Hello everyone, this is Alejandro Gutierrez-Dunca AKA Alex, your host. Today we have a lot to talk! Get ready. On our Elk Grove Edition, I will talk about Political literature, I will answer to the comments from EG News (Thanks for the interests), I will talk about money and what’s in the city council? An article published by Elk Grove Citizen about funding and money in local races intrigues me and finally I will pitch you with my closing points “Why you should vote for Alejandro Gutierrez-Duncan” and for our AfroSaya edition, I have to talk about Dia de los Muertos or Todo Santos as it is called in Bolivia. 

So, let’s go! 

Hi everyone, I am your host, Alex and here is the thing. Political literature. Do you know how many trees need to die before you can have some political literature on your mailbox? I guess you don't, so let me start with that. As a millennium, I learned at a very early age that our environment is in a  fragile situation. I learned that for every single piece of paper we use, a tree needs to die. My teachers in my school life told me that I should be conscious about the use of paper. As we entered into the era of technology, I understood that no tree needs to die in order to use a digital paper. Plus, whatever I put on it, it can be erased and I can still reuse the digital paper. I loved the idea and I am very proud, I have used it in this important moment in my life. 

YES beautiful citizens of Elk Grove, you did not receive massive political literature from me for weeks because of my moral responsibility with the environment. Also, how many of you did really read the political ads. I haven’t and it is annoying! It is unsolicited and we can always go to the internet to find out, right? Now, I understand if some people don’t know how the internet works, or how to access information online, but allow me to be honest and clear, many of you even with political literature on your hands, you still went online, right? Okay so there you go. I am conscious about the environment and I didn’t publish millions of ads; however, I did send out literature about myself with some props, but that’s about it. And I targeted a very specific population. And it went once and it was very modest and simple. 

Fun Facts: I went online and I googled “how many trees die for paper” I click on my first source which I normally don’t do, but it was a .edu, so I went into and it was from the University of Southern Indiana, I believe their facts are true and they listed a very terrifying facts. Come on Americans, we can do better. So listen,  To produce each week's Sunday newspapers, five hundred thousand (500,000) trees must be cut down. If you had a 15-year-old tree and made it into paper grocery bags, you'd get about 700 of them. A busy supermarket could use all of them in under an hour! This means in one year, one supermarket can go through over 6 million paper bags! Imagine how many supermarkets there are just in the United States!!! The average American uses seven trees a year in paper, wood, and other products made from trees. This amounts to about two billion (2,000,000,000) trees per year!Now, you might be saying, but Alex, we can recycle and that is true. According to this report  Recycling a single run of the Sunday New York Times would save seventy five thousand (75,000) trees. Oh so little for what we take!  So do your math. For the city of Elk Grove and District 3, do we need to send physical ads? We are twenty two thousand eligible voters. Should virtual ads be enough? Well, you will prove to us what works and what doesn’t. This Nov. for sure vote! https://www.usi.edu/recycle/paper-recycling-facts/

Moving on from this issue, let’s talk about money and the reasons for a seat in the City Council. It is true and it is very public that our city is rich in resources. YES baby! We have money, but this is not for your personal use, or is it? So for district 3, there are five, cinco, people running for one single seat. Three of them are old politicians. They had their chance, so why are you running again? Anyhow, it is their right and I am glad we are all doing it, but why are you running, really?  And this is my personal thoughts, get ready, here it comes the Cholula, the spice salsa. So, Elk Grove Citizen newspaper says “Spease is (a) top recipient of campaign contributions in the race to represent District 3” so Spease is another candidate who ran before for Elk Grove, for Mayor. So listen “Spease on Oct. 22 reported that he received $99,514 in contributions in this calendar year and spent $88,524 during the same period. He has an ending cash balance of $23,870.”

If we have to do the math and divide that much dinero! Everyone in Elk Grove, district 3 who is eligible to vote, would receive $4.54. Nice!  The article continues and says “Amandeep Singh, who reported $59,542 in contributions and an expenditure total of $24,853. He had a reported cash balance of $37,524.” A lot more to be spent, oh Singh!  As the article gives you more tea (chisme) Maureen Craft, who also ran for the same council seat against Detrick in 2016. Hay Maureen, you don’t give! Good for you. She reported $44,531 in contributions and $35,992 in expenditures for this calendar year. Her reported ending cash balance is $20,937. More chisme, District 3 candidate Lynn Wheat, who ran in Elk Grove’s first directly elected mayoral race in 2012, Another person who ran ! Come on people, Anyhow, she  reported $7,108 in contributions and $6,286 in expenditures in this calendar year. And right at the end, our dear, Alejandro Gutierrez-Duncan (me), “who joined the District 3 race in May “(Thanks for the reminder) and it should say, who is running for the very first time, like a virgin, He is running for change and deserves an opportunity. LOL , “reported $2,695 in campaign contributions received and $2,246 spent on his campaign.” So there you go! As you can see. I am running because I believe in change and I think there is too much money and I hope that this doesn’t answer the payback. I mean if you get a money contribution, later this donor, big mamas! Will ask you for a return. Like my mother used to say, “nada”, nothing is free in this capitalist society, so you should wonder about that. In my case, I'm running or ran because I think money is not what we need to be on the city council. We need people with leadership, and skills and a representative who cares about our city. I am that one. I have no other interest than making this place for everyone, really for everyone. I am a high school teacher who started in 2017 at Cosumnes Oaks High School here in Elk Grove and my dedication for equality and opportunities are now driving me into this new passion. I really hope you are making the right decision and choose someone who is interested in change and in building a better place for all and not in money. If you have not voted yet, please consider my candidacy and vote for Alejandro Gutierrez-Duncan. If you have questions or follow-ups please write directly to [email protected] or visit our website www.votealejandro.us (http://www.votealejandro.us/)

Now, let open AfroSaya!  

November first and second are very important days for the Latino Community. Those are the days we celebrate part of our traditions. Although Dia de los muertos and Todo Santos are a mix of traditions (religious - Catholic and indigenous beliefs) they are part of who we are. Dia de Los Muertos is probably the most popular tradition celebrated in the US. I will talk about Todo Santos, which is a Bolivian holiday and how Afrobolivians celebrate this. There are food, music and family gatherings. How during COVID-19 this celebration is changing our traditions? Let’s talk about it.  Food is very important during these festivities. Food is prepared in advance and I will share a little bit of my personal experience. When I was a kid, I would visit the house of my uncle/grandpa’s house. Tio Mario. he was the person who will ensure there are the necessary ingredients for the long -- three + days of celebration. He used to get all the beef, vegetables, rice, pasta and flour ready for Todo Santos. On Nov. 1 at 12pm, people set up a mesas or a Welcoming table with candles, flowers, drinks and a picture of a relative or a family member who died and we want to receive them back. During the rest of the afternoon, people chew Coca leaves (Pikchar) and they share drinks and talks.  

As a kid, I thought that death was just a moment to leave earth and you will come back on Nov. 1 to check on family and friends.I thought you never really leave, but I was wrong.  As a kid you can only understand what you can. 

On November second, our beloved ones will return to the land of death. People pack all the food and drinks made in their honor and take them alongside with a lot of pan de muerto to the cemetery. In Bolivia this breed is called TantaWawas. While in the cemetery, people sit near, around, or on top of the graves and talk about the life of the person. They usually share good memories. 

Music is playing everywhere. Some people bring musical instruments and they play all day. This event is usually between three to six hours. In Bolivia kids and adults come to the grave of your loved ones and they will say “Podemos resar” Can we pray for your loved ones?” After you give them the approval, they pray out loud and as a thank you, you give them food and Pan the Muerto or TantaWawas. There is no money involved in all of these. 

When the night comes, people return home, but my family will continue the celebration of Todo Santos. We will head back to Tio Mario’s house. While there, my cousins and I will watch movies. Sometimes we will watch horror movies, some other times fun movies or comedies. I remember my mom being in the kitchen along with other tias cooking and gossiping about someone’s else. But one thing you will never miss those days was food. There was always plenty and good food. The next day, my cousins and I will go to a local basketball court and play. We used to get competitive. 

As a teenager, I remember celebrating this holiday with African music AFROSAYA music. This came a little late in our family because for many years, Afro Bolivians were not allowed to celebrate or incorporate their ancestry in a religious indigenous culture. However, in rural towns, Afrobolivians were all long ago celebrating with their African roots. You can hear music, smell and eat food like Mondongo or Fritanga and enjoy a unique drink like Yungueñito to honor a loved one, and the celebration is extended to 5 days.

During COVID-19 the celebration did not stop anyone. People are still going to the cemeteries and they are celebrating like COVID-19 never happened. I wonder if this is going to be a similar picture here in the US during Thanksgiving or Christmas.  

My younger sister who still celebrates Todo Santos, was recently cleaning the grave of our mother and she said, yes we are still going to celebrate. We will take care, but this is who we are, this is our tradition and we only celebrate one time every year. 

I can only wish them a safe holiday. 

Tell me how are you celebrating Dia de los Muertos or Todo Santos? Write us to [email protected]

I hope you like our show today. We will have more in the upcoming days. AfroSaya will return to their regular program and we have much more to share because our Afrolatinidad is too big to end soon! 

Thank you so much for hanging out with me. Please take and vote if you are here in the US. Your vote matters!