Speaking of naturalization, Azucena Rasilla at The Oaklandside reports this glum news:

For Alejandra Vila, an Oakland resident for the past 25 years, having her oath ceremony at the Paramount Theatre was a special moment in her journey to becoming a U.S. citizen.

“When you get that letter with your oath ceremony information, you know you’re about to become free,” Vila said. “The night I got the letter, I walked to the Paramount with my wife, and I looked up at the lighted-up marquee, and I told her how my freedom would start at the Paramount.” […]

Now, as part of cost-cutting under the Trump administration, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has stopped holding naturalization ceremonies at the Paramount Theatre and all other non-government venues throughout the Bay Area and across the country.

This saddens me tremendously, as my naturalization ceremony was held there—a special, unforgettable experience.

(It was also the location of one of the earliest dates with my now-wife. So two special and unforgettable experiences.)

The Paramount Theatre is an historic and stunningly beautiful Art Deco space, a perfect place to welcome new citizens. What a loss.

(Via this Mastodon thread where I saw Kieran Healy’s piece on becoming a citizen.)