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San Francisco Chronicle
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
‘This is us': Carnaval San Francisco showcases Latin American heritage and pride
Thousands of people turned out to celebrate the cultural heritage of Latin America and beyond during Carnaval San Francisco's parade Sunday, transforming the streets of the Mission District into a vibrant party. Participants and spectators alike waved flags from Colombia, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Bolivia and other countries, as salsa, merengue and other types of Latin music blasted in the streets during the four-hour parade, which covered 20 blocks in the historic neighborhood. This year's Carnaval theme, 'AfroMundo: African Diaspora in the Americas,' recognized cultural creativity rooted in the Americas. Bay Area percussionist and producer John Santos and Brazilian dancer and vocalist Dandha Da Hora served as grand marshals of the parade. 'AfroMundo is a celebration of the heartbeat that connects continents,' Rodrigo Durán, executive director of Carnaval San Francisco, said in a statement. 'In John Santos and Dandha Da Hora, we have two artists whose lives and legacies embody this very rhythm — local and global, historic and contemporary, spiritual and joyful.' The parade, which started at 24th and Bryant streets and traveled west to Mission Street, then north to 15th Street, featured more than 3,000 artists in 60 contingents. The parade showcased all sorts of dances, from Mexican folkloric dances and Afro-Brazilian styles, including samba and capoeira. Even nontraditional dancers showed off their skills: A Recology contingent featured workers in yellow vests who danced around with blue recycling bins and green compost bins as props, with 'La vida es un carnaval' by Celia Cruz blasting in the background. Angeles Gabriela Avila Lopez, a member of Communidad Maya Yucateca's folklorico dance group, said the parade was an opportunity to showcase her cultural heritage — and her pride. 'We want everyone to know about our culture and our traditions,' she said, dressed in a traditional garment, with a shawl over her shoulders and flowers and a ribbon in her hair. 'Although we're far from our country, from our state, we carry our country and our state in our hearts.' She and the rest of her group performed the jarana, a typical dance from Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. Brianna Smith's group, Beautiful Beginnings Art Collective, showcased the multicultural background of the group, including the heritage of Colombia, West Africa and Haiti. 'I feel like it's such a great way to show solidarity and unity in a city that's ever changing,' Smith said of the parade. And, she added, 'to show we're still here.' Her contingent stood out, in part, for its massive prop: the crafted head and upper body of a woman, propped up by three members of the collective. Smith said the woman, named Moura, represented Mother Earth and the Indigenous communities that make up many heritages. Spectators on the sidelines were just as eager to show their pride. 'I like coming here because I get to show who I am. I get to shout out my heritage,' said Jasmine Garcia, 24, of Sacramento, who was decked out in a Puerto Rico baseball jersey, Pittsburgh Pirate Roberto Clemente's 21 on the back. She made the trip to San Francisco for the parade with her 18-year-old sister, Angela Garcia, who had a Puerto Rican flag wrapped around her torso. 'It's something I'm very proud of, and I'm glad I'm Puerto Rican,' Angela Garcia said. San Francisco resident Donald Riggan, who was born and raised in Jamaica, said it was fun to see different backgrounds represented in the parade. He attended with his wife and daughters, ages 3 and 9. As the floats electrified the crowd, his oldest daughter shouted in excitement when she spotted a flag she recognized: 'Dad, Jamaica right there!' 'It brings a lot of joy to my heart,' Riggan said in an interview moments later. 'She's getting excited because she's seeing the Jamaican flag and she's represented.' The parade was bittersweet for Amparo Vigil, whose family owns Puerto Alegre. The Mexican restaurant's second location shuttered Friday on 25th Street, just a block away from the start of the parade's route. The rising costs of the business and the death of her parents in recent years led her family to decide to sell the building, Vigil said. Sunday marked the last time Vigil handed out Mexican hot chocolate and pan dulce to participants and spectators outside the restaurant. 'This is our way of connecting and giving back to the community,' Vigil said of the tradition, recalling her late father standing at the restaurant's door in past years as the contingents geared up to participate in the parade. Vigil said she believes events like Carnaval empower the community, especially in the face of racism, classism and 'all of the atrocities' in the U.S. and around the world. 'This is us. This is Latinoamerica. This is in our blood, this is in our culture. This is us getting to show us,' Vigil said. 'We get to be in the streets and get to show us — what we look like, what we talk like, what we feel like, what we dance like. I love it.'
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Family of Recology worker say death could have been 'prevented'
The Brief Family of Alfredo Romero, 61, calls his death 'preventable' Company accused of keeping family of killed worker in the dark Cal OSHA, San Mateo District Attorney investigation underway SAN FRANCISCO - The family of the Recology worker who died on the job Friday morning spoke out Wednesday, calling the death "preventable," and asking for answers from the company they said has remained tight-lipped during the investigation. Alfredo Romero, 61, of Fremont, died on Friday at the Recology facility on Tunnel Avenue in San Francisco. In an interview conducted on Wednesday at the funeral home where the family is making arrangements, his three adult children, Michelle, Danielle, and Joseph, told KTVU they were "not prepared" for his death and are demanding transparency. Michelle said the news came as a shock on Friday, when she received a call from Recology. "They asked if I was related to someone else, like a similar name, but it wasn't my dad's name. They got the name wrong," she said. "They were like, 'Albert Romero?' and I said, 'Do you mean Alfredo?'" When she finally understood that her father had been in an accident, she said, "My heart dropped… what kind of accident could have possibly happened that would end in death?" Michelle said her father, who came from a line of garbage workers and spent four decades in the industry, was a skilled mechanic and a mentor to his peers. "What was really hard was that the company wasn't telling us anything," she said. Michelle and her siblings said her father's colleagues, who were present during the incident, were the only ones who provided some insight. "It wasn't a health thing. It was a traffic accident. He was on the back of the hopper of one of the new trucks in the shop. He was trying to work on it when it happened. It feels like something that really should have been prevented," Michelle said. She said it was a typical shift with her dad doing his normal work. "That should have been a normal day. He should have come home from work." Michelle added that the family "would hear complaints from my dad and the guys in general, about [Recology] cutting corners on expenses" when the workers needed new equipment. "But I don't really know what is relevant in this particular instance," she said. Michelle told KTVU that her family has not been able to retrieve Alfredo's belongings from the site, as the investigation continues. With tears in her eyes, Michelle recalled how proud he was to do the work he did, and how he loved his coworkers. She said the men who worked with her dad have supported her during this difficult time. She said Alfredo was a family man who loved spending time with his four grandchildren. A dedicated father, the family described him as a hardworking man who worked overtime and on holidays to provide a comfortable life for his family. The labor union he was a member of, Teamsters Local 350, wrote a letter to the employee-owned company on behalf of the family asking for transparency, calling the loss "a heartbreaking reminder that the waste industry remains one of the most dangerous professions in the country." The other side In a statement from Recology, a spokesperson wrote, "We are heartbroken for the Romero family. We understand, and we share, their shock. However, the incident is still being investigated, and we are working with the proper authorities to determine exactly what happened." The family said they hope safety is prioritized at Recology, so tragedy doesn't strike again. Cal OSHA and the San Mateo District Attorney's Office are investigating the death and cannot release any additional information until the investigation is complete. Cal OSHA has six months to complete its investigation and issue any citations. There is a GoFundMe for the family's funeral expenses.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Family of San Francisco Recology worked killed on the job in 'complete shock'
The Brief The 61-year-old was a longtime mechanic who had worked in the garbage industry for more than 40 years. Romero is survived by three children and four grandchildren. SAN FRANCISCO - The family of a longtime Recology worker who died on the job says the company has provided little information about the circumstances of his death. What we know Alfredo Romero Jr., 61, of Fremont, was working Friday morning at the 501 Tunnel Ave. recycling facility, located on the border of San Francisco and Brisbane, when he died in a workplace accident, according to a statement from his family. Romero was a longtime mechanic who had worked in the garbage industry for more than 40 years. Recology confirmed the fatality that day but did not release details about how the accident happened, saying only that the incident remains under investigation. The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, or Cal/OSHA, has opened an investigation and has six months to issue any citations if violations are found. What they're saying "It was a complete shock when I got the call from Recology telling me that my dad was in an accident at work and that he passed away," said Michelle Romero, the victim's daughter. "I couldn't imagine what kind of accident could have resulted in his death and the company wouldn't tell us. They would only say that it was being investigated." Michelle Romero said her father came from a long line of men in the garbage industry. "Garbage workers are our family and family friends. He should have never died at work that day," she said. "It is our sincere hope that all the lessons this horror can teach are actually learned, so that it never happens to anyone else. We are truly devastated." Romero is survived by three children and four grandchildren. A GoFundMe page has been launched to help cover funeral expenses. The Source The family of Alfredo Romero Jr., previous KTVU reporting.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
Cal-OSHA investigating death at Recology recycling plant
(KRON) — The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health is investigating the death of an employee, which occurred at a Recology recycling plant in Brisbane, Calif. on May 16. The San Mateo County Coroner's Office identified the Recology employee as 61-year-old Alfredo Romero of Fremont. Booming fireworks rattle San Francisco Tragically, a fatality occurred at one of our San Francisco facilities. The individual is one of our Recology employees. The incident is still being investigated. Safety is our top priority at Recology, and we are working with the proper authorities to determine what happened. Losing a member of our Recology family is devastating to every one of our employee-owners, and our hearts go out to his family, friends, co-workers and loved ones. Recology Watch KRON4 reporter Jack Molmud's full report in the video above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
Recology worker dies at San Francisco recycling facility
SAN FRANCISCO - A Recology employee died Friday morning at a recycling facility in San Francisco, the company confirmed. What we know Recology did not release details about how the fatal incident occurred but said the tragedy is under investigation. The incident happened at the facility on Tunnel Avenue, which borders Brisbane. What they're saying "Tragically, a fatality occurred at one of our San Francisco facilities today. The individual is one of our Recology employees," the waste collection company said in a statement. "Safety is our top priority at Recology, and we are working with the proper authorities to determine what a member of our Recology family is devastating to every one of our employee-owners, and our hearts go out to his family, friends, co-workers and loved ones." The San Mateo County Coroner's Office identified the victim as Alfredo Romero, 61. No further details were released. The Source Recology statement, San Mateo County Coroner's Office
