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Little Italy Manager Explains How Local Italians Celebrate Columbus Day

Today is Columbus Day. It’s a holiday to recognize the arrival of Europeans to the Americas, but not everyone considers this a positive holiday. We check in with the president of an organization that

Little Italy Manager Explains How Local Italians Celebrate Columbus Day

Tom Fudge: Today is Columbus Day. Our views of Christopher Columbus have changed with the times. What's undeniable is that he set in motion and series of events that would change the world. And today, we still mark the day he hit land in the Western Hemisphere.

While Columbus was working for the Spanish, he was an Italian. And Columbus Day is still a big deal in traditional Italian communities. San Diego's old Italian neighborhood is Little Italy. But if you've been there any time recently, you know it doesn't really look like an old ethnic neighborhood anymore. In fact, it's become so glitzy and modern some have called it an urban theme park.

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The 13th Annual Little Italy Precious Festa takes place this Sunday (Oct. 14) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit www.littleitalysd.com .

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A big decision awaits some voters this July as the race for San Diego County’s Supervisor District 1 seat heats up. Are you ready to vote? Check out the KPBS Voter Hub to learn about the candidates, the key issues the board is facing and how you can make your voice heard.