African American-owned restaurants across California will be able to participate in a new state program that contracts eateries to prepare meals and deliver them to vulnerable senior citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gov. Newsom announced the new “first-in-the-nation” initiative, dubbed “Restaurants Deliver: Home Meals for Seniors,”April 24.

“This partnership will allow restaurants to start rehiring people or keep people currently employed and start preparing meals, three meals a day, seven days a week, and have those meals delivered to our seniors all throughout the state of California,” Gov. Newsom said during his daily press briefing.

The program is being executed in partnership with California counties, cities, and Native American tribes, said the governor, who has a background in the food and beverage industry. Newsom co-founded the Napa-based PlumpJack Winery. Its parent company, the PlumpJack Group’s portfolio includes restaurants, hotels, wine, and event space ventures.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency ( FEMA) is bankrolling 75% of the costs. California, Newsom said, will subsidize the remaining 25% for counties and cities. 

The meals program for seniors is part of a broader initiative organized to support California seniors who are isolating at home, adhering to the state’s coronavirus shelter in place order. The other programs are the “Social Bridging Project,” which brings together 1,000 volunteers to check in on older Californians during the crisis. The other is “Friendship Line California,” a toll-free telephone service that provides emotional support to aging adults across the state.  The California Department of Aging is partnering with the Institute of Aging to roll out this effort.

“Older adults are heroes for being the first Californians to stay at home and save lives. However, they may be struggling to access food, and with the mental health implications of isolation. These programs will make sure our older friends, family, and neighbors have access to the food and friendship they need,” said Director of the California Department of Aging Kim McCoy Wade.

Since the COVID-19 shelter in place began in mid-March, many restaurants across the state have been running at half capacity — only open for pickup and delivery orders. Some of them are not open at all.

Reporting severe drops in their revenues, many African-American restaurateurs in California look at a steady partnership with the state — one that provides a constant flow of income — as a viable option.

The state of California estimates that 1.2 million people over 65 years of age across the state live by themselves, Newsom said. Overall, the state is home to almost six million aging adults.

“It’s not just about the meals,” Newsom said during his daily midday news briefing. “It’s about a human connection, about someone just checking in as they’re delivering those meals and making sure people are okay.”

African Americans account for nearly 11% of COVID-19 deaths in the state, the California Department of Public Health reports. Blacks make up only about 6%  of California’s population of almost 40 million residents.

African Americans also fall behind when it comes to proprietorship and running restaurants. Blacks make up about 13% of the population, but consist of  8% of restaurant owners and the same share of restaurant managers, according to the National Restaurant Association.

Black-owned restaurants may want to be a part of the nutritional aspects of the program that could continue beyond the coronavirus crisis, some advocates for aging Californians say.

According to the state, the “Restaurants Deliver: Home Meals for Seniors” program has two main purposes. The first is to help older and other adults at high risk from COVID-19 to stay home and stay healthy by delivering three nutritious meals a day. The second is to provide an essential economic stimulus to local businesses and workers struggling to stay afloat during the COVID-19 crisis.

As local governments stand up their own nutrition programs over the next few weeks, more information will be provided at ?https://www.gov.ca.gov.

In the meantime, here are some resources for aging Californians that are available now:

o   Senior citizens can enter their locations into 211.org to find local services, such as nutrition, financial, health care, and housing assistance.

o   Every community has an Aging and Adult Info Line to connect people to services: ?(800) 510-2020..

o   Seniors can also visit the California Department of Aging’s COVID-19 page (?www.aging.ca.gov) for a list of resources for older and other at-risk adults.

o   For emotional support, call Friendship Line California @ 1-888-670-1360

“We are all in this together,” said Gov. Newsom. “We will continue to support older Californians who are more at risk during this public health emergency.”

Restaurateurs can get more information and apply to be a part of the “Restaurants Deliver: Home Meals for Seniors” program here.

Out-of-work gig workers in California whose employers have not paid into the state’s unemployment insurance fund — as well as Californians without jobs who have run out of unemployment benefits — will be able to file new unemployment claims.

Starting April 28, the state will begin accepting unemployment insurance (UI) applications from both of those categories of jobless Californians through the California Employee Development Department (EDD) website.

“We have been working on making sure that we get Californians what they are entitled to under PUA,” California Labor Secretary Julie A. Su wrote in an open letter last week. She was breaking down the new federal government Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program that provides Californians an additional $600 a week on top of whatever amount — between $40 and $450 —  they qualify for under the state’s unemployment insurance program. The supplemental unemployment money is funded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) act, which the United States Congress approved and President Trump signed into law last month.

The EDD has built a new system to handle new CARES Act claims for both the regular state unemployment insurance benefits and payouts from the new federal PUA program. The website has specifically been constructed to accommodate claims from independent contractors, the self-employed and individuals who lack sufficient work history.

For every week a gig worker was out of work between Feb. 2, 2020 and March 28, 2020, he or she will receive $167 in unemployment benefits from the state of California, according to the EDD. In the next phase, which runs from March 29 to July 25, unemployed gig workers will receive $167 for each of those weeks, plus an additional $600 in PUA payments. For the final phase, which goes from July 26 to Dec. 26, they will go back to receiving only the $167 in PUA benefits if still needed.

The state has recently updated the PUA web page to include eligibility criteria. Anyone who has lost work due to COVID-19 related complications is eligible, whether he or she been diagnosed, is acting as a caregiver, or has lost work due to complications.

“There’s one and a half million that are self-employed, one and a half small businessmen and women, individuals that have no other employees, and they’re also deserving of direct assistance,” said Governor Newsom in a recent press briefing, announcing the initiative.

Su provided some specifics of the PUA program during the same press conference and in a letter addressed to all Californians on April 15.

According to Su, the PUA program will have a fast turnaround so that benefits can be administered within 24-48 hours. Also, benefit payments will be retroactive, going back to the first week of February, if the applicant can prove that his or her loss of work was due to COVID-19. She added that the extra $600 from the federal CARES Act will also be retroactive.

To handle the increased hours and high amount of calls, the Unemployment Insurance branch has added 740 new EDD employees and 600 others across state government.

Su said the state has taken other steps to make sure that people affected by the crisis receive their money without delay, including extending call center hours from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and adding phone lines. Also, Labor Secretary Su announced April 23 that EDD has temporarily suspended Unemployment Insurance certifications for the weeks ending March 14 through May 9. EDD will issue regular unemployment payments during those weeks, and will not stop payment unless notified that the recipient has found new employment.

Labor department call center staff members answered on the first ring when California Black Media made investigative calls twice this week after hearing reports that unemployment insurance support phone lines were down when applicants called on the first day seeking help.

On April 14, Su held a Facebook Live discussion to update the public about unemployment benefits. She answered questions from concerned self-employed workers who had received $0 UI determinations from the EDD and had trouble getting a representative on the phone. According to Su, a $0 determination means that there was no money paid into self-employment from a previous employer. She also said that self-employed workers who applied for UI would possibly have to apply again for PUA once it’s available.

“Let me also acknowledge that there has been frustration and disappointment about how long things take, uncertainty about what it means when you can’t get the payments that you need right now,” she said. “I also just wanted to acknowledge that it is a difficult time and I know that it is very, very hard for people throughout California, throughout the country, and throughout the world.”

Gov. Newsom also announced a $75 million Disaster Relief Fund for undocumented Californians who are ineligible for UI benefits and disaster benefits, including the federal stimulus check, due to their immigration status. According to Newsom, individuals can apply for a one-time cash benefit of $500 per adult capped at $1,000 per household beginning next month.

607 New Cases of Confirmed COVID-19 in Los Angeles County

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has confirmed 48 new deaths and 607 new cases of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Thirty-seven people who died were over the age of 65 and nine people who died were between the ages of 41 to 65 years old. Thirty-eight people had underlying health conditions including 30 people over the age of 65 and eight people between the ages of 41 to 65 years old. Two deaths were reported by the City of Long Beach.

To date, Public Health has identified 19,107 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of LA County, and a total of 895 deaths. Ninety-two percent of people who died had underlying health conditions. Of those who died, information about race and ethnicity is available for 820 people (97 percent of the cases); 37% of deaths occurred among Latinx residents, 28% among White residents, 18% among Asian residents, 14% among African American residents, 1% among Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander residents and 1% among residents identifying with other races. Upon further investigation, 17 cases and one death reported earlier were not LA County residents. As of today, 4,319 people who tested positive for COVID-19 (23% of positive cases) have been hospitalized at some point during their illness. Testing capacity continues to increase in LA County, with testing results available for almost 114,000 individuals and 15% of people testing positive.

Public Health reminds everyone to take precautions to avoid heat-related illness, especially older adults, young children, outdoor workers, athletes, and people with a chronic medical condition who are especially sensitive to negative health impacts from extreme heat. Public Health offers the following recommendations during high temperature days:

• Drink plenty of water and keep hydrated throughout the day.
• If you must go out, plan your day to avoid going out during the hottest hours, and wear sunscreen. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothes, and bring a hat or umbrella with you.
• Cars get very hot. Never leave children or pets in cars and call 911 if you see a child or pet in a car alone.
• Beware of heat-related illness, like heat stroke and call 911 if you see these symptoms: high body temperature, vomiting, and pale and clammy skin.
• Check on those at risk, like those who are sick, older adults, pregnant women, and children.
• Avoid strenuous work outs wearing face coverings or masks not intended for athletic purposes; this means avoiding contact with others while you work out.

Emergency Cooling Centers are open from noon – 6:00 p.m. today for those in need. The centers are safe, free of charge and visitors must wear a face covering at all times and practice physical distancing. To find a location near you, visit http://ready.lacounty.gov/heat or call 211.

“For those who are grieving loved ones lost to COVID-19, please know you are in our thoughts and prayers every day,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “With this weekend’s high temperatures, I encourage everyone to take steps to stay cool while still practicing physical distancing and adhering to Safer at Home directives. This past week in LA County, we doubled the number of deaths from COVID-19 and diagnosed more than 7000 new cases.  Because we are still seeing a significant increase in new cases and deaths, we ask that you continue to stay home as much as possible.  Enjoy the outdoors safely by taking walks by yourself or with your household members near your home and always remaining at least 6 feet apart from others. Public pools and all beaches remain closed for your wellbeing and the health of those most vulnerable for serious illness and death from COVID-19. Continue to do your part and save lives.  This is how we get to the other side of the outbreak and begin our recovery. “

A new Health Officer Order issued yesterday for all licensed congregate healthcare facilities includes measures intended to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 in these facilities and to protect vulnerable residents, as well as staff.  The measures include restricting all visitors, suspending all communal dining and activities to ensure physical distancing, and testing for all employees and residents. Staff will be required to wear surgical masks at all times and personal protective equipment when appropriate. Residents will also need to wear surgical masks or cloth face coverings when they are outside of their personal room.

Public Health reminds everyone that if you are ill, even with mild symptoms, please self- isolate at home for 7 days and until you are fever and symptom free for 72 hours. If you have been in close contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 or is presumed to be infected with COVID-19, you must quarantine for 14 days from your last contact with that individual. Individuals who are elderly or who have underlying health conditions may be at higher risk of serious illness and should contact their doctor as soon as they are sick. The best protection against COVID-19 is to wash your hands frequently, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, self-isolate if you are sick, practice physical distancing (especially by staying at home) and wear a clean face covering when in contact with others from outside your household. 

Additional things you can do to protect yourself, your family and your community are on the Public Health website, www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.

Please see additional information below:

Total Cases*
Laboratory Confirmed Cases	19107
— Los Angeles County (excl. LB and Pas)	18268
— Long Beach	540
— Pasadena	299
Deaths	895
— Los Angeles County (excl. LB and Pas)	837
— Long Beach	29
— Pasadena	29
Age Group (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)
–  0 to 17	378
–  18 to 40	5914
–  41 to 65	7878
–  over 65	4036
–  Under Investigation	62
Gender (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)
–  Female	9083
–  Male	9008
–  Other	5
–  Under Investigation	172
Race/Ethnicity (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)
–  American Indian/Alaska Native	12
–  Asian	1194
–  Black	869
–  Hispanic/Latino	4828
–  Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander	160
–  White	2479
–  Other	878
–  Under Investigation	7848
Hospitalization (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)
–  Hospitalized (Ever)	4319
Deaths Race/Ethnicity (Los Angeles County Cases Only-excl LB and Pas)
–  American Indian/Alaska Native	1
–  Asian	149
–  Black	115
–  Hispanic/Latino	301
–  Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander	11
–  White	233
–  Other	10
–  Under Investigation	17
CITY / COMMUNITY**		Rate***
City of Agoura Hills	29	138.87
City of Alhambra	68	78.41
City of Arcadia	34	58.87
City of Artesia	13	77.4
City of Avalon	0	0
City of Azusa	48	95.92
City of Baldwin Park	70	91.18
City of Bell	116	319.28
City of Bell Gardens	82	190.38
City of Bellflower	104	133.79
City of Beverly Hills	103	298.38
City of Bradbury	1	93.55
City of Burbank	208	194.07
City of Calabasas	34	139.79
City of Carson	210	223.77
City of Cerritos	47	93.87
City of Claremont	22	60.3
City of Commerce	10	76.52
City of Compton	173	173.17
City of Covina	82	167.24
City of Cudahy	55	225.9
City of Culver City	56	140.47
City of Diamond Bar	33	57.38
City of Downey	182	159.28
City of Duarte	47	213.48
City of El Monte	120	102.33
City of El Segundo	27	160.85
City of Gardena	134	218.56
City of Glendale	469	227.13
City of Glendora	39	73.91
City of Hawaiian Gardens	9	61.32
City of Hawthorne	154	173.45
City of Hermosa Beach	23	116.93
City of Hidden Hills	0	0
City of Huntington Park	119	200.05
City of Industry	1	228.83
City of Inglewood	267	235.07
City of Irwindale	2	137.08
City of La Canada Flintridge	38	183.64
City of La Habra Heights	2	36.66
City of La Mirada	46	92.74
City of La Puente	33	81.09
City of La Verne	16	48.07
City of Lakewood	73	90.84
City of Lancaster	246	152.26
City of Lawndale	50	148.75
City of Lomita	32	154.37
City of Lynwood	155	215.14
City of Malibu	28	216.03
City of Manhattan Beach	64	177.78
City of Maywood	52	185.39
City of Monrovia	35	90.21
City of Montebello	109	169.32
City of Monterey Park	63	101.19
City of Norwalk	163	151.46
City of Palmdale	346	217.65
City of Palos Verdes Estates	37	273.63
City of Paramount	113	201.7
City of Pico Rivera	133	206.89
City of Pomona	131	84.01
City of Rancho Palos Verdes	51	119.31
City of Redondo Beach	98	142.66
City of Rolling Hills	1	51.55
City of Rolling Hills Estates	13	160.24
City of Rosemead	28	50.59
City of San Dimas	25	72.43
City of San Fernando	67	272.22
City of San Gabriel	27	65.93
City of San Marino	11	82.85
City of Santa Clarita	304	137.92
City of Santa Fe Springs	16	87.13
City of Santa Monica	149	161.18
City of Sierra Madre	5	45.5
City of Signal Hill	6	50.86
City of South El Monte	13	62.25
City of South Gate	209	212.93
City of South Pasadena	59	226.46
City of Temple City	45	123.44
City of Torrance	233	156.1
City of Vernon	0	0
City of Walnut	22	72.06
City of West Covina	104	96.09
City of West Hollywood	130	351.82
City of Westlake Village	6	71.77
City of Whittier	95	108.66
Los Angeles	8695	214.98
Los Angeles – Adams-Normandie	22	268.23
Los Angeles – Alsace	25	200.88
Los Angeles – Angeles National Forest	0	0
Los Angeles – Angelino Heights	6	239.81
Los Angeles – Arleta	76	221.12
Los Angeles – Atwater Village	21	143.19
Los Angeles – Baldwin Hills	50	160.64
Los Angeles – Bel Air	28	332.19
Los Angeles – Beverly Crest	31	247.5
Los Angeles – Beverlywood	30	227.74
Los Angeles – Boyle Heights	154	177.25
Los Angeles – Brentwood	63	203.52
Los Angeles – Brookside	0	0
Los Angeles – Cadillac-Corning	15	210.64
Los Angeles – Canoga Park	197	301.74
Los Angeles – Carthay	59	410.78
Los Angeles – Central	93	238.51
Los Angeles – Century City	30	234.52
Los Angeles – Century Palms/Cove	69	204.35
Los Angeles – Chatsworth	68	183.48
Los Angeles – Cheviot Hills	16	174.46
Los Angeles – Chinatown	8	99.74
Los Angeles – Cloverdale/Cochran	30	206.14
Los Angeles – Country Club Park	53	349.77
Los Angeles – Crenshaw District	44	318.17
Los Angeles – Crestview	59	519
Los Angeles – Del Rey	45	150.32
Los Angeles – Downtown	49	178.14
Los Angeles – Eagle Rock	76	191.97
Los Angeles – East Hollywood	105	358.52
Los Angeles – Echo Park	17	119.25
Los Angeles – El Sereno	78	186.57
Los Angeles – Elysian Park	9	157.56
Los Angeles – Elysian Valley	18	176.97
Los Angeles – Encino	76	168.25
Los Angeles – Exposition	2	60.13
Los Angeles – Exposition Park	105	233.76
Los Angeles – Faircrest Heights	2	55.56
Los Angeles – Figueroa Park Square	19	217.86
Los Angeles – Florence-Firestone	101	212.88
Los Angeles – Glassell Park	96	303.76
Los Angeles – Gramercy Place	24	222.97
Los Angeles – Granada Hills	100	171.85
Los Angeles – Green Meadows	49	227.85
Los Angeles – Hancock Park	60	352.13
Los Angeles – Harbor City	39	134.16
Los Angeles – Harbor Gateway	55	126.15
Los Angeles – Harbor Pines	0	0
Los Angeles – Harvard Heights	45	249.51
Los Angeles – Harvard Park	99	260.97
Los Angeles – Highland Park	69	142.59
Los Angeles – Historic Filipinotown	51	367.7
Los Angeles – Hollywood	176	257.86
Los Angeles – Hollywood Hills	56	190.26
Los Angeles – Hyde Park	47	164.68
Los Angeles – Jefferson Park	15	185.8
Los Angeles – Koreatown	114	220.53
Los Angeles – Lafayette Square	11	241.28
Los Angeles – Lake Balboa	61	144.53
Los Angeles – Lakeview Terrace	43	327.42
Los Angeles – Leimert Park	29	190.35
Los Angeles – Lincoln Heights	52	159.52
Los Angeles – Little Armenia	77	959.5
Los Angeles – Little Bangladesh	61	215.22
Los Angeles – Little Tokyo	5	159.59
Los Angeles – Longwood	12	278.81
Los Angeles – Los Feliz	31	143.47
Los Angeles – Manchester Square	11	128.87
Los Angeles – Mandeville Canyon	1	32.01
Los Angeles – Mar Vista	50	117.73
Los Angeles – Marina Peninsula	9	206.42
Los Angeles – Melrose	300	386.12
Los Angeles – Mid-city	35	232.87
Los Angeles – Miracle Mile	36	200.17
Los Angeles – Mission Hills	59	244.57
Los Angeles – Mt. Washington	33	136.67
Los Angeles – North Hills	120	194.88
Los Angeles – North Hollywood	274	180.95
Los Angeles – Northridge	131	187.69
Los Angeles – Pacific Palisades	36	169.09
Los Angeles – Pacoima	181	235.13
Los Angeles – Palisades Highlands	3	78
Los Angeles – Palms	93	211.96
Los Angeles – Panorama City	202	268.44
Los Angeles – Park La Brea	11	81
Los Angeles – Pico-Union	155	370.44
Los Angeles – Playa Del Rey	1	31.29
Los Angeles – Playa Vista	16	146.16
Los Angeles – Porter Ranch	48	134.88
Los Angeles – Rancho Park	11	167.68
Los Angeles – Regent Square	1	35.97
Los Angeles – Reseda	160	208.83
Los Angeles – Reseda Ranch	17	366.7
Los Angeles – Reynier Village	7	165.56
Los Angeles – San Pedro	143	183.24
Los Angeles – Shadow Hills	11	247.64
Los Angeles – Sherman Oaks	116	132.95
Los Angeles – Silverlake	104	235.92
Los Angeles – South Carthay	22	207.65
Los Angeles – South Park	94	247.62
Los Angeles – St Elmo Village	9	196.34
Los Angeles – Studio City	32	142.6
Los Angeles – Sun Valley	91	173.39
Los Angeles – Sunland	62	303.8
Los Angeles – Sycamore Square	0	0
Los Angeles – Sylmar	258	313.11
Los Angeles – Tarzana	69	223.47
Los Angeles – Temple-Beaudry	129	326.73
Los Angeles – Thai Town	12	122.34
Los Angeles – Toluca Lake	9	103.4
Los Angeles – Toluca Terrace	1	76.57
Los Angeles – Toluca Woods	3	161.46
Los Angeles – Tujunga	51	183.39
Los Angeles – University Hills	4	116.65
Los Angeles – University Park	64	233.1
Los Angeles – Valley Glen	74	246.54
Los Angeles – Valley Village	75	303.4
Los Angeles – Van Nuys	231	247.87
Los Angeles – Venice	42	123.95
Los Angeles – Vermont Knolls	47	273.26
Los Angeles – Vermont Square	34	444.04
Los Angeles – Vermont Vista	87	211.24
Los Angeles – Vernon Central	140	269.24
Los Angeles – Victoria Park	30	357.19
Los Angeles – View Heights	7	189.5
Los Angeles – Watts	76	178.09
Los Angeles – Wellington Square	9	183.11
Los Angeles – West Adams	94	340.21
Los Angeles – West Hills	45	110.99
Los Angeles – West Los Angeles	51	135.51
Los Angeles – West Vernon	158	294.53
Los Angeles – Westchester	58	112.4
Los Angeles – Westlake	204	343.69
Los Angeles – Westwood	43	79.47
Los Angeles – Wholesale District	59	163.3
Los Angeles – Wilmington	73	129.23
Los Angeles – Wilshire Center	90	179.39
Los Angeles – Winnetka	118	227.86
Los Angeles – Woodland Hills	102	149.88
Unincorporated – Acton	8	100.36
Unincorporated – Agua Dulce	1	24.05
Unincorporated – Altadena	59	135.26
Unincorporated – Anaverde	1	66.31
Unincorporated – Angeles National Forest	1	80.32
Unincorporated – Arcadia	4	50.12
Unincorporated – Athens-Westmont	83	195.56
Unincorporated – Athens Village	13	265.47
Unincorporated – Avocado Heights	12	177.12
Unincorporated – Azusa	14	87.92
Unincorporated – Bandini Islands	0	NA
Unincorporated – Bassett	25	168.73
Unincorporated – Bouquet Canyon	0	0
Unincorporated – Bradbury	0	0
Unincorporated – Canyon Country	21	271.74
Unincorporated – Castaic	18	66.2
Unincorporated – Cerritos	0	0
Unincorporated – Charter Oak	0	0
Unincorporated – Claremont	0	0
Unincorporated – Covina	19	112.97
Unincorporated – Covina (Charter Oak)	13	98.9
Unincorporated – Del Aire	6	136.58
Unincorporated – Del Rey	0	0
Unincorporated – Del Sur	3	124.22
Unincorporated – Desert View Highlands	2	80.22
Unincorporated – Duarte	6	135.5
Unincorporated – East Covina	0	0
Unincorporated – East La Mirada	7	132.28
Unincorporated – East Lancaster	0	0
Unincorporated – East Los Angeles	307	245.07
Unincorporated – East Pasadena	0	0
Unincorporated – East Rancho Dominguez	17	111.05
Unincorporated – East Whittier	4	75.39
Unincorporated – El Camino Village	6	68.25
Unincorporated – El Monte	0	0
Unincorporated – Elizabeth Lake	0	0
Unincorporated – Florence-Firestone	148	228.73
Unincorporated – Franklin Canyon	0	0
Unincorporated – Glendora	1	151.52
Unincorporated – Hacienda Heights	45	80.46
Unincorporated – Harbor Gateway	0	0
Unincorporated – Hawthorne	3	119.33
Unincorporated – Hi Vista	0	0
Unincorporated – Kagel/Lopez Canyons	1	70.82
Unincorporated – La Crescenta-Montrose	16	80.8
Unincorporated – La Habra Heights	0	0
Unincorporated – La Rambla	6	289.16
Unincorporated – La Verne	1	49.02
Unincorporated – Ladera Heights	15	212.13
Unincorporated – Lake Hughes	0	0
Unincorporated – Lake Los Angeles	15	115.44
Unincorporated – Lake Manor	2	121.73
Unincorporated – Lakewood	0	0
Unincorporated – Lennox	35	155.27
Unincorporated – Leona Valley	1	57.11
Unincorporated – Littlerock	4	99.48
Unincorporated – Littlerock/Juniper Hills	1	77.1
Unincorporated – Littlerock/Pearblossom	6	168.11
Unincorporated – Llano	1	114.03
Unincorporated – Lynwood	0	NA
Unincorporated – Marina del Rey	11	116.88
Unincorporated – Miracle Mile	0	0
Unincorporated – Monrovia	5	128.83
Unincorporated – Newhall	0	0
Unincorporated – North Lancaster	0	0
Unincorporated – North Whittier	6	71.77
Unincorporated – Northeast San Gabriel	13	54.09
Unincorporated – Palmdale	2	237.53
Unincorporated – Palos Verdes Peninsula	0	0
Unincorporated – Pearblossom/Llano	2	102.25
Unincorporated – Pellissier Village	0	0
Unincorporated – Placerita Canyon	0	0
Unincorporated – Pomona	0	0
Unincorporated – Quartz Hill	25	193.71
Unincorporated – Rancho Dominguez	10	375.8
Unincorporated – Roosevelt	0	0
Unincorporated – Rosewood	3	233.28
Unincorporated – Rosewood/East Gardena	0	0
Unincorporated – Rosewood/West Rancho Dominguez	5	148.77
Unincorporated – Rowland Heights	40	78.4
Unincorporated – San Clemente Island	0	0
Unincorporated – San Francisquito Canyon/Bouquet Canyon	0	0
Unincorporated – San Jose Hills	16	79.13
Unincorporated – San Pasqual	0	0
Unincorporated – Sand Canyon	0	0
Unincorporated – Santa Catalina Island	2	749.06
Unincorporated – Santa Monica Mountains	9	48.33
Unincorporated – Saugus	2	1290.32
Unincorporated – Saugus/Canyon Country	0	0
Unincorporated – South Antelope Valley	0	0
Unincorporated – South Edwards	0	NA
Unincorporated – South El Monte	1	55.71
Unincorporated – South San Gabriel	7	79.11
Unincorporated – South Whittier	57	96.25
Unincorporated – Southeast Antelope Valley	0	0
Unincorporated – Stevenson Ranch	16	76.31
Unincorporated – Sun Village	4	66.27
Unincorporated – Sunrise Village	1	77.16
Unincorporated – Twin Lakes/Oat Mountain	4	241.25
Unincorporated – Universal City	0	NA
Unincorporated – Val Verde	4	120.88
Unincorporated – Valencia	4	130.21
Unincorporated – Valinda	26	111.25
Unincorporated – View Park/Windsor Hills	22	189.08
Unincorporated – Walnut	0	NA
Unincorporated – Walnut Park	39	241.59
Unincorporated – West Antelope Valley	2	132.36
Unincorporated – West Carson	52	235.44
Unincorporated – West Chatsworth	0	0
Unincorporated – West LA	19	1995.8
Unincorporated – West Puente Valley	10	101.68
Unincorporated – West Rancho Dominguez	2	147.17
Unincorporated – West Whittier/Los Nietos	29	107.71
Unincorporated – Westfield/Academy Hills	0	0
Unincorporated – Westhills	0	0
Unincorporated – White Fence Farms	2	54.3
Unincorporated – Whittier	3	79.28
Unincorporated – Whittier Narrows	0	0
Unincorporated – Willowbrook	41	117.43
Unincorporated – Wiseburn	4	66.37
–  Under Investigation	1286

 *These numbers are subject to change based on further investigation. Seventeen previously reported cases and one death were not in Public Health’s jurisdiction.

**– means that case numbers are suppressed (between 1 and 4 cases in communities <25,000 people).

***Rate is crude and is per 100,000. This represents the number of cases per 100,000 people and allows for the proportional comparison of cities of different sizes.

Always check with trusted sources for the latest accurate information about novel coronavirus:

• Los Angeles County Department of Public Health: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/
• California Department of Public Health: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/nCOV2019.aspx
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

      Spanish https://espanol.cdc.gov/enes/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

• World Health Organization https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus
• LA County residents can also call 2-1-1

The National Council on Aging (NCOA), a trusted national leader working to ensure that every person can age well, is warning that the financial hardships created by the COVID-19 pandemic will push between 1.4 and 2.1 million more older Americans into poverty, and older adults with the least wealth will be the hardest hit.

That is the sobering conclusion of a recently published NCOA and LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston issue brief that looks at historical data from the 2008 recession and applies those findings to today’s economic and public health crisis.

“Recent history shows us that older adults suffer significant declines in net wealth during large and unanticipated economic downturns,” said Dr. Susan Silberman, NCOA Senior Director, Research & Evaluation. “A case in point is the Great Recession that began with the collapse of financial markets in 2008. A common trend seen across those aged 60 and older, regardless of age group or retirement status, was a decrease in total net wealth and taking on greater debt during times of recession.”

The issue brief also found that retired older adults were better able to weather the financial storm thanks in part to retirement benefits and Medicare. These findings underscore the importance of a societal safety net for older adults during times of economic upheaval.

Although the analysis focused on the potential financial risks to older adults during an impending recession, COVID-19 adds a health component that will likely have devastating consequences for this age demographic on top of any economic impacts.

“We know that health vulnerability and financial vulnerability overlap, which makes it crucial to consider how both of these factors will intersect for our nation’s older adults,” Silberman said. “Taking into account both the economic effects of a recession and the heightened health risk to our older citizens will be vital for navigating the impact of COVID-19 during this time of uncertainty.”

The full issue brief, Economic Insecurity for Older Adults in the Presence of the COVID-19 Pandemic, is available for download.

CNBC—- Another 4.3 million workers are expected to have filed state unemployment claims last week, bringing the total number seeking benefits to over 26 million since states started shutting down in the second half of March to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

The number of jobs lost rose to 22.025 million over the prior four weeks, erasing nearly all of the 22.442 million jobs recovered since the Great Recession. During the financial crisis the number of jobs lost totaled 8.7 million.

“The pace of losses is slowing, but the pain is compounding,” said Diane Swonk, chief economist at Grant Thornton.

Economists are closely watching Thursday claims data, expected at 8:30 a.m. ET, because it is for the week ending April 18, the same week the government conducted its survey for the monthly employment. Claims in the previous week  totaled 5.245 million, and it was the fourth week of claims filings in the multiple millions.

“It’s a critical week because it gives us the best real-time picture of what the job losses will be in April, which will be the worst month of the recession and the worst month ever,” Swonk said. Swonk said because of the government’s methodology and the furloughed status of some workers, the total number of nonfarm payrolls lost in April is not likely to be as high as the claims, but it will still be shockingly high.

Economists also say the unemployment rate could be 15% or more in April. Claims data has provided insight into what happened as the economy closed down, first with restaurant workers, retail employees and other service workers. The layoffs then also hit manufacturing and now they are expected to have broadened out even further. The filings of claims are also expected to have been delayed because of the sheer volume of the sudden layoffs overburdening state unemployment processors.

So far, Michigan and Pennsylvania appeared to be hardest hit, with more than 20% of workers filing claims.

Rhea Thomas, Wilmington Trust economist said the weekly claims report should also confirm that the filings probably peaked, when they surged to 6.615 million in the week ended April 4.

“I still think it could be in the millions next week, but I think the trend could be declining,” she said. “I still think some of the layoffs are still in the process of happening … It does feel like we’re going to have a couple of months of disruption.”

Thomas said the government’s Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses could encourage hiring as companies begin to get funds, and rehiring should pick in the next couple of weeks. 

On Wednesday, April 22, the Joint Center hosted an online briefing with Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor Bobby Scott (D-VA) on education and workforce priorities for Black communities in future stimulus legislation. The conference explored the exacerbated disparities faced by Black communities and the need for a stimulus package that advances equity for Black workers, businesses, and student success.

The expert respondents included:

• The Education Trust President and CEO & Former Secretary of Education John King

• National Urban League Senior Vice President for Policy & Advocacy and Executive Director of the Washington Bureau Clint Odom

• National Education Association Vice President Becky Pringle

• National Black Worker Center Project Executive Director Tanya Wallace-Gobern

• Joint Center Vice President Jessica Fulton (moderator)

Read their summary of the briefing here.

Stay up-to-date on the Joint Center’s work on COVID-19 and Black communities here.

By Donnell Williams and Antoine M. Thompson

Two weeks ago, Congress passed phase three of its COVID-19 response, the CARES ACT, a $2 trillion stimulus package that has become most well-known for its direct payments of up to $1,200 for many Americans. These payments are a much-appreciated addition to the already enacted policies like the delayed tax deadline, deferred interest on student loan payments, updated paid sick leave policies, and other actions taken to ease the impact the pandemic is causing.

One of the policies that the media has largely neglected to cover is the impact of widespread forbearance – the term for when a mortgage servicer allows homeowners to temporarily pay at a lower rate or pause payments. During the current crisis, forbearance will serve as a significant relief for many middle and low-income families. The typical mortgage can add up to nearly 30 percent of the average American family’s income, and with many individuals temporarily out of work and impacted by COVID-19, forbearance allows those funds to be reallocated to immediate life-sustaining expenses like meals and medications.

Home ownership has long been a quintessential element of the American Dream. It is more than a place to live. It is a tangible path to the middle class – and arguably the greatest investment an individual can make. Furthermore, expanding access to home ownership is key to closing the gap between socioeconomic classes, providing new economic opportunities for families, and laying the foundation for success for aspiring homeowners.

However, an often unknown part of forbearance is that although homeowners around the country are receiving much needed relief, lenders and servicers are still obligated to pay principal, interest, taxes, and insurance, on the homeowner’s behalf. Given the nature of their business, this is potentially fatal for non-bank lenders.

Non-depository mortgage servicers have limited liquidity access. And depending on the duration of the crisis at hand, non-bank servicers will not have the liquidity to advance mortgage payments at the high rate that will be necessary. This presents a challenge, considering more than half of all mortgages in recent years came from non-depository lending institutions-including larger parts of loans made to low-income families. If a solution for non-bank mortgage lenders is not found, we could backtrack on nearly a decade of housing gains and relief efforts, and require further government intervention to prevent a mortgage crisis that could mirror the events of 2008.

Now that the CARES ACT has been signed into law, it is important that regulators take the opportunity to clarify forbearance policy to not only provide needed economic relief to impacted homeowners, but also lay out guidelines for mortgage lenders to navigate this unprecedented challenge.

Unfortunately, policymakers failed to provide lenders and servicers with access to the necessary liquidity in the CARES ACT and puts the issue in the hands of regulators. Hours after Congress’ omission of liquidity to non-depository servicers, Ginnie Mae announced plans to provide liquidity in the market for servicers within the next two weeks. While this is a step in the right direction, regulators must provide additional guidance to protect lower-income Americans and allow servicers to prepare for the coming months.

Servicers open the door for homeownership for many American families. These institutions play a key role in market diversification and provide new opportunities for a diverse group of borrowers.  It is essential that regulators and Congress work to ensure that non-bank lenders and servicers receive the necessary protections and have access to needed liquidity, allowing them to continue the important role they play in helping families realize the dream of homeownership.

Donnell Williams is president and Antoine M. Thompson is national executive director of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB).

By Lou Yeboah

You see, you’ve been warned, you’ve been talked to, the Holy Spirit has been tugging at your heart, and yet in still, you continue to indulge in sin. What sorrow awaits you. [Luke 11:44; Romans 2:5]. Listen, God has made it very clear that the, “Consequence of Sin is Death,” but “The Gift of God is Eternal Life in Christ Jesus.” [Romans 6:23]. The only reason you are not in Hell today is because of God’s grace and mercy. But be not deceived, God’s warning is clear. You play with fire, you will get burnt. Make no mistake about it! [Galatians 6:7].  Jesus made it crystal clear to both saint and sinner alike, that any person who chooses even one sin to be more important to them than Him, will be doomed to the place of Hell. I tell you, to know God and to choose to think, act, or behave outside of the Word, Will, and Way of God is very dangerous.

If God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to Hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment [2 Peter 2:4] what do you think He will do to you if you keep on sinning?  I tell you, if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where worm do not die, and the fire is not quenched. [Mark 9:43-48]. “Come NOW, and let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” [Isaiah 1:18].

I pray that the Holy Ghost will use this message to grip your soul – and make you come to your senses. Because if you do not stop sinning, one of the greatest torments in Hell for you will be every sermon you heard, every conversation spoken to you concerning repentance and every plea that was made asking you to receive Christ as your Savior, will be repeated in your mind over and over throughout eternity. “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” [Isaiah 55:6-7].

“Now I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life…” [Deuteronomy 30:19]. Because Hell is real and people are going there.

SACRAMENTO, CA—- Governor Gavin Newsom today unveiled six key indicators that will guide California’s thinking for when and how to modify the stay-at-home and other orders during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Governor noted that the progress in flattening the curve, increased preparedness of our health care delivery system and the effects of other COVID-19 interventions have yielded positive results. However, these actions have also impacted the economy, poverty and overall health care in California. Any consideration of modifying the stay-at-home order must be done using a gradual, science-based and data-driven framework.

“While Californians have stepped up in a big way to flatten the curve and buy us time to prepare to fight the virus, at some point in the future we will need to modify our stay-at-home order,” said Governor Newsom. “As we contemplate reopening parts of our state, we must be guided by science and data, and we must understand that things will look different than before.” 

Until we build immunity, our actions will be aligned to achieve the following: 

• Ensure our ability to care for the sick within our hospitals; 
• Prevent infection in people who are at high risk for severe disease; 
• Build the capacity to protect the health and well-being of the public; and 
• Reduce social, emotional and economic disruptions

California’s six indicators for modifying the stay-at-home order are: 

• The ability to monitor and protect our communities through testing, contact tracing, isolating, and supporting those who are positive or exposed; 
• The ability to prevent infection in people who are at risk for more severe COVID-19; 
• The ability of the hospital and health systems to handle surges; 
• The ability to develop therapeutics to meet the demand; 
• The ability for businesses, schools, and child care facilities to support physical distancing; and 
• The ability to determine when to reinstitute certain measures, such as the stay-at-home orders, if necessary.

The Governor said there is not a precise timeline for modifying the stay-at-home order, but that these six indicators will serve as the framework for making that decision.

He also noted that things will look different as California makes modifications. For example, restaurants will have fewer tables and classrooms will be reconfigured.

For more information on California’s response, visit covid19.ca.gov.

White people, historically speaking, have been very comfortable building their economies on top of Black, Brown, and Indigenous bodies. This nation was born of genocide and slavery. It was raised on exploitation and exclusion. And in the face of death, Whiteness will feed Black, Brown, and Indigenous bodies to the beast long before it protects us as Brothers and Sisters from a common enemy.

And that is what’s happening now. White people have figured out how to protect themselves from the Coronavirus — for the most part.

There’s a saying: “You don’t have to be faster than the bear. You just have to be faster than the slowest person running from the bear.” White people think they have this race figured out.

White communities make enough money or have enough money to stay home if they need to. They can pay for their groceries. They can pay for their utilities, Internet, and phone service. They have access to information, entertainment, and each other.

Social distancing isn’t really a problem for them. They are more likely to own property and live in less crowded environments and households. They can have their groceries delivered to them — by people who aren’t White. They can work from home. They can drive (or take an Uber) instead of relying on public transportation. If they visit family members, they aren’t going into over-stuffed and under-maintained buildings. They aren’t going to jails, prisons, and homeless shelters at the same rates, either. That’s for other families.

White neighborhoods aren’t riddled with pollution and neglect. They didn’t catch asthma from the gas refinery next door. They haven’t suffered from the cancers triggered by the chemical plants in their back yards. They don’t have the hypertension and diabetes that comes with an abundance of racism and a lack of grocery stores and hospitals. White communities aren’t immune from these pre-existing conditions, but their communities aren’t characterized by them either.

They can also protect themselves more effectively from the virus if they do have contact with the public. They can and do hoard sanitizers, cleaning supplies, and masks. They have water. They have gloves and sewing machines and an endless string of Pinterest links for how-to-make your own PPE.

White folks, for the most part, don’t have to rely on public facilities at the same rates that Black and Brown and Indigenous communities do. They don’t have to make as many stops to make their ends meet. And most of the time, they can pay a person that isn’t White to take the risk for them.

According to a study reported in the New York Times

… 75 percent of front-line workers in the city — grocery clerks, bus and train operators, janitors and child care staff — are minorities. More than 60 percent of people who work as cleaners are Latino, and more than 40 percent of transit employees are Black.

And so Black, Brown, and Indigenous people are being fed to the bear.

White folks have it figured out. Or at least they think they have figured it out well enough to play the odds on sending America back to work. They think they can outrun the bear. They aren’t immune from the coronavirus, but White folks can reasonably buffer themselves from the virus by placing Black, Brown, and Indigenous bodies between themselves and COVID-19.

According to the New York Times …

The preliminary death rate for Hispanic people in [New York City] is about 22 people per 100,000; the rate for Black people is 20 per 100,000; the rate for White people is 10 per 100,000; and the rate for Asian people is 8 per 100,000 …. In New York City, Latinos represent 34 percent of the people who have died of the coronavirus but make up 29 percent of the city’s population, according to preliminary data from the city’s Health Department. Black people represent 28 percent of deaths, but make up 22 percent of the population.

According to EcoWatch …

In Chicago, where African Americans make up 32 percent of the population, they have accounted for 72 percent of virus-related deaths and more than half of all positive test results. Similarly, in Milwaukee, Blacks make up 28 percent of the population but have been 73 percent of all COVID-19 related deaths.

And this is just a sample of the findings from the very limited statistics that are being collected from communities of color. There are gaps in what we know – and Black and Brown bodies are falling through them.

The statistics we are seeing are coming from people that have been tested. They do not count people who have been denied testing, those who are turned away from hospitals and testing centers, those who don’t have access to testing, those who don’t seek testing, or those who die at home.

In other words, we aren’t seeing what is happening to Black, Brown and Indigenous people. These communities are often located in health care deserts and don’t have access to care. If they have care, it is often substandard. These communities often lack health insurance. And those that have had experience with the health care system have been tormented and traumatized by the racism within it. They often won’t seek care as a result.

Communities of Color Likely Have Their Own Coronavirus Curve To Deal With

The coronavirus infection curve may or may not be flattening for Black, Brown and Indigenous communities. We just don’t have the data to know.

New York is pointing to a dramatic increase in deaths from the same time last year. It is very likely that many of these deaths are coronavirus victims that never went to the hospital or that were turned away once they got there. We can reasonably assume that nationwide, the Black, Brown and Indigenous communities hit hardest are still being hit hard — or they are about to be. But we just don’t know where the curve is or how to respond to it without aggressive data collection. And that is literally killing us.

White nationalists and the people that support them are fighting to put Black, Brown and Indigenous bodies in the path of the virus. In the name of their economic success, they are pushing forward a plan to re-open the economy without knowing the impact this will have on the communities of color that are already being hit hardest.

Or maybe they do know — and they are OK with it. In either case, communities of color cannot allow this to happen.

We need to demand that no re-opening plan be accepted without a complete understanding of the impact of the coronavirus on communities of color at the local, state, and national levels. That means testing, data … and a lot of both. And more importantly, no opening can occur without the permission of these Black, Brown and Indigenous communities. That means an organized and loudly articulated plan for re-opening designed by and for leaders of color.

Communities of color have an unprecedented advantage right now. Local, state, and federal government can try to force open places of businesses, but these businesses cannot function without the labor of bodies of color. And that leverage carries power.

If this power is organized and leveraged, it can be used to ensure that there is no re-opening of America until there are plans put in place to address every single issue that makes communities of color more vulnerable to exposure and mortality from COVID-19 than other communities. We have a window of opportunity to end the overcrowding, the dilapidation, the pollution, and the neglect.

Hopefully this kind of dark opportunity never happens again, but at this moment target non-White communities are in a position to take control of the economy and how it moves forward. We need to grab it.

According to a recent report published by The Nation …

Amazon warehouse workers walked off the job in Detroit, Chicago, and New York City; in the latter, they’ve now staged two strikes in as many weeks over safety and pay concerns. Workers at fast-food restaurants such as McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC, Checkers, Domino’s, and Waffle House have gone on strike in California, Florida, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee. They’ve been joined by workers at companies where workers have never gone on strike before, such as Family Dollar, Food Lion, and Shell gas stations. Instacart shoppers held a national strike on March 30, refusing to accept orders. Workers for Shipt, Target’s same-day delivery service, organized a walkout on April 7. The unrest has even spread to bus drivers, poultry workers, and painters and construction workers.

Rent strikes have also been organized in efforts to force relief for households that just can’t pay the rent. Whether it is large scale rent strikes, work strike, or a combination of these and many other creative acts of resistance, we need to put our bodies in the way of the federal plan to re-open the economy before they are put in body bags because of the coronavirus. And we need to have some very specific goals.

We need an accurate account of the coronavirus’s impact on Black, Brown, Indigenous and Intersected communities. That can’t happen without a completely new paradigm for testing and data collection. Once we know the curves of color, we can articulate a phased plan for re-starting the economy. This plan will address every single issue that makes us vulnerable to exposure, contraction, and death. And we need leadership to step up and organize the coordinated nationwide effort needed to make this a reality.

Never have the stakes been higher. And never have the potential rewards been more expansive. Communities of color need to decide when America re-opens. If we don’t, White communities will decide when we die.

If we don’t organize to stop and redirect the re-opening of the American economy, we will be little more than bear food.