Happily Divorced And After

Lobbyists and industry stakeholders are racing around DC asking Congress for virus pandemic funding. Meanwhile, consumer advocates may be the only organizations not begging for money these days in Washington. They are asking for solutions for consumers and ways that will use taxpayer dollars intelligently. 

What consumer groups want is improved customer service from airlines. We want this crisis to change the lack of planning ahead and having insurance for major problems that has resulted in the virus pandemic funding issues.

Immediate funding is needed to save jobs. Long-term funding is an opportunity to reset the aviation industry.

While most funding bills take months to develop, this virus pandemic funding has taken on a life of its own. True, Congress needs to fund an immediate response to deal with the pandemic. However, Congress has time to consider “Phase Two” of funding for the longer-term survival of the airline industry.

Before, the second phase of loans are sent to airlines, taxpayers (airline passengers) should be able to get several changes to the current airline/customer relationship. Changes like the following are suggested. After all, according to the airlines, passengers are the lifeblood of their industry. (Today they are also the insurance providers).

• No stock buybacks until the loans are paid in full.
• No aviation executive bonuses (or increased salaries) until loans are paid in full.
• Agreement that passenger safety and health will be prioritized over airline profits.
• During the time of the national emergency, passengers should be able to change flights without fees. Rebooking should be done for no extra charges. Call centers should be staffed to handle increased call volume.

After this pandemic crisis, reset the airline/passenger relationship

During the second phase loans, airline should agree to common sense customer service rules that should be included in both airline and ticket agent contracts of carriage.

• Restore the use of state and local courts for customer service disputes.
• Stop further constraints on passenger seating dimensions.
• Allow families to sit together for no extra charges.
• Change airline rules that force sick passengers to fly or face exorbitant costs.
• Ensure access to all airfare and ancillary fees so that passengers can comparison shop.
• Standardize customer service rule across airlines and ticket agents.

None of these are new ideas. They have been debated for decades. However, airline passengers and their representatives in Congress will never again have the financial power to demand that airlines treat passengers humanely. This is the time for a reset to the balance between the aviation industry and its passengers. 

It is about time that airlines begin treating passengers like human beings rather than self-loading cargo. This is not too much to ask for $50 billion.

Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is announcing $250 million in grants from the Administration for Community Living (ACL) to help communities provide meals for older adults. California received a grant for $25,086,381. 

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act, signed into law by President Trump on March 18, 2020, provided the additional funding for the nutrition services programs authorized by the Older Americans Act (OAA) of 1965. These programs provide meals to more than 2.4 million older adults each year, both through home delivery and in places like community centers. The need for these services, particularly home-delivered and packaged meals, has increased as community measures to slow transmission of COVID-19 have closed meal sites and have left many family caregivers unable to assist their older loved ones.

“The Trump Administration recognizes that the measures needed to protect older Americans from the serious threat of COVID-19 have been disruptive for many of our most vulnerable,” said HHS Secretary Alex Azar. “Getting more funds to community organizations that deliver meals to older adults, such as Meals on Wheels, is another example of the Trump Administration’s whole-of-government, whole-of-America approach to combating the COVID-19 pandemic.”

In addition to meals, Older Americans Act programs provide a wide range of services, such as help with bathing and dressing, rides to doctors’ offices, education on managing chronic illnesses, support for family caregivers, and much more. Provided by a network of community-based organizations, such as Area Agencies on Aging, local community and senior centers, faith-based organizations, and other non-profit service providers, these programs work together to help millions of older adults each year stay healthy and continue living independently.

“The network of community-based organizations that provide Older Americans Act services has an exceptional capacity to coordinate services, bring together service providers, and adapt to overcome challenges, and they are employing innovative solutions to continue meal services,” said ACL Administrator Lance Robertson. “This additional funding will help communities across the country provide older adults, especially those at greatest risk, with the healthy meals they need.”

Funding has been provided to states, territories, and tribes for subsequent allocation to local meal providers. Grant amounts are determined based on the population-based formulas defined in the Older Americans Act.

Older adults who need assistance can contact the Eldercare Locator to find services available in their community. The Eldercare Locator can be reached at 1-800-677-1116 or https://eldercare.acl.gov/.

For more information about COVID-19, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html. For more information about the Older Americans Act nutrition programs, please visit ACL.gov.

The NAACP is focused on ensuring a full and accurate count amid the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic through their Black Census Week efforts. The week will consist of various activities to ensure communities of color, specifically Black populations, are informed about the Census and fill it out in its entirety. 

The primarily based social media campaign will encapsulate everything from Celebrity influencer census promotional videos  (Ruth E. Carter, Marcel Spears, Yvette Nicole Brown, Ethan Herisse and Loni Love) to a webinar on Thursday, March 26, 2020, which will feature Dallas City Councilman Casey Thomas, a representative from the Links Incorporated and a speaker from Spellman College. Interested individuals can join the conversation by registering in advance. The Webinar will also focus on the frontline workers who are severely impacted by COVID-19 and what the Census means for them. 

Each day of the week will focus on a specific initiative within the Black community. The various topics include: 

• Monday – NAACP Feature of the day – Education Advocacy Tuesday – NAACP Feature of the day – Environmental and Climate Justice Advocacy
• Wednesday – NAACP Feature of the day – Health Advocacy
• Thursday – NAACP Feature of the day – Economic Advocacy
• Friday – NAACP Feature of the day – Voting Rights/Civic Engagement
• Saturday – NAACP Feature of the day – Criminal Justice Advocacy
• Sunday – NAACP Feature of the day – Faith Organizing

In addition to the full week of activities, the NAACP is welcoming two Senior Democracy Fellows to the Civic Engagement team who will co-lead on the 2020 Census Campaign. Brittany Smith and Myisha Patterson Gatson will work with NAACP units, members, and partner groups to develop and implement innovative programs that provide targeted advocacy, training and mobilization to reach our Democracy inclusion goals.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has called into question how we as a nation ensure that the 2020 Census counts all persons living in the States so that we can continue as a Democracy, said Derrick Johnson, president and CEO, NAACP. “This moment in history requires all of us to face this health crisis and ensure that all communities, especially those systematically left behind, are included. The NAACP is focused on pushing forward to provide a complete Census count now more than ever.” 

Covered California Expands Special Enrollment and  Medi-Cal Seeks Waivers to Encourage Coverage

• Effective immediately, anyone uninsured and eligible to enroll in health care coverage through Covered California can sign up through the end of June.
• The Department of Health Care Services announces new steps to help those eligible for Medi-Cal sign up easily and get immediate coverage.
   
• The moves come amid widespread disruption in the lives and livelihoods of Californians as public health officials seek to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
  
• All medically necessary screening and testing for COVID-19 are free of charge, and all health plans available through Medi-Cal and Covered California offer telehealth options.
• These actions build on increased state subsidies and the implementation of a state penalty, both of which took effect in January 2020. 

SACRAMENTO, CA — As the state of California is taking action on many fronts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, Covered California and the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) joined together to make sure that those losing employment would have a ready path to coverage —  whether through Medi-Cal or the plans offered through Covered California.

Effective Friday, March 20, Covered California opened the health insurance exchange to any eligible uninsured individuals who need health care coverage amid the COVID-19 national emergency. Anyone who meets Covered California’s eligibility requirements, which are similar to those in place during the annual open-enrollment period, can sign up for coverage through June 30.

“We want to get as many people covered as possible to ensure they have access to the health care they need,” said Peter V. Lee, executive director of Covered California. “Having more people insured is the right thing to do, and this action builds on our efforts to leave no one behind in California.”

People who sign up through Covered California will have access to private health insurance plans with monthly premiums that may be lowered due to federal and new state financial help that became effective in 2020. After selecting a plan, their coverage would begin on the first of the following month —  meaning individuals losing job-based coverage will not face a gap in coverage.

In addition, consumers who sign up through CoveredCA.com may find out that they are eligible for no-cost or low-cost coverage through Medi-Cal, which they can enroll in online. Those eligible for Medi-Cal can have coverage that is immediately effective. 

California has put a 90-day hold on Medi-Cal renewal reviews, ensuring those already enrolled can continue their coverage and freeing up resources to quickly process the expected new enrollments. DHCS also is seeking expanded authority to expedite enrollment for seniors and other vulnerable populations, expand the use of telehealth, and take other steps to make care easier to access.

“The extraordinary challenges posed by COVID-19 demand an equally extraordinary response, and the Medi-Cal and Covered California systems are stepping up to meet the need for health coverage and ease access to services,” said Dr. Bradley P. Gilbert, Director of the Department of Health Care Services.

DHCS oversees Medi-Cal, California’s version of Medicaid, which provides coverage for about 13 million Californians.

The California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) and the California Department of Insurance will provide guidance to health plans on the special-enrollment period, which will also include off-exchange health plans. This will ensure consumers enrolling in the entire individual market in California will have access to coverage during the pandemic emergency.

“We are working together to protect the health and safety of Californians during this pandemic,” said DMHC Director Shelley Rouillard. “This includes making sure that Californians are able to access health care coverage. Opening a special-enrollment period due to COVID-19 offers new coverage options to Californians when they need it most.”

All Covered California and Medi-Cal Plans Offering Telehealth Options

All health plans offered through Covered California and by Medi-Cal provide telehealth options for enrollees, giving individuals the ability to connect with a health care professional by phone or video without having to personally visit a doctor’s office or hospital. 

All medically necessary screening and testing for COVID-19 is free of charge. This includes telehealth or doctor’s office visits as well as network emergency room or urgent care visits when necessary for the purpose of screening and testing for COVID-19. In addition, Medi-Cal covers costs associated with COVID-19 in both its managed care plans and with fee for service providers. Covered California health plans will help cover costs that arise from any required treatment or hospitalization.

“A core part of our mission is improving access to high-quality health care, and that has never been more important than it is right now in California,” Lee said.

New Ad Campaign to Get the Word Out

Covered California will be alerting the public about the new special enrollment period through television, radio and digital ads. Covered California is already running ads that highlight the new financial help that is available for the first time this year, the new state individual mandate penalty and ads that make the connection to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ability to get coverage.

Click here to listen to the radio ad currently airing that highlights what consumers can do in face of the COVID-19 epidemic .

Watch the new television ads focusing on the financial help and penalties in English and Spanish here.

New State Subsidies Help Californians Lower Their Health Care Costs

Californians who sign up for coverage may be able to benefit from a new state subsidy program that expanded the amount of financial help available to many people. The subsidies are already benefitting about 625,000 Covered California consumers. Roughly 576,000 lower-income consumers, who earn between 200 and 400 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL), are receiving an average of $608 per month, per household in federal tax credits and new state subsidies (which averages $23 per household). The financial assistance lowers the average household monthly premium from $881 per month to $272, a decrease of 70 percent.

In addition, nearly 32,000 middle-income consumers have already qualified for new state subsidies, with average state subsidy to eligible households is $504 per month, lowering their monthly premium by nearly half. 

Many of those eligible for the new middle-income state subsidies are an estimated 280,000 Californians who are likely eligible for new state or existing federal subsidies but kept their “off-exchange” coverage. They are also eligible to switch to Covered California and benefit from the financial help.  During this special enrollment period, Covered California, its health plans and certified agents will be reaching out to these Californians to let them know how they can save money on their premiums – which will help them keep their coverage in challenging financial times.

California’s Success in Expanding Coverage Strengthens Pandemic Response

The policies announced today build on the success of the Affordable Care Act in California. Since the law was signed 10 years ago, California’s uninsured rate has dropped to a record low of 7.2 percent thanks to the expansion of Medi-Cal and the creation of Covered California.

“California’s policy makers made important choices ten years ago to build the Covered California exchange and dramatically expand the state’s Medi-Cal program. Those choices —  as well as new efforts by Gov. Newsom and the Legislature to bolster financial support to buy coverage —  mean many millions of people have coverage today and can get it tomorrow for this critical moment in time,” Lee said. “Our goals now must be to make sure we meet the needs of those without insurance — whether they just lost their coverage or lost their income – while assuring those with coverage get the care they need, when then need it. The urgency of this public health crisis calls on all of us to do everything we can to help Californians.”

Staying Safe While Getting Help Enrolling

With the just announced order for Californians to stay home if they are not engaged in essential work or travel, Covered California is working with the more than 10,000 Certified Insurance Agents that help Californians sign up and understand their coverage options through phone-based service models.  

“We are in a different world right now, but social distance does not mean you cannot get personal help,” Lee said. “Our agents and staff are stepping up to help people by phone and support them to enroll online.” 

Consumers can easily find out if they are eligible Medi-Cal or other forms of financial help and see which plans are available in their area by using the CoveredCA.Com Shop and Compare Tool and entering their ZIP code, household income and the ages of those who need coverage.

Those interested in learning more about their coverage options can also:

• Visit www.CoveredCA.com.
• Get free and confidential assistance over the phone, in a variety of languages, from a certified enroller.
• Have a certified enroller call them and help them for free.
• Call Covered California at (800) 300-1506.

SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Public Health today announced the most recent statistics on COVID-19. California now has 1,224 confirmed cases. For more information on COVID-19 and California’s response visit the California Department of Public Health website.

COVID-19 in California by the Numbers

Note: The following numbers reflect information received from local health jurisdictions as of 2 p.m. PDT March 20. More current numbers may be available from local health jurisdictions.

1,224 – Positive cases

23 – Deaths (including one non-California resident)

Ages of all confirmed positive cases:

• Age 0-17: 19 cases
• Age 18-64: 876 cases
• Age 65+: 321 cases
• Unknown: 8 cases

Cases not related to repatriation flights: 1,200

• 96 – Travel-related
• 122 – Person to person
• 325 – Community transmission
• 657 – Under investigation

24 – Positive cases related to federal repatriation flights

Testing in California

As of 2 p.m. PDT March 20, approximately 25,200 tests had been conducted in California. This includes the latest numbers California has received from commercial and private labs. At least 12,528 results have been received and another 12,700+ are pending. Twenty-two state and county health labs are currently testing.

In order to better focus public health resources on the changing needs of California communities, the state is no longer collecting information about California travelers returning from countries that have confirmed COVID-19 outbreaks. Community transmission of COVID-19 has been identified in California since late February, and since early March, most of the confirmed cases in the state were not related to travel outside of the United States.

How People Can Protect Themselves
Every person has a role to play. Protecting yourself and your family comes down to common sense: 

·                  Staying home except for essential activities.

·                  Washing hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds.

·                  Avoiding touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.

·                  Cover a cough or sneeze with your sleeve, or disposable tissue. Wash your hands afterward.

·                  Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.

·                  Staying away from work, school or other people if you become sick with respiratory symptoms like fever and cough.

·                  Practicing social distancing.

·                  Following guidance from public health officials.

What to Do if You Think You’re Sick
Call ahead: If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough or shortness of breath) and may have had contact with a person with COVID-19, or recently traveled to countries with apparent community spread, call your health care provider before seeking medical care so that appropriate precautions can be taken.

California continues to issue guidance on preparing and protecting California from COVID-19. Consolidated guidance is available at www.cdph.ca.gov/covid19guidance.

More information about what Californians can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is available at www.covid19.ca.gov.

By Aldon Thomas Stiles | California Black Media

To comply with health officials’ recommendations regarding COVID-19, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is allowing customers a 60-day extension for license or registration renewals.

Stay away from our offices, stay home and be safe, the DMV is telling Californians.

The DMV says it has informed law enforcement departments that some drivers may be driving around the state with expired licenses or registrations due to COVID-19.

“This 60-day period for driver license and vehicle registrations is intended to protect the health and safety of DMV customers who would otherwise have to come to a DMV office to take care of business, but are concerned during this coronavirus pandemic,” the DMV press release read.

The extension period goes into effect March16 and will cover all appointments that require physical office visits.

“Transactions that fall within this category include driver license renewals for those 70 years of age and older who are required to take a knowledge test; individuals who are required to renew in the office (their last DMV visit was 15 years prior); individuals subject to vision testing; and individuals with a complex driving history,” the press release continued.

The extension also applies to those who aren’t able to seek alternatives to office visits under certain conditions.

The grace period also applies to vehicle registration renewals for customers “who are not eligible to use an alternative service channel because of the following reasons: Outdated insurance information, registration expired for 90 days or more, smog issues, and recent transfers,” stated the press release.

The DMV also described what kind of appointments would require an in-person visit.

“Those transactions that require a DMV office visit include new driver licenses, duplicate driver licenses, some driver license renewals, new license plates, complex vehicle registrations or title transfers and off-highway permits,” stated the press release.

The DMV will remain open to handle transactions such as getting a REAL ID, which requires an office visit. According to the press release, the DMV will improve their systems to help increase efficiency.

The DMV says it is taking the COVID-19 pandemic seriously, especially since Gov. Gavin Newsom has proclaimed a state of emergency.

“The DMV is taking this action so that at-risk populations, including seniors and those with underlying health conditions, can avoid required visits to DMV field offices for driver license or vehicle registration renewals,” according to the statement.

In compliance with the office closure health order issued by Riverside County public health officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser, the Department of Waste Resources headquarters office will close to the public starting Wednesday, March 18. However, we remain operational and accessible via email and telephone communications.

While in-person office visits will be discontinued, requests for clearances relating to building permits (Form B/C/D) and recycling/trash enclosure plans are still able to be submitted via email. Also, staff is available to answer questions relating to composting/recycling, waste approval, and other services. All inquiries should be directed to WasteWebSupport@rivco.org and will be routed to the specific division for a response. If you prefer to speak with staff by phone for assistance, call (951) 486-3200.

This directive applies only to the headquarters office, as all active landfills remain operational during standard business hours. Additionally, waste recycle parks at active landfills remain open, as current procedures are in line with proper social distancing guidelines. However, as a best practice, beginning March 25, 2020, the Department will limit landfill transactions to credit/debit transactions only (no cash). 

By Elizabeth Castillo, CalMatters

In what seems now like another lifetime, in the birthplace of California wine production, Angie Sanchez was tasked one day with census outreach in Sonoma. The Latino community organizer decided that standard presentations and handouts wouldn’t cut it. Instead, she reimagined Lotería, a Bingo-like game that’s a staple in many Latino households.

Her version, Censotería, received more than 300 Instagram likes and piqued the interest of census officials in Alabama, Illinois and Texas. The civic participation group that Sanchez works for, the La Luz Center, partnered with the Latino Community Foundation and printed about 500 copies and distributed them throughout the community. The Latino Community Foundation even made Sanchez’s game downloadable for free. 

Now, for all of Sanchez’s creativity, it’s unclear whether this colorful game, which is part of the state’s $187.2 million census effort, will move the needle even slightly. As the coronavirus pandemic upends every aspect of life as Californians know it, it is far from clear what, if anything, will help motivate 11 million hard-to-reach Californians to respond to their questionnaires.

In the next few weeks — between moments of panic — residents across the nation will be asked to respond to nine basic questions about their household as part of a decennial population count and respond largely online. State and community organizers are particularly concerned about this year’s survey. California faces powerful headwinds, not only from the mounting threat of COVID-19, the infection caused by the virus, but also from widespread distrust sowed by the Trump administration’s anti-immigration policies, including a failed push to include a citizenship question on the census. 

For California, the stakes have never been higher: A low turnout could jeopardize one of the state’s 53 congressional seats, along with billions in federal funding.

No one knows yet how much these developments will impact California’s count but they are widely expected to depress turnout.

“It’s been a challenge because we have to take precautions on how we conduct outreach,” said Melissa Vergara from the San Mateo County Office of Community Affairs.

A major census event the county planned for March 26 will now be a virtual one, she said. San Mateo County has been ordered to shelter in place, and census plans are changing by the day.

The county plans to do more social media outreach. And Vergara said San Mateo County will create a TikTok video to help inform the public.  

Nationally,  the U.S. Census Bureau has suspended field operations until at least April 1. “Any type of person-to-person contact, that’s what’s being eliminated,” said spokesperson Patricia Ramos.

Presentations from census workers at local churches and town-hall meetings have been suspended. The count of people experiencing homelessness has also been postponed a month. It will now take place from April 29 to May 1.

The bureau has also adjusted how it counts people living in group quarters such as on college campuses, in group homes and in nursing homes.

Census workers are still scheduled to visit homes in late May, and online census operations continue. Nationwide, more than 11 million households had responded to the census as of Wednesday morning. A map of response rates will be available to the public Friday.

Emilio Vaca, a spokesperson for California Complete Count, the state’s own census department, said the state is “shifting toward virtual phone banks, webinars and events where they can continue to give our state’s hard-to-reach communities the information and the support they need to participate in the census with confidence.”

He reiterated that the census can be completed online or over the phone. 

On the same day census notices began landing in people’s mailboxes, the governor clamped down on public gatherings in an effort to mitigate the coronavirus outbreak, disrupting months of planned outreach events and door-to-door appeals. 

And allies have unintentionally sent mixed signals. Civil rights activists, who spent last year training immigrants to ignore federal agents knocking on their door during nationwide raids, are now encouraging people to open the door to census workers, who are an extension of the federal government.

The Public Policy Institute of California characterizes 29 million Californians at risk of being undercounted. These can be people who are hard to reach because they are homeless, rent, or live in nonstandard housing, such as garages and trailers. They can also be young men who may not respond or children who aren’t properly counted in a questionnaire. Many often lack a reliable internet connection.

Moreover, it’s race and ethnicity. California is a majority minority state. Nearly 39% of California’s population identifies as Latino or Hispanic and there’s concern that government distrust will reduce responses — even among residents with legal status. This year, Jacqueline Martinez Garcel with the Latino Community Foundation said it has been difficult to assure people that census information will be kept private.

“I think historically we’ve thought about non-citizens or unauthorized immigrants as particularly hard to count,” said Sarah Bohn of the Public Policy Institute of California. “But I think there is concern about whether this environment we’re in right now with regard to immigrants, is going to dissuade even legal immigrants from responding — just because of fear or distrust of the government.”

That’s why the state has allocated more than $106 million on census outreach efforts to fund efforts like Sanchez’s Censotería game, according to state census reports. Mercury Public Affairs LLC won a $46 million contract to lead a media campaign. Overall, California is spending more than any other state. 

The state aims to make over 100 million “impressions” which will capture who is looking at the content and how they’re consuming it, whether that’s via mobile or desktop. It will assess its success by comparing targeted populations to live census returns. As completed forms come in, the state will allocate more funding to areas with low returns.

“It’s really critical to get it right,” said Bohn. 

California residents benefit from dozens of federal programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, affordable housing and funding for roads, school lunches, early childhood education and foster care. Andrew Reamer, research professor at George Washington University, estimates California receives $172 billion in federal money based on its population.

County and state organizers are now pivoting to social media outreach and ramping up a digital ambassador program, a group of preselected online influencers including actor Danny Trejo, mixed martial artist Urijah Faber, and Sacramento Kings basketball player Harrison Barnes. Beyond celebrities, ambassadors include activists as well, such as Rian Buhacoff, who advocates for queer and disabled rights.

Advocates continue to urge people to respond online, by phone, or mail

WASHINGTON – The co-chairs of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights’ Census Task Force — Arturo Vargas, CEO of NALEO Educational Fund; John C. Yang, president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC; and Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference — issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Census Bureau’s extension of  2020 Census operations from July 31, 2020 to August 14, 2020:

“As all of us, including vulnerable communities, deal with the impact of COVID-19. This extension gives the Census Bureau and advocates the flexibility we need to expand and modify outreach. The Census Bureau understands the public health challenge it is up against and is properly adjusting in real-time. As the situation continues to evolve, we encourage the Census Bureau to make any necessary adjustments in coordination with community partners and stakeholders. We are not backing down in our efforts to ensure our communities are counted — in fact, we are doubling down. We all need to work together to ensure a full and accurate count. People can, and should, continue to respond online, by phone, or by paper form. Essential rights, funding, resources, and political power are still at stake.”
 

Background
 

The co-chairs of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights’ Census Task Force previously expressed support for shifts in timing of certain U.S. Census Bureau operations. That statement is availablehere.
 

Extending census operations is not the same as delaying the census or changing the statutory reporting deadlines. The co-chairs have also urged Congress to closely monitor the progress of the census to determine if the Census Bureau will be able to meet the statutory deadlines of December 31, 2020 for the reporting of the final apportionment counts, and April 1, 2021 for the transmission of the redistricting files to the states. Congress may well need to consider adjustments to those deadlines once it has sufficient information on the status of the 2020 Census operations. This issue has deep and broad implications, primarily political and conceivably partisan. It must be approached carefully and knowledgeably for those reasons.
 

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 220 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.

Asian Americans Advancing Justice is a national affiliation of five leading organizations advocating for the civil and human rights of Asian Americans and other underserved communities to promote a fair and equitable society for all. The affiliation’s members are: Advancing Justice – AAJC (Washington, D.C.), Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus (San Francisco), Advancing Justice – Los Angeles, Advancing Justice – Atlanta, and Advancing Justice – Chicago.
 

NALEO Educational Fund is the leading non-profit, non-partisan organization that facilitates full Latino participation in the American political process, from citizenship to public service.

Approximately 11,393 vote-by-mail ballots will be mailed to voters starting today, March 16, for the City of Rancho Mirage general municipal mail ballot election on April 14. To be counted, completed ballots must be received at the Registrar of Voters office no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day, or be postmarked on or before Election Day and received no later than three days after Election Day.

Vote-by-mail ballots can be returned through the postal service or deposited in vote-by-mail drop-off boxes located at the Rancho Mirage City Clerk’s office or the Registrar of Voters office.

Early voting at the Registrar of Voters office begins today, Mach. 16, and continues Monday through Friday (excluding county holidays), from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The April 14 election encompasses all of the City of Rancho Mirage and is not a countywide election.  It is also an all-mail ballot election, so there will be no established polling places. If you have any questions about your eligibility to vote, please contact the registrar’s office at (951) 486-7200.