California's new surge restrictions could last for a long while
The Chronicle's CYNTHIA DIZIKES/ALEXEI KOSEFF: "New state restrictions on bars and restaurants in counties with the worst virus-control numbers are supposed to expire after three weeks. But few public health experts believe the bans on indoor gatherings and outdoor drinking will drop cases low enough for these activities to resume any time soon.
The dramatic move is the state’s attempt to rein in runaway case totals that have inched ever higher since some counties have begun allowing businesses to reopen and people have gathered more at home and outdoors.
But to really lower California’s surge in coronavirus infections — now at 246,735 — people need to curtail gatherings with friends and family and be more vigilant about wearing masks, particularly over the Fourth of July weekend, said UC Berkeley infectious disease expert Dr. John Swartzberg."
READ MORE related to Pandemic: Californians are losing their fear of the coronavirus, setting the stage for disaster -- LA Times's RONG-GONG LIN II/SEAN GREENE; Coroner investigates coronavirus link after second prisoner found dead on San Quentin's Death Row -- The Chronicle's MICHAEL CABANATUAN; LA unveils color-coded 'infection risk assessment' system -- LA Times's LUKE MONEY/MAURA DOLAN/PHIL WILLON; Orance County inflated its coronavirus test numbers by mistakenly including antibody tests, officials say -- LA Times's HANNAH FRY; Not wearing a mask could cost you hundreds in West LA as officials pledge enforcement -- LA Times's LUKE MONEY/STEPHANIE LAI; Sac County releases amended health order aimed at slowing virus resurgence -- Sac Bee's ROSALIO AHUMADA; 'Because of my stupidity.' COVID-19 victim's last words a lesson for all Californians -- Sac Bee's EDITORIAL BOARD
Bullet train, moving slowly, hits another bump
LANA SCHWARTZ, Capitol Weekly: "For more than a decade, California’s bullet train has faced obstacle after obstacle. The latest hurdle: the pandemic.
In 2008, Californian voters passed Proposition 1A to create a statewide high-speed bullet train — a project linking the northern and southern parts of the state that would create jobs, reduce emissions, and simplify traveling throughout California.
But things have not gone to plan over the last 12 years — the California High-Speed Rail Authority (HSRA) , which is heading the project, has faced fervid criticism for greatly exceeding its budget and blowing deadlines."
These California Republicans will raise money and campaign against Trump's reelection
Sac Bee's HANNAH WILEY: "Now that the Lincoln Project has the nation’s attention with its ads baiting and attacking President Donald Trump, the political action committee is going grassroots.
To start, the Lincoln Project, founded by well-known conservatives late last year, is tapping veteran California Republicans to fundraise and volunteer for campaigns in a handful of states against GOP incumbents who the committee considers Trump sympathizers.
Among the 12 Californians joining the cause to make phone calls, build the network and raise some cash are Rosario Marin, Treasurer under President George W. Bush, Cassandra Pye, a campaign consultant and former deputy chief of staff for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jim Cunneen, a former state assemblyman, San Diego Councilman Mark Kersey and political consultant Luis Alvarado."
Just one California state union didn't reach a pay-cut deal with Newsom by Tuesday deadline
Sac Bee's WES VENTEICHER: "All California state worker unions except for one reached pay-cut deals with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration by a Tuesday deadline, according to the Human Resources Department.
A group of about 1,000 workers who maintain the state’s heating, cooling and water systems, represented by the International Union of Operating Engineers, don’t have an agreement, CalHR spokesman Andrew LaMar said in an email.
Newsom and the Legislature imposed the deadline of 11:59 p.m. Tuesday to reach deals that would reduce state workers’ pay by roughly 10 percent to help close a projected $54 billion budget deficit. Budget legislation included a provision to impose furloughs if agreements weren’t reached by the deadline."
State shutting off parking at beaches for July 4th Weekend
The Chronicle's TOM STIENSTRA: "In a sweeping move intended to help stop the spread of coronavirus over the Fourth of July weekend, California State Parks will shut down parking at all state beaches in the Bay Area.
Parking lots will be closed and no parking on nearby roadways will be permitted at state beaches in Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo counties. The order will take effect Friday and extend through Sunday, according to Jorge Moreno at State Parks.
A similar order has gone out for state beaches in Sonoma, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties. In Southern California, State Parks said it would shut down 10 state beaches in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, with no walk-in or bike-in access permitted."
READ MORE related to Climate/Environment: Tiny desert town devasted by wildfire as it battles coronavirus -- LA Times's STEPHANIED LAI; Going to the American River for 4th of July weekend? Don't bring alcohol, officials say -- Sac Bee's MALAIKA KANAANEH TAPPER
California's new budget unfairly hurts some of California's best-performing schools, advocates say
Sac Bee's MACKENZIE HAWKINS: "School funding in California has long adhered to the guiding principle that the money follows the student.
But under this year’s education budget, lawmakers and education advocates warn, the state will abandon its traditional allocation formula in favor of a system that harms the very schools — disproportionately, charter schools and personalized education programs — that have performed best under pandemic pressures.
California’s public schools usually receive money based on a combination of the prior year’s funding and the current year’s average daily attendance — a metric that reflects not the number of students enrolled, but rather how many students show up each day."
Muni expects to lose the majority of its bus lines permanently as financial devastation mounts
The Chronicle's RACHEL SWAN: "San Francisco, which once packed 68 crowded bus lines into its lean streets, stands to lose most of them as the pandemic sinks its transit budget and steers riders into cars.
Up to 40 of the bus lines that San Francisco cut at the beginning of the pandemic are not coming back unless the city finds a new revenue source, transportation chief Jeffrey Tumlin said this week. Just about every aspect of San Francisco’s transportation future looks grim.
Elbow-to-elbow transit has long been a feature of life in San Francisco. Yet the daily bustle ended with COVID-19, which closed schools and businesses, moved offices into homes and lured more people into cars."
The first Cambodian deportee to return to the US just became a citizen in Sacramento
Sac Bee's ASHLEY WONG: "The first Cambodian American deportee to return home just became a United States citizen.
The oath ceremony was nothing like what Phorn Tem imagined it would be like. There were no chairs and everyone stood 6 feet apart with masks on their face.
They also weren’t allowed to have guests, so Tem went into the ceremony without his family or friends to witness."
Sacramento will hire inspector general, moves to redirect some 911 calls from police
Sac Bee's THERESA CLIFT: "The Sacramento City Council approved a police reform package Wednesday night despite the pleas of more than two dozen community members who said the plan does not go far enough and demanded the council remove funding from the police department’s $157 million budget.
The plan approved by the council includes an inspector general for police oversight and a step toward shifting the response for some noncriminal 911 calls away from the police department and on to nonpolice professionals.
Mayor Darrell Steinberg last month proposed both changes following national protests against police brutality sparked by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis."
As coronavirus cases soar, Trump continues cheerleading for reopening the economy
LA Times's CHRIS MEGERIAN: "While celebrating better-than-expected economic numbers at the White House on Thursday, President Trump conceded that the coronavirus outbreak wasn’t over but insisted “we’re putting out the fires.”
It’s more like a blaze raging out of control.
The president appears to be in denial as the country racks up record numbers of confirmed cases every day, with 50,000 reported Wednesday. Although Trump has continued to blame the rising caseload on increased testing, a larger percentage of tests are coming back positive than before, a clear sign that more people are growing sick."
