By: Jorge Luis Macías / Special for Real America News 09 from January 2021
Alejandro Cortés, owner of a Mexican food restaurant, dreams of buying a house, that’s why he wants to hit the Powerball jackpot — which until Friday night had a jackpot of 470 millions of dollars.
“I let the machine choose my numbers at random,” commented the owner of El Patrón Tacos Baja, located in the city of Rosemead. “I never choose the numbers, it’s as if I found the winning ticket thrown on the street… Luck is for whoever gets it. ”
Like Alejandro, thousands of people went to stores this week
In Wednesday’s drawing, there were two winning tickets of one million dollars, with five correct numbers. They were sold in Pennsylvania and Texas, but both were missing the extra Powerball number. The jackpot was 410 million.
Araceli Preciado, owner of Los Amigos Flowers, in the city of Monterey Park, commented that she spent an average of 60 dollars in the purchase of lottery tickets.
“I chose the numbers that correspond to the birth dates of my three children: the 22 by Angela, the 23 of Alexander and the 24 of Anahí ”, said the woman born in Los Angeles.
“If I win the jackpot, the first thing I would do is ensure the future of my children, save money for my old age and that of my parents, grow my business and with the rest of the money I would dedicate myself to doing charitable works” .
Inés Palacios, from 64 years already went to buy their tickets. / photo: Jorge Luis Macías, Although the odds of matching the five numbers and the extra Powerball number is 1 in about 293 million, according to the Multistate Lottery Association, the couple of Carmina Rocha and Marvin Padilla have faith that luck could smile on them this Saturday night.
“I would pay off all the debts in the house and make the money grow if I win the 470 million ”, expressed Carmina.
“We would also ensure the future of our son Isaiah, who is barely three years old,” added Marvin. “I would do it so as not to leave you any debt.”
At the Olympic Donuts establishment 11, located at the corner of Gage Avenue and 1st Street, in East Los Angeles, ticket sales were incessant.
“Here, we’ve already had three prizes of up to 470, [dólares] ”informed Real America News, María Romo, who has 24 years as an employee of the place, since they opened three decades ago. “People don’t stop coming at all hours; there has always been a lot of ticket sales. ”
Several people came yesterday to buy their tickets and try their luck. / photos: Jorge Luis Macías. In the waiting line, Inés Palacios, from 64 years, seemed to be in a hurry to be attended by the counter clerk.
“I just spent 50 dollars of my pension, which is $ 940 monthly, ”said the woman from Amozoc, Puebla, Mexico.
“Since 20 years I have been playing and the most I have won was $ 5, 000 in 2017, not in the Powerball but in the Blue Bingo … I used that money to fix the doors, windows and the floor of my house ”.
Mrs. Palacios said that this Saturday he would return once more to the donut shop to “invest” others 50 dollars in more tickets.
“If I win the jackpot the first thing I go to do is give thanks to God; then I will give all my brothers a little business and live the rest of my life without hurry “, he declared.
” Oh, I forgot to tell you that I would also like to go to see New York with my husband Julio and take a walk in Jerusalem. ”
The illusion of having enough money in his hands also led Jim Lee to fill out a ticket .
“I decided by chance the numbers I chose and the Powerball,” stressed the West Covina business consultant. “My expectation with the first prize in the Powerball would be to go through a dark and challenging period in this COVID pandemic – 19, in the light of wealth. ”
In just two days the Powerball jackpot grew $ 410 million to $ 470 millions.
Jorge De La Cruz, spokesperson for the CA lottery: “We want to remind people who plan to play Powerball to purchase their tickets during essential shopping trips… Public health guidelines are urged when shopping the lottery in authorized stores. ”