Weekly Update: 4/20/20
California
The CA Assembly is meeting today to try and exercise oversight over the Newsom administration's coronavirus spending
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Saturday, 4/18,that California had procured nearly 11,000 rooms for the homeless, more than 4,000 of which were occupied — figures that Newsom trumpeted as signs of progress in the FEMA-subsidized “Project Roomkey” quest to get the most vulnerable off the streets and into shelter….
Over the weekend, over 100 protestors in Huntington Beach and over 200 protestors in San Diego marched against California stay-at-home rules, demanding businesses, parks, and schools reopen….
On Friday, 4/17, San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced that Bay Area residents must wear face coverings in public, which will apply to people riding transit, working at essential businesses, doing construction, grocery shopping, standing in line at a store or doing anything else that puts them near others.
Mayor Eric Garcetti warned yesterday in his State of the City address that the economic downturn facing Los Angeles will be more painful than the 2008 recession, requiring cuts to government programs and the furlough of thousands of city employees….
The University of California spent $588 million in unanticipated costs arising from the coronavirus pandemic in March alone….
President and Administration
President Donald Trump's new guidelines for reopening parts of the country recommend states and localities confirm a two-week downward trend in coronavirus symptoms and documented cases before starting to ease lockdowns while assuring hospitals have adequate capacity and robust testing in place….
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is exploring the early missteps inherent in launching a multi trillion-dollar law that touches every facet of American life….
DACA supporters are arguing that the Supreme Court should consider Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients’ contributions to the fight against the coronavirus pandemic when deciding whether the Trump administration decision to wind down the Obama-era program is legal….
The Education Department says just $6 million of $6.28 billion in emergency aid aimed at college students has reached campuses so far, and officials are trading accusations with college leaders over the slow pace of a rollout that's left students waiting for help. The department is placing blame on colleges, accusing college leaders of “dragging their feet” in submitting applications for money allocated in the $2 trillion economic rescue package…
Daniel Domenech, executive director of AASA, The School Superintendents Association, said school leaders appreciate the deference to state and local leadership in the guidelines Trump announced on Thursday, 4/16….
Congress
Congress this week is expected to approve a package to refresh the Paycheck Protection Program while sending $75 billion to hospitals and setting aside $25 billion for testing. Republicans have resisted Democrats’ efforts to send money to states and localities”….
“The National Restaurant Association is sending a letter to top Republican and Democratic lawmakers this morning calling for Congress to create a dedicated recovery fund for the restaurant industry….