875% anual, vencedero el 1ro de diciembre de 2033. El 1 de junio de 2005, la señora Martínez Figueroa otorgó hipo-

staredictos@thesanjuandailystar.com

teca en garantía de un segundo pagaré bajo el testimonio número 2,821 por la suma de $15,000.00 a favor de Doral Bank, devengando intereses al 8.45% anual y vencimiento el 1ro de junio de 2015, según la Escritura núm. 395 ante el notario Rey J. De León Colón.

Ambas transacciones sobre la siguiente propiedad: URBANA: Solar marcado con el número 5 de la manzana C del Plano preparado por la Corporación de Renovación Urbana y Vivienda de Puerto Rico para su proyecto de solares denominado Urbanización José H. Ramírez, radicado en el Barrio Guzmán Abajo del término municipal de Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, con una cabida de 259.92 metros cuadrados. En lindes por el NORTE, con la calle B, distancia de 12.00 metros; por el SUR, con Carretera Estatal número 3, distancia de 12.00 metros; por el ESTE, con el solar número 6, distancia de 21.66 metros y por OESTE, con el solar núm. 4, distancia de 21.66.

Enclava una casa con un área total de construcción de 590 pies cuadrados en .9375 de pie cuadrado. La propiedad consta inscrita al folio 35 del tomo 185 de Río Grande, Finca 9024. Registro de la Propiedad de Carolina, Sección III. Las escrituras de hipoteca constan inscritas como asiento abreviado en el Tomo Karibe de Río Grande, Finca 9024. Registro de la Propiedad de Carolina, Sección III. Inscripción quinta y sexta, respectivamente. La parte demandada deberá presentar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Administración y Manejo de Casos (SUMAC), al cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electrónica: https://unired. ramajudicial.pr, salvo que se represente por derecho propio, en cuyo caso deberá presentar su alegación responsiva en la secretaría del Tribunal Se le advierte que, si no contesta la demanda, radicando el original de la contestación en este Tribunal y enviando copia de la contestación a la abogada de la Parte Demandante, Lcda.

Belma Alonso García, cuya dirección es: PO Box 3922, Guaynabo, PR 00970-3922, teléfono y Fax: (787) 789-1826, correo electrónico: oficinabelmaalonso@gmail.com, dentro del término de treinta (30) días de la publicación de este edicto, excluyéndose el día de la publicación, se le anotará la rebeldía y se le dictará Sentencia en su contra, concediendo el remedio solicitado sin más citarle ni oírle. EXPEDIDO bajo mi firma y el sello del Tribunal, hoy 30 de octubre de 2020 en

(787) 743-3346

Friday, November 13, 2020

The San Juan Daily Star

BLANCA IRIS QUIÑONES derecho propio, en cuyo caso cia Parcial o Resolución, de la deberá presentar su alegación cual puede establecerse recurECHEVARRÍA a las responsiva en la secretaría del so de revisión o apelación densiguientes direcciones: Tribunal Se le advierte que, si tro del término de 30 días conURB. ALTURAS DEL no contesta la demanda, ra- tados a partir de la publicación ALBA, L13 CALLE CIELO, dicando el original de la con- por edicto de esta notificación, LEGAL NOTICE testación en este Tribunal y dirijo a usted esta notificación ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO VILLALBA PR 00766, 609 AVE TITO CASTRO STE enviando copia de la contes- que se considerará hecha en la DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUtación a la abogada de la par- fecha de la publicación de este NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA 102, PMB 541, PONCE, PR te demandante, Lcda. Belma edicto. Copia de esta notificaSALA SUPERIOR DE PONCE. 00716-0200; Alonso García, cuya dirección ción ha sido archivada en los BANCO POPULAR DE FULANO y ·MENGANO es: PO Box 3922, Guaynabo autos de este caso, con fecha PUERTO RICO PR 00970-3922, Teléfono y de 5 de noviembre de 2020. En DE TAL, POSIBLES PARTE DEMANDANTE vs.

Fax: (787) 789-1826, correo Caguas, Puerto Rico, el 5 de TENEDORES oficinabelmaa- noviembre de 2020. CARMEN DORAL FINANCIAL DESCONOCIDOS DEL electrónico: lonso@gmail.com, dentro del A. PEREIRA ORTIZ, Secretaria CORPORATION H/N/C H.F. PAGARE. MORTGAGE BANKERS Queda usted notificado que en término de treinta (30) días de Regional. ENEIDA ARROYO la publicación de este edicto, VELEZ, Secretaria Auxiliar.

POR CONDUCTO DE SU este Tribunal se ha radicado excluyéndose el día de la publiLEGAL NOTICE AGENTE RESIDENTE, Demanda sobre Cancelación cación, se le anotará la rebeldía de Pagaré Extraviado por la y se le dictará Sentencia en su ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO FEDERAL DEPOSIT vía judicial. El 19 de mayo de contra, concediendo el remedio DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUINSURANCE 1999, Blanca Iris Quiñones CORPORATION (FDIC) Echevarría, constituyó una hi- solicitado sin más citarle ni oír- NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA le. EXPEDIDO bajo mi firma y SALA DE CAROLINA. COMO SÍNDICO DE poteca en Ponce, Puerto Rico, el sello del Tribunal, hoy 31 de SUCESION DE DOMINGO conforme a la Escritura núm. octubre de 2020, en Ponce, DORAL BANK, CASTRO DE JESUS, 83, autorizada por el notario Puerto Rico. LUZ MAYRA CADORAL MORTGAGE compuesta por sus Félix Llorens Santini en garan- RABALLO GARCIA, Secretaria CORPORATION T/C/C tía de un pagaré por la suma Regional. GLORIBEE MORAúnicos y universales DORAL MORTGAGE, de $62,400.00 a favor de Doral herederos llamados MORENO, Sec Aux del LLC., POR CONDUCTO Financial Corporation haciendo LES Tribunal I. Migdalia; Luis Alberto; DE SU AGENTE negocios como H.F. Mortgage Domingo Luis, todos de Bankers, o a su orden, con inteLEGAL NOTICE RESIDENTE CT apellidos Castro Cruz. reses al 7% anual y vencedero Estado Libre Asociado de PuerCORPORATION SYSTEM, DEMANDANTES VS. el 1ro de junio de 2029, sobre la to Rico TRIBUNAL GENERAL ORIENTAL BANK siguiente propiedad: URBANA: DE JUSTICIA Tribunal de PriBANKERS FINANCE T/C/C ORIENTAL BANK Solar marcado con el #L-13 MORTGAGE mera Instancia Sala Superior AND TRUST COMO del Bloque de la Urbanización de CAGUAS. CORPORATION; DORAL SUCESOR EN DERECHO Alturas del Alba, radicado en el DLJ MORTGAGE BANK, su sucesor Barrio Villalba del término muDE SOUTHERN CAPITAL INC BANCO POPULAR DE nicipal de Villalba, Puerto Rico, MORTGAGE, INC. T/C/C que se describe en el plano de Demandante v.

PUERTO RICO; JOHN SOUTHERN MORTGAGE inscripción de la urbanización CMFC, INC., DOE, RICHARD ROE. CORPORATION, con el #99-65 - B- 923PPI Caso CITIMORTGAGE INC., DEMANDADOS BLANCA IRIS QUIÑONES 96-65-C-770-PPUR, con una CIVIL NO. CA2020CV02265.

FULANO DE TAL Y cabida de 307.96 metros cuaECHEVARRÍA, FULANA DE TAL, posibles SOBRE: CANCELACION DE FULANO Y MENGANO drados, equivalentes a 0.0783 tenedores Desconocidos PAGARE EXTRAVIADO. EMcuerdas. En linderos: NORTE, PLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. DE TAL, POSIBLES del pagaré extraviado ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉen 25.86 metros, con el solar TENEDORES Demandado(a) L-14; SUR, en 24.59 metros, RICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE DESCONOCIDOS DEL con el solar L-12; ESTE, en Civil: Núm. CG2019CV01347. LOS EE. UU., EL ESTADO LI12.25 metros, con la calle #8; SALA 801. Sobre: CANCELA- BRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO PAGARÉ Fajardo, Puerto Rico. Wanda I Segui Reyes, Secretaria Regional. Ivelisse Serrano Garcia, SubSecretaria.

PARTE DEMANDADA CIVIL NÚM. PO2020CV01520.

SOBRE: CANCELACIÓN DE PAGARÉ EXTRAVIADO POR LA VÍA JUDICIAL. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA EL PRESIDENTED E LOS E.E.U.U. EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO. EDICTO.

A: FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION (FDIC) COMO SÍNDICO DE DORAL BANK a las siguientes direcciones: FDIC SAN JUAN FIELD OFFICE, 235 CALLE FEDERICO COSTA, STE 335, SAN JUAN, PR 00918-1341, 350 STH AVE STE 1200, NEW YORK, NY 10118-1201 y 1601 BRYAN ST., DALLAS TX 75201-3401,

OESTE, en 12.298 metros, con la Urbanización Las Alondras.

Esta afectado por una servidumbre telefónica de 5 pies de ancho a lo largo de su colindancia Este con la calle #8 y a una servidumbre eléctrica de 5 pies de ancho por 30 pies de largo en su colindancia Norte, en común con el solar #L-14.

La propiedad consta inscrita al folio 50 del tomo 143 de Villalba, Finca 6730. Registro de la Propiedad de Ponce, Sección I. La escritura de hipoteca consta inscrita al folio 52 del tomo 143 de Villalba, Finca 6730.

Registro de la Propiedad de Ponce, Sección I. Inscripción segunda. La parte demandada deberá presentar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Administración y Manejo de Casos (SUMAC), al cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electrónica: https://unired.ramajudicial. pr, salvo que se represente por

CION DE PAGARE HIPOTE- RICO. CARIO EXTRAVIADO. NOTIFIA: BANKERS FINANCE CACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR MORTGAGE CORP; EDICTO.

DORAL BANK; JOHN A: CMFC, FULANA DE DOE Y RICHARD ROE, TAL Y FULANO DE TAL, como posibles tenedores posibles tenedores del pagaré desconocidos del pagaré Por la PRESENTE se le emplaextraviado za para que presente al tribunal

EL(LA) SECRETARIO(A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que el 5 de noviembre de 2020, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los 10 días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Senten-

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

The San Juan Daily Star término, el tribunal podrá dictar sentencia en rebeldía en su contra y conceder el remedio solicitado en la demanda, o cualquier otro, si el tribunal, en el ejercicio de su sana discreción, lo entiende procedente.

Por medio del presente edicto se les notifica de la radicación de una Demanda de Cancelación de Pagaré Extraviado en la que se solicita la cancelación del siguiente pagaré hipotecario, que posiblemente se ha extraviado, luego de haber sido saldado por el deudor hipotecario: pagaré a favor de Bankers Finance Mortgage Corporation, o a su orden, por la suma de $27,000.00, con interés al 12% y vencedero el 1 de agosto de 2010, según consta de la escritura número 61, otorgada en Loiza, Puerto Rico, el 15 de julio de 1980, ante el Notario José R. Gómez Alegría, inscrita al folio 134 del tomo 144 de Canóvanas, finca #7311, inscripción la. La parte demandante solicita del Honorable Tribunal que declare con lugar la demanda y en su consecuencia ordene al Secretario del Tribunal que expida Mandamiento al Registrador de la Propiedad correspondiente, para que dicho funcionario proceda a cancelar en los libros a su cargo la referida hipoteca dejando la propiedad aquí descrita libre de dicho gravamen hipotecario.

POR EL PRESENTE EDICTO se les emplaza y requiere para que conteste la Demanda radicando el original de su contestación ante el Tribunal Superior de Puerto Rico, Sala de San Juan, y notificándole con copia de dicha contestación al abogado del demandante, Lcdo.

Alejandro J. Cacho Rodríguez, 54 Calle Resolución, Suite 303, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00920-2729 Tel: (787) 7222242; Fax: (787) 722-2243, cacho(cacholaw.com dentro del término de treinta (30) días siguientes a la fecha de publicación de este Edicto; si dejaren de así hacerlo, se les anotará la rebeldía y se dictará sentencia contra ustedes concediendo el remedio solicitado sin más citarle ni oírle. EXPEDIDO bajo mi firma y el sello del Tribunal de Carolina, Puerto Rico, hoy 6 de noviembre de 2020. Lcda.

Marilyn Aponte Rodriguez, Sec Regional. Myriam I Figueroa Pastrana, Sec Auxiliar.

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

CARLOS AYALA CRUZ Y OTROS vs.

MARITZA AYALA Y OTROS

CASO NUM: TA2020CV00438

Friday, November 13, 2020

(SALON 202 TRANSITO Y PENAL; CIVIL). Sobre: ACCION DE REANUDACION DE TRACTO SUCESIVO Y OTROS. NOTIFICACIÓN.

A: HECTOR R DIAZ GONZALEZ

HECTORRAFAELDIAZGONZALEZ @GMAIL.COM El (La) Secretario(a) que suscribe certifica y notifica a usted que con relación al (a la) MOCIÓN DE MOCION SOLICITANDO ENMIENDA EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO [15] este Tribunal emitió una ORDEN el 19 de octubre de 2020.

Se transcribe la determinación a continuacion: A MOCIÓN SOLICITANDO ENMIENDA EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO, HA LUGAR. SECRETARÍA EXPÍDA EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO CORREGIDO.[16] f/ MARIA C SANZ MARTINEZ. SE LE ADVIERTE que al ser una parte o su representante legal en el caso sujeto a esta ORDEN, usted puede presentar un recurso de apelación, revisión o certiorari de conformidad con el procedimiento y en el término establecido por ley, regla o reglamento. CERTIFICO que la determinación emitida por el Tribunal fue debidamente registrada y archivada hoy 20 de octubre de 2020, y que se envió copia de esta notificación a las personas antes indicadas, a sus direcciones registradas en el caso conforme a la normativa aplicable. En esta misma fecha fue archivada en autos copia de esta notificación. En Toa Alta, Puerto Rico, a 20 de octubre de 2020. LAURA I. SANTA SANCHEZ, Nombre del (de la) Secretario(a) Regional.

Por. f/LIRIAM HERNANDEZ OTERO, Nombre y Firma del (de la) Secretario(a) Auxiliar del Tribunal.

LEGAL NOTICE

Orden de Protección en virtud de la Ley Número 284-1999, según enmendada, conocida como la Ley Contra el Acecho en Puerto Rico. Por desconocerse su paradero, el tribunal ha ordenado que se cite a usted por medio de este Edicto el cuál será publicado en este periódico sólo una vez. Se le advierte que deberá contestar la Petición dentro d.el término de (30) días a partir de la publicación de este Edicto, radicado el original en la Secretaría de este Tribunal y enviado copia a la parte querellante a través de su representación legal, Lic. Maricarmen Carrillo Justiniano, a la dirección más adelante .indicada. De no hacerlo, podrá dictarse en su contra una Orden de Protección en Rebeldía, concediéndose el remedio solicitado en la Petición sin más citarle ni oírle.

LIC. MARICARMEN CARRILLO JUSTINIANO PO Box 8257 Bayamón, P.R. 00960 Tel: 787-945-9320 EXPEDIDO bajo mi firma y sello de este Tribunal, hoy 29 de octubre de 2020. Lcda. Marilyn Aponte Rodriguez, Sec Regional. Heilys Sanchez Santos, Sec Auxiliar del Tribunal.

LEGAL NOT ICE Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico TRIBUNAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA Tribunal de Primera Instancia Sala Superior de SAN JUAN.

ANGELA CINTRON ORTIZ Demandante v.

ALBERTO RONDON REYES

Demandado(a) Civil: SJ2020RF00861 (708).

Sobre: DIVORCIO, RUPTURAIR REPARABLE. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: ALBERTO

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO RONDON REYES DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU- (Nombre de las partes a las que se NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA le notifican la sentencia por edicto) SALA MUNICIPAL DE CARO- EL SECRETARIO(A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que el 5 LINA. MARÍA E. VÉLEZ COLÓN de NOVIEMBRE de 2020, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Peticionaria vs.

Sentencia Parcial o Resolución JEAN P. en este caso, que ha sido debiLOZADA FERREIRA damente registrada y archivada Peticionado en autos donde podrá usted enCIVIL NÚMERO: SJL2842020- terarse detalladamente de los 539. SOBRE: ORDEN DE términos de la misma. Esta noPROTECCIÓN. LEY CONTRA tificación se publicará una sola EL ACECHO (LEY 284). EDIC- vez en un periódico de circulaTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE ción general en la Isla de PuerAMERICA EL PRESIDENTE to Rico, dentro de los 10 días DE LOS EE.UU. EL ESTADO siguientes a su notificación. Y, LIBRE ASOCIADO DE P.R. SS. siendo o representando usted A: JEAN P. una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la SenLOZADA FERREIRA 3920 Sutton Place Blvd. tencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede estaApt. 116 blecerse recurso de revisión o Winter Park, Fl 32972 USA apelación dentro del término de Se le notifica por medio del 30 días contados a partir de la presente edicto que se ha so- publicación por edicto de esta licitado en su contra ante el notificación, dirijo a usted esta Tribunal de Primera Instancia, notificación que se considerará Sala Municipal de Carolina, una hecha en la fecha de la publi-

cación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 5 de NOVIEMBRE de 2020. En SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, el 5 de NOVIEMBRE de 2020. f/GRISELDA RODRIGUEZ COLLADO, Secretaria.

CARMEN J. CASTRO SERRANO, Sec Auxiliar.

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

PR RECOVERY AND DEVELOPMENT JV, LLC.

Demandante v.

SUCESIÓN DE ANA ROSA HERRERA TORRES, COMPUESTA POR JOSÉ RAMÓN RIVERA PÉREZ, FULANO DE TAL y SUTANO DE TAL COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS, JOSÉ RAMÓN RIVERA PÉREZ, CENTRO DE RECAUDACIÓN DE INGRESOS MUNICIPALES, ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA. DEMANDADA

25

sucesores en derecho Aux Tribunal I. HERNANDEZ MORALES de R&G MORTGAGE COMPUESTA POR: JOSE LEGAL NOTICE J. HERNANDEZ BONILLA, CORP; METRO ISLAND ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO JAIME U. HERNANDEZ MORTGAGE, INC.; JOHN DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUDOE y RICHARD ROE, NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA BONILLA, GLADYS M. HERNANDEZ BONILLA, como posibles tenedores CENTRO JUDICIAL DE SAN JUAN SALA SUPERIOR. del pagaré HARRY N. HERNANDEZ BAUTISTA REO PR CORP. Demandados BONILLA, JORGE L. Demandante V. CIVIL NUM. CA2020CV01046.

HERNANDEZ COLON SOBRE: CANCELACION DE VICENTA SOTO BELTRÁN Y LUIS J. HERNANDEZ HIPOTECA PRESENTADA Demandada.

COLON POR PAGARE HIPOTECARIO CIVIL NUM. KCD2012-1423 Demandante v.

DORAL MORTGAGE CORPORATION, REP. DE BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO, JUAN DEL PUEBLO Y FULANO DE TAL

EXTRAVIADO. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. EN LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMERICA EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE P.R. SS.

Demandado(a) Civil: CA2019CV04178. Sobre: A: FEDERAL MARÍA DEL ROSARIO COBRO DE DINERO Y EJEDemandado(a) DEPOSIT INSURANCE PUIG LUGO CUCION DE HIPOTECA POR Civil: Núm. GB2019CV01155.

Demandado(a) LA VIA ORDINARIA. NOTIFICORPORATION (FDIC) SALA 201. Sobre: CANCELACivil: FA2019CV01463. Sobre: CACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR 1601 Bryant St. Dallas, CION DE PAGARE EXTRAVIA COBRO DE DINERO ORDINA- EDICTO. EXTRAVIADO.NOTIFICACIÓN Texas 75201 RIO. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SEN- A: JOSÉ RAMÓN RIVERA DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO. Por la presente se le notifica TENCIA POR EDICTO. PÉREZ, FULANO DE TAL, A: JUAN DEL PUEBLO Y que se ha radicado una DeA: MARÍA DEL ROSARIO SUTANO DE TAL COMO manda donde se solicita se FULANO DE TAL PUIG LUGO POSIBLES HEREDEROS (Nombre de las partes a las que se cancele el siguiente pagaré, el le notifican la sentencia por edicto) cual está extraviado, así como URB. VILLA CLARITA, DE NOMBRES EL SECRETARIO(A) que sus- la hipoteca que garantiza su E4 CALLE 3-C, DESCONOCIDOS DE cribe le notifica a usted que el pago: a. Pagaré a favor de R FAJARDO PR 00738; LA SUC. DE ANA ROSA 27 de octubre de 2020, este & G MORTGAGE CORP, o a PMB 112 BOX 70012, Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, su orden, por la suma principal HERRERA TORRES FAJARDO PR 00738 (Nombre de las partes a las que se Sentencia Parcial o Resolución de $70,000.00, con intereses (Nombre de las partes a las que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto) en este caso, que ha sido debi- al 7 1/4% anual y con vencile notifican la sentencia por edicto) EL SECRETARIO(A) que susdamente registrada y archivada miento el día 1ro. de julio de EL SECRETARIO(A) que sus- cribe le notifica a usted que el 2 en autos donde podrá usted 2017, según consta de la escribe le notifica a usted que el 7 de NOVIEMBRE de 2020, este enterarse detalladamente de critura número 462 otorgada el de NOVIEMBRE de 2020, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, los términos de la misma. Esta 3 de julio de 2002 en Carolina, Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución notificación se publicará una Puerto Rico, ante el Notario PúSentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debisola vez en un periódico de blico Angel A. Colón Vázquez, en este caso, que ha sido debi- damente registrada y archivada circulación general en la Isla la cual consta inscrita al tomo damente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted de Puerto Rico, dentro de los móvil 138 de Carolina, Registro en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de 10 días siguientes a su notifica- de la Propiedad de Puerto Rico, enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta ción. Y, siendo o representando Sección Segunda de Carolina, los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una usted una parte en el procedi- finca 16,776. Por la presennotificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de miento sujeta a los términos te se les emplaza y requiere sola vez en un periódico de circulación general en la Isla de la Sentencia, Sentencia para que notifique a la Lcda. circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los Parcial o Resolución, de la cual Maritza Guzmán Matos, PMB de Puerto Rico, dentro de los 10 días siguientes a su notificapuede establecerse recurso de 767, Avenida Luis Vigoreaux, 10 días siguientes a su notifica- ción. Y, siendo o representando revisión o apelación dentro del Guaynabo, Puerto Rico 00966, ción. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el proceditérmino de 30 días contados a teléfono (787) 758-3276, abousted una parte en el procedi- miento sujeta a los términos partir de la publicación por edic- gada de la parte demandante, miento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sentencia to de esta notificación, dirijo a con copia de vuestra contestade la Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual usted esta notificación que se ción a la demanda radicada en Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recurso de considerará hecha en la fecha este caso contra ustedes, denpuede establecerse recurso de revisión o apelación dentro del de la publicación de este edic- tro de un término de sesenta revisión o apelación dentro del término de 30 días contados a to. Copia de esta notificación (60) días contados a partir de término de 30 días contados a partir de la publicación por edicha sido archivada en los autos la publicación de este Edicto. partir de la publicación por edic- to de esta notificación, dirijo a de este caso, con fecha de 6 Deberá presentar su alegación to de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se de NOVIEMBRE de 2020. En responsiva a través del Sistema usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico, el Unificado de Manejo y adminisconsiderará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edic6 de NOVIEMBRE de 2020. tración de Casos (SUMAC), al de la publicación de este edic- to. Copia de esta notificación Lcda. Laura I Santa Sanchez, cual puede acceder utilizando to. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos Secretaria. F/MAIRENI TRINTA la siguiente dirección electróniha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 10 ca: https://unired.ramajudicial.

MALDONADO, Sec Auxiliar. de este caso, con fecha de 9 de NOVIEMBRE de 2020. En pr/sumac/, salvo que se reprede NOVIEMBRE de 2020. En CAROLINA, Puerto Rico, el 10 LEGAL NOTICE sente por derecho propio. Por FAJARDO, Puerto Rico, el 9 de de NOVIEMBRE de 2020. MAla presente se les apercibe de ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO NOVIEMBRE de 2020. WANDA RILYN APONTE RODRIGUEZ, que de no comparecer a formuDE PUERTO RICO TRIBUI. SEGUI REYES, Secretaria. F/ Secretaria. KEILA GARCIA SONAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA lar alegaciones dentro de seIVELISSE SERRANO GARCIA, LIS, Sec Auxiliar.

SALA DE CAROLINA SALA senta (60) días contados a parSec Auxiliar. tir de la fecha de la publicación SUPERIOR. LEGAL NOTICE de este Edicto, se le anotará la JAMES B. NUTTER & LEGAL NOTICE Estado Libre Asociado de Puerrebeldía y se dictará Sentencia COMPANY Estado Libre Asociado de Puer- to Rico TRIBUNAL GENERAL de acuerdo con lo solicitado en Demandante Vs. to Rico TRIBUNAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA Tribunal de Prila demanda, sin más citarle ni DE JUSTICIA Tribunal de Pri- mera Instancia Sala Superior FEDERAL DEPOSIT oirle. Expedido bajo mi firma y mera Instancia Sala Superior de GUAYNABO. sello de este Tribunal, en CaroINSURANCE de CAROLINA. GLADYS BONILLA CORPORATION (FDIC) y lina, Puerto Rico hoy 2 de noREVERSE MORTGAGE BAEZ Y LA SUCESION BANCO POPULAR DE viembre de 2020. Lcda. Marilyn Aponte Rodriguez, Sec RegioFUNDING, LLC. DE JAIME MURIEL PUERTO RICO como nal. Lourdes Diaz Medina, Sec Demandante v.

(902). SOBRE: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCION DE HIPOTECA POR LA VIA ORDINARIA. AVISO DE VENTA EN PUBLICA SUBASTA. Yo, PEDRO HIEYE GONZALEZ, Alguacil de Ia División de Subastas del Centro Judicial de San Juan, a los demandados y al público en general les notifico que, cumpliendo con un Mandamiento que se ha librado en el presente caso por el Secretarlo del Tribunal de epígrafe con fecha 7 de noviembre de 2018 y para satisfacer Ia Sentencia por las cantidades de $240,999.18 de principal más intereses a razón de 7.50% anual, los cuales continuan acumulándose hasta el saldo total de Ia deuda; $1,604.70 por concepto de gastos por mora y $1,124.24 por concepto de de balance reserva o cuenta “escrow” los cuales continuan acumulándose hasta el pagó total de Ia deuda, $10.00 por concepto de otros gastos, más los intereses que se acumulen hasta el pago total de Ia deuda, más costas, gastos y honorarios de abogados pactados en 10% del principal del pagare, dictada en el caso de autos el 5 de febrero de 2013, notificada y archivada en autos el 6 de febrero de 2013, procederé a vender en pública subasta, al mejor postor en pago de contado yen moneda del curso legal de los Estados Unidos de America, mediante efectivo, giro o cheque certificado a nombre del Alguacil de este Tribunal todo derecho, titulo e interés que hayan tenido tengan o puedan tener los deudores demandados en cuanto a Ia propiedad localizada en el Municipio de San Juan, Puerto Rico, el bien inmueble se describe a continuación: Urb. El Comandante, 952 Calle Carmen Hernandez, San Juan----------- Consta inscrita a finca número mil setecientos setenta y uno (1771), inscrita al folio seis (6) del tomo cuarenta y uno (41) de SABANA LLANA; SECCION QUINTA (V) DE SAN JUAN. URBANA: Solar marcado con el número ciento sesenta y siete (167) del bloque C guión siete (C-7) del pIano de inscripción de Ia Urbanización El Comandante, radicado en el barrio Sabana Llana del sitio denominado Río Piedras del término municipal del Gobierno de Ia Capital de Puerto Rico, con un area superficial de trescientos cua-

26 renta y cuatro punto cincuenta (344.50) metros cuadrados. En lindes por el Norte, en veintiséis punto cincuenta (26.50) metros, con el solar nUmero ciento sesenta y nueve (#169), por el Sur, en veintiséis punto cincuenta (26.50) metros, con el solar nUmero ciento sesenta y tres (#163), por el Este, en trece (13.00) metros, con Ia calle número tres (#3) y por el Oeste, en trece (13.00) metros, con el solar número ciento sesenta y ocho (#168). Contiene casa. Que con el importe de dicha venta se habrá de satisfacer a Ia parte demandante las cantidades adeudadas, según Ia Sentencia dictada en el caso de epígrafe, por el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de San Juan. El tipo mínimo para Ia subasta será Ia suma de tasación pactada, Ia cual es $255,000.00 para Ia propiedad descrita. Si no produjere remate o adjudicación Ia primera subasta, se procederá a una segunda subasta y servirá de tipo mínimo de 2/3 partes del valor de Ia tasación, $170,000.00.

Si tampoco hubiere remate ni adjudicación en esta segunda subasta, se procederá a una tercera subasta, en ésta el tipo mínimo será de Ia 1/2 del valor de Ia tasación, $127,500.00.

La primera subasta se llevara a cabo el 9 de diciembre de 2020, a las 10:00 de Ia mañana. De no comparecer postor alguno se llevará a efecto una segunda subasta el 16 de diciembre de 2020, a las 10:00 de Ia mañana. De no comparecer postor alguno se llevará a cabo una tercera subasta el 13 de enero de 2021, a las 10:00 de Ia mañana. La subasta o subastas antes indicadas se llevarán a efecto en mi oficina, localizada en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala Superior de San Juan. Del Estudio de Título reciente no surge ningún gravamen preferente al que será objeto de ejecución por esta subasta. Del Estudio de tItulo reciente tampoco surge ningún gravamen posterior a ser cancelados. Se le advierte a los licitadores que Ia adjudicación se hará al mejor postor, quien deberá consignar el importe de su oferta en el mismo acto de Ia adjudicación en moneda de curso legal de los Estados Unidos de Norteamérica y para conocimiento de Ia parte demandada y de toda(s) aquella(s) persona(s) que tengan interés inscrito con posterioridad a Ia inscripción del gravamen que se está ejecutando, y para conocimiento de los licitadores y el público en general y para su publicación en un periódico de circulación general, una vez por semana durante el término de dos (2) semanas consecutivas con un intervalo de por lo menos siete (7) días entre ambas publicaciones, y para su fijación en tres (3) lugares

públicos del municipio en que ha de celebrarse Ia venta, tales como, Ia Alcaldía, el Tribunal y Ia Colecturía y se le notificara además a Ia parte demandada vía correo certificado con acuse de recibo a Ia última dirección conocida. Se les advierte a todos los interesados que todos los documentos relacionados con Ia presente acción de ejecución de hipoteca, así como Ia de Ia subasta, estarán disponibles para ser examinados en Ia Secretaria del Tribunal.

La propiedad a ser ejecutada se adquirirá libre de cargas y gravámenes posteriores, previa orden judicial dirigida al Registrador de Ia Propiedad de Ia sección correspondiente para Ia cancelación de aquellos posteriores. Se entenderá que todo licitador acepta como bastante Ia titulación y que las cargas y gravámenes anteriores y los preferentes, si los hubiere al crédito de ejecutante, continuarán subsiguientes entendiéndose que el rematante los acepta y queda subrogado en Ia responsabilidad de los mismos, sin destinarse a su extinción el precio del remate.

Y para conocimiento de los demandados, de los acreedores posteriores, de los licitadores, partes interesadas y público en general, expido el presente Aviso para su publicación en los lugares públicos correspondientes. Librado en San Juan, Puerto Rico, a 9 de noviembre de 2020. PEDRO HIEYE GONZALEZ, ALGUACIL.

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

BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO Demandante v.

SUCESION DE PETRA WINIFRED HEREDIA RIVERA ET ALS

Demandado(a) Civil: CM2019CV00626. Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCION DE HIPOTECA POR LA VIA ORDINARIA. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: FULANO DE TAL Y SUTANO DE TAL, como cualquier miembro aun desconocido de la Sucesión de Petra Winifred Heredia Rivera

(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 5 de noviembre de 2020, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta

The San Juan Daily Star

Friday, November 13, 2020

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 10 de NOVIEMBRE de 2020. En CAMUY, Puerto Rico, el 10 de NOVIEMBRE de 2020. VIVIAN Y FRESSE GONZALEZ, Secretaria. F/YOLANDA RIVERA COLON, Sec Auxiliar.

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

MTGLQ INVESTORS, LP. Demandante

Eleazar Villafañe Lassalle T/C/C ELEAZAR VILLAFANE LASSALLE T/C/C ELEAZAR VILLAFANE LASSALLE JR T/C/C ELEAZAR VILLAFANE LASALLE T/C/C ELEAZAR VILLAFANE T/C/C ELEAZAR VILLAFANE L; CENTRO DE RECAUDACION DE INGRESOS MUNICIPALES (CRIM)

Demandados CIVIL NUM. BY2020CV02273.

SOBRE: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCION DE HIPOTECA POR LA VIA ORDINARIA. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO. SS.

A: ELEAZAR VILLAFANE LASSALLE

Queden emplazados y notificados que en este Tribunal se ha radicado Demanda sobre Cobro de Dinero y Ejecución de Hipoteca, en la que se alega que usted(es) le adeuda(n) a la demandante lo siguiente: La suma de $136,309.48 de principal más los intereses sobre dichas sumas devengados desde el día 1 de marzo de 2018, más aquellos a devengarse hasta el pago total de la deuda a razón 6.58717% anual, más las primas de seguro hipotecario y riesgo, recargos por demora y cualesquiera otras cantidades pactadas en la escritura de hipoteca desde la fecha antes

mencionada y hasta la fecha del total pago de las mismas, más la suma estipulada de $13,870.00 por concepto de costas, gastos y honorarios de abogado incurridos por concepto de un préstamo hipotecario.

URBANA: Parcela de terreno identificada como el Solar Número 7 del bloque “AP de la Urbanización Villa del Río Oeste, Sección Pradera, radicado en el Barrio Palmas del término municipal de Cataño, Puerto Rico, con un área superficial de 3 12.194 metros cuadrados. En lindes por el NORTE, en 12.80 metros con la Calle Número 15; por el SUR, 12.81 metros con eL “old Bayamón riverbed”; por el ESTE, en 24.12 metros con el solar número 6; y por el OESTE, en 24.67 metros con el solar número 8. En dicho solar enclava una casa de concreto, diseñada para una familia. Finca 6030 Inscrita al Folio 124 del Tomo 290 de Cataño, Registro de la Propiedad de Bayamón, Sección IV. Se advierte que debe presentar al tribunal su alegación responsiva a la demanda dentro de tos TREINTA (30) PIAS de haber sido diligenciado este emplazamiento, excluyéndose el día del diligenciamiento. Usted deberá presentar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SUMAC), el cual podrá acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electrónica: https://unired.ramajudicial.pr, salvo que se represente por derecho propio, en cuyo caso deberá presentar su alegación responsiva en la secretaría del tribunal. Si usted deja de presentar su alegación responsiva dentro del referido término, el tribunal podrá dictar Sentencia en Rebeldía en su contra y conceder el remedio solicitado en la Demanda, o cualquier otro, si el tribunal, en el ejercicio de su discreción, lo entiende procedente.

Tromberg Law Group Lcda. Edmy Cortijo Villock R.U.A. 18,126 1515 South Federal Highway, Suite 100 Boca Ratón, FL 33432 Tel. 877-338-4101/Fax 561-338-4077 pr@tromberglawgroup.com De no recibir su contestación a la demanda dentro del término de treinta (30) días siguientes a la fecha de publicación de este edicto, la parte demandante podrá solicitar que se le anote la rebeldía, y que se dicte sentencia en su contra concediendo el remedio solicitado en la demanda, sin más citarle ni oírle. Se enviará al Demandado copia del Emplazamiento y la Demanda dentro del término de diez (10) días de esta publicación a su última dirección conocida.

EXPEDIDO BAJO MI FIRMA, y el sello de este Tribunal, en San Juan, Puerto Rico, hoy día 4 de noviembre de 2020. LCDA. LAURA L SANTA SANCHEZ,

Secretaria RegonaI. Yariliz Cintron Colon, SubSecretaria.

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

ENRIQUE RIVERA CAMACHO Demandante v.

ERICA NICOLE OSORIO SCHURRER

de Tal como posibles herederos desconocidos; Centro de Recaudación de Ingresos Municipales; y a los Estados Unidos de América.

del causante Rubén Gutiérrez Silva, tic/e Rubén Gutiérrez.

Por Orden del Honorable Juez de Primera Instancia de este Tribunal , expido el presente Mandamiento , bajo mi firma y sello oficial, en San Juan , Puerto Rico hoy día 10 de ocDEMANDADOS CIVIL NUM.: SJ2019CV08366. tubre de 2020. Griselda RodriSOBRE: Cobro de Dinero y Eje- guez Collado, Sec General. Hacución de Hipoteca por la Vía ydee Morales, Sub-Secretaria.

Ordinaria.

MANDAMIENTO. LEGAL NOTICE ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMERICA EL PRESIDENTE DE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS EL DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA DE PUERTO RICO. Por Cuan- SALA DE SAN JUAN.

Demandado(a) Civil: BY2020RF01079. Sobre: DIVORCIO, RUPTURA IRREto : Se ha dictado en el presenPARABLE. NOTIFICACIÓN DE te caso la siguiente Orden: ORSENTENCIA POR EDICTO. DEN. Examinada la demanda A: ERICA NICOLE radicada por la parte demand ante, la solicitud de interpelaOSORIO SCHURRER (Nombre de las partes a las que se ción contenida en la misma y le notifican la sentencia por edicto) examinados los autos del caso, EL SECRETARIO(A) que sus- el Tribunal le imparte su aprocribe le notifica a usted que el bación y en su virtud acepta la 6 de noviembre de 2020, este Demanda en el caso de epígraTribunal ha dictado Sentencia, fe, así como la interpelación Sentencia Parcial o Resolución judicial de la parte demandante en este caso, que ha sido debi- a los herederos del codemandamente registrada y archivada dado conforme dispone el Aren autos donde podrá usted tículo 959 del Código Civil , 31 enterarse detalladamente de L.P.R.A. sec. 2787. Se Ordena los términos de la misma. Esta a los herederos del causante a notificación se publicará una saber, Fulano de Tal y Sutano sola vez en un periódico de de Tal , herederos de nombres circulación general en la Isla desconocidos a que dentro del de Puerto Rico, dentro de los término legal de 30 días conta10 días siguientes a su notifica- dos a partir de la fecha de la noción. Y, siendo o representando tificación de la presente Orden, usted una parte en el procedi- acepten o repudien la participamiento sujeta a los términos ción que les corresponda en la de la Sentencia, Sentencia herencia del causante Rubén Parcial o Resolución, de la cual Gutiérrez Silva, t/c/c Rubén puede establecerse recurso de Gutiérrez. Se le Apercibe a los revisión o apelación dentro del herederos antes mencionados: término de 30 días contados a (a) Que de no expresarse denpartir de la publicación por edic- tro del término de 30 días en to de esta notificación, dirijo a torno a su aceptación o repuusted esta notificación que se diación de herencia la misma considerará hecha en la fecha se tendrá por aceptada; (b) de la publicación de este edic- Que luego del transcurso del to. Copia de esta notificación ha termino de 30 días contados sido archivada en los autos de a partir de la fecha de la notieste caso, con fecha de 10 de ficación de la presente Orden, NOVIEMBRE de 2020. En BA- se presumirá que han aceptado YAMON, Puerto Rico, el 10 de la herencia del causante y por NOVIEMBRE de 2020. LCDA. consiguiente, responden por la LAURA I SANTA SANCHEZ, cargas de dicha herencia conSecretaria. Fdo. VERONICA forme dispone el Artículo 957 LOPEZ RIVERA, Sec Auxiliar. del Código Civi l, 31 L.P.R.A. sec. 2785. Se Ordena a la parLEGAL NOTICE te demandante a que, en vista ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO de que la sucesión del cauDE PUERTO RICO TRIBU- sante Rubén Gutiérrez Silva, NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA t/c/c Rubén Gutiérrez incluyen SALA DE SAN JUAN como herederos a Fulano de Reverse Mortgage Tal y Sutano de Tal, como posibles herederos desconocidos, Solutions, Inc. proceda a notificar la presente DEMANDANTE vs.

Orden mediante un edicto a Sucesión de Rubén esos efectos una sola vez en Gutiérrez Silva, t/c/c un periódico de circulación diaRubén Gutiérrez ria general de la Isla de Puerto compuesta por Fulano Rico. NOTIFÍQUESE. DADA de Tal y Sutano de Tal en San Juan, Puerto Rico, hoy como posibles herederos día 9 de octubre de 2020. fdo. desconocidos ; Sucesión RAMÓN E. MELÉNDEZ CASTRO, JUEZ. Por Cuanto: Se le de Ana Cambiella advierte a que dentro del térmiDieguez, t/c/c Ana no legal de 30 días contados a Cambiella compuesta partir de la fecha de notificación de la presente Orden, acepten por María Cambiella, Fulano de Tal y Sutano o repudien la participación que les corresponda en la herencia

Reverse Mortgage Solutions, Inc. DEMANDANTE VS.

Sucesión de Rubén Gutiérrez Silva, t/c/c Rubén Gutiérrez compuesta por Fulano de Tal y Sutano de Tal como posibles herederos desconocidos; Sucesión de Ana Cambiella Dieguez, t/c/c Ana Cambiella compuesta por María Cambiella, Fulano de Tal y Sutano de Tal como posibles herederos desconocidos; Centro de Recaudación de Ingresos Municipales; y a los Estados Unidos de América.

DEMANDADOS CIVIL NUM.: SJ2019CV08366.

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

A: María Cambiella, como cualquier otro miembro de la Sucesión de Ana Cambiella Dieguez, t/c/c Ana Cambiella

POR LA PRESENTE, se les emplaza y se les notifica que se ha presentado en la Secretaria de este Tribunal la Demanda del caso del epígrafe solicitando la ejecución de hipoteca y el cobro de dinero relacionado al pagaré suscrito a favor de The Money House, Inc., o a su orden, por la suma principal de $231,000.00, con intereses computados sobre la misma desde su fecha hasta su total y completo pago a razón de la tasa de interés de 5.560% anual, la cual será ajustada mensualmente, obligándose además al pago de costas, gastos y desembolsos del litigio, más honorarios de abogados en una suma de $23,100.00, equivalente al 10% de la suma principal original. Este pagaré fue suscrito bajo el affidávit número 6,024 ante el notario Ileana Corral Lizardi. Lo anterior surge de la hipoteca constituida

mediante la escritura número 70 otorgada el 1 de abril de 2010, ante el mismo notario público, inscrita al Registro de la Propiedad de Puerto Rico, Sección V de San Juan. La Hipoteca Revertida grava la propiedad que se describe a continuación: “URBANA: Solar radicado en la Urbanización Villa Nevárez situado en Monacillos de Río Piedras, Puerto Rico, que se describe en el plano con el número cincuentitres del Bloque C con un área de cuatrocientos diez metros cuadrados con noventa y ocho centésimas de metros cuadrado, colindando por el frente, o sea al ESTE, en quince metros con la Calle número dos de la Urbanización; por el fondo, o sea el OESTE, en quince metros sesenta y ocho centímetros con terrenos de la Puerto Rico Homes , Incorporated; por la derecha entrando, o sea el NORTE, en veintiséis metros noventa y seis centímetros con el solar cincuenticuatro del Bloque C; y por la izquierda entrando, o sea el SUR, en veintiséis metros sesenticuatro centímetros con el solar cincuentidos del Bloque C. Contiene un edificio de concreto de una planta para vivienda.” Finca 3471 inscrita al tomo 231 folio 109 de Monacillos Este y El Cinco, Registro de la Propiedad de Puerto Rico, Sección V de San Juan. Se apercibe y advierte a ustedes como personas desconocidas, que deberá presentar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Administración y Manejo de Casos (SUMAC), al cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electrónica: https://unired.iamajudicial. pr, salvo que se represente por derecho propio, en cuyo caso deberá presentar su alegación responsiva en la secretaría del Tribunal. De no contestar la demanda radicando el original de la contestación ante la secretaria del Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de San Juan, y notificar copia de la contestación de esta a la parte demandante por conducto de su abogada, GLS LEGAL SERVICES, LLC, Atención: Leda. Charline Michelle Jiménez- Echevarría, Dirección: P.O. Box 367308, San Juan, P.R. 00936-7308, Teléfono: 787-758-6550, dentro de los próximos 60 días a partir de la publicación de este emplazamiento por edicto, que será publicado una sola vez en un periódico de circulación diaria general en la isla de Puerto Rico, se le anotará la rebeldía y se dictará sentencia, concediendo el remedio solicitando en la Demanda sin más citarle ni oírle. Expedido bajo mi firma y sello del Tribunal hoy 18 de agosto de 2020. GRISELDA RODRIGUEZ COLLADO, Sec Regional. Marilyn Ann Espinosa Rivera, Sec Serv a Sala.

The San Juan Daily Star

November 13-15, 2020

27

NFL Week 9 predictions: NYT picks against the spread

By BENJAMIN HOFFMAN

T

his week will offer a gut check for some of the season’s most exciting teams and players. The Buffalo Bills will follow their huge win over the Seattle Seahawks with a tough test against the Arizona Cardinals. The Miami Dolphins will try to keep their hot streak going against the Los Angeles Chargers, and Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals will get his first big NFC North test when he faces the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Rams, lying in wait, will have a chance to steal a share of the NFC West lead in a matchup with Seattle.

Here is a look at NFL Week 10, with all picks made against the spread.

Last week’s record: 6-8 Overall record: 64-66-3 All times are Eastern.

SUNDAY’S BEST GAMES Buffalo Bills at Arizona Cardinals, 4:05 p.m., CBS Line: Cardinals -1 | Total: 56 It’s a little unusual to rave about the defensive performance of a team that gave up 34 points, but the Bills (7-2) were up on Seattle by 27-10 in the third quarter last week before largely easing off on defense and cruising to a 44-34 victory.

Regardless of the points allowed, Buffalo sacked Russell Wilson five times, hit him another 11 times, pulled down two interceptions and recovered two fumbles. Not bad, considering it was facing an MVP candidate who leads the highest scoring offense in the NFL. This week has nearly as difficult a challenge. The Cardinals (5-3) can do considerable damage, thanks to the running and passing of quarterback Kyler Murray, and would get an enormous boost if running back Kenyan Drake could return from an ankle injury.

With Buffalo’s Josh Allen coming off perhaps the best game of his career, it was no surprise for oddsmakers to predict this would be the highest scoring game of the week. But if Buffalo’s defense can perform near the standard it established last week, the Bills can walk away with a road win to be proud of. Pick: Bills +1 Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams, 4:25 p.m., Fox Line: Rams -1.5 | Total: Off What a lovely bye week for the Rams (5-3). They got some rest and watched every other team in the NFC West lose.

Now they host the Seahawks (6-2) with a reasonable chance of getting a share of the division lead.

Los Angeles has been more effective running than passing, but Seattle’s secondary is so bad that it makes every offense look terrific — and Jamal Adams, an All-Pro safety acquired by the Seahawks in the offseason to stabilize the team, has been a huge part of the problem. There is every reason to believe the Rams have the advantage in this game, but if Russell Wilson wants to stay in the MVP race, this is the type of game he has to win. Pick: Seahawks +1.5 Los Angeles Chargers at Miami Dolphins, 4:05 p.m., CBS Line: Dolphins -2.5 | Total: 48 The Dolphins (5-3) are the team people thought the Chargers (2-6) might be this season. It’s not that Los Angeles has been particularly bad, but it’s hard to be enthusiastic about two wins in eight games. Miami has been an absolute joy to watch on both sides of the ball, and in its current 4-0 stretch, it has had a combined score of 129-65.

Quarterbacks Justin Herbert and Tua Tagovailoa were in the same draft class, and appear on their way to starring in the league for years to come. For now, Tagovailoa’s team seems far better. Pick: Dolphins -2.5 Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers, 4:25 p.m., Fox Line: Steelers -6.5 | Total: 47.5 Despite being on the COVID-19 reserve list because of a close contact, Ben Roethlisberger is in line to play this week, provided he doesn’t test positive himself.

Regardless, he won’t be able to practice all week, which would be a bigger deal if the Steelers (8-0) were facing a defense more competent than that of the Bengals (2-5-1).

If Roethlisberger is at all limited, the Steelers can simply run their way to a win with James Conner. And while quarterback Joe Burrow has a bright future for Cincinnati, he is very likely not ready for Pittsburgh. Pick: Steelers -6.5 SUNDAY’S OTHER GAMES Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m., Fox Line: Buccaneers -5 | Total: 50.5 The Buccaneers (6-3) are almost certainly not as bad as they looked against New Orleans on Sunday night, but that loss, coming on the heels of a narrow win over the New York Giants the pre-

Nyheim Hines of the Colts celebrated both of his touchdowns last week by having his own gymnastics floor routine. Finding the end zone may be considerably harder against Baltimore. vious week, has taken a great deal of the shine off Tom Brady’s first season in Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers have picked a poor time to be struggling, as the Panthers (36) are rounding into shape. While running back Christian McCaffrey is not expected to play Sunday because of a shoulder injury, the team adjusted in recent weeks to take advantage of the versatility of Curtis Samuel, who excels as a runner and receiver. Pairing Samuel with wide receivers Robby Anderson and D.J. Moore makes the Panthers a team to fear, even for a talented young defense like Tampa Bay’s. Pick: Panthers +5 Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots, 8:20 p.m., NBC Line: Ravens -7 | Total: 43.5 Both teams are coming off wins, but both wins might not sit all that well.

The Ravens (6-2) struggled on offense for much of a victory over Indianapolis, while the Patriots (3-5) needed a fourthquarter comeback to beat the winless New York Jets. There are degrees of

struggle, however, and while Baltimore may have been exposed in recent weeks as being a step or two below Kansas City in the AFC’s pecking order, New England is only a few steps above the worst teams in the NFL. Pick: Ravens -7 Denver Broncos at Las Vegas Raiders, 4:05 p.m., CBS Line: Raiders -5 | Total: 51.5 In their past four games, the Raiders (5-3) beat Kansas City, were blown out by Tampa Bay, throttled Cleveland’s high-powered offense and outgunned the Chargers. Not a perfect stretch, but enough to have Las Vegas in line for a playoff spot if the season ended now.

The Broncos (3-5) can’t claim the same, but they are at least making things exciting, with 21 points in the fourth quarter in each of the team’s past two games.

To keep up with the Raiders, the Broncos would need to find a way to even out the team’s productivity. Pick: Raiders -5

Continues on page 28

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November 13-15, 2020

From page 27 Houston Texans at Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m., Fox Line: Browns -3 | Total: 53.5 Nick Chubb, the star running back of the Browns (5-3), is practicing this week, and if he is able to go, that would be terrible news for the Texans (2-6), who have a comically inept run defense. While Kareem Hunt has talent, and is a great second option to Chubb, Cleveland is far scarier when the offense goes through Chubb.

Cleveland’s running game might become quickly irrelevant, though, if Deshaun Watson and the Texans can get off to a fast start against a mediocre secondary. Watson was able to carve up Jacksonville’s defense last week with long touchdowns to Brandin Cooks and Will Fuller, and a few of those early in the game could take away the Browns’ primary advantage. Pick: Texans +3 San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints, 4:25 p.m., Fox Line: Saints -9.5 | Total: 50 It appears as if running back Raheem Mostert may be healthy enough to come off injured reserve to play in this game, but with the 49ers (4-5) collapsing under the weight of a season lost to injuries, a reasonable question is: Why would he do that? A loss to the Saints (6-2) in New Orleans seems all but certain, and if Mostert sits out this game, he gets a bonus week off before the team’s Week 11 bye and can be close to full strength for a division game against Los Angeles in Week 12.

After watching New Orleans throttle the full-strength Buccaneers on Sunday night, it’s hard to believe oddsmakers didn’t make the point spread in this game far wider. Pick: Saints -9.5 Jacksonville Jaguars at Green Bay Packers, 1 p.m., Fox Line: Packers -12.5 | Total: 51.5 Remember last year when there was concern that coach Matt LaFleur’s offense was relying too heavily on running back Aaron Jones and that quarterback Aaron Rodgers was being minimized? Through eight games, Rodgers is on a pace for 4,506 yards passing, 48 touchdowns and just four interceptions, and the Packers (6-2) are averaging 31.6 points a game. This week, Rodgers is facing the Jaguars (1-7), who have the least efficient pass defense in the NFL, according to Football Outsiders.

How much damage can Rodgers do, at home, against a team that inept? As much as he wants. Pick: Packers -12.5

Devin McCourty, Dont’a Hightower and Stephon Gilmore have been almost impossibly good for New England this season. They face a stiff test this weekend.

Washington Football Team at Detroit Lions, 1 p.m., Fox Line: Lions -3.5 | Total: 46.5 All it took for Alex Smith to get back to starting in the NFL was 17 surgeries on his right leg, the implosion of Dwayne Haskins and a gruesome injury to Kyle Allen (though one far less complicated than Smith’s). It was an improbable path, but the 36-year-old Smith has fought through adversity in his career and won a lot more than he has lost.

So where does that leave the Footballers (2-6)? Certainly no worse off than they were a week ago, when they lost to the lowly Giants, especially when you consider that Washington outscored New York once the switch was made to Smith after Allen’s injury.

The Lions (3-5) are playing at home, and unlike last week when he was on the COVID-19 reserve list, Matthew Stafford will be able to practice. But Smith’s first start in nearly two years might inspire an upset, or something close to one. Pick: Footballers +3.5 Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants, 1 p.m., Fox Line: Eagles -3.5 | Total: 44 Games between NFC East teams

should be entertaining because the talent levels are similar. Instead, they are often mistake-filled disappointments in which both teams find new ways to fail.

The Eagles (3-4-1) are leading the division, mostly by default, and the Giants (2-7) hardly seem likely to challenge that unless the league finds a way to add several more games against Washington to their schedule. But while the Eagles can and should win, the team rarely covers the spread. Pick: Giants +3.5 MONDAY’S MATCHUP Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears, 8:15 p.m., ESPN Line: Vikings -2.5 | Total: 45 In coach Mike Zimmer’s six seasons at the helm of the Vikings (3-5), the team has struggled to a 6-19 record in road games against opponents with winning records. That’s the situation Minnesota finds itself in this week, though these Bears (5-4) are far different from your typical winning team.

It’s not that Chicago is inept. The Bears are terrific at defending the run and the pass, but the team’s quarterback, Nick Foles, is a wild card who can look brilliant and ineffective — often in the same series. That has led to Chica-

go struggling so much to score that the quality of the team’s defense is often irrelevant.

So what will it look like when a Minnesota team that can score but can’t defend faces a Chicago one that can defend but can’t score? Probably a bit of a mess.

But the Vikings have the best player on the field in running back Dalvin Cook, they have played well in five of their past six games and the Bears make it much too hard to believe in them, even at home. Pick: Vikings -2.5

JOSÉ BURGOS Técnico Generadores Gas Propano

787•607•3343

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November 13-15, 2020

29

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

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

Crossword

Answers on page 30

Wordsearch

GAMES

HOROSCOPE Aries

30

(Mar 21-April 20)

The coming days may be intense, but it’s possible you’ve been building up to this moment for some while. If so, this decision will not have been taken lightly, with your instincts backing up your plans.

You might need to let go of those situations that are holding you back, and although nothing is guaranteed, you will feel so ready to take the plunge and head into adventurous waters.

Taurus

(April 21-May 21)

The coming days can bring an opportunity to aim for your highest ideal, and to put aside any thoughts that things may not turn out as you hope. The past months have seen you outgrowing old ways and eager for new developments, and this could mean a letting go. Difficult though this might be, it can allow you to move ahead unencumbered, and to focus on a promising future.

Gemini

(May 22-June 21)

With a sterling connection between jovial Jupiter and focused Pluto, forging ahead with an idea might be lucrative, and almost certainly life changing. With an additional beam of light from the Sun, you’ll be ready to create a schedule that makes this a success.

Don’t listen to others who try to put you off, as once they see you doing well, they may wish they had your courage.

Cancer

(June 22-July 23)

How can I possibly succeed, you may wonder? If things have not gone your way over recent weeks, such thoughts might be understandable. But something has shifted, and if you are prepared to join forces with another, then you can be in for a time of growth that could be very lucrative. An ongoing conversation may be finalized, and out of this, good things emerge.

Leo

The San Juan Daily Star

November 13-15, 2020

(July 24-Aug 23)

Libra

(Sep 24-Oct 23)

As the Moon in your sign opposes dispirited Mars in its retro phase, you may feel that a certain relationship can’t work. Try not to be swayed by this mood, as things can be different if you give them time. Regarding home or real estate matters, you might realize the true potential of something you own, want to sell or purchase. You could be enriched by going ahead with a bold plan.

Scorpio

(Oct 24-Nov 22)

Big plans swirl in the ether, and with a dynamic aspect in your sector of talk and thought, a commitment made now could transform you. You can have an all or nothing approach to life, and any decisions made at this time may reflect this. If there is something you want badly enough, events might come together to bring a golden opportunity your way that you won’t want to refuse.

Sagittarius

(Nov 23-Dec 21)

Capricorn

(Dec 22-Jan 20)

If finances and income have been an issue, then the intense focus on this sector over coming days could coincide with plans that might remedy this. Feel like you need a fresh start? A persistent intuitive nudge can be the catalyst that inspires you to have a go.

Because your approach might be tempered with caution, there is less chance of mistakes and more of success.

A culmination of ideas may result in a plan that you have researched, and that now seems practically fool proof. As you are likely aware, there is still an element of risk that it’s not possible to completely iron out. With your natural stamina and ability to stick with it through difficult times, you could soon go from strength to strength and enjoy a sense of accomplishment.

Aquarius

(Jan 21-Feb 19)

The merging of Jupiter and Pluto is a big event, and as this aspect peaks, you may be ready to take a giant step forward. Your plan might not be something new, but this can be the first time that you truly commit, by deciding to put everything you have into it. This is what makes the difference Leo, as the moment you do, help could come from people and places to assist you.

This can be a good time to further your goals.

However, you may be required to tap into hidden resources and innate skills you haven’t used for some while, if ever. There could be an element of going into the unknown here. But if you are willing to go ahead, then you might find that people and the world at large, can be moved in a positive way by what you have on offer, Aquarius.

Virgo

Pisces

(Aug 24-Sep 23)

Discussions can add momentum to your plans, and find you ready to push ahead with a project or idea that may have been in development for many months. If you weren’t entirely serious during this time, your thinking has likely changed since then, and you might now fully appreciate the rewards that could be yours with hard work. Be prepared for a surge of enthusiasm that you can’t resist.

(Feb 20-Mar 20)

Taking the first steps towards a new goal can be daunting. In your case, you may already have made a start on your idea, and be ready to move to a new level. With upbeat Jupiter aligning with determined Pluto in your social sector, the help of friends could be invaluable in getting things off the ground. If you’ve worked together previously, then progress might be easier Pisces.

Answers to the Sudoku and Crossword on page 29

November 13-15, 2020

31

CARTOONS

Herman

Speed Bump

Frank & Ernest

BC

Scary Gary

Wizard of Id

For Better or for Worse

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Ziggy

32

November 13-15, 2020

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