Thursday Nov 3, 2022

TU PATROCINIO

GOOD MORNING

INDEX

Fiscal board takes issue with House measures that seek to intervene in island energy policy

By THE STAR STAFF

TheFinancial Oversight and Management Board has come out against several bills in the Leg islature that relate to the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA).

“The Oversight Board has expressed concerns regarding several bills and continues to share its concerns with the Legislature to ensure that the bills are not significantly inconsistent with the certified fiscal plans or PROMESA [the Puerto Rico Over sight, Management and Economic Stability Act],” the entity said.

The bills of most concern to the oversight board include House Joint Resolution (HJR) 315, which, among other things, purports to require the termina tion of the Operation and Management Agreement (OMA) between PREPA and LUMA Energy within 60 days of its enactment for supposed breaches of contract by LUMA and its subsidiaries, and would order PREPA to administer the OMA during the 60-day transitionary period and subsequently take control of transmission and distribution (T&D) operations.

As clearly stated in the current certified fiscal plan, LUMA’s continued operation of PREPA’s T&D

system is required and is critical to the success of the fiscal plans and Puerto Rico’s energy future, the board said.

The oversight board is also concerned about House Bill 1397, which, among other things, exempts from the Public Private Partnership Authority’s (P3A) supervision all P3 contracts in which PREPA is the participating government entity.

“HB 1397 appears to conflict with the efforts by the Government and the Oversight Board to reform the PREPA energy system over the past five years,” the board said.

The oversight board also criticized HJR 235, which purports to, among other things, mandate that the P3A refrain from awarding an operation and maintenance or similar contract for the private opera tion of PREPA’s generation assets until July 1, 2023.

“HJR 235 appears to intentionally delay imple mentation of the certified 2022 PREPA Fiscal Plan requirements that PREPA assets transition to private operation,” the board said.

“The Oversight Board continues to monitor this legislation and correspond with the Government re garding its concerns,” the entity said. “The Oversight Board will undertake appropriate action.”

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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LUMA Energy’s continued operation of the Puerto

system is

and is critical to the success of

to the Financial Oversight and Management Board.

House passes bill setting conditions for PREPA debt restructuring

By THE STAR STAFF

The island House of Representatives passed legislation late on Tuesday that would establish conditions for the re structuring of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority’s (PREPA) $9 billion debt.

Lawmakers passed House Bill (HB) 1429, penned by the Popular Democratic Party (PDP) delegation, and Senate Joint Resolutions 326 and 327, which also addressed problems with the energy sector.

HB 1429, approved with 30 votes in favor and 16 votes against, and one absten tion, allows for the creation of the “Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) Debt Restructuring Act.”

The bill says that restructuring PREPA’s $9 billion debt and its bond issuances must follow the commonwealth’s debt management policy.

“This bill establishes the parameters that this House of Representatives and the Senate, if approved there, would be willing to accept in that restructuring plan,” said independent Rep. Luis Raúl Torres Cruz, who chairs the Energy Committee.

The Senate has yet to vote on the bill, which was one in a long list of bills that needed approval before the current session ends in two weeks.

Torres Cruz said witnesses who spoke at House hearings said that unsecured bonds with no guarantees comprise a large part of PREPA’s debt that the government seeks to restructure.

“So much of that debt should not be paid,” he said. “All the organizations of retired employees, UTIER [the Spanish acronym for the Electrical Industry and Irrigation Workers Union], community organizations, Sierra Club, Quiero Sol, and other institutions said they

should not pay a penny of that debt.”

“House Bill 1429 establishes minimum conditions for debt restructuring that must go hand in hand with reforms that strengthen and guarantee Puerto Rico’s energy supply, follow a public policy of reasonable rates, and keep rates as close as possible to the aspirational goal of 20 cents per kilowatt hour,” Torres Cruz said.

The debt restructuring and bond issuance must respect payment priorities established in a trust agreement and significantly cut PREPA’s bond debt, but not allow bondholders to repay more than 30% of the debt. The restructuring must also provide adequate financing to the PREPA Employees Retirement System and guar antee the payment of employer contributions to the PREPA Employees Retirement System.

According to the approved bill, PREPA’s next bond issues must also comply with public energy policy and not undermine the current rights of employees who remain in PREPA.

“Both the Financial Oversight and Man agement Board and the United States Courts have recognized the exercise of legislative authority in debt restructuring …” HB 1429

states. “[The courts] have also validated the full authority of the Legislative Assembly to regulate public corporations.”

The bill notes that the Puerto Rico Over sight, Management and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA) acknowledges that debt adjust ment plans must have legislative, regulatory or electoral authorization.

U.S. District Court Judge Laura Taylor Swain is currently keeping the negotiation on restructuring PREPA’s debt alive. The oversight board must submit a restructuring plan for PREPA’s debt to Judge Swain by Dec. 1.

“We have fulfilled the responsibility to legislate to guarantee that any debt restructur ing promotes the stabilization of the public corporation, the fulfillment of its priority ob ligations, and the economic development of Puerto Rico,” HB 1429’s authors highlighted.

The House also passed Senate Joint Reso lution 327 to order the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau to submit, within 20 calendar days, a detailed report on the metrics adopted to measure LUMA Energy’s compliance with its contract to operate PREPA’s transmission and distribution system.

Senator rips governor for maintaining LUMA agreement

By THE STAR STAFF

Ramón “Ramoncito” Ruiz Nieves urged Gov. Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia on Wednesday to initiate the neces sary steps to cancel the LUMA Energy contract and establish a transition process to a new administrator of the island’s electric power transmission and distribution system.

Sen.

“We are one month away from the completion date of the LUMA supplemental agreement, but Pierluisi remains obstinate in protecting this privatizer by pointing out that it would be irresponsible to cancel this contract,” Ruiz

Nieves said. “The governor has been irresponsible in tol erating LUMA’s incompetence, not aggressively overseeing it, and not protecting the welfare of Puerto Ricans from this privatizer that is incapable of operating the energy grid efficiently.”

Ruiz also denounced the rate increases that “have hurt the consumer’s pocket and put at risk the economic develop ment of our country.” “LUMA’s proven inability prompted President Biden to designate the secretary of Energy as the overseer of the $10 billion in FEMA funds allocated for the rehabilitation of the energy grid,” the Ponce District senator said. “[On Tuesday,] the Energy secretary, in her second visit to Puerto Rico, expressed her discomfort with the slow conversion of our energy grid to renewable sources.”

The Popular Democratic Party legislator noted that a recent journalistic investigation revealed that LUMA Energy’s incompetence has caused the death of hundreds of people due to Hurricane Fiona, since the absence of electricity did not allow these people to attend to their health conditions through the necessary therapies, the proper operation of ventilators and oxygen supply systems, dialysis, among other situations that led to those deaths.

“Governor Pierluisi cannot continue to protect LUMA,” said the chairman of the Senate Government Committee. “We are already a month away from the end of LUMA’s supplemental contract, and we must implement the neces sary alternatives to replace this privatizer.”

Ruiz Nieves added that even worse, the Pierluisi ad ministration has turned a blind eye to the claim that LUMA has unnecessarily charged over $600 million to its clients.

“Since July 1, 2021, LUMA Energy has requested five energy bill increases from the Energy Bureau in anticipa tion of the increase in the cost of fuel for power generation based on world oil prices,” he said. “But an analysis of the historical behavior of the oil price shows that the cost of this fossil fuel has remained 16% lower than the five increases in the energy bill authorized by the Energy Bureau. This situation shows that LUMA has charged its clients some $600 million in excess fees.”

Sen. Ramón Ruiz

Rep. Luis Raúl Torres Cruz

US energy secretary names grid modernization director for PR

By JOHN McPHAUL jpmcphaul@gmail.com

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm on Wednesday appointed Augustín Carbó Lugo, current director of energy transition at the Environmental Defense Fund, as director of modernization of the Puerto Rico energy grid. In his new role, Carbó Lugo will work, on behalf of the Biden administration, with the government of Puerto Rico to unify efforts to modernize the island’s electrical system.

U.S.

“Agustín Carbó Lugo made the Environmental Defense Fund’s community-based solar and storage capacity a reality,” Granholm said in a written statement. “His extensive knowledge and experience with Puerto Rico’s regulatory environment, and his empathy toward families affected by the energy crisis, make him a leader who will help address the territory’s climate and energy challenges, respecting the sensitivities of local communities.”

During his visit to Puerto Rico in October, shortly after Hurricane Fiona, President Biden said the Department of Energy would work more closely and effectively with local authorities to restructure Puerto Rico’s electrical system. The island aims to get 100% of its energy from renewable sources by 2050.

Granholm also said Wednesday that changing the operator, “whoever it is,” of Puerto Rico’s electrical energy distribution and transmission network may bog down the transformation process.

“We have had many conversations about the matter and I am not going to give at this time what my recommendations are because I still want to see this matter with a clear mind and I continue to learn,” Granholm said at a press conference. “Whoever is in charge of the transmission and distribution system we need to succeed. Nor do we want to delay the

process. And that has to be considered. A change could delay the process; is that what we want? Or do we want the current operator to succeed? And our goal is, unless there is a change, is that the current operator, whoever it is, is successful. And I believe LUMA can do it.”

“We want every party involved in the system to succeed,” she added. “We want everyone to be able to bring to the table the urgency of speeding up the solution to the problem. The law has to be followed to the letter. LUMA has made some progress, but we want it to accelerate the process. Every piece of the system has to move faster. Possibly, we will have to get some of the waste and redundancy of bureaucracy out of the way, both at the federal level and in Puerto Rico.”

The Energy secretary said many opportunities are available for Puerto Rico to meet the goal of producing 100% renew-

able energy by 2050, but the bureaucratic obstacles that have delayed the process must be eliminated.

“There are a lot of cooks in the kitchen and we have to speed this up,” Granholm said. “This process has been too slow and that is unacceptable. It is unacceptable that $12 billion in funds have been obligated and only a small amount has been used.”

Gov. Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia acknowledged meanwhile that the process of moving to renewable energy has been delayed.

“I have to admit that the process locally has been very bureaucratic,” he said. “Eighteen projects are basically in the works, after the [Financial Oversight and Management] Board and the Energy Bureau approved them and it was possible to negotiate the contracts in the hands of the Electric Power Authority.”

House passes substitute bill for electoral reform

By THE STAR STAFF

The island House of Representatives approved late Tuesday a substitute measure for House Bills (HB) 4 and 14 and Senate Bill 909, which seek to establish a new Electoral Code for the upcoming elections.

The House Committee for the Study and Evaluation of Puerto Rican Constitutional Law, chaired by the deputy speaker of the lower chamber, Rep. José “Conny” Varela Fernández, evaluated the bill, which was endorsed by the Popular Democratic Party (PDP) and Rep. Lisie Burgos of Project Dignity.

The New Progressive Party, the Citizen Victory Movement (MVC by its Spanish initials) and the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) voted against the bill. The PIP and the MVC had complained that the new code would prevent minority parties from forming coalitions.

Varela Fernández highlighted some concepts presented and amended in the substitute measure.

“This bill that I will present to you is not perfect,” he said. “But

The No. 2 House majority lawmaker also highlighted that the new Electoral Code establishes greater protections for absentee voting and early voting as the rules for these types of votes must be approved a year before election.

“The Electoral Registry must close 50 days before the general election to avoid last-minute changes and lack of controls,” Varela Fernández said.

With 19 votes in favor and 26 against, the House also late on Tuesday rejected HB 1037, which seeks to decriminalize the simple possession of five grams or less of marijuana.

Although the bill initially proposed decriminalizing the simple possession of 14 grams or less of the controlled substance, lawmakers amended the measure to decriminalize the possession of up to five grams.

The bill, co-authored by the PDP Reps. Orlando Aponte Rosario and Juan José Santiago Nieves, would have exempted users from arrests and legal proceedings for the simple possession of an amount of cannabis for personal consumption.

The House recessed until Monday, Nov. 7.

I guarantee that it significantly improves how the State Elections Commission should operate; a fair, balanced, and equitable way for the people of Puerto Rico and the political parties.”

Rep. José “Conny” Varela Fernández

U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and Gov. Pedro Pierluisi

New housing available for low-income HIV-AIDS patients & families

By THE STAR STAFF

San Juan Mayor Miguel Romero Lugo and Ramfis J. Pérez Rivera, president of the organization Fight Against AIDS, inaugurated on Wednesday the housing complex El Zorzal Apartments in Río Piedras with the purpose of housing individuals, families or HIV-AIDS positive patients of limited economic resources.

The project was developed with an investment of over $3.3 million, and the units are intended for rent following the income limits established by the federal HOME Invest ment Partnership Program. Monthly payments range from $328 to $511, depending on the income of each individual or family.

At the project’s inauguration, accompanied by some community and faith-based organization leaders, Romero Lugo stressed the importance of the initiative for the socio economic development of the area and even more so for the quality of life of HIV/AIDS patients and their families.

“In San Juan today, we celebrate in a big way the inau guration of a project aimed at promoting and guaranteeing the quality of life and stability of people diagnosed with HIV-AIDS and their families as part of the public policy for easy access to safe housing and public health,” the mayor said. “At the same time, we continue to promote projects to

revitalize Río Piedras, better known as the University City, and surrounding areas.”

Romero Lugo thanked Fight Against AIDS for its com mitment and approach to making the project a reality.

Pérez Rivera noted that “All good projects encounter obstacles in their path of development. El Zorzal Apartments is no exception.”

“We built it during the pandemic, with great challenges, but with a lot of faith and will,” he said “Today, thanks to God and with much love, we are giving it to the most vulner able people in our society who suffer from homelessness.”

The complex has six fully equipped buildings with 24 one- and two-bedroom units. In addition, all units have a roof insulation system to control the temperature indoors.

It also has a mailbox area and a multipurpose room where social work, health and transportation services, case man agement and laundry services will be offered to residents.

It also has garbage collection and street cleaning services provided by the Municipality of San Juan and public utilities.

The expectation with the development of the housing complex, the mayor said, is that it will become an ecofriendly housing complex operating entirely with solar panels. This will allow for energy savings and residents to have electricity at all times, especially after hurricanes or any other emergency.

El Zorzal Apartments was built following the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Housing Act (FHAct) ac cessibility guidelines, so all units, common areas, pedestrian sidewalks, mailbox areas, multipurpose room, trash station, and parking area are accessible to people with disabilities, thus complying with Section 504 rehabilitation.

Any interested citizen or family that believes they qualify to rent in the housing complex may contact 787-294-1533, 787-478-3717, or 939-630-7068.

Flu vaccination campaign to kick off next Tuesday

By THE STAR STAFF

Inan effort to address the emergency caused by the influenza outbreaks in schools, the departments of Health and Education will begin next Tuesday, Nov. 8 a vaccination campaign that will impact more than 50 schools in the south and west of Puerto Rico.

The first immunization event will be held at Juan Víctor Guzmán School in San Germán starting at 8 a.m.

“We have a reality about the behavior of the virus for this season and we have noticed that it has intensified according to the outbreaks, hospitalizations and infec

tions reported by the Surveillance System of the Bureau of Epidemiology. We are already above the alert threshold level and cases have increased very rapidly, especially in the population of children zero to nine,” Health Sec retary Carlos Mellado López said in a written statement.

“To address that scenario, we entered into conversations with the Department of Education, as we are concerned about outbreaks in schools, and thus are vaccinating our children and young people to avoid severe illness and complications. Influenza is a preventable disease and vaccination shows us it is the tool to achieve it.”

Vaccinations will be conducted in collaboration with

traditional Department of Health providers. The towns that will be impacted in the initial phase are: Añasco, Hormigueros, Lajas, Las Marías, Maricao, Mayagüez, Ponce, San Germán and Sabana Grande.

The Health chief said that according to the most recent report, 3,331 flu cases have been reported, with the Ponce and Mayagûez regions having the highest rates of cases.

That is precisely why the vaccination program has been maintained, Mellado López said, including imple menting strategies that make vaccine doses available for peak days, with the expectation of an increase in cases of the virus.

Lawmaker demands apology from colleague for drug point crack

By THE STAR STAFF

NewProgressive Party (NPP) Rep. Gabriel Rodríguez Aguiló on Wednesday demanded an apology from his Popular Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart Rep. Orlando Aponte Rosario after the latter allegedly insinuated, in the middle of a debate on House Bill 1037 on the de criminalization of simple possession of marijuana, that the Ciales home of the NPP legislator operates as a “drug point.” During the debate, the PDP legislator allegedly made the accusation, which led to a brawl that required the interven

tion of the sergeant of arms.

“My demand is a public apology,” Rodríguez Aguiló said in a radio interview. “They asked me to allow time until next Monday in the session to attend to the case. On Monday, I hope that the legislator [Aponte Rosario] has the courage to accept his mistake and apologize to my family and me for what he said.”

Rodríguez Aguiló did not rule out referring the matter to the House Ethics Committee.

The marijuana bill was defeated 26 votes against, 19 in favor and two abstentions.

Rep. Gabriel Rodríguez Aguiló

San Juan Mayor Miguel Romero Lugo, at left, stressed the importance of the initiative for the socioeconomic devel opment of Río Piedras and even more so for the quality of life of HIV/AIDS patients and their families.

Once a Republican stalwart, Liz Cheney hits the trail for Democrats

By JONATHAN WEISMAN

Aspolitical speeches go, Rep. Liz Cheney’s address to a packed gym in East Lansing, Michigan on Tuesday evening was hardly a barn burner. But her message was deeply serious, and the aim of her visit was extraordi nary, for a Wyoming Republican: to reelect a Michigan Democrat, Rep. Elissa Slotkin.

“The chips are down for us. This is our time of testing,” Cheney told a crowd of De mocrats who were quick with their applause. “We all must stand and defend the republic.”

For the first time in her political career — in her life, she said — Cheney was cam paigning for a Democrat. Her appearance is part of a broader last-ditch push by Republican opponents of former President Donald Trump to try to thwart a comeback of his political movement in the midterm elections next week, even if that means endorsing and cam paigning for Democrats and independents in crucial states and House districts.

But the question remains, if Democrats have struggled for months to elevate the mea ning of the 2022 midterms, to impress upon voters that sometimes pocketbook issues like inflation must take a back seat to existential issues like the future of the republic, why would a ragtag group of Never Trump Repu blicans like Cheney succeed?

“I believe that protecting our democracy is the ultimate kitchen table issue,” Slotkin implored after conceding that it is not the first subject that comes up with her constituents. “In fact, it’s not the kitchen table. Our demo cracy is the foundation of the home in which the kitchen table sits.”

With time running out, elements of both parties are trying to hammer home that message. In Utah, anti-Trump Republicans are lending a hand to an independent former intelligence officer, Evan McMullin, in his campaign to unseat Sen. Mike Lee. On the airwaves of Arizona, Cheney is urging voters to oppose the Republicans running for governor and secretary of state. On the internet and on television screens, a constellation of antiTrump groups nominally still Republican have pressed the case that this year, for the sake of representative democracy, voters need to side with Democrats.

“If we want to ensure the survival of the republic, we have to walk away from politics as usual,” Cheney said.

Republicans, some of whom Slotkin will

need to win her tossup race next Tuesday, were hard to find in the gym of East Lansing High School, but there were a few, like Jennifer Schlosser, of Mason, Michigan.

“I hate Trump, hands down,” Schlosser, 48, said. “I fully support Liz Cheney and all she’s done to bring what he did to light.”

But even Slotkin had to admit that in the current political environment, with inflation and economic uncertainty looming large, a message to save the republic might not be enough.

It was, however, enough to bring Che ney to town.

Once one of the most stalwart parti sans in the House, Cheney, the daughter of a famously conservative vice president, has gone from heading the House Republican Conference to endorsing front-line Demo crats in little less than a year and a half, one of the most remarkable metamorphoses of the Trump era.

A television commercial financed with more than $500,000 from Cheney’s political action committee and running in Arizona features Cheney imploring Republicans to vote against the party’s candidate for governor, Kari Lake, and for secretary of state, Mark Finchem, because they are a threat to the country’s democracy.

“I don’t know that I have ever voted for a Democrat, but if I lived in Arizona, I

absolutely would,” she says in the ad.

On Tuesday, on a swing through Ohio before Michigan, she said she would vote for Rep. Tim Ryan, a Democrat, over J.D. Vance, in that state’s Senate race, citing the Republican candidate’s assertion that the 2020 election was stolen.

Her only Republican colleague on the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, is on a similar journey.

On Oct. 22, Kinzinger was at the Salt Lake City Public Library to endorse former CIA officer Evan McMullin in his independent bid to oust Lee, who cheered on Trump’s efforts to remain in office after the 2020 election. Lee privately offered in a text to the White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows, “a group of ready and loyal advocates who will go to bat for him.”

Declaring that “democracy is on the line,” Kinzinger told Utah voters last month, “This is the best opportunity I see in the cou ntry, and I mean that, to send a message, to build something new, to send somebody that can change the status quo.”

A number of other groups still nominally connected to the Republican Party, like the Lincoln Project, are trolling the party they have become estranged from on social me dia and in television commercials intended to peel away disenchanted Republicans and independents. The Republican Accountability

Project has been collecting testimonials from disaffected Republican voters, which are turned into billboards and advertisements.

“Whether we as a country will be able to defend our system of self-government in the coming years, even in the next two cycles, will depend on whether we can bring together Republicans, Democrats and independents who are still committed to American demo cracy, to the Constitution and to the reality of objective truth,” McMullin said in an interview Monday. “Are the votes there? Yes, they are there. Can we bring them together? That is the challenge.”

To that end, the power that Cheney and Kinzinger bring is their personal stories of defiance and excommunication. Cheney has been stingy with her endorsements, choosing the races she sees as the biggest threats to democracy and Democratic candidates she can personally vouch for. But for candidates like Slotkin, that makes events like Tuesday’s that much more valuable.

“For vulnerable Democrats in really tight races, a lot of those voters are collegeeducated swing voters who value the inde pendence of candidates, and there’s extra validation from a Liz Cheney or Adam Kin zinger saying, ‘Hey, this Republican opponent is beyond the pale,’” said Sarah Longwell, a Republican pollster who helped found the Republican Accountability Project.

Republicans are not so sure about that. Cheney in particular has become such a lightning rod with the Republicans’ base voters that party campaign aides here said her presence in Michigan would do more to energize Trump voters to come out for the Republican in the race, state Sen. Tom Barrett, than persuade undecided voters to side with Slotkin.

Rep. Liz Cheney (D-Wyo.) speaks after losing the Republican primary, in Jackson, Wyo., on Aug. 16, 2022. “I don’t know that I have ever voted for a Democrat, but if I lived in Arizona, I absolutely would,” Cheney says in a recent television commercial.

Biden, in midterm campaign pitch, focuses on Social Security and Medicare

By PETER BAKER

PresidentJoe Biden pressed his argument earlier this week that a Republican victory in next week’s midterm congressional elections would endanger Social Security and Medicare, bringing his case to the retirement haven of Florida, where the politics of the two programs resonate historically.

During a whirlwind one-day swing through vote-rich South Florida, Biden took credit for legislation he pushed through Con gress to curb the cost of prescription drugs for Medicare recipients and asserted that Republicans plan to undermine the foundations of the two major government programs benefiting older Americans.

“They’re coming after your Social Security and Medicare, and they’re saying it out loud,” Biden told a crowd at his first fullfledged campaign rally since Labor Day. By contrast, he boasted that Social Security just approved an 8.7% increase in benefits, the largest in four decades. “The checks are going to go up and the Medicare fees are going to go down at the same time. And I promise you: I’ll protect Social Security. I’ll protect Medicare. I’ll protect you.”

The president has turned increasingly to stark warnings about Social Security and Medicare in the closing days of the campaign, banking on a traditional Democratic issue to galvanize older voters, who tend to turn out more reliably during midterm elections than other generations. Republicans complain that such “Mediscare” tactics unfairly distort their position and reflect desperation by Democrats on the defensive over inflation, which is near a 40-year high.

As he presented Republicans as the party of radicalism during his stops Tuesday, Biden chastised some of its prominent figures for not taking an attack early Friday on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband seriously and spreading conspiracy theories about it.

“Look at the response of Republicans, making jokes about it,” Biden said at an earlier fundraising reception for former Gov. Charlie Crist, who is seeking to reclaim his old office. “The guy purchases a hammer to kneecap” the woman who stands second in line to the presidency, he said of the assailant, and some Repub licans brushed it off. “These guys are extremely extreme,” he said.

The president’s trip to Florida opened a final week of cam paigning before next Tuesday’s vote, but it did not go without its

bumps. Biden, who at 79 is the oldest president in American his tory, fumbled at one point during his first talk of the day, confusing the American war in Iraq with the Russian war in Ukraine. While trying to correct himself, he then misstated how his son Beau, who served in the Delaware Army National Guard in Iraq, died in 2015.

“Inflation is a worldwide problem right now because of a war in Iraq and the impact on oil and what Russia is doing,” Biden told a crowd at O.B. Johnson Park in Hallandale Beach. “Excuse me, the war in Ukraine,” he said. To explain, he told the audience, “I think of Iraq because that’s where my son died.” Then he seemed to catch himself again and sought to amend his words one more time. “Because, he died,” he said, apparently referring to his belief that Beau’s brain cancer stemmed from his service in Iraq and exposure to toxic burn pits.

In addition to Florida, Biden’s travels this week are expected to take him to New Mexico, California, Pennsylvania and Mary land. With anemic approval ratings, the president is avoiding some of the most competitive states, like Arizona, Georgia and Ohio, where Democrats are not eager to have him at their side. But he will join former President Barack Obama on Saturday in Pennsylvania, where Biden was born, to bolster John Fetterman’s campaign for Senate, one of the hottest and tightest races in the country.

In addition to Crist, who is seeking to oust Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, Biden appeared with Rep. Val B. Demings, the Democratic challenger to Sen. Marco Rubio. DeSantis leads by roughly 9 percentage points and Rubio by about 7 percentage points, according to an aggregation of polls by the political data website FiveThirtyEight.

Biden went after some Republicans by name. He called DeSantis “Donald Trump incarnate.” He accused Rep. Kevin Mc Carthy of California, the would-be new speaker, of being “reckless and irresponsible.” And he assailed Republicans such as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, the onetime QAnon follower who has worked to push the party to the right, for criticizing his effort to forgive some student loan debt while having their own COVID-19 loan debt forgiven.

The president appeared most irritated by attacks on him over inflation. In Hallandale Beach, he pointed to his efforts to limit health care costs for seniors. “They talk about inflation all the time,” he said. “What in God’s name?” He added: “If you have to take a prescription and it cost you an arm and a leg and I reduce that, you don’t have to pay as much. That reduces your cost of living. It reduces inflation.”

To bolster his contention that Republicans are aiming to undercut Social Security and Medicare, Biden once again cited a legislative agenda put forth by Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, chair of the Senate Republicans’ campaign arm, that has been disavowed by other Republicans, most notably Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the party’s leader in the upper chamber. Scott’s legisla tive agenda called for “sunsetting” all federal legislation every five years, meaning programs like Social Security and Medicare would expire unless reauthorized by Congress.

Before the president’s trip to Florida, Scott said Sunday that his position had been twisted and that “I don’t know one Republican” who favors cutting Social Security payments or cut ting Medicare benefits.

“I believe we’ve got to preserve them and make sure that we keep them,” Scott told Dana Bash on “State of the Union” on CNN. “What I want to do is make sure we live within our means and make sure we preserve those programs. People paid into them. They believe in them. I believe in them. I’m going to fight like hell to make sure we preserve Medicare and Social Security.”

President Joe Biden delivers remarks during an event on Social Security spending and medicare inside the OB Johnson Park/Community Center in Hallandale Beach, Fla., on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022.

Judge curbs actions of election-monitoring group in Arizona

By KEN BENSINGER

judge in Arizona has sharply curtailed the activities of an electionmonitoring group in the vicinity of ballot boxes, including taking photos or videos of voters, openly carrying firearms, posting information about voters online, or spreading falsehoods about election laws.

Afederal

The group, Clean Elections USA, has the stated goal of preventing voter fraud by staking out ballot boxes to ensure that people don’t behave as “mules” by illegally casting multiple ballots. In recent weeks, self-described “mule watchers” — some armed — have gathered around outdoor ballot boxes in Maricopa County to take pictures of voters and, in some cases, post those images online.

Last week, the League of Women Voters sued the group, saying that its actions amounted to “time-tested methods of voter intimidation,” and seeking an injunction to halt its activities. Early Tuesday before a hearing on the matter, Clean Elections USA said it had agreed to cease some activities, including refraining from openly carrying guns or wearing visible body armor within 250 feet of ballot boxes, as well as following or interacting with voters within 75 feet of the boxes.

But the temporary restraining order issued by Judge Michael T. Liburdi, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump, goes well beyond that agreement, prohibiting the group “and other persons in active concert or participation with” it from taking photos or videos of voters or disseminating information about voters online, and also from “making false statements” about Arizona’s statutes regarding early voting in interviews or on social media. Lawyers for Clean Elections USA had resisted those limits, claiming they impinged on the group’s First Amendment rights and, in the case of comments made by its founder, Melody Jennings, would amount to unconstitutional prior restraint.

“It is imperative we balance the defen dants’ right to engage in First Amendmentprotected activity with the plaintiffs’ right to act without intimidation or harassment,” Li burdi said after a marathon hearing in Phoenix punctuated by testimony from a Mesa, Arizona, man who said he and his wife were menaced when they went to vote last month.

According to the man, who testified without revealing his name publicly for fear of harassment, eight to 10 people filmed the couple and told them they were “hunting mu les.” Images of him and his car were posted

online and Jennings subsequently appeared on the podcast of Steve Bannon, the former Trump adviser, saying they had caught a mule and “blasted it out viral.”

Liburdi called his experience particularly compelling, and noted that it went well beyond testimony from last week in a parallel case against Clean Elections USA. In that lawsuit, brought by the Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans and Voto Latino, the judge declined to enjoin Clean Elections USA’s activities, saying he had not seen any evidence that real harm had befallen any voters. That ruling is being appealed in the 9th Circuit.

In his concluding remarks Tuesday, Li burdi pointed to incorrect statements made by Jennings in posts on social media and in interviews that only spouses could return ballots on behalf of voters in Arizona, when in fact housemates and caregivers are legally permitted to do so in the state.

“This does not prohibit Miss Jennings from correctly stating what the law is,” said Liburdi, noting that he would also draft a preliminary injunction against Clean Elections USA in coming days. “I just have a problem with her stating it incorrectly in a way that is intimidating or coercive to voting behavior.”

On Monday, the Justice Department filed a brief on the issue, noting that while it had no opinion on the lawsuit itself, the Constitution does not protect voter intimidation and that harassing or trying to harass people casting ballots could violate the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Underscoring the urgency of the moment, lawyers for the League of Women Voters noted that Tuesday was the last day to mail in early ballots under Arizona statute, making ballot boxes the only option for people who wish to vote before Election Day.

Alexander Kolodin, a lawyer who repre sents both Clean Elections USA and Jennings, said in court that he would most likely appeal the latest ruling. Although Clean Elections USA had voluntarily agreed to the restrictions on weapons, as well as on talking to, yelling at, or otherwise confronting or following voters, he argued that the restrictions on photography, online posting and discussing Arizona voting laws infringed on free speech.

At the heart of those views is the false belief that illegal votes cast at drop boxes were responsible for President Donald Trump’s defeat in the 2020 elections, a theory espoused in the discredited conspiracy-laden documentary “2000 Mules.”

Jennings, in podcast interviews, has said she was inspired by a “teaser” for the movie

A secure election drop box on Tuesday in Phoenix. A federal judge in Arizona placed limits on an election-monitoring group that had been watching ballot boxes.

that was released last spring. By the time “2000 Mules” was released in May, she had already built a significant following on social network Truth Social based on her proposal to station observers at ballot boxes around the country. She has said she is recruiting volunteers to watch ballot boxes in every state, but has not indicated where other monitors might be active.

A Christian pastor and counselor based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Jennings has criticized the media’s coverage of Clean Elections USA. In a Monday interview on “War Room,” Bannon’s show, she said she was “tired that nobody co mes and asks what it’s about.” Jennings has not responded to multiple requests for comment from The New York Times.

Pinny Sheoran, president of the League of Women Voters of Arizona, also provided sworn testimony at Tuesday’s hearing, describing how the activities of Clean Elections USA and similar groups had frightened her members, who feared they could be followed or even physically assaulted if they sought to deposit a ballot in a drop box. To address those concerns, the group had spent time and money aiming to educate Arizona voters that they had a legal right to vote, she said.

“Today’s U.S. District Court decision is a victory for the voters of Arizona who have the right to cast their ballots free from intimidation, threats or coercion,” she said in a statement after the hearing.

Food prices soar, and so do companies’ profits

“I can’t remember the last time we had steak,” English said. A couple weeks ago, she said, she looked at the meat department at The Fresh Market, a grocery store chain, and was dispirited at the high prices she found.

“We’re not going to do that,” she said. “We can’t.”

Over the past year, the price of food eaten at home has soared 13%, according to the Bureau of Labor Sta tistics, with some items spiking even higher. Cereals and bakery goods are up 16.2% from a year ago, closely fo llowed by dairy, which has risen 15.9%.

The cost of eating at restaurants has risen 8.5% over the same period.

Even food executives have been surprised by how well the higher food prices have been accepted.

On a call with investors, Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey said customers continued to buy the company’s products despite economic challenges.

“In the face of these pressures, consumers stayed re silient, and we continue to invest behind our loved brands to drive value in the marketplace and growth in our busi ness,” Quincey said.

By ISABELLA SIMONETTI and JULIE CRESWELL

Ayearago, a bag of potato chips at the grocery store cost an average of $5.05. These days, that bag costs $6.05. A dozen eggs that could have been picked up for $1.83 now average $2.90. A 2-liter bottle of soda that cost $1.78 will now set you back $2.17.

Something else is also much higher: corporate pro fits.

In mid-October, PepsiCo, whose prices for its drinks and chips were up 17% in the latest quarter from year-ear lier levels, reported that its third-quarter profit grew more than 20%. Likewise, Coca-Cola reported profit up 14% from a year earlier, thanks in large part to price increases. Restaurants keep getting more expensive, too. Chi potle Mexican Grill, which said prices by the end of the year would be nearly 15% higher than a year earlier, repor ted $257.1 million in profit in the latest quarter, up nearly 26% from a year earlier.

For years, food companies and restaurants generally raised prices in small, incremental steps, worried that big

increases would frighten consumers and send them loo king for cheaper options. But over the past year, as wages increased and the cost of the raw ingredients used to make treats like cookies, chips, sodas and the materials to pac kage them soared, food companies and restaurants started passing along those expenses to customers.

But amid growing concerns that the economy could be headed for a recession, some food companies and res taurants are continuing to raise prices even if their own inflation-driven costs have been covered. Critics say the moves are all about increasing profits, not covering expen ses. Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Chipotle did not respond to requests for comment.

“The recent earnings calls have only reinforced the familiar and unwelcome theme that corporations did not need to raise their prices so high on struggling families,” said Kyle Herrig, the president of Accountable.Us, an ad vocacy organization. “The calls tell us corporations have used inflation, the pandemic and supply chain challenges as an excuse to exaggerate their own costs and then nickel and dime consumers.”

Food companies and restaurants have been able to raise prices because the majority of consumers, while an noyed that the trip to the grocery store or drive-thru for takeout costs more than it did a year ago, have been wi lling to pay. But there are plenty of shoppers, including tho se with lower incomes or retirees on fixed budgets, who say the higher prices have led to changes in their routines.

Diane English, 80, a partly retired artist who lives with her partner in Asheville, North Carolina, said she now shops at lower-price grocery stores such as Aldi so she can afford her groceries. She also has stopped buying certain foods because they’re simply too expensive.

This summer, on a call with other Wall Street analysts, Jason English, an analyst at Goldman Sachs, noted that the food giant Conagra Brands had been able to price its pro ducts above inflation rates and recovered its profit margins.

Sean Connolly, the president and CEO of Conagra, said manufacturers saw their profits hit early by inflation and that maintaining robust profits was crucial to develo ping new products.

“We have to have healthy margins to be able to build out that innovation and get it to our customers in the mar ket,” Connolly said on the call. Conagra did not respond to a request for comment for this article.

Likewise, investors and analysts are closely watching the continued price hikes at Chipotle, wondering when it will become too much for its customers. In late October, the company said its profit margin widened in the third quarter, since it was able to increase the prices it charges faster than its own costs rose. The company said its prices in the final three months of the year would be nearly 15% higher than they were a year earlier.

“The average entree was around $8 nationally two years ago, and they’ve maybe taken $1.50 in price in the past two years,” said Sharon Zackfia, group head of consu mer research at William Blair & Co.

She added: “I am intrigued by what happens when commodities fall again, and how do restaurants offer more value to the consumer without lowering prices? In the long arc of history, most restaurants do not lower prices.”

Still, some cracks are emerging. Not all companies have increased profits. Profit at McDonald’s, for example, fell because of how the strong U.S. dollar has weakened other global currencies. High prices for deli meat, fresh fish and frozen dinners have led some shoppers to stop buying those products, according to data from Information Resou rces Inc., a research firm.

Diners at a sidewalk cafe in the Little Italy section of lower Manhattan on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022. Investors and analysts are wondering when rising prices will start to keep more people away from restaurants.

Wall Street turns higher after Fed hints at smaller hikes

USstocks climbed, reversing earlier declines after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 75 basis points but signalled that smaller rate hikes may be on the horizon.

The hike by the Fed, the fourth-straight increase from the central bank of that magnitude as it attempts to bring down stubbornly high inflation and set the target federal funds rate in a range between 3.75 per cent and 4.00 per cent, was tempered by new language that suggested the central bank was mindful of the effect its outsized rate hikes have had on the economy.

The S&P 500 is 0.3 per cent higher in mid-afternoon trade while the Dow Jones has added 1 per cent and the Nasdaq has advanced by 0.6 per cent. Markets will be glued to Fed chair Jerome Powell’s news conference, which is underway. The Australian sharemarket is set to retreat, with futures at 5.23am AEDT pointing to a fall of 16 points, or 0.2 per cent, at the open. The ASX rose by 0.1 per cent on Wednesday.

Investors had been widely anticipating a 75-basis point rate hike, while hoping the Fed would signal a willingness to begin downsizing the rate hikes at its December meeting.

“The Fed is finally acknowledging that they’ve already done a lot and it might be prudent to slow the pace of hikes,” said Brian Jacobsen, senior investment strategist at Allspring Global Investments in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.

“You can’t keep popping pills until you feel better. Some times you have to wait for the medicine to take effect.”

The S&P 500 had been lower prior to the policy an nouncement, as the ADP National Employment report showed US private payrolls increased more than expected in October, giving more reason to the Fed to continue an ag gressive path of rate hikes.

The private payrolls report came on the heels of data on Tuesday that showed a jump in US monthly job openings, indicating labor demand remained strong.

Investors will get more looks at the labour market in the form of weekly initial jobless claims on Thursday and the Oc tober payrolls report on Friday that will help drive expecta tions for interest rate hikes.

With nearly 70 per cent of S&P 500 companies hav ing reported earnings for the quarter, growth estimates have moved slightly higher to 4.8 per cent from 4.7 per cent the previous day and 4.5 per cent at the start of October.

Advanced Micro Devices rose after it forecast some strength in its data centre business, while Airbnb tumbled on a bleak holiday-quarter revenue forecast.

Advancing issues outnumbered declining ones on the NYSE by a 1.33-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 1.16-to-1 ratio fa voured advancers.

Earlier in the week, Meta Platforms lost nearly a quarter of its value after reporting a second straight quarter of rev enue decline amid falling advertising sales and stiff compe

tition from TikTok. Microsoft and Google’s parent company also reported slowdowns in key areas.

Such woes have created a sharp split on Wall Street this week, between lagging Big Tech stocks and the rest of the market. The Nasdaq, which is stuffed with high-growth tech stocks, notched a 2.2% gain this week. It would have had an even worse showing if not for Apple’s boost from Friday. The Dow, meanwhile, jumped 5.7% for the week because it has less of an emphasis on tech.

PUERTO RICO STOCKS

Rising interest rates have hit Big Tech stock prices harder than the rest of the market, and the pressure increased Friday as yields climbed.

“The markets still seem to not want to believe that we might end up in a place where an earnings recession is pos sible,” Young said.

Data released in the morning showed the raises that U.S. workers got in wages and other compensation during the summer was in line with economists’ expectations. That should keep the Fed on track to keep hiking rates sharply in hopes of weakening the job market enough to undercut the nation’s high inflation. Other data showed the Fed’s preferred measure of inflation remains very high, and U.S. households continue to spend more in the face of it.

MOST ASSERTIVE STOCKS

Russia rejoins grain deal after saying it received security guarantees

By IVAN NECHEPURENKO, SAFAK TIMUR and MATTHEW MPOKE BIGG

Russia said Wednesday that it was re joining a deal that allows the shipment of grain from Ukrainian ports through the Black Sea, easing days of uncertainty over the fate of an agreement that had of fered hope to countries facing severe food shortages — and appearing to restore one of the few areas of cooperation between the two countries.

Moscow had suspended its participa tion in the deal over the weekend after an at tack on Russian naval ships in the Black Sea port of Sevastopol that it blamed on Ukraine, and claimed that the incident showed the sea corridor used to transport grain was un safe for its own ships. There have been no

The Russian Defense Ministry said it had received written guarantees from Ukraine that the waters and ports used by the grain ships would not be used “for mili tary operations against the Russian Federa tion.”

But Ukrainian officials suggested that Russia rejoined the deal because it saw that other parties were committed to continu ing without Moscow’s involvement. At least 15 grain ships have departed from Ukraine since Moscow announced it was pulling out of the agreement Saturday.

“A ‘blackmailer’ with Russian roots is inferior to those who are stronger and know how to clearly state their position,” Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, tweeted after Russia rejoined.

was not immediately clear whether Russia’s concerns had been addressed.

Ukraine is a major exporter of grain and other agricultural products, but after Moscow’s full-scale invasion in February, Russia’s navy used its dominance in the Black Sea to block Ukraine’s exports. In addition to hurting Ukraine’s economy, this helped drive global grain prices sharply higher. That made food purchases much more difficult for doz ens of countries — including Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Yemen, Somalia and South Sudan — that are already facing food shortages, and in some cases famine.

The July agreement, known as the Black Sea Grain Initiative, addressed the is sue by allowing Ukraine’s exports to restart, with cargo ships moving through a sea cor ridor to Istanbul. There, the ships would be

ing questions over whether it would block further shipments. A total of 15 ships pre viously authorized under the agreement departed from Ukraine on Monday and Tuesday; none had been scheduled for Wednesday.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey had pushed for Russia to rejoin the deal. On Wednesday, he said in a televised address that he had spoken a day earlier with President Vladimir Putin of Russia. Af ter that, Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s defense min ister, had called his Turkish counterpart to say that “the grain shipments will go on as it used to be as of noon today,” Erdogan said.

Amir M. Abdulla, the United Nations’ coordinator for the initiative, said in a tweet that he welcomed Russia’ decision and was “grateful for Turkish facilitation.”

gets in the Black Sea and in occupied Crimea — notably the Oct. 8 explosion on a bridge linking Russia to Crimea — has undermined Russian control over the waters. Russia had threatened for weeks to pull out of the grain

The San Juan Daily StarThursday, November 3, 202212

Bolsonaro agrees to transition of power in Brazil

By JACK NICAS and ANDRÉ SPIGARIOL

Twodays after losing Brazil’s presiden tial election, President Jair Bolsonaro agreed to a transition of power on Tuesday, easing fears that the far-right lead er would contest the results after warning for months that the only way he would lose would be if the vote were stolen.

In a two-minute speech, Bolsonaro thanked his supporters, encouraged pro testers to be peaceful, celebrated his ac complishments, criticized the left and said he had always followed the constitution. What was absent was any acknowledg ment that he had lost the vote or that the election had been free and fair.

Instead, after Bolsonaro spoke, his chief of staff took the lectern and said that the government would hand over power to the incoming administration.

“President Bolsonaro has authorized me — when requested, based on the law — to start the transition process,” said Bol sonaro’s chief of staff, Ciro Nogueira.

The question now remains how the president’s comments will be received by his thousands of supporters who have blocked hundreds of highways across Bra zil in a bid to “paralyze” the country and somehow overturn the election.

Bolsonaro said Tuesday that those protests “are the fruit of the indignation and feelings of injustice in the electoral process.” But he urged his supporters to halt disrup tions. “Peaceful demonstrations will always be welcome,” he said. “But our methods cannot be those of the left, like property invasion, destruction of goods and restric tions on the right to come and go.”

His comments appeared to do little to deter many protesters, who continued to block roads into Tuesday night. “It’s exactly what we expected. The president has always known how to recognize our support,” said Wellington Rodrigues, 41, a protester drinking a beer who had helped block a highway outside São Paulo. “We want to continue, because it’s our right to protest.”

The Bolsonaro administration’s deci sion to begin transferring power to the left ist candidate who had defeated him, Pres ident-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was welcome news for Brazil’s democracy. The president has long attacked Brazil’s elec tion system as rife with fraud, despite a lack of evidence, and before Sunday’s election, he had suggested that the left was trying to rig the vote.

So when the talkative president sud denly went silent for two days, the nation was kept on edge, wondering if he would dispute his loss — much as Donald Trump did after he lost to President Joe Biden.

Now, Brazil’s government can fully begin working toward a transition to da Silva, a former president known universally as “Lula” who is returning to lead Brazil 12 years after he left office. He is set to be in augurated Jan. 1.

Bolsonaro did not mention da Silva on Tuesday.

For people who have watched Bolso naro’s three decades in politics — a stretch in which he had never lost an election until Sunday — his reaction was not surprising. He has long been a politician driven by his emotions who rails against the political es tablishment and casts himself as a victim of a conspiracy by the left.

In the two days following his loss, Bolsonaro’s ministers and a Supreme Court justice pushed him to concede, according to four government officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss pri vate meetings. The officials had stressed that the final decision on what Bolsonaro would say would be the president’s alone.

Now, after authorizing the govern ment transition, Bolsonaro will have little ability to reverse course, with the full weight of the Brazilian government pushing ahead, including leaders of Brazil’s Congress, the courts, the military and his own administra

tion. And several senior government lead ers said the president’s comments were as close to a concession as he would give.

“The president used the verb ‘to end’ in the past tense. He said ‘ended,’” Edson Fachin, a Brazilian Supreme Court justice, told reporters after meeting with the presi dent Monday evening. “Therefore, let’s look ahead.”

Bolsonaro and his right-wing move ment will remain a major force in Brazil. His party won the most seats in Congress this month and his allies now run Brazil’s three biggest states. “Our dream is more alive than ever,” Bolsonaro said Tuesday.

Da Silva will also have to confront Brazil’s deep division. He was elected in the closest presidential contest in the 34 years of Brazil’s modern democracy, win ning 50.9% of the vote, to Bolsonaro’s 49.1%. Bolsonaro received 58.2 million votes.

Many of Bolsonaro’s supporters consider da Silva a criminal; he served 17 months in prison on corruption charges that were later thrown out. And polls show that 3 out of 4 of Bolsonaro’s supporters have lost faith in the integrity of Brazil’s elections, in part thanks to his years of at tacks on the nation’s election system.

The radicalization of some on Bra zil’s right was illustrated by the unrest across the country. As of Tuesday night, Bolsonaro’s supporters had set up 190 ac tive blockades of roads in 21 of Brazil’s 27 states, according to the federal highway police. The police said they had cleared 419 other blockades since the election ended and issued 438 fines related to the protests.

Protesters said they were trying to create enough of a disruption that the mili tary would intervene, enabling the presi dent and the armed forces to overturn the election.

“We want the truth about the voting machines,” said Reginaldo de Moraes, 45, an evangelical pastor who echoed Bolson aro’s conspiracy theories. He was standing on the side of the main highway leading to São Paulo’s airport, which he had helped block for hours. “We don’t believe them,’’ he said, “and we want the army to take over and count the votes correctly.”

There has been no credible evidence of fraud in Brazil’s voting machines since they were introduced in 1996, and inde pendent security experts say that while the machines are not perfect, multiple layers of security prevent fraud or errors.

Concerns about postelection unrest were heightened after it appeared, that in many locations, the federal highway po lice were allowing the road blockades. On Monday, three federal highway police officers stood and watched as protesters blocked the main highway between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Brazil’s two largest cities.

Late Monday, Alexandre de Moraes, a Supreme Court justice, ordered the federal highway police and state police to clear all national highways. Under the order, the di rector of the federal highway police faced arrest if his agency did not comply.

Federal police did increase enforce ment on Tuesday. After the blockade outside São Paulo’s main airport forced the cancella tion of 25 flights, the federal highway police sprayed a chemical agent to clear protesters off the road.

There was little sign, however, that the protesters were prepared to give up. Nearly 200 blockades were still active more than three hours after Bolsonaro’s speech, and in groups on Telegram, a messaging app, many of his supporters framed the presi dent’s comments as a tacit support of their movement.

Many protesters claimed that with enough time, the military would be forced to intervene. A military spokesperson said Tuesday that the blockades were a police matter.

Marco Territo, the federal highway police’s second in command, told reporters on Tuesday that his agency was struggling with the protests. It is a very complex op eration,” he said. “We have points with up to 500 protesters, stopped trucks, children in arms.”

Protesters also demonstrated outside the army’s headquarters in Brasília on Tues day, and a senior military leader, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press, said officials were worried that such pro tests could grow without a more clear con demnation from Bolsonaro.

Amid the turmoil inside the presiden tial palace and on highways across the vast country, da Silva’s team moved forward with forming a government. His team said it had spoken with Nogueira, Bolsonaro’s chief of staff, about the start of a transitional government, and that da Silva tapped his running mate, a center-right former gover nor, to lead the effort.

Da Silva then planned to take a few days off with his new wife.

Truckers and demonstrators block a highway in protest against President Jair Bolsonaro’s loss in the country’s presidential runoff election, in Sao Pau lo, Brazil, on Nov. 1, 2022.

Hurricane Lisa heads for Belize

By THE NEW YORK TIMES

HurricaneLisa strengthened and bore down on Belize on Wednesday after noon as residents took shelter from the powerful winds and threat of flooding.

The storm, forecast to bring dangerous conditions to several countries in Central America, was churning west from near the Belize Barrier Reef as of 2 p.m. Eastern, prompting a hurricane warning for the coast of Belize and a part of Mexico from Chetu mal to Puerto Costa Maya.

The National Hurricane Center in Mia mi said the storm would then cross northern Guatemala into southeastern Mexico by Thursday.

In Belize, the National Emergency Ma nagement Organization estimated that do zens of people had sought refuge in shelters across the country. The entire country is un der warnings for flooding along the coast and from storm surge, the country’s principal hy drologist, Tennielle Hendy, said.

As the Category 1 hurricane was slam ming into Belize, the minister of disaster risk management, Orlando Habet, said officials had issued multiple advisories as a precau tion. “However, we continue at the last hour to emphasize and increase our efforts to pro tect our greatest asset, our human resource,” he said.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the storm had sustained winds of 80 mph and was about 35 miles east-southeast of Belize City, moving west at 14 mph, the Hurricane Cen ter said. It had reached hurricane strength early in the day.

Tropical storm warnings were in effect for the Bay Islands, the northern coast of Hondu ras west of Punta Castilla, the northern coast of Guatemala, and the Mexican coast from Puerto Costa Maya to Punta Allen.

Heavy rain and wind were visible in li vestream footage of the coast of Honduras that was posted by Los del Puerto, a news site in Puerto Cortés, Honduras.

In Guatemala, CONRED, the national emergency management agency, said that 19 homes had been damaged by flooding late Wednesday morning in Melchor de Mencos, a municipality on the border with Belize.

The National Meteorological Service of Belize issued a flood warning for low-lying and coastal areas and advised small boats to remain in harbors. A storm surge could raise water levels by as much as 4 to 7 feet above normal tide levels there and in southeastern parts of the Yucatán Peninsula, forecasters

said.

The meteorological service said forecast models showed that the hurricane was ex pected to make landfall over central Belize on Wednesday evening, south of Belize City near Gales Point Manatee, a small fishing vi llage that stretches out from the mainland on a peninsula.

Twelve shelters in Belize City were hou sing 1,221 people as of noon local time Wed nesday. Most of the shelters were occupied and being serviced by public officers, Mayor Bernard Wagner said.

“I am encouraged by the majority of the residents of Belize City taking heed of the call by the authorities to seek shelter in the event that their homes are not able to withstand hu rricane force winds in excess of 75 miles per hour,” he said.

As Lisa moved west across the western Caribbean, Hurricane Martin was moving over the central North Atlantic but posed no threat to land.

Lisa was expected to produce up to 6 inches of rain, with local amounts up to 10 inches, across Belize, northern Guatemala and parts of Mexico.

Up to 4 inches of rain were forecast for the southeastern portion of the Yucatán Pe ninsula, the Bay Islands, central Guatemala

and south-central Campeche, Mexico.

On the beach in Placencia, on the coast of Belize, Shelly Hyde, manager of Julia’s Guesthouse and Cabanas, was overseeing workers cutting plywood to board up win dows. Cabanas were being hauled further in land. Heeding warnings about strong winds, workers trimmed trees and cleared debris to lessen the risk of flying objects, she said.

At least 12 guests in the eight-room ho tel were given instructions to relocate to the nearest shelter as a precaution, she said. The hotel sits about 100 miles from areas in the south where Hyde expects the storm to make direct landfall, but she said in an interview that she was not taking any chances.

“We do not encourage anybody to stay here, especially on the beach,” she said, with the noise of hammering from a nearby bar in the background. “Better safe than sorry.”

Honduras is one of the countries that experts say are most vulnerable to clima te change. In 2020, Hurricanes Eta and Iota affected 4 million people and caused exten sive destruction. Already this year, the hurri cane season has caused flooding, and soil along the northern coast has not completely dried out yet.

Heavy rains during Hurricane Julia in October destroyed dozens of homes in Tegu

cigalpa, Honduras. Large and damaging wa ves are expected near the coast, forecasters said.

Guatemala deployed members of its di saster reduction agency to the regions of Iza bal, Alta Verapaz and Retalhuleu on Tuesday. Lisa formed Monday, becoming the 12th named storm of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season. The season, which runs from June through November, had a relatively quiet start, with only three named storms before Sept. 1 and none during August, the first time that has happened since 1997. Storm activity picked up in early September with Danielle and Earl, which formed within a day of each other. By the end of September, Hurricane Ian had slammed into the coast of Florida as a Category 4 hurricane, one of the most powerful storms to hit the United States in the past decade.

In early August, scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is sued an updated forecast for the rest of the season, which still called for an above-nor mal level of activity. In it, they predicted that 14 to 20 named storms could form during the season, which runs through Nov. 30, with six to 10 turning into hurricanes that sustain winds of at least 74 mph. Three to five of tho se could strengthen into what NOAA calls major hurricanes — Category 3 or stronger — with winds of at least 111 mph.

Last year, there were 21 named storms, after a record-breaking 30 in 2020. For the past two years, meteorologists have exhaus ted the list of names used to identify storms during the Atlantic hurricane season, an oc currence that has happened only one other time, in 2005.

The links between hurricanes and cli mate change have become clearer with each passing year. Data shows that hurricanes have become stronger worldwide during the past four decades. A warming planet can ex pect stronger hurricanes over time and a hig her incidence of the most powerful storms — though the overall number of storms could drop, because factors like stronger wind shear could keep weaker storms from forming.

Hurricanes are also becoming wetter because of more water vapor in the warmer atmosphere; scientists have suggested storms like Hurricane Harvey in 2017 produced far more rain than they would have without the human effects on climate. Also, rising sea le vels are contributing to higher storm surge — the most destructive element of tropical cyclones.

Flooding in Belize City, Belize, on Wednesday as the country braced for the arrival of Hurricane Lisa.

Don’t let Putin turn Ukraine into Aleppo

By BRET STEPHENS

In2015, as Bashar Assad was losing his war to remain in power in Syria, he pleaded for, and got, Russian military intervention. President Barack Obama reacted with airy disdain.

“An attempt by Russia and Iran to prop up Assad and try to pacify the population is just going to get them stuck in a quagmire, and it won’t work,” Obama said that October.

It turned out differently. The Russian military, led by some of the same officers now commanding Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine, achieved an unexpected victory over a brutalized people and a selfdeluded U.S. administration.

The key to Russia’s success was the deliberate, indiscriminate and massive slaughter of civilians. “Rescue workers in Aleppo reported that their cars and headquarters were among the first targets hit on Friday,” The New York Times’ Anne Barnard and Somini Sengupta reported in September 2016. “The effect was instant: Now, when people are buried in rubble, no one comes. Or it takes longer for them to arrive. Relatives are again exhuming relatives with their own hands.”

This is the approach that Putin, with the assistance of Iranian drones, is now adopting in Ukraine. On Monday,

Russian strikes left 80% of Kyiv’s residents without water, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko’s estimate. Dozens of energy facilities have also been hit. Ukraine’s Economy Ministry estimates that as many as 130,000 buildings have been destroyed in Russian attacks since the war began, including 2,400 schools.

The strategy is clear. Putin’s armies might be falling back in the field. But if he can freeze, starve and terrorize Ukraine’s people by going after their water supplies and energy infrastructure — while waiting for winter to blunt Ukraine’s advance — he might still be able to force Ukraine to accept some sort of armistice, leaving him in possession of most of his conquests.

That would count as a victory in Putin’s books, however wounded he might otherwise be. It would also be encouragement to China’s Xi Jinping as he eyes Taiwan and Iran’s Ali Khamenei as he tries to suppress weeks of protest that are starting to have the color of a revolution. Much more is at stake in the outcome in Ukraine than the fate of Ukraine itself.

What can the Biden administration do? More. And more quickly.

So far, we’ve had a policy of nick-of-time delivery of critical weaponry, such as the Javelin and Stinger missiles that saved Kyiv at the beginning of the war and HIMARS, the rocket systems that turned the tide of war over the summer. We need to switch to an approach that stays consistently ahead of the pace of war and weather.

On Tuesday the administration announced that it would soon be delivering to Ukraine two National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems, or NASAMS, with ranges of up to 30 miles. But there’s a hitch: Only “in the next few years,” according to a report in the Times, will Ukraine get to take delivery of the next six systems.

Ukrainians, whose country is nearly the size of Texas, need the systems now. If the United States can’t deliver them quickly, we can at least provide Ukrainians with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that can give them vastly improved detection and defensive capabilities over much longer ranges.

The Biden administration has been considering the sale of four of the U.S. Army’s long-endurance UAVs armed with Hellfire missiles since June, but the request has been held up in the bowels of Pentagon bureaucracy for months over excessive fears that some of its technologies could fall into Russian hands. Why not approve the sale, increase the numbers and start training Ukrainians on the systems immediately?

We can also start charging the Russians for their wanton destruction of critical infrastructure, which the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen,

has rightly called “acts of pure terror” and “war crimes.” I’ve advocated for months that we need to turn Russia’s frozen foreign reserves into an escrow account for Ukrainian reconstruction. And we should let the Russian people know that with each criminal missile barrage, they will be on the hook for hundreds of billions of dollars in reparations.

Finally, the administration should warn Iran’s leaders that their UAV factories will be targeted and destroyed if they continue to provide kamikaze drones to Russia, in flat violation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231. If Iran can get away with being an accessory to mass murder in Ukraine, it will never have any reason to fear the United States for any of its malign behavior. Every country should be put on notice that the price for helping Moscow in its slaughter will be steep.

All of these options — and I could add others, including providing Ukraine with better armor and longer-range rockets that can reach Russian military targets in Crimea — carry risks. And the administration is right to think hard about just which risks are worth taking and which ones the American public will support.

Right now, however, the biggest risk is that Putin uses the same appalling strategy that worked for him in Syria, blanketing Ukraine in terror as it is blanketed in snow. Winter is coming. Let’s help Ukraine prevail before it arrives.

CONVENCIÓN ANUAL ADG

UNIDOS LOGRAMOS MáS…

Deseamos expresar nuestro agradecimiento a nuestros socios, auspiciadores, suplidores y amigos que hicieron posible que nuestra Sexagésima Tercera Convención Anual fuera todo un éxito. Su participación y apoyo quedo plasmado en cada proceso del evento, cuentan con nuestra eterna gratitud por su continuo respaldo.

ASOCIACIÓN DE DETALLISTAS DE GASOLINA DE PUERTO RICO

Gobernador anuncia $4.5 millones para obras de construcción en carretera de Aguada

POR CYBERNEWS

A GUADA – El gobernador Pedro Pierluisi, infor mó el miércoles que el Departamento de Trans portación y Obras Públicas (DTOP), identificó 4.5 millones de dólares para trabajar en las obras de construcción y de deslizamiento de la carretera PR417 al costado del restaurante Grand Marnier en el municipio de Aguada.

“Tenemos buenas noticias porque el DTOP iden tificó la disponibilidad de 4.5 millones de dólares

para llevar a cabo estas obras. La subasta saldrá an tes de fin de año y esperamos que comiencen las obras en el primer trimestre del año 2023 y que cul minen a más tardar en el primer trimestre de 2024”, dijo en comunicación escrita Pierluisi quien estuvo acompañado del alcalde Christian Cortés Feliciano en su visita al municipio de Aguada.

Las expresiones del gobernador se produjeron luego de una reunión informativa en la que parti ciparon la secretaria del DTOP, Eileen Vélez Vega y el director ejecutivo de la Autoridad de Carreteras (ACT), Edwin González Montalvo. En esa reunión, que se realizó luego de que Pierluisi y Cortés par ticiparan de la feria de servicios de Fortaleza por Puerto Rico, también dijo presente la secretaria del Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales (DRNA), Anaís Rodríguez Vega, con quien conversó sobre varias iniciativas del ejecutivo municipal in cluyendo la zona del balneario y la erosión costera.

Por su parte, el alcalde expresó que “ agradece mos al gobernador la visita hecha hoy aquí en Agua da, así como al personal de La Fortaleza y de las dis

tintas agencias del gobierno central que ofrecieron servicios hoy en nuestra plaza pública. Particular mente beneficiosa fue la reunión que tuvimos con el equipo, donde presentamos los proyectos más im portantes para nuestro pueblo, así como las visitas a varios de nuestros barrios. Definitivamente vamos a continuar dando seguimiento a los proyectos”.

Al finalizar la reunión informativa, tanto Pierlui si como Feliciano, realizaron varias vistas oculares entre estas el deslizamiento de la carretera PR-417 y la zona del balneario y dialogaron sobre los fon dos disponibles, las mejoras a realizar y la erosión costera.

En la feria Fortaleza Por Puerto Rico participaron más de 20 agencias gubernamentales y la Agencia federal para el Manejo de Emergencias (FEMA, por sus siglas en inglés. Junto al gobernador y el alcal de había representación del Departamento de la Vi vienda y participaron los representantes José “Che” Perez y Pichy Torres Zamora así como los senadores Gregorio Matías, Migdalia González Arroyo y Ada García Montes.

Los Criollos de vuelta al Solá Morales para defender su corona

POR CYBERNEWS

CAGUAS – Los máximos campeones Criollos de Ca guas se presentan con nuevos bríos y una plantilla fortalecida de cara a la temporada 2022-23 de la Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente (LBPRC), que contará con la participación de seis equipos.Su primer compromiso será este viernes a las 7:15 pm, cuando en frenten a los subcampeones Indios de Mayagüez. El en cuentro tendrá como escenario el estadio Yldefonso Solá Morales, siendo el primer juego inaugural en casa desde 2016.

“Estamos listos para una vez más defender el campeona to. Nos entusiasma estar desde el primer día en nuestro re novado estadio, lo que hace de esta temporada una muy es pecial. Tenemos un gran equipo y nos hemos esforzado para brindar un espectáculo de primer orden para el disfrute de la fanaticada”, expresó Raúl Rodríguez Font, presidente de los Criollos de Caguas.

Antes de cantar ‘playball’, los Criollos fueron los primeros en comenzar sus prácticas. Además, el equipo cagüeño fue uno de los más activos en la pre temporada con la adquisición de varios jugadores, gestionados por su gerente general, Jesús ‘Motorita’ Feliciano.

“Estamos sumamente complacidos con el tra bajo realizado durante la pretemporada. Conta mos con un buen balance entre jugadores jóvenes y experimentados, que nos ayudarán a lograr la en comienda de conquistar el vigésimo primer cam peonato de Puerto Rico”, estableció Rodríguez Font.

Para el primer día de torneo, los Criollos presen tarán en su roster a los receptores Jonathan Morales, Juan Centeno, Miguel Pabón y Onix Vega. En el cua dro interior, a Vimael Machín, Jancarlos Cintrón, Ed win Díaz, Matthew Lugo, Christian Koss y Yankel Or tiz. En los bosques, Ismael Salgado, Reymond Fuentes

y Johneshwy Fargas.

En el grupo de lanzadores, están José de León, Raúl Rivera, Gregorio Reyes, Christian Torres, Aneuris Ro sario, Ricardo Gómez, Yacksel Ríos, Anthony Dibrell, Iván Maldonado, Jesús Ortiz, Jake Newberry, Derrick Adams, Dereck Rodríguez, José Solá, Matt Hardy y Al bert Oliva.

Tres muertos y 174 hospitalizados en informe preliminar COVID-19

POR CYBERNEWS

S AN JUAN – El informe preliminar de COVID-19 del Departamento de Salud (DS) reportó el miér coles tres muertes y 174 personas hospitalizadas.

El total de muertes atribuidas es de 5,265.

Hay 142 adultos hospitalizados y 32 menores. El monitoreo cubre el periodo del 17 al 31 de octubre de 2022.

La tasa de positividad está a 14.86 por ciento.

Another Miranda at the Public Theater: Luis A. Miranda Jr., new board chair

By KALIA RICHARDSON

Longbefore he joined the board of the Public Theater, and before his son, Lin-Manuel Miranda, composed one of the biggest hits in the theater’s history, “Hamilton,” Luis A. Miranda Jr. recalled the first show he ever saw there: Ntozake Shange’s “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf.”

“My first experience with the Pub lic Theater, in 1976, was of a production that could not be more different than everything that was on Broadway,” Luis Miranda, 68, said, recalling “For Colored Girls” and its intimate stories of Black fe male agency told through spoken word and dance.

Now Miranda, a political consul tant and activist who has worked in city government and the nonprofit sector, will be taking on a new role at the institution: The theater announced last week that he would be its next board chair.

Miranda said that his priorities in cluded the renovation of the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, the home of the theater’s Free Shakespeare in the Park program, and support for the theater’s di

versity and inclusion initiatives.

While many theaters have begun to reckon with being “too white” in recent years, Miranda said, Public Theater had an early start on bridging the equity gap.

“We’re not starting from scratch because the theater has a history of cul tural transformation and putting onstage diverse actors, diverse writers,” said Mi randa, who has been on the board since 2015. But he added that there was more to do and that he would work on initia tives that include anti-racism training for board members and the hiring of a senior director of anti-racism and equity.

“Hamilton” started out at the Public Theater, before transferring to Broadway. “We never thought that Hamilton would be what it has become,” Miranda said.

Miranda chairs the Latino Victory Fund, the Broadway League’s Viva Broad way initiative and the Northern Manhat tan Arts Alliance. At the Public, he suc ceeds Arielle Tepper, who served as chair for nearly a decade. “I couldn’t be hap pier that he is taking over,” Tepper said.

In a statement, Oskar Eustis, the the ater’s artistic director, praised Miranda for his commitment to the idea that “culture belongs to everyone.”

Luis A. Miranda Jr., in red, and his son, Lin-Manuel Miranda, flanked Oskar Eustis, the Public Theater’s artistic director, at a gala in Central Park in New York, June 6, 2016.

Requiem for a telescope

By DENNIS OVERBYE

Whenthe giant Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico collapsed in Decem ber 2020, it punched a hole in as tronomy.

For half a century Arecibo was the mightiest telescope on the planet. One thou sand feet wide, it listened to radio signals from the stars — as well as from pulsars, planets, asteroids and more — for any hints of intel ligent life, potentially Earth-killing objects, and insights into the mysteries of gravity and space-time.

The demise of Arecibo also punched a hole in the pride and the economy of Puerto Rico, which has repeatedly been hit by hur ricanes, earthquakes and widespread electri cal outages. Since 1963, when the telescope was founded, generations of schoolchildren in the territory have trooped through the hills to a sci-fi setting: a gigantic, concave antenna, set like a mixing bowl in a mountain valley, with 900 tons of radio receivers suspended above it. There, young students could rub el bows with renowned scientists at work and be inspired by science, particularly astronomy. Many grew up to be astronomers themselves. Those trips will continue, sort of. Last week the National Science Foundation, which owns the Arecibo Observatory, said it would spend $5 million to establish a worldclass educational center at the site. The Are cibo Center for STEM Education and Research would include the Ángel Ramos Science and Visitor Center, as well as an exhibition space, a laboratory, office space, dormitories, an au ditorium and a cafeteria.

The only thing missing will be the tele scope. The plan “does not include rebuilding the 305-meter telescope or operational sup port for current scientific infrastructure, such as the 12-meter radio telescope or Lidar fa cility,” the National Science Foundation said last week in a statement soliciting proposals from researchers hoping to conduct projects at the site.

Dan Werthimer, an astronomer at the University of California, Berkeley, who had used the telescope throughout his career to search for radio signals from extraterrestrial civilizations, lamented the decision to not re build. “Arecibo was my favorite telescope in the universe,” he said.

“This is a sad time for the people of Puerto Rico, ”Werthimer added. “The Arecibo telescope was their pride and joy.”

The sense of loss rippled through the as tronomical community.

“It was then a great surprise last Thurs day when the NSF announced that it planned to turn the facility into a mainly STEM educa tion side and curtail almost all of the science,” Joanna Rankin, a radio astronomer from the University of Vermont and part of a group of some 400 astronomers known as the Arecibo Science Advocacy Partnership, wrote in an email. “Many of us who have used the instru ment and know its many virtues have been quite disconcerted by this unexpected turn of events.”

A headline in The Register, a daily on line journal covering technology, complained that the NSF planned to replace the telescope with a school.

The Arecibo Observatory, officially named the National Astronomy and Iono sphere Center, was originally built as an in terplanetary radar as well as a radio telescope to study, among other things, the properties of objects such as warheads tumbling through the atmosphere. Over the years it stood as a symbol of human curiosity and cosmic op timism. It appeared in the film “Contact,” which features Jodie Foster as an astronomer who discovers a communication signal from outer space, and in “Goldeneye,” as the lair of wa James Bond supervillain.

The telescope helped radio astronomers win a Nobel Prize in physics for their observa tions of a pair of pulsars emitting gravitational waves, the ripples in space-time that had been predicted by Albert Einstein. It also joined a new planetary defense initiative by NASA, tracking and bouncing radar off potential kill er asteroids.

But time, diminishing budgets and in sufficient maintenance took their toll.

In November 2020, a cable holding the 900-ton platform of radio receivers in the air over the dish snapped, leaving the instruments dangling perilously. The NSF began making plans to take the telescope down, but nature beat them to it. On the morning of Dec. 1, 2020, the remaining cables snapped, and the platform came crashing down, demolishing the dish and everything around it.

Astronomers were heartbroken. But sci

ence is nothing if not resilient. Before the final collapse occurred, scientists rallied together to figure out how to rebuild or replace the be loved telescope.

Their efforts culminated in a paper de scribing what its 70-odd authors called the Next Generation Arecibo Telescope, or NGAT. The paper was submitted to the National Academy of Sciences as part of a survey of astronomical priorities for the next decade.

China has recently built an even bigger radio telescope, the Five-hundred-meter Ap erture Spherical Telescope, or FAST, but giant dishes have mostly gone out of fashion in radio astronomy, in favor of arrays of much smaller dishes that can collect the same amount of ra dio energy but in a more versatile manner. The NGAT team envisioned 1,112 antennas, each 30 feet wide, on a giant movable platform or collection of platforms that could tilt or swivel to point in many more directions in the sky than the original Arecibo antenna, which was fixed to the ground and limited in how far from the celestial zenith it could point.

The NGAT proposal came with a list of subjects that could potentially be studied if the telescope were rebuilt: pulsars circling the supermassive black hole at the heart of the Milky Way; molecules in the early universe; space debris and space weather; dark energy and dark matter; and much more.

“These capabilities will vastly increase the user base of the facility and enable cut ting-edge science for decades to come,” the

authors, led by Anish Roshi, a senior scientist at the Arecibo Observatory, wrote in their pro posal.

Radio astronomers concede that, in the best of all possible worlds, the optimal site for a telescope like the one proposed by the NGAT team would be high and dry, in a desert, rather than in the stormy and humid mountains of Puerto Rico. But the moral debt to Puerto Rico reigns supreme.

The proposal came with a price tag of $454 million, a hefty load for the NSF, which is also fielding requests to invest billions in gravitational wave detectors, a pair of giant optical ground-based telescopes and other ambitious projects that would help Ameri can researchers keep pace with the rest of the world.

In remarks to The Associated Press, an NSF official said the government already had other instruments that could fulfill some of the duties of the old telescope.

In an email, Roshi said that astronomers loved the idea of a center for science, technol ogy, engineering and math at Arecibo, but he questioned whether it made sense to establish one there without an accompanying research facility.

“In my opinion, the observatory and the larger scientific community should use this opportunity to strengthen the effort to rebuild the telescope and avoid destroying the obser vatory and other research activities currently underway at Arecibo,” Roshi said.

Visitors view the world’s largest radio telescope at the Arecibo Observatory in Are cibo, Puerto Rico, April 22, 2006.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU

NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA

CENTRO JUDICIAL DE MAYA

GÜEZ SALA SUPERIOR BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO

Demandante V. HERIBERTO RIVERA

SÁNCHEZ, SU ESPOSA CARMEN MARÍA

OLIVERA MALAVÉ Y LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE BIENES GANANCIALES COMPUESTA POR AMBOS

Demandado Civil Núm.: MZ2019CV00593.

Sala: 206-A. Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTA DOS UNIDOS, ESTADO LI BRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO, SS. AVISO DE SUBAS

TA. El que suscribe, Alguacil del Tribunal de Primera Instan cia, Sala Superior, Centro Judi cial de Mayagüez, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, hago saber, a la parte demandada y al PÚBLI

CO EN GENERAL: Que en cumplimiento del Mandamien to de Ejecución de Sentencia expedido el día 6 de junio de 2022, por la Secretaría del Tribunal, procederé a vender y venderé en pública subasta y al mejor postor la propie dad que ubica y se describe a continuación: URBANA: Solar marcado con el número Dos (2) del Bloque “D” de la Urbani zación Vista Verde en el Barrio Sábalos de Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, con un área de mil cien to sesenta y dos punto ciento setenta y cinco (1,162.175) metros cuadrados. En lindes por el Norte, en treinta y uno punto cuarenta y tres (31.43) metros con el solar número Tres (3) de la Manzana “D”; por el Sur, en cincuenta y seis pun to sesenta y dos (56.62) metros con el solar número uno (1) de la Manzana “D”; por el Este, en cincuenta y tres punto ciento quince (53.115) metros con la Avenida Eugenio María de Hostos; y por el Oeste, en trece punto cuatrocientos veintiuno (13.421) metros con arco con la Calle número uno (1) de la Urbanización. Enclava edifica ción. Contiene y le pertenece una casa modelo Dos-B am pliada que mide cuarenta y dos pies de frente por cincuenta y seis pies de fondo más su mar quesina. Inscrita al folio 147 del tomo 540 de Mayagüez. Finca 15,111. Registro de la Propie dad de Puerto Rico, Sección de Mayagüez. La propiedad ubica según Pagaré: Lot 19 Amatista

St. Vista Verde Dev. Mayagüez, PR. El producto de la subasta se destinará a satisfacer al demandante hasta donde al cance, la SENTENCIA dictada y notificada en este caso el 18 de abril de 2022, y publicada en un periódico de circulación general de Puerto Rico (“The San Juan Daily Star”) el 25 de abril de 2022, en el presente caso civil, a saber la suma de $168,670.10 por concepto de principal; generando intere ses a razón de 5.50% desde el 1ro de julio de 2018; cargos por demora los cuales al igual que los intereses continúan acumulándose hasta el saldo total de la deuda reclamada en este pleito, y la suma de $19,500.00 para costas, gas tos y honorarios de abogado; y demás créditos accesorios garantizados hipotecariamente.

La adjudicación se hará al me jor postor, quien deberá consig nar el importe de su oferta en el acto mismo de la adjudicación, en efectivo (moneda del curso legal de los Estados Unidos de América), giro postal o cheque certificado a nombre del algua cil del Tribunal. La PRIMERA SUBASTA se llevará a efecto el día 1 DE DICIEMBRE DE 2022

A LAS 11:30 DE LA MAÑANA, en el Centro Judicial de Maya güez, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. Que el precio mínimo fijado para la PRIMERA SUBASTA es de $195,000.00. Que de ser necesaria la celebración de una SEGUNDA SUBASTA la misma se llevará a efecto el día 8 DE DICIEMBRE DE 2022

A LAS 11:30 DE LA MAÑANA, en la oficina antes menciona da del Alguacil que suscribe. El precio mínimo para la SE GUNDA SUBASTA será de $130,000.00, equivalentes a dos terceras (2/3) partes del tipo mínimo estipulado para la PRIMERA subasta. Que de ser necesaria la celebración de una TERCERA SUBASTA la misma se llevará a efecto el día 15 DE DICIEMBRE DE 2022 A LAS 11:30 DE LA MAÑANA, en la oficina antes mencionada del Alguacil que suscribe. El pre cio mínimo para la TERCERA SUBASTA será de $97,500.00, equivalentes a la mitad (1/2) del tipo mínimo estipulado para la PRIMERA subasta. Si se declarase desierta la tercera subasta, se adjudicará la finca a favor del acreedor por la tota lidad de la cantidad adeudada si ésta es igual o menor que el monto del tipo de la tercera subasta, si el Tribunal lo estima conveniente; se abonará dicho monto a la cantidad adeudada si esta es mayor, todo ello a tenor con lo dispone el Articulo 104 de la Ley Núm. 210 del 8 de diciembre de 2015 conocida

como “Ley del Registro de la Propiedad Inmueble del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico”.

La propiedad a ser ejecutada se adquiere libre de toda carga y gravamen que afecte la men cionada finca según el Artículo 102, inciso 6. Una vez confir mada la venta judicial por el Ho norable Tribunal, se procederá a otorgar la correspondiente escritura de venta judicial y se pondrá al comprador en pose sión física del inmueble de con formidad con las disposiciones de Ley. Para conocimiento de la parte demandada y de toda aquella persona o personas que tengan interés inscrito con posterioridad a la inscripción del gravamen que se está eje cutando, y para conocimiento de todos los licitadores y el público en general, el presente Edicto se publicará por espacio de dos (2) semanas consecuti vas, con un intervalo de por lo menos siete días entre ambas publicaciones, en un diario de circulación general en el Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico y se fijará además en tres (3) lugares públicos del Municipio en que ha de celebrarse dicha venta, tales como la Alcaldía, el Tribunal y la Colecturía. Se les informa, por último, que: a. Que los autos y todos los documen tos correspondientes al proce dimiento incoado estarán de manifiesto en la secretaría del tribunal durante las horas la borables. b. Que se entenderá que todo licitador acepta como bastante la titularidad y que las cargas y gravámenes anterio res y los preferentes, si los hu biere, al crédito del ejecutante continuarán subsistentes. Se entenderá, que el rematante los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de los mismos, sin destinarse a su extinción el precio del remate. EXPIDO, el presente EDICTO, en Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, hoy día 18 de octubre de 2022.

JOSÉ M. CRESPO NAZARIO, ALGUACIL, DIVISIÓN DE SU BASTAS, TRIBUNAL DE PRI MERA INSTANCIA, SALA SU PERIOR DE MAYAGÜEZ.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA DE BAYAMÓN REVERSE MORTGAGE FUNDING, LLC Demandante Vs. CARMEN VILLANUEVA MALDONADO, T/C/C CARMEN MARÍA VILLANUEVA MALDONADO, T/C/C CARMEN M. VILLANUEVA DE QUIÑONES; Y LOS

ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA Demandados

Civil Núm.: BY2021CV04245. Sobre: EJECUCIÓN DE HIPO TECA - IN REM. EDICTO DE SUBASTA.

Al: PÚBLICO EN GENERAL.

A: CARMEN VILLANUEVA MALDONADO, T/C/C CARMEN MARÍA VILLANUEVA MALDONADO, T/C/C CARMEN M. VILLANUEVA DE QUIÑONES; Y LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA.

Yo, EDGARDO ELÍAS VAR GAS SANTANA, ALGUACIL AUXILIAR PLACA #193, Algua cil del Tribunal de Primera Ins tancia, Sala de Bayamón, a los demandados, acreedores y al público en general con interés sobre la propiedad que más adelante se describe, y al públi co en general, por la presente

CERTIFICO, ANUNCIO y HAGO CONSTAR: Que el día 29 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 2022, A LAS 10:30 DE LA MAÑANA, en mi oficina, sita en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala Su perior de Bayamón, Bayamón, Puerto Rico, procederé a ven der en Pública Subasta, al me jor postor, la propiedad inmue ble que más adelante se describe y cuya venta en públi ca subasta se ordenó por la vía ordinaria mediante Sentencia dictada en el caso de epígrafe, la cual se notificó y archivó en autos el día 10 de agosto de 2022. Los autos y todos los do cumentos correspondientes al procedimiento incoado, estarán de manifiesto en la Secretaría durante horas laborables. Que en caso de no producir remate ni adjudicación en la primera subasta a celebrarse, se cele brará una SEGUNDA SUBAS TA para la venta de la susodi cha propiedad, el 6 DE DICIEMBRE DE 2022, A LAS 10:30 DE LA MAÑANA; y en caso de no producir remate ni adjudicación, se celebrará una TERCERA SUBASTA el día 13 DE DICIEMBRE DE 2022, A LAS 10:30 DE LA MAÑANA en mi oficina sita en el lugar antes indicado. Que en cumplimiento de un Mandamiento de Ejecu ción de Sentencia que ha sido liberado por la Secretaría del Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala Superior de Bayamón, en el caso de epígrafe con fecha de 29 de septiembre de 2022, procederé a vender en pública subasta y al mejor postor, todo derecho, título e interés que tenga la parte demandada de epígrafe en el inmueble que se describe a continuación: UR

BANA: Solar 27 del Bloque “LH”, Urbanización Levittown, Octava Unidad, Barrio Hato Te jas, Bayamón, Puerto Rico, con cabida de 312.00 metros cua drados. En lindes por el NOR TE, en un arco de 13.676 me tros con Carlos Seguet; por el SUR, en un arco de 13.460 metros con los solares 32 y 33; por el ESTE, en 23.00 metros con solar 28; y por el OESTE, en 23.00 metros con el solar 26. Contiene una casa de cemento diseñada para una familia. Fin ca número 9,262 (antes 46,797), inscrita al folio 86 del tomo 191 de Bayamón Norte. Registro de la Propiedad de Puerto Rico, Sección III de Ba yamón. Dirección de la Propie dad: 103 Carlos Segnet St. Fronteras Dev. Bayamón PR 00961. La subasta se llevará a cabo para satisfacer, hasta donde alcance, el importe de las cantidades adeudadas a la parte demandante conforme a la sentencia dictada a su favor, a saber: de $133,770.48, con interés al 7.00% anual, en con cepto de balance principal del préstamo más intereses acu mulados, los cuales continúan acumulándose, así como la cantidad líquida estipulada en los documentos del préstamo para costas, gastos y honora rios de abogado en caso de re clamación judicial y que corres pondan a intereses y cargos por demora posterior a dicha fecha, y la suma de $24,900.00 equivalente al 10% de la suma principal original pactada, esti pulada para costas, gastos y honorarios de abogado; más recargos acumulados hasta la fecha en que se pague la deu da; más cualquiera suma de di nero por concepto de contribu ciones, primas de seguro hipotecario y riesgo, así como cualesquiera otras sumas pac tadas en la escritura de hipote ca, todas cuyas sumas están líquidas y exigibles. La hipoteca a ejecutarse en el caso de epí grafe fue constituida mediante la escritura número 218 otorga da el día 9 de octubre de 2013, Bayamón, Puerto Rico, ante el Notario Público David E. Vera Umpierre y consta inscrita al folio 23 del tomo 250 de Baya món, finca número 9,262, Re gistro de la Propiedad de Baya món, Sección III de Bayamón. Por la presente se notifica a los acreedores que tengan inscri tos o anotados sus derechos sobre los bienes hipotecados con posterioridad a la inscrip ción del crédito del ejecutante o acreedores de cargos o dere chos reales que los hubiesen pospuesto a la hipoteca del ac tor y a los dueños, poseedores, tenedores de o interesados en títulos transmisibles por endoso

o al portador garantizados hipo tecariamente con posterioridad al crédito del actor que se cele brarán las subastas en las fe chas, horas y sitios señalados para que puedan concurrir a la subasta si les conviniere o se les invita a satisfacer antes del remate el importe del crédito, de sus intereses, otros cargos y las costas y honorarios de abo gado asegurados quedando subrogados en los derechos del acreedor ejecutante. En tiéndase: Hipoteca en garantía de un pagaré a favor del Secre tario de la Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano, o a su orden, por la suma principal de $249,000.00, con intereses al 3.494% anual, vencedero el día 3 de diciembre de 2089, constituida mediante la escritura número 219, otor gada en Bayamón, Puerto Rico, el día 9 de octubre de 2009, ante el notario David E. Vera Umpierre, e inscrita al folio 23 del tomo 250 de Bayamón, fin ca número 9,262, inscripción 8ª. Que la cantidad mínima de licitación en la primera subasta del inmueble antes descrito será la suma de $249,000.00 según se establece en la escri tura de hipoteca antes relacio nada. En caso de que el inmue ble a ser subastado no fuera adjudicado en su primera su basta se ordena la celebración de una segunda subasta de di cho inmueble, en la cual, la cantidad mínima será una equi valente a 2/3 parte de aquella, o sea la suma de $166,000.00; desierta también la segunda subasta de dicho inmueble, se ordena la celebración de una tercera subasta en la cual, la cantidad mínima será la mitad del precio pactado para la pri mera subasta, es decir la suma de $124,500.00. La propiedad se adjudicará al mejor postor, quien deberá satisfacer el im porte de su oferta en moneda legal y corriente de los Estados Unidos de América en el mo mento de la adjudicación, en tiéndase efectivo, giro postal o cheque certificado a nombre del Alguacil del Tribunal de Pri mera Instancia, y que las car gas y gravámenes preferentes, si los hubiese, al crédito del ejecutante continuarán subsis tentes, entendiéndose que el rematante los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabili dad de los mismos, sin desti narse a su extinción el precio del remate. La propiedad no está sujeta a gravámenes ante riores y/o preferentes según surge de las constancias del Registro de la Propiedad en un estudio de título efectuado a la finca antes descrita. Una vez efectuada la venta de dicha propiedad, el Alguacil procede rá a otorgar la escritura de tras paso al licitador victorioso en

subasta, quien podrá ser la par te demandante, cuya oferta po drá aplicarse a la extinción par cial o total de la obligación reconocida por la sentencia dictada en este caso. La propie dad a ser ejecutada se adquiri rá libre de cargas y graváme nes posteriores. Si el producto de la venta fuere insuficiente para satisfacer la cantidad re clamada, se procederá a la eje cución de la sentencia en con tra de la parte demandada por el remanente de las sumas no satisfechas, mediante embargo y venta en ejecución de cuales quiera otros bienes propiedad de la parte demandada en can tidad suficiente para dejar cu bierta y totalmente satisfecha a la parte demandante cualquier deficiencia o parte insoluta de la sentencia dictada a su favor según dispuesto en la senten cia dictada en este caso. Se dispone, conforme con la sen tencia dictada en este caso que, una vez efectuada la su basta y vendido el bien inmue ble, los adjudicatarios sean puestos en posesión del mismo dentro del término de veinte (20) días por el Alguacil de este Honorable Tribunal y los actua les poseedores lanzados del referido inmueble. Y para la concurrencia de licitadores y para el público en general, se publicará este Edicto de acuer do con la ley, mediante edicto, en un periódico de circulación general en el Estado Libre Aso ciado de Puerto Rico, una vez por semana, por espacio de dos (2) semanas consecutivas con un intervalo de por lo me nos siete (7) días entre ambas publicaciones, y para su fijación en tres (3) lugares públicos del municipio en que ha de cele brarse la venta, tales como la Alcaldía, el Tribunal y la Colec turía, y se le notificará además a la parte demandada vía co rreo certificado con acuse de recibo a la última dirección co nocida. EN TESTIMONIO DE LO CUAL, expido el presente Edicto de Subasta para conoci miento y comparecencia de los licitadores, bajo mi firma y sello del Tribunal, en Bayamón, Puerto Rico, a 11 de octubre de 2022. Edgardo Elías Vargas Santana, Alguacil Auxiliar Placa #193, Alguacil Del Tribunal De Primera Instancia, Sala De Ba yamón.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE BAYA MÓN SALA SUPERIOR BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO Demandante V. SUCESIÓN DE

Demandado Civil Núm.: BY2019CV03615. Sala: 505. Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE HI POTECA. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL PRESIDEN TE DE LOS ESTADOS UNI DOS, ESTADO LIBRE ASO CIADO DE PUERTO RICO, SS. AVISO DE SUBASTA. El que suscribe, Alguacil del Tribu nal de Primera Instancia, Sala Superior, Centro Judicial de Ba yamón, Bayamón, Puerto Rico, hago saber, a la parte deman dada y al PÚBLICO EN GENE RAL: Que en cumplimiento del Mandamiento de Ejecución de Sentencia expedido el día 10 de agosto de 2022, por la Se cretaría del Tribunal, procederé a vender y venderé en pública subasta y al mejor postor la propiedad que ubica y se des cribe a continuación: RÚSTICA: Solar marcado con el número B guión nueve (B-9) en el Plano de Parcelación de la Comuni dad Rural Villa Plata del Barrio Mameyal del término municipal de Dorado, Puerto Rico, con una cabida superficial de cero cuerdas con mil ciento diecisie te milésimas de otra (0.1117), equivalentes a cuatrocientos treinta y ocho punto ochenta y siete (438.87) metros cuadra dos. En lindes por el NORTE, con el solar B guión dieciséis (B-16) de la Comunidad; por el SUR, con la calle número dos (2) de la Comunidad; por el ESTE, con el solar B guión ocho (B-8) de la Comunidad; y por el OESTE, con el solar nú mero B guión diez (B-10) de la Comunidad. Inscrita al folio 205 del tomo 223, finca #10,176 de Dorado. Registro de la Propie dad de Puerto Rico, Sección IV de Bayamón. La propiedad según pagaré ubica en: 9 B 2 St. Villa Plata Comm. Mame yal, Dorado, PR. El producto de la subasta se destinará a satisfacer al demandante hasta donde alcance, la SENTENCIA dictada el 12 de noviembre de 2021 y notificada en este caso el 15 de noviembre de 2021, en el presente caso civil, a saber la suma de $50,746.44 por con cepto de principal; generando intereses a razón de 6.25%

GUSTAVO ULLOA GARCÍA, COMPUESTA POR: JEREMY KYLE ULLOA IRLANDA; EL HONORABLE SECRETARIO DEL DEPARTAMENTO DE HACIENDA DEL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO; EL CENTRO DE RECAUDACIONES DE INGRESOS MUNICIPALES (CRIM)

de los acreedores posteriores, de los licitadores, partes inte resadas y público en general, EXPIDO para su publicación en los lugares públicos corres pondientes, el presente Aviso de Pública Subasta en Caguas, Puerto Rico, hoy 17 de octu bre de 2022. ÁNGEL GÓMEZ GÓMEZ, ALGUACIL, PLACA #593, ALGUACIL, TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA, CENTRO JUDICIAL DE CA GUAS, SALA SUPERIOR.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE CABO ROJO

ISLAND PORTFOLIO SERVICES, LLC, COMO AGENTE DE FAIRWAY ACQUISITIONS FUND, LLC Demandante Vs.

RICARDO RODRIGUEZ GRACIA Demandada Civil Núm.: MZ2022CV00314. Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO ORDINARIO. EMPLAZAMIEN TO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTA DOS UNIDOS, EL ESTADO LI BRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO, SS.

A: RICARDO RODRIGUEZ GRACIA URB. EXT LA CONCEPCIÓN, 5 CALLE A #2, CABO ROJO, PR 00623-3917.

POR LA PRESENTE se le emplaza y requiere para que conteste Ia demanda dentro de los treinta (30) días siguientes a la publicación de este Edicto. Usted deberá presentar su ale gación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SU MAC), la cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente direc ción electrónica: https://unired. ramajudicial.pr, salvo que se represente por derecho propio, en cuyo caso deberá presentar su alegación responsiva en Ia secretarla del tribunal. Si usted deja de presentar su alegación responsiva dentro del referido término, el tribunal podrá dic tar sentencia en rebeldía en su contra y conceder el reme dio solicitado en Ia demanda o cualquier otro sin más citarle ni oIrle, si el tribunal en el ejerci cio de su sana discreción, lo en tiende procedente. El sistema SUMAC notificará copia a los abogados de Ia parte deman dante, el Lcdo. Kevin Sanchez Campanero cuyas direcciones son: P.O. Box 71418 San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-8518, telé fono (787) 993-3731 a la direc ción jose.aguilar@orf-law.com, edwin.serrano@orf-law.com, a Ia dirección notificaciones@orflaw.com. EXTENDIDO BAJO

MI FIRMA y el sello del Tribu nal, en Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, hoy día 3 de octubre de 2022. En Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, el 3 de octubre de 2022. LIC. NOR

MA G. SANTANA IRIZARRY, SECRETARIA REGIONAL II. MARÍA AVILÉS BONILLA, SE CRETARIA AUXILIAR DEL TRI BUNAL I.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE CA GUAS ISLAND PORTFOLIO SERVICES, LLC, COMO AGENTE DE FAIRWAY ACQUISITIONS FUND, LLC Demandante Vs. JULIO E. ROMAN BARRETO; FULANA DE TAL & LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE GANANCIALES COMPUESTA POR AMBOS Demandada Civil Núm.: CG2022CV01201. Salón: 701. Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO ORDINARIO. EM PLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉ RICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS, EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO, SS. A: JULIO E. ROMAN

BARRETO; FULANA DE TAL & LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE GANANCIALES COMPUESTA POR AMBOS - 131 QUINTA LAS AMERICAS CAGUAS PR, 00727.

POR LA PRESENTE se le emplaza y requiere para que conteste la demanda dentro de los treinta (30) días siguientes a la publicación de este Edicto. Usted deberá presentar su ale gación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SU MAC), la cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente direc ción electrónica: https://unired. ramajudicial.pr, salvo que se represente por derecho propio, en cuyo caso deberá presen tar 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 re beldía en su contra y conceder el remedio solicitado en la de manda o cualquier otro sin más citarle ni oírle, si el tribunal en el ejercicio de su sana discre ción, lo entiende procedente. El sistema SUMAC notificará copia a los abogados de la par te demandante, el Lcdo. Kevin Sánchez Campanero cuyas di recciones son: P.O. Box 71418

San Juan, Puerto Rico 009368518, teléfono (787) 993-3731 a la dirección kevin.sanchez@ orf-law.com, a la dirección no tificaciones@orf-law.com. EX

TENDIDO BAJO MI FIRMA y el sello del Tribunal, en Caguas, Puerto Rico, hoy día 03 de octubre de 2022. En Caguas, Puerto Rico, el 03 de octubre de 2022. LISILDA MARTÍNEZ

AGOSTO, SECRETARIA AU XILIAR. ENEIDA ARROYO VÉ LEZ, SECRETARIA AUXILIAR.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA DE CAGUAS MMG I PR CDGY LLC Demandante Vs. CHRISTIAN CAQUIAS MARTINEZ, SU ESPOSA EILEEN JANICE MARTINEZ ARROYO Y LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE BIENES GANANCIALES COMPUESTA POR AMBOS Demandado(s)

Caso Núm.: CG2022CV00763. Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA. AVISO DE VENTA EN PÚBLI CA SUBASTA.

A: CHRISTIAN CAQUIAS

MARTINEZ, SU ESPOSA

EILEEN JANICE

MARTINEZ ARROYO Y

LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE BIENES GANANCIALES COMPUESTA POR

AMBOS; Y AL PUBLICO

EN GENERAL:

El que suscribe, Alguacil del Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala Superior, Centro Judicial de Caguas, Caguas, Puerto Rico, hago saber a la parte demandada, y al PUBLICO EN GENERAL: y a todos los acree dores que tengan inscritos o anotados sus derechos sobre los bienes hipotecados con posterioridad a la inscripción del crédito del ejecutante, o de los acreedores de cargas o de rechos reales que los hubiesen pospuesto a la hipoteca ejecu tada y las personas interesadas en, o con derecho a exigir el cumplimiento de instrumentos negociables garantizados hipo tecariamente con posterioridad al crédito ejecutado, siempre que surjan de la certificación re gistral, para que puedan concu rrir a la subasta si les convenga o satisfacer antes del remate el importe del crédito, de sus intereses, costas y honorarios de abogados asegurados, que dando entonces subrogados en los derechos del acreedor ejecutante a saber. Que en cumplimiento del Mandamien to de Ejecución de Sentencia expedido el día 10 de agosto de 2022, por la Secretaria del Tribunal, procederé a vender y venderé en pública subasta

y al mejor postor la propiedad que ubica y se describe a con tinuación: Dirección de la Pro piedad: Estancias del Bosque 818 calle Robles Cidra, Puerto Rico 00739: RUSTICA: Solar marcado con el numero 30 del bloque “K” de la Urbanización Estancias del Bosque, Sección Robles localizada en el Barrio Bayamón de Cidra, Puerto Rico, con una cabida superficial de 253.00 metros cuadrados.

En lindes por el NORTE, con el solar número treinta y uno (31) del bloque “K”; POR EL SUR, con el solar número veintinue ve (29) y del bloque “K”; por el ESTE; con la calle número trece (13) de la misma Urba nización; y por el OESTE, con los solares número cuarenta y uno (41) y cuarenta y dos (42) ambos del bloque “k. Enclava una casa modelo “ST Mortiz” diseñada para fines residen ciales. Consta inscrita al folio 53 del tomo 506 de Cidra finca número 18,816, Registro de la Propiedad Sección Segunda de Caguas. El producto de la su basta se destinará a satisfacer al demandante hasta donde alcance, la SENTENCIA dicta da a su favor, el día 10 de junio de 2022 en el presente caso civil, a saber, tiene la suma de $116,732.49 de principal, más los intereses acumulados al 31 de marzo de 2022 ascendentes a $18,867.54, los cuales conti núan acumulándose hasta el to tal pago y solvente del principal a razón de $17.83 diarios ( “ per diem”); $1,223.28 por concepto de cargos por mora, en adición a cualquier otro adelante reali zado conforme a la hipoteca y la suma de $15,000.00 pactado por concepto de costas, gastos y honorarios de abogados. Los intereses se continúan acumu lando, hasta el saldo total de la deuda, para cubrir el principal adeudadio, disponiendose que si quedare algun remanente luego de pagarse las sumas antes mencionadas del mis mo debera ser depositado en la Secretaria del Tribunal para ser entregado a los demanda dos previa solicitud y orden del Tribunal. La venta de la referi da propiedad se verificará libre de toda carga o gravamen que afecte la mencionada finca. La adjudicación se hará al mejor postor, quien deberá consignar el importe de su oferta en el acto mismo de la adjudicación, en efectivo (moneda del curso legal de los Estados Unidos de América), giro postal o cheque certificado a nombre del algua cil del Tribunal. LA PRIMERA SUBASTA se llevará a efecto el día 8 DE ENERO DE 2023

A LAS 9:00 DE LA MAÑANA, en la oficina del referido Al guacil, localizada en el Centro Judicial de Caguas, Caguas, Puerto Rico. Que el precio mí nimo fijado para la PRIMERA SUBASTA es de $150,000.00. Que de ser necesaria la ce lebración de una SEGUNDA

SUBASTA, la misma se llevará a efecto el día 18 DE ENERO DE 2023 A LAS 9:00 DE LA MAÑANA, en la oficina antes mencionada del Alguacil que suscribe. El precio mínimo para la SEGUNDA SUBASTA será de $100,000.00, equivalentes a dos terceras (2/3) partes del tipo mínimo estipulado para la PRIMERA subasta. Que de ser necesaria la celebración de una TERCERA SUBASTA la misma se llevará a efecto el día 25 DE ENERO DE 2023 A LAS 9:00 DE LA MAÑANA, en la oficina antes mencionada del Alguacil que suscribe. El precio mínimo para la TERCERA SUBASTA será de $75,000.00, equiva lentes a la mitad (1/2) del tipo mínimo estipulado para la PRI MERA subasta. Si se declarase desierta la tercera subasta, se adjudicará la finca a favor del acreedor por la totalidad de la cantidad adeudada si ésta es igual o menor que el monto del tipo de la tercera subasta, si el Tribunal lo estima conveniente; se abonará dicho monto a la cantidad adeudada si esta es mayor, todo ello a tenor con lo dispone el Articulo 104 de la Ley Núm. 210 del 8 de diciem bre de 2015 conocida como “Ley del Registro de la Propie dad Inmueble del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico”. La propiedad a ser ejecutada se adquiere libre de toda carga y gravamen que afecte la men cionada finca según el Artículo 102, inciso 6. Una vez confir mada la venta judicial por el Ho norable Tribunal, se procederá a otorgar la correspondiente escritura de venta judicial y se pondrá al comprador en pose sión física del inmueble de con formidad con las disposiciones de Ley. Para conocimiento de la parte demandada y de toda aquella persona o personas que tengan interés inscrito con posterioridad a la inscripción del gravamen que se está eje cutando, y para conocimiento de todos los licitadores y el público en general, el presente Edicto se publicará por espacio de dos (2) semanas consecuti vas, con un intervalo de por lo menos siete días entre ambas publicaciones, en un diario de circulación general en el Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico y se fijará además en tres (3) lugares públicos del Municipio en que ha de celebrarse dicha venta, tales como la Alcaldía, el Tribunal y la Colecturía. Se les informa, por último, que: a. Que los autos y todos los do cumentos correspondientes al procedimiento incoado estarán de manifiesto en la secretaría del tribunal durante las horas laborables. b. Que se enten derá que todo licitador acepta como bastante la titularidad y que las cargas y gravámenes anteriores y los preferentes, si los hubiere, al crédito del ejecutante continuarán subsis tentes. Se entenderá, que el

rematante los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabili dad de los mismos, sin desti narse a su extinción el precio del remate. EXPIDO, el presen te EDICTO, en Caguas, Puerto Rico, hoy día 17 de octubre de 2022. EDGARDO ALDEBOL MIRANDA, ALGUACIL AUXI LIAR, DIVISIÓN DE SUBAS TAS, TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA, SALA SUPERIOR DE CAGUAS.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE SAN JUAN

REVERSE MORTGAGE FUNDING LLC. Demandante Vs. SUCESION MAX ALFREDO TORO MATTEI COMPUESTA POR JOHN DOE Y JANE DOE COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS; ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMERICA; CENTRO DE RECAUDACION DE INGRESOS MUNICIPALES Demandados Civil Núm.: SJ2022CV06929. Sobre: EJECUCIÓN DE HI POTECA. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNI DOS DE AMÉRICA, EL PRE SIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS, EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO, SS.

A: JOHN DOE Y JANE DOE COMO

POSIBLES MIEMBROS DESCONOCIDOS DE LA SUCESION MAX ALFREDO TORO MATTEI. POR LA PRESENTE se le emplaza para que presente al Tribunal su alegación respon siva a la demanda dentro de los treinta (30) días a partir de la publicación de este edicto. Usted deberá presentar su ale gación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SU MAC), al cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente direc ción electrónica: http://unired. ramajudicial.pr, salvo que se represente por derecho propio, en cuyo caso deberé presentar su alegación responsiva en la secretaria del tribunal. Si usted deja de presentar su alegación responsiva dentro del referido término, el tribunal podrá dic tar 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 discre ción, lo entiende procedente. Greenspoon Marder, LLP Lcda. Frances L. Asencio-Guido R.U.A. 15,622

TRADE CENTRE SOUTH, SUITE 700 100 WEST CYPRESS CREEK ROAD FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33309 Telephone: (954) 343 6273

Frances.Asencio@gmlaw.com

Expedido bajo mi firma, y se llo del Tribunal, en San Juan, Puerto Rico, hoy día 18 de oc tubre de 2022. GRISELDA RO DRÍGUEZ COLLADO, SECRE TARIA. BRENDA HERNÁNDEZ ZAVALA, SECRETARIA DE SERVICIOS A SALA.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU NAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INS TANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE PONCE SALA SUPERIOR DE PONCE BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO Demandante V. SUCESIÓN DE ELIEZER SANTIAGO FIGUEROA, COMPUESTA POR: DARWIN SANTIAGO SANTOS, COMO HEREDERO CONOCIDO DE LA SUCESIÓN DE ELIEZER SANTIAGO FIGUEROA; “JOHN DOE Y RICHARD ROE” COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS DE LA SUCESIÓN DE ELIEZER SANTIAGO FIGUEROA; SUCESIÓN DE ONEIDA SANTIAGO FIGUEROA, COMPUESTA POR: IVÁN SANTIAGO FIGUEROA, RIGOBERTO SANTIAGO FIGUEROA, RAÚL SANTIAGO FIGUEROA, ÁNGEL LUIS SANTIAGO FIGUEROA, SERGIO SANTIAGO FIGUEROA, SAMUEL SANTIAGO FIGUEROA; “JOHN DOE Y RICHARD ROE” COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS DE LA SUCESIÓN DE LA SUCESIÓN DE ONEIDA SANTIAGO FIGUEROA; CENTRO DE RECAUDACIONES DE INGRESOS MUNICIPALES (C.R.I.M.)

Demandados Civi Núm.: PO2022CV01628.

Sala: 406. Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA. EMPLAZAMIEN TO POR EDICTO E INTERPE LACIÓN. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS, ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO, S. S. EM PLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO E INTERPELACIÓN DIRIGIDO

A: “JOHN DOE Y RICHARD ROE” COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS DE LA SUCESIÓN DE ONEIDA SANTIAGO FIGUEROA.

K-17 SAN FRANCISCO II YAUCO, PR 00698; Y 282N CALLE SAN JUAN URB. SAN FRANCISCO, YAUCO, PR 00698.

Queden emplazados, notifica dos e interpelados, que en este Tribunal se ha radicado De manda sobre Cobro de Dinero y Ejecución de Hipoteca de la que surge lo siguiente: Que la parte demandante ha declarado la totalidad de la deuda que origi na la presente causa de acción vencida; y al día 1ro de enero de 2022, la parte demandada le adeuda a la parte demandan te las siguientes cantidades: $68,252 .98 por concepto de principal; generando intereses a razón de 6.625% desde el 1ro de diciembre de 2021; cargos por demora los cuales al igual que los intereses continúan acumulándose hasta el saldo total de la deuda reclamada en este pleito, y la suma de $10,380.00 para costas, gas tos y honorarios de abogado; y demás créditos accesorios garantizados hipotecariamente. La propiedad hipotecada cuya ejecución se solicita tiene la siguiente descripción y localiza ción: URBANA: Solar marcado con el numero K-17 del plano de inscripción de la Urbaniza ción San Francisco II, radicada en el Barrio Almácigo Bajo del término municipal de Yauco, Puerto Rico, con una cabida de doscientos noventa y cua tro punto trescientos ochenta y uno (294.381 m/c). En lindes por el NORTE, con solar K-19; por el SUR, con calle dos; por el ESTE, con solar K-16; y por el OESTE, con solar K-18. Se gún plano esta afecta a una servidumbre a favor de Puerto Rico Telephone Company que mide uno punto cincuenta y dos metros de ancho que corre por su colindancia con la calle. Enclava edificación. Inscrita en la finca número 16,406, al folio 34 del tomo 492 de Yau co. Registro de la Propiedad de Puerto Rico, Sección II de Ponce. Por la presente se le emplaza y notifica que debe contestar la demanda incoada en su contra dentro del término de treinta (30) días a partir de la publicación del presente edicto. Además, en cuanto a la interpe lación de los herederos del cau sante, a que dentro del término legal de treinta (30) días conta dos a partir de la fecha de la no tificación de la presente Orden, acepten o repudien la participa ción que les corresponda en la herencia del causante confor me dispone el Artículo al Art. 1578 del Código Civil de Puerto Rico (31 L.P.R.A. §11021), de no expresarse dentro de ese término de treinta (30) días en torno a su aceptación o repu diación de herencia, se tendrá por aceptada. También se le APERCIBE a los herederos antes mencionados que luego del transcurso del término de

treinta (30) días antes señalado contados a partir de la fecha de la notificación de la presen te Orden, se presumirá que han aceptado la herencia del causante y, por consiguiente, responden por las cargas de dicha herencia conforme dis pone el conforme al Art. 1578 del Código Civil de Puerto Rico (31 L.P.R.A. §11021). Usted deberá presentar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Adminis tración de Casos (SUMAC), al cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electróni ca: https://unired.ramajudicial. pr/sumac/, salvo que se repre sente por derecho propio. Si usted deja de presentar y no tificar su alegación responsiva dentro del referido término, el Tribunal podrá dictar sentencia en rebeldía en su contra y con ceder el remedio solicitado en la Demanda, o cualquier otro, si el Tribunal, en el ejercicio de su sana discreción, lo entiende procedente. Los abogados de la parte demandante son:

ABOGADOS DE LA PARTE

DEMANDANTE: Lcdo. Reggie Díaz Hernández RUA Núm.: 16,393 BERMÚDEZ & DÍAZ, LLP Edificio Ochoa, 500 Calle De La Tanca Suite 209 San Juan, Puerto Rico 00901 Tel.: (787) 523-2670 / Fax: (787) 523-2664

rdiaz@bdprlaw.com

Expido edicto bajo mi firma y el sello de este Tribunal, hoy 5 de octubre de 2022. LUZ MA

YRA CARABALLO GARCÍA, SECRETARIA REGIONAL. MARIELY FÉLIX RIVERA, SECRETARIA AUXILIAR DEL TRIBUNAL.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU NAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INS TANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE PONCE SALA SUPERIOR DE PONCE BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO Demandante V. SUCESIÓN DE ELIEZER SANTIAGO FIGUEROA, COMPUESTA POR: DARWIN SANTIAGO SANTOS, COMO HEREDERO CONOCIDO DE LA SUCESIÓN DE ELIEZER SANTIAGO FIGUEROA; “JOHN DOE Y RICHARD ROE” COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS DE LA SUCESIÓN DE ELIEZER SANTIAGO FIGUEROA; SUCESIÓN DE ONEIDA SANTIAGO FIGUEROA, COMPUESTA POR: IVÁN SANTIAGO FIGUEROA, RIGOBERTO SANTIAGO FIGUEROA, RAÚL

SANTIAGO FIGUEROA, ÁNGEL LUIS SANTIAGO FIGUEROA, SERGIO SANTIAGO FIGUEROA, SAMUEL SANTIAGO FIGUEROA; “JOHN DOE Y RICHARD ROE” COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS DE LA SUCESIÓN DE LA SUCESIÓN DE ONEIDA SANTIAGO FIGUEROA; CENTRO DE RECAUDACIONES DE INGRESOS MUNICIPALES (C.R.I.M.) Demandados Civi Núm.: PO2022CV01628. Sala: 406. Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA. EMPLAZAMIEN TO POR EDICTO E INTERPE LACIÓN. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS, ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO, S. S. EM PLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO E INTERPELACIÓN DIRIGIDO A: DARWIN SANTIAGO SANTOS, COMO HEREDERO CONOCIDO DE LA SUCESIÓN DE ELIEZER SANTIAGO FIGUEROA. K-17 SAN FRANCISCO II YAUCO, PR 00698; Y 282N CALLE SAN JUAN URB. SAN FRANCISCO, YAUCO, PR 00698.

Queden emplazados, notifica dos e interpelados, que en este Tribunal se ha radicado De manda sobre Cobro de Dinero y Ejecución de Hipoteca de la que surge lo siguiente: Que la parte demandante ha declarado la totalidad de la deuda que origi na la presente causa de acción vencida; y al día 1ro de enero de 2022, la parte demandada le adeuda a la parte demandan te las siguientes cantidades: $68,252 .98 por concepto de principal; generando intereses a razón de 6.625% desde el 1ro de diciembre de 2021; cargos por demora los cuales al igual que los intereses continúan acumulándose hasta el saldo total de la deuda reclamada en este pleito, y la suma de $10,380.00 para costas, gas tos y honorarios de abogado; y demás créditos accesorios garantizados hipotecariamente. La propiedad hipotecada cuya ejecución se solicita tiene la siguiente descripción y localiza ción: URBANA: Solar marcado con el numero K-17 del plano de inscripción de la Urbaniza ción San Francisco II, radicada en el Barrio Almácigo Bajo del término municipal de Yauco, Puerto Rico, con una cabida de doscientos noventa y cua tro punto trescientos ochenta y uno (294.381 m/c). En lindes por el NORTE, con solar K-19;

por el SUR, con calle dos; por el ESTE, con solar K-16; y por el OESTE, con solar K-18. Se gún plano esta afecta a una servidumbre a favor de Puerto Rico Telephone Company que mide uno punto cincuenta y dos metros de ancho que corre por su colindancia con la calle. Enclava edificación. Inscrita en la finca número 16,406, al folio 34 del tomo 492 de Yau co. Registro de la Propiedad de Puerto Rico, Sección II de Ponce. Por la presente se le emplaza y notifica que debe contestar la demanda incoada en su contra dentro del término de treinta (30) días a partir de la publicación del presente edicto. Además, en cuanto a la interpe lación de los herederos del cau sante, a que dentro del término legal de treinta (30) días conta dos a partir de la fecha de la no tificación de la presente Orden, acepten o repudien la participa ción que les corresponda en la herencia del causante confor me dispone el Artículo al Art. 1578 del Código Civil de Puerto Rico (31 L.P.R.A. §11021), de no expresarse dentro de ese término de treinta (30) días en torno a su aceptación o repu diación de herencia, se tendrá por aceptada. También se le APERCIBE a los herederos antes mencionados que luego del transcurso del término de treinta (30) días antes señalado contados a partir de la fecha de la notificación de la presen te Orden, se presumirá que han aceptado la herencia del causante y, por consiguiente, responden por las cargas de dicha herencia conforme dis pone el conforme al Art. 1578 del Código Civil de Puerto Rico (31 L.P.R.A. §11021). Usted deberá presentar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Adminis tración de Casos (SUMAC), al cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electróni ca: https://unired.ramajudicial. pr/sumac/, salvo que se repre sente por derecho propio. Si usted deja de presentar y no tificar su alegación responsiva dentro del referido término, el Tribunal podrá dictar sentencia en rebeldía en su contra y con ceder el remedio solicitado en la Demanda, o cualquier otro, si el Tribunal, en el ejercicio de su sana discreción, lo entiende procedente. Los abogados de la parte demandante son: ABOGADOS DE LA PARTE

DEMANDANTE: Lcdo. Reggie Díaz Hernández RUA Núm.: 16,393

BERMÚDEZ & DÍAZ, LLP Edificio Ochoa, 500 Calle De La Tanca Suite 209 San Juan, Puerto Rico 00901 Tel.: (787) 523-2670 / Fax: (787) 523-2664 rdiaz@bdprlaw.com Expido edicto bajo mi firma y el sello de este Tribunal, hoy 5 de octubre de 2022. LUZ MA YRA CARABALLO GARCÍA, SECRETARIA REGIONAL.

MARIELY FÉLIX RIVERA, SECRETARIA AUXILIAR DEL TRIBUNAL.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU NAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INS TANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE PONCE SALA SUPERIOR DE PONCE BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO Demandante V. SUCESIÓN DE ELIEZER SANTIAGO FIGUEROA, COMPUESTA POR: DARWIN SANTIAGO SANTOS, COMO HEREDERO CONOCIDO DE LA SUCESIÓN DE ELIEZER SANTIAGO FIGUEROA; “JOHN DOE Y RICHARD ROE” COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS DE LA SUCESIÓN DE ELIEZER SANTIAGO FIGUEROA; SUCESIÓN DE ONEIDA SANTIAGO FIGUEROA, COMPUESTA POR: IVÁN SANTIAGO FIGUEROA, RIGOBERTO SANTIAGO FIGUEROA, RAÚL SANTIAGO FIGUEROA, ÁNGEL LUIS SANTIAGO FIGUEROA, SERGIO SANTIAGO FIGUEROA, SAMUEL SANTIAGO FIGUEROA; “JOHN DOE Y RICHARD ROE” COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS DE LA SUCESIÓN DE LA SUCESIÓN DE ONEIDA SANTIAGO FIGUEROA; CENTRO DE RECAUDACIONES DE INGRESOS MUNICIPALES (C.R.I.M.)

Demandados Civi Núm.: PO2022CV01628.

Sala: 406. Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA. EMPLAZAMIEN TO POR EDICTO E INTERPE LACIÓN. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS, ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO, S. S. EM PLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO E INTERPELACIÓN DIRIGIDO A: “JOHN DOE Y RICHARD ROE” COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS DE LA SUCESIÓN DE ELIEZER SANTIAGO FIGUEROA. K-17 SAN FRANCISCO II YAUCO, PR 00698; Y 282N CALLE SAN JUAN URB. SAN FRANCISCO, YAUCO, PR 00698.

Queden emplazados, notifica

dos e interpelados, que en este Tribunal se ha radicado De manda sobre Cobro de Dinero y Ejecución de Hipoteca de la que surge lo siguiente: Que la parte demandante ha declarado la totalidad de la deuda que origi na la presente causa de acción vencida; y al día 1ro de enero de 2022, la parte demandada le adeuda a la parte demandan te las siguientes cantidades: $68,252 .98 por concepto de principal; generando intereses a razón de 6.625% desde el 1ro de diciembre de 2021; cargos por demora los cuales al igual que los intereses continúan acumulándose hasta el saldo total de la deuda reclamada en este pleito, y la suma de $10,380.00 para costas, gas tos y honorarios de abogado; y demás créditos accesorios garantizados hipotecariamente. La propiedad hipotecada cuya ejecución se solicita tiene la siguiente descripción y localiza ción: URBANA: Solar marcado con el numero K-17 del plano de inscripción de la Urbaniza ción San Francisco II, radicada en el Barrio Almácigo Bajo del término municipal de Yauco, Puerto Rico, con una cabida de doscientos noventa y cua tro punto trescientos ochenta y uno (294.381 m/c). En lindes por el NORTE, con solar K-19; por el SUR, con calle dos; por el ESTE, con solar K-16; y por el OESTE, con solar K-18. Se gún plano esta afecta a una servidumbre a favor de Puerto Rico Telephone Company que mide uno punto cincuenta y dos metros de ancho que corre por su colindancia con la calle. Enclava edificación. Inscrita en la finca número 16,406, al folio 34 del tomo 492 de Yau co. Registro de la Propiedad de Puerto Rico, Sección II de Ponce. Por la presente se le emplaza y notifica que debe contestar la demanda incoada en su contra dentro del término de treinta (30) días a partir de la publicación del presente edicto. Además, en cuanto a la interpe lación de los herederos del cau sante, a que dentro del término legal de treinta (30) días conta dos a partir de la fecha de la no tificación de la presente Orden, acepten o repudien la participa ción que les corresponda en la herencia del causante confor me dispone el Artículo al Art. 1578 del Código Civil de Puerto Rico (31 L.P.R.A. §11021), de no expresarse dentro de ese término de treinta (30) días en torno a su aceptación o repu diación de herencia, se tendrá por aceptada. También se le APERCIBE a los herederos antes mencionados que luego del transcurso del término de treinta (30) días antes señalado contados a partir de la fecha de la notificación de la presen te Orden, se presumirá que han aceptado la herencia del causante y, por consiguiente, responden por las cargas de

dicha herencia conforme dis pone el conforme al Art. 1578 del Código Civil de Puerto Rico (31 L.P.R.A. §11021). Usted deberá presentar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Adminis tración de Casos (SUMAC), al cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electróni ca: https://unired.ramajudicial. pr/sumac/, salvo que se repre sente por derecho propio. Si usted deja de presentar y no tificar su alegación responsiva dentro del referido término, el Tribunal podrá dictar sentencia en rebeldía en su contra y con ceder el remedio solicitado en la Demanda, o cualquier otro, si el Tribunal, en el ejercicio de su sana discreción, lo entiende procedente. Los abogados de la parte demandante son: ABOGADOS DE LA PARTE DEMANDANTE: Lcdo. Reggie Díaz Hernández RUA Núm.: 16,393 BERMÚDEZ & DÍAZ, LLP Edificio Ochoa, 500 Calle De La Tanca Suite 209 San Juan, Puerto Rico 00901 Tel.: (787) 523-2670 / Fax: (787) 523-2664 rdiaz@bdprlaw.com

Expido edicto bajo mi firma y el sello de este Tribunal, hoy 5 de octubre de 2022. LUZ MA

YRA CARABALLO GARCÍA, SECRETARIA REGIONAL. MARIELY FÉLIX RIVERA, SECRETARIA AUXILIAR DEL TRIBUNAL.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU NAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INS TANCIA SALA MUNICIPAL DE QUEBRADILLAS COOPERATIVA DE AHORRO Y CREDITO DE AGUADILLA Demandante V. MELVIN ANTONIO CURCIO LOZADA Demandado(a)

Civil: QU2022CV00057. Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO. NOTIFI CACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: MELVIN ANTONIO CURCIO LOZADA. (Nombre de las partes a las que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto) EL SECRETARIO(A) que sus cribe le notifica a usted que el 21 de octubre de 2022, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debi damente 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 notifica ción. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedi miento 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 edic to de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edic to. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 25 de octubre de 2022. En Camuy, Puerto Rico, el 25 de octubre de 2022. VIVIAN Y. FRESSE GONZÁLEZ, SECRETARIA. MARITZA ABRAMS RUIZ, SE CRETARIA AUXILIAR.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE AGUA DILLA

DLJ MORTGAGE

CAPITAL INC. Demandante V. SUCESION DE PABLO CARDONA GONZALEZ COMPUESTA POR PABLO CARDONA CRESPO T/C/C PABLO CARDONA JR Y LA SUCESIÓN DE MARIA MONSERRATE CRESPO LUGO COMPUESTA: PABLO CARDONA CRESPO T/C/C PABLO CARDONA JR COMO HEREDERO CONOCIDO; FULANO DE TAL, FULANA DE TAL, ZUTANO DE TAL, ZUTANA DE TAL, A, B, Y C COMO HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS DE LA SUCESIÓN DE MARIA MONSERRATE CRESPO LUGO; SECRETARIO DE HACIENDA DEL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PR; SECRETARIO DE JUSTICIA DEL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PR Demandados Civil Núm.: AG2022CV00945. Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA POR LA VÍA ORDINARIA. EM PLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉ RICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS, EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO, SS.

A La Parte Demandada: PABLO CARDONA CRESPO T/C/C PABLO CARDONA JR. COMO HEREDERO CONOCIDO DE LA SUCESIÓN DE PABLO CARDONA GONZÁLEZ Y LA SUCESIÓN DE MARÍA MONSERRATE CRESPO LUGO Y A FULANO DE TAL, FULANA DE TAL, ZUTANO DE TAL,

ZUTANA DE TAL, A, B, Y C COMO HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS DE LA SUCESIÓN DE MARÍA MONSERRATE CRESPO

LUGO.

POR LA PRESENTE se le emplaza para que presente al tribunal su alegación responsi va a la demanda dentro de los treinta (30) días de haber sido diligenciado este emplazamien to, excluyéndose el día del dili genciamiento, notificando copia de la misma al (a la) abogado (a) de la parte demandante o a ésta, de no tener representa ción legal. Si usted deja de pre sentar su alegación responsiva dentro del referido término, el tribunal podrá dictar sentencia en rebeldía en su contra y con ceder el remedio solicitado en la demanda, o cualquier otro, si el tribunal, en el ejercicio de su sana discreción, lo entiende procedente. Por la presente el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, conforme al caso de Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria vs. Latinoamericana de Exporta ción, Inc., 164 DPR 689 (2005), le ordena que en el término de treinta (30) días, haga declara ción aceptando o repudiando la herencias de las Sucesiones de Pablo Cardona Gonzalez y la de María Monserrate Cres po Lugo. Se le apercibe que de no expresar su intención de aceptar o repudiar las heren cias dentro del término que se le fijó, la herencia se tendrá por aceptada. Usted deberá pre sentar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SUMAC), al cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electrónica: https:// unired.ramajudicial.pr, salvo que se represente por derecho propio, en cuyo caso deberá presentar su alegación respon siva en la secretaría del tribu nal. La parte demandante ha radicado una acción de cobro de dinero y ejecución de hipote ca por deuda vencida y la mis ma está garantizada sobre la siguiente propiedad: 128 Ave. Interamericana, Km 121.7, Bo. Corrales, Aguadilla, PR 00603. RÚSTICA: Solar radicado en el barrio Corrales del término mu nicipal de Aguadilla, compuesto de 1,598.95 metros cuadrados, equivalentes a 0.4070 cuerdas. En lindes al Norte, con Basílica Cardona; al Sur, con el Sr. Su rillo; al Este, con uso público y al Oeste, con solar segregado o Basílica Cardona. Este es el remanente de la finca luego de segregados 2,331.44 m/c, según Esc. #47 en Aguadilla el 16 de agosto de 1988 ante Johnny Cruz Ramos aclarada por la Esc. #27 en Aguadilla el 16 de agosto de 1988 ante el mismo notario, inscrita al folio 242 del tomo 344 de Aguadilla, finca #19455 inscripción 2da. Finca 19455 Inscrita al folio 272

deI tomo 344 de Aguadilla, Re gistro de la Propiedad de Agua dilla. Los abogados de la parte demandante son: García-Cha morro Law Group, P.S.C., 1225 Ave. Ponce de León, Suite 706, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 00907, Tel. (787) 977-1932, Fax (787) 722-1932. Expido este edicto bajo mi firma y sello de este Tribunal, hoy 3 de octubre de 2022. SARAHÍ REYES PÉREZ, SECRETARIA REGIONAL. ARLENE GUZMÁN PABÓN, SECRETARIA AUXILIAR DEL TRIBUNAL I.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE GUAY NABO BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO Demandante V. LA SUCESIÓN DE RAYMOND ESTAY COTTO COMPUESTA POR RAYMOND ESTAY; JESSICA L. ESTAY; FULANO DE TAL Y MENGANO DE TAL LOS POSIBLES HEREDERO DESCONOCIDOS; DEPARTAMENTO DE HACIENDA; DEPARTAMENTO DE JUSTICIA

Demandados Civil Núm.: GB2022CV00320.

Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA POR LA VÍA ORDINARIA. EM PLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉ RICA, PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS, ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUER TO RICO, S.S.

A: RAYMOND ESTAY; JESSICA L. ESTAY; MENGANO DE TAL Y FULANO DE TAL HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS DE RAYMOND ESTAY COTTO.

Por la presente se le emplaza y notifica que debe contestar la demanda dentro del término de treinta (30) días a partir de la publicación del presente edicto. Usted deberá presentar su ale gación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SU MAC), al cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente direc ción 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 apercibe que, de no contestar la demanda dentro del término aquí estipulado, se le anotará la rebeldía y se dictará sen tencia sin más citarle ni oírle.

Por la presente el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, conforme al caso de Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria vs. Latinoamericana de Exportación, Inc., 164 D.P.R. 689 (2005), le ordena que en el término de treinta (30) días, haga declaración aceptando o repudiando la herencia de la SUCESIÓN DE RAYMOND ESTAY COTTO COMPUESTA POR RAYMOND ESTAY; JES SICA L. ESTAY; FULANO DE TAL Y MENGANO DE TAL LOS POSIBLES HEREDERO DES CONOCIDOS. Se le apercibe que de no expresar su inten ción de aceptar o repudiar la herencia dentro del término que se le fijó, la herencia se tendrá por aceptada. Los abogados de la parte demandante son: Lcdo. Guillermo A. Somoza Colombani, P.O. Box 366603, San Juan, PR 00936-6603. Tel. (787) 919-0073, Fax (787) 6415016. Expido este edicto bajo mi firma y sello de este Tribu nal, hoy 25 de octubre de 2022. LCDA. LAURA I. SANTA SÁN CHEZ, SECRETARIA REGIO NAL. DIAMAR T. GONZÁLEZ

BARRETO, AUXILIAR DEL TRIBUNAL CONFIDENCIAL II.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU NAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INS TANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE GUAYNABO

REVERSE MORTGAGE FUNDING, LLC Demandante V. SUCESIÓN ELENA GARCÍA PEÑA T/C/C ELENA GARCÍA T/C/C ELENA GARCÍA DE ZAYAS COMPUESTA POR LAURA ZAYAS GARCÍA, MARIA ISABEL ZAYAS GARCÍA, PEDRO ZAYAS GARCÍA, JUAN DIEGO ZAYAS GARCÍA, GUADALUPE ZAYAS GARCÍA; JOHN DOE Y JANE DOE COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS; SUCESIÓN LUIS ZAYAS ROSADO COMPUESTA POR LAURA ZAYAS GARCÍA, MARIA ISABEL ZAYAS GARCÍA, PEDRO ZAYAS GARCÍA, JUAN DIEGO ZAYAS GARCÍA, GUADALUPE ZAYAS GARCÍA; JOHN ROE Y JANE ROE COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS; ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA; CENTRO DE RECAUDACIÓN DE INGRESOS MUNICIPALES Demandado(a) Civil: GB2021CV00698. Sala: 201. Sobre: EJECUCIÓN DE

HIPOTECA. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: JOHN DOE Y JANE DOE COMO POSIBLES MIEMBROS DESCONOCIDOS DE LA SUCESION ELENA GARCIA PEÑA T/C/C ELENA GARCIA T/C/C ELENA GARCIA DE ZAYAS.

JOHN ROE Y JANE ROE COMO POSIBLES MIEMBROS DESCONOCIDOS DE LA SUCESIÓN LUIS ZAYAS ROSADO.

(Nombre de las partes a las que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto)

EL SECRETARIO(A) que sus cribe le notifica a usted que el 21 de octubre de 2022, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debi damente 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 notifica ción. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedi miento 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 edic to de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edic to. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 25 de octubre de 2022. En Guay nabo, Puerto Rico, el 25 de oc tubre de 2022. LCDA. LAURA I. SANTA SÁNCHEZ, SECRETA RIA REGIONAL II. SARA ROSA VILLEGAS, SECRETARIA DEL TRIBUNAL CONFIDENCIAL I.

LEGAL NOTICE

IN THE UNITED STATES DIS TRICT COURT FOR THE DIS TRICT OF PUERTO RICO WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS CERTIFICATE TRUSTEE OF BOSCO CREDIT II TRUST SERIES 2017-1, BY FRANKLIN CREDIT MANAGEMENT AS SERVICER

Plaintiff V. LAURA MALDONADOCASILLAS A/K/A LAURA EMMA MALDONADOCASILLAS

Defendant Civil No.: 19-01400. (ADC). IN REM. NOTICE OF JUDGMENT

BY PUBLICATION.

To: LAURA MALDONADOCASILLAS A/K/A LAURA EMMA MALDONADOCASILLAS.

The Clerk of the Court hereby notifies defendant that on Au gust 22, 2022, this Court ente red Judgment for Collections of Monies and Foreclosure that appears registered in the doc ket of this case, where you can be informed of its terms. This Notice shall be published once in a newspaper of general cir culation on the island of Puerto Rico, during the term of ten (10) days after its notification. And, taking into consideration that you have been a party to this case and subject to the terms of the Judgment from which you can request reconsideration or appeal in the term of thirty (30) days from the date the notice of judgment by publication is published, this notice is ente red, on this date, October 27th, 2022. MARIA ANTONGIORGIJORDAN, CLERK OF THE COURT. VIVIANA DIAZ, DE PUTY CLERK.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU NAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INS TANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE HUMACAO BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO Demandante V. SUCESIÓN DE HECTOR

LUIS PANTOJA

GONZÁLEZ COMPUESTA POR: SUE HELLEN PANTOJA; FULANO Y MENGANO DE TAL, COMO HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS DE LA SUCESION; JUANA PAEZ SOTO, POR SI Y EN LA CUOTA VIUDAL USUFRUCTUARIA; DEPARTAMENTO DE HACIENDA DE PUERTO RICO Demandados Civil Núm.: HU2022CV00326.

Sobre: EJECUCIÓN DE GA RANTÍAS (IN REM). EDICTO DE SUBASTA. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTA DOS UNIDOS, ESTADO LI BRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO, SS.

A: PUBLICO EN GENERAL.

El Alguacil del Tribunal que sus cribe anuncia y hace constar: A. Que en cumplimiento del Man damiento que me ha sido dirigi do por la Secretaria del Tribunal de Primera Instancia de Puerto Rico, Sala de Humacao, en el caso de epígrafe, venderé en pública subasta y al mejor pos tor de contado y en moneda de curso legal y corriente de los

Estados Unidos de América y cuyo pago se efectuará en efectivo, giro postal o cheque certificado a nombre del Al guacil del Tribunal de Primera Instancia, todo derecho, título o interés que tenga la Parte De mandada en el bien inmueble que se describe a continuación: URBANA: Solar marcado con el número trece (13) de la Man zana “AA” del Plano de Inscrip ción de la Urbanización Man siones del Caribe, localizado en el Barrio Río Abajo del término municipal de Humacao, Puerto Rico, con una cabida superficial de trescientos cuarenta y siete punto sesenta metros cuadra dos (347.60 mc). En lindes por el NORTE, en una distancia de trece punto sesenta y siete (13.67) metros con terrenos de la Urbanización Villa Humacao; por el SUR, en una alineación de trece punto sesenta y sie te (13.67) metros con la Calle Ópalo; por el ESTE, en una alineación de veinticinco pun to treinta y ocho (25.38) me tros con el Solar número doce (12); y por el OESTE, en una alineación de veinticinco punto cuarenta y seis (25.46) metros con el Solar número catorce (14). Enclava una estructura de hormigón y bloques de con creto para uso residencial. Di rección Física: Urb. Mansiones del Caribe, Calle Opalo AA-13, Humacao, PR 00791. Finca 24,804, inscrita al folio 1 del tomo 551 de Humacao, Regis tro de la Propiedad de Puerto Rico, Sección de Humacao. B. Que los autos y todos los do cumentos correspondientes al procedimiento incoado están de manifiesto en la Secretaría del Tribunal durante las horas laborables bajo el epígrafe de este caso. C. Que se entenderá que todo licitador acepta como bastante la titularidad y que las cargas y gravámenes ante riores y los preferentes, si los hubiere, al crédito ejecutante, continuarán subsistentes, en tendiéndose que el rematente los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de los mismos, sin destinarse a su ex tinción el precio del remate. La propiedad a ser ejecutada se adquirirá libre de cargas y gra vámenes posteriores. D. Dicha subasta se llevará a cabo para satisfacer a la parte demandan te el importe de la sentencia que ha obtenido ascendente a la suma de $119,711.78, más la suma de $31,238.86, que incluye intereses según pacta dos, cargos por demora y otros cargos, que se acumulan dia riamente hasta su total y com pleto pago, más la suma de 10% del principal, por concepto de ostas, gastos y honorarios de abogado hipotecariamente asegurados. La PRIMERA SU BASTA se celebrará el día 30 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 2022 A LAS 11:30 DE LA MAÑANA en la Oficina del Alguacil del Tri bunal de Primera Instancia de

Humacao, por el tipo mínimo de $178,000.00. De declararse desierta dicha subasta se cele brará una SEGUNDA SUBAS TA el día 7 DE DICIEMBRE DE 2022 A LAS 11:30 DE LA MAÑANA en el mismo lugar an tes mencionado. El precio para la segunda subasta lo será 2/3 partes del precio mínimo de la primera, o sea, $118,666.67. De declararse desierta dicha segunda subasta, se celebra rá una TERCERA SUBASTA el día 14 DE DICIEMBRE DE 2022 A LAS 11:30 DE LA MA ÑANA en el mismo lugar antes mencionado. El precio para la tercera subasta lo será 1/2 del precio mínimo de la primera, o sea, $89,000.00. Y PARA QUE ASÍ CONSTE, y para su publicación en un periódico de circulación general y por un término de catorce (14) días en los sitios públicos conforme a la ley, expido la presente bajo mi firma y sello de este tribunal, hoy 25 de octubre de 2022 en Humacao, Puerto Rico. JOSÉ LUIS RODRÍGUEZ HERNÁN DEZ, ALGUACIL REGIONAL INTERINO. WILNEA RIVERA DELGADO, ALGUACIL AUXI LIAR #249.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA DE CAGUAS

FRANCISCO

RODRIGUEZ CRUZ Demandante Vs ERNY RODRÍGUEZ

CARRASQUILLO; ELMY RODRÍGUEZ

CARRASQUILLO Demandados Caso Número: CG2022CV03536. (703). Civil: PARTICIÓN HERENCIA. Cau sante: HAYDEE CARRASQUI LLO DIAZ. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO.

A: ERNY RODRÍGUEZ

CARRASQUILLO; ELMY RODRÍGUEZ

CARRASQUILLO.

POR LA PRESENTE se le em plaza para que presente al Tri bunal su alegación responsiva a la demanda por PARTICIÓN DE HERENCIA dentro de los treinta (30) días a partir de la publicación de este edicto; el cual se publicará en un periódi co de circulación general diaria durante una (1) sola vez. Si us ted deja de presentar su alega ción responsiva dentro del refe rido término, el Tribunal podrá dictar sentencia en rebeldía en su contra y conceder el reme dio solicitado en la demanda, o cualquier otro, si el Tribunal, en el ejercicio de su sana discre ción, lo entiende procedente. LCDO. PEDRO A. CRESPO CLAUDIO Urb. Villa Criollos A-6 Calle Corazón Caguas, PR 00725 939-337-5550, 939-337-5553 pcrespo@emphatialaw.com

POR ORDEN DEL JUEZ DE ESTE TRIBUNAL, hoy día 26 de OCTUBRE de 2022. EXPE

DIDO bajo mi firma y sello del Tribunal, hoy día 28 de octubre de 2022. LISILDA MARTÍNEZ AGOSTO, SECRETARIA. BRENDA LEE TORRES PÉ REZ, SECRETARIA AUXILIAR.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU NAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INS TANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE AIBONITO REVERSE MORTGAGE FUNDING, LLC Demandante V. MIGUEL SANTIAGO RIVERA, GLORIA DÁVILA, FULANO DE TAL Y SUTANO DE TAL COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS DE NOMBRES DESCONOCIDOS DE LA SUCESIÓN FERDINANDO

SANTIAGO TORRES, T/C/C FERDINANDO SANTIAGO Demandado(a) Civil: AI2022CV00165. Sobre: EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECAIN REM. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: MIGUEL SANTIAGO RIVERA, GLORIA DÁVILA, FULANO DE TAL Y SUTANO DE TAL COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS DE NOMBRES DESCONOCIDOS DE LA SUCESIÓN FERDINANDO SANTIAGO TORRES, T/C/C FERDINANDO SANTIAGO. (Nombre de las partes a las que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto) EL SECRETARIO(A) que sus cribe le notifica a usted que el 31 de octubre de 2022, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debi damente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted en terarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta no tificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circula ción general en la Isla de Puer to 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 Sen tencia, Sentencia Parcial o Re solución, de la cual puede esta blecerse 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 publi cación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archi vada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 1 de noviembre de 2022. En Aibonito, Puer

to Rico, el 1 de noviembre de 2022. ELIZABETH GONZÁLEZ RIVERA, SECRETARIA. NÉ LIDA APONTE RODRÍGUEZ, SECRETARIA AUXILIAR.

LEGAL NOTICE

Estado Libre Asociado de Puer to Rico TRIBUNAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA Tribunal de Pri mera Instancia Sala Superior de San Juan.

BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO Demandante Vs. SUCESION DE VICTOR MANUEL ROSADO DELGADO T/C/C VICTOR ROSADO DELGADO COMPUESTA POR FULANO DE TAL Y SUTANA DE TAL COMO HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS Y/O PARTES CON INTERES EN LA SUCESION Demandado (a) Civil Núm.: SJ2022CV05892. Sala: 508. Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO, EJECUCION DE HI POTECA. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO. A: FULANO DE TAL Y SUTANA DE TAL COMO HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS Y/O PARTES CON INTERES EN LA SUCESION DE VICTOR MANUEL ROSADO DELGADO T/C/C VICTOR ROSADO DELGADO

EL SECRETARIO (A) que sus cribe le notifica a usted que el 21 de octubre de 2022, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debi damente 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 diez (10) días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o repre sentando usted una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los tér minos de la Sentencia, Senten cia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recur so de revisión o apelación den tro del término de 30 días con tados 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 notifica ción ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 24 de octubre de 2022. En San Juan, Puerto Rico, el 24 de octubre de 2022. GRISELDA RODRIGUEZ COLLADO, Se cretaria Regional. F/ MARTHA ALMODOVAR CABRERA, Se cretaria Auxiliar.

A coach who has ‘seen it all’ keeps making the World Series

By TYLER KEPNER

Forty-two players have appeared on a World Series roster for three differ ent franchises. The list stretches from Don Baylor to Ben Zobrist, with big names (Roger Clemens), funny names (Stuffy Mc Innis) and forgotten names (Franklin Mo rales) in between.

Of that group, only one player, long time outfielder Lonnie Smith, made it with four teams: Philadelphia, St. Louis, Kansas City and Atlanta, from 1980 through 1992. The coaching equivalent of Smith is in the Phillies’ dugout for this year’s World Se ries.

He is Kevin Long, the Philadelphia hitting coach, who never reached Major League Baseball as a player. Long, a for mer outfielder, spent eight seasons in the Royals’ farm system, hitting .273 with 14 home runs from 1989 to 1996. He found his calling by helping other hitters, and ev erywhere he has gone in the majors, his teams have won a pennant.

Long, 55, coached for the New York Yankees from 2007 through 2014, helping them win the 2009 World Series. Then came a three-year stint with the New York Mets that included a National League pen nant in 2015. During Long’s four-year stay in Washington, the Nationals won the title in 2019. Now he has made it with the Phil lies.

Long could not pinpoint his secret, but with four World Series appearances in four jobs, he is doing something right.

“I know I care about them more than they’ll ever know,” Long said in the Phil lies’ dugout before their Game 3 with the Houston Astros on Tuesday. “I know that I’m fully invested in their career and what they’re doing. What I’ve really talked about is that winning means more to me than anything else. If we can feel a sense of coming together as a team and winning, it’s the most special feeling you’ll ever have. These guys are feeling that.”

In a position of frequent turnover — We’re not hitting? Fire the hitting coach! — Long’s track record has kept him in demand. The Yankees led the majors in home runs and ranked second in runs scored during his tenure. Under Long’s

guidance in 2016, the Mets set a franchise home run record. The Nationals had the best on-base percentage in the majors (.342) during Long’s stint there.

“He’s seen it all,” said Bryson Stott, the Phillies’ rookie shortstop. “Just listen ing to a guy like that is my biggest thing. He’s seen a bunch of swings so he knows what works up here and what doesn’t. All you’ve got to do is listen to the guy and gain some knowledge.”

The Phillies fired manager Joe Girardi in early June, when they were 22-29, but Girardi’s influence is still felt in the pres ence of Long, whom he inherited as the Yankees’ manager in 2008 and grew to trust. When the Phillies fired Joe Dillon af ter last season, they turned to Long, whose contract had run out with the rebuilding Nationals.

“I always thought he was one of the best, if not the best, hitting coaches in the game,” said Dave Dombrowski, the Phil lies’ president of baseball operations, who has also reached the World Series with four teams in his long career in front of fices.

“When we decided to change hitting coaches after last season, Joe Girardi re

ally wanted him as his No. 1 choice.”

The Phillies replaced Girardi with his bench coach, Rob Thomson, who led the team to its first postseason appearance since 2011. Thomson had also spent many years with the Yankees and already had a strong bond with Long.

“Kevin is one of my best friends,” Thomson said Monday. “He’s a guy that I really rely on, I really trust. He is the best hitting coach I’ve been around, not just mechanically and game-planning, but also the fact that when a player leaves the cage to go into the game, he thinks he can re ally hit, and that’s who Kevin is. He’s great at making players feel good about them selves. His energy and his positive outlook just reverberates throughout the entire team.”

The Phillies gave Long a strong line up to work with, signing Kyle Schwarber (four years, $79 million) and Nick Castel lanos (five years, $100 million) just after the lockout ended in March. They joined an established core of Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto, Rhys Hoskins and Jean Segura.

The Phillies ended up ranking seventh of the 30 teams in runs scored, but it took a while to produce consistently. Thomson

has said that the Phillies’ biggest chal lenge was overcoming the stigma of pre vious late-season slumps. The team had the longest playoff drought in the National League, but once it was over, there was no questioning whether they belonged.

“There was some doubt, probably, and they needed to understand how good they were,” Long said. “When they got there, they got there as a team and as a unit. I think the coolest thing about this team is how they evolved.”

Harper, the Phillies’ centerpiece, has been a major part of that evolution. After Harper overwhelmed the San Diego Pa dres in the NL Championship Series, Long, who coached Harper in the slugger’s final season with the Nationals, raved about his growth.

“This is a much different level than I’ve seen him,” Long said. “Every at-bat is phenomenal, every one. He doesn’t take a pitch off. He’ll talk about his last at-bat, he’ll talk about what he can do better, he’ll talk about what this guy’s going to do. He’s ready for the moment.”

So is Stott, who improved his on-base percentage from .255 in the first half to .331 after the All-Star Game. He credited Long with helping him simplify his swing by eliminating an exaggerated toe tap. The extra movement had led to a looping, high-launch-angle swing that made Stott susceptible to strikeouts.

“The less movement, the better chance you have to hit,” Stott said. “So we were looking at how simple some guys’ swings are.”

In Game 1 of the World Series, Stott worked a 10-pitch walk in the fourth in ning against Justin Verlander, just after the Phillies had begun their comeback from a 5-0 deficit. Verlander’s pitch count had reached 90 by the end of the fifth inning, when the Phillies tied the score on their way to a 10-inning victory.

That game left Long three wins away from earning another option in World Se ries championship rings.

“The Nationals one would be the one I wear most now, because it’s the most recent,” he said. “And then hopefully I’ll have a Phillie one I can start sporting for a couple of years.”

Kevin Long was hired as the hitting coach of the Philadelphia Phillies in October 2021. He has been a hitting coach for four different franchises that made the World Series.

Nets fire coach Steve Nash

By SOPAN DEB and SCOTT CACCIOLA

The Brooklyn Nets fired coach Steve Nash earlier this week as the team struggled on the court and faced criticism for the off-court actions of star guard Kyrie Irving.

Nets general manager Sean Marks said the situation was particularly difficult because of his long relationship with Nash, a former teammate whom he hired to coach the team in September 2020.

“We both felt that this was time,” Marks said at a news conference before the Nets faced the Chicago Bulls at Barclays Center on Tuesday night. “It was certainly trending that way, and to be quite frank, the team was not doing what it was supposed to be doing. We’ve fallen from our goals.”

At 2-5, the Nets are among the worst teams in the NBA, despite starting the season with all three of their best players: Irving, Kevin Durant and Ben Simmons. Over the past week, the team has also been dealing with backlash after Irving promoted an antisemitic documen tary on social media.

Marks said he had not sought any input from the players on his decision to make a coaching change.

“He has certainly not had an even playing field over two and a bit years here,” Marks said of Nash. “And for that, I certainly feel definitely some responsibility be cause this does not fall on him. I take a great deal of responsibility in creating the roster, hiring staff, bringing people in, whether that’s free agency or draft.”

Nash, 48, was hired before the 2020-21 season, de spite never having coached professionally at any level, even as an assistant. The Nets were criticized for hiring Nash, who is white, over experienced Black coaches. Jacque Vaughn, a Nets assistant coach, was chosen to be acting head coach Tuesday against the Bulls. Vaughn, who is Black, was passed over when the Nets hired Nash.

Nash carried the pedigree of being one of the best point guards in NBA history, having won two MVP awards during a celebrated career from 1996 to 2014. He initially surrounded himself with experienced coach es such as Vaughn and Mike D’Antoni, who had coached him as a player in Phoenix.

Over a little more than two seasons, Nash led the Nets to a 94-67 record, a winning percentage of .584, but with only one playoff-series victory to show for it. Nash thanked the team Tuesday in a statement on Twit ter.

“It was an amazing experience with many challenges that I’m incredibly grateful for,” he said, adding: “I wish the Nets all the success in the world and the Nash’s will be rooting for our team as they turn this season around.”

Nash faced problems from the start, including injuries (Durant; Simmons), trades (Simmons in; James Harden in, then out) and Irving’s refusal to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, which meant that he missed most of the 2021-22 season because of local rules.

Irving returned in time for the postseason after New York City changed the rules, but the Boston Celtics swept the Nets in the first round of the playoffs, closing out the series in front of thousands of despondent fans in Brooklyn.

“We had high expectations,” Durant said at the time. “Everybody had high expectations for us. But a lot of stuff happened throughout the season that derailed us.”

Durant went to the team’s front office over the sum mer to request a trade. According to a report by The Athletic, Durant demanded that the Nets owner, Joe Tsai, choose between him or Marks and Nash. Tsai released a statement that said the team’s front-office staff and coaches had his support.

Durant eventually relented and joined the team for training camp in late September. Hope blossomed anew: Durant, Irving and Simmons were expected to help form one of the more explosive starting lineups in the NBA.

But the Nets sputtered, particularly on defense, los ing five of their first six games this season. Marks said he came away from games this season feeling as if the play ers had not “bought in,” and he was now hoping to find “a leader” whose message would resonate with them. He said that he had not made a decision on the team’s next coach and would thoroughly vet any candidates.

“We’re looking for somebody to have poise, cha risma, accountability,” he said, adding: “We’re not play ing up to our expectations of where we should be. So, you hope this new coach can come in here and put this group in the best possible place to succeed.”

But Nash’s firing does not resolve the issue with Ir ving.

At a testy news conference Saturday, Irving doubled down on his support of the antisemitic documentary. He has not apologized since then, but he deleted a tweet that linked to the documentary Sunday.

Irving did not address reporters after the Nets’ win over the Indiana Pacers on Monday, when several fans in T-shirts that said “fight antisemitism” sat in the front row. Marks said Irving would not be made available to answer questions Tuesday, adding that he wanted to let “cooler minds prevail.” He also said that the team had been in contact with the Anti-Defamation League for advice, but he would not say whether Irving had been part of those conversations.

“Just trying to weigh out exactly what the best course of action is here,” Marks said. “Part of it is going to be getting the sides together so they can understand where people are coming from. There’s an education piece for everybody here.”

The Nets and Coach Steve Nash parted ways on Tuesday. Over a little more than two seasons, Nash led the Nets to a 94-67 record.

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

CrosswordWordsearch

Aries (Mar 21-April 20)

If you’ve been thinking about your life purpose lately, this trend can ramp-up, as Venus and the Sun oppose your Point of Destiny. This might be especially related to the way you earn money. You may have ideas about doing something completely different, but due to financial considerations, find this currently impossible. Start small, and let the momentum build slowly.

Taurus (April 21-May 21)

Wondering if it’s time you forgave someone for something they’ve done wrong? Venus’s awkward angle with healing Chiron, suggests you may be in two minds about this Taurus, perhaps feeling that they don’t deserve your friendship. If you can’t do it for them, then do it for you. Think how much more at peace you’ll be if you let this go, and you’ll be reenergized.

Gemini (May 22-June 21)

While the image you project is important, with Mars in reverse in your sign, you might be dwelling on this more than usual. If it seems you’re experiencing an identity crisis, then it could be because you’ve altered so much as a person, that how you look no longer reflects this. This is a chance to make some creative and timely changes to celebrate the new you, Gemini.

Cancer (June 22-July 23)

The cosmic line-up hints that there are opportunities to enjoy some me-time, but you could feel guilty for taking advantage of them. You may instead volunteer your time, which is very thoughtful. Even so, the current Moon/Mars tie suggests that finding the right balance is key. You need to relax and replenish your energy, and you’ll know when you’ve hit the sweet spot.

Leo (July 24-Aug 23)

The emphasis on your home zone, suggests you may be doing some thinking about the best course of action. As Venus and the Sun face-off with a powerful point in your career zone, you might wonder if you’re being true to yourself. What could you do that allows you to express yourself in a way that feels good? If you already have an inkling, look into it further, Leo.

Virgo (Aug 24-Sep 23)

The Moon’s positive tie with Mars retro in an ambitious zone, encourages you not to feel despondent if things aren’t going to plan. With the Sun encouraging you to promote your ideas, you just need to feel more confident about doing so. If someone criticizes you, don’t pay them any attention. If what you have to say could inspire or help others, then don’t hold back, Virgo!

Libra (Sep 24-Oct 23)

Is it worth pursuing a relationship or not? If you’re having doubts, a Venus/Chiron alignment encourages you to pause and reflect. If you’re already putting a lot in and not getting much back, then you’ll know there’s not much point in continuing. If you sense this bond has mileage, then it may be worth overlooking minor flaws if things are developing nicely, Libra.

Scorpio (Oct 24-Nov 22)

While you might want to give the appearance that you’re at ease with a new romance, current influences tell another story. Deep down feelings may be boiling over, and be anything but at peace with the situation, especially if you can’t see as much of them as you’d like. Relax Scorpio, and rather than try to manipulate the situation, go with the flow. It’s less stressful.

Sagittarius (Nov 23-Dec 21)

Are you stuck in the past, or fully committed to embracing new developments. As Venus and the Sun oppose your Point of Destiny, you may realize how much you’ve been held back by your beliefs and assumptions about what you’re capable of. You might get a strong idea that you can do so much more than you think, and that you’ve been limiting yourself for too long, Archer.

Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 20)

From working hard to playing hard, the cosmos encourages you out and about, as a sociable line-up continues to influence your friendship zone. The weeks ahead look promising, and bring options for interesting encounters and uplifting events. Another edgier aspect encourages healing through discussion. Whatever is bothering you could be eased by a heartfelt chat, Capricorn.

Aquarius (Jan 21-Feb 19)

A dynamic focus encourages you to link with others who share your goals and ambitions, and to reach out to those on your wavelength. Make every moment count this month, but also be ready to change tack if something big is calling out to you. A helpful Venus/Chiron link could pave the way for a discussion that encourages you to put a brilliantly helpful idea to the test, Aquarius.

Pisces (Feb 20-Mar 20)

A conversation could inspire you to try something new, and it might be the best thing you do for yourself. If a friend is already involved, they may introduce you to a whole new world. No matter what else you have on your plate, it’s worth having a go, Pisces. You might not stick with this, but something else that piques your interest on route can do, and could stay with you.

Answers to the Sudoku and Crossword on page 29

Ziggy

Herman

Gary

BC

Speed Bump