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How masks to fight coronavirus became a battleground between Dems and Reeps
The Chronicle's JOHN WILDERMUTH: "Face masks, recommended by public health officials as a way to slow the spread of the deadly coronavirus, have become the latest battleground in the partisan war between the nation’s Republicans and Democrats.
Even as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi walks the halls of Congresswith her scarf pulled up to cover her nose and mouth, President Trump was barefaced Tuesday for a pair of events in Phoenix, including a visit to a mask factory — where there were signs saying everyone was required to wear a mask.
At a House Rules Committee hearing in Washington last month, the Democratic chairman slammed Republican members for not wearing masks. And at recent rallies in Sacramento and across the nation calling for states to ease stay-at-home restrictions, there were plenty of pro-Trump signs and red “Make America Great Again” hats, but not so many masks."
Federal agency delays medical mask shipments in California's $1B contract with Chinese company
The Chronicle's DUSTIN GARDINER: "Delivery of many of the medical masks that Gov. Gavin Newsom secured in a nearly $1 billion deal with a Chinese company has been delayed because a federal agency has yet to certify they meet safety standards, according to documents released Wednesday night.
The situation led California to seek repayment of half the $495 million that it paid upfront to manufacturer BYD for N95 particulate-filtering respirators intended to protect medical workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. It will have to pay the money if and when the company wins federal approval for the masks.
BYD is still sending the state millions of lower-grade surgical masks every week under the deal that Newsom announced last month, according to contract documents released by the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. Those masks offer protection against droplets, not particulates, and don’t require federal safety certification."
Native American tribes are suing the Trump administration over coronavirus aid. Here's why
Sac Bee's KATE IRBY: "Native American tribal governments, forced to lay off employees and increase expenses during the coronavirus pandemic, were promised $8 billion in funds by April 26 under a coronavirus relief law President Donald Trump signed.
The roughly 400 tribes splitting the money still haven’t received the aid.
They sued the U.S. Treasury Department last week and officials on Tuesday said they’d begin doling out the aid."
What a reopened California will look like -- and businesses' odds of survival
LA Times's STAFF: "Businesses in California may start opening again as soon as Friday. But it won’t be business as usual.
Social distancing and sanitation protocols are likely to stay in place until testing, contact tracing and a vaccine become widely available. State and local officials are working to hash out exactly what that will mean for reopened businesses, but the basic principles are familiar enough by now: Staff and customers must wear masks; the number of people allowed in an establishment must be reduced to allow for six-foot spacing when possible; anything that people touch needs to be disinfected, frequently.
Restaurants and retail are likely to reopen with these restrictions within weeks, according to recent guidance from Gov. Gavin Newsom and health officials. Businesses involving close contact and larger crowds — movie theaters, bars, hair salons, gyms — will need to wait months. And those that involve mass gatherings, like sporting events and concerts, are unlikely to reopen until the threat of the novel coronavirus has largely passed."
READ MORE related to Economy: Kevin Spacey compares coronavirus layoffs to being accused of sexual assault -- LA Times's TRACY BROWN; Newsom's $75M coronavirus aid for undocumented immigrants -- The Chronicle's BOB EGELKO; Tesla said to be gearing up to restart Fremont car manufacturing, in possible shelter-in-place violation -- The Chronicle's CHASE DIFELICIANTONIO; Uber layoffs, following Lyft, Airbnb, add to SF economic pain -- The Chronicle's CAROLYN SAID
Former Rep. Duncan Hunter, prosecutors ask court to delay start of his prison sentence
LA Times's MORGAN COOK: "The federal government and a lawyer for former Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine) asked the court this week to move his date to surrender for his prison sentence to as late as Jan. 4 in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prosecutors and the defense lawyer filed the joint motion in U.S. District Court for Southern California, according to court records. Hunter was scheduled to surrender this month to begin his 11-month sentence for conspiring to illegally convert more than $150,000 in campaign money to personal use.
Hunter pleaded guilty to the single felony count in December, and prosecutors dropped the remaining 59 charges in the indictment filed against Hunter and his wife and former campaign manager, Margaret, in August 2018."
San Diego detainee is first in ICE custody to die of COVID-19
LA Times's KATE MORRISSEY: "Hospitalized and on a ventilator for a little over a week, a detainee from Otay Mesa Detention Center on Wednesday became the first in immigration custody nationwide to die of COVID-19.
Carlos Ernesto Escobar Mejia died around 2:15 a.m., according to his sister, Maribel Escobar. Her brother would have been 58 this month, Escobar said.
She remembered her brother as very kind and helpful, in particular doing everything he could to support their sister Rosa, with whom he lived in the Los Angeles area."
California regulators descend on Yuba and Sutter as coronavirus battle with Newsom heats up
Sac Bee's TONY BIZJAK/ROSALIA AHUMADA: "The battle between California’s governor and two counties over reopening businesses amid the coronavirus crisis escalated this week when Alcoholic Beverage Control regulators visited a handful of restaurants in Yuba and Sutter counties, telling them to shut down.
The visits came on Tuesday, the day after health officials in those counties allowed a partial reopening of businesses, notably restaurants, stores, hair salon and gyms, despite a March order by Gov. Gavin Newsom that all such businesses in California should close to reduce potential spread of the coronavirus.
“Agents asked those ABC licensed locations to close to in-house dining voluntarily, until it is safe to re-open, in order to help stop the spread of COVID-19,” ABC spokesman John Carr told The Sacramento Bee Wednesday evening. State officials noted that failing to do so could constitute a misdemeanor crime. “As of today, we have not filed any administrative actions against any businesses visited yesterday."
Newsom announces propertu-tax relief for California homeowners and businesses
The Chronicle's KATHLEEN PENDER: "Gov. Gavin Newsom issued executive orders on Wednesday related to property taxes. One extends the deadline for filing a business-property statement from Thursday until May 31. The other waives penalties for property taxes paid after April 10 for some homeowners and small businesses until May 2021.
California businesses normally have until May 7 each year to file a business property statement with their county assessor, if the value of their business property exceeds $100,000. The statement shows the value of their business personal property (such as machinery, equipment and office furniture but not land or buildings) as of Jan. 1 that year. The statement is used to assess the tax due on that property.
If they don’t file the statement by May 7, they face a 10% penalty on the tax due. However, if they file by May 7, they can amend that statement by May 31 without penalty. Newsom extended the May 7 deadline until May 31 this year. He is not giving businesses extra time to amend the statement, according to the Board of Equalization."
Bay Area support for shelter-in-place is strongest in California. Here's why
The Chronicle's RON KROICHICK: "Even as the Bay Area flattens its curve of coronavirus infections, reduces its number of hospitalizations and takes its first small steps toward eventually reopening the economy, most people remain willing to cooperate with lingering shelter-in-place orders.
Bay Area residents support those mandates at a higher rate than any region in California, according to a poll conducted by UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies. The survey of 8,800 registered voters, in conjunction with the California Institute of Health Equity and Access, found 68% of Bay Area residents are more concerned shelter-in-place will end too soon, compared to 20% who worry it will last too long. The statewide numbers are 62.5% and 26.5%.
State Sen. Scott Wiener, who represents San Francisco and northern San Mateo County, traced widespread regional support to attitudes formed long before the coronavirus arrived."
READ MORE related to Pandemic: State moves to crack down on rural counties defying coronavirus shelter-in-place order -- The Chronicle's KURTIS ALEXANDER; Santa Clara County alone needs army of coronavirus contractors -- The Chronicle's ERIN ALLDAY
No coronavirus vaccine. Summer vacation canceled. Do California parents want school in July?
Sac Bee's SAWSAN MORRAR: "After weeks of having kids isolated at home, many parents may be counting the days until California schools reopen.
But Gov. Gavin Newsom’s statement last week that schools could be back in session as early as July is worrying some parents. That early start would deprive young students of much-needed summer vacations. And what if, as expected, there is no vaccine by July to defend students and teachers from the coronavirus?
Brandi Campbell-Tudor’s 10-year-old daughter has asthma and underlying health conditions. She said returning to school while the virus is still spreading would be too dangerous. While her school, Rio Valley Charter in Elk Grove, is preparing for the chance that distance learning will continue into the fall, Campbell-Tudor is taking no chances."
READ MORE related to Education: How eligible SCUSD students can receive 6 months of free internet -- Sac Bee's SAWSAN MORRAR
New law tenants to sue landlords over violating LA restrictions on evictions
LA Times's EMILY ALPERT REYES: "Tenants will soon have the right to sue landlords who violate restrictions that Los Angeles has placed on evicting renters during the coronavirus crisis, under a law passed Wednesday by the City Council.
Renters could potentially win penalties of up to $10,000 per violation — or $15,000 per violation if the tenant is disabled or a senior. The effort was about “giving the tenants a big stick,” Councilman Bob Blumenfield said.
After the vote, Council President Nury Martinez said in a statement that while good landlords are working to help tenants stay in their units, “I want the bad operators to know, today, the city of Los Angeles is putting you on notice."
READ MORE related to Housing/Homelessness: SF gives methadone, alcohol, cannabis to some addicts and homeless isolating from coronavirus in hotels -- The Chronicle's DOMINIC FRACASSA/KEVIN FAGAN; SF's new plan on Tenderloin homeless crisis confronts staggering 285% jump in tents -- The Chronicle's KEVIN FAGAN
LAPD officer in violent beating video has been involved in three prior shootings
LA Times's RICHARD WINTON/JAMES QUEALLY: "The Los Angeles police officer caught on video repeatedly punching a man during an arrest last week has been involved in three on-duty shootings during his career, including one that sparked violent protests in Westlake 10 years ago, two law enforcement sources have told The Times.
Frank Hernandez, who has been with the LAPD for more than 20 years, was identified as the man under investigation for his actions during an April 27 arrest of a homeless man in Boyle Heights, according to the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case with the media.
The person who filmed the violent clash, who also requested anonymity for fear of retribution, told The Times that investigators at the scene that day told him the officer’s last name was “Hernandez."
READ MORE related to Public Safety: 'It is time.' Sacramento Sheriff Scott Jones calls for coronavirus lockdown to end -- Sac Bee's MOLLY SULLIVAN
Trump Administration shelves CDC guidelines to reopening the country
AP's JASON DEAREN/MIKE STOBBE: "A set of detailed documents created by the nation's top disease investigators meant to give step-by-step advice to local leaders deciding when and how to reopen public places such as mass transit, day care centers and restaurants during the still-raging pandemic has been shelved by the Trump administration.
The 17-page report by a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention team, titled “Guidance for Implementing the Opening Up America Again Framework,” was researched and written to help faith leaders, business owners, educators and state and local officials as they begin to reopen.
It was supposed to be published last Friday, but agency scientists were told the guidance “would never see the light of day,” according to a CDC official. The official was not authorized to talk to reporters and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity."
