Volume 2 • Issue 8
April 26, 2020
Google Donates 49,000 Face Shields Will protect frontline COVID-19 healthcare workers throughout Silicon Valley. "We're feeling lucky," says Valley Medical Center Foundation CEO Chris Wilder
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SJ Library Delivers 3D Printed Face Shields and Masks to Good Samaritan Hospital
Responding to a national shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers, the Valley Medical Center Foundation announced today a donation of 49,000 face shields designed and assembled by teams at Google. The shields will be deployed at hospitals,
clinics, skilled nursing facilities, and other high-risk environments throughout Santa Clara County during the COVID-19 crisis. “Google is stepping up in our most trying time in Santa Clara County,” said Cindy Chavez, president of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. [Continued on Page 9]
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Earlier today, the San José Public Library’s (SJPL) staff, volunteers and City Librarian Jill Bourne were joined by Mayor Sam Liccardo and District 9 Councilmember Pam Foley to officially
See Page 8
handover the donation of 3D printed face shields and masks to Good Samaritan Hospital’s CEO Joe DeSchryver and frontline staff. [Continued on Page 14]
April 26, 2020
Bringing the Stage to You
Minority Owned Business Publisher: Brigitte Jones Brigitte@southvalleyreview.com Graphic Design Director: Amanda McElroy Graphics@southvalleyreview.com Editor at Large: Pearl Baeni Editor - public Affairs Liaison: Pamela Gustava Curry Photographer: Andy Nguyen http://intramuralaffairs.wixsite.com/andyphoto
TBAR welcomes letters to the Editor Please limit content to 200 words or less. Submissions are subject to scrutiny for content and grammar but all effort will be made to retain intended meaning of such letters. Anonymous letters will not be printed. Articles so published reflect the views of the authors - not necessarily those of The Bay Area Review. All submissions become the property of Triple e Media Group, LLC and cannot be acknowledged.
As you know, "the show must go on" is a mantra in our business. Unfortunately, these times have made it challenging to experience live performance together as a community. Our hearts are with artists and audiences around the world who are dealing with uprooted tours, cancellations, and more—and the healthcare workers and volunteers holding our communities together. We are also so grateful for the kind notes we've received from patrons and the hard work of our staff during this unprecedented time. We can't wait to be back in action when the time is right. So—in the spirit of show-biz, we've pulled together a "digital season" that brings many of the artists who were scheduled to perform at Stanford Live straight into your homes. Pour yourself your favorite beverage—no protective lids required—and enjoy the show at https:// live.stanford.edu/node/1780.
April 26, 2020
Page 3
Making a Difference
49ers Partners with Local Teams and Companies to Donate Face Masks The San Francisco 49ers are partnering with teams and organizations across the Bay Area to provide the local community with necessary resources and face coverings in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 49ers, in partnership with San Francisco Giants, Oakland A’s, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, San Jose Sharks and San Jose Earthquakes are working with NBC Sports Bay Area, along with the teams’ apparel and merchandise partner Fanatics, NBC Sports California and San Francisco-based bag manufacturer Timbuk2 to donate 50,000 face masks and bandanas to Bay Area
Community Services and UCSF. Teams, their merchandise partners and NBC Sports have donated over 10,000 new t-shirts, and Timbuk2 will create cloth face coverings and bandanas from the t-shirt material. “During these unprecedented times, it is vital that we remain united and do our part to support one another, whether that is staying at home, wearing a face covering when in public or donating to local community organizations,” said Al Guido, San Francisco 49ers President. “We are proud to partner with our fellow Bay Area teams, broadcast partners and community organizations
to provide resources and meals to those most impacted by this situation.” Additionally, fans will have the opportunity to give back by purchasing 49ers-branded face coverings starting today on Shop49ers.com (3 pack for $24.99 or 1 for $14.99). The franchise has pledged to donate all 49ers proceeds to Second Harvest Food Bank in Silicon Valley to help ensure that anyone who needs a meal can get one. Last month, the 49ers committed $500,000 to support employees and the greater community in partnership with Cindy Chavez, President of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, and Sam
Liccardo, Mayor of San Jose, Comcast, and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. About the San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers, owned by Denise and John York, currently play in the NFC West division and have won five Super Bowl trophies including Super Bowl XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV and XXIX. The franchise also has seven conference championships and 20 divisional championships and was the first major league professional sports team to be based in San Francisco more than 70 years ago. Please visit www.49ers.com and follow the 49ers on Facebook and Twitter @49ers. About Timbuk2: Since its founding in 1989, Timbuk2 has designed and manufactured bags to outsmart the city and last a lifetime. Timbuk2 is a pioneer of sewnin-San Francisco customization and an industry leader in sustainable urban
manufacturing. Timbuk2 remains committed to its craft, maintaining quality manufacturing in its hometown since day one. Founded by bike messenger Rob Honeycutt in a garage in San Francisco’s Mission District, today Timbuk2 inspires urban mobility, enables individuality, promotes responsibility, and creates community. Thirty years later, Timbuk2 is still taking meaningful risks, building quality bags, and giving a damn about the world with a keen eye on the past and the future. Timbuk2 products are sold at its retail stores in San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Venice Beach, Portland, New York, Toronto, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, specialty retailers, and online at www. Timbuk2.com. Follow the brand on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter: @Timbuk2.
Place Your Ad Here! Promote Your business with Us! Email The Bay Area Review at advertising@thebayareareview.com or call (408) 898 - 7534
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April 26, 2020
Public Health
COVID-19 Update - April 24, 2020 This is a summary of the City of Santa Clara’s latest response efforts along with impacts to local events and City programs/services due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency. Current Developments • While some Bay Area communities are
enforcing the use of face coverings in public during the COVID-19 outbreak, the City of Santa Clara is not taking that approach. Instead, the City continues to support the County Public Health Officer’s urging of the community to wear face coverings when in public and practice social
distancing. All individuals are strongly encouraged to cover their nose and mouth with a face covering, such as a bandana, scarf, towel or other piece of clothing or fabric, when leaving home. In the workplace, the City does require face coverings for staff performing essential functions. Public health officials stress that face coverings do not replace the need for social distancing which calls for individuals staying at least six feet away from others who are not part of their household. • The City continues to serve thousands of Santa Clara youth and seniors through its supplemental weekend meals programs as part of
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the COVID-19 emergency response. Today, through a supplemental program to the Senior Nutrition Program, the City distributed 1108 weekend meals to seniors, age 60 and up, including those who are homebound as well as the unhoused. Yesterday’s Healthy Meals Santa Clara program provided 9,700 weekend meals to youth. To help support these programs, consider making a donation through the City’s nonprofit partner, the Mission City Community Fund at https:// missioncityfund.ejoinme. org/healthymeals. • With many Santa Clarans working from home, the City is now providing free virtual hometown backgrounds for the public to use when participating in online Zoom meetings. Download and install one or all of our 16 virtual backgrounds that help represent why Santa Clara is The Center of What’s Possible virtually.
Check out the virtual backgrounds at https:// www.santaclaraca.gov/iwant-to/stay-informed/ newsroom/virtualbackgrounds. • Out of concern for the safety of visitors and in line with the County of Santa Clara’s Shelter in Place order, the Triton Museum of Art in Santa Clara is currently closed. However, you can still enjoy Triton’s digital art galleries! Visit the Triton Museum of Art on Instagram to explore diverse exhibitions of art through photos and a series of episodes of “An Exhibition in Your Pocket.” • The California Department of Motor Vehicles is offering relief to ID cardholders, vehicle owners and businesses during this difficult time. On Thursday, April 23, the DMV announced it is waiving late fees and penalties for vehicle registration, extending expiring identification cards, temporary operating permits and
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April 26, 2020 motor carrier permits. For more details, go to dmv.ca.gov. Meetings The City Council will hold its next meeting at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 28, 2020. • There is now a new way for the public to participate in Council meetings remotely. Pursuant to the provisions of California Governor’s Executive Order N-29-20, issued on March 17, 2020, to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the City of Santa Clara has implemented methods for the public to participate remotely: Via Zoom:
• Meeting ID: 9970675-9306 • Joining via computer, visit https://zoom. us/join - To address the Council on an agenda item, click “raise hand.” • Joining via phone: 1-669-900-6833 - To address the Council on an agenda item, hit *9 on the phone. Via the City’s eComment (available during the meeting) Via email to PublicComment@ santaclaraca.gov • For individuals who do not have the above access, the City Cafeteria has been set up
to accommodate up to 10 people at a time and public comment will be given from that location. With the heightened “Stay at Home” order by the State and the continued order by the County, the Mayor will be present for the meeting with Councilmembers and department heads participating remotely. A limited number of staff will also be present. The meeting set-up is in line with the recommendations of the COVID-19 White House Task Force, which notes
Out of concern for public safety and the recommendations of health officials, we have cancelled the 2020 Rotary Club of Los Gatos Great Race on April 19. However, we are excited to offer an alternative safe event during the absence of any group activities in the next 3-4 weeks: The Great Social Distancing Race. In ordinary times, we have always felt virtual races have been the refuge of race directors who don’t want to put in the work. However, these are not ordinary times and we thought people would enjoy an opportunity to do something semi-organized in a safe environment. Our virtual race allows you to run 4 miles in a venue and at a time of your choice prior to May 1. Time and distance verification is encouraged through Strava, Garmin, or Asics Runkeeper for which you were all sent an email for a free download when you registered for the Great Race. However, it is not required and the honor system will be respected. More details can be found at www.lggreatrace.com.
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Public Health Cont. no more than 10 people gatherings. As usual, the public can view the meetings on SantaClaraCA.gov, Santa Clara City Television
(Comcast cable channel 15 or AT&T U-verse channel 99), or the livestream on the City’s YouTube channel or Facebook page.
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April 26, 2020
Helping Hands
Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley Responds to Urgent COVID-19 Need with Critical Home Repairs
Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley, the local affiliate of Rebuilding Together, the leading national nonprofit organization with a mission to repair the homes of people in need and revitalize our communities, is currently offering emergency repairs, specifically for those impacted by the coronavirus. Those
homeowners in need should call 408-578-9519 and leave a message. To raise awareness of this program, they are joining the #GivingTuesdayNow global day of giving and unity, set to take place on May 5, 2020 as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. The day is designed
to drive an influx of generosity, citizen engagement, business and philanthropy activation, and support for communities and nonprofits around the world. At a time when we are all experiencing the pandemic, generosity is what brings people of all races, faiths, and political views together across the globe. Generosity gives everyone power to make a positive change in the lives of others and is a fundamental value anyone can act on. It’s a day for everyone around the world to stand together and give back in all ways, no matter who or where we are. Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley seeks to
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raise funds for the lowincome homeowners that they serve so that they can: • Replace faulty water heaters and furnaces • Repair leaking roofs • Modify homes to prevent falls to help neighbors shelter in place safely • Perform status checks on seniors and other at-risk clients by phone and helping them access additional resources such as food and medicine • Provide home repairs so a moderately ill person can come home from the hospital and quarantine at home, which serves to ease the burden on local hospitals Their goal is to raise $10,000 to help our community and neighbors
in need who cannot afford to make these repairs on their own. People can show their generosity in a variety of ways during #GivingTuesdayNow, whether it’s helping a neighbor, advocating for an issue, sharing a skill, or giving to causes, every act of generosity counts. The global movement will emphasize opportunities to give back to communities and causes in safe ways that allow for social connection even while practicing physical distancing. “As a global community, we can mourn this moment of extreme crisis while also finding the opportunity to support one another. We each have the power to make an impact with acts of generosity, no
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April 26, 2020 matter how small, and to ensure the sustainability of organizations and services that are crucial to the care and support of our communities,” said Asha Curran, CEO of GivingTuesday. “#GivingTuesdayNow is a chance for us to stand united and use grassroots generosity to show that we are all in this together, beginning to end. Even as many face financial uncertainties, generosity is not about size. From calling an elderly neighbor to chat to offering translation help; from showing gratitude to our healthcare workers to donating to your local food bank, every act of kindness is a beacon of hope in this crisis. We all have something to give, and every act of human consideration and kindness matters.” Those interested in joining Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley’s #GivingTuesdayNow efforts can visit www.rtsv.
org/donate. For more details about the GivingTuesday movement, visit the GivingTuesday website (www.givingtuesday. org), Facebook page (https://www.facebook. com/GivingTuesday) or follow @GivingTuesday and #GivingTuesdayNow on Twitter. For youth interested in joining the movement, visit GivingTuesdayKids.org for inspiration and project ideas. ABOUT REBUILDING TOGETHER Rebuilding Together is the leading national nonprofit organization with a mission to repair the homes of people in need and revitalize our communities. Each year, Rebuilding Together affiliates and nearly 100,000 volunteers complete about 10,000 rebuild projects. Since 1991, Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley (RTSV) has provided critical repairs and
accessibility modifications for low-income homeowners, primarily seniors, individuals with disabilities, and families with children – and nonprofit community organizations. Each year, more than 2,000 volunteers gather to transform homes and lives by improving the safety and health of homes and revitalizing communities. All work is provided at no cost to the recipient, with materials provided
Helping Hands Cont. through donations and funds from area businesses, organizations, government, and private individuals. Since inception, over 37,000 local volunteers have renovated over 4,300 homes and facilities in the local community. With so many lowincome homeowners on their waiting list, and another ## projects
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April 26, 2020
Google Donates 49,000 Face Shields
Page 9
Standing Together
[Continued From Page 1] “Thanks for standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our community.” Google developed the face shields in consultation with physicians and nurses at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center Hospitals & Clinics. The device is made of clear plastic, foam and elastic – materials that are in short supply given the high demand for PPE, and is intended to shield the face from liquid spray and droplets. Google was able to tap its global supply chain and source needed materials, and devoted a team of engineers to design and fabricate locally. “Bottom-line, these face shields will help save lives,” said Valley Medical Center
Foundation CEO Chris Wilder. “We need to keep the people on the frontline of this crisis safe and Google’s donation is helping us do just that.” The donation caps off a month of remarkable generosity from other Silicon Valley-based companies, small businesses, faith organizations, student groups and community organizations that have donated over 2 million items of PPE to the VMC Foundation. But to Wilder,
the Google donation is special. “They put really talented people on this, worked with our experts and delivered what we needed quickly,” he said. Face shield distribution will be coordinated by the County of Santa Clara Emergency Operations Center. The files have been published through GitHub and are available to anyone at https://github. com/google/covid19face-shield.
About the Valley Medical Center Foundation The Valley Medical Center Foundation is an independent, nonprofit organization founded to support Silicon Valley’s most essential healthcare institution – Santa Clara Valley Medical Center Hospitals & Clinics. In partnership with SCVMC, the VMC Foundation raises philanthropic dollars to improve existing services, pioneer new models of care, and advance the cause of high-quality healthcare for all. It is the only hospital foundation in the
United States accredited by the Standards of Excellence Institute for nonprofit ethics. For more information on how
to support healthcare workers during the COVID 19 crisis, visit www.vmcfoundation. org/covid19.
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We care deeply about your health, wellness, and safety. In these unnerving times we want to express our appreciation to our community as we work together to safely navigate the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). For members wondering if it is safe and or legal to come to SVBC the answer is YES. After reviewing the Order Of The Health Officer and discussing with the Dave Cortese we have concluded that we are EXEMPT from the shut down. We are an essential business as we house Mail Service for all members and small business operations. We are to continue working to assist our members during the crisis. Here are some of the things we are doing in response to the coronavirus: • We have intensified cleaning procedures and are working more deeply to disinfect the entire facility daily to prevent germs from spreading and to ensure your safety. • We are closely monitoring the guidance of local health officials and the CDC and are following all recommendations to provide for our guests safety and comfort in our facilty. • Given the uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus, if you have a reservation and feel sick or otherwise do not feel up to coming in, please reach out to us and we will provide you with a credit, cancelling, rescheduling and or assist you with any questions you may have. • If you plan on coming to the office, please practice social distancing in our facility. Lets try to stay 6ft apart and please remember to wash your hands frequently.
Please know we are here for you! You can reach us at 408-518-9284 or email Gregg, Tina or Nelia. Hours of operation are to remain the same, Monday-Thursday 8:30-6pm and Friday 8:30-5pm. Be well, and stay safe! SVBC STAFF
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April 26, 2020
District 3 News
Coronavirus Update As of April 24, 2020, there were 2,018 confirmed cases and 98 confirmed deaths from COVID-19 in Santa Clara County, with 176 people in the hospital. Most of
the cases, 1,344 are in San Jose. The dashboards are updated daily at the Public Health website https:// www.sccgov.org/sites/ covid19/Pages/home.aspx.
Observing Ramadan During Pandemic I would like to send warm wishes to all the Muslims in District 3 and throughout the County who began observing Ramadan on Thursday, April 23. The Islamic holy month of Ramadan is a time of spiritual reflection, fasting, prayer and charity. It is usually a time for communal prayer in local mosques and Islamic centers, but because of the coronavirus in our communities, these gatherings will not be possible. I know this is a big challenge for the
Muslim community, so I am sending best wishes to all that are honoring the practice of Ramadan over the weeks ahead. Bay Area Muslims are a part of the fabric of our community and are recognized for their contributions, rich cultural heritage and the wide diversity that they bring. In this challenging time of uncertainty, let us come together and recognize that faith, good deeds, and diversity in worship are beautiful things, and support one another.
County to Waive Penalties on Property Tax Payments In light of the economic hit local residents are experiencing during the COVID-19 crisis, the Board of Supervisors voted on Tuesday to waive the 10 percent penalty and $20 fee on property tax payments that were due on April 10 but paid late. The Board also asked administration to let
property owners know about payment options. The County’s acceptance of partial payment of property taxes began in the 2017-2018 Tax Year, and allows property owners to make multiple payments on their property tax installments. And we asked that administration return to the Board with possible
relief measures for taxpayers on the unpaid second installment of property taxes due on July 1, 2020, including a waiver, reduction or refund of penalties and fees. For any questions, call the office of Dave Cortese at 408-299-5030.
Debt Relief for Student Loans and Garnishment Governor Gavin Newsom announced that 21 of the 24 private student loan servicers have agreed to provide payment relief to borrowers. The CARES Act suspended monthly payments, interest and involuntary collection activity until September 30, but only for loans owned by the U.S. government. This new announcement expands relief to students with
a commercially owned Federal Family Education Loan or privately held student loans. Relief options include providing a minimum of 90 days of not demanding payments, waiving late payment fees, ensuring that no borrower is subject to negative credit reporting and helping eligible borrowers enroll in other assistance programs. Governor Newsom
also signed an executive order that exempts garnishment, or the taking of wages, for any individuals receiving federal, state or local government financial assistance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes recovery rebates under the CARES Act and is retroactive for garnishments already made.
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April 26, 2020
SJ Library Cares
SJ Library Delivers 3D Printed Face Shields and Masks to Good Samaritan Hospital [Continued From Page 1] Using the Library’s 3D printers and approved prototypes developed by PRUSA PRINTERS and Make the Masks, 24 library staff members and two teen volunteers teamed up to print hundreds of 3D face shields and masks to donate to organizations in need of these supplies. The two teen volunteers, who are brother and sister, also contributed to the project by using their personal 3D printer to help speed up production. “Our library is so fortunate in having such a dedicated group of staff and volunteers. They had a vision of putting our 3D printers and supplies to use, and they made it happen. This project embodies the library’s belief that if you give access to knowledge and tools, an individual can learn and make anything happen, and the entire community is lifted,” says City Librarian, Jill
Bourne. Good Samaritan Hospital graciously accepted SJPL’s first round of donations, which included a total of 220 face shields and 75 face masks. The Hospital’s CEO, Joe DeSchryver, says, “We are honored to be the first recipients of the 3D printed protective gear created by the San Jose Library. We appreciate the creativity and caring that went into this work. This is an important gift for our well-deserving staff.” SJPL began 3D printing the supplies two weeks ago and since then, a total of 575 face shields and 150 face masks have been created. Each face mask took 2.5 hours to print and the face shields took 1.5 hours to print – that’s a combined total of 1,238 hours of printing, so far. In the coming days, SJPL plans to donate hundreds more
of their 3D face shields and masks to hospitals, nursing homes, shelters, and any other organization that has expressed a need for these supplies. In addition, Library staff and volunteers are also sewing “cloth face coverings” to provide to unhoused residents and medical workers. “I’m grateful to the San Jose Public Library for stepping up to protect healthcare workers on the frontlines of this crisis,” said San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo. “Their partnership with
innovative volunteers helped create hundreds of 3D printed masks, embracing the spirit of Silicon Valley while keeping our community safe.” The San José Public Library is the first City of San José department to 3D print and donate supplies to medical facilities who are combatting COVID-19. SJPL takes pride in being an innovative
library system that is consistently providing resources and support to its communities. For more information about this project, visit: sjpl. org/3DMasks. designed and assembled by teams at Google. The shields will be deployed at hospitals,
April 26, 2020
Testing Can Reopen CA. When? (SACRAMENTO OBSERVER) As calls mount for life to return to normal, a test to see who has immunity to COVID-19 holds the key to reopening California’s economy. But there are hurdles: Competition to procure limited tests is ramping up, even as the tests’ accuracy remains contested, the Los Angeles Times reports. Unlike diagnostic tests, blood-based, or serology,
tests don’t determine if you have the virus. They gauge if you have developed antibodies, or an immune response, to the virus. But questions remain. How reliable are the tests? Nearly 100 types of serology tests have entered the U.S. market due to a loosening in federal regulations. Not all are accurate. “We … have been receiving some of these kits, and we
decided to test them to see how well they worked. And some of them weren’t very good,” said Yvonne Maldonado, a Stanford infectious-disease expert. What do antibodies mean? Even if reliable tests show someone has antibodies, that doesn’t guarantee current or long-term immunity. And researchers still don’t know if you can contract the virus more than once. Meanwhile,
Page 15
State Updates components needed to expand diagnostic testing for the virus — the first step to reopen California’s economy — are in short supply, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday. Newsom: The Trump administration “knows this. We need more of those supplies, but we’re not just going to sit on
our hands in the absence of that. … And so we’ll continue to search high and low and continue to make progress in this space.”
Over a Million CA Students Still Without Remote Learning (SACRAMENTO OBSERVER) More than a month since officials closed schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic, California officials said a twoweek blitz led by First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom has brought in 70,000 computers and other devices that will be distributed to needy students this week. Gov. Gavin Newsom has stressed the importance of distance learning and education multiple times during the past month — even talking about helping his own children with school work. Today he focused attention on his administration’s efforts to secure donations from tech giants such as Google and Apple, garnering tens of thousands of computers and internet connections to children in need. “For class to be in session, it is imperative that California addresses the inequities in access
to computers, technology tools and connectivity to ensure that online learning can in fact reach all of California’s children,” Newsom said. In addition, in Sacramento, the city is converting seven transit buses into super hotspots. Google is to begin establishing the first of 100,000 previously pledged hotspots during the first week of May. Already, Apple has distributed 10,000 IPads to 800 school districts and Google has given out 4,000 laptops. Yet, even with all of the new devices going out in the coming weeks, it’s unclear if all of these efforts will really make a dent in the gap — highlighted by the pandemic — between those who have digital access
and those who do not. Siebel Newsom said one in five California children does not have connectivity or a device to access remote learning. Based on 2018-19 enrollment data, that means roughly 1.2 million children in California lack access. “We all know that education is fundamental to opportunity and our mission will not end until every child has what they need to continue learning,” she said. Previously, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said that the
state is trying to get 150,000 devices in the hands of students who don’t have one. This is especially critical for low-income students and students of color, Siebel Newsom said, referring to a recent study that showed 50% of low-income parents and 42% of parents of color “are worried about distance learning because they don’t have a personal device at home.” Newsom also indicated the state will spend $30 million to connect more households that need it. Most of those funds, $25 million, will come from the California Teleconnect Fund and will be prioritized for rural, small and mediumsized districts. The state Public Utilities Commission will also prioritize $5 million
of the $30 million for computers for low-income communities. The state Transportation Agency is teaming up with the city of Sacramento to convert the seven city buses into rolling super hotspots and get them going by May 1. These buses will provide connectivity within at least a 500-foot radius. Locations for the buses haven’t been announced. This is a pilot program that may be rolled out in other cities if it proves successful, according to Newsom’s office. Since California began to track cases of coronavirus in the state, there have been 1,208 deaths, including 42 over the past weekend. Newsom said he will reveal a more detailed plan for opening up the state on Wednesday. “We are not seeing the downward trend we need to see to provide more clarity on the roadmap to recovery,” he said.