It’s disconcerting to see how politicized the coronavirus issue has become, though in the highly polarized environment we live in, I guess it shouldn’t be a surprise. Depending on the media source we choose, people are either excessively panicking or posting ignorance that suggests coronavirus is a non-issue or just another flu. Both are wrong. Panic is a self-fulfilling prophecy and can only make matters worse. However, I doubt anyone will die because the NBA season got cancelled or because there is a rush on toilet paper. COVID-19 creates a very dangerous situation, but it CAN be contained if we act intelligently. Italy, a country with one-sixth of the population of the USA, recorded its first case on January 31st. As of yesterday, 21,157 people in that country have tested positive, 1,996 have already fully recovered, but 1,441 have died. It shouldn’t take a genius to understand that this is not an ordinary flu – and because it’s a new disease, there are no vaccines and many details about it are still not fully understood.
The news from China, where the virus first began, is looking more optimistic. Emergency medical facilities have closed, Starbucks, Apple, and other major retailers have reopened, and the new infection rate has gone from 15,000 cases per week to only 15. Social distancing works and the actions recommended by the CDC and the WHO appear to be effective. In the U.S. we were less prepared. Not enough people are getting tested and the biggest risk is if the virus spreads so fast it overwhelms our medical system, many more people will die who wouldn’t have if they had access to proper treatment. This is why professional sports, schools, and companies have cancelled events, in-person activities where a lot of people gather, and other places where the virus can spread more rapidly. The New York Times published an article on how these actions can slow the spread of the virus and give our medical system the time to treat the disease reducing the harm it ultimately does to our country. We can still contain this if we act swiftly and decisively.
Now is the time to support one another, not to bicker… Now is the time to check in with family members who may have drifted from your life. Now is the time for random acts of kindness. Now is the time to patronize small, independently owned businesses. The big guys will be fine; the little guys always get hurt the most. Our economy will suffer in the short run, but will emerge stronger and hopefully smarter than before. Our country has always been great in times of crisis and I believe the same will apply this time around. Please take the time to learn the facts and participate in prevention.
The data tells a powerful story: Latinos are driving economic growth in America. If Latino Americans were a standalone country, we’d be the fifth-largest economy in the world, and without Latino homebuyers, the number of homeowners in America would have declined in 2025. So why doesn’t it feel like we’re winning? In this episode, I talk about the gap between growth and perception, why we still don’t have enough strong voices shaping the national conversation, and why purchasing power alone is not enough. Growth matters, but wealth matters more. This is a conversation about leadership, visibility, and what it will really take for our community to turn momentum into lasting power.
A bill known as the 21st Century Road to Housing Act recently passed the Senate with rare bipartisan support, and it raises an important question: could housing be the issue that brings Americans back together? In this episode, I talk about why housing has become too urgent for either party to ignore, how affordability is forcing elected officials to actually work together, and why this moment matters so much for our community. At a time when division feels constant, housing may be one of the few issues serious enough to cut through the noise.
A recent housing study confirms what many of us in this industry have already felt: Latinos are playing an increasingly vital role in keeping the housing market strong. In this episode, I break down why that matters so much. Latinos accounted for more than 100% of the net increase in U.S. homeowners in 2025, and when you combine that with our workforce participation, youth, and growing economic influence, the picture becomes clear — Latino buyers and workers are helping keep both housing and the broader economy afloat. This is a story of momentum, contribution, and the growing importance of our community in shaping America’s future.