"An excellent way to greet the beginning of the HoliDaze was the annual CASTRO TREE LIGHTING ceremony produced by the CASTRO BENEFIT DISTRICT at Castro and 18th streets on December 1 this year. Emceed by Donna Sachet, several folx spoke, including Mayor Daniel Lurie (who remarked he had seen a lot of trees this year, but none quite like this one), Senator Scott Wiener, Per Sia, President of the SF Board of Supervisors & Bay Times columnist Rafael Mandelman, and Supervisor Matt Haney."
"Sister Dana sez, "Just what we needed: more jails for more people who might have been good citizens! We really gotta melt the ICE!" And just to add to the absurdity, Trump had pardoned the most prolific convicted drug smuggler in American history, former Honduran President Juan Hernandez, who then got released from jail on December 2 this year-having been previously declared guilty by an American jury to 45 years imprisonment for smuggling 400 tons of cocaine into the USA."
The Castro tree lighting at Castro and 18th streets featured music, poetry, community leaders, a countdown, and a rainbow-trimmed tree illuminated with white fairy lights. A local pride band performed holiday favorites, attendees sang along, and Santa arrived for the celebration. Federal immigration enforcement signed a $30 million contract to repurpose tariff-era warehouse vacancies into processing centers and mega centers, raising concerns about expanded detention. Former Honduran President Juan Hernández, convicted by a U.S. jury for smuggling 400 tons of cocaine and sentenced to 45 years, received a pardon and was released, provoking political outrage alongside holiday festivities.
Read at San Francisco Bay Times
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