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Indybay Feature
Sat Mar 21 2020 (Updated 03/26/20)
California on Coronavirus Lockdown
Mutual Aid Efforts to Assist Those Most at Risk Increase as COVID-19 Spreads
On March 19, following the lead of multiple Northern California counties that had already been locked down for days, Governor Gavin Newsom ordered the entire state of California to "stay at home" indefinitely as a means to suppress the spread of COVID-19. As of 12:00am, March 20, non-essential work, travel, and gatherings are banned. Residents are allowed outside for walks or exercise, as long as people practice social distancing. Businesses deemed to be essential by the state will remain open, as well as those that can accommodate working remotely. Governmental service providers and law enforcement agencies will continue to operate. Later in the day on March 20, other states began to issue their own coronavirus suppression orders, including New York, Connecticut, Illinois, and Pennsylvania.
Beyond the expectation that medical facilities will soon be overwhelmed with a surge of severe coronavirus cases — complicated by shortages of supplies and healthcare workers becoming sick themselves — life is changing drastically for everyone, infected or not. As the state adopts more stringent measures to mitigate the rapid spread of coronavirus, millions find themselves without an income with which to pay bills and meet their basic needs. School closures mean students who depend on school lunches face the possibility of going hungry. Curbside communities, always on the edge of survival, are in dire straights. Persons incarcerated in overcrowded prisons and jails are especially at risk for contracting the virus. The stress and requisite isolation of the pandemic are taking a toll on mental health everywhere.
While many have long known of the painful cruelties of our capitalist system, a wider recognition grows that it is grossly ill-equipped to rise to the challenge of this time. Politicians on the national level are pondering solutions that were anathema to them just a few weeks ago, such as direct payments to individuals to bolster the economy. It remains to be seen whether elected officials choose a single payment or a monthly Universal Basic Income, or whether such emergency relief will be adequate to meet people's needs. Some prefer that the bulk of pandemic-related financial assistance goes to corporate bailouts. ICE announced that they will decrease raids and deportation operations, prioritizing instead immigrants with criminal records. On a state and local level, moratoriums on rent, mortgage, and utility payments are under consideration. The California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) determined that energy, water, sewer, and communications companies under CPUC jurisdiction should halt customer disconnections for non-payment as a result of the COVID-19 State of Emergency. In order to alleviate the pandemic dangers related to mass incarceration, officials are directing law enforcement to arrest fewer people now that courts are closed and unable to offer timely arraignments. Limited release of inmates has begun in a number of counties.
Not waiting for government action, allies and effected peoples are stepping up with ad hoc and coordinated mutual aid efforts to assist those most in need. Numerous groups listed in the posts below can use your physical and/or financial support during this crisis.
Global Justice & Anti-Capitalism
G20 Emergency Meeting Convenes on Coronavirus Health and Economic Impacts |
IMF and World Bank Ask G20 to Halt Debt Collection for Poor Countries |
San Francisco Food Not Bombs Adds Sharings During Shelter In Place Order |
How South Korea will contain coronavirus without curfew |
Amidst Covid-19 Spread, IMF and World Bank Signal Debt Relief for Poor Countries |
French Site Helps Decide About Seeking Health Care |
Jubilee USA Urges Immediate IMF Covid-19 Action |
Modolva, COVID-19 & Lessons With Former Federal OSHA Investigator Darrell Whitman |
Five Demands for Emergency COVID-19 Survival |
Coronavirus Fearmongering Demonstrates U.S. Imperialism is a Drag on Humanity |
Food Not Bombs is still serving free food at People’s Park in Berkeley |
Capitalism and COVID-19 |
San Francisco Food Not Bombs Is Still Sharing Food |
Holy Sh*t! 7 things to do instead of hoarding toilet paper |
We Are All We Got — Resources for Mutual Aid During the Coronavirus Pandemic |
Don't Panic. Solidarity. Read
Health, Housing, & Public Services
S.F. has 8,000 Homeless, 30,000 empty homes, 42,000 empty hotel rooms |
AC Transit offers free bus service starting March 23, 2020 |
Real Estate Interests Seek Limits on Proposed Eviction Moratorium in Santa Cruz |
AC Transit offers free bus service starting March 23, 2020 |
All Marin Parks to be Closed Amid COVID-19 Spread |
Shutdown of Post Office Encampment After Denial of Portapotties & Wash Stations There |
Dated Updates on the Current Homeless Crisis in Santa Cruz |
Utility cutoff’s restricted for PG&E, AT&T, Comcast, San Jose Water Company, & others |
S.C. County Issues Shelter-in-Place with No Shelter or Facilities for Those Outside |
Curbside Communities Need Our Support During the Coronavirus Crisis |
Santa Cruz Homeless Union COVID-19 Relief Center |
California senior citizens are on lock-down due to coronavirus
Education & Student Activism
Santa Cruz County Schools to Continue to Provide Meals for Students
Labor & Workers
No More "One Mask Per Shift"! SF NNU Nurses Demand Real Protection At St. Mary's Hospital |
Starbucks Let Critical Time Slip Away Before Taking Action During COVID-19 Pandemic |
California Nurses Association protest in Oakland against lack of protective gear |
At Port of Oakland, ILWU Tells SAA We Want Health/Safety Protection from COVID-19
Police State
Ramsey Orta denied basic safety measures in Solitary Confinement as COVID-19 virus spreads |
Jewish Activists Demand Governor Newsom Release Detainees In Light of Covid-19 Outbreak |
ACLU Demands the Release from Prisons and Jails of Communities Vulnerable to COVID-19 |
Santa Rita Jail Solidarity During the Coronavirus Pandemic |
Advocates Warn US Prison Conditions Risks Intense Coronavirus Outbreak
Government
San Francisco Dept of Public Health Site Offers Help to Everyone |
CDC: Housing, Not Handcuffs Is the Way to Stop COVID-19 Amongst Homeless Populations |
Power in a Time of Coronavirus |
What the Coronavirus Emergency Has to Do with Biden vs. Sanders |
Legality of shelter-in-place orders is questionable |
California governor issues mandatory statewide order to stay at home |
Amid coronavirus threat Social Security closes all local Social Security offices |
Shelter-in-place orders are a prelude to Martial Law
Arts + Action
Freeze Rent
See Also:
2020 Scenes from a Pandemic: Lockdown Pt. II |
2020 Scenes from a Pandemic: Lockdown Pt. I |
Deserted SFO and Empty Shelves at Novato Safeway |
2020 Scenes from a Pandemic |
Coronavirus Scares Tourists Away from Sausalito |
San Francisco's Downtown Emptied by Pandemic
Related Features: Santa Cruz Police Evict Unhoused Community, Despite Pandemic | Station 40 on Rent Strike Against Gentrification and the Pandemic | COVID-19 Pandemic Threatens Most Vulnerable Populations
Beyond the expectation that medical facilities will soon be overwhelmed with a surge of severe coronavirus cases — complicated by shortages of supplies and healthcare workers becoming sick themselves — life is changing drastically for everyone, infected or not. As the state adopts more stringent measures to mitigate the rapid spread of coronavirus, millions find themselves without an income with which to pay bills and meet their basic needs. School closures mean students who depend on school lunches face the possibility of going hungry. Curbside communities, always on the edge of survival, are in dire straights. Persons incarcerated in overcrowded prisons and jails are especially at risk for contracting the virus. The stress and requisite isolation of the pandemic are taking a toll on mental health everywhere.
While many have long known of the painful cruelties of our capitalist system, a wider recognition grows that it is grossly ill-equipped to rise to the challenge of this time. Politicians on the national level are pondering solutions that were anathema to them just a few weeks ago, such as direct payments to individuals to bolster the economy. It remains to be seen whether elected officials choose a single payment or a monthly Universal Basic Income, or whether such emergency relief will be adequate to meet people's needs. Some prefer that the bulk of pandemic-related financial assistance goes to corporate bailouts. ICE announced that they will decrease raids and deportation operations, prioritizing instead immigrants with criminal records. On a state and local level, moratoriums on rent, mortgage, and utility payments are under consideration. The California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) determined that energy, water, sewer, and communications companies under CPUC jurisdiction should halt customer disconnections for non-payment as a result of the COVID-19 State of Emergency. In order to alleviate the pandemic dangers related to mass incarceration, officials are directing law enforcement to arrest fewer people now that courts are closed and unable to offer timely arraignments. Limited release of inmates has begun in a number of counties.
Not waiting for government action, allies and effected peoples are stepping up with ad hoc and coordinated mutual aid efforts to assist those most in need. Numerous groups listed in the posts below can use your physical and/or financial support during this crisis.
Global Justice & Anti-Capitalism
Health, Housing, & Public Services
Education & Student Activism
Labor & Workers
Police State
Government
Arts + Action
See Also:
Related Features: Santa Cruz Police Evict Unhoused Community, Despite Pandemic | Station 40 on Rent Strike Against Gentrification and the Pandemic | COVID-19 Pandemic Threatens Most Vulnerable Populations
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Related Categories: California | East Bay | San Francisco | Santa Cruz Indymedia | U.S. | Arts + Action | Education & Student Activism | Global Justice & Anti-Capitalism | Government & Elections | Health, Housing & Public Services | Labor & Workers | Police State & Prisons | Front Page
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