It Wiped Us Out' - 16 de Junio 2022 Digital Edition - El Semanario
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16 de Junio 2022
Digital Edition
‘It Wiped Us Out’
‘Nos Ha Dejado Sin Nada’ 8
Photo/Foto: Michael Benanav/Searchlight New Mexico
Table of Contents
TABLA DE CONTENIDOS
16 de Junio 2022
Volume No. XXXII Issue 32 4 FOR OVER A DECADE, LEGISLATIVE PARALYSIS HAS FORGOTTEN
‘DREAMERS’
4 TRAS UNA DÉCADA, LA PARÁLISIS LEGISLATIVA HA OLVIDADO A LOS
Chris M. Fresquez DREAMERS
President / CEO - Publisher
Toni C. Fresquez 5 HOW ICE SIDESTEPS THE LAW TO FIND AND DEPORT PEOPLE
Editor
Juan Carlos Uribe 6 MOVEMENT TO RESTORE EX-FELONS' VOTING RIGHTS IS NOW FOCUSING
Translator / Web Services ON THE STATES
Raya Tkachenko
Layout/Production 6 ELECTION RESULTS HOLD HOPE, HAZARD
7 STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE: COVID-19’S IMPACT ON YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH
THE WEEKLY ISSUE / El Semanario
8 NEW MÉXICO WILDFIRE REIGNITES LONG-STANDING TENSIONS
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9 EL INCENDIO FORESTAL DE NUEVO MÉXICO REAVIVA LAS TENSIONES DE
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10 GRASSROOTS GROUPS LEAD WAY ON CLOSING COLORADO’S INFANT
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11 GRUPOS DE BASE LIDERAN EL CAMINO PARA CERRAR LA BRECHA DE
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ADVERTISING
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EL NORTE DE NM
NEWS & INFORMATION
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PODCAST
The views expressed in our commentary section
are the author’s own and not necessarily those of
The Weekly Issue/El Semanario.
Copyright 2021
THE WEEKLY ISSUE / El Semanario, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.
3 16 de Junio 2022
16 de Junio 2022 4
Commentary/Commentario
For Over a Decade, Legislative Paralysis Has Forgotten ‘Dreamers’
Maribel Hastings and David immediate reality, as well as that balanced this system of “liber-
Torres of their families and neighbors. ties”—poorly understood, and
Their middle and long term plans even worse regulated—that makes
T
he 15th of June marked remain in limbo from this moment the United States, and especial-
the tenth anniversary of on, as their professional develop- ly its society, a laughingstock of
the executive order that ment is truncated, their eventual human history: as a nation that
ex-President Barack Obama is- work experience in their areas of ac- has so much, but lacks the com-
sued creating Deferred Action for ademic interest definitively limited mon sense to change the im-
Photo/Foto: America’s Voice
Photo/Foto: America’s Voice
Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which and, therefore, the livelihood they pulse of its militarized psychology.
extended work permits and de- dreamed about for themselves and Because if someone thought that
portation relief to thousands of their loved ones is reduced to a job the murder of children in Uvalde
young undocumented immi- that they never imagined, due to would change the minds of Repub-
grants who arrived before 2007. their interest in higher education. licans and the powerful gun lobby-
The DACA anniversary is a remind- ists to have greater regulation—or
“
er of the fragility of the program even just keep military arms out of the moment is replaced with some migrant workers, and complaints
and the inaction of Congress to pro- reach of unbalanced young peo- other issue…and the matter is not because the so-called “Dreamers”
vide a permanent solution, whether ple under 18 years of age, in gun resolved. Until the next killing and still don’t have legalization, and
The DACA anniversary it be just for “Dreamers” or as part and pawn shops—well, that would repeat of the same song and dance. the temporary protection they re-
is a reminder of the of that elusive migration reform. be a mistake. The massacre of chil- Essentially, the nation has become ceived a decade ago is on the tight
fragility of the program And these days, as electoral winds dren in Sandy Hook, in 2012, also desensitized to gun violence and rope of the courts. Recall that even
and the inaction of blow, that inaction and delay in didn’t bring them to their senses. inaction to confront it. That is why, the hands who harvest and process
Congress to provide a Congress is not limited to immi- The issue of guns is like a soap right now, those “lone wolf” su- our foods, farm workers, most-
permanent solution. gration, but also other measures, opera that repeats itself over and premacists are lying in wait for the ly don’t have documentation. Re-
such as gun control bills—in a na- over again, with the same begin- next sign of hate rhetoric toward publicans, for their part, go to the
tion sowing cowboy culture, where ning and same end. A killing hap- non-white minority groups to act, border to stage theater about the
A decade later, DACA faces many everything is resolved with bul- pens, and many times the killer in the name of the absurd “Great “crisis” there, telling us that we are
legal hurdles and, in fact, a court lets. In recent days, on top of the is motivated by racism and other Replacement” conspiracy theory, being “invaded,” but they are the
ruling limits it to renewing work massacres in Buffalo, New York prejudices; the news media, na- which their new/old “heroes” wield first to block bills that try to reform
permits, not accepting new ap- and Uvalde, Texas, incidents mul- tion, White House, and Congress, these days as campaign strate- immigration laws in their diverse
plications. Around 100,000 young tiplied in diverse cities around in turn, express their consternation gy to push their neo-Nazi agenda. manifestations: border, asylum, un-
people will graduate from high the country, ending in shootings, over what happened; at the same It’s the same with immigration. A documented immigrants, et cetera.
school this year without the pos- deaths, and wounded people. time, Congress dusts off gun con- thousand studies could be cited Those Republicans are not betting
sibility of obtaining a work permit, The international projection of trol measures that are never ap- about the benefits to this country
a situation that complicates their these images has once again re- proved; time goes on, the shock of of legalizing undocumented im- See Hastings/Torres on page 16
Tras una Década, la Parálisis Legislativa ha Olvidado a los Dreamers
Maribel Hastings y David
Torres
este año sin la posibilidad de ob-
tener un permiso de trabajo, una
del Congreso en proveer una solu-
ción permanente, ya sea solo para
La proyección internacional de
esas imágenes ha vuelto a poner
“
Por ello, el aniversario de
DACA es un recordatorio
situación que complica su realidad los Soñadores o como parte de la en la balanza un sistema de “lib-
E
l 15 de junio marca el déci- inmediata, la de sus familias y la de esquiva reforma migratoria. ertades” mal entendidas y peor sobre la fragilidad
mo aniversario de la orden sus vecindarios. Y por estos días en que so- reguladas, que hacen ver a Esta- del programa y de la
ejecutiva que giró el ex- Sus planes a mediano y largo plan vientos electorales, esa inac- dos Unidos, pero sobre todo a su inacción del Congreso
presidente Barack Obama crean- plazos quedan desde este mo- ción y postergación del Congreso sociedad, como el hazmerreír de en proveer una solución
do la Acción Diferida para los Lle- mento en el limbo, pues su for- no se limitan a inmigración, sino a la historia humana con una nación permanente.
gados en la Infancia (DACA), que mación profesional queda trunca- otras medidas, como por ejemplo que lo tiene todo, menos cordura
ha otorgado permisos de trabajo y da, su eventual experiencia laboral proyectos de ley sobre el control para modificar los ímpetus de su
amparo de la deportación a miles en su ámbito de interés académi- de armas en una nación que se- psicología militarizada. casas de empeño—, pues se volvió
de jóvenes indocumentados que co se limita definitivamente y, meja un pueblo vaquero donde Porque si se pensaba que la a caer en el error. La masacre de
llegaron antes de 2007. por ende, el sustento con el que todo se soluciona a balazos. En matanza de niños en Uvalde iba a niños en Sandy Hook en 2012 tam-
Una década después, DACA soñaban para ellos y sus seres estos últimos días, además de las cambiar las mentes de republica- poco los sensibilizó.
enfrenta muchos escollos legal- queridos se reduce a un trabajo en masacres de Buffalo, Nueva York, nos y de los poderosos cabilderos Este tema de las armas es
es y, de hecho, un fallo judicial lo el que no se imaginaban, dado su y Uvalde, Texas, se multiplicaron de las armas para, al menos, ten- como una novela que se repite una
limita a renovar permisos y a no interés en estudios superiores. incidentes durante el pasado fin er mayores regulaciones —o bien, y otra vez con el mismo princip-
aceptar nuevas solicitudes. Son Por ello, el aniversario de DACA de semana en diversas ciudades a eliminar armas militares que están io y el mismo final. Se produce la
alrededor de 100,000 los jóvenes es un recordatorio sobre la fragili- través del país, que culminaron en a la disposición de desequilibrados
que se graduarán de preparatoria dad del programa y de la inacción balaceras, muertos y heridos. jóvenes de 18 años en armerías y Vea Hastings/Torres/Esp, página 18
5 16 de Junio 2022
Commentary/Commentario
How ICE Sidesteps the Law to Find and Deport People
information with federal agencies However, it is not only ICE cir- true public safety for all commu- accountable for their complicitous
without a warrant or criminal in- cumventing Colorado’s policies. nities. Yet operations that bypass data sharing. We cannot allow ICE
vestigation. The state has also en- County sheriffs also engage in in- state laws will continue to lead to or LexisNexis to continue to grow,
sured that no civil immigration ar- formation sharing through data numerous human rights violations, in Colorado or any other state in the
rests can be conducted on the way contracts with the same company. including violations of the right to country, by collecting and sharing
to court, at court, on the way back It’s possible that not all offices are privacy and the right to live free data that undermines state law and
from court, or at probation offices. aware of their participation in this from discrimination. engenders human rights abuses.
These protections have all been set workaround. Some are aware: the The findings of this report high-
in place to ensure immigrants can chief of operations for the Den- light the need for bolder policies Ana Temu Otting is an
begin to rebuild trust within local ver County Sheriff’s Office, Vincent that keep communities’ personal Immigration Campaign
Photo: ACLU-CO
government to engage in civic life, Line, is on Accurint’s board. By us- data private and ensure that feder- Coordinator with the American
call for emergency services, get a ing Accurint Virtual Crime Center al agencies comply with state law. Civil Liberties Union of
driver’s license, or feel safe going and Public Safety Exchange, crim- However, the burden to correct this Colorado.
to court. inal justice data from 87 policing injustice doesn’t fall to ICE alone.
Ana Temu Otting Rather than obeying the intent agencies in Colorado — including Both Appriss Solutions and coun- Read More Commentary:
of the law, ICE has begun to seek booking and release time data — is ty sheriffs’ offices need to be held ELSEMANARIO.US
O
n an idle Tuesday after- out new ways to find and deport stored in LexisNexis databases that
noon, I received the call I people. In a report recently re- ICE can access.
had always feared most: leased by the Colorado Immigrant Many states have policies in
My brother had been picked up Rights Coalition, ICE contracted place to prevent these sorts of ar-
by Immigration and Customs En- with data broker Appriss Solutions rests by ICE. In July 2021, ICE iden-
forcement (ICE). The tactic the offi- in order to get backdoor access to tified 463 jails across the country
cers used was not new. My broth- data that the 2019 law barred law as uncooperative with immigra-
er’s probation officer had shared enforcement officers from shar- tion detainer requests and another
his meeting time with ICE, and they ing directly. Appriss enables ICE 156 as proving limited cooperation.
had waited outside of the building agents to access real-time book- The organization has been candid
to arrest him. A year later, in 2019, I ing data through a platform called about contracting with LexisNexis
was able to call my brother to tell LexisNexis Accurint Virtual Crime for the purpose of side-stepping
him Colorado had passed a law Center. state policies. In a budgetary ex-
prohibiting probation officers from LexisNexis sells itself as bring- planation as to why they wanted to
sharing personally identifiable in- ing “together disconnected data contract with Appriss, the agency
formation like scheduled meeting from over 10,000 different sources, explained: “Due to policy or legis-
times with ICE. The law aimed to including police agencies nation- lative changes, [ICE Enforcement
ensure members of the immigrant wide and public records,” to give and Removals Office] has experi-
community could go to probation law enforcement a “comprehen- enced an increase in the number
meetings and fulfill their court re- sive view of people’s identities,” of law enforcement agencies and
quirements without fear, because according to their website. While state or local governments that do
court officers would no longer be historically there has not been a not share information about real
cooperating with ICE. It was an ef- way for LexisNexis to directly share time incarceration of foreign-born
fort to restore trust and confidence data with ICE, a recent transition in nationals with ICE … There would
in the judicial process. I thought oth- the company’s data management be a major operational impact
er Coloradans would be protect- practices may make this personal on public safety without these
ed against experiencing what my data directly available to all sub- screening tools.”
family went through. But recently, scription members — including But we know that true public
we learned that ICE is circumvent- ICE. Similar data tools were pre- safety and community trust are
ing the law by using data brokers to viously implemented at a federal at their strongest when ICE isn’t
find and deport immigrants. level with the specific intention of involved in local government op-
targeting Muslim communities af- erations. Immigrants across the
ter 9/11. Accurint has commercial- country are scared to call for help
“
ized the same technology in an at- in their most dire moments of
tempt to privatize law enforcement need because they believe if they
data management — and now, call 911, they may as well be call-
We cannot allow ICE or
agencies like ICE pay to access ing immigration. States across the
LexisNexis to continue
data that lawmakers have tried to country are erecting civil liberties
to grow, in Colorado or
keep private. safeguards for a reason: to ensure
any other state in the
country, by collecting
and sharing data that
undermines state law
and engenders human
rights abuses.
For decades, immigrant com-
munities have fought for protec-
tion from unjust enforcement due
to collaboration between ICE and
local governments. In recent years,
Colorado has passed laws prohibit-
ing state agencies and employees
from sharing personally identifying
16 de Junio 2022 6
Commentary/Commentario
Movement to Restore Ex-Felons' Voting Rights is Now Focusing on the States
Benjamin Barber served their sentences. From 2016 enfranchised in six of the 13 South- serving a felony sentence in a cor-
to 2020, at least 13 states expand- ern states — Alabama, Florida, rectional institution or facility at the
I
n recent years, voting rights ed to some degree voting rights for Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, time of the election.” As a conse-
advocates and state lawmak- ex-felons, including the Southern and Virginia. quence, the movement to restore
ers have made significant states of Alabama, Florida, Ken- With the midterm elections now ex-felons’ voting rights is now fo-
strides in restoring voting rights to tucky, Louisiana, and Virginia. underway, efforts are continuing in cusing on the states.
U.S. citizens with felony convic- Historians point out that felony several Southern states to restore
tions. disenfranchisement laws are root- voting rights to people with felo- A court challenge in Mississippi
Photo: via Common Dreams
ed in the Jim Crow era and were ny convictions who’ve complet- Earlier this year in Mississippi, the
“
implemented to suppress Black ed their sentences. Those efforts legislature passed Senate Bill 2536,
electoral power. After Black men could potentially have some im- a Republican-sponsored propos-
were granted the right to vote in pact on the outcome of the elec- al that would have made it easier
"At a time when most
1870, Southern states started to tions: A 2019 study found that laws for individuals with felony convic-
states have repealed
adopt such laws, along with others re-enfranchising ex-felons had a tions to regain their voting rights
their disfranchisement
designed to prevent Black voters “positive, but not statistically signif- after completing their sentences. Under current Mississippi law,
laws, it is time to remove
from casting a ballot. According to icant, effect” on the vote share of However, Gov. Tate Reeves (R) ve- voting rights can be restored only
from Mississippi's
a 2003 study from scholars at the Democratic candidates and turn- toed it. Mississippi remains among by a gubernatorial pardon or leg-
constitution this
University of Minnesota and North- out rates of minority voters in U.S. the fewer than 10 states nationwide islation that passes both the state
backward provision that
western University, the greater a House elections. that do not automatically restore House and Senate by a two-thirds
was enacted with such a
state’s nonwhite prison popula- Voting rights activists had voting rights to people convict- vote. Mississippi is the only state in
vicious purpose."
tion, the more likely it was to adopt pressed Congress to pass federal ed of felonies after they complete the nation that typically requires
Vangela M. Wade, stringent felony disenfranchise- legislation to restore the franchise their sentence. The law derives legislative action to restore ex-fel-
Mississippi Center for ment laws. Currently, 11 states still to ex-felons nationwide. But in Jan- from the state’s constitutional con- ons’ voting rights. During the 2022
Justice permanently disenfranchise at uary, the Democrats’ far-reaching vention of 1890 that sought to de- state legislative session, lawmak-
least some individuals from voting pro-democracy bill failed to garner velop a plan to block Black people ers took action to restore voting
due to past criminal convictions, in- enough votes to overcome threats from voting. State officials adopted rights to just five people, while
In the 2020 U.S. presidential cluding five in the South: Alabama, of a Republican filibuster. The a provision that barred voting by only 185 Mississippians convicted
election, 5.17 million people were Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, and measure would have established people convicted of specific felo- of felonies have had their voting
disenfranchised due to a felony Tennessee. one national standard for restoring nies — and the crimes they chose rights restored by the legislature
conviction, according to the Sen- These laws continue to have a rights by mandating that a person’s to include were those they thought since 1997, The Guardian reports.
tencing Project — 15% fewer than disproportionate impact on Black right to vote could not be “denied Black people were more likely to And 2018 data shows that while
in 2016, as states implemented people and communities of color. or abridged because that individu- commit. There are currently 23 Black people account for just 36%
measures to restore voting rights to For example, as of 2020 more than al has been convicted of a criminal specific crimes that result in a life-
people with felony convictions who one in seven Black adults were dis- offense unless such individual is long voting ban in the state. See Barber on page 18
Election Results Hold Hope, Hazard
Dede Feldman
T
he June 2022 primary saw
the first full-fledged use
of same-day registration,
where voters wanting to cast a bal-
lot for the first time, or after a lapse
or a change of address, did not
have to make it happen weeks in
Photo: via Source NM
advance.
They could simply appear on
Primary Election Day — or during
the early voting period — with the
proper identification, get regis-
tered and vote. It’s a reform that Simultaneously, another change
advocates, including the secretary allowed independents or “decline-
of state, had been working on for to-state” (DTS) voters the oppor-
years to enfranchise as many peo- tunity to vote in partisan primaries
ple as possible, even the procrasti- — if, and only if, they changed their
nators. It finally came to pass. registration to any of New México’s
three major parties: Democrat, Re-
“
publican or Libertarian.
This was not the fully open pri-
mary that many advocates had
The combination of those wanted where independents could
election updates enabled ask for a ballot of their choice with-
over 10,000 voters out changing their registration. But
statewide to participate it was a heck of a lot better than the
in the June primary who usual completely closed prima-
wouldn’t have been able ry system, which disenfranchised
to otherwise. about 23% of our voters who are
See Feldman on page 20
7 16 de Junio 2022
COVID-19 News / Noticias COVID-19
Struggling to Survive: Covid-19’s Impact on Youth Mental Health
By Sunita Sohrabji the department seemed to be re- I have immediate family mem-
actionary rather than preventative. bers who lost their loved ones to
C
hildren have been hit hard Do you have to be at an abso- COVID-19 and it was not a great ex-
by the COVID-19 pandem- lute breaking point to see a provid- perience to say the least. I definite-
ic and mental stressors er within the next 24 hours? That ly never want to go through some-
quickly pile up, disproportionally af- just doesn’t sound right. thing so traumatic again.
fecting racially diverse youth. Teen
suicide and depression rates are as Many people have talked about
“
alarming as deaths from the virus, the lack of culturally appropriate
but few mental health resources mental health experts. When
are available to address this shad- you—or your friends—sought out
ow of the pandemic, especially help, did you find your provider “I couldn’t exactly open
within communities of color. could relate to your concerns? up to my family about
According to data released by This is such an important question. these things as mental
the Centers for Disease Control and We absolutely need more men- health is not really a thing
Prevention in March 2022, 37% of tal health experts who aren’t just to them.”
Photo: Courtesy Jocelyn Frias
high school students reported they white people or men. I say this be- Jocelyn Frias
experienced poor mental health cause during many of my sessions
during the COVID-19 pandemic I would talk about my undocu-
while 44% said they persistently mented family members and their
felt sad or hopeless during the past immigration story, my queerness, I actually got COVID in Decem-
year. More than half of these stu- my upbringing in an unincorporat- ber 2020 before the vaccine was
dents reported experiencing emo- Jocelyn Frias graduated from UC Merced on May 14, with dual degrees in political ed community in the Central Val- available. It was super awful for
science and philosophy.
tional abuse by a parent or other ley, my Chicana identity, my low-in- me: constant migraines, my body
adult in the home, and 11% suffered struggles she and her friends Did you seek professional help? come background, my first-gen felt so sore, I had trouble breathing,
physical abuse by a parent, includ- faced as they navigated online I was officially diagnosed with a status, and other identities. I would and I lost my sense of smell which
ing being hit, beaten, kicked, or learning amid the pandemic, and generalized anxiety disorder and just get nods or sympathy and to never came back the same for me.
physically harmed. other challenges due to a lack of depression in the summer of 2020. I me that was irritating. I also almost missed Christmas
“The pandemic has exacer- peer engagement and having no- was put on prescribed medication, (EMS note: fewer than 6 percent with my immediate family as I was
bated the mental health crisis for where to turn to aid in their mental but I couldn’t exactly open up to my of mental health providers in Cali- three hours away. That was difficult
young people. It is just out of con- health. family about these things as mental fornia are people of color) because social interactions are im-
trol. I’m seeing kids every day who health is not really a thing to them. portant to me. Thankfully, I tested
are suffering from anxiety and de- You just graduated from UC There were constant isola- We have heard that the vaccine negative a day or two before.
pression,” said Dr. Jennifer Miller, Merced: congratulations. How tion periods and anxiety and pan- has given people peace of mind So, if your body is able to, please
who serves with East Bay Pediat- did the pandemic impact your ic attacks. Working, sleeping, and to resume some of their pre- get vaccinated.
rics in Oakland, California. ability to finish college? eating in the same room was not pandemic activities. How has EMS Note: Parents can support
“Kids are overwhelmed. And I definitely noticed the increase in healthy. getting vaccinated impacted their kids’ mental health by getting
therapists are over-burdened, not academic obstacles. I failed two Navigating mental illness and you? them vaccinated. Over 20 million
able to answer parents’ calls. We courses for the first time in my life. neurodivergent assessments is not It’s definitely given me more peace children and teens in the US have
had hoped that returning children Staring at a screen was what I did; easy during any time period, espe- of mind as I navigate social spaces, been safely protected from the worst
to school would make a difference, I could not focus most of the time. cially during a global pandemic. grocery shopping, and other day- outcomes of COVID-19 by getting
but for many children, it has not.” I would clean, sleep, draw, or do to-day activities. Especially be- vaccinated—allowing them to thrive
Jocelyn Frias, the daughter of anything else. How easy was it to find a mental cause I live in Kern County, a very and participate in sports and activi-
undocumented immigrants, is a Online learning was not easy for health provider? conservative area which seems to ties that enrich their lives.
youth leader with LOUD for Tomor- my brain. I felt alone and drained. Many of my friends sought out think COVID-19 just vanished.
row, a non-profit, volunteer-driven It wasn’t just classes that switched mental health providers. At UC I am slowly trying to do things Sunita Sohrabji is a Reporter
organization aiming to transform to online, it was also conferences, Merced, we had access to CAPS like go to the gym and other pop- with Ethnic Media Services.
California schools and commu- networking, organizational meet- (Counseling and Psychological ulated activities; I always notice Reproduced with permission by
nities through civic engagement, ings, and work. We literally did ev- Services). Those services were I am one of very few people with Ethnic Media Services.
advocacy, community healing, erything in the exact same spot all free which was amazing. Therapy masks on. Knowing I am vaccinat-
and education, including informa- day. and different healthcare services ed and boosted makes me feel a Read More COVID-19 News:
tion on the safety and efficacy of I was expected to be this ma- can be very expensive, so that was ton better. ELSEMANARIO.US
COVID-19 vaccination and boost- chine of productivity, but I just such a privilege.
ers to help ease anxiety. couldn’t do it. Especially as some- But there were limited providers
On May 14, Frias graduated from one with mental illnesses and nav- and appointments, so you could
UC Merced with dual degrees in igating other personal life obsta- go weeks without an appointment.
political science and philosophy. cles. I was struggling financially The only way to get in sooner was
She is the first member of her fam- and facing a housing crisis in Mer- to answer draining questions about
ily to attend college. ced on top of everything else. I whether you were serious about
In an interview with Ethnic Me- genuinely wanted to drop out after harming yourself or someone else.
dia Services, Frias chronicled the numerous breakdowns. That always bothered me because
Provided to you by:
16 de Junio 2022 8
Cover /Portada
New México Wildfire Reignites Long-Standing Tensions
By Alicia Inez Guzmán toward Hermits Peak in New Méx-
ico. Before a tsunami of flames
T
he air smells of ash and the ripped through this canyon in Tierra
landscape is leached of col- Monte, the canopy was so thick that
or. Spots of green punctuate it was impossible to see the near-
the valley floor in places. But along by mountain. But two prescribed
the ridges, the powdery residue of burns set by the U.S. Forest Service
charred trees has fallen like snow, — one on Hermits Peak, the other
accumulating up to 4 inches deep. in Calf Canyon to the southwest —
These are the slices of forest where have changed all that.
the fire burned the hottest, scorch- When the blazes merged to
ing ponderosa pines from crown form the biggest wildfire in state
to root. Once titans, they are now history, flames engulfed nearly 160
Photo/Foto: Nadav Soroker/Searchlight New Mexico
matchsticks. acres of riparian forest that once
Pola López (cover photo) ges- belonged to her father. “It wiped us
tures in their direction, southward out,” López says.
Antonia Roybal-Mack at her office in New México. / Antonia Roybal-Mack en su oficina de Nuevo México.
Like so many in the devasta- settlers, Indigenous peoples and As the conflagration whips
tion zone, she squarely places others of mixed descent to obtain through public and private lands
the blame on the USFS, not only tracts of land at the edge of the — as of June 6, burning nearly 500
for starting a prescribed burn in northern frontier, during Spanish square miles — anger, frustration
the windy month of April — when and Mexican rule. From the late and grief define the tenor at pub-
gusts reached 70 miles per hour — 1600s forward, scores of these set- lic forums, in evacuation centers
but for a century of conflict with ru- tlers were granted ejidos, or wild- and on social media. Some locals
ral communities. Known locally as land and forest commons. say that, if given the chance, they
La Floresta, the USFS is often seen would have practiced far more
“
as a feudal lord, a faraway govern- sustainable forest thinning in part-
ment entity that has accumulat- nership with the USFS, thereby
ed vast holdings with little idea of lessening the impacts of a cata-
“Really pissed
how to properly steward them or strophic fire. Others criticize the
off is literally an
enough funds to do the job. way fire crews heavily relied on
understatement.”
The community’s fury runs al- backburning, a fire-suppression
most too deep for words, says Antonia Roybal-Mack, tactic that involves starting smaller
Antonia Roybal-Mack, a Mora na- New México Resident fires to deprive a larger wildfire of
tive whose family lost hundreds of fuel.
acres to the fire. “Really pissed off is The Santa Fe National Forest,
literally an understatement.” In the late 1800s and ear- for its part, is committed to work-
In nearly two dozen interviews ly 1900s, a mostly Anglo cadre of ing in tandem with local residents
with people affected by the Her- speculators and profiteers began and sustaining “traditional com-
mits Peak/Calf Canyon fire, the to claim ownership of the com- munities, their cultures, traditions
same sentiments emerge: The mons, using subterfuge and legal and values,” according to spokes-
loopholes to essentially transfer
USFS has a history, locals argue, of person Julie Anne Overton. “Col-
mismanaging the forest. In partic- the forests to private ownership laboration and partnerships will
ular, they say the agency has lim- or the federal government. Well continue to be the foundation for
ited or prohibited people from the over one million acres eventually our work in managing our public
long-held tradition of collecting ended up in the jurisdiction of the lands,” she says.
firewood and other timber, the kindUSFS, the University of New Mex- But so fierce are the emotions
of maintenance the forest needed. ico’s Land Grant Studies Program and so profound the losses that
If they had been able to tend to itestimates. Roybal-Mack, a lawyer who now
the way they had for generations, In today’s fire zone, the de- lives in Albuquerque, expects to
they believe the conflagration scendants of the dispossessed file a lawsuit on behalf of hundreds
would have been far less devas- are among the Forest Service’s of plaintiffs, along with the firm
tating. sharpest critics. They are joined in Bauman & Dow.
“The prescribed burn was the their distress by villagers, small- The forests belong to the peo-
match,” says Roybal-Mack. “But the scale farmers, loggers, foragers ple, as San Miguel County Com-
fuel was there for decades when of traditional food and medicine, missioner Janice Varela puts it.
they wouldn’t let people into the Indigenous peoples and acequia “We locals, we feel like, hell
parciantes, caretakers of the age-
forest to collect vigas or firewood.” yes, it’s our forest,” says Varela, a
old irrigation ditches now compro- long-time water activist. “Yeah, we
Century-old harm mised by flames. The USFS has let the Forest Service manage it
Embedded in the tension is the fallen short of its commitment to and we let everybody in the world
history of land grants in New Méx- the land and those who live along-
ico, a system that allowed Spanish side it, they say. See Tensions on page 23
9 16 de Junio 2022
Cover /Portada
El Incendio Forestal de Nuevo México Reaviva las Tensiones de Larga Duración
A medida que la confla- Pero son tan intensas las emo-
gración azota las tierras públicas y ciones y tan profundas las pérdi-
privadas -hasta el 6 de junio, que- das que Roybal-Mack, una aboga-
mando casi 500 millas cuadradas- da que ahora vive en Albuquerque,
la ira, la frustración y el dolor de- espera presentar una demanda en
finen el tenor en los foros públicos, nombre de cientos de demandan-
en los centros de evacuación y en tes, junto con el bufete Bauman &
las redes sociales. Algunos lug- Dow.
areños afirman que, de haber teni- Los bosques pertenecen al
do la oportunidad, habrían prac- pueblo, como dice la comisionada
ticado un clareo forestal mucho del condado de San Miguel, Janice
más sostenible en colaboración Varela.
con el USFS, reduciendo así los “Nosotros, los lugareños, senti-
Foto/Photo: Nadav Soroker/Searchlight New Mexico
efectos de un incendio catastróf- mos que, por supuesto, es nuestro
ico. Otros critican el modo en que bosque”, dice Varela, activista del
los equipos de bomberos recurri- agua desde hace mucho tiempo.
eron en gran medida a la quema a “Sí, dejamos que el Servicio For-
contracorriente, una táctica de su- estal lo gestione y dejamos que
presión de incendios que consiste todo el mundo venga aquí, pero
en iniciar fuegos más pequeños es nuestro bosque. Nos pert-
para privar de combustible a un enece por nuestra proximidad a
incendio mayor. él, por nuestra historia y conexión
El Bosque Nacional de Santa cultural con él, por nuestro cora-
Patrick Griego se encuentra en lo que era el lecho de un arroyo en una zona quemada de su propiedad en Nuevo México. / Patrick Fe, por su parte, se ha compro- zón.”
Griego stands in what was a creek bed in a burned area on his property in New México.
metido a trabajar conjuntamente
Por Alicia Inez Guzmán un señor feudal, una entidad gu- hace décadas, cuando no deja- con los residentes locales y a ‘Fue el Armagedón’
bernamental lejana que ha acu- ban entrar a la gente en el bosque mantener “las comunidades tradi- El caos se desató cuando se or-
E
l aire huele a ceniza y el mulado vastas posesiones con para recoger vigas o leña”. cionales, sus culturas, tradiciones denó la evacuación de los habi-
paisaje se ha quedado poca idea de cómo administrarlas y valores”, según la portavoz Julie tantes de Mora el 2 de mayo, casi
sin color. Algunos puntos adecuadamente o con fondos su- Un daño centenario Anne Overton. “La colaboración un mes después del inicio del in-
verdes marcan el fondo del valle. ficientes para hacer el trabajo. En la tensión está la historia de las y las asociaciones seguirán sien- cendio. “Fue el Armagedón”, dice
Pero a lo largo de las crestas, el concesiones de tierras en Nuevo do la base de nuestro trabajo de Travis Regensberg, un contratista
“
residuo polvoriento de los árbo- México, un sistema que permitía a gestión de nuestras tierras públi-
les carbonizados ha caído como los colonos españoles, a los pueb- cas”, afirma. See Tensiones on page 25
la nieve, acumulándose hasta 4 los indígenas y a otros de ascen-
"Estar realmente
pulgadas de profundidad. Estos dencia mixta obtener extensiones
cabreados es literalmente
son los trozos de bosque donde de tierra en el límite de la frontera
un eufemismo".
el fuego ardió con más fuerza, norte, durante el dominio español
abrasando los pinos ponderosa Antonia Roybal-Mack, y mexicano. A partir de finales del
desde la copa hasta la raíz. Antes residente de Nuevo siglo XVII, muchos de estos colo-
eran titanes, ahora son cerillas. México nos obtuvieron ejidos, o bienes co-
Pola López señala en su direc- munes forestales y silvestres.
ción, hacia el sur, hacia Hermits A finales del siglo XIX y prin-
Peak. Antes de que un tsunami La furia de la comunidad es cipios del XX, un grupo de espe-
de llamas arrasara este cañón casi demasiado profunda para culadores y aprovechados, en su
en Tierra Monte, el dosel era tan las palabras, dice Antonia Roy- mayoría anglosajones, empezó a
espeso que era imposible ver la bal-Mack, una nativa de Mora reclamar la propiedad de los eji-
montaña cercana. Pero dos que- cuya familia perdió cientos de dos, utilizando subterfugios y la-
mas prescritas por el Servicio acres en el incendio. “Estar real- gunas legales para transferir los
Forestal de EE.UU. (USFS) -una mente cabreados es literalmente bosques a la propiedad privada
en Hermits Peak y la otra en Calf un eufemismo”. o al gobierno federal. Más de un
Canyon, al suroeste- han cambia- En casi dos docenas de entrev- millón de acres acabaron en la ju-
do todo eso. istas con personas afectadas por risdicción del USFS, según estima-
Cuando las llamas se unieron el incendio de Hermits Peak/Calf ciones del Programa de Estudios
para formar el mayor incendio for- Canyon, surgen los mismos sen- de Concesión de Tierras de la Uni-
estal de la historia del estado, las timientos: El USFS tiene un his- versidad de Nuevo México.
llamas engulleron casi 160 acres torial, argumentan los lugareños, En la actual zona de incendi-
de bosque ribereño que una vez de mala gestión del bosque. En os, los descendientes de los des-
perteneció a su padre. “Nos ha de- particular, dicen que la agencia ha poseídos se encuentran entre los
jado sin nada”, dice López. limitado o prohibido a la gente la críticos más agudos del Servicio
Al igual que muchos en la zona antigua tradición de recoger leña Forestal. A ellos se unen los al-
devastada, ella culpa directa- y otros tipos de madera, el tipo deanos, los pequeños agricultores,
mente al USFS, no sólo por iniciar de mantenimiento que el bosque los madereros, los buscadores de
una quema prescrita en el ventoso necesitaba. Si hubieran podido alimentos y medicinas tradiciona-
mes de abril—cuando las ráfagas cuidarlo como lo han hecho du- les, los pueblos indígenas y los par-
alcanzaron los 70 kilómetros por rante generaciones, creen que la ciantes de acequias, cuidadores de
hora—sino conflagración habría sido mucho las antiguas acequias ahora com-
por un siglo de conflicto con menos devastadora. prometidas por las llamas. Dicen
las comunidades rurales. Conoci- “La quema prescrita fue la que el USFS no ha cumplido su
do localmente como La Floresta, clave”, dice Roybal-Mack. “Pero compromiso con la tierra y con los
el USFS es visto a menudo como el combustible estaba ahí desde que viven junto a ella.
16 de Junio 2022 10
State News / Noticias del Estado
Grassroots Groups Lead Way on Closing Colorado’s Infant Mortality Gap
COLORADO doulas wandered amid a bright be able to easily meet with clinical
space resonating with upbeat mu- staff about their medical questions.
By Rae Ellen Bichell sic where primarily women of color They also were preparing to hire a
can get massages, meet with birth doula trainer to help increase the
A
s Britney Taylor toured the professionals and support groups, local number of birthing support
Mama Bird Maternity Well- and attend classes on breastfeed- workers of color.
ness Spa in Aurora, during ing, childbirth, and infant care. A major goal of both organi-
its grand opening this spring, she “This is perfect,” Taylor said. Her zations is to reduce a significant
reflected on the birth of her first next birth, she said, “will be com- health disparity in Colorado: Black,
child: a confusing and lonely ex- pletely different.” Hispanic, and American Indian/
Photo/Foto: Rae Ellen Bichell/KHN
perience that resulted in an un- About 12 miles away in north- Alaska Native babies die at higher
planned cesarean section and an eastern Denver, staff members at rates than white and Asian/Pacific
extended period of postpartum the Families Forward Resource Islander babies.
depression. Center were readying a room “Separated out by race/ethnic-
But here in this city abutting where families that might have a ity, our disparities are persistent
Denver, local families and smiling hard time getting to the doctor will and are quite stark,” said Dr. Sunah
Susan Hwang, a neonatologist with
the University of Colorado School Birdie, who goes by one name and is the owner of Mama Bird Maternity Wellness Spa,
of Medicine. says she hopes to provide the support and information for women of color that she
missed during her four pregnancies. / Birdie, quien usa un solo nombre y es la dueña
By several measures, including de Mama Maternity Wellness Spa, dice que espera ofrecer la información y apoyo para las
infant mortality, Colorado is con- mujeres de color que ella no tuvo durante sus cuatro embarazos.
sidered one of the healthiest states. lation has worsened in the past five more of their income and is gearing
For every 1,000 live births, fewer years. The state health department up to promote a law that, starting in
than five babies die before reach- is clear on one big factor: racism. 2024, will give many Colorado par-
ing their first birthday, putting Col- “We know that racism and ents three months of partially paid
orado among about 15 states that structural racism is one of the root leave to care for a new child.
have met a threshold well ahead of causes that can be contributing to According to the March of
a national 2030 target. that chronic stress in people’s lives Dimes — which tracks state ef-
Centers for Disease Con- that can contribute to prematurity, forts to reduce infant mortali-
trol and Prevention data for 2003 which can then lead to infant mor- ty and preterm birth — Colorado
through 2019, the largest range for tality,” said Mandy Bakulski, ma- has achieved four out of six poli-
which comparable data is avail- ternal and infant wellness section cy measures thought to improve
able, shows that the gap between manager for the state health de- maternal and infant health, which
non-Hispanic Black and non-His- partment. are closely intertwined. Most im-
panic white infant mortality rates portant, it expanded Medicaid in
“
has narrowed more quickly in Col- 2013, which researchers say helps
orado than nationally. The Colora- to lower infant mortality, though it’s
do gap started out wider than the unclear whether it has helped nar-
national gap but is now narrower. “We’re serving women row racial gaps.
But according to state health of color. Our measure of “We give Colorado a ‘B.’ That
department data, only Asian/Pacif- success is happy mom, is much better than a lot of states
ic Islander and non-Hispanic white happy baby.” — certainly better than the states
babies have reached the 2030 Birdie, Mama Bird that are surrounding Colorado,”
goal. And despite a dramatic drop Maternity Wellness Spa said Edward Bray, senior director of
in mortality among Black babies state affairs for March of Dimes. But
in the past 20 years, their mortality there is “room for improvement.”
rate, at about 10 deaths per 1,000 Infant mortality is just one One imminent change the orga-
live births in 2020, remains far high- health measure that disproportion- nization expects will help: Colora-
er than the state average. Hispanic ately affects Black, Hispanic, and do is in the process of temporarily
babies, meanwhile, are still dying American Indian/Alaska Native extending Medicaid eligibility, so
at about the same rate as 20 years Coloradans: Compared with other that more low-income women will
ago, with more than six deaths per Coloradans, they are more likely have coverage for a year after they
1,000 live births. (Data for Ameri- to die of kidney disease, diabetes, give birth, rather than the typical
can Indian/Alaska Native babies covid-19, car crashes, and other two months. That change is part of
was not consistently available be- maladies, according to the state a bundle of laws passed last year
cause the numbers were too small health department. that, among other things, elevated
to yield meaningful rates.) Bakulski said that in recent medical mistreatment during the
If Black and Hispanic infants years state health officials have perinatal period to a civil rights is-
had the same infant mortality rate “flipped” their approach in reac- sue reportable to the Colorado Civil
as non-Hispanic white infants in tion to community feedback on Rights Commission.
the state, about 200 babies would the state’s infant mortality gaps, However, advocates, research-
have been spared from 2018 to and a multistate project that stud- ers, and professionals who work
2020 alone, according to a KHN ied a wide range of possible inter- with families of color say there is
data analysis. ventions. Bakulski’s team said the more the state can and should do.
One major reason babies die combination led them to conclude First, they say, create a workforce
is that they are born too early. Ac- that “getting money in the pockets of culturally competent care pro-
cording to March of Dimes data, of people was a way that we could viders, including doulas.
Colorado was among 22 states be improving health outcomes.” “Research has supported that
where a preterm birth disparity So the department has been doulas help with better outcomes
between the best-faring demo- pushing the benefit of child tax
graphic and the rest of the popu- credits that allow families to keep See Infant on page 2011 16 de Junio 2022
State News / Noticias del Estado
Grupos de Base Lideran el Camino para Cerrar la Brecha de Mortalidad Infantil
COLORADO Por lo tanto, el departamento ha
“
estado impulsando el beneficio de
Por Rae Ellen Bichell los créditos fiscales por hijos que
permiten a las familias conservar
“Estamos sirviendo a
M
ientras Britney Taylor una mayor parte de sus ingresos, y mujeres de color. Nuestra
recorría Mama Bird Ma- se está preparando para promov- medida del éxito es mamá
ternity Wellness Spa er una ley que, a partir de 2024, feliz, bebé feliz”.
durante su inauguración esta pri- otorgará a muchos padres de Col-
Birdie, Mama Bird
mavera, pensó en el nacimiento orado tres meses de licencia par-
Maternity Wellness Spa
de su primer hijo: una experiencia cialmente paga para cuidar de un
confusa y solitaria que resultó en nuevo niño.
Foto/Photo: Rae Ellen Bichell/KHN
una cesárea no planificada y un Según March of Dimes, que
largo período de depresión po- realiza un seguimiento de los es- grado cuatro de las seis medidas
sparto. fuerzos estatales para reducir la de política pensadas para mejorar
Pero aquí, en esta ciudad veci- mortalidad infantil y los nacimien-
na a Denver, familias locales y tos prematuros, Colorado ha lo- Vea Infantil, página 22
sonrientes doulas (personas que
ofrecen apoyo emocional duran-
De izq. a der., Shawn Taylor, Joy Senyah y Alliss Hardy dirigen los programas y la
te el embarazo y el parto, pero no divulgación en el Families Forward Resource Center. El centro recibe fondos federales
atención médica) deambulaban para brindar a las personas con embarazos de alto riesgo servicios como ayuda para
amamantar, suministros para bebés y atención de salud mental. / Shawn Taylor (from
por un espacio luminoso y con left), Joy Senyah, and Alliss Hardy direct programs and outreach at Families Forward Resource
música alegre, en donde principal- Center. The center receives federal funding to provide people with high-risk pregnancies with
services such as breastfeeding help, infant supplies, and mental health care.
mente mujeres de color pueden
recibir masajes, reunirse con pro- Los datos de los Centros para el Según datos de March of Dimes,
fesionales y grupos de apoyo, y Control y la Prevención de Enfer- Colorado estaba entre los 22 es-
asistir a clases sobre lactancia ma- medades (CDC) de 2003 a 2019, el tados en donde la disparidad de
terna, parto y cuidado infantil. rango más grande para el cual hay nacimientos prematuros entre el
“Esto es perfecto”, dijo Taylor. Su datos comparables disponibles, grupo demográfico con mejor de-
próximo parto, dijo, “será comple- muestran que la brecha entre las sempeño y el resto de la población
tamente diferente”. tasas de mortalidad infantil de ha empeorado en los últimos cin-
A unas 12 millas de distancia, en negros no hispanos y blancos no co años. El Departamento de salud
el noreste de Denver, personal del hispanos se ha reducido más ráp- del estado tiene claro un factor im-
Families Forward Resource Cen- idamente en Colorado que a niv- portante: el racismo.
ter estaba preparando una sala el nacional. Esta brecha comenzó “Sabemos que el racismo y
en donde las familias a las que se siendo más grande que la nacion- el racismo estructural es una de
les puede dificultar ir al médico al, pero ahora es más estrecha. las causas fundamentales que
podrán reunirse fácilmente con el Pero de acuerdo con los datos pueden estar contribuyendo a ese
personal clínico para obtener re- del Departamento de Salud del estrés crónico en la vida de las
spuestas a sus preguntas médicas. estado, solo los bebés asiáticos/ personas que puede contribuir a
También se preparaban para de las Islas del Pacífico y los blan- la prematuridad, que luego puede
contratar a una entrenadora de cos no hispanos han alcanzado la llevar a la mortalidad infantil”, dijo
doulas, para ayudar a aumentar el meta de 2030. Y a pesar de una caí- Mandy Bakulski, gerenta de la sec-
número local de trabajadoras de da dramática en la mortalidad en- ción de bienestar materno infantil
color de apoyo al parto. tre los bebés negros no hispanos del Departamento de Salud es-
Un objetivo central de ambas en los últimos 20 años, su tasa de tatal.
organizaciones es reducir una dis- mortalidad, de aproximadamente La mortalidad infantil es solo
paridad de salud significativa en 10 muertes por cada 1,000 nacidos una de las medidas de salud que
Colorado: los bebés negros no his- vivos en 2020, sigue siendo mucho afectan de manera despropor-
panos, hispanos y nativos ameri- más alta que el promedio estatal. cionada a los negros no hispanos,
canos/nativos de Alaska mueren Mientras tanto, los bebés his- hispanos y nativos americanos/
a tasas más altas que los bebés panos siguen muriendo aproxima- nativos de Alaska de Colorado: en
blancos no hispanos y los asiáti- damente al mismo ritmo que hace comparación con otros habitantes
cos/de las islas del Pacífico. 20 años, con más de seis muertes del estado, es más probable que
“Separadas por raza/origen ét- por cada 1,000 nacidos vivos. (Los mueran de enfermedad renal, di-
nico, nuestras disparidades son datos de los bebés nativos amer- abetes, covid-19, accidentes de
persistentes y bastante marca- icanos/nativos de Alaska no es- auto y otras enfermedades, según
das”, dijo la doctora Sunah Susan taban disponibles de forma con- el departamento.
Hwang, neonatóloga de la Facul- sistente porque los números eran Bakulski dijo que, en los últimos
tad de Medicina de la Universidad demasiado pequeños para produ- años, los funcionarios de salud es-
de Colorado. cir tasas significativas). tatales han “dado vuelta” su enfo-
Según varios indicadores, in- Si los bebés negros no hispanos que en reacción a los comentarios
cluido el de la mortalidad infantil, e hispanos tuvieran la misma tasa de la comunidad sobre las brechas
Colorado se considera uno de los de mortalidad infantil que los de mortalidad infantil del estado
estados más saludables. Por cada bebés blancos no hispanos en el y un proyecto multiestatal que es-
1,000 nacidos vivos, menos de cin- estado, solo entre 2018 y 2020 se tudió una amplia gama de posibles
co bebés mueren antes de cum- habrían salvado a unos 200 bebés, intervenciones. El equipo de Ba-
plir el año, lo que coloca a Colora- según un análisis de datos de Kai- kulski dijo que la combinación los
do entre cerca de 15 estados que ser Health News (KHN). llevó a concluir que “poner dinero
han alcanzado un umbral muy por Una de las principales razones en los bolsillos de las personas era
delante de la meta nacional para por las que mueren los bebés es una forma que podría mejorar los
2030. que nacen demasiado temprano. resultados de salud”.16 de Junio 2022 12
State News / Noticias del Estado
Actor Andrés Quintero Turns His ‘Love for Theater into a Career’
“
COLORADO talents in songwriting, singing and view, Quintero shared his experi-
dancing lend to his exceptional ence as an immigrant and a Latino
By Belén Pizarro performances. within the sphere of theater.
“Everything that I do Quintero’s credits in television
T
he North American Tour of is outlined by me being and film appearances include “Law El Semanario: Can you tell us
the Tony Award-winning an immigrant in this & Order: SVU”, and “Madam Sec- about your background and
Best Musical country.” retary”, he was featured as co-star your experience coming to the
Moulin Rouge! The Musical is in Andrés Quintero of “The Other Two” on Comedy U.S. with your family, and your
Denver for a limited engagement at Central, and “Odd Mom Out” on experience in Colorado?
Photo/Foto: Courtesy DCPA
The Buell Theatre through June 26. Bravo; and has starred in various Andrés Quintero: I am original-
The spectacular production Throughout his career, Quintero films and commercials. His talents ly from Venezuela— Caracas, Ven-
features a magnificent cast and pro- has appeared in numerous roles in include songwriting, singing, salsa ezuela. I moved to the states and
duction team. Recently, The Week- productions that include, Bat Out of and merengue dancing. Originally Denver in 2001, and went to East
ly Issue/El Semanario interviewed Hell (The New York Theatre), Altar from Caracas, Venezuela, Andres Middle School first, and then I went
Andrés Quintero, a performer cur- Boyz (national tour), Fandango for moved to Colorado with his fam- to Rangeview High School in Auro- Andrés Quintero, a performer currently
rently playing the iconic role of Butterflies (La Mama NYC), In The ily at 11, where he attended and ra. So, my formative years, school playing the iconic role of “Baby Doll” in
Moulin Rouge! The Musical. / Andrés
“Baby Doll” in Moulin Rouge! The Heights (North Carolina Theater), graduated from Rangeview High Quintero, actor que actualmente interpreta el
Musical. and Rent (Gateway Playhouse). His School in Aurora. During the inter- See Quintero on page 24 icónico papel de "Baby Doll" en Moulin Rouge!
El Musical.
El Actor Andrés Quintero Convierte Su ‘Amor Por El Teatro En Una Carrera’
COLORADO La espectacular producción cluyen, Bat Out of Hell (The New en“Law & Order: SVU”, y “Madam se graduó en el Rangeview High
cuenta con un magnífico reparto York Theatre), Altar Boyz (gira na- Secretary”, fue coprotagonista de School de Aurora. Durante la en-
Por Belén Pizarro y equipo de producción. ¡Recien- cional), Fandango for Butterflies (La “The Other Two” en Comedy Cen- trevista, Quintero compartió su ex-
temente, The Weekly Issue/El Se- Mama NYC), In The Heights (North tral, y “Odd Mom Out” en Bravo; y periencia como inmigrante y latino
L
a gira norteamericana del manario entrevistó a Andrés Quin- Carolina Theater), y Rent (Gate- ha protagonizado varias películas dentro del ámbito del teatro.
mejor musical ganador del tero, que actualmente interpreta way Playhouse). Sus talentos en la y anuncios. Sus talentos incluyen
“
premio Tony el icónico papel de “Baby Doll” en composición, el canto y el baile se la composición, el canto y el baile
Moulin Rouge! The Musical está Moulin Rouge! El Musical. prestan a sus excepcionales actu- de salsa y merengue. Originar-
en Denver para un compromiso A lo largo de su carrera, Quin- aciones. io de Caracas, Venezuela, Andrés
limitado en el Buell Theatre hasta tero ha aparecido en numerosos Los créditos de Quintero en apa- se trasladó a Colorado con su fa- “Todo lo que hago está
el 26 de junio. papeles en producciones que in- riciones en televisión y cine incluy- milia a los 11 años, donde asistió y perfilado por ser un
inmigrante en este país”.
Andrés Quintero
El Semanario: ¿Puede hablarnos
de su origen y de su experiencia
al llegar a los Estados Unidos con
su familia, y de su experiencia en
Colorado?
Andrés Quintero: Soy originario
de Venezuela - Caracas, Venezue-
la. Me mudé a los Estados Unidos
y a Denver en 2001, y fui a la East
Middle School primero, y luego a la
Rangeview High School en Aurora.
Así que mis años de formación, los
años escolares fueron en Colora-
do. También es donde empecé a
hacer teatro, y realmente mi ex-
posición en el Teatro Buell, con
el departamento de teatro Ran-
geview, específicamente mis pro-
fesores de teatro: Tammy Strauss
y Pamela McGuire, que decidí con-
vertir mi amor por el teatro en una
carrera. Así que, cuando tenía 18
años, me mudé a Nueva York y fui
a la escuela, y lo he estado hacien-
do desde entonces.
¿Cómo reaccionó su familia
cuando se dedicó al teatro?
Nunca tuve ninguna duda por
parte de ningún miembro de mi
familia para no seguir lo que me
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