Aaron Read
Edsource.org
Olson Hagel
Capitol Weekly
 
Maplight.org
CA Leg Analyst
 

Updating . .   

A new high for coronavirus deaths in California as counties push ahead with reopening -- California recorded 132 new coronavirus-related fatalities Tuesday — the most in a single day since the pandemic began — as counties across the state continue cementing plans to reopen their economies. Hannah Fry, Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Colleen Shalby in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/20/20

California is finally winning coronavirus battle, even as deaths keep rising -- Three months into California’s battle with the coronavirus, there are growing signs that the outbreak is ebbing even as the state death toll continues to climb past 3,400. Rong-Gong Lin II, Iris Lee, Sean Greene in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/20/20

Inside the Trump fight with California over opening churches amid coronavirus -- California’s stay-at-home order, which is credited with slowing the spread of the coronavirus, has upended the economy and changed the lives of millions. But it has also caused special pain for people of faith, who no longer can worship in person as churches and other religious institutions have been closed. Matthew Ormseth, Alex Wigglesworth, Laura Newberry in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/20/20

Why has coronavirus taken such a toll on SF’s Asian American community? Experts perplexed over high death rate -- The coronavirus has taken a grim toll on San Francisco’s Asian American community, which accounts for half of the fatalities from COVID-19 and has a high death rate among those who have tested positive for the disease. Joaquin Palomino in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/20/20

Orange County will direct $75 million in federal aid to small businesses -- Small businesses in Orange County may soon be able to apply for aid in reopening from a county program paid for with $75 million in federal funding. Details of the program are still being worked out, including a key issue: what would be considered small businesses. Alicia Robinson in the Orange County Register -- 5/20/20

During the pandemic, sequestered SDG&E grid operators living at work to keep the lights on -- To make sure the electrical grid stays up and running during the COVID-19 pandemic, Adams works a 12-hour shift for 14 consecutive days. And instead of going to his home in Normal Heights at the end of his workday, the 36-year-old heads to a recreational vehicle in a parking lot at SDG&E to get some rest before heading back to Mission Control the next day. Rob Nikolewski in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/20/20

49ers hopeful of training camp return to Santa Clara -- San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk is encouraged by how productive the team’s virtual offseason has been. He believes players are able to get even more time learning the intricacies of the offense without the pressure of going out on the field to practice each day and he has enjoyed the banter and bonding across the video screen. There’s one aspect that can’t be replicated. Josh Dubow Associated Press -- 5/20/20

San Diego County revives human relations commission in wake of racist incidents in Santee -- Earlier this month, a male shopper at a Vons store in Santee wore a Ku Klux Klan hood. The following week, at a Santee Food 4 Less, a man and a woman wore masks with Nazi swastika flags. Charles T. Clark in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/20/20

Lopez: Column: I got tested for COVID-19. Should you? -- The last time I traveled along Stadium Way I was headed to a Dodger game, but on Monday afternoon I drove to the fire training center near the ballpark for a much less enjoyable experience. A COVID-19 test. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/20/20

Reopen    

Despite many coronavirus deaths, Tulare County vows to defy Newsom and further reopen -- Despite having one of the highest coronavirus death rates in California, Tulare County officials have voted to reopen more businesses before meeting the health criteria set by the state. Luke Money in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/20/20

Most California school districts plan to open in the fall. Here’s how it would work -- Most public school districts in California are planning to reopen campuses on their regular start dates in late August and September — but the new normal amid the coronavirus outbreak will likely include masks, daily school sanitation and smaller class sizes to maintain six feet of distance, state Supt. of Instruction Tony Thurmond said Wednesday. Sonali Kohli in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/20/20

Napa County becomes first in Bay Area where restaurants, retail can reopen -- Restaurants reopened for dine-in service and businesses welcomed shoppers back into their stores Wednesday in one Bay Area county. Napa became the first county in the region to have its local variance attestation approved, enabling it to move forward into the advanced stage of Phase 2 of the state’s reopening plan. Evan Webeck in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/20/20

San Diego County OKs in-person dining, retail; asks governor to approve pilot program -- With unemployment hitting nearly 25 percent and weekly protests decrying the state stay-at-home order, California’s second-most-populous county is pushing to reopen quicker. Charles T. Clark in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/20/20

San Diego restaurants, shops poised to reopen but who will be ready this week? -- Workers need to be rehired and trained under new sanitation protocols to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the interiors of stores and restaurants have to be redesigned to allow for adequate social distancing, menus need to be retooled and inventory purchased. Lori Weisberg, Brittany Meiling, Pam Kragen in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/20/20

A big push to reopen restaurants, malls, even gyms ASAP. But it’s not that simple -- Faced with unemployment rates that in many places top 20%, California counties are eager to reopen their economies as quickly as they can. Luke Money, Kailyn Brown, Sarah Parvini, Charles T. Carter in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/20/20

Seal Beach opens its beaches on weekends, expand hours ahead of holiday weekend -- A last piece of the coastal re-opening puzzle is complete, with Seal Beach opting to open up on weekends and expand hours to allow the public greater access to the sand and surf. Laylan Connelly in the Orange County Register -- 5/20/20

Yosemite National Park aims to reopen in early June, with limits -- Yosemite National Park may finally reopen as early as June, but with major changes: Visitors who want to spend the day at the famed Sierra Nevada destination would need a reservation and crowds would be limited to roughly half of normal. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/20/20

Joshua Tree National Park reopening with limitations -- Park entrances, roads, parking lots, trails, individual campsites and most restrooms are open. Visitor centers and group campsites remain closed and all campsite reservations made through the recreation.gov are canceled. The park says all campsites are first-come, first-served until Sept. 4, and campers must pay as normal at each campground. Associated Press -- 5/20/20

Also . . .   

L.A. is uneasy about order to move homeless people from freeways. ‘There’s ethical issues’ -- A federal judge’s sweeping order to move thousands of homeless people away from freeways in Los Angeles is drawing objections from advocates and Mayor Eric Garcetti who fear it could lead to confrontations with police and endanger the health of those living on the streets during the coronavirus outbreak. Benjamin Oreskes, David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/20/20

What can airlines do if people take off their masks in flight? Not much, actually -- Wearing a face mask has become as much a part of flying on commercial planes as cramming too much in the overhead bin, wrestling your seatmate for the armrest and trying to charm an extra bag of peanuts from the flight attendant. Hugo Martín in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/20/20

Body of former pro wrestler Shad Gaspard found near Venice Pier -- Gaspard, 39, had been missing since Sunday afternoon, when he was swept out to sea at Venice Beach. His 10-year-old son, Aryeh, was rescued, and several other swimmers made it out of the water safely after they were caught in a rip current, authorities said. Luke Money in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/20/20

L.A. Fire Department to inspect vape and smoke shops after downtown explosion -- The Los Angeles Fire Department will launch a citywide review of the way certain businesses store volatile materials after an explosion seriously injured several firefighters in a downtown corridor that some consider a haven for supplies used in the creation of unlicensed cannabis products. Richard Winton, James Queally in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/20/20

ICE said a 74-year-old was too dangerous to release. He died of apparent suicide -- The way Choung Woong Ahn’s family sees it, the 74-year-old South Korean immigrant should not have been in the Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center when he took his last breath. Lawyers for Ahn had submitted three requests for his release amid the coronavirus pandemic. All were rejected, the most recent by a U.S. district judge on May 13. On Sunday, he died by suicide. Andrea Castillo in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/20/20

Here’s a closer look at the ex-deputy mayor enmeshed in City Hall corruption probe -- Raymond Chan earned praise at City Hall for his eagerness to smooth out city bureaucracy for developers, both as the head of Los Angeles’ building department and later as a deputy mayor focused on economic development. Emily Alpert Reyes, Joel Rubin in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/20/20

 

 

California Policy & Politics Wednesday Morning  

Study published estimating nearly 5% of LA County could have coronavirus -- Nearly 400,000 people in Los Angeles County — close to 5% of the adult population — could be infected with the novel coronavirus, according to a study published this week in the Journal of American Medical Association based on revelations from last month. David Rosenfeld in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 5/20/20

After brief respite, coronavirus deaths rise again in Bay Area -- Nine Bay Area counties recorded zero deaths from COVID-19 for two consecutive days on Sunday and Monday — the first time since March that has happened — but health experts warn that the plateau may just be a blip as the numbers soared again on Tuesday. Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/20/20

Just 65 patients treated for $15 million at LA hospital reopened to handle coronavirus surge -- St. Vincent Medical Center, closed in January, was brought back to life in just a few weeks, but the influx of COVID-19 patients never happened. David Rosenfeld in the Los Angeles Daily News$ Thomas Curwen in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/20/20

Coronavirus testing slow to come to nursing homes, despite 35% of COVID-19 deaths -- As nursing home deaths continue to drive many of the fatalities in California — 35% of COVID-19 deaths have occurred there — state health officials are moving too slowly to require senior living facilities to test all residents and workers, advocates and families say. Catherine Ho and Sarah Ravani in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/20/20

California playing catch up on coronavirus contact tracing as counties push to reopen -- Testing and contact tracing are key tools for limiting coronavirus spread as some activity and business closure restrictions are lifted — but most California counties are falling short on both, despite widespread approval of reopening requests. Mark Olalde and Nicole Hayden in the Palm Springs Desert Sun -- 5/20/20

MLS cancels All-Star Game at Banc of California Stadium -- The league said the plans for 2021 call for the All-Star Game to return to Banc of California Stadium, with the same format. The leagues are expected to resume discussions regarding the 2021 All-Star Game. Both sides came together in November at the Banc of California Stadium to announce the event, which would have benefited both sides of the developing relationship. Damian Calhoun in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 5/20/20

California border hospitals hit by surge in COVID-19 cases from Mexico -- The only two hospitals in Southern California’s rural Imperial County were forced to close their doors to new coronavirus patients on Tuesday, after admitting scores believed stricken with the virus from across the border in Mexico, officials said. Steve Gorman Reuters -- 5/20/20

San Diego steps up as Imperial County hospitals hit by rush of patients with COVID-19 -- Imperial County’s only two hospitals stopped taking COVID-19 patients delivered by ambulance Tuesday, citing a sudden surge of admissions linked to cross-border traffic originating in Mexicali. Paul Sisson in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/20/20

Most of Orange County’s $554 million in CARES Act money already spent or spoken for -- Orange County officials have spent or know how they’ll spend $453 million of the $554 million in federal money the county received from the CARES Act, a coronavirus relief bill. Alicia Robinson in the Orange County Register -- 5/20/20

USS Kidd sailors begin return to COVID-19 stricken warship while carrier Roosevelt prepares to return to sea -- In San Diego, sailors began returning to the destroyer USS Kidd Monday after nearly three weeks of quarantine at a local hotel, the Navy announced in a statement. At the same time, on the western Pacific island of Guam, the San Diego-based aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt will return to sea this week, a defense official told The San Diego Union-Tribune. Andrew Dyer in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/20/20

Policy & Politics 

California must do more to reopen for religious worship, Justice Department says -- California must move faster to allow churches to reopen as coronavirus restrictions ease or face constitutional consequences, the Justice Department warned Tuesday in a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom. John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Matthew Ormseth, Alex Wigglesworth in the Los Angeles Times$ Jeremy B. White Politico -- 5/20/20

Trump EPA’s targeting of San Francisco pollution may bring investigation -- The nation’s environmental watchdog may investigate federal enforcement of water policy in California after Democratic lawmakers accused the Trump administration of “irregular” interference targeting San Francisco, according to a letter sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. But the investigation would not come until this fall at the earliest, if it happens at all, the letter said. Tal Kopan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/20/20

“Might as well have them walk the plank” — Cuts may force many seniors into nursing homes -- Gov. Gavin Newsom's proposed cuts to meet the new coronavirus economy include two California day programs aimed at keeping poor and medically fragile seniors in their homes, and out of institutions. Barbara Feder Ostrov Calmatters -- 5/20/20

$1.2 million rent dispute erupts between A's and Oakland Coliseum landlords -- The Oakland A’s baseball team and its landlord, the Coliseum Authority, are at odds over the team deferring its $1.2 million stadium rent payment that was due April 1 amid the coronavirus pandemic. Susan Slusser, Phil Matier and Matt Kawahara in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/20/20

In San Diego, As Elsewhere, Reaction To Coronavirus Restrictions Is Political -- Recent polling by CNN and others has shown that Democrats and Republicans react to the federal government's handling of the coronavirus in very different ways. Alison St John, Pat Finn KPBS -- 5/20/20

Walters: A not-so-special election -- Clem Miller, a congressman from California’s North Coast known as Spendin’ Clem for his ability to bring home pork-barrel funding, was a shoo-in for re-election to a third term in 1962. Dan Walters Calmatters -- 5/20/20

Pandemic food stamps offer up to $365 per child -- Families with children who qualify for free or reduced-price meals at their schools — regardless of immigration status — may notice something in the mail to help them buy groceries. California is issuing one-time food stamps with credits of up to $365 per child to help qualifying families get through the coronavirus outbreak. Jacqueline Garcia Calmatters -- 5/20/20

San Diego plans to use $270M in COVID-19 relief to close budget gaps, boost business aid -- San Diego will use nearly $270 million in federal and state COVID-19 relief money to reverse proposed budget cuts to recreation programs, triple funding for small-business aid and preserve the city’s emergency reserve fund. David Garrick in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/20/20

On California’s Tribal Lands, Protecting Elders Means Putting Customs, Tourism On Pause -- Curving down the stretch of Highway 20 that hugs the oak-lined shore of Clear Lake, there are no obvious signs that you’re near tribal land — except for R Pomo Pumps. The gas station bears the triangular orange insignia of the Robinson Rancheria Pomo Indians of California. The federally recognized tribe occupies the Robinson Rancheria in Lake County, and has for decades catered to tourists coming through to boat, camp and fish. Sammy Caiola Capital Public Radio -- 5/20/20

Fullerton releases 2,400 pages of reports in the police beating death of Kelly Thomas -- When Kelly Thomas died nearly nine years ago, the initial police reports portrayed him as a criminal suspect, a homeless schizophrenic who “assaulted” six Fullerton patrol officers. He now is remembered as the victim in one of the worst police beatings in national history, triggering major reforms in how officers deal with the homeless. That change in attitude is evident in the documents released Tuesday by the city of Fullerton in compliance with new state police transparency laws. Tony Saavedra in the Orange County Register -- 5/20/20

Real Estate  

San Diego home sales nosedive, price mostly unchanged -- San Diego home sales had their biggest annual drop since the Great Recession in April as the effect of COVID-19 hit the housing market. There were 2,499 home sales in April, down 30 percent from the same time last year, according to CoreLogic data released Tuesday by DQNews. The last time there was a year-over-year drop of that magnitude was March 2008. Phillip Molnar in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/20/20

Reopen   

L.A. County aims to reopen by July 4, but must rely on data and science, official warns -- Los Angeles County officials’ newest goal is to more fully reopen the economy by July 4, officials said Tuesday. The mission is to safely reopen retail businesses, restaurants and malls. But getting there will be slow going. Colleen Shalby, Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Sarah Parvini in the Los Angeles Times$ Ryan Carter in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 5/20/20

O.C. supervisors eager to get state OK to further loosen lockdown on local businesses -- The Orange County Board of Supervisors is itching to submit a plan to the state that will allow more businesses to reopen and forge a wider path out of the coronavirus lockdown that has put the economy in a chokehold. Hillary Davis in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/20/20

San Diego wants state officials to allow speedier reopening -- With encouraging results in the fight against the coronavirus, San Diego County supervisors voted Tuesday to ask the state to allow California’s second-most populous county to be a test case for more rapidly reopening businesses and allowing more gatherings and recreational options. Julie Watson Associated Press -- 5/20/20

Huntington Beach rejects proposal to ignore state’s coronavirus playbook for reopening -- A proposal to declare all Huntington Beach businesses essential during the coronavirus crisis – and allow them to briskly reopen using their own guidelines – fizzled out Monday, May 18. But not before it made for a six-hour meeting. Susan Christian Goulding in the Orange County Register -- 5/20/20

Stanislaus County asking the state to allow retail centers, malls, restaurants to open -- County supervisors and staff said they expected a decision within 48 to 72 hours, or even earlier, from the California Department of Public Health on whether the county application meets the requirements for moving faster through the Stage 2 reopening process. Ken Carlson in the Modesto Bee -- 5/20/20

State approves Napa County to reopen dine-in restaurants, schools -- The California Department of Public Health gave Napa County the green light to move further into phase two of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s post-shutdown reopening plan, county officials said, marking the first Bay Area county to take this step during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Anna Bauman in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/20/20

Salmon fishing opens in SF, Berkeley — with social distancing rules -- On the eve of Memorial Day Weekend, local health officials in San Francisco and Berkeley moved to allow sport fishing boats to operate out of those cities — so long as they abide by a lengthy list of rules designed to avoid the spread of coronavirus. Tom Stienstra in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/20/20

Two Sacramento area casinos set reopen dates, despite pleas from Gov. Newsom to delay -- After two months of shutdown because of the coronavirus pandemic, two of greater Sacramento’s Indian casinos announced reopening dates Tuesday in spite of pleas from Gov. Gavin Newsom to hold off. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Wheatland said it will reopen 10 a.m. Thursday. And Red Hawk Casino in Placerville said it will open on Monday, June 1. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/20/20

Several Southern California casinos to reopen Friday -- Spotlight 29 Casino in Coachella and sister property Tortoise Rock Casino in Twentynine Palms will open their casinos and restaurants at 10 a.m.; Harrah’s Resort Southern California near Valley Center will open its casinos, bars and restaurants at noon; Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa near Cabazon will open its hotel, casino and some of its restaurants at 2 p.m. Alex Groves in the Riverside Press Enterprise$ -- 5/20/20

The new Cahuilla Casino Hotel will open to guests May 27 -- The Cahuilla Band of Indians announced via a news release Friday that it will open the new property — which includes a 58-room hotel, an outdoor event space and restaurant — to the public Wednesday, May 27, with some safety-related updates. Alex Groves in the Riverside Press Enterprise$ -- 5/20/20

Sacramento County Restaurants Could Reopen With Modifications This Weekend -- Sacramento County will not be lifting its stay-at-home order when it expires at the end of this week, but has state approval to allow for restaurants to open for dine-in service with modifications as soon as this weekend, county health officials revealed Tuesday. Sarah Mizes-Tan Capital Public Radio -- 5/20/20

Landlords & Tenants  

San Diego Extends Eviction Moratorium Through June 30 -- With the city just beginning to open back up, the San Diego City Council on Tuesday extended a moratorium on residential and commercial evictions through June 30 in an effort to protect businesses and renters affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Andrew Bowen KPBS -- 5/20/20

Education 

UC becomes nation’s largest university to divest fully from fossil fuels -- The University of California announced Tuesday that it has fully divested from all fossil fuels, the nation’s largest educational institution to do so as campaigns to fight climate change through investment strategies proliferate at campuses across the country. Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/20/20

Workers  

McDonald’s workers in LA, San Jose allege unsafe work conditions amid COVID-19 pandemic -- McDonald’s workers at restaurants in Los Angeles, Monterey Park and San Jose filed complaints Tuesday, May 19, after CAL/OSHA allegedly failed to act on employee concerns that the company’s handling of COVID-19 issues in stores throughout California has put workers in “imminent danger.” Kevin Smith in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/20/20

Transit  

Coronavirus: Muni slowly restores bus lines in parts of San Francisco -- After slashing service to 17 bus lines at the start of April due to the coronavirus outbreak, Muni is slowly starting to recover. Michael Cabanatuan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/20/20

Also . . .   

Raids across California, including Bay Area, confiscate guns, ammo, drugs -- In all, the 12 operations spanning from Bakersfield to Grass Valley (Nevada County) seized 51 firearms, 123 magazines, 28,518 rounds of ammunition and 120 grams of methamphetamine and heroin, according to the office of California Attorney General Xavier Becerra. Alejandro Serrano in the San Francisco Chronicle$ Hannah Wiley in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/20/20

First-of-its-kind clean hydrogen plant planned for Los Angeles County -- An energy company with big ambitions to produce the clean fuel of the future announced a deal Tuesday with Lancaster officials to make hydrogen by using plasma heating technology — originally developed for NASA — to disintegrate the city’s paper recyclables at temperatures as high as 7,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Sammy Roth in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/20/20

POTUS 45  

Trump allies lining up doctors to prescribe rapid reopening -- Republican political operatives are recruiting “extremely pro-Trump” doctors to go on television to prescribe reviving the U.S. economy as quickly as possible, without waiting to meet safety benchmarks proposed by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. Michael Biesecker and Jason Dearen Associated Press -- 5/20/20

Analysis: Trump flouts the experts, even in own government -- When the nation’s top infectious disease doctor warned it could be risky for schools to open this fall, President Donald Trump said that was unacceptable. When experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention produced a roadmap for how Americans could slowly get back to work and other activities, Trump’s top advisers rejected it. Aamer Madhani and Julie Pace Associated Press -- 5/20/20

Beltway   

Biden pledges to never fire government watchdogs, attacks Trump’s purge of inspectors general -- Joe Biden pledged on Tuesday not to fire any inspectors general if he’s the president, taking a position counter to President Trump, who has ousted four agency watchdogs in recent months. Colby Itkowitz and Matt Viser in the Washington Post$ -- 5/20/20

Republican senators put brakes on additional coronavirus aid -- Republican leaders in the U.S. Congress said on Tuesday they were in no hurry to work on another coronavirus relief package, despite the House of Representatives’ passage last week of a $3 trillion measure. Richard Cowan, Susan Cornwell Reuters -- 5/20/20

 

-- Tuesday Updates   

Bay Area’s two-day break without COVID-19 deaths ends -- The Bay Area’s two-day hiatus from coronavirus-related deaths ended Tuesday with a considerable thud, when San Mateo County health officials added nine more fatalities to the list. Rick Hurd in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/19/20

California is rapidly speeding up the reopening of the economy. Here’s what it means -- Newsom pointed to progress, including a stable hospitalization rate among COVID-19 patients and those treated in intensive care units, as well as increased testing and more protective gear for healthcare workers. California also has faced intense pressure from some counties with relatively few cases to reopen more quickly. Taryn Luna, Phil Willon, Maura Dolan, John Myers in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/19/20

L.A. children are battling a new syndrome linked to coronavirus -- The condition is referred to as both MIS-C (multisystem inflammatory syndrome) and PIMS — pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome. And it has become an alarming part of the coronavirus medical response because it affects children. Colleen Shalby in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/19/20

‘Age is a sloppy proxy’: Older adults push back on idea that staying safe from coronavirus means staying isolated -- As the Bay Area moves to reopen, experts and older adults say age shouldn’t be the only consideration when deciding who leaves home or returns to work. The broad range of “65 years and older” doesn’t differentiate between those who are healthy and fully self-sufficient and the very vulnerable. Moreover, it exacerbates existing tensions between generations: OK Boomer vs. Avocado Toaster. Ryan Kost in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/19/20

Policy & Politics 

California leased 15,000 hotel rooms to help homeless people. Half now sit empty -- Only about half of the 15,000 hotel and motel rooms that California has leased for mostly homeless people to slow the spread of the coronavirus are now occupied, a review of state records by The Times shows. Doug Smith, Benjamin Oreskes in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/19/20

Trump’s tweet on $700 million for BART, Muni, SFO surprises local officials -- Bay Area transportation officials were bewildered Tuesday by President Trump’s announcement in a tweet that the Bay Area will receive more than $700 million in federal funds to support San Francisco International Airport, Muni and BART during the coronavirus pandemic. Michael Cabanatuan in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/19/20

Pandemic widens digital divide — Congress may spend billions to narrow it -- Jessica Ramos’ family had a decision to make after her father lost much of his work when the coronavirus pandemic struck: pay the mortgage on their East Oakland home or pay their internet bill. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/19/20

How Trump’s tax cuts and tariffs will make coronavirus recession worse -- President Trump’s pre-pandemic economic blueprint of massive tax cuts and global trade wars not only failed to deliver the promised spike in growth and domestic investment, it now appears to have left the U.S. more vulnerable to the devastating financial impact of the coronavirus outbreak. Don Lee in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/19/20

Gavin Newsom speeds up plans to close two California prisons, worrying employees -- Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to accelerate his plans to reduce incarceration in California by closing two state prisons in the next few years. Wes Venteicher in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/19/20

Aiming at corruption, SF Supervisor Mar takes another stab at creating an office of public advocate -- San Francisco Supervisor Gordon Mar is introducing a proposal for the November ballot on Tuesday that would carve out a new city office dedicated solely to investigating and rooting out government corruption and the waste of taxpayer money. Dominic Fracassa in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/19/20

Gavin Newsom’s budget gives governor too much power over COVID-19 spending, top Democrat says -- Sen. Holly Mitchell, D-Los Angeles, raised concerns during a Monday budget hearing about nearly $3 billion that Newsom is proposing to spend on COVID-19 response, including on protective equipment like masks, critical medical supplies and hospital surge preparations. Sophia Bollag in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/19/20

Republican Mike Garcia, of Santa Clarita, is sworn in to Congress after special-election win -- Republican Mike Garcia was sworn in to Congress on Tuesday, May 19, after a year-long campaign to win the right to represent northeast Los Angeles County and a sliver of Ventura County. With his wife and two boys looking on inside the House of Representatives, Garcia, 44, the Navy veteran was sworn in by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Ryan Carter in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 5/19/20

Climate 

Coronavirus has altered the global warming trajectory, with emissions dropping 17%. But for how long? -- The disruption caused by the coronavirus has been so profound that it’s altered the trajectory of global warming. Not since World War II — and perhaps never before — have the emissions of heat-trapping gases dropped as much around the planet as they have during the COVID-19 outbreak. Kurtis Alexander in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 5/19/20

Reopen  

Long Beach mulls outdoor dining and recreation on reserved streets -- As coronavirus restrictions keep many indoor areas off-limits, the city of Long Beach is exploring an “open streets initiative” that would repurpose some roads to accommodate recreation and outdoor dining. Luke Money in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/19/20

San Diego salon owners say government money comes with impossible strings -- Her aid money was deposited into her account two weeks ago, triggering an eight-week countdown in which she must spend the cash to satisfy government-set forgiveness requirements. If 75 percent of those funds don’t end up in her workers’ hands in the next six weeks, Barrow will be on the line to repay $75,000 in two years — with interest. Brittany Meiling in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 5/19/20

Mass Masking  

‘You’re just sheeple.’ Sacramento region wrestles with masks and manners as economy reopens -- But in jurisdictions where masks are optional, life is often filled with uncomfortable uncertainty. Business owners must weigh the need for safety against the genuine craving to welcome customers back in their stores. This balancing act becomes particularly precarious in counties that have received Newsom’s blessings to reopen their economies a step further than the rest of the state. Dale Kasler, Jason Anderson, and Ryan Sabalow in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 5/19/20

BART 

Opening day set for long-awaited BART stations in Milpitas, San Jose -- For the first time in BART’s 48-year history, riders will be able to take its trains across the Santa Clara County line beginning next month. Stations in Milpitas and North San Jose will begin service June 13th, officials announced Tuesday. The openings come at long last, following length delays that pushed back the scheduled opening in summer 2018. Evan Webeck in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 5/19/20

Real Estate  

Coronavirus lockdown stifles Southern California home sales. But prices edge up -- Illustrating the chilling effects the coronavirus crisis has had on the housing market, data released Tuesday show Southern California home sales fell 26.6% in April compared with a month earlier, while year-over-year sales were down 31.5%. Neal J. Leitereg in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/19/20

Orange County home sales plummet 34% in SoCal’s slowest April on record -- Orange County homebuying was slashed by one-third in April as the coronavirus battle pushed Southern California purchases to a record low. Jonathan Lansner in the Orange County Register -- 5/19/20

Also . . .   

A wild Hollywood Hills party draws 100 despite coronavirus orders — then a gunshot rings out -- Los Angeles police arrived at a Hollywood Hills home Saturday night after neighbors complained about a raging party taking place despite the coronavirus restrictions on large gatherings. But officials said the officers got more than they bargained for when they entered. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/19/20

Still trying to get a handle on schooling from home? Home-schoolers know a thing or two -- Ten-year-old Eva used to whiz through exercises in school, finishing before most of her friends and sometimes mentoring other students. Faith E. Pinho in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 5/19/20