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Helping California’s Hard-Hit Central Valley Helping California’s Hard-Hit Central Valley
(about 4 hours later)
Good morning.Good morning.
(This article is part of the California Today newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.)(This article is part of the California Today newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.)
First, here’s an update on the state’s pandemic response:First, here’s an update on the state’s pandemic response:
On Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a $52 million grant from the federal government aimed at slowing the coronavirus’s rampage through California’s Central Valley, where residents of predominantly Latino communities have consistently been required to keep showing up to work in fields or meatpacking plants and warehouses.On Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a $52 million grant from the federal government aimed at slowing the coronavirus’s rampage through California’s Central Valley, where residents of predominantly Latino communities have consistently been required to keep showing up to work in fields or meatpacking plants and warehouses.
The money will go toward more focused testing efforts to identify outbreaks, education for employees and employers about rights to sick leave and other safety issues, and improvements to quarantine and isolation protocols.The money will go toward more focused testing efforts to identify outbreaks, education for employees and employers about rights to sick leave and other safety issues, and improvements to quarantine and isolation protocols.
[Track California’s coronavirus cases with The New York Times’s map.][Track California’s coronavirus cases with The New York Times’s map.]
“It’s not the fact that an employee is tested positive,” Mr. Newsom said, standing before a banner for Diamond Foods, a company based in Stockton where at least six walnut processing plant workers recently tested positive for the coronavirus, according to The Stockton Record. “It’s how we respond.”“It’s not the fact that an employee is tested positive,” Mr. Newsom said, standing before a banner for Diamond Foods, a company based in Stockton where at least six walnut processing plant workers recently tested positive for the coronavirus, according to The Stockton Record. “It’s how we respond.”
Mr. Newsom praised Diamond Foods for its response and its place in the community.Mr. Newsom praised Diamond Foods for its response and its place in the community.
He also emphasized that the money would not be used for initiatives “in a punitive mind-set.” Instead, he said, teams sent to the Central Valley will work with employers to fix their processes.He also emphasized that the money would not be used for initiatives “in a punitive mind-set.” Instead, he said, teams sent to the Central Valley will work with employers to fix their processes.
Mr. Newsom said the effort would draw lessons from the state’s work to help stabilize Imperial County, which, in recent months, has struggled with a flood of Covid-19 patients, many of whom were transferred to other hospitals throughout the state.Mr. Newsom said the effort would draw lessons from the state’s work to help stabilize Imperial County, which, in recent months, has struggled with a flood of Covid-19 patients, many of whom were transferred to other hospitals throughout the state.
The new, “laserlike focus,” Mr. Newsom said, comes amid surging cases across the state, but particularly in the eight counties that make up the Central Valley, like San Joaquin County, which includes Stockton.The new, “laserlike focus,” Mr. Newsom said, comes amid surging cases across the state, but particularly in the eight counties that make up the Central Valley, like San Joaquin County, which includes Stockton.
[Read about why Latinos have been disproportionately sickened by Covid-19.][Read about why Latinos have been disproportionately sickened by Covid-19.]
While the state’s overall positivity rate, or percentage of coronavirus tests that have come back positive, has plateaued at about 7.5 percent on average over the past two weeks, Mr. Newsom said Central Valley counties were grappling with positivity rates of between 10.7 percent and 17.7 percent.While the state’s overall positivity rate, or percentage of coronavirus tests that have come back positive, has plateaued at about 7.5 percent on average over the past two weeks, Mr. Newsom said Central Valley counties were grappling with positivity rates of between 10.7 percent and 17.7 percent.
“These dollars are timely and critical and important,” he said.“These dollars are timely and critical and important,” he said.
For months, as the coronavirus has found its way into more communities across the nation, experts have sounded the alarm: The pandemic will not hurt everyone equally.For months, as the coronavirus has found its way into more communities across the nation, experts have sounded the alarm: The pandemic will not hurt everyone equally.
In California, that’s meant predominantly Latino communities far away from the coasts — where lower-wage, often immigrant workers have never stopped showing up for their essential jobs and heading home to crowded apartments — have been pummeled.In California, that’s meant predominantly Latino communities far away from the coasts — where lower-wage, often immigrant workers have never stopped showing up for their essential jobs and heading home to crowded apartments — have been pummeled.
Experts and advocates say this isn’t new, however, and Mr. Newsom’s announcement of a targeted effort in the Central Valley doesn’t go far enough to force employers to keep workers safe.Experts and advocates say this isn’t new, however, and Mr. Newsom’s announcement of a targeted effort in the Central Valley doesn’t go far enough to force employers to keep workers safe.
“The issue is not just that employers should follow certain guidelines, but that often times they fail to abide by minimum standards,” said Ana Padilla, in an emailed response to Mr. Newsom’s announcement.“The issue is not just that employers should follow certain guidelines, but that often times they fail to abide by minimum standards,” said Ana Padilla, in an emailed response to Mr. Newsom’s announcement.
[Read about how the pandemic’s health and economic effects are converging in warehouses.][Read about how the pandemic’s health and economic effects are converging in warehouses.]
Ms. Padilla is the executive director of the University of California, Merced, Community and Labor Center, which recently released an analysis that showed a strong connection between counties with high concentrations of low-wage work and the prevalence of Covid-19.Ms. Padilla is the executive director of the University of California, Merced, Community and Labor Center, which recently released an analysis that showed a strong connection between counties with high concentrations of low-wage work and the prevalence of Covid-19.
She said the state must do more to enforce guidelines and laws — not just educate.She said the state must do more to enforce guidelines and laws — not just educate.
The lead author of that analysis, Edward Flores, said in an email that the $52 million was coming from a $499 million federal grant for the entire state; that portion roughly lines up with the proportion of the state’s population that lives in the Central Valley.The lead author of that analysis, Edward Flores, said in an email that the $52 million was coming from a $499 million federal grant for the entire state; that portion roughly lines up with the proportion of the state’s population that lives in the Central Valley.
Still, Mr. Flores said it was not too late for the state to enact stricter policies and more rigorously enforce existing rules in the Central Valley’s big workplaces, in particular meatpacking and food processing plants.Still, Mr. Flores said it was not too late for the state to enact stricter policies and more rigorously enforce existing rules in the Central Valley’s big workplaces, in particular meatpacking and food processing plants.
“The alternative would be continuous outbreaks for the next couple years,” he said.“The alternative would be continuous outbreaks for the next couple years,” he said.
According to CalMatters, the governor promised on Friday to more quickly take action against companies that don’t follow state guidance as one of a slate of pledges aimed at better protecting farmworkers.According to CalMatters, the governor promised on Friday to more quickly take action against companies that don’t follow state guidance as one of a slate of pledges aimed at better protecting farmworkers.
Updated September 1, 2020
Read more:Read more:
The virus has also spread unevenly even within Central Valley communities, like Fresno; neighborhoods in the southern part of the metro area — which has long lagged behind its northern counterpart in investment and wealth — have been hit harder. [The Fresno Bee]
California started out as a national model for curbing the spread of Covid-19. But now it’s the center of the pandemic. Leaders are trying to figure out what went wrong. [The New York Times | BuzzFeed News]
Laguna Honda, the state’s biggest nursing home, could have been the site of catastrophic loss of life. But no one there has died of Covid-19. And cases among staff members and residents has been limited. Here’s how it happened. [The San Francisco Chronicle]
On the opposite side of the spectrum, a couple welcomed almost 100 guests to their storybook wedding at a Catholic church in San Francisco in defiance of health rules. In the following days, the newlywed couple and at least eight attendees tested positive for the coronavirus. [The San Francisco Chronicle]
Over the weekend, federal law enforcement agents tear-gassed protesters in Portland, Ore., in closely watched clashes that have come to symbolize an effort on the part of the federal government to quash protests against police brutality and racism.Over the weekend, federal law enforcement agents tear-gassed protesters in Portland, Ore., in closely watched clashes that have come to symbolize an effort on the part of the federal government to quash protests against police brutality and racism.
But as the protests in solidarity with demonstrators in Portland spread to other cities — notably Oakland and Los Angeles — officials in California and in other states said that federal law enforcement would be unwelcome, even if the local authorities had used similar force.But as the protests in solidarity with demonstrators in Portland spread to other cities — notably Oakland and Los Angeles — officials in California and in other states said that federal law enforcement would be unwelcome, even if the local authorities had used similar force.
Read more:Read more:
Last week, President Trump threatened to deploy federal law enforcement forces to cities including Chicago and Oakland. Mr. Newsom said the state would “reject” the move. [The New York Times]
On Sunday, Oakland’s mayor, Libby Schaaf, criticized her city’s demonstrators who, in vandalizing parts of downtown and trying to start fires, “may have played right into Donald Trump’s twisted campaign strategy.” [The New York Times]
On Monday, Oakland city officials announced they would take any legal steps they could to prevent the president from sending federal agents into the city. [East Bay Times]
As protests continue, some organizers worry property destruction by demonstrators has become a distraction from bigger goals. [The New York Times]
We often link to sites that limit access for nonsubscribers. We appreciate your reading Times coverage, but we also encourage you to support local news if you can.We often link to sites that limit access for nonsubscribers. We appreciate your reading Times coverage, but we also encourage you to support local news if you can.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s internal watchdog said it had opened an investigation into the rollback of Obama-era car emission rules. [The New York Times]
“It’s a governance mess.” Los Angeles County’s sheriff, Alex Villanueva, used a racist and sexist slur during a recent Facebook broadcast in which he spent several minutes criticizing a county supervisor, Hilda Solis. It was an escalation of an ongoing, ugly feud. [The Los Angeles Times]
If you missed it, Elon Musk talked to Maureen Dowd. It’s something. [The New York Times]
The Esselen Tribe of Monterey County closed escrow to purchase of 1,199 acres in Big Sur, putting the land back in the tribe’s hands, 250 years after they were forcibly removed. [The Mercury News]
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Jill Cowan grew up in Orange County, went to school at U.C. Berkeley and has reported all over the state, including the Bay Area, Bakersfield and Los Angeles — but she always wants to see more. Follow along here or on Twitter.Jill Cowan grew up in Orange County, went to school at U.C. Berkeley and has reported all over the state, including the Bay Area, Bakersfield and Los Angeles — but she always wants to see more. Follow along here or on Twitter.
California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from U.C. Berkeley.California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from U.C. Berkeley.