Updating . .
California sets new records for coronavirus cases and related deaths -- California has again reported its highest number of coronavirus cases in a single day, with 11,554 cases recorded Monday, according to the Los Angeles Times’ tally of reports from the state’s 58 counties. Rong-Gong Lin II, Iris Lee in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/21/20
Orange County now has second-worst coronavirus outbreak in California -- The cumulative COVID-19 case count in Orange County was 29,986 Tuesday, just ahead of Riverside County’s 29,983. Only Los Angeles County is higher, with nearly 160,000 cases. Luke Money in the Los Angeles Times$ Jeong Park in the Orange County Register -- 7/21/20
Two Central Valley hospitals in ‘dire’ COVID-19 situations -- Lodi Memorial Hospital, which sits in the heart of a Central Valley town framed by vineyards, suddenly has found itself front and center in the latest and perhaps most ominous phase of California’s viral epidemic — a sustained surge in coronavirus patients that is pushing some hospitals beyond the limit. Tony Bizjak and Cathie Anderson in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/21/20
If you think the coronavirus pandemic is stressful, try being an emergency room doctor -- Before the coronavirus pandemic struck, Dr. Maria Raven liked to unwind after a long shift in the ER by hanging out with colleagues after work. Emily DeRuy in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 7/21/20
Oakland nurse dies of COVID-19, fellow health care workers call for more protection -- An Oakland nurse who cared for COVID-19 patients died after contracting the disease, her union said, one of more than 100 health care workers across California who have lost their lives to the virus. Mallory Moench in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/21/20
State workers trained as California contact tracers await assignment, even as counties struggle -- Most California state workers trained to be COVID-19 “contact tracers” still haven’t started tracking down people exposed to the coronavirus, even as many counties say they don’t have enough staff to do the work. Sophia Bollag in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/21/20
Former City Councilman Robbie Waters has coronavirus, is fighting for his life -- Robbie Waters, an old soldier of Sacramento, has faced down tough challenges in his life before. But now the 84-year-old former county sheriff, former Sacramento Police detective and the last Republican to serve on the Sacramento City Council, is battling COVID-19. Marcos Bretón in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/21/20
COVID-19 kills 3 at Woodland facilities for people with developmental disabilities -- Yolo County reported an outbreak last Wednesday, noting six residents and four staff members had been infected with the coronavirus in connection with Woodland Residential Services. At the time it reported the outbreak, the virus had killed at least one resident. Alexandra Yoon-Hendricks in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/21/20
Little noticed, Filipino Americans are dying of COVID-19 at an alarming rate -- People with roots in the Philippines account for about one-quarter of the Asian Americans in California, yet data compiled by The Times show that Filipino Americans account for at least 35% of COVID-19 deaths in the state’s Asian population. Tiffany Wong in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/21/20
COVID-19 Death Rates Highest For Latino Californians, Latest Data Show -- From early in the COVID-19 pandemic, leaders in California’s communities of color worried they would lose more lives to the virus than their white neighbors. As the state's death numbers continue to roll in, their concerns are being captured in the data. Sammy Caiola Capital Public Radio -- 7/21/20
Wearing masks could help you avoid major illness even if you get coronavirus, experts say -- As health experts urge the public to wear masks to slow the spread of the coronavirus, they continue to get pushback. Among the arguments of skeptics: If masks can’t fully protect me against COVID-19, what is the point of wearing them? Scientists’ counterargument is that masks can help reduce the severity of the disease caused by coronavirus even if you get infected. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/21/20
African Americans More Likely To Trust Social Media For COVID Information -- African Americans were more likely to trust social media as a source of information for COVID-19-related news than other racial groups surveyed in a recent CapRadio/Valley Vision poll of the greater Sacramento region. Sarah Mizes-Tan Capital Public Radio -- 7/21/20
Policy & Politics
Vandals cover Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf’s home in graffiti, set off fireworks before dawn -- A group of people vandalized Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf’s home early Tuesday morning, spray painting graffiti, splashing red paint on the walls and setting off fireworks that targeted the house before dawn, according to neighbors and a spokesman for the mayor. Brett Simpson in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/21/20
Debate over debates: Will Orange County House candidates square off before November? -- During an election season unlike any other, Orange County’s congressional candidates are debating if and when and how to debate. Brooke Staggs in the Orange County Register -- 7/21/20
Thousands in California to Face Delays If Feds Furlough Immigration Workers -- The stakes are high in California, where hundreds of thousands of immigrants — as well as their American employers and relatives — depend on U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for work permits, green cards, naturalization and other benefits. Farida Jhabvala Romero KQED -- 7/21/20
FBI investigates whether suspect in judge family attack is behind California lawyer’s slaying -- The FBI is investigating whether the slaying of a well-known men’s rights attorney in the mountains of San Bernardino County early this month is connected to the shooting of a federal judge’s son and husband in New Jersey, according to law enforcement sources familiar with the probe. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/21/20
It’s Not Just A Ski Resort. From Tahoe To Carson, Indigenous People Say Sierra Names Misrepresent Them -- A famous ski resort in the Tahoe region is considering changing its name because it derives from a derogatory term for Native American women. But it's just the most recent place in the Sierra that Indigenous people say need altering. Ezra David Romero Capital Public Radio -- 7/21/20
6,818 apply for 80 Irvine apartments with rent as low as $590 -- Want another sign of the hurdles many households face in finding housing that won’t bust their family budgets? An affordable apartment project in Irvine drew 6,818 applications for 80 units. Jonathan Lansner in the Orange County Register -- 7/21/20
Fox: Because of COVID-19, Fewer Laws -- Back in April, I wondered on this page if the pandemic’s effect on the legislature shutting down the capitol during an extended break would result in fewer bills passed and signed into law. Apparently, that will be the case. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds -- 7/21/20
MTS Purged Body Camera Footage Before Man's Attorney Could Access it -- MTS purged the footage of officers citing a homeless man last August before his attorney could access the footage to use in his defense. MTS says it will seek an independent review of its body camera policies. Lisa Halverstadt Voiceofsandiego.org -- 7/21/20
California Policy & Politics This Morning
Trump’s threat to send federal forces to Oakland draws California pushback -- President Trump threatened Monday to send federal law enforcement forces to Oakland, similar to his deployment of Homeland Security agents in camouflage uniforms in Portland — a move that’s been loudly criticized by officials in Oregon and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/21/20
Prosecutors in Orange County snitch scandal were intentionally negligent, DA probe concludes -- Prosecutors at the center of Orange County’s jailhouse informant scandal were intentionally negligent to the point of malpractice when they misused a snitch and failed to disclose evidence in a timely manner, an internal investigation has concluded. Tony Saavedra in the Orange County Register James Queally in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/21/20
Virus
California could overtake New York in coronavirus cases this week -- With coronavirus cases nearing 400,000 on Monday, California appears on track to surpass New York as the state with the most coronavirus infections, a sobering milestone for a region that led the country in aggressive shelter-in-place measures and helped dampen the spread of the virus this spring. Cynthia Dizikes and Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/21/20
San Quentin coronavirus outbreak apparently result of missed steps by prison overseer -- The deadly outbreak of COVID-19 at San Quentin State Prison resulted from a mass transfer of inmates from a virus-plagued prison in Southern California, a transfer approved by J. Clark Kelso, the court-appointed receiver in charge of health care in the state’s penal institutions. A legislator whose district includes San Quentin says Kelso should be fired from the job he has held since 2008. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/21/20
L.A. County reports record number of coronavirus hospitalizations -- Los Angeles County officials have announced another record-breaking day among patients hospitalized for the coronavirus. Colleen Shalby in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/21/20
San Bernardino County hits record for ICU patients hospitalized for COVID-19 symptoms -- San Bernardino County reached a new record for coronavirus patients in intensive care units Monday and positive cases surpassed 24,000 over the weekend, according to the California Department of Public Health. Kailyn Brown in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/21/20
Orange County overtakes Riverside County for second-largest number of coronavirus cases recorded in California -- Confirmed cases of the coronavirus are rising steadily in Orange County, as it overtook Riverside County to be the county with the second-largest number of cases in California, according to local health department updates. Jeong Park in the Orange County Register -- 7/21/20
Fresno County hospitals ‘fragile’ as doctors see shortage of drugs, beds amid COVID-19 -- Hospitals in Fresno County are struggling with their capacity as doctors worry about the shortage of drugs that have been effective in treating the coronavirus, health officials said Monday. Thaddeus Miller in the Fresno Bee -- 7/21/20
Bay Area goes first day in a month without a death from COVID-19, but it’s not all good news -- The Bay Area went its first day in a month without reporting a death from COVID-19 on Sunday, but the seven-day average of deaths per day was still at its highest level since early May and statewide, only down slightly from a peak last week, according to data compiled by this news organization. Evan Webeck in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 7/21/20
L.A. skyscraper U.S. Bank Tower to be sold as pandemic drives down office leasing -- Downtown Los Angeles skyscraper U.S. Bank Tower will be sold at a discount to the developer of One World Trade Center in New York as the pandemic drives down office leasing across the country and raises questions about the future appeal of high-rise office buildings. Roger Vincent in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/21/20
Sacramentans Want to Continue Working at Home After COVID, Poll Finds -- When California issued its stay-at-home orders in March, Laurie Rodriguez got really busy. She’s in human resources at Sacramento Municipal Utilities District, or SMUD, and she helped set up hundreds of employees to work from their homes. Pauline Bartolone Capital Public Radio -- 7/21/20
Enforcing Bay Area health orders: Thousands of complaints, many warnings, few citations -- In the first weeks of the Bay Area’s coronavirus shutdown, callers flooded Santa Clara County’s hotline for reporting rule-breakers, with most complaints focused on businesses flouting the health order and staying open. Catherine Ho and Aidin Vaziri in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/21/20
San Mateo County suspends jury trials — employee tested positive for COVID-19 -- As San Francisco started its first jury trial in four months Monday, a warning bell rang in nearby San Mateo County, which suspended jury trials for 30 days after an employee tested positive for COVID-19 during jury selection. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/21/20
Virus and Jobs
United Airlines eyes mammoth Bay Area job cuts -- United Airlines has issued a formal notice to state officials that the reeling air carrier intends to chop more than 6,000 jobs at San Francisco International Airport through temporary furloughs, dealing a fresh blow to a Bay Area region attempting to battle the economic effects of the coronavirus. George Avalos in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 7/21/20
Reopen
Ventura County bars can reopen outdoors if they serve food, officials say -- Bars, breweries and other businesses licensed to sell alcoholic beverages were given the green light Friday to reopen some outdoor services in Ventura County. Kailyn Brown in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/21/20
Need a trim? Newsom allows haircuts, salon services to resume outdoors amid coronavirus -- The announcement provides relief to salons that closed in March under the stay-at-home order, were allowed to reopen in May and then closed again on July 13 when the governor shut down indoor businesses in counties on the state’s monitoring list. Taryn Luna in the Los Angeles Times$ Maggie Angst in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 7/21/20
Schools
When will Bay Area schools reopen for in-person instruction? Here are the criteria California counties must meet -- In the Bay Area, all counties except San Mateo are on the state’s coronavirus watch list, which means most school districts won’t be allowed to reopen campuses for in-person instruction. Here’s what we know about how schools will be allowed to reopen in the fall. Kellie Hwang in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/21/20
LAUSD expanding community-centered education model districtwide -- The Los Angeles Unified School District announced Monday, July 20, that it’s continuing an effort to put local leaders at the heart of education in each of the 40 communities which it serves. David Rosenfeld in the Los Angeles Daily News$ -- 7/21/20
Street
LA police release video showing uses of force during protest -- Los Angeles police body camera video released Sunday shows a man hitting an officer in the face in what authorities say prompted his arrest at the site where he was knocked to the ground and out of his wheelchair amid a struggle. Associated Press -- 7/21/20
Public defender keeps pressure on authorities for strong response to SJPD racism scandal -- To keep pressure on authorities to respond decisively to a racism scandal born from a series of officers’ Facebook posts, Santa Clara County’s public defender has called on the San Jose Police Department and elected leaders to institute dramatic changes to police oversight and dampen the impact of any prejudices of officers in the field. Robert Salonga in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 7/21/20
Pressure mounts on how police handle mental-health crises -- Calls to ‘defund’ police gain traction, as protesters — and public officials — contend that money would be better spent if clinicians, social workers responded to mental-health 911 calls. Police say many such programs already exist, and that they need more staff and funding. Sigrid Bathen Capitol Weekly -- 7/21/20
Policy & Politics
Trump threatens to send federal police to Oakland, mayor derides ‘racist dog whistle’ -- President Trump threatened Monday to send federal law enforcement into Oakland, but the latest in his long feud with Democratic-run cities and their leaders amounted to a “racist campaign tactic,” the city’s mayor said in a sharp response. Wes Goldberg in the San Jose Mercury$ -- 7/21/20
California church defying shutdown order got PPP loan of at least $350,000 in April -- Hundreds showed up to Destiny Christian Church in Rocklin for indoor and outdoor services Sunday, many of them cheering as Pastor Greg Fairrington preached passionately on the subject of government restricting churches’ rights. Michael McGough and Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/21/20
California sues to protect Obamacare protections for LGBTQ residents -- California joined a lawsuit with 22 other states against the Trump administration on Monday seeking to protect anti-discrimination language in the Affordable Care Act that the White House last month moved to eliminate. Matt Kristoffersen in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/21/20
Another California pension fund falls short of investment target after coronavirus downturn -- California’s pension fund for teachers missed its investment target for the last fiscal year, reflecting a global market downturn brought on by the coronavirus outbreak. MacKenzie Hawkins in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/21/20
San Diego’s Smart Streetlights have stopped collecting data, but the overhead cameras are still rolling -- San Diego’s Smart Streetlights have stopped collecting data, at least for now. But the cameras attached to the streetlights are still rolling, and police still have some access to what those cameras capture. Teri Figueroa in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ Jesse Marx Voiceofsandiego.org -- 7/21/20
A bill to block agencies from extending the 241 Toll Road is stalled in state Assembly -- The coronavirus pandemic is holding up discussions on a bill that would block at the state level agencies from considering the extension of the 241 Toll Road south of Oso Parkway in Mission Viejo. Jeong Park in the Orange County Register -- 7/21/20
Workplace
Health care workers begin 5-day strike at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital -- Hundreds of health care workers began a planned five-day strike Monday at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital to protest what union officials said were an inadequate supply of protective gear, benefit cuts and “unsafe staffing levels.” Anna Kramer in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/21/20
New Normal
How the unemployment crisis has hit the Bay Area’s houses of worship -- The fates of the two congregations reflect a sobering reality in the Bay Area: Much as the pandemic has worsened societal inequalities, it is also widening the divide among religious institutions. Small mosques, synagogues and churches like Dews’ are struggling, while larger and wealthier houses of worship are bringing in more money from well-off donors than ever before. Anna Kramer in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/21/20
Education
California districts can seek waiver for elementary schools from ban on in-school instruction -- Gov. Gavin Newsom didn’t mention it in his hour-long press conference on Friday, but new state guidelines banning in-school instruction in counties on a monitoring list for coronavirus infections includes a waiver provision that could exempt elementary schools. John Fensterwald EdSource -- 7/21/20
New State Report Says a CSU Campus In Stockton Isn’t Feasible -- A new state report gives a thumbs down to the feasibility of a CSU campus in Stockton. The report looked at five possible sites in California but found future enrollment didn’t justify building a new campus. Rich Ibarra Capital Public Radio -- 7/21/20
CSU board to consider ethnic studies requirement, but opposition looms -- The California State University Board of Trustees will vote tomorrow on a proposal that would require students to complete at least one course in “Ethnic Studies and Social Justice,” but the measure has been criticized by some as watered down, setting up an unprecedented showdown with the state Legislature. The item is in the Orange County Register -- 7/21/20
California colleges, fearing enrollment loss this fall, are trying hard to bond with students this summer -- CSU Dominguez Hills is taking an unusual step to bond its new students — and their wardrobes — to the university campus even though orientation and most fall classes will be online. Larry Gordon EdSource -- 7/21/20
Also . . .
For Wealthy West Coasters, Working Remotely Means Home Can Be Anywhere -- Buyers are looking for second homes where they can comfortably camp out for months, and in some cases, forever. They are not just driven by fear of an extended pandemic. As many firms—especially tech companies—embrace remote working, people are taking the opportunity to untether from astronomically priced cities and get more space, scenery, and quiet. Sara Clemence in the Wall Street Journal$ -- 7/21/20
SEC: Mountain View startup founder defrauded investors of millions -- Shaukat Shamim fraudulently raised around $11 million in investor cash to fund his company, YouPlus, Inc., according to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charges filed Monday in San Jose federal court. Chase DiFeliciantonio in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/21/20
Donald Shannon, Times correspondent who covered JFK and the Cold War, dies of COVID-19 -- Donald H. Shannon, whose 38-year career as a Washington and foreign correspondent for The Times included John F. Kennedy’s 1960 presidential campaign and the end of the Cold War in 1989, died July 17 of COVID-19. He was 97. Doyle McManus in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/21/20
Beltway
Joe Biden says four African American women are under consideration as his running mate -- Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden suggested Monday that four African American women are under consideration to be his running mate, but he stopped short of pledging to pick one of them. Sean Sullivan in the Washington Post$ -- 7/21/20
'We can't pull it off': Florida sheriff says he can't muster security for GOP convention -- The sheriff of Jacksonville, Fla., said he can’t provide security for the Republican National Convention because of a lack of clear plans, adequate funding and enough law enforcement officers. Marc Caputo Politico -- 7/21/20
-- Monday Updates
Gov. Newsom responds to Trump's threat to send federal officers to Oakland -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom responded Monday to President Donald Trump's threat to send "federal law enforcement" to Oakland and several other cities to clamp down on protests. “The answer is no, and we would reject it," Newsom said at a noon press briefing. Amy Graff in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 7/20/20
Californians can get their hair done outdoors under new health order -- Californians will be allowed to get their hair cut and their nails done outdoors, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday, a week after he ordered personal care services shuttered again in most of the state amid a surge in coronavirus cases. Alexei Koseff in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 7/20/20
Coronavirus spikes in California hot spot counties drive up cases --Among a troubling spike in the number of coronavirus cases across California, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a bit of positive news on Monday: The rate of positive infections over the past 14 days has held steady, while the seven-day average has dipped slightly. Colleen Shalby in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/20/20
Newsom denies he jumped through Trump hoops to secure coronavirus aid -- Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday flatly denied a weekend report that the White House had conditioned coronavirus aid on asking President Donald Trump directly for help and thanking him. "Not true," Newsom said when asked, adding that "no one told me that. No one asked me that." Jeremy B. White Politico -- 7/20/20
Mayor Signs Exec Order Allowing Gyms, Churches, Salons To Expand Outdoors -- San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer signed an executive order Monday to allow local gyms, churches and salons to expand their businesses outdoors into private parking lots. Faulconer said gyms and places of worship can operate outside "effective immediately," while state regulations still need to be amended to allow barbershops and salons to take their businesses outside, though both are covered under Faulconer's executive order. KPBS -- 7/20/20
Younger L.A. County residents are increasingly catching COVID-19 -- The surge of the coronavirus in Los Angeles County continues to be fueled by younger people, with the majority of those infected younger than 41. Officials said Sunday that 53% of the 2,848 new cases reported for the day occurred among that group. Overall, 52% of cases to date in the county have been people under 41. Alex Wigglesworth, Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/20/20
As COVID-19 spreads, potentially deadly fungus infects L.A. County healthcare facility -- The shortage of medical equipment, including gowns and gloves, triggered by the coronavirus outbreak may be helping to spread dangerous germs within healthcare facilities, according to officials who warned of a potentially deadly fungus in a Los Angeles County healthcare facility. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/20/20
California hospitalizations at all-time high, 11,000 infected in Sacramento region -- As of Monday morning, the virus has infected at least 11,00 residents in the six-county Sacramento area, and killed 147. The majority of the cases and fatalities have occurred in Sacramento County, where local health officials are increasingly worried by testing shortages and dwindling resources at hospitals — only about 14.5 percent of intensive care beds are available in the county, according to state health department data. Alexandra Yoon-Hendricks in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/20/20
How COVID is deepening California’s income inequality in 5 charts -- The pandemic has left millions of Californians without jobs, food or money for next month’s rent. Meanwhile, the state’s many billionaires got richer. Jackie Botts CalMatters -- 7/20/20
After recovery, COVID patients sometimes face stigma from disease -- Don Udan spent almost three weeks on a ventilator while hospitalized with COVID-19, but he has been slowly returning to his normal life since being discharged April 21. Every so often, though, he has a wake-up call that life may be different for a while. Gary Warth in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 7/20/20
Coronavirus: The Bay Area seniors who are left behind by a telehealth tech divide -- Doctors are increasingly using telehealth as the safest, most effective means of caregiving. It’s a luxury that low-income seniors who don’t have internet, a computer, or digital skills simply can’t access. Laurence Du Sault CalMatters -- 7/20/20
Street
Latinos hope George Floyd protests brings focus on police violence in their community -- You don’t know these names, but Alejandra Merriman does. She wrote them on a piece of poster board and held it as she marched to demand justice: Frank Mendoza. Anthony Pacheco. Martin Escobar. Brittny Mejia in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/20/20
Policy & Politics
California could reinstate affirmative action. Here’s what that means for hiring -- California unions that represent public employees — including AFSCME, SEIU and the California Teachers Association — have endorsed the initiative to restore affirmative action. Their leaders say affirmative action polices could help agencies provide paths to employment and higher-paying jobs for people who otherwise could be overlooked. Matt Kristoffersen and Adam Ashton in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/20/20
Scales of justice can be tipped by spending on prosecutions, public defenders -- It’s an undeniable maxim of American criminal justice: the government almost always wins. When campaign season rolls around, district attorneys invariably point to conviction rates north of 90 percent. In San Diego County, where District Attorney Summer Stephan next faces voters in 2022, the prosecutor’s office boasts of convicting almost 19 of every 20 defendants. Jeff McDonald in the San Diego Union-Tribune$ -- 7/20/20
UC Berkeley has a poor reputation among Black students. It’s trying to change that -- Two years ago, UC Berkeley seemed like a dream campus for Ahmad Mahmuod. The San Diego-born son of Somali refugees, the first in his family of nine to attend a four-year university, could hardly believe he’d earned admission to the world-famous campus, known for its top academic rankings and history of progressive activism. Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/20/20
CA120: Say hello to the ‘Lucky Eight’ -- The 2021 redistricting has begun in earnest with the seating of the first eight members of the California Citizens Commission, the so-called “Lucky Eight” because they were seated after a random draw of ping-pong balls. In the quarantine era, this drawinbg, carried live, likely qualified as riveting entertainment. Paul Mitchell Capitol Weekly -- 7/20/20
Cannabis
California weighs steep new fines to combat illegal cannabis sellers -- Alarmed that unlicensed cannabis sellers continue to dominate California’s pot market, state lawmakers are moving toward imposing steep new fines on businesses that provide building space, advertising platforms and other aid to illicit operations. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times$ -- 7/20/20
Business Risks
No grand opening: Why the pandemic has been extra hard on Sacramento’s new restaurants -- More than 20 restaurants have opened in Sacramento and Placer counties in the last three months, trying to carve out a place in their respective neighborhoods while handcuffed by social distancing requirements and fears of virus transmission. Benjy Egel in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/20/20
Homeless
Out in the open, Sacramento’s homeless face a hidden public health crisis -- Finding a toilet became more difficult for Sacramento’s homeless population during the coronavirus pandemic, as gas stations and fast food joints closed their restrooms and public facilities periodically shuttered in an effort to rein in the outbreak. The pandemic compounded existing issues for Sacramento’s homeless population, which has long struggled to access toilets and sinks. Jasmine Kerber in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 7/20/20
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