Apr 15

Congratulations to one of our Labor Backbone winners – Cement Masons Business Agent, Jorge Romero!

While the Spring Salute has been delayed due to ongoing shelter-in-place orders from the COVID-19 pandemic, the heroic work done by our siblings in the labor movement goes on.  And, while we are unable to meet in person, we are able to use this platform to recognize the good work done by one of our Labor Backbone winners, Jorge Romero, Business Agent with Cement Masons #400!

Jorge’s story, in his own words

Jorge and his beautiful wife, Marcela

Cement Masons, working hard!

Cement Masons, doing what they do best!

 

Apr 13

Here are your daily facts, news, and information on COVID-19, compiled by the Senate Democratic Caucus.

 

 

 
 

Cal OES Update:

  • April 11, 2020 – pdf

Governor Updates:

  • Today at Noon: Governor Gavin Newsom will provide an update on the state’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The update will be streamed at the @CAgovernor Twitter page and California Governor Facebook page.

Important Updates:

  • Commissioner Lara Orders Insurance Companies to Refund Premiums to Drivers and Businesses Affected by the COVID-19 Emergency – bulletin | press release
  • Department of Finance Interim Fiscal Update Letter – link

News Highlights:

  • California orders insurers to give refunds on 6 kinds of policies, including auto, due to coronavirus
  • The Supreme Court, said Monday it will hear oral arguments by teleconference in May
  • Pandemic reveals need for schools to utilize technology for online classrooms
  • Los Angeles County officials reported 31 new coronavirus deaths on Sunday, its largest single-day total
  • As Californians stay at home, air quality improves
  • California’s early coronavirus efforts will cost $7 billion, Gov. Gavin Newsom says
  • Lost wages and jobs haven’t dented support for coronavirus stay-at-home orders, poll finds
  • If the country’s most popular coronavirus model proves accurate, California will reach the peak of its outbreak this Wednesday
  • 80 inmates, 55 sheriff’s workers in Riverside County have coronavirus
  • Farmworkers putting food on America’s tables are facing their own coronavirus crisis
  • Recent state-level polling shows that a majority of Americans in each state approve of the way their governor has handled the COVID-19 crisis
  • The U.S. is weighing when to reopen the economy as coronavirus infection rates showed signs of stabilizing
  • Coronavirus deaths pass 100,000 globally
  • President Trump on Monday claimed that he, not state governors, has the ultimate authority to loosen restrictions on states as the coronavirus outbreak eases
  • Gov. Newsom’s announced that Lenny Mendonca, chief economic and business adviser, director of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development — GO-Biz — and chair of the California High Speed Rail Authority, would be departing both posts

News Articles:

California:

  • California orders insurers to give refunds on 6 kinds of policies, including auto, due to coronavirus — California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara on Monday ordered insurance companies to provide partial credits or refunds of premiums for March, April and — if shelter-in-place restrictions remain — for May in at least six lines of insurance “where the risk of loss has fallen substantially” because the coronavirus has people working and driving less. SF Chronicle — 4/13/20
  • Newsom’s business adviser steps down + Why Caltrans is speeding up roadwork + E-voting warning — Lenny Mendonca, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s top business adviser and chairman of the High-Speed Rail Authority, is leaving the administration to focus on his family and personal business.Sac Bee –– 4/13/20
  • One model projects California coronavirus deaths will peak Wednesday. But it’s more complex — If the country’s most popular coronavirus model proves accurate, California will reach the peak of its outbreak this Wednesday, on what would have been tax day if the pandemic hadn’t uprooted nearly all of the United States’ social and financial structures. On that day, according to the model designed by scientists at global health research center in Seattle, 66 people will die in California. From there, the daily death toll will decrease over several weeks, until the outbreak — at least this first phase of it — is over in mid-May. SF Chronicle — 4/12/20
  • New signs suggest coronavirus was in California far earlier than anyone knew — A man found dead in his house in early March. A woman who fell sick in mid-February and later died. These early COVID-19 deaths in the San Francisco Bay Area suggest that the novel coronavirus had established itself in the community long before health officials started looking for it. The lag time has had dire consequences, allowing the virus to spread unchecked before social distancing rules went into effect. LA Times — 4/11/20
  • Pandemic reveals need for schools to utilize technology for online classrooms — When the coronavirus pandemic forced schools to close this spring, it exposed the California Legislature’s lack of wisdom in approving a two-year moratorium on the expansion of distance learning in charter public schools. CalMatters — 4/12/20
  • Open for Easter? Legal spat brews over lockdown restrictions on Sunday service — California’s shelter-in-place rules do not violate religious liberty, and that Christians across the state are able to celebrate Easter this Sunday — pandemic bedamned. On Thursday night, the Center for American Liberty threatened San Bernardino and Riverside counties with a lawsuit for shelter-in-place orders that the legal group argues violate religious liberty by excessively and unconstitutionally restricting religious expression. CalMatters — 4/10/20
  • Easter brings 31 new coronavirus deaths in L.A. County, the largest single-day total yet — Los Angeles County officials reported 31 new coronavirus deaths on Sunday, its largest single-day total so far. Twenty-five of those fatalities were people over the age of 65 and six people were in the 41-65 age bracket, health officials said. LA Times — 4/12/20
  • California to move seniors to Navy ship to cope with nursing home infections — The Navy ship will lend assistance “specific to the challenges within our nursing facilities and nursing homes,” Newsom said in his Friday noon press conference.  In addition, Newsom said that the state has identified seven specific sites around California “that allow us hundreds and hundreds of beds” outside of the Mercy for nursing home patients in need of them. Sac Bee — 4/10/20
  • As Californians stay at home, air quality improves – for now — The statewide stay-at-home order has brought about drastic reductions in air pollution and planet-warming emissions, experts say. The Los Angeles basin, where the term smog was invented, has enjoyed the longest period of  good air quality days since 1995, according to a UCLA researcher. Cal Matters — 4/12/20
  • How a stockpile of 39 million masks was exposed as fake — A powerful California union that claimed to have discovered 39 million masks for healthcare workers fighting the novel coronavirus was duped in an elaborate scam uncovered by FBI investigators, the U.S. attorney’s office said Friday. LA Times — 4/11/20
  • California’s early coronavirus efforts will cost $7 billion, Gov. Gavin Newsom says — The estimate, contained in a letter to the Legislature’s joint budget committee, is the first comprehensive look at the fiscal impact of responding to the pandemic. It does not include substantial costs already borne by city and county governments across the state. LA Times — 4/10/20
  • Wildlife is reclaiming Yosemite National Park: ‘The bear population has quadrupled’ — “It’s not like they aren’t usually here,” he said of the bears, bobcats and coyotes that he and other employees now see congregating outside their cabins and apartments. “It’s that they usually hang back at the edges, or move in the shadows.” LA Times — 4/13/20
  • Food bank demand soars, while many San Joaquin Valley farmers forced to let crops rot — Much of the food grown for restaurants, which constitutes about half the market for produce, is nearing the end of its perishable life cycle. Researchers expect to see a $688.7 million decline in sales for farmers from March to May 2020. Lettuce growers have been among those hardest hit in Fresno County as the economy grinds to a near halt. Fresno Bee — 4/11/20
  • Lost wages and jobs haven’t dented support for coronavirus stay-at-home orders, poll finds — Nearly half of households in Los Angeles County have lost a job or had their work hours cut, and another 10% have lost other sources of income because of the coronavirus pandemic, but those hardships have not diminished support for the severe social distancing measures imposed by government, a new poll has found. LA Times — 4/10/20
  • 6 people shot at a California party held despite state’s stay-at-home order — Deputies found six victims — including a juvenile — at the scene and learned that a large party was going on before the shooting. CNN4/12/20
  • UCSF study investigates coronavirus impact on pregnancy — The Pregnancy Coronavirus Outcomes Registry began enrolling pregnant women across the country with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 on March 24. It will track participants for a year to learn how the virus impacts maternal health, fetal development, preterm delivery, newborn health and outcomes for underserved women at higher risk of mortality during pregnancy. The study also will address transmission: whether a mother can pass the infection on to her child during pregnancy and birth or through breast milk. SF Chronicle — 4/10/20
  • Santa Ana freezes rent increases; adds to its closure list — City Manager Kristine Ridge signed an executive order on Tuesday that prevents landlords in Santa Ana from raising residential rents, at least through May 31. Officials also recently instituted a moratorium on residential and commercial evictions, from March 19 through May 31. Meanwhile, city officials are tightening what’s available at parks after some people disobeyed state orders to keep away from each other. Orange County Register –4/10/20
  • Coronavirus workers: Stater Bros. extends $2 hourly raises through May 3 — The San Bernardino-based chain said the wage incentive is for all of the company’s hourly employees who work in the stores, distribution, transportation, corporate offices and construction. Supermarket employees are among those deemed essential workers amid the coronavirus pandemic, putting them in a vulnerable position and more likely to be exposed to COVID-19. Stater Bros. operates 169 supermarkets in Southern California staffed by more than 18,000 employees. Orange County Register –4/10/20
  • Here’s how San Diego scientists are mounting a counterattack against the coronavirus — From the research towers at UC San Diego to the pharmaceutical companies in Carlsbad, the region’s huge science community has joined the fight against COVID-19, which has killed more than 100,000 people worldwide. San Diego Union-Tribune  — 4/12/20
  • The ultimate guide to birthdays at every age during coronavirus — Tiny moments of joy, like blowing out birthday candles with family and friends, are not only important, but they may be critical to holding on to any sense of normalcy right now. COVID-19 may make it impossible to see one another in person, but, that’s where the internet’s real power comes into play. Los Angeles Times –4/10/20
  • As Californians stay at home, air quality improves – for now — The global coronavirus pandemic has inadvertently achieved what state officials have sought to do for decades: Californians have parked their cars. Freeways and highways are clear. And the constant burn of fossil fuels has been markedly diminished. Calmatters — 4/12/20
  • Food bank demand soars, while many San Joaquin Valley farmers forced to let crops rot — With restaurants closing or reshaping business models around slimmed-down take-out menus, the dominoes are starting to fall on farmers who suddenly have nowhere to take their food. And as more people find themselves out of work, food banks are teeming with hungry families. Merced Sun-Star — 4/12/20
  • Another 100+ sailors on carrier test positive for coronavirus — The number of U.S. aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt crew members with COVID-19 has reached 550, with another 103 reportedly testing positive for coronavirus. The San Diego-based carrier, which has a total crew of roughly 4,845 service members, pulled into Guam March 26 after several sailors on board tested positive for COVID-19. San Diego Union-Tribune — 4/12/20
  • 80 inmates, 55 sheriff’s workers in Riverside County have coronavirus — At least 80 inmates and 55 Sheriff’s Department employees have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said on Saturday, April 11, a stunning jump in figures provided a little more than a week ago. Riverside Press Enterprise — 4/12/20
  • LA County announces 25 more coronavirus deaths; total fatalities now 265 — Los Angeles County officials announced Saturday, April 11, that 25 more people have died from the coronavirus, bringing the death toll so far to 265. The deaths included two people from Pasadena, which the city reported Friday. The county tally did not include the two most recent deaths in Long Beach, which were reported Friday and Saturday. Los Angeles Daily News — 4/12/20
  • Orange County records 18th coronavirus death, 85 more cases on Saturday — Orange County’s Health Care Agency has recorded one more death and 85 new coronavirus cases since Friday, bringing the total by Saturday, April 11, to 1,221 cases countywide. So far, 18 residents have died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. Orange County Register — 4/12/20
  • Judge rules ICE must allow detainees free, private calls with attorneys during pandemic — A federal judge ruled Saturday that immigration enforcement officials must allow confidential telephone calls between detainees at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center and their attorneys in light of the coronavirus outbreak. Los Angeles Times — 4/12/20
  • One model projects California coronavirus deaths will peak Wednesday. But it’s more complex — If the country’s most popular coronavirus model proves accurate, California will reach the peak of its outbreak this Wednesday, on what would have been tax day if the pandemic hadn’t uprooted nearly all of the United States’ social and financial structures. SF Chronicle — 4/12/20

National:

  • ‘National security issue’: What Congress wants to give farmers for coronavirus downturn — They’re seriously hurting if their main income came from selling products to schools, restaurants, amusement parks, sports arenas or any other enterprise that shut down to slow the spread of the virus. Dairy farmers, for instance, have seen a 30 to 40 percent decrease in the prices they receive as huge buyers of milk and milk products shut their doors. Sac Bee — 4/13/20
  • North America’s Oil Industry Is Shutting Off the Spigot — “We’ve always been able to sell the oil, even at a crappy price.” Now there are no buyers for the crude coming from its wells and no choice but to shut them in. Texland told state regulators its plans and applied for a loan through the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program to keep its 73 employees on payroll. WSJ — 4/13/20
  • Supreme Court to Break Tradition, Hold Oral Arguments by Teleconference — The Supreme Court, breaking with longstanding tradition because of the coronavirus pandemic, said Monday it will hear oral arguments by teleconference in May, including in cases about the potential disclosure of President Trump’s financial records. WSJ — 4/13/20
  • The farmworkers putting food on America’s tables are facing their own coronavirus crisis — But workers and groups who represent them are sounding an alarm. Their warning: As the virus spreads, many farmworkers are living and working in conditions that put their health particularly at risk. And if outbreaks hit farmworker communities hard, they say, that could put the nation’s food supply at risk, too. CNN — 4/11/20
  • Multibillion-Dollar Tax Muddle Hovers Behind Small-Business Loan Program — A tax ambiguity that could amount to tens of billions of dollars or more is lurking in the small-business loan forgiveness program the government is using to combat the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. WSJ — 4/11/20
  • Most Americans Like How Their Governor Is Handling The Coronavirus Outbreak — Recent state-level polling shows that a majority of Americans in each state approve of the way their governor has handled the COVID-19 crisis so far. For comparison, just under half of Americans approve of Trump’s response to the novel coronavirus. And the three national polls we found in April that asked about this — one from Morning Consult, one from Monmouth University and one Quinnipiac University — also found people were much more likely to approve of their governor’s response than Trump’s. FiveThirtyEight — 4/10/20
  • RNC launches digital ads praising Trump on coronavirus — The Republican National Committee is launching a seven-figure advertising campaign lavishing praise on President Donald Trump for his handling of the coronavirus outbreak, as the president confronts a sustained assault from liberal groups over his response to the crisis. Politico –4/10/20
  • Almost 300 inmates at Chicago jail test positive for coronavirus — In addition to the nearly 300 inmates, 115 prison staff have also tested positive for the virus. The Times reported that the family of a detainee who died in custody filed suit against Cook County and Sheriff Tom Dart on Thursday, claiming he remained shackled while dying of the virus. The Hill–4/10/20
  • XFL Suspends Operations, All Employees Laid Off — The upstart league canceled its season on March 12, joining the NBA, MLB, NHL and nearly all sports leagues across the globe. “All players will be paid their base pay and benefits for the 2020 regular season,” the XFL said in a statement on March 12. “The XFL is committed to playing a full season in 2021 and future years.” Sports Illustrated –4/10/20
  • I’m using my pizza oven to toss masks for nurses — After consulting with a couple of his engineer friends and procuring large sheets of acrylic, Syrkin-Nikolau and his staff have started making face shields for healthcare workers. The industrial pizza oven heats the acrylic up until it’s soft enough to bend into the right shape, and then it is attached to a foam strip and straps. While he says he can’t afford to give the shields away, by selling them for $3 a piece he can keep his workers employed and make supplies available during the Chicago coronavirus case surge. BBC News –4/10/20
  • Groups used to serving desperately poor nations now help US — In Santa Barbara, forklifts chug through the warehouse of Direct Relief, hustling pallets of much-needed medical supplies into waiting FedEx trucks. Normally those gloves, masks and medicines would go to desperately poor clinics in Haiti or Sudan, but now they’re racing off to Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, California and the Robert Wood Johnson Hospitals in New Jersey. AP News –4/10/20
  • Schumer sees quick coronavirus aid deal — Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer said Friday that Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has agreed to bipartisan talks on a new coronavirus economic aid package, which the New York Democrat said could lead to a deal by early next week. A stalemate emerged Thursday over next steps for Congress to provide financial relief for the COVID-19 pandemic. Roll Call –4/10/20
  • Dozens buried on NY Hart Island a day as coronavirus deaths surge —New York City officials have hired contract labourers to help bury the dead in its potter’s field on Hart Island as the city’s daily death rate from the coronavirus epidemic has reached grim new records in each of the last three days. The city has used Hart Island to bury New Yorkers with no known next of kin or whose family are unable to arrange a funeral since the 19th century. Al Jazeera –4/10/20
  • Next potential shortage: Drugs needed to run ventilators — As hospitals scour the country for scarce ventilators to treat critically ill patients stricken by the new coronavirus, pharmacists are beginning to sound an alarm that could become just as urgent: Drugs that go hand in hand with ventilators are running low even as demand is surging. AP News –4/10/20
  • ‘He needs to let his experts speak’: Haley offers Trump messaging advice amid pandemic — Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley suggested Friday that President Donald Trump should “let his experts speak” at the White House’s daily coronavirus briefings. Haley also suggested that the president take steps to make sure the briefings are not “too long.” Haley praised the president’s willingness to “over-communicate” and ability to “show vision of what it is going to look like on the other side” of the deadly outbreak. Politico –4/10/20

Global:

  • U.S. Weighs When to Restart Economy as Europe Looks to Ease Lockdowns — The U.S. is weighing when to reopen the economy as coronavirus infection rates showed signs of stabilizing, but officials in the country and elsewhere voiced concern that moves to ease lockdowns that have crippled the global economy could spur new outbreaks of the disease, which has claimed more than 115,000 lives world-wide. WSJ — 4/13/20
  • How Thousands of Chinese Gently Mourn a Virus Whistle-Blower — After his passing, people began to gather, virtually, at his last post on Weibo, the Chinese social media platform. In the comments section, they grieve and seek solace. Some call it China’s Wailing Wall, a reference to the Western Wall in Jerusalem where people leave written prayers in the cracks. NY Times — 4/13/20
  • Apple and Google are building coronavirus tracking tech into iOS and Android — Two of the tech industry’s biggest players are working together to fight the coronavirus, announcing a new set of tools that could come to a majority of smartphones around the world. The new technology, outlined in white papers published by Apple and Google Friday, relies on Bluetooth wireless radio technology to help phones communicate with one another, ultimately warning people about people they’d come in contact with who are infected with the coronavirus. CNET –4/10/20
  • Coronavirus deaths pass 100,000 globally — The worldwide death toll from the COVID-19 pandemic passed 100,000 on Friday, and the United States was on the brink of surpassing Italy as the nation with the highest number of fatalities. The number of confirmed deaths globally hit 100,375 Friday morning, according to Johns Hopkins University. The true number of lives lost is believed be much higher because of limited testing, different rules for counting the dead and incomplete reporting by some governments. Los Angeles Times –4/10/20
  • U.S. allies, encouraged by Washington, said goodbye to their Cuban doctors. As coronavirus surges, some are arguing for their return —Ecuador is one of a handful of U.S. allies that fell in step with the Trump administration’s zero-tolerance policy on Cuba, bringing an end to agreements that filled understaffed clinics and hospitals from the snow-capped Andes to the sweltering Amazon with thousands of doctors and nurses trained by the communist state. Now that country is struggling to cope with outbreaks of the coronavirus that have overwhelmed hospitals and left bodies in the streets. Washington Post –4/10/20
  • Boris Johnson ‘able to do short walks’ after moving out of ICU — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is “able to do short walks” after he was moved out of intensive care at a London hospital where he has been receiving treatment for the coronavirus, a spokesman said Friday. The Prime Minister’s pregnant partner, Carrie Symonds, also experienced Covid-19 symptoms but said over the weekend she was “on the mend.” Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will continue to deputize for him. CNN –4/10/20

For more resources and information on COVID-19:

  • CA COVID-19 Response Website: link
  • California Department of Public Health: link
  • Centers for Disease Control: link
  • California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services: link
  • Employment Development Department (EDD) link
  • Labor Workforce and Development Agency: link
  • Tips for prevention: English | Spanish

 

  
 

Apr 09

Reduce your risk!

Apr 09

Add your name and demand we implement a Workers’ Bill of Rights during the COVID-19 Crisis!

The COVID-19 crisis is devastating workers in every industry.  This crisis is also exposing the gaping holes in our social safety net and laying bare just how rigged this economy is against workers and our families and how tilted it is to the wealthy and powerful. It’s time for decision-makers to hear from us about what we demand to weather this crisis and the changes we need to create an economy that prioritizes working people going forward.

We need to ACT NOW so that working people won’t be left behind without an income, without a home and without basic protections. We cannot abandon working families in this time of overwhelming need.

The labor movement has made it clear that we need a new deal that makes a real difference in improving workers’ lives during this pandemic and beyond.  As the crisis grows, California’s unions are demanding workers are protected.

Add your name and demand we implement a Workers’ Bill of Rights during the COVID-19 Crisis:

1)    Putting Safety First – Protecting All Workers on the Front Lines of this Crisis

2)     Government relief directly to workers

3)     Holding corporations accountable

4)     Standing up for Gig Workers and Other Vulnerable Workers

5)     Expand Paid Sick Leave for All Workers

6)    Protect Immigrant Workers – Stop ICE Raids

7)    Preserving Jobs, Wages and Health Care in COVID-19 Recovery

8)     Moratorium on Evictions, Foreclosures and Rent Gouging

9)    Protect and Expand the Right to Form and Join Union

ADD YOUR NAME IN SUPPORT TODAY!

 

Apr 09

Census 2020

In the face of our current COVID-19 pandemic, it is even more imperative to complete the 2020 census. Completing the census is crucial because it provides the necessary data to better plan for emergency responses. Census information collected for example is used to determine where new hospitals should be built and what additional services are needed. This crisis and our current emergency response to it highlights that our social infrastructure wasn’t prepared for it. We must ensure this does not happen again. Emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic are precisely why the government needs accurate Census data.

Self-response is quick, easy, and can be done online, by phone, or by mail. Residents can self-respond to the Census online at https://my2020census.gov/ or over the phone in English by dialing 844-330-2020 or in Spanish at 844-468-2020.  TAKE 2020 THE CENSUS TODAY!

Apr 09

Here are your daily facts, news, and information on COVID-19

Here are your daily facts, news, and information on COVID-19, compiled by the Senate Democratic Caucus.

Cal OES Update:

  • April 7, 2020 – pdf
  • Key messages – link

Governor Updates:

  • Today at Noon: Governor Gavin Newsom will provide an update on the state’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The update will be streamed at the @CAgovernor Twitter page and California Governor Facebook page.
  • Section 36.00 – Letter to Legislature: California Office of Emergency Services, Increase of Emergency Funding for COVID-19 Response – pdf
  • Governor Newsom Issues Executive Order to Help State Procure Necessary Medical Supplies – link
    • Masks, gloves, eye protection, gowns, and other critical materials that protect public health sold to or purchased by the State are exempt from sales and use taxes.
  • Governor Newsom Signs Executive Order to Expand Support for Vulnerable Populations – link
  • Resources for emotional support and well-being – link
  • California Surgeon General’s Playbook: Stress Relief during COVID-19 – link

Important Updates:

News Highlights:

  • California to spend nearly $1B for 200 million marks per month
  • California won’t be lifting coronavirus stay-at-home rules anytime soon
  • What California is doing right in responding to the coronavirus pandemic
  • California still way behind in coronavirus testing despite recent advances
  • California lends 500 ventilators to 4 states, 2 territories
  • California still sifting through racial data to determine coronavirus impacts
  • Health professionals warn of ‘explosion’ of coronavirus cases in minority communities
  • Sacramento County extends stay-at-home order through May 1
  • The United States counted its highest coronavirus-related death toll in a single day on Tuesday, with 1,997 fatalities, bringing the total to nearly 13,000
  • Pelosi and Schumer seek huge spending increases for hospitals, local aid and food stamps as coronavirus talks intensify
  • Hospitals say feds are seizing masks and other coronavirus supplies without a word
  • Trump removes independent watchdog tasked with overseeing coronavirus emergency funds
  • Treasury seeks $200 billion more for small business coronavirus aid
  • Some Swedish hospitals have stopped using Chloroquine to treat COVID-19 after reports of severe side effects
  • Paris bans daytime outdoor exercise
  • Wuhan outbound travel ban lifted
  • The Judicial Council yesterday barred courts from enforcing eviction orders against renters for any cause
  • Acting Navy chief Thomas Modly resigned on Tuesday following nearly a week of controversy about his dismissal of USS Theodore Roosevelt Captain Brett Crozier
  • A second potential COVID-19 vaccine, backed by Bill and Melinda Gates, began clinical human testing yesterday
  • British PM Johnson’s condition is stable and he is breathing without assistance following his admission to the intensive care unit

News Articles:

California:

  • Mental health challenges + Sustainable housing fund + ‘Give for a Gay’ blood donation — California Gov. Gavin Newsom took some time at the beginning of his #NewsomAtNoon press conference Tuesday to acknowledge something that we’re all feeling, some more than others: That staying at home for an extended period of time takes its toll on mental health. Sac Bee — 4/8/20
  • California to spend nearly $1B for 200 million masks per month — “We’ve been competing against other states, against other nations, against our own federal government for PPE — coveralls, masks, shields, N95 masks — and we’re not waiting around any longer,’’ Newsom told MSNBC host Rachel Maddow on Tuesday night. Politico — 4/8/20
  • California won’t be lifting coronavirus stay-at-home rules anytime soon. Here’s why — Even as California sees glimmers of hope amid the coronavirus outbreak, authorities warn that the Golden State won’t be getting back to normal anytime soon.  Officials expect months more of some social distancing policies and warn that lifting the strict rules too early could worsen the health crisis. The public should realize that coronavirus cases are likely to rise when stay-at-home orders are eased, officials said. LA Times — 4/8/20
  • What California is doing right in responding to the coronavirus pandemic — “When we write this history and look at the tens of thousands of lives in California that will have been spared, I think there will be lots of factors that went into it,” said Dr. Robert Wachter, professor and chair of the Department of Medicine at University of California, San Francisco. “The most important was that leaders of all types — whether they were in government or in businesses — took it seriously, believed that this was a real risk and did the right thing early.” CNN — 4/8/20
  • Why New York has 12 times as many coronavirus deaths as California —California, the nation’s most populous state, was among the first to report cases. The first possible case of community transmission in the US was reported in California on February 26; the state reported its first death on March 4. New York lagged by days, reporting its first community transmission case on March 3 and first death on March 14. But just over a month after California’s first coronavirus death, as of April 8, the state has seen more than 17,000 cases and about 450 deaths — while New York state has more than 140,000 cases and about 5,500 deaths. Vox — 4/8/20
  • California still way behind in coronavirus testing despite recent advances — As of Tuesday, California said it had results for 143,172 tests — or 362 per 100,000 people. That’s a sharp increase from two weeks ago when just 39 of every 100,000 residents had been tested. Yet for all its deep sources of innovation, the state is behind the national average of 596 tests per 100,000, according to the COVID Tracking Project. In New York, which has far more people hospitalized with severe symptoms, testing has reached 1,748 of every 100,000. LA Times — 4/8/20
  • Newly eligible California workers in limbo over unemployment benefits — It could be weeks or longer before those newly-eligible workers get help as states await clarification from the Labor Department about precisely who qualifies and what documentation is required, and states then race to modify their existing unemployment insurance systems to include the expanded pool of recipients. LA Times — 4/7/20
  • California lends 500 ventilators to 4 states, 2 territories — The White House said Monday that 500 ventilators on loan from California will be shipped to Nevada, Maryland, Delaware, the District of Columbia, the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam as the nation faces a crush of coronavirus-related hospitalizations. AP — 4/7/20
  • Could a blood test for coronavirus antibodies get California back to normal? Lots of questions remain — Blood tests for antibodies to the novel coronavirus will be “foundational, fundamental,” to sending Californians back to work, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said on Monday. But medical experts caution that there’s still a lot we don’t know about whether the tests are reliable enough to ensure people’s safety. CalMatters — 4/7/20
  • California still sifting through racial data to determine coronavirus impacts — The California counties that did release data lacked ethnic information for a sizable share of coronavirus cases — including more than half in Los Angeles County — an indication that background data was not collected uniformly as the state scrambled to expand its testing capabilities through different public and private labs. Politico — 4/7/20
  • The virus casts a shroud over American civic life — The public access shutdown comes just as local officials make unprecedented decisions about health care and how to disburse billions of dollars in federal aid. And it could undermine years of hard-won victories on access to information, some transparency advocates say, with now-temporary restrictions enduring even after this crisis has receded. Politico — 4/7/20
  • Shopping in LA? Cover your face or get tossed, Garcetti orders — Starting at midnight Friday morning, customers entering locations like grocery stores, pharmacies, hotels, taxis and ride-hailing vehicles will be required to wear a cloth mask. Businesses can refuse service to any resident who doesn’t comply with the mandate. Politico — 4/8/20
  • Consider pulling residents from nursing homes over coronavirus, says county health director — More than 120 nursing facilities and other communal living institutions in Los Angeles County alone are suspected of having coronavirus infections, including a home in Redondo Beach where four people have died and 38 others have confirmed cases. LA Times — 4/7/20
  • Coronavirus updates: 11 deaths in central San Joaquin Valley; When will we see the peak? — The number of deaths in the central San Joaquin Valley related to the conoranvirus and the respiratory illness COVID-19 has doubled since Friday. Fresno County confirmed a second death Monday afternoon. The same day, health officials in Merced announced the first coronavirus-related death in that county, while to the south Tulare County confirmed its sixth death. Fresno Bee –4/7/20
  • Coronavirus cases climb in Inland Empire as San Bernardino County death toll doubles — Coronavirus cases have steadily risen this week in the Inland Empire, with an overall case count surpassing 1,000. Riverside County continues to see an uptick in the number of people infected with the coronavirus even as it implements unprecedented rules to stop the spread. Officials reported 799 cases and 19 deaths Sunday; that number jumped to 946 confirmed cases and 25 deaths Monday. Sixty people have recovered from the illness. Los Angeles Times –4/7/20
  • Coronavirus treatment could be paid by Medicaid under bill from Rep. Gil Cisneros — Every American diagnosed with coronavirus could be eligible for Medicaid, so that the subsidized healthcare plan would pay for all related testing and treatment, under a bill proposed Tuesday by Rep. Gil Cisneros, D-Yorba Linda. OC Register — 4/7/20
  • MTS to cut service as bus driver tests positive for coronavirus — Officials said transit ridership is down 65 percent, but many San Diegans are still using buses and trolleys. The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System plans to cut service on buses and trolleys starting April 13 to help limit the exposure of drivers and other staff to coronavirus. MTS had its first staff member, a minibus driver, test positive for coronavirus over the weekend. All bus and trolley drivers have access to masks, gloves and sanitizer. San Diego Union Tribune –4/7/20
  • Field Medical Station created at Enloe Rehabilitation Center in response to COVID-19 — FEMA has delivered hospital beds to Butte County to create a Field Medical Station (FMS) at the Enloe Rehabilitation Center in Chico. This site is designed to expand medical surge capacity as needed in response to the coronavirus pandemic. As a field medical station, it will extend the county’s capacity to treat patients requiring hospitalization. The Enloe Rehabilitation Center will be converted and outfitted with 125 field hospital beds. Action News Now –4/6/20
  • Sacramento County Extends Stay-At-Home Order Through May 1 — The new order sets new social distancing protocols for essential businesses, restricts access to recreation facilities, clarifies essential activities and travel, and prohibits all non-essential gatherings of any number of people. CBS Sacramento –4/7/20
  • Suspicious package left at Roseville church that received backlash for hosting in-person service — Roseville police and the FBI are investigating a suspicious packaged that was sent to a megachurch that has continued in person services despite the statewide stay at home orders. The package, which police later determined was not an “explosive threat,” was sent to the Abundant Life Church on 700 block of Atlantic Street in Roseville on Tuesday, just days after the church’s most recent service. ABC 10 –4/7/20
  • Virtual open houses, masked notaries: How you can still buy a home in a pandemic — The novel coronavirus has shut down large swaths of the U.S. economy, leading to millions of layoffs and the closure of bars, malls and events. And it has slammed the real estate industry. Applications for loans to purchase a home have plunged, and deals are falling out of escrow. But sales activity hasn’t completely stopped, at least not yet. Those who are determined can still buy a home. They just have to navigate the strangest market ever. Los Angeles Times –4/7/20

National:

  • U.S. suffers record deaths, and small businesses struggle to secure loans — The United States counted its highest coronavirus-related death toll in a single day on Tuesday, with 1,997 fatalities, bringing the total to nearly 13,000 on Wednesday morning, according to the latest figures in a New York Times database. The U.S. currently has at least 397,754 positive cases across every state, Washington, D.C. and four territories. NY Times — 4/8/20
  • Big banks took “free money’ in 2008. They’re turning their backs now on small businesses, SBA official says — The comments from SBA Nevada district director Joseph Amato offer a rare candid glimpse behind the scenes at the frustrations federal officials face as they work with banks to quickly ramp up one of the most ambitious economic stimulus programs in American history. The webinar features Amato talking candidly about the $349 billion program on a Zoom teleconference that was recorded and provided to The Post.  Washington Post — 4/8/20
  • Pelosi and Schumer seek huge spending increases for hospitals, local aid and food stamps as coronavirus talks intensify — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer called Wednesday for hundreds of billions of dollars for hospitals, state and local governments, and food stamp recipients in response to the Trump administration’s urgent request for $250 billion more for small businesses. Washington Post — 4/8/20
  • U.S. Stocks Rise After Bout of Volatility — The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 180 points, or 0.8%, a day after giving up a 4.1% advance to close 0.1% lower. The S&P 500 rose 0.7%, and the Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.7%. “A vacuum of data is leading to this volatility, rather than a shift in sentiment,” said Edward Park. deputy chief investment officer at Brooks Macdonald. WSJ — 4/8/20
  • The New Cocktail Hour: Your Governor’s Daily Coronavirus Briefing — Live state updates on the pandemic become must-see TV and make unlikely stars of local official. WSJ 4/7/20
  • Trump botched the coronavirus crisis. But will Gavin Newsom’s praise help re-elect him? — Newsom’s in a tough position, and he’s right to avoid unnecessary conflict with Trump. Great diplomacy, however, requires a grasp of subtlety. It’s possible to stroke Trump’s ego without covering up his catastrophic errors. Can Newsom temper his collegiality with reality? Or will his overdone applause come back to bite Democrats in November? Sac Bee — 4/7/20
  • Hospitals say feds are seizing masks and other coronavirus supplies without a word — Although President Trump has directed states and hospitals to secure what supplies they can, the federal government is quietly seizing orders, leaving medical providers across the country in the dark about where the material is going and how they can get what they need to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. — LA Times — 4/7/20
  • Walgreens to offer drive-thru testing at 15 locations in seven states — In a press release, the company said that it would open testing centers in fifteen new locations, including new locations in Illinois and six other states: Arizona, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Tennessee and Texas. The company opened its first drive-thru location on March 21, and will use the tests touted by White House officials including President Trump developed by Abbott Labs, which can return accurate coronavirus test results in minutes. The Hill -4/7/20
  • Trump criticizes WHO, calls it ‘very China centric’ — The WHO has faced growing criticism from conservatives over its response to the novel coronavirus as the United States grapples with the global pandemic. Critics have blamed the organization for leaving other nations unprepared for the virus and some allege the organization helped China conceal the extent of the outbreak. The criticism has come as Trump received scrutiny himself for downplaying the threat from the virus early on. The Hill –4/7/20
  • Shkreli seeks prison release to conduct research for coronavirus cure — Biotech entrepreneur Martin Shkreli called for his temporary release from prison on Tuesday in an 11-page scientific paper posted to a pharmaceutical company’s website. In the paper, Shkreli asks for a three-month furlough from his prison sentence in order to assist in the development of a cure for the coronavirus, a disease that has caused a global pandemic and has infected tens of thousands in the United States. The Hill –4/7/20
  • Trump removes independent watchdog tasked with overseeing coronavirus emergency funds — President Donald Trump has removed the acting Inspector General for the Defense Department, Glenn Fine, as chair of the newly created Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, which is tasked with overseeing $2 trillion in emergency coronavirus funding. Late last month, a group of independent federal watchdogs tapped Fine, a career official, to lead the group tasked with preventing “waste, fraud, and abuse” in the use of coronavirus relief money. CNN –4/7/20
  • New York’s Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine to become a field hospital — The “mother church” of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, and the seat of its bishop, will be able to hold at least 200 patients. nine medical tents will be set up inside the church’s nave —where thousands of chairs normally seat worshipers — by the end of the week. The cathedral’s crypt, which runs below the 600-foot-long nave, will act as a “staging area” for medical personnel. CBS News –4/7/20
  • Treasury seeks $200 billion more for small business coronavirus aid — The Treasury Department will ask Congress for $200 billion more to aid small businesses, according to a person familiar with the matter, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the Senate could act as soon as this week to provide additional money. Businesses have rushed to tap the $350 billion Paycheck Protection Program that was part of the massive $2.2 trillion stimulus passed by Congress in response to the economic crisis spawned by the coronavirus pandemic. Orange County Register –4/7/20
  • Trade Adviser Warned White House in January of Risks of a Pandemic —The warning, written in a memo by Peter Navarro, President Trump’s trade adviser, is the highest-level alert known to have circulated inside the West Wing as the administration was taking its first substantive steps to confront a crisis that had already consumed China’s leaders and would go on to upend life in Europe and the United States. New York Times –4/6/20
  • New York reports highest single-day virus death toll — The 731 deaths reported brought the total to 5,489 deaths and 138,836 infections. BBC News –4/7/20
  • Etsy encourages sellers to make face masks — As the US struggles to fill a coronavirus-driven demand for more personal protective equipment, Etsy, the online seller of homemade goods, is encouraging its network of sellers to make face masks. The move comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an updated set of guidelines on wearing face coverings in public, including homemade face masks. CNET –4/7/20
  • New Research Links Air Pollution to Higher Coronavirus Death Rates — Coronavirus patients in areas that had high levels of air pollution before the pandemic are more likely to die from the infection than patients in cleaner parts of the country, according to a new nationwide study that offers the first clear link between long-term exposure to pollution and Covid-19 death rates. New York Times –4/7/20
  • MLB: 30 teams in Arizona to end coronavirus hiatus just a ‘potential option’ — Multiple sources reported Monday that Major League Baseball and its players’ union had discussed a plan to start the 2020 season as early as May by moving all 30 teams to Arizona where games would be played in the 10 spring training ballparks there as well as the Arizona Diamondbacks’ home stadium, Chase Field, and possibly college facilities. No fans would be allowed and players would live in virtual isolation — going only from the ballpark to their hotel and back — possibly for as long as four months. Orange County Register –4/7/20

Global:

  • Japan Firms to Shut With Emergency Decree, 7-Elevens Stay Open — Japanese companies prepared to close retail stores, restaurants, movie theaters and offices, while expanding work-from-home policies, after the government declared a state of emergency in major metropolitan areas. Bloomberg –4/7/20
  • Some Swedish Hospitals Have Stopped Using Chloroquine to Treat COVID-19 After Reports of Severe Side Effects — According to the national paper Expressen, hospitals in the Västra Götaland region are no longer offering the antimalarial medication, with side effects reported to include cramps and the loss of peripheral vision. Newsweek –4/6/20
  • Paris bans daytime outdoor exercise — The new rules are in force between 10:00 and 19:00 local time, and come into effect on Wednesday. Mayor Anne Hidalgo and the chief of police said this would restrict people to exercise “when the streets are generally at their quietest”. In total, 8,911 people have died there, and the number of confirmed cases is almost at 100,000. BBC News –4/7/20
  • Chernobyl’s on Fire. Great. — A fire that now covers about 50 acres has broken out within the uninhabited exclusion zone around Chernobyl. Radiation readings around the area are almost five times what’s considered safe, and more than 16 times normal. Radioactive fires aren’t the only problem that Ukraine’s emergency services are dealing with right now: Nearly 1,500 cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in the country. Epidemiologists in the country expect 80% of the population to get COVID-19, 20% of whom will require hospitalization. Luckily, the radiation from the fires around Chernobyl haven’t wafted over to the country’s more populated regions. VICE News –4/7/20
  • Wuhan outbound travel ban lifted — The months-long lockdown in the city of Wuhan in China’s Hubei province – where the coronavirus pandemic started – has been lifted. Anyone who has a “green” code on a widely used smartphone health app is now allowed to leave, for the first time since January. Train, road and rail connections have now been re-established. It comes as China reported no deaths on Tuesday, the first time since it began publishing figures. BBC News –4/7/20
  • Mafia plots post-coronavirus pounce — Throughout their 150-year history in the south of Italy, the country’s organized crime syndicates have turned a profit from emergencies such as earthquakes and cholera outbreaks by sourcing agricultural workers, fixing construction contracts or siphoning off funds meant for city sanitation. The coronavirus epidemic sweeping across Europe is providing the mafia with another profitable business opportunity — and not just in Italy. Politico –4/7/20
  • Finland rolls out random nationwide testing for coronavirus antibodies —Finnish health officials will begin offering voluntary tests for coronavirus antibodies this week as the country seeks to determine how many asymptomatic carriers may be in the country. Finland has confirmed more than 2,300 cases of the disease, with just 34 deaths reported from the virus inside the country. The Hill –4/7/20
  • Turkey’s Covid-19 infection rate rising fastest in the world — Turkey’s number of coronavirus infections is increasing by more than 3,000 a day, reaching 30,217 since the first case was confirmed four weeks ago. Reported fatalities remain much lower than other badly hit countries, at 649, but the infection figures suggest Turkey has the fastest rising number of confirmed cases in the world. The Guardian — 4/7/20

For more resources and information on COVID-19:

  • CA COVID-19 Response Website: link
  • California Department of Public Health: link
  • Centers for Disease Control: link
  • California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services: link
  • Employment Development Department (EDD) link
  • Labor Workforce and Development Agency: link
  • Tips for prevention: English | Spanish

 

  

Also try using the Johns Hopkins Covid-19 Dashboard,

https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6

From the Vallejo Chamber of Commerce:

–          State of California’s COVID-19 page: covid19.ca.gov

o   California Department of Public Health

o   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

–          EDD:

o   Employer Resources: The Work Sharing Program explained

o   Employee Resources:

–          The Workforce Development Board of Solano County announces a new Layoff Aversion Fund for small businesses in Solano County

–          SBA: The SBA has an array of tools and options available for businesses to consider. Start with Small Business Guidance and Loan Resources, then check out Coronavirus Relief Options. These include:

o   The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP): This program is receiving a huge amount of interest and applications. Keep in mind you need to use an SBA-approved lender to facilitate this loan. Small banks like PLUS Cornerstone member First Bank can be a great option if you are interested.

o   Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and the EIDL Emergency Advance: A business that is interested in tapping into the $10,000 Emergency Advance does so by completing the EIDL application. Toward the end of the application the document asks if you would like to receive the advance. According to the website, “The Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance funds will be made available within days of a successful application, and this loan advance will not have to be repaid.“ Applicants are being contacted about one week after submitting an application. Keep this in mind when trying to anticipate when the funds might be received.

–          From the United Way Bay Area:

o   2-1-1 is a free information and referral service that connects people to health and human services in their community 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This plays a critical role in providing information and support in times of disaster, such as shelter, food, medical and recovery information, and provides public officials with feedback from callers about changing conditions.

  • Texting 211211: United Ways of California hosts the statewide211211 texting platform populated in real-time with federal, state and zipcode level resources and information for those with non-urgent needs. Messages are in English and Spanish.
  • Calling 2-1-1: This FCC authorized phone number can be used by constituents with urgent, non-emergency needs to speak to a trained operator to navigate local services and supports. 211 call centers offer translation for 150+ languages

 

Apr 08

The Solano First 5 Children and Families Commission under the direction of the Solano County Emergency Operations Center is partnering with the Solano County Office of Education and several other community partners to provide Emergency Pop-Up Childcare! 

The Solano County Emergency Pop-Up Childcare Program is currently open and supporting healthcare workers and first responders working in Vallejo. Other disaster services workers and essential workers in need of emergency childcare may also be approved dependent on availability. This program is not open to the general public. Drop-in childcare is not being offered.

At this time, children ages 0-2 will be provided care through family childcare homes, and preschool through school age children will be provided care at Cooper Elementary School. However, this may change depending on availability and need. Staff will discuss and consider the needs of each family individually to ensure the best fit. This is a rapidly evolving situation so your patience and understanding are appreciated.

Overview and Important Information for Parents, Guardians, and Staff

If you need care, fill out the Intake Form

Thank you in advance for your help in distributing this information to your healthcare workers and first responders in Vallejo.

Megan Richards, MPA

Deputy Director, First 5 Solano

Apr 03

Update from our Executive Director, Jon Riley, about the COVID-19 virus!

Siblings, every Affiliate and Community Group in Napa and Solano Counties have different issues and needs that are important to our constituents. Trying to maneuver through Essential and Non-Essential employees and what that means to each individual worker and what roles that they can play is a daunting task for Labor and Management alike.

Our public sector workers are working to ensure that worker safety and workplace alternatives are in place. Our Building Trades are facing State mandated moratoriums on certain construction projects. Our private sector workers, like the grocery clerks and service employees also face issues surrounding safety distancing protocols. Our small business owners who employ our members are struggling to keep their doors open, and of course, our front-line public safety professionals, Police, Firefighters, Nurses and Hospital workers are working under extraordinary conditions trying to keep up with this global pandemic and will need everyone’s support moving forward.

Our Labor Council is working closely with affiliate Leaders, Elected officials and Staff to attempt to ensure that safety guidelines are followed, remote work opportunities explored but most critical, that a trusted stream of communication is maintained as we attempt to ensure the health and safety of every organization, both physical and economical. We are also working with community organizations that work with those with special needs to set up a process to identify these needs and ensure that whatever resources are available are identified without duplication of efforts.

We urge everyone to be patient, this is just the beginning and we have to allow our State, County and Local Governments to establish a new normal and urge those leaders to include Labor Representatives at every level of the process to help maintain consistency and make sure that the information that is put out is trusted by everyone. This will be critical as unprecedented actions are taken that will impact members who look to their Union Representatives for clarification.

We all wonder about the importance of the Shelter in Place guidelines and whether they are needed. The three graphs attached illustrate the importance of maintaining the social distancing protocols to attempt to flatten the curve.

Stay Safe and Go Wash Your Hands!

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From: EDD Legislative Office
Sent: Friday, April 3, 2020 10:25 AM
Subject: EDD: Important Information for Your Constituents

Good Morning,

On behalf of the Employment Development Department’s (EDD) Legislative Office, thank you for your continued partnership as we provide information and essential benefits to workers during these unprecedented times.

Yesterday we published an important press release that discusses EDD’s response to COVID-19, answers your constituents’ most frequently asked questions, and provides additional information regarding the CARES Act (attached). I encourage you to read the release and share its details with your constituents.

We also want to clarify that individuals who are waiting for the availability of Pandemic Unemployment Assistance should monitor EDD’s website for updates on this federal program.  At this time, it is incorrect to assume that individuals will be required to file for regular unemployment insurance and be denied these benefits in order to apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.  Specific instructions on how to apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance will be made available at a later date.

For many of your constituents, this is the first time they have applied for EDD benefits, including Unemployment Insurance. To assist these customers, the EDD has launched a COVID-19: Unemployment Insurance Claims web page that includes clear, easy to follow instructions for workers who have already filed for benefits. This website provides crucial, timely information for constituents who filed for benefits in recent weeks.

Thank you for your patience, commitment, and hard work on behalf of all Californians.

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PG&E Residential Customers Will Receive State-Mandated Climate Credit Reducing April Bills

Helps Residential Customers Under Stay-at-Home Orders Who May Be Using more Energy to Receive Lower Bills

PG&E residential customers will receive the California Climate Credit on their bills during the April billing cycle. The credit totals $62.91 for PG&E residential customers receiving both natural gas and electric service. For natural gas-only residential customers the credit will be $27.18, and for electric-only residential customers the credit will be $35.73.

This credit is especially timely given that many residential customers under stay-at-home orders may be using more energy than usual, which could increase their energy bills.

“During the COVID-19 public health crisis, we know that many of our customers may face uncertainty and financial instability due to school and childcare closures, job loss and other economic impacts. We want customers to be aware that the semi-annual California Climate Credit will help reduce their energy costs this month,” said PG&E’s Laurie Giammona, senior vice president and chief customer officer.

“We also have numerous tips, tools and programs for customers to help lower their energy usage and bills. We encourage customers to evaluate those options and take advantage of them,” said Giammona.

California requires power plants, natural gas providers and other large industries that emit greenhouse gases to buy carbon pollution permits from auctions managed by the California Air Resources Board. The California Climate Credit is customers’ share of the payments from the state’s program. The California Public Utilities Commission oversees the program. The state’s investor-owned utilities and Community Choice Aggregators administer the credits to customers.

Help managing energy usage

In addition to the Climate Credit, PG&E wants its customers to know it offers multiple rate plan options, assistance programs and tools to help manage their energy usage and costs, as many residential customers are spending more time at home during the statewide stay-at-home order and may be using more energy than usual.

Customers can view a personalized rate plan comparison at www.pge.com or by calling PG&E at 1-800-743-5000 to help determine which rate plan is best for their household. Customers can also view their daily energy usage patterns online. This information may help them determine which rate plan is best for them, or help make other behavioral changes in their energy usage to reduce their costs.

If a customer is experiencing financial hardships and has trouble paying their bill due to the economic impact of COVID-19, PG&E can help. The company continues to offer flexible payment plans to support customers during these difficult times. Customers can learn more at www.pge.com/helpmepay.

Moratorium on service disconnections

In addition, PG&E has implemented a moratorium on service disconnections for non-payment. This suspension applies to both residential and small business customers and will remain in effect until further notice. PG&E will also suspend Medical Baseline removals. Customers on the Medical Baseline program will not be asked to re-certify through a doctor or other eligible medical professionals for up to one year.

Customers can also take advantage of the following financial-assistance programs.

Save on monthly bills

PG&E’s California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) Program gives almost 1.4 million income-qualified households discounts on their energy bills.

Customers can apply for CARE online at www.pge.com/CARE. Applying is easy and only takes about five minutes. Qualifying customers will begin receiving the CARE program discount within their next billing cycle.

Separate from CARE, income-qualified households with three or more persons can apply for the Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) Program for an 18 percent discount on their electric bill.

One-time assistance

The federally-funded Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides financial assistance to help offset eligible household energy costs, including heating, cooling and home weatherization expenses. To learn more, dial 211 for LIHEAP income guidelines and a list of participating agencies.

Receive energy support for medical conditions

Residential customers requiring electricity-powered medical equipment may qualify for Medical Baseline, which is not based on income. Per month, eligible customers can receive an extra baseline allotment of 500 kilowatt-hours of electricity and/or 25 therms of gas. Certification by a doctor is required.

No disruption in gas or electric service is anticipated due to the public health crisis. For more information, please visit www.pge.com/covid19 to read more about PG&E’s response to the virus.

Email Currents at Currents@pge.com.

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DMV Helps Californians with Expiring Driver Licenses

Seniors and other drivers can avoid required office visit for renewal during COVID-19 pandemic

Sacramento – The California Department of Motor Vehicles today is announcing that seniors with an expiring driver license will receive a 120-day extension in the mail during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, those with safe driving records whose last DMV visit was 15 years ago will not be required to renew in person for the next 60 days and will be able to renew online or by mail.

“Today’s actions ensure hundreds of thousands of Californians can keep their driver license current while following the state’s stay at home request,” DMV Director Steve Gordon said. “The health and safety of our employees and customers is the DMV’s top priority. We encourage customers to take advantage of our online services whenever possible, including for eligible driver license or vehicle registration renewals.”

120-Day Extension for Drivers 70 and Over

The DMV is providing a 120-day extension to Californians age 70 and older with a driver license that expires from March 1 to May 31, 2020. This action ensures this vulnerable group can avoid a DMV office visit during the COVID-19 pandemic.

California law requires drivers age 70 and older to visit a DMV field office to renew their license but gives the DMV authority to issue extensions – no individual action required. Eligible drivers will receive a paper license extension in the mail beginning in the next two weeks. The expiration dates will reflect a minimum of 120 days before renewal is required. Around 860,000 seniors visit DMV offices every year for the required in-person license renewal.

Waiving In-Person Renewals for Eligible Drivers and Identification Cardholders

Governor Gavin Newsom signed an Executive Order on March 30 temporarily waiving for 60 days the requirement for Californians with safe driving records to renew their driver license in-person at a DMV field office. The Executive Order also temporarily waives required in-person renewals for identification cards.

The DMV is also completing the programming necessary so that individuals who meet the criteria will be able to complete their renewal online or by mail beginning Wednesday, April 8.

Duplicate Driver License

The DMV now offers Californians the option to use its online services to request a duplicate driver license if theirs was lost or stolen and does not expire within 30 days. A duplicate license costs $30. Approximately 1 million Californians request duplicate licenses each year.

Essential DMV Services Continue

The DMV continues to provide essential services via mail, online, kiosks, its call center at (800) 777-0133, available business partners and, soon, virtually to process critical transactions, including eligible driver license and vehicle registration renewals, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The DMV encourages customers to use another service channel if their transaction does not require an office visit. These services are listed on the DMV Online Services and DMV Anytime webpages and include change of address, replacement sticker or registration card, notice of transfer and release of liability, and vehicle license fee refund requests, among others.

Starting April 2, the Virtual Field Office at virtual.dmv.ca.gov can process title transfers and complex vehicle registrations that would otherwise have to be accomplished in an office. More services will be offered through the Virtual Field Office in the coming weeks.

The measures to help Californians with expiring driver licenses are the latest DMV actions during the coronavirus pandemic, including:

·  Temporarily closing field offices. Following deep cleaning, expansion of virtual services and development of new protocols, the DMV soon will offer in-person services in each region. Information on office openings will be announced by DMV in the near future.

·  Requesting California law enforcement to exercise discretion, for 60 days beginning March 16, before issuing citations for driving with a recently expired license or vehicle registration.

·  Canceling all behind-the-wheel drive tests to honor social distancing guidelines.

·  Suspending extended office hours and Saturday service

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The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

The Paycheck Protection program in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that was just passed by Congress is intended to assist business owners and employees. When implemented, there will be many new resources available for small businesses, as well as certain non-profits and gig workers. The links and guide below provide information about the major programs and initiatives that are available from the Small Business Administration (SBA) to address these needs. Payroll Masters will provide you with all the reports you will need.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

FACT SHEET

Emergency Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL)

The CARES Act, expands eligibility for access to Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to include Tribal businesses, cooperatives, and Employee Stock Option Plans (ESOP) with fewer than 500 employees or any individual operating as a sole proprietor or an independent contractor during the covered period (January 31, 2020 to December 31, 2020). Private non-profits are also eligible for both grants and EIDLs. Payroll Masters will provide you with all the reports you will need.

LEARN MORE

Apr 03

Please sign this petition about Sinclair Broadcasting Group

In a time of a global health crisis the multi-billion-dollar company Sinclair Broadcasting Group is giving its freelance technicians the cold shoulder.

Rather than offering a relief package of substance to sports broadcast techs who have lost 100% of their income, Sinclair has decided to offer $2,500 interest free loans with payback terms that would see workers having to hand over up to half of their paycheck per event once work resumed.

Other networks, like FOX, CBS, Disney, ESPN, are offering payments for canceled and postponed events including healthcare benefits. By only offering their employees an insufficient loan and ignoring their need for essential benefit contributions in addition to income, Sinclair Broadcasting is jeopardizing the wellbeing of workers and their families.

Sports broadcast technicians need your help standing up to Sinclair. Join our collective voice and tell Sinclair Broadcasting that it’s not ok to take advantage of a global health crisis to gain wealth for your shareholders.

Click here to sign the petition ⟶

Mar 27

Governor Newsom Takes Executive Action to Establish a Statewide Moratorium on Evictions

The order is effective immediately and will apply through May 31, 2020

Builds on the Governor’s previous executive action authorizing local governments to halt evictions

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued an executive order banning the enforcement of eviction orders for renters affected by COVID-19 through May 31, 2020. The order prohibits landlords from evicting tenants for nonpayment of rent and prohibits enforcement of evictions by law enforcement or courts. It also requires tenants to declare in writing, no more than seven days after the rent comes due, that the tenant cannot pay all or part of their rent due to COVID-19.

 

The tenant would be required to retain documentation but not required to submit it to the landlord in advance. And the tenant would remain obligated to repay full rent in “a timely manner” and could still face eviction after the enforcement moratorium is lifted. The order takes effect immediately, and provides immediate relief to tenants for whom rent is due on April 1st.

 

Today’s action builds on Governor Newsom’s previous executive order authorizing local governments to halt evictions for renters impacted by the pandemic.

 

A copy of the Governor’s executive order can be found here and the text of the order can also be found here.