Latest news with #Mariachis
Time Magazine
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Time Magazine
Pasadena Mayor: Trump's Immigration Raids Hurt Communities Like Mine
Twice this year I have seen armored National Guard vehicles on the streets of Los Angeles County. The first time, we welcomed them with open arms. They were here in January to help us mobilize a rapid response to two enormous fires that devastated our city: the Eaton Fire here in my community and the Palisades Fire across town. They worked alongside all of us—police officers, firefighters, community leaders, day laborers, neighbors—to manage immediate needs for people who lost everything. It was a beautiful showing of solidarity and a demonstration of how a healthy democracy can respond to a crisis. What I see today is a stark and deeply troubling contrast to that time. While our city is still struggling to pick up the pieces and we begin to recover, President Donald Trump decided to turn the National Guard and other federal officers against the people of Los Angeles County, including people who live and work in Pasadena. The National Guard came to our region twice in six months. The circumstances couldn't have been more different. Every day that immigration raids continue and federal troops are brought in to police our community, we suffer tremendously. Already in Pasadena we've seen a huge drop in attendance at local community programs. The streets of our vibrant neighborhoods are eerily quiet. Business owners are calling me, concerned that their workers and customers alike are too afraid to show up, compounding the already hugely detrimental impacts of the fire. These business owners are simply sitting in brick-and-mortar shells of their once-bustling businesses mourning for their loyal employees and friends. My own father, who has been a citizen for decades now, is too afraid to make his weekly trip to Placita Olvera to listen to the Mariachis. Even I, the Mayor of Pasadena, am carrying my passport with me wherever I go in case I am racially profiled by ICE agents. My heart hurts for our city and all of our people. The cruelty and fear being inflicted by one man who did not even take the time to visit Pasadena and Altadena during, or after, the fires is palpable in our community. But at the same time, I don't know that I've ever been prouder of our leadership as a city and how we continue to prove that we are capable of banding together to weather any hardship. That is the spirit of Pasadena, and what I believe should be the spirit of our country. So even as we continue to face an onslaught of attacks from the federal government, I know that we have all the tools we need to care for each other and keep each other safe. I also empathize deeply with the immigrant community in Pasadena, the greater Los Angeles area, and across our great nation who are living in fear right now. I know how they are feeling because I once stood in their shoes. My family came to Pasadena when I was five years old from Zacatecas, Mexico. My parents and five siblings lived together in a two-car garage. My mother was a seamstress at a sweatshop and my father was a dishwasher and cook at a popular Mexican restaurant where he ended up working seven days a week for 50 years. I was sent to school. At first this was a terrifying experience for me. I didn't know the language and no one could communicate with me. I was teased and bullied for being Mexican. Even as I settled more into my life as an American teen, my family lived with a nagging fear in the back of my mind that it could all combust. Under my parents' bed in the middle of that two-car garage we called home was a large tin of Folgers coffee. I'm sure you can picture the kind I'm talking about. In that tin were all of our documents—birth certificates, phone numbers of friends and family, photos, identification cards—everything I would need in case my parents didn't come home one day. Starting at age five, I knew that if my parents didn't come home, I was to take that coffee tin and knock on my neighbor's door and ask for help. As I grew older, I worked multiple jobs to help my parents make ends meet. I sold flowers on the streets of Pasadena, delivered the local newspaper before school in the mornings, mowed lawns, helped out at the restaurant with my dad. And during that time I kept going to school, got involved in sports, and started listening to American music, immersing myself in the culture of the city. I became the San Gabriel Valley co-athlete of the year at Pasadena High School. I was living the American Dream. But even then, the fear that millions of immigrants and their loved ones live with every single day lingered with me and my family. But a key difference back then is that there was actually a process for citizenship. In the 1970s, Jimmy Carter enacted a common sense and humane policy that allowed for a pathway to citizenship if you were living without documentation in the U.S. So that's what my parents did. It took two years, but during the time when we awaited approval we were safe from the immigration raids that were rocking our city at the time. That was a process consistent with our democracy and our founding values as a nation. It was still a time when America cheered for the underdog, and when the spirit of our nation promised opportunity and a better life for all who sought freedom on our shores. Now, there are a decreasing number of pathways for people to seek lawful status—even if they've lived in the U.S. for decades and built their lives here and contributed positively to our community. In fact, Trump is actively stripping people of their legal status, creating a larger class of our neighbors who are vulnerable to deportation. My family—and millions of immigrant families across the country—remain committed to building a better future for ourselves and all in our communities. Today, I am tremendously proud to serve as Mayor of Pasadena, the city I have called home for most of my life. I am proud of the contributions my family and my neighbors have made to the city. We are an example of what makes this country great. And I am proud of Pasadena for sending a clear message that we stand by our immigrant neighbors in the face of these unjust attacks, but doing so respectfully and peacefully. We do not want the federal government to circumvent city leaders and tear families apart, and tens of thousands of us across the city have come together to peacefully protest the cruelty we're seeing in our community, especially as we continue to come together to help each other recover from the fires. I would hope that our president would share that compassion for a community that has suffered so much, a community he is supposed to serve as our nation's leader. I feel for the National Guard troops and our law enforcement community in general, many of whom share my same experience and have now been forced into a tense and completely unnecessary situation. I believe that at their core, they too think this is wrong. Back in January, I spent a lot of time with these troops and officers. I spoke with them every day, I saw firsthand their drive to serve and aid our community in a time of great need. I saw the real humanity of them. That's what the National Guard and law enforcement is for—not to be directed to come in and work against the very people they signed up to serve and protect—and against the will of our state and city leaders. Pasadena and our great nation must remain united and resolute in our view that children, families, and people from every walk of life are welcome and make our community great. And we should continue to make that view known in a peaceful but resolute manner as we have been every day since these raids began. I hope that Pasadena's leadership can be a model for how cities can respond to a government that is increasingly infringing upon our individual rights and sovereignty as a city and state. Because this overreach will not stop with us, and it will take all of us to defend the core principles of our democracy. We know what a peaceful, thriving, diverse, democratic city looks like—and we will not let anyone take that away from us.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
KRQE Newsfeed: Wildfires, Zoning violation, Warmer and breezy, Asking for input, Mariachis game
New Coaches, New Challenges In Lobo Athletics UNM, NMSU international students visa records restored Roswell man sentenced for voluntary manslaughter Man sentenced to over 390 years for sex crimes in Otero County Community invited to meeting on Rio Bravo neighborhood projects Nine student-athletes sign from Albuquerque High What to know about the secretive process to elect the new pope [1] Fire destroys multiple homes in Grants overnight – Two wildfires recently sparked up in different parts of the state. The first is east of Socorro, now labeled the Otero Fire. That fire is still burning, but has not destroyed any structures. The cause of the Otero Fire is under investigation. Grants police say another fire, now labeled the Alamo Fire, started in an open field before moving to a nearby mobile home park. That fire destroyed some structures, but is now fully contained. Grants police are investigating the cause of the fire and believe it was human caused. [2] ABQ bookstore pushes back on plans to remove homeless camp – The owner of Quirky Used Books said he's trying to help people affected by homelessness. The business, between Nob Hill and the International District, also serves as a safe haven for a handful of homeless people living in tents. Gillam Kerley said he started allowing the tents almost a year ago. In July 2024, the business received a notice from the city's code enforcement that the camp is violating the zoning code. Kerley and his attorneys were in front of a hearing officer Monday afternoon to argue his case. A ruling is expected by May 9. [3] Warmer & breezier weather with more rain ahead – Daily chances for isolated showers and thunderstorms begin Tuesday afternoon. For Tuesday and Wednesday, rain chances will focus in western, northern, central, and eastern parts of the state. Drier air will move in for Thursday, but a chance for showers and storms are still likely in northern New Mexico along the Colorado state line. Temperatures will stay seasonable across New Mexico through the week, with a few breezy locations in the afternoon. [4] New Mexico officials ask for input on how to take care of aging population – New Mexico officials are asking for input on how to take care of the state's aging population. The state recently released a draft of it's four-year plan. The plan's three goals include expanding services to the elderly and caregivers, responding to social determinants of health by giving opportunities for community engagement and nutritional support, and reducing occurrences of abuse. The aging and long term services department is looking for public comment on its plan. [5] What do the Isotopes have planned for Sunday's Mariachis game? – Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner, and to celebrate, the Isotopes will trade in their jerseys to become the Mariachis. The Isotopes will host a Mariachis game on Sunday, highlighting Hispanic heritage and culture. It's a tradition the team has been taking part in for a few years, embracing their alto ego with unique jerseys, special menu items and more. Gates open at noon on Sunday with the game starting at 1:35 in the afternoon. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Falcon Day kicks off with fanfare
Feb. 13—The 24 hours of Falcon Giving Day kicked off Thursday at University of Texas Permian Basin's Student Activity Center with celebration and the message that no gift was too big or too small for the university. This is the fifth annual Falcon Giving Day and it featured Mariachis, videos and remarks from Vice President for Community Engagement and Partnerships Jacqui Gore and President Sandra Woodley. A $50,000 challenge gift from The Sewell Family of Companies started things going. Gore said you could give $5 or $500 to make an impact on students. Woodley said the video shown points out that UTPB is there to make sure students have the chance to be successful. "We love doing that, and every one of us in this room, and all of those who are not in this room who will hear about this opportunity, will have a chance to contribute to our students," Woodley said. She added that this Falcon Giving Day was important for a lot of reasons. "It highlights a day of unity and impact for our great university. Why does Falcon Day matter? Everything that is given, no matter what the size, makes a difference. Donations, as Jacqui said, supports our scholarships and our programs and our athletics. It is more than just about fundraising. Of course, it's about Falcons taking care of Falcons. Today, I want to acknowledge the donors, the ambassadors, the faculty, the staff, the students, for participating," she added. Sewell's donation goes toward UTPB's Champions Fund for athletics. "I encourage all of you to give, to get involved, to share this information, to celebrate our Falcons in all of their forms, and to challenge our Falcon community to step up and spread the word and make an impact," Woodley said. Daniel Bright, a UTPB graduate and former Outstanding Alumni and representative of The Sewell Family of Companies, gave remarks and a $2,500 donation. "We're excited to give y'all $50,000 and start this off also being an alumni here, I think this building (the Student Activity Center) was finishing in 2010 when I was graduating with my master's. UTPB is near and dear to me. It helped me be successful where I'm at now and get to where I can help provide back with Sandy and Tatum and her whole team. It's very exciting to be here today to help start this off, and hopefully everybody get their checkbooks out and start donating. I'd like to be the first one. I'll do a personal donation of $2,500," Bright said. Tatum Hubbard is Chief of Staff/VP of Marketing and Communications. Gore added that Feb. 13 was UTPB night at Raising Cane's. "Go by and pick it up on your way home, and a percentage of those dollars will come right back to UTPB and help with Falcon Giving Day," Gore added. A phone bank was also set up to make calls to donors. They were going to be there until 5 p.m. Thursday and from about 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Friday. Mariachis played in honor of Woodley's birthday, which in Feb. 14. "Sewell Family of Companies are such great partners in the community, all around and we're always grateful when they step up, particularly to provide this initial grant that really challenges other people to give to the university. We're so grateful for Sewell and all of the other donors who will come through on this Falcon Giving Day for the university," Woodley said. She added that Sewell has always been a partner with UTPB in many different ways. "This is, I think, their first year that they've done the challenge gift, and it's very exciting to have them step up and lead in that way," Woodley said. Gore said these scholarship dollars are vital to getting students in the doors. "Many of our students would not be able to attend college if it weren't for scholarship dollars that were available. Your help will allow these students to attend UT Permian Basin, where maybe they wouldn't be able to otherwise," Gore said. Senior softball players Michaella Baker and Samantha Rodriguez said the scholarship funds are really helpful. Baker plays designated hitter and Rodriguez plays third base. Baker is an education major and Rodriguez is a sociology major. Both are transfer students, Baker from Odessa College and Rodriguez from Midland College. She transferred to another university and is spending her senior year at UTPB. "At the end of the day, coming here and graduating debt free off scholarships, is really helpful," Baker said. Rodriguez noted that you can get transfer scholarships and Falcon Giving Day helps with that. Baker thanked all the donors. Rodriguez thanked the donors and the school for creating a very safe and family like community.
