[su_label type=”info”]BAY AREA [/su_label]
Immigrant parents could be able to vote for school board
In a 10-1 vote, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors has approved a ballot measure introduced by Supervisor Eric Mar that, if passed by voters in November, would allow immigrant parents to participate in school board elections. According to the press release, research demonstrates that parental participation is crucial to student achievement, especially in lower performing schools. “This is about fairness and equity, providing an opportunity for all parents to have a voice,” Mar said of his proposal.
SF Supervisors pass measures guarding renters against fires
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously has passed three separate pieces of legislation—one introduced by David Campos, one by Katy Tang and one by Scott Weiner—each designed to better protect tenants from the fallout of fires, such as the recent blaze at 29 and Mission streets that displaced 58 people. Campos’ proposal will require, among other things, that landlords upgrade fire alarm systems and institute “fire blocks” to guard against spreading to multiple buildings. Tang’s measure will require that tenants be notified of maintenance updates and safety features, and Weiner’s will prioritize giving affordable housing to people displaced by the fire.
[su_label type=”info”]NATIONAL[/su_label]
Voter registration up, but ‘Hispanics’ still less likely to vote
Although a record number of “Hispanic” voters are registered for the 2016 elections, it seems many of them will likely not show up—even in an election year when their issues are front and center in the political dialog, with one of the presidential candidates making openly disparaging remarks about immigrants from Latin America, and promising to build a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border. A recent Washington Post poll found that 39 percent of respondents said they likely will not vote in November (as compared to 11 percent of whites and 13 percent of blacks).
Obama to expand Central America refugee program
The Obama Administration has announced plans to step up its assistance to refugees from Central America, by expanding refugee processing to families from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, and by extending a program assisting Central American children in reuniting with parents who are living legally in the United States. More than 43,000 unaccompanied children, as well as roughly 50,000 people traveling together as families, have been detained at the Mexican border since last October.
[su_label type=”info”]LATIN AMERICA [/su_label]
U.S. hedge funds sue Puerto Rican government
Several hedge funds that hold Puerto Rican bonds are suing Governor Alejandro García Padilla, alleging that he has violated the recent debt restructure agreement he made with the United States. The suit, which also names Puerto Rico’s treasury secretary and director of office management and budget, alleges that funds were improperly allocated for “purposes that apparently enjoy political favor,” and asks that money be frozen, until the oversight board mandated by the debt restructure is operational in September. Puerto Rico has struggled with $70 billion in outstanding debt, but Padilla maintained that there just isn’t enough money to provide public services and pay its creditors.