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El Tecolote •

ICE arrests four at SF courthouse, sparking outcry from advocates

Four people were arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents outside San Francisco’s immigration court on Tuesday — a rare tactic Bay Area immigrant rights groups say marks an alarming escalation in local enforcement.

The arrests, believed to be the first of their kind at the 100 Montgomery Street courthouse, sparked swift condemnation from a coalition of immigrant and human rights organizations. The following morning, dozens gathered outside the courthouse to denounce what the...
Mission Local •

SFUSD rescinds 151 staff layoffs in stunning reversal

A version of this story was first published on El Tecolote. In a last-minute and somewhat shocking reversal of a budget-cutting measure, the San Francisco Unified School District reversed the impending layoffs of 34 school counselors and 117 paraeducators — instructional aides, student and family resource personnel, security aides, and other staffing personnel. The district employees had received preliminary termination notices in late February and March in a cost-cutting bid to cover the SFUSD’...
El Tecolote •

ICE eyes takeover FCI Dublin despite toxic conditions

All signs point to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) preparing to take over a shuttered Bay Area women’s prison to house immigrant detainees — despite toxic living conditions and a documented history of abuse.

Federal Correctional Institution Dublin (FCI Dublin), located an hour from San Francisco, was closed in April 2024 following lawsuits, whistleblower reports and inspections that revealed rampant sexual violence, mold, asbestos and sewage leaks. The prison was so notorious that it...
El Tecolote •

SFUSD Adds a Courtroom Battle to Their Lengthy List of Reopening Hurdles - El Tecolote

In what has deemed quite an unusual move, San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera announced on Feb. 3, that he had filed a lawsuit against the San Francisco United School District (SFUSD) and the San Francisco Board of Education (BOE) on the grounds that their plans to reopen the city’s public schools were “woefully inadequate and [didn’t] meet the basic requirements set by the state” to offer in-person, classroom instruction whenever possible.
El Tecolote •

The City Promised Financial Help for the Latinx Community, But Has It Been Enough? - El Tecolote

Several months ago, Mayor London Breed announced the allocation of $28.5 million for COVID-19 relief in the Latinx community, who have been hit disproportionately hard by the pandemic. One of those purposes for the money was economic relief for the Latinx small business community; another was economic support for the healthcare efforts conducted on a local level. But where one has received the funds intended for such a purpose, the other continues to be overlooked.
El Tecolote •

Despite $28.5 million for SF COVID-19 relief, challenges remain for Latinx community - El Tecolote

The word “Resiliency” comes to mind when thinking about the population of the Mission, especially in the time of COVID-19. It is a testament to the strength of the Latinx community that despite a disproportionate number of cases and limited resources providing aid, the Mission’s spirit hasn’t wavered. But after eight months of shelter in place and shuttered business, help looks like it’s on the way from the City.