Service Workers Struggle to Make Ends Meet

Jesus Tafoya, a bartender who works in Chevy's Fresh Mex Restaurant in Tracy said he is struggling this year because he is working fewer hours, has fewer customers and is making less money due to the financial crisis in the U.S.

Tafoya has been working at the Chevy's in Tracy since February of 2005 and in the three and a half years that he has been working there, he says that this is the worst that he has ever seen the restaurant when it comes to customers.

"The restaurant has never been this slow or empty," Jesus said.

Because of the budget crisis, he said that spending has become more limited, and that there is greater pressure when it comes to paying bills and buying necessities. "It makes you want to look for another job, and find opportunities somewhere else," Tafoya said.

As a result of less customers going to the restaurant, Jesus said that management has cut their hours drastically and even sent home some of their employees early. Bartenders not only make money hourly, but also from tips from customers. Most of the times, Jesus says, he makes more money in tips than from his paycheck. Or at least he used to. "People are getting cheaper", he says. With people having less money to spend nowadays, they are trying to spend it wisely and therefore have been leaving fewer tips than what was accustomed, he says.

Jesus said that the restaurant is doing what it can to keep the people coming in, which include mailing out coupons to Tracy residents as well as having promotions such as "Happy Hour" where margaritas and appetizers are only $3.

Brandon Hewitt, a jewelry store salesman, prices for gold and diamonds have gone up because of the economic crisis. This results in an increase in prices in jewelry and less people purchasing these. This affects him personally because he works on commission and he said he does not make as much money as he did before when people used to shop more for jewelry. "It's affecting my pocket," Brandon said.

Mario Guzman, a car salesman for a Toyota dealership in Fremont, said also that the automobile market is in decline. He said that people are hesitant to buy cars because the economy is bad and sometimes he has to settle for making only minimum wage when he doesn't sell enough cars.

West High School Stadium is Inagurated

Merrill F. West High School's football stadium in Tracy was finally inaugurated Friday night after a long anticipated wait.

The West High wolf pack got the opportunity Friday night to show off to their hometown crowd their brand new stadium which will be used to host their home football games as well as soccer games.

The inaugurating game was a preseason match between the West High wolf pack and Oakdale High School. Although the game was not scheduled to start until 7:30 pm, the anxiously waiting home crowd were already filling up the grandstands by 5:00 pm.

Hundreds of fans dressed in navy blue colors to show their support for the home team continued entering the stadium awaiting for that first kick-off which would put into use this long awaited project. There was no doubt that the bleachers would fill up and tickets would sell out, as they did.

West High came out victorious in their home opener beating their rival with a score of 24-17 and it was an overall success in which a new stadium was inaugurated and the school finally had the chance to give the crowd an exciting home game.

West High school has been labeled a"California distinguished high school" for several years now but until this past weekend, they had not had a single football game at home; always having to play at their rival's football stadium, Tracy High School. But now that has changed and West High School now has the pride of saying that they have their own stadium.

Mexican Independence Celebrated in Downtown Sacramento

An authentic Mexican celebration took place with mariachi music, dancing, decorations, genuine Mexican food, plenty of people.

"To its maximum capacity" is how you could describe Saturday night's Mexican independence day celebration at Zocalo's restaurant and bar in the heart of Sacramento.


The place was so packed it makes one wonder whether the fire departments maximum occupancy limit was being respected. The maximum number of people allowed in the restaurant is 300.



The wait in line can be considered the only drawback of this event as hungry and anxious customers had to stand in line for over two hours just to get in. The festival was scheduled to begin at 6:00 pm, which was the time that the Mariachi started playing.



But it would all be worth it, once inside you could finally get to feel the party environment and ambient firsthand. Customers would still have to wait inside for a table to open up and be seated.


Red, white and green balloons adorned the walls and ceiling, music filled the entire restaurant. Unless you were seated down at a table the only way you could move around was by forcing yourself through the wall of people, pushing and shoving was not only allowed but necessary at this time.

Being that Zocalo is a Mexican-style restaurant, this event had to be prepared and organized to the standards of an authentic Mexican "fiesta". The restaurant would remain packed until customers were forced to leave at approximately 2:00 a.m.

Fraternities Prepare for a New Semester

Fraternities are hard at work at Sac State during the first two weeks of the semester to recruit new members and stay alive.

For Greek organizations, these can be the two most important weeks of the semester because this is how these organizations grow bigger and live longer.

Rush week is all about recruitment for fraternities and sororities and it is crucial for them because this is the only way that they will stay alive on campus.

During rush week, every organization gets to display their booth and show off their recognitions such as trophies and awards as well as photo albums to new students who are interested in joining.

Each organization personalizes their own booth to show a little bit about themselves, who they are and what they represent. Fliers are handed out inviting students to their upcoming social events and their fraternity parties.

Each organization does what they can to advertise themselves to students and get as many people as they can to pledge for them.

By the end of Rush Week, all of the booths are taken away and the campus resumes its normal "look" that will remain until the next semester's Rush Week.