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NEWS • Local News Written by Yunisa DELGADO-FLORES • June 11th, 2022 - 6:05AM "Local citizens have the right to know", DA Terentiy Schwetz unveils Brady list for the public to see Earlier this week, Terentiy Schwetz announced that the Los Santos County District Attorney Office's Brady list, a list of law enforcement officers in Los Santos County who aren't viewed as credible, will be remain public. The Halls of Justice - Yunisa Delgado-Flores, June 11th 2022 The past few years saw the rise of movements and protests against the police system and its departments within the United States and across the world. Following George Floyd’s death in Minnesota, caused by police officer Derek Chauvin who knelt on his neck for 9 minutes while arresting him — as well as after many other high-profile cases such as Breonne Taylor’s death during a “no-knock warrant” in Kentucky, and the handling of Ahmaud Arbery’s murder by Georgia’s Glynn County Police Department —, many called into question how accountable the police are in their communities and the extent of the powers that they hold. One tool that prosecutors across the country have to help against the corrupt and abusive police officers within our communities are Brady Lists; a list of officers that have found to be unreliable and possibly malicious. Following the ruling of Brady vs. Maryland, a case in the Supreme court where the prosecutors within Maryland were found to have suppressed evidence, and the case where the Brady list gets its namesake from, prosecutors must turn over all evidence that may exonerate the defendant. This ruling, and subsequent rulings from cases such as Giglio and Jenks, also requires that prosecutors keep a track of law enforcement officers that may not be credible as witnesses. In a press release issued by the Los Santos County District Attorney’s Office, they announced the DA’s Brady list's construction and publication. Unlike many other Brady lists in San Andreas and the rest of the United States, the LSDA's Brady list remains open for public viewing. "I took office with the promise that the public would see more accountability from our law enforcement agencies and more control when law enforcement officers violate their oaths.” wrote Los Santos County’s District Attorney Terentiy Schwetz in their press release. “Brady lists exist in many other jurisdictions in San Andreas, and with this we now have the opportunity to promote honesty and integrity from all peace officers. This will have a net benefit for the citizens of Los Santos County, and it goes a long way to fulfilling the mandate provided to us by the federal government to ensure all of our agencies are operating at their best." The Los Santos County District Attorney’s office listed five reasons as to why a law enforcement officer may end up on their Brady list in their press release. If an officer has been found to have given a false statement, whether it is to their Internal Affairs department, to the district attorney’s office, or to Judicial or Executive entities, they shall be added to the DA’s Brady List. In Baltimore, Maryland, WBAL-TV reported that Detective Robert Hankard was found guilty for planting narcotics and weapons on people that he later arrested earlier this year. He is currently being sued by someone he formerly arrested. If an officer has been found to obstruct the proceedings of a judicial entity, they shall be added to the LSDA’s Brady List. The DA wrote in their press release that obstruction includes coercion, violence, or abusing their status and position as a law enforcement officer as well as causing any delays in court proceedings or investigations conducted by judicial entities. For example, if an officer were to delay giving a statement or purposefully prolong the process of supplying evidence in a case to delay proceedings, they will have been found to obstruct judicial entities. Likewise, if an officer uses their status to coerce a witness to testify or a defendant to plead guilty, or if they physically threaten those to do the same, then they also will have been found to have obstructed a judicial entity and will be added to the Brady List. If an officer has been found to have withheld evidence from the court, especially evidence that exonerates a defendant or is crucial to the conviction of a criminal, then they shall be added to the Brady list. The initial trial of Brady vs. Maryland dealt with how the state of Maryland withheld crucial evidence that may have exonerated Brady. Initially sentenced to death for murder, the Supreme Court ruled that Brady were to be given a new hearing due to how state prosecutors withheld a testimony given by his accomplice Donald Boblit that heard him confess to the murder. Brady’s sentence was lessened to life imprisonment, where he was later paroled. If an officer has founded to act on behalf of a gang, or is shown to be associated or a member of a gang, they shall be added to the Brady list. This also includes groups of officers that act to benefit themselves rather than the public. Finally, any law enforcement officer that has been found to be guilty of a violent misdemeanour charge, or is guilty of any felony, shall be put on the Brady list. When a law enforcement officer enters the DA's Brady list their statements, past or future, won’t be considered as valid evidence, reported the DA. Likewise any use of force by officers on the list will be investigated by the LSDA following the internal investigations from within their department. Officers on the list shall also no longer be able to submit arrest warrants to the DA’s office. Brady lists are often maintained by district attorney offices across the country, however many different agencies and organizations — both state and private — maintain their own. One non-profit, named aptly Brady List, keeps a public record of officers whose credibility is questionable across the United States. The record is kept public and allows Law Enforcement Organizations, Prosecutors, and Peace Officer Standards and Training Departments to contribute. Citizen Reporters, those who record misuse of power by law enforcement, also add to this non-profit’s list. Most state-ran Brady lists however, whether maintained by prosecutors, law enforcement agencies, or other governmental departments, remain burdensome to access for members of the public. Access to them, if possible, is usually behind a freedom of information request. The proper procedure to submit a FOI request often is unclear within many governmental agencies. The Los Santos County District Attorney however has made their list publicly available through this web-link. The Brady list is seen as a valuable tool by attorneys. Rachel Pearson, the managing partner of Pearson Hastings LLP, described the list to be “imperative in defending clients as it challenges the testimony given by officers.” Pearson also noted a possible negative of the Brady list, with how entries mark the end of the careers of law enforcement officers. “The Brady list is a step forward for accountability from law enforcement agencies, it is a publicly available list that displays officers that have been proven to have disreputable conduct. Once a peace officer is placed on the Brady list - this is effectively the end of their career, of which is of course, a negative to this list.”, wrote Pearson in response to their views of the Brady list. District Attorney Terentiy Schwetz stood by the decision to make the Brady list public for viewing. They wrote how one of the points that Schwetz wishes to focus on as the District Attorney is accountability. “The District Attorney's Office under my tutelage is focused on accountability and transparency. Local citizens have the right to know when their public servants have lied under oath, and this is important to every single criminal case. Even as a prosecutor, my concern is for the rights of everyone coming through the court system, and that means playing fair. “Nobody should lie to secure a conviction, nobody should withhold evidence, and definitely we shouldn't have people convicted of crimes who can arrest other people - that's just hypocritical.” The Los Santos Daily News reached out for an interview with the Los Santos Police Protection League through emailing presidential candidate for the union officer John Grillo to see if the union had a statement. While a full interview as of yet hasn’t been scheduled, he wrote that “The Los Santos Police Protective League is devoted to protecting the rights, job security, labor laws, and all around well-being of its officers.” When asked whether or not other agencies within Los Santos County, including the Los Santos Police Department, the Los Santos County Sheriff’s Department, the State Fire Marshal’s and the San Andreas Park Rangers, will contribute to the Brady list, District Attorney Terenity Shwetz wrote back that “All law enforcement entities in the state of San Andreas are expected to cooperate with the Brady List. “If they don't provide the names, we will find them ourselves through public records, although we hope that the agencies will naturally cooperate with us since we are partners.” The Los Santos Daily News reached out for a comment to the Los Santos Police Department and the Los Santos County Sheriff’s Department regarding their cooperation with the DA’s public Brady list, as well as any internal punishments seen to officers or deputies that have found to have violated the five offences listed by the DA’s office. Sheriff Joseph E. Cline wrote back to the Daily News. In response to a question regarding the LSSD’s cooperation with the DA’s Brady list, they wrote that “The Department works very closely with the Los Santos County District Attorney's Office in cracking down on corruption and has numerous times in the past assisted the office in conjunctly working on corruption cases. The Department strives for fostering relations with the District Attorney's Office and will ensure that any department member who engages in acts listed under the Brady Disclosure conditions shall be put on the list.” When asked about what internal punishments are issued to those who violate any of the acts listed in the DA’s press release, they noted how their “strives to instill compliance into employees and its system on the application of internal punishment is weighed by a system that measures both mitigating and aggravating factors of an incident. “A department member being found to have been guilty of any of the listed actions for the Brady List shall be subject to disciplinary action from an internal suspension w/o pay to a dismissal from employment. These circumstances vary and each situation shall be evaluated by the Internal Affairs Bureau and the respective Executive Office to ensure compliance with both the law & internal policy.” The same questions were sent to the Los Santos Police Department’s Chief of Staff Jacqueline Coburn, as directed by the LSPD’s Point of Contacts list available on their webpage, on June the 8th at approximately 11PM. As of this articles publishing date, they have not responded. As it stands, there are two entries in the Brady list. The District Attorney’s office stated that they will not be looking at previous infractions committed by law enforcement officers. Comments are enabled: Username: Comment:

NEWS • Local News Written by Yunisa DELGADO-FLORES • June 17th, 2022 — 9:17PM Local DJ Carl Medina gets rescued from state park; Park Rangers share tips A local celebrity and business owner Carl Medina sees his buggy driving activities come to a halt after he crashed in Mount Chiliad's wilderness. Captain Matt Graham from the SAPR shares what you should do if you find yourself in this situation. Carl Medina, wearing a helmet courtesy of Pala Springs, ready to drive off with their buggy - Courtesy of Carl Medina's Facebrowser Page. “This is going to be FUN! Just rented this from Pala Springs Cafe!” wrote Carl Medina, local DJ and owner of the Split Sides Comedy Club in West Vinewood, on their Facebrowser page on June the 15th, before he went on a trip through San Andreas' state parks with a rented buggy. “Although If I never post again, I probably flew off a cliff...” Followers of Medina’s Facebrowser were shocked by their next post; a collection of pictures showing their rescue from the top of one of the various peaks in Mount Chiliad’s wilderness with the simple message “Alexa, Show me irony.” Many followers commented their concern and shared the hilarity of the situation. Carmen, the owner of the DESBURRITO taco truck, mentioned she was laughing due to Medina’s comments before checking his wellbeing. Another user shared the comedic irony when they mentioned they thought the buggy looked like fun on Medina’s prior post. “I rented a buggy from Pala Spring Cafe, which is at the bottom of Mount Chilad, I had a bit of spare time, and it was something I had wanted to try for some time.” shared Medina in an interview with Daily News’ Yunisa Delgado-Flores. “I found a map and followed the path up the mountain, the speed of the buggy took me by surprise, it took the incline with no issue at all. “I got near the peak, at which point a rabbit startled me, it appeared from nowhere. Next thing I know, I am heading the wrong way over the edge, only to get momentarily stopped by a well-placed rock. I managed to climb out, and in true dramatic style, the buggy slipped off the rock and careered down the mountain. “Leaving me literally stranded between a rock and, well, a hard place.” On the San Andreas Park Rangers’ website, the following advice is given when operating off-road vehicles on state park trails. “Drive with courtesy in mind. Be prepared to yield at any moment if you have any doubts about the trail ahead. Approach bends, curves and hill crests with caution and always assume there are other vehicles ahead.” Carl Medina was later rescued from the top of the mountain due to efforts by the Fire Department and the San Andreas Park Rangers, rescued via an airlift by a Fire Department helicopter. He was uninjured from the accident. The buggy was rented from a business local to the Paleto region, Pala Springs. When asked about the safety measures and training given by the company prior to Medina hiring the buggy, Medina shared that the saleswoman “gave them a helmet” and had them sign a waiver. “They did ring me, when my Hire was near an end, I was clearly not going to be returning the buggy. When I got dropped off by the Fire Department she drove me back up, which I wasn't that keen on, but I could show her where the buggy was. “Although, I thought that the massive plume of smoke, might have been a giveaway.” The Daily News reached out to Pala Springs Café’s owner “Jenny” for a comment on June the 16th. Jenny has yet to reach back to the Daily. Captain Matt Graham of the San Andreas State Park Rangers spoke briefly on companies that offer buggy rental services. In response to a question asking whether these companies should do more to ensure the driver is properly prepared, he said “absolutely.” “The vehicles provided are a bit difficult to navigate, speaking from experience. Those who are not trained should be given proper instructions on how to operate them safely due to the high risk of roll-over or alike.” When asked about Carl Medina’s accident and rescue, he said “To look at the instance of mister Medina, the possibility of underestimation of the wilderness comes into play. Now one absolutely cannot speculate, but I cannot stress this enough. Once you go out into the woods, or in this case say Mount Chiliad, always ensure that you know what you are doing.” Captain Matt Graham of the San Andreas Park Rangers who was willing to share his advice — Yunisa Delgado-Flores, June 16th, 8:20PM If we were Medina, what should we do? Medina, when they were stuck atop of the mountain, found a signal on their phone. They proceeded to call 911, where they soon were rescued by efforts by the Fire Department and the Park Rangers. However, thousands upon thousands of people need rescue from the United States’ national parks every year. And many times, their phones may not be available. Their phones may not be able to find a signal, their phones could be damaged, their phones could be out of battery; there are numerous reasons why a hiker may not be able to rely on their phone. The United States National Park Services reported that, in the year of 2017, a grand total of 4,194 Search and Rescue incidents took place. Approximately 2000 of these operations resulted in those lost being found uninjured and not suffering from any illness. Approximately 1,500 of these operations found those that have been reported missing with them being ill or injured of varying degrees of severity, ranging from minor injuries to being in critical condition. 423 of these operations were unable to find the missing persons, and 187 found the missing persons deceased. The National Parks Services categorize deaths within their parks in one of three categories: Unintentional, intentional, and medical. Unintentional being the largest category at 55%. These deaths are from falls, slips, incidents of drowning, attacks by wild animals, dehydration, or any other incident that wasn’t caused intentionally that caused someone’s death. Medical reasons, as in heart attacks or other medical conditions that lead to someone’s death whilst hiking in a national park, is its own category. Medical reasons make up 22% of fatalities within national parks. Captain Matt Graham of the Park Rangers devised the following system to advise hikers what they should do if they were lost in San Andreas’ state parks: STOP. Stop, Think, Observe, Plan. He also noted the three things you should try to do. The first is to try to signal those around and try to attract as much attention as possible in hopes other hikers or Park Rangers will hear. “If you cannot move? Try and stay put and do not stray from your location too far, keep your communication devices on and otherwise. Secondly, shout. Scream, use a whistle, anything to make noise. “You need assistance and appropriately show that you do.” If signalling fails and there’s no one around to assist you, then Graham stresses the importance of how proper preparation will lead to your survival. “Now... in such instances, signalling is the most important thing you can do, but if you're in for the long run and there ain't nobody around you? That's where the gear you're supposed to prepare comes in. "Drink sufficient amounts of water first of all. Now this is very important. Never, and I mean never ration your water.” Dehydration is a common occurrence for unprepared hikers with deaths from it happening every year, according to survival expert Cat Bigney who previously consulted Bear Grylls and National Geographic in an interview with Insider. Some common ways you can spot dehydration is the color of your urine. From the UK’s National Health Services’ website, they define symptoms of dehydration as: feeling thirsty; dark yellow and strong smelling pee; dizziness or lightheadedness; tiredness; a dry mouth, lips and eyes; and peeing little. The NHS also notes those who have diabetes, those who have been vomiting or suffer from diarrhea, and those who suffer from heatstroke are more prone to dehydration. “There are tons of instances of hikers being found deceased with plenty of water on them because they decided to ration it. Drink as much as you got to.” “Secondly, if night is coming, put on more layers, stay warm. Build a fire if you have a ferrocerium rod, matches or anything that can create a spark. Or if you know methods such as bow-drill and otherwise, try using those as well. Make sure you got yourself a proper shelter prepped, seek somewhere dry where you won't get hypothermia.” “Now lastly, if you're injured, try and administer aid to yourself the best you can. Eat enough food, do not eat any wild plants that you are not familiar with.” “You can survive three minutes without air, three hours without shelter, three days without water and three weeks without food. Take all of those into account respectively, and be ready.” What should we bring? Graham stressed the importance of proper preparation to ensure your safety and survival when visiting San Andreas’ state parks. Preparation not only includes what to bring, but also what to know and what to do prior to your trip. “First up, know where you are going and what will you do, and prepare accordingly. For example, if you were to go hiking, ensure that you have sufficient amounts of food and water on you, and always inform someone about where you will be and when to expect you back." Information about what trails are available in San Andreas’ state parks, along with photos to preview these parks before you leave, are available on the San Andreas Park Rangers’ website. Information on Ranton Canyon’s Trails can be found at this link, while Galileo Park’s trails can be found at this link. “Secondly, comes in your gear. Once more, it depends on what you will do, but the idea is the same. Say it's a one-day trip? Get some proper hiking boots, and loose clothing according to the weather. I cannot stress it enough, but most of the time we see folk running around in attire absolutely unfit for the wilderness.” The American Hiking Society notes the ten essential things to bring: Appropriate footwear that has good traction, support, and protection; a map and a physical compass or GPS device; water, along with methods to purify water in case you run out; calorie-dense food such as energy bars and nuts; gear for rain such as raincoats, hats, and gloves, to prepare for sudden changes in weather; safety items such as methods to start a fire and a flashlight to navigate the dark; a first-aid-kit to treat any injury or illness you come to while hiking, along with the appropriate knowledge to use it; a knife or multi-tool; sun protection, regardless of the season; and emergency shelter such as a tent or, as recommended by the American Hiking Society, a space-blanket. The American Hiking Society also recommends that hikers bring a trash bag and disposable gloves to dispose of any trash they create, writing “Pack this 11th essential to making sure that the trails you love stay beautiful for generations to come.” “And the wilderness can be very unkind to those who are unprepared. But if you have proper attire, such as boots, clothes, sufficient amounts of water and food, ways of navigation and prior preparation you should do just grand. “On top of that, there's always many threats lurking about” added Graham. "Going on about without any proper training or scouting ahead so to speak will most likely lead to you getting lost hurt or otherwise. Not to mention our very varied ecosystem with many predatory animals that reside in our parks who can make your trip just that much more unpleasant.” According to Outforia, an outdoor and nature resource website that collected data gathered from 1999 to 2019 from the CDC to see which states held the most amount of animal attacks, San Andreas ranked 2nd. Over the 20-year period, a total of 299 deaths were reported to be caused by animal attacks; this equals to over 14 deaths every year. Southern San Andreas is home to a number of dangerous animals for hikers. Black bears, cougars, coyotes are a common sight in San Andreas’ wildernesses, and venomous creatures such as bark scorpions and rattlesnakes can be found in San Andreas’ deserts. If a black bear approaches you, the Department of Natural Resources advise that you use bear spray. If you do not have bear spray with you, then they advise you to try to dissuade the bear from getting closer by backing away, talking in a firm voice, and — if the bear continues to follow — yell, raise your arms, and throw items towards it. If a bear attacks, fight back. “If a bear attacks or tries to make contact, fight for your life. Do not play dead. Kick, punch or hit the bear with whatever weapon is available. Concentrate on the face, eyes and nose.”, wrote the DNR. “To summarize, study where you are going.”, Captain Graham ended with. “Prepare accordingly and ensure that someone knows you are departing to visit our State Parks.” If someone wishes to learn more about San Andreas’ State Parks, then they can visit the San Andreas Park Rangers’ website at sapr.gov.org or attend one of the educational trips hosted by the Park Rangers. Information on these trips can be found here. Comments are enabled: Username: Comment:

NEWS • Local News Written by Yunisa DELGADO-FLORES • June 4th, 2022 - 08:59AM Beluga business proprietor builds Union in effort to help Eurasian migrants Local business leader Fyodor Zharkov, owner of Beluga and Ushero, aims to help Eurasian migrants by launching a union to offer job-security. Ushero, a staple of the Rockford fashion district; a business beneath the EIWU network - Yunisa Delgado Flores, June 4th 2022. Each and every year, thousands of immigrants enter Los Santos County. Those who immigrate to the US, and those who move to San Andreas, find the process hard, confusing and stressful. Many migrants who immigrate initially struggle with English, and many are seen as easy targets for exploitation through underpaying and overworking employers. Migrants may also find themselves struggling to settle, where a lack of a community may make those who recently migrated feel isolated and alone. There are many organizations in Los Santos County to assist recent migrants both in fostering a sense of community as well as offering employment, housing, legal and translation services. The Suey Sing Association, for instance, offers a wide range of assistance to those hailing from Asia, including financial support, translation services, and offering affordable housing in a notoriously expensive market. Fyodor Zharkov, the proprietor of both the Vespucci restaurant Beluga and the Rockford-based fashion brand Ushero, decided to launch the Eurasian Independent Workers Union (EIWU) to assist those coming into the country from the Eurasia region. He agreed to an interview with the Daily News' Yunisa Delgado-Flores. “I've worked with Russians, Georgians, Armenians, Lithuanians, I know how comfortable they are when they're dealing with someone speaking their language, having a similar mindset and culture. That's why my Union is mostly targeting the Eurasian workers, because we've came to that belief that they're capable of working together in a fantastic harmony.” Fyodor Zharkov, like many of those who find themselves in Los Santos, found struggle. Initially a violinist from back in Saint Petersburg, Russia, he made little performing in the many bars and restaurants across Los Santos. However, due to the small pay earned in music, he shifted his career into working in Beluga. “It has a different owner back in times, I accepted to be a waiter there, taking care of the kitchen sometimes. Even tending the bar when it was needed. I started at the same restaurant I own now.”, Zharkov shared in an interview with the Daily’s Yunisa Delgado Flores. “As a usual worker, who has nothing to lose, except for an ill daughter back home, and a wife who's working three jobs to keep her safe. I worked for years, hard works. Some days I was just basically sleeping at my car, but It didn't take too long for me to get myself a place, and slowly building up my own life. I kept sending money back home, every week.” Beluga, 'the Russian heart of Vespucci'. The EUWI founder's start. - Yunisa Delgado Flores, June 4th 2022. Los Santos County is the home for a large amount of migrants hailing from the Eurasian region; the space around the debated border between Europe and Asian. These countries often include, but aren’t limited to, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Georgia and Afghanistan. As of right now, according to the EIWU website, acts as a middle-man between businesses and Eurasian employers. It provides American and Eurasian-migrants with a job-seeking service that allows them to find safe and steady employment. Immigrants, undocumented or otherwise, often face issues in employment such as suppressed and late wages, cruel and unsafe working conditions, and work-place discrimination. Many migrants who immigrate through temporary work visas often find themselves indebted by predatory recruitment fees, and then subject to cruel and exploitative policies once within the US, according to a report on the relationship between recruitment agencies and human trafficking by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. In the report, it reported that “In the United States, there were reports of temporary migrant workers who had to accept whatever living and working conditions were offered to them for fear that loss of employment would result in undocumented status and possible deportation. In addition, millions of undocumented foreign workers are estimated to work in the United States, many of whom incur significant debt in order to pay smugglers or coverrecruitment fees” The EIWU and its founder. Fyodor Zharkov, claims to prevent this. The union works by consulting local businesses about the need for employees, and linking them with their network of jobseekers. He noted how some employers use their status to coerce migrants to commit criminal acts and get involved in organized crime. “If you don't have any plan or direction, you'll end probably somewhere wrong, somewhere you'd regret. I've had a lot of friends who later got involved in criminal activities and regretted it later. “If you wanna build a house, you wanna make sure you'll build it strong against any flood.” According to Mr. Zharkov, the union, over the past few months of its operations, it currently has garnered employment for around 100 people. The union also provides a basic medical insurance for its members, with plans to expand it further. Comments are enabled: Username: Comment:

NEWS • Local News Written by Yunisa DELGADO-FLORES • May 21st, 2022 - 4:55PM Snacks and smiles, charity food-drive raises $53,000 DELBURRITO, a Mexican-themed food truck, made it's debut in LS with a food-drive for the hungry and homeless, raising $53,000 for a local homeless shelter. The food drive and the city's residents, where a total of $53,000 dollars was raised - Courtesy of DESBURRITO Earlier last week, the people of Los Santos County got together for three things; to enjoy Mexican food, listen to good music, and to raise an outstanding $53,000 for a local homeless shelter. A local food truck named DESBURRITO opened its hatch earlier this week with the sole intention to provide food to the local homeless population. Carmen, the owner and current CEO of DESBURRITO, shared with us. "I got the truck second hand from Galaxy Customs (a local vehicle dealership), and it came with a bunch of stock.", shared Carmen in a web-interview. "Stuff that I knew that we ain't gonna use because I got my own ideas for a menu. ... There's too much food here to eat anyway. "Instead of 'cheaping out' and selling it, I thought it'd be nicer to give to away to people who needed it most." Lucas Whyte, a friend of Carmen's and a volunteer for DESBURRITO for the day, recounts how Carmen introduced the idea. "Carmen has been working on a business idea for some time now, and wished to celebrate the state granting her the business licence. She contacted myself, and others, speaking of the homeless, and how she wished she could do something to aid them "She suggested we use the current stock, truck and a few smiles, to an area near downtown and offer the food as a single, free meal. Burrito, drink and a donut. The meal also came with a coupon for another free meal once the business was fully operational. "I didn't take much convincing, the idea was thoughtful and kind." One of the many so-called 'homeless cities' hidden within Los Santos, located in Textile City beneath the San Andreas Avenue bridge - Alan Kim, May 21st 2022 From an independent study funded by the Los Santos Mission, a charity who offers assistance in shelter and rehabilitation to the city's homeless population, 66,468 of the county's residents could have been classed as homeless in 2020, 48,041 of being without sufficient access to shelter. A 2019 census shows how the highest concentration of the homeless population resides in Skid Row. Skid Row's population at the time sat around 4700 residents, where 2700 of which were permanently living on the streets; 55% of it's population. According to the state census back in 2016, around 17% of Los Santos' residents are living beneath the poverty line. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development defines the federal poverty line for a single person as $12,880 as of 2021. A single person earning $24,850 is classed as someone with an Extremely Low Income Level. Carmen from DESBURRITO discussed her ideas in how she plans to assist those beneath the poverty line. "The dinero is going to help [us] to do more in the future. We also [are] gonna eventually have cards for the homeless that they can use to get a free drink and snack from us." "We wanna make a difference." From inside the truck, founder and CEO Carmen with their friend 'Theo' serving food to those in need - Courtesy of Carmen The food drive initially was slow, claimed Carmen, and those that were showing weren't homeless nor those in need. "We were giving away free food. It instead turned into people coming by and donating for their food." "We raised $53,000, which is loco!" Lukas added his thoughts on the turn-out to the food drive, stating his shock and awe of how the people of Los Santos came together. "The amount raised in a single, on the spur event was amazing, I don't think anyone that arrived to help thought we'd walk away with such a large value to give to the charity. "It went further than most, if not every ones hopes and expectations" The drive saw local celebrities and influencers come to support the event. Two of which were rising rap-stars from Los Santos County, William "Drillbill" Duff and his friend "Monty". "A lot of celebs would probably think that doing that with is us beneath them, but he [is] super grounded.", Carmen said in regards to Drillbill's attendance. Drillbill, when questioned about how Carmen introduced the idea to him, said that she was "Basically like 'hey, my company DESBURRITO doing this charity event for the homeless, and just the locals in the area' so I was like... that's a good thing she's doing. "I actually gave her a nickname "Santa Carmen" cause she always helping people." The plan for the money is for it to be split, with the larger share going towards assisting the local homeless population, while the smaller portion will be used to cover operational costs and to fund future drives. "Any dinero we keep will be reinvested into DESBURRITO and used to do more free food drives.", Carmen said in regards to the portion of the cash she intends to invest in her company. Carmen from DESBURRITO was unable to give an exact figure as to the amount. Once one is provided, an editor's note shall be issued. The date of the next DESBURRITO charity food drive is currently unknown. According to Lukas, Carmen raised the idea of making the food-drive "a bi-weekly or weekly thing", however if this schedule is in place or not is currently unknown. When asked, Drillbill expressed that he would attend future events if his schedule permitted. "If my crazy schedule allows me? Yeah, of course I'll be there to show my support." His schedule includes the release of a music video today, a performance at the Split Sides Comedy Club on West Vinewood this June, and an upcoming tour that is currently being planned. Carmen urged people to check their Facebrowser page for future updates regarding food drives and events. Comments are enabled: Username: Comment: