Does California have a “legacy of unequal treatment” of minorities and women? That’s language from Assembly Constitutional Amendment 5 (ACA-5) introduced by Assemblymember Dr. Shirley Weber (D-San Diego) and Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson). Members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) want their colleagues in the legislature to consider that question and examine whether affirmative action is the right response for redressing that history of inequality. 

The Opportunity for All Coalition is a group that has formed in support of ACA-5, which would repeal Proposition 209. 

In 1996 voters passed the controversial amendment to the state constitution. It banned discrimination or preferential treatment based on race or gender in public education, employment, and contracting. 

“It’s been 24 years — 24 long years — since Prop. 209 was promoted as a civil rights initiative,” said Weber. 

On May 1, the Opportunity for All Coalition held a virtual seminar. More than 100 people logged on to take part in a discussion about the ethnic disparities of the COVID-19 crisis. Coalition member and the Chair of the California State Board of Equalization, Malia Cohen, said data revealing that communities of color are disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus crisis highlights inequities in society and the need for affirmative action. A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report confirmed that death rates for African Americans and Latinos “were substantially higher than that of white” people. 

Coalition member Vincent Pan is the Co-Executive Director of Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA). During the discussion he referenced recently-released California Department of Public Health (CDPH) data that showed Pacific Islanders and Native Hawaiians are also dying at a higher rate than their representation in the population. CDPH numbers show, as of April 30, 2,073 people have died in California from COVID-19. 

Coalition members said Proposition 209 exacerbated disparities. While people from communities of color are more likely to be hospitalized for the virus, they’re 

less likely to have healthcare coverage and more likely to work essential service jobs. ACA-5 supporters also said this population is less likely to have access to public job opportunities, and women and small business owners who are Black or from other minority groups are less likely to earn government contracts. “Proposition 209 cost women- and minority-owned businesses $1.1 billion each year,” Weber said in a written statement. 

Prop. 209’s impact on admission at California’s most competitive public universities has remained a flashpoint in public debate about the policy. Ethnic minority groups have mobilized on both sides “… with the intent to divide the various ethnic communities to fight over the scraps at the University of California,” said Weber at the March 10 press conference announcing ACA-5. 

The movement against reestablishing affirmative action in the state is also virtual. “No On ACA-5″ is the name of a Change.org petition being circulated by a Silicon Valley-based Asian American group that campaigned to block past repeal efforts in 2014. As of May 2, more than 22,000 people have signed the petition. One supporter wrote that “race-based” policies are “unconstitutional” and are not fair to Asians. The Asian American Coalition for Education (AACE) used similar language in a press release encouraging Californians to join the fight. The national organization known for accusing Harvard University of discriminating against Asians wrote: “ACA-5 will surely result in racial discrimination against Asian Americans in California.” 

Groups opposed to ACA-5 argue that race-conscious policies favoring other groups take opportunities away from qualified Asian American students. In a written statement, the Opportunity for All Coalition said the state’s ban on affirmative action hurts everyone, citing a decrease in college-educated workers and lost wages. 

“We can’t have shared success without shared opportunities to get ahead,” The Opportunity for All statement read. “We refuse to let the rich and powerful use race and lies to divide us when so much is at stake. We’re not going to rebuild a stronger California unless we come together to end discrimination and ensure real equal opportunity for all.” 

The number of Asian students enrolled in the University of California (UC) system increased in the absence of affirmative action. While post Prop 209, Black, Latino, and Native American enrollment at UCLA and UC Berkeley dropped by 60 percent. The same UC Institutional Research and Academic Planning report found an overall decline in diversity. 

Race-neutral programs targeting students from disadvantaged communities have helped to increase enrollment for some minority groups. The number of Latino students also increased as the population grew statewide. Still, African American enrollment at the UCs hasn’t rebounded. In the fall of 2019, Black students made up 3.8% of the student body systemwide. Asian students made up 36% while accounting for about 15% of the state population. 

UC research also finds a denial letter can derail a student’s life trajectory. Applicants shut out of UCs are less likely to earn a degree or high wages. This might help to explain some of the emotion driving the dispute that has gone before the nation’s highest court. The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the use of affirmative action in college admissions only to achieve diversity. The Court also ruled that race cannot be the deciding factor in admission. California is one of eight states that has barred affirmative action altogether. 

Opponents of the ban argue affirmative action is not preferential treatment. Instead, they say, it removes barriers. Supporters of ACA-5 say, in the absence of affirmative action, historically excluded groups are denied opportunities for upward mobility. They argue public organizations should reflect the communities they serve — and point to data that shows that diverse environments foster understanding and respect for others. 

Though less often discussed, Prop. 209 has impacted public contracts and hiring for nearly a quarter of a century. “This law served as an impediment to state contracting, hiring and legislative policies addressing economic and social disparities experienced by women and people of color,” said Weber. One example is the state’s efforts to increase the number of Black and Latino teachers to address the achievement gap between Black and Latino students and their white and Asian peers. 

In a statement appealing to Asian American business owners, CAA wrote, “repealing Proposition 209 would unlock billions of dollars in economic opportunities for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) small business owners. In cities where affirmative action is legal, like Chicago or Atlanta, AAPI-owned businesses earn much more in public contracts than in San Francisco or Los Angeles.” 

In addition to virtual meetings, the Opportunity for All Coalition is encouraging supporters to tweet Assemblymembers Ken Cooley (D-Rancho Cordova), Freddie Rodriguez (D-Pomona) and Patrick O’Donnell (D-Long Beach) to encourage the Democratic lawmakers to vote for ACA-5. It would take a two-thirds majority vote to repeal Proposition 209. 

Opponents are working to stop the bill in its tracks. The campaign against affirmative action includes drumming up support mostly online and encouraging people to contact their state representatives. 

Organizers on both sides say they’re fighting for equality. ACA-5 is set to be discussed Tuesday May 5 in committee when the state Assembly reopens for sessions this week. If the constitution amendment passes and meets all requirements by June 25, voters could once again have a chance to weigh in on a ballot measure in November that decides whether affirmative action is the right answer for California.

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Due to the statewide stay-at-home order and guidance on physical distancing, seating for this hearing will be very limited for press and for the public.  All are encouraged to watch the hearing from its live stream on the Assembly’s website at 10:00 a.m. https://www.assembly.ca.gov/todaysevents.

Census Day 2020 came April 1. The global coronavirus pandemic was worsening. It had already forced social and economic shutdowns across America.

Since then, all the major African-American community-based organizations, political leaders and other advocates in California — concerned that there may be an undercount of Black Californians during the 2020 census count — have found themselves grappling.

Under a statewide shelter in place order, those groups have been working overtime, rejiggering outreach strategies from a boots-on-the-ground game to expanding online get-the-word-out campaigns — most of their social media content identifiable by the hashtag #MakeBlackCount.

Their goal, leaders say, is to ensure every Black household in California accurately completes its 2020 Census form.

Their hard work is paying off.

So far, California has a 53.8% response rate, which is higher than the national response rate of 52.4%. The state is on good footing at this point, considering that this is still the first phase of the national count, and census workers have not yet even begun to conduct in-person, door-to-door data collection campaigns. About 47.8% of participants in the state have responded online, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

“Up and down the state, most of the groups we’ve reached out to told us that they have had to step back and reimagine how they can best get their message to those African-American families and individuals who live in our hardest-to-count communities,” said Regina Wilson, Executive Director of California Black Media and a member of the California Complete Count committee.

“It is not business as usual,” Wilson continued.  “To be successful during this crisis, they have had to switch up their plans in real time. Its remarkable, but to achieve a full count of Blacks in the state, we have to keep that momentum up.”

During Census Week, responses jumped 9.1 percentage points — an estimated 1.36 million households self-responded to the Census form, the California Census 2020 Campaign announced April 9.

“We understand there is still more work to be done to make sure all Californians, especially those who are hard to count, fill out their questionnaire. We are proud of the work our partners are doing to push these self-response rates,” said Ditas Katague, Director of the California Complete Count – Census 2020 Office. “We’d like to remind everyone that filling out the Census form will help bring needed representation and resources to California’s diverse communities.”

The state’s success to date stems from the California Census Campaign’s work with more than 120 partners including local governments, tribal governments, K-12 schools, county offices of education, community-based organizations, state agencies and departments, faith-based organizations, labor unions, small businesses, ethnic and mainstream media outlets, and others.

COVID-19 prompted the Census Bureau to prioritize an online count; and caused the California governor to issue a statewide stay-at-home order for everyone except essential workers — or people going out to pick up medicines, shop for groceries or fill up their cars with gas.  Having to adhere to a 6-foot physical distancing mandate between people, per Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, has also influenced how census informational campaigns are being executed.

But advocates say they are now more determined than ever to work for a complete count.

Many rely on social media and web-conferencing events and they emphasize that the confidential, simple 9-question Census questionnaire can be completed quickly online at my2020census.gov, and by phone in English and other languages at 844-330-2020. 

The U.S. Census Bureau has been sending paper forms to households that haven’t responded to the Census.

“Just think about Head Start and Meals on Wheels, and after-school programs.  That’s all dependent on getting everybody counted,” said Cassandra Jennings, president and CEO of the Greater Sacramento Urban League. She held a Celebrate Census Day Facebook live stream with Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg on April 1.

The Census Day celebration in Sacramento is just one example of many others that happened in regions of the state with the highest African-American populations, including the Los Angeles area, the Inland Empire, the Bay Area, the San Joaquin Valley, the Central Coast and greater San Diego.

Jennings’ virtual event featured an interactive social media challenge. Participants tweeted about completing census forms on Instagram or Facebook, then tagged 10 of their friends.  “Let’s challenge each other to complete the census, not tomorrow, not the next day, but on Census day April 1,” Jennings invited people online to participate.

Earlier this month, California Black Media (CBM) released “Counting Black California – Counting the Hard to Count.” The Sacramento-based organization updated its comprehensive report identifying areas in the state where African Americans are least likely to be counted by the 2020 Census. The study includes an easy-to-use, online interactive map scalable down to the street level with those hard-to-count tracts highlighted.

Although the coronavirus crisis has forced community-based organizations doing census outreach work to adjust, they are coping, said California community leaders and advocates across the state like Janette Robinson Flint, founder and executive director of Black Women for Wellness (BWW) in Los Angeles.

Its civic engagement program hired workers before the March 3 general primary elections. They went door-to-door and set up tables at grocery stores and public spaces to educate canvassers about including census awareness in their get-out-the-vote campaigns.

“My fear is that it’s going to be a serious undercount as a result of the coronavirus. At a community level, we just simply can’t afford to be undercounted,” she said.

Robinson Flint said the key is for organizations to be nimble enough to switch up their ground games in communities to reach people online and by other means.

Her organization is now relying on texting and social media and, in the process, studying the technological capacity of their community.

Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA), a statewide social and political action organization — comprised of African-American elected and appointed officials; community leaders; activists; artists; scholars, and more — also pivoted its outreach strategy. The group recently released a video online featuring Black women across the state encouraging the community to respond and sharing how the Census directly benefits them.

Robinson-Flint says adjusting to a digital strategy has its challenges too, like unpredicted costs.

“A lot of people have smartphones, but if you ask them to text a thousand people, then that’s difficult for them in terms of how much it would cost,” Robinson Flint said.

Because of the COVID-19 crisis, the U.S. Census Bureau has adjusted its enumeration timeline. Field activities, which were scheduled to begin March 1, will not start until June 1. The bureau also warned that those dates and the processes associated with them might change, too.

“In-person activities, including enumeration, office work, and processing activities, will incorporate the most current guidance from authorities to ensure the health and safety of staff and the public” the bureau announced on its website.

Track response rates of every state here.    

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County (CAPSBC) held a “Feeding Our Community” drive-thru food distribution on April 22, 2020 at San Bernardino Valley College. This community distribution event was supported by San Bernardino Valley College and Edison International. Over 2,100 families received food boxes containing essential food items that included protein, fruits, vegetables, grains, and pasta. This is one of many events geared towards the agency’s goal of meeting the increased demand for food assistance from individuals and families who have been directly impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic.

“We are the largest provider of emergency food in San Bernardino County. Amid this pandemic, we have ramped up our Food Bank operations quickly because that is where we have seen the highest increase in demand for services. COVID-19 has affected every person throughout San Bernardino County, and traditionally stable households that have not previously experienced food insecurity are seeking help for the first time,” said Patricia Nickols-Butler, CAPSBC President and CEO. “Overall, we have seen an increase in over 10,000 additional households needing food assistance; most of them are individuals and families who have never needed our services before.”

CAPSBC has received a generous $100,000 donation from Edison International to help support the Food Bank’s efforts to continue providing vital food resources to those who have been impacted by the health crisis. “We’re so grateful for the strong relationship we have established with Edison International and for their generous contribution to our agency. Because of their generosity we can quickly and efficiently expand our services to include food delivery to vulnerable populations, mobile drive-thru events, and the inclusion of new distribution partners to stem any disruptions and respond to the surging food insecurity,” said Nickols-Butler.

“The large scale food distribution event we conducted was a tremendous success due to the generosity and outpouring of support we have received from organizations and volunteers who want to join us at the forefront and help us make a difference in the communities we serve,” said Patricia Nickols-Butler. “We’re indebted to San Bernardino Valley College and our volunteer force for their selfless acts of kindness. We thank you; our communities thank you!” concluded Nickols-Butler.

Please call 909-723-1500 or e-mail info@capsbc.org or visit our website www.capsbc.org for more information.

YUCAIPA, CA—-Amid campus closures and stay-at-home orders caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Crafton Hills Fire Academy has continued to meet and train students who will join the front lines with other first responders fighting fires and saving lives. Against all odds, 29 cadets will complete their Fire Academy training in mid-May.

Despite these overwhelming circumstances and challenges to instruction, Crafton Hills College is the only college Fire Academy in California that continued their 16-week training program while also adhering to and maintaining the strictest of social-distancing guidelines. All 29 students have earned their firefighter 1 certificates.

“It is truly exceptional how our college president, Dr. Kevin Horan, our Trustees, our administration, and our faculty have stepped up to keep our program going,” said Michael Alder, Chief, Crafton Hills College Fire Academy. “In the face of many uncertainties, everyone was adamant that we should keep going, meet the needs of our firefighting workforce and complete training for these students in advance of the 2020 fire season.”

Crafton Hills faculty adjusted for COVID-19 safety requirements by limiting groups of students, adjusting instructional methods, and increasing cleaning of equipment and surfaces between each training exercise. Students were split into three groups for instruction. Each group met in their own classroom and maintained 6 feet social distancing while instructors used live stream and Zoom technology to share classroom information with students before going out into the field. Adler also added, “the cadets and instructors perform temperature checks twice a day and will continue to do so throughout the remainder of the academy.”

“We also had a friend of one student who heard that we needed masks,” Adler said. “She volunteered and made masks for all students, faculty and staff in our program so that we could continue to meet safely and protect everyone as requested under COVID-19 guidelines.”

Because firefighting is a physically demanding profession, strength and physical stamina are required. Maintaining these rigorous training requirements for the program were also challenging during the pandemic.

“Our students must meet certain physical requirements before they are accepted to the Academy,” Chief Adler said. “This program has a kinesiology and physical training component that requires our students to meet each morning for a series of conditioning workouts to prepare them for the day-to-day tasks of a professional firefighter.”

Fire Academy instructors were able to continue this regimen with our students by monitoring them through the Strava activity tracker app. “Our instructors even took the physical activity component of our training into consideration and hosted Zoom or Facetime workouts, Strava activity check-in’s, etc. to make sure that students were staying in shape despite our stay-at-home order.”

Applicants for municipal firefighting jobs generally must pass a written exam; physical test of strength, physical stamina, and agility; and a medical examination that includes drug screening and a psychological test; a lie detector test and an oral interview. Those who receive the highest scores in all phases of testing have the best chances for employment. The completion of community college courses and a degree in fire technology, and the completion of a community college Fire Academy Program may significantly improve an applicant’s chances for appointment.

“Not only are the physical requirements of these cadets demanding, but their coursework is also very challenging,” Alder added. “All students must pass a series of competency exams in three main categories- firefighter skills, hazardous materials, and wildland. These exams alone are stressful, but adding the pandemic component drives the stress level even higher.”

The fire service has been experiencing higher than normal employee turnover due to the Baby-Boomers that are exiting the workforce for retirement. This has left a large workforce void that needs to be filled. The Crafton Hills College Fire Academy and Fire Technology Program are fully prepared and committed to continuing to meet that demand and professionally educate and train these future firefighters.

“I shared with our cadets that they would be in a unique position upon completion of the program,” said Alder. “The job outlook is very favorable, and they will not be competing with other applicants as they normally would at this time of year. I shared this statistic with the students, and I believe it was a pivotal moment that motivated them to keep going, work hard and complete the program in the face of these circumstances.”

In California between 2014 and 2024 it is expected that approximately 1,200 new Firefighters will be hired annually, with 100 of those each year in the San Bernardino and Riverside area. Employment of Fire Fighters is expected to increase slightly faster than the average for all occupations. Labor Market Source: State of California Employment Development Dept.

“These students have persevered and earned their firefighter 1 certificates despite even more intense circumstances than most of our cadets,” said Alder. “It truly is extraordinary how our administration, faculty, staff and students have worked together to be successful during these challenging times. I am so proud of how everyone pulled together. These cadets will graduate with honor and they have exhibited the can-do, persevering attitude and character that all amazing firefighters show.”

For more information about Crafton Hills’ Fire Academy, contact Michael Alder, Chief, malder@craftonhills.edu or 909-389-3408. For more information about Crafton Hills College, visit CraftonHillsCollege.edu.

WASHINGTON—-  The Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC) issued frequently asked questions (FAQ Watch) for healthcare providers related to COVID-19. The novel coronavirus outbreak has caused significant disruption to global health, especially for vulnerable populations in the U.S. The ABC created FAQ Watch to provide a succinct update on the science and clinical challenges posed by the disease and potential cardiac implications. FAQ Watch will be updated as needed or at least weekly by its editors Kevin M. Alexander, MD (Chair), Michelle A. Albert, MD, MPH (ABC President), Peter Chin-Hong, MD, MPH, and Norrisa Haynes, MD, MPH.

In addition to informing health care providers about the science and clinical aspects of the coronavirus infection, the ABC is undertaking efforts to raise awareness in diverse populations.  The organization is particularly concerned about the pandemic’s effect on the African-American diaspora and other underserved groups. 

“ABC has been at the forefront of addressing cardiovascular disparities in our communities,” said Elizabeth Ofili, MD, MPH, ABC Board Chair. “The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed severe inequities in access to healthcare and preventive services. As a nation, we have an unprecedented opportunity to address these issues, by working with affected communities, and the healthcare providers who serve them.”

FAQ Watch covers the clinical stages of COVID-19, associated cardiovascular complications and treatments currently advised for COVID-19 management. Recommended changes in practice for interventional cardiologists and catheterization laboratories as well as new guidance for transthoracic echo and transesophageal echo procedures have also been incorporated. FAQ Watch answers other critical questions, including how communities of color can diminish the spread of COVID-19 and decrease their risk of fatal outcomes.

ABC is inspired by how different communities are pulling together at individual, leadership, medical, scientific and public health levels to mitigate the impact of this pandemic. This downloadable FAQ is a new component of earlier actions ABC initiated in response to the virus:   

• ABC President Dr. Michelle Albert introduces ABC COVID-19 Information & Resource Hub and highlights the Council on Black Health’s brief, “What Coronavirus Means for Black Communities.”
• ABC and OtherHealth Care Groups Issue Urgent Call for Federal Action to Address Medical Equipment Shortages
• ABC hosts a webinar, “At the Heart of the Matter: Unmasking the Invisibility of COVID-19 in Diverse Populations.”Now available for viewing.
• ABC President Dr. Michelle Albert joins KDKA Radio host Lynne Hayes-Freeland to discuss COVID-19, health care disparities and African Americans. Listen to Interview

About ABC
Founded in 1974, the ABC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating the disparities related to cardiovascular disease and achieving health equity such that all people can live long, healthy lives. Membership is open to all interested in the care of people with or at risk for cardiovascular disease, including health professionals, lay members of the community (Community Health Advocates), corporate and institutional members. For more information, visit www.abcardio.org and connect with ABC on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

SOURCE: Association of Black Cardiologists

CNBC—- Another 4.3 million workers are expected to have filed state unemployment claims last week, bringing the total number seeking benefits to over 26 million since states started shutting down in the second half of March to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

The number of jobs lost rose to 22.025 million over the prior four weeks, erasing nearly all of the 22.442 million jobs recovered since the Great Recession. During the financial crisis the number of jobs lost totaled 8.7 million.

“The pace of losses is slowing, but the pain is compounding,” said Diane Swonk, chief economist at Grant Thornton.

Economists are closely watching Thursday claims data, expected at 8:30 a.m. ET, because it is for the week ending April 18, the same week the government conducted its survey for the monthly employment. Claims in the previous week  totaled 5.245 million, and it was the fourth week of claims filings in the multiple millions.

“It’s a critical week because it gives us the best real-time picture of what the job losses will be in April, which will be the worst month of the recession and the worst month ever,” Swonk said. Swonk said because of the government’s methodology and the furloughed status of some workers, the total number of nonfarm payrolls lost in April is not likely to be as high as the claims, but it will still be shockingly high.

Economists also say the unemployment rate could be 15% or more in April. Claims data has provided insight into what happened as the economy closed down, first with restaurant workers, retail employees and other service workers. The layoffs then also hit manufacturing and now they are expected to have broadened out even further. The filings of claims are also expected to have been delayed because of the sheer volume of the sudden layoffs overburdening state unemployment processors.

So far, Michigan and Pennsylvania appeared to be hardest hit, with more than 20% of workers filing claims.

Rhea Thomas, Wilmington Trust economist said the weekly claims report should also confirm that the filings probably peaked, when they surged to 6.615 million in the week ended April 4.

“I still think it could be in the millions next week, but I think the trend could be declining,” she said. “I still think some of the layoffs are still in the process of happening … It does feel like we’re going to have a couple of months of disruption.”

Thomas said the government’s Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses could encourage hiring as companies begin to get funds, and rehiring should pick in the next couple of weeks. 

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—-Omnitrans will further reduce transit service on Monday, April 13 and has implemented additional safety procedures in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“Omnitrans has been designated an essential service, and we are committed to providing that service while protecting the safety of our employees and customers,” said Interim CEO/General Manager Erin Rogers. “As we continue to closely monitor this health emergency, the agency will make adjustments as needed to ensure that we achieve both of those goals.”

Under the new reduced service plan, detailed below, six routes will be eliminated, service frequency or trips will be reduced on four routes, and two routes will be operated with smaller minibuses. This plan is in addition to Omnitrans’ initial service reduction, which saw routes that regularly operate every 15 minutes operate every 30 minutes, and routes that typically operate every 30 minutes operate every hour. Since the inception of COVID-19 and the state of California “Stay at Home” order, Omnitrans ridership has decreased by approximately 65 percent.

Since last month, the agency has asked customers to board and exit buses through the rear doors to encourage social distancing and has stopped collecting fares (customers with disabilities continue to board via the front doors of the bus). Additionally, the agency has implemented a policy of 20 customers maximum per bus and requires face masks onboard in conjunction with the San Bernardino County health order mandating face coverings when leaving home.

Route	Areas Served	Change	Reason/Explanation
5	San Bernardino	Changed to 45-minute frequency	This schedule is being changed in conjunction with Route 7’s cancellation.
7	San Bernardino	Permanently Eliminated	This route was scheduled to be eliminated in September and is being implemented early due to low ridership and CSUSB closure.
12	San Bernardino, Rialto, Fontana, Muscoy	Use of smaller vehicles operated by contractor	Schedule and route will NOT change, Route will be operated with smaller Access vehicles due to low ridership.
20	Fontana, Unincorporated County	Permanently Eliminated	This route was scheduled to be eliminated in September and is being implemented early due to low ridership and Fontana HS closure.
29	Fontana Bloomington	Use of smaller vehicles operated by contractor	Schedule and route will NOT change, Route will be operated with smaller Access vehicles due to low ridership.
67	Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga	TEMPORARILY Eliminated	This route will be temporarily eliminated due to low ridership and school closures along the route.
80	Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario	TEMPORARILY Eliminated	This route will be temporarily eliminated due to low ridership, school closures, and decreased hotel and airport activity along the route.
81	Chino, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga	Weekday short trips to Rancho Cucamonga Civic Center eliminated.	This short trip is being eliminated due to low ridership.
290	San Bernardino, Colton, Ontario, Montclair	TEMPORARILY Eliminated	Low ridership. This freeway express route has local route alternatives.
308 309 310	Yucaipa	308 Permanently Eliminated. 309/310 frequency reduced to 60 minutes	Route 308 was scheduled to be eliminated in September and is being implemented early due to low ridership. Routes 309/310 service frequency is being reduced due to low ridership.
365	Chino Hills	Saturday service 6 days/week; Sunday service on Sundays.	Route 365 service is being reduced to eliminate school trips due to closures; Sunday service will continue.

RIVERSIDE, CA— Tamara Marquez didn’t know much about the U.S. census before last year, when she applied for a job as a canvasser with the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice, a nonprofit organization based in Jurupa Valley.

Marquez, a senior at the University of California, Riverside, is forthcoming about why she wanted the job. Originally from Mexico City, she immigrated to the U.S. as a child and remains undocumented, which limits her employment opportunities.

She also admits she didn’t know much about canvassing, going door to door to talk to people about why, exactly, they should care enough about the census to fill it out. 

Between November and March, Marquez spent as many as six days per week canvassing in Riverside, later alternating door-to-door sessions with phone banking. At first, she said, talking to strangers was intimidating — especially when they didn’t want to hear what she had to say. 

“But you learn pretty quickly to change your script depending on who you’re talking to,” Marquez said. “If you’re talking to a Spanish-speaking household, a family with kids, you might tell them about how the census can affect schools. You’re trying to convince people, so you start by feeling out the environment to figure out which strategies to implement.”

Accurate census representation is critical for UCR students like Marquez because it informs funding for things like Pell Grants, the Federal Work-Study Program, and research activities, said Marlenee Blas.  

Blas is the associate director of UCR’s Center for Social Innovation, and since October has served as director of UCR Counts, the university’s official Complete Count Committee. 

UCR Counts is situated within a regional network that also incorporates two county governments and about 80 nonprofits, Blas said — all of which have united in an unprecedented effort to ensure the Inland Empire is accurately counted.

The two-county region’s more than 4.6 million people are at dangerous risk of being undercounted, a trend reflected in the 2010 census. That year, nearly one in four Inland Empire households didn’t mail back their census questionnaire; another 40,000 people didn’t receive one at all. 

A substantial portion of the region’s residents are part of “hard-to-count” communities, which include undocumented immigrants, non-English speakers and households, and racial and ethnic minorities, among other groups.

Marquez said undocumented communities, in particular, are still likely to view participating in the census as a risk, namely because they fear public data about their communities being weaponized by law-enforcement agencies such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.

“Taking the census is a risk for undocumented people, but many just have to be informed about the benefits,” she said. “In my experience, the Hispanic households we’ve spoken with are the ones who are most ready to learn and be active. Immigrants already do so much for our communities, and the lack of a citizenship question allows immigrants not only to participate but to continue to help by making sure we all get the resources we need.” 

Blas said Inland Empire census activities have had a collateral benefit of bringing together people from different nonprofits and other organizations, allowing many to begin interacting with each other for the first time. 

The nonprofit Inland Empire Community Foundation is largely leading the efforts. The foundation was designated an administrative community-based organization, or ACBO, by the state, and thus given funding to drive outreach in hard-to-count communities within the region. 

In 2019, the foundation launched Census IE, a coalition of nonprofit and community-based organizations within Riverside and San Bernardino counties, and began to distribute funding to those organizations. It’s divided the Inland Empire into seven subregions, with a regional coordinator assigned to each. 

The Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice, which Marquez works with as a canvasser, is the regional coordinator for the Riverside metropolitan area, where more than a quarter of the total population — nearly 696,000 people — lives in hard-to-count tracts. 

The patchwork of initiatives has made major gains in the region since ramping up efforts last year. As of March, Census IE canvassers had knocked on more than 130,000 doors in the region. According to Blas, the efforts have paved the way for a new generation of civic leadership in the Inland Empire.

“At the regional level, most of these efforts are being led by young women, many of them Latina,” she said. “They’re truly at the forefront, and because many of them were born and grew up here, the census is a personal project. And because so much is at stake, they’re able to call other people out and hold them accountable. They’re asking questions that matter: ‘Why is money being allocated here and not here?'”

To learn more about census organizing in the Inland Empire — and the young women who are largely leading the charge — click here: https://news.ucr.edu/articles/2020/04/20/movement-census-awareness-swells-inland-empire 

SACRAMENTO, CA—- Governor Gavin Newsom today unveiled six key indicators that will guide California’s thinking for when and how to modify the stay-at-home and other orders during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Governor noted that the progress in flattening the curve, increased preparedness of our health care delivery system and the effects of other COVID-19 interventions have yielded positive results. However, these actions have also impacted the economy, poverty and overall health care in California. Any consideration of modifying the stay-at-home order must be done using a gradual, science-based and data-driven framework.

“While Californians have stepped up in a big way to flatten the curve and buy us time to prepare to fight the virus, at some point in the future we will need to modify our stay-at-home order,” said Governor Newsom. “As we contemplate reopening parts of our state, we must be guided by science and data, and we must understand that things will look different than before.” 

Until we build immunity, our actions will be aligned to achieve the following: 

• Ensure our ability to care for the sick within our hospitals; 
• Prevent infection in people who are at high risk for severe disease; 
• Build the capacity to protect the health and well-being of the public; and 
• Reduce social, emotional and economic disruptions

California’s six indicators for modifying the stay-at-home order are: 

• The ability to monitor and protect our communities through testing, contact tracing, isolating, and supporting those who are positive or exposed; 
• The ability to prevent infection in people who are at risk for more severe COVID-19; 
• The ability of the hospital and health systems to handle surges; 
• The ability to develop therapeutics to meet the demand; 
• The ability for businesses, schools, and child care facilities to support physical distancing; and 
• The ability to determine when to reinstitute certain measures, such as the stay-at-home orders, if necessary.

The Governor said there is not a precise timeline for modifying the stay-at-home order, but that these six indicators will serve as the framework for making that decision.

He also noted that things will look different as California makes modifications. For example, restaurants will have fewer tables and classrooms will be reconfigured.

For more information on California’s response, visit covid19.ca.gov.

White people, historically speaking, have been very comfortable building their economies on top of Black, Brown, and Indigenous bodies. This nation was born of genocide and slavery. It was raised on exploitation and exclusion. And in the face of death, Whiteness will feed Black, Brown, and Indigenous bodies to the beast long before it protects us as Brothers and Sisters from a common enemy.

And that is what’s happening now. White people have figured out how to protect themselves from the Coronavirus — for the most part.

There’s a saying: “You don’t have to be faster than the bear. You just have to be faster than the slowest person running from the bear.” White people think they have this race figured out.

White communities make enough money or have enough money to stay home if they need to. They can pay for their groceries. They can pay for their utilities, Internet, and phone service. They have access to information, entertainment, and each other.

Social distancing isn’t really a problem for them. They are more likely to own property and live in less crowded environments and households. They can have their groceries delivered to them — by people who aren’t White. They can work from home. They can drive (or take an Uber) instead of relying on public transportation. If they visit family members, they aren’t going into over-stuffed and under-maintained buildings. They aren’t going to jails, prisons, and homeless shelters at the same rates, either. That’s for other families.

White neighborhoods aren’t riddled with pollution and neglect. They didn’t catch asthma from the gas refinery next door. They haven’t suffered from the cancers triggered by the chemical plants in their back yards. They don’t have the hypertension and diabetes that comes with an abundance of racism and a lack of grocery stores and hospitals. White communities aren’t immune from these pre-existing conditions, but their communities aren’t characterized by them either.

They can also protect themselves more effectively from the virus if they do have contact with the public. They can and do hoard sanitizers, cleaning supplies, and masks. They have water. They have gloves and sewing machines and an endless string of Pinterest links for how-to-make your own PPE.

White folks, for the most part, don’t have to rely on public facilities at the same rates that Black and Brown and Indigenous communities do. They don’t have to make as many stops to make their ends meet. And most of the time, they can pay a person that isn’t White to take the risk for them.

According to a study reported in the New York Times

… 75 percent of front-line workers in the city — grocery clerks, bus and train operators, janitors and child care staff — are minorities. More than 60 percent of people who work as cleaners are Latino, and more than 40 percent of transit employees are Black.

And so Black, Brown, and Indigenous people are being fed to the bear.

White folks have it figured out. Or at least they think they have figured it out well enough to play the odds on sending America back to work. They think they can outrun the bear. They aren’t immune from the coronavirus, but White folks can reasonably buffer themselves from the virus by placing Black, Brown, and Indigenous bodies between themselves and COVID-19.

According to the New York Times …

The preliminary death rate for Hispanic people in [New York City] is about 22 people per 100,000; the rate for Black people is 20 per 100,000; the rate for White people is 10 per 100,000; and the rate for Asian people is 8 per 100,000 …. In New York City, Latinos represent 34 percent of the people who have died of the coronavirus but make up 29 percent of the city’s population, according to preliminary data from the city’s Health Department. Black people represent 28 percent of deaths, but make up 22 percent of the population.

According to EcoWatch …

In Chicago, where African Americans make up 32 percent of the population, they have accounted for 72 percent of virus-related deaths and more than half of all positive test results. Similarly, in Milwaukee, Blacks make up 28 percent of the population but have been 73 percent of all COVID-19 related deaths.

And this is just a sample of the findings from the very limited statistics that are being collected from communities of color. There are gaps in what we know – and Black and Brown bodies are falling through them.

The statistics we are seeing are coming from people that have been tested. They do not count people who have been denied testing, those who are turned away from hospitals and testing centers, those who don’t have access to testing, those who don’t seek testing, or those who die at home.

In other words, we aren’t seeing what is happening to Black, Brown and Indigenous people. These communities are often located in health care deserts and don’t have access to care. If they have care, it is often substandard. These communities often lack health insurance. And those that have had experience with the health care system have been tormented and traumatized by the racism within it. They often won’t seek care as a result.

Communities of Color Likely Have Their Own Coronavirus Curve To Deal With

The coronavirus infection curve may or may not be flattening for Black, Brown and Indigenous communities. We just don’t have the data to know.

New York is pointing to a dramatic increase in deaths from the same time last year. It is very likely that many of these deaths are coronavirus victims that never went to the hospital or that were turned away once they got there. We can reasonably assume that nationwide, the Black, Brown and Indigenous communities hit hardest are still being hit hard — or they are about to be. But we just don’t know where the curve is or how to respond to it without aggressive data collection. And that is literally killing us.

White nationalists and the people that support them are fighting to put Black, Brown and Indigenous bodies in the path of the virus. In the name of their economic success, they are pushing forward a plan to re-open the economy without knowing the impact this will have on the communities of color that are already being hit hardest.

Or maybe they do know — and they are OK with it. In either case, communities of color cannot allow this to happen.

We need to demand that no re-opening plan be accepted without a complete understanding of the impact of the coronavirus on communities of color at the local, state, and national levels. That means testing, data … and a lot of both. And more importantly, no opening can occur without the permission of these Black, Brown and Indigenous communities. That means an organized and loudly articulated plan for re-opening designed by and for leaders of color.

Communities of color have an unprecedented advantage right now. Local, state, and federal government can try to force open places of businesses, but these businesses cannot function without the labor of bodies of color. And that leverage carries power.

If this power is organized and leveraged, it can be used to ensure that there is no re-opening of America until there are plans put in place to address every single issue that makes communities of color more vulnerable to exposure and mortality from COVID-19 than other communities. We have a window of opportunity to end the overcrowding, the dilapidation, the pollution, and the neglect.

Hopefully this kind of dark opportunity never happens again, but at this moment target non-White communities are in a position to take control of the economy and how it moves forward. We need to grab it.

According to a recent report published by The Nation …

Amazon warehouse workers walked off the job in Detroit, Chicago, and New York City; in the latter, they’ve now staged two strikes in as many weeks over safety and pay concerns. Workers at fast-food restaurants such as McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC, Checkers, Domino’s, and Waffle House have gone on strike in California, Florida, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee. They’ve been joined by workers at companies where workers have never gone on strike before, such as Family Dollar, Food Lion, and Shell gas stations. Instacart shoppers held a national strike on March 30, refusing to accept orders. Workers for Shipt, Target’s same-day delivery service, organized a walkout on April 7. The unrest has even spread to bus drivers, poultry workers, and painters and construction workers.

Rent strikes have also been organized in efforts to force relief for households that just can’t pay the rent. Whether it is large scale rent strikes, work strike, or a combination of these and many other creative acts of resistance, we need to put our bodies in the way of the federal plan to re-open the economy before they are put in body bags because of the coronavirus. And we need to have some very specific goals.

We need an accurate account of the coronavirus’s impact on Black, Brown, Indigenous and Intersected communities. That can’t happen without a completely new paradigm for testing and data collection. Once we know the curves of color, we can articulate a phased plan for re-starting the economy. This plan will address every single issue that makes us vulnerable to exposure, contraction, and death. And we need leadership to step up and organize the coordinated nationwide effort needed to make this a reality.

Never have the stakes been higher. And never have the potential rewards been more expansive. Communities of color need to decide when America re-opens. If we don’t, White communities will decide when we die.

If we don’t organize to stop and redirect the re-opening of the American economy, we will be little more than bear food.