May 28, 2021
Volume 3 • Issue 9
AS WE EMERGE FROM COVIDLOCKDOWN, SHOTS RING OUT!! City of San José Announces Vigil for Victims of VTA Shooting
Victim’s families ask that we all seek peace in their memories. [Continued on Page 06]
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May 28, 2021
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San Jose Public Library San José Public Library to Reopen Select Branches for Limited Indoor Services Starting Today After a 14-month closure, SJ Library welcomes back members of the public for limited indoor services
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SAN JOSE, Calif.– Starting today, Monday, May 24, the San José Public Library (SJPL) reopened seven branch libraries and welcomed San Joseans back to browse its shelves, check out materials, access public computers and printers, pick up holds and tech devices, and get answers to reference questions. The first seven of
services are the first set of branches outlined in SJPL’s phased approach to reopen its buildings, SJPL’s 25 locations that which prioritizes branches reopened its doors today located in lower-resourced are: Alum Rock, Biblioteca communities based on the Latinoamericana, Library’s equity index. Joyce Ellington, Tully “The day we were Community, Alviso, forced to temporarily close Evergreen, and West Valley. These branches will open at a 50-percent capacity, and hours of operation will be from 1-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday. The seven locations selected to resume
was a hard day for so many of our staff, residents, students and their families, especially for those who depended on the library’s public computers and internet access during the pandemic,” said Jill Bourne, City Librarian. “We have been waiting for the day we could start to safely reopen to the public. This is the beginning of a new chapter in SJPL’s history and a promising future ahead for our city.” Since the library was forced to temporarily close
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due to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 17, 2020, it had to quickly adapt its services to online only. A few months after, in June 2020, SJPL introduced Express Pickup to provide residents a safe and contactless way to access items from its physical collections including SJ Access tech devices and educational activity kits; and on April 9, 2021, select libraries started to provide limited indoor computer use only.
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Library officials are continuing to work alongside the City of San José’s Emergency Operations Center to ensure more library locations are prepared to open safely based on the Santa Clara County Health Orders and the City’s safety guidelines. In the meantime, residents can still access the Express Pickup service at closed
locations, indoor Tech Access at select locations, virtual programs, online chat services, and phone assistance, 7-days per week. During this time, the library will continue to not assess any late fines on overdue materials. For more information and details about the Library’s reopening, visit www.sjpl.org/reopening.
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May 28, 2021
The Bay Area Review
The Home Stretch
COVID-19 Milestone: Number of Fully Vaccinated Residents in Santa Clara County Surpasses One Million Mark Vaccination opportunities come with Boba tea, gift cards, freebies and more at events for youth, LGBTQ community
Santa Clara County, CA – Santa Clara County hit a vaccination milestone this week, breaking the millionmark for residents who are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The situation in Santa Clara County is looking up, and vaccines represent a clear path out of the pandemic. More and more people are getting vaccinated every day, and case rates are dropping. As a result, Santa Clara County entered the Yellow Tier of the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy this week. Officials urge everyone age 12 and older who have not yet been vaccinated to join their peers in the effort to quell the pandemic. As of May 21st, 73 percent of residents age 12 and older have had at least one dose of vaccine, while
almost 60 percent have completed the vaccination process. The latest vaccination numbers are available on the County’s online vaccination dashboard. “The vaccines are winning the fight, and the reason they’re winning is because they have an essential ally in everybody who is stepping up to get vaccinated,” said Dr. Marty Fenstersheib, COVID-19 Testing and Vaccine Officer for the County of Santa Clara. “COVID-19’s greatest and toughest enemy is a vaccinated community.” COVID-19 vaccination opportunities abound in Santa Clara County this week, including two LGBTQ-focused Vax with Pride events featuring freebies, a DJ playing music and photo booth opportunities. Numerous
vaccination events aimed at youth will include complimentary Boba tea refreshers and reusable straws, while supplies last. “Our efforts continue to make vaccines as accessible as possible, and we are all for making it an enjoyable, appealing
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experience for our younger population,” said Dr. Rocio Luna, Deputy County Executive for the County of Santa Clara. “Getting vaccinated is the most positive thing someone can do for themselves and the community right now.” No appointment is needed at these and other vaccination opportunities throughout the county, and officials urged anyone age 12 and up who hasn’t been vaccinated to check out one of the clinics and protect themselves and the community. Youth between 12 to 17-years old need to provide a signed consent form from a parent or legal guardian. For County-operated sites, the consent form is available online. There are multiple opportunities for all eligible community members to get vaccinated throughout Santa Clara County, including expanded dropin clinics with evening and weekend hours, same-day appointments, and mobile and in-
home vaccine clinics. Vaccination sites throughout the county will continue to accept drop-ins for COVID-19 vaccines in the coming week, and same-day appointments are also available throughout the county. Anyone age 12 and older is eligible for vaccination. Dropin availability is subject to supply and capacity limitations. Vaccine sites with drop-in availability are listed below. Individuals seeking vaccination are encouraged to arrive at least one hour before closing time. For the latest information about vaccines and appointments, visit the County’s vaccine website at sccfreevax.org.
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Joyful Noise
Playful People Productions Offers Taiko Drumming Workshop South Bay Beat Institute Teaching Individuals and Families San Jose, CA (May 25, 2021) – Playful People Productions is offering a fun and energizing inperson Taiko Drumming Workshop, taught by the South Bay Beat Institute, at Historic Hoover Theatre in San Jose on the afternoon of July 17. Children over 12 and adults are welcome, as are families; cost is $80 per drum station (up to three people). For more information on Playful People and their programs, visit https:// playfulpeople.org or call (408) 878-5362. Although “taiko” technically means any kind of drum, the term is usually used outside Japan to refer to a category of Japanese drums called wadaiko, and to the form of ensemble taiko drumming called kumidaiko. The art of kumidaiko has been used in festivals, theatre, religious and military ceremonies, as well as in social movements. Along with the basics of the art itself, learning the Japanese and Japanese-American percussion art of taiko improves teamwork, self control, communication, and self esteem. This two-hour Taiko Drumming Workshop will be taught by South Bay Beat Institute instructors
Rome Hamner and Kristy Oshiro, and will include a professional performance by SSBI artists. This workshop is limited to 12 drum stations, which can be shared by two to three members of the same family or pod, and is open for ages 12+ with each station requiring at least one participant to be 15+. Partnering for taiko is a fun way to share the experience and build relationships. Playful People Productions will provide masks as needed, hand sanitizer, water, and clean, socially distanced drum stations for the workshop. South Bay Beat Institute is a womenowned, queer-owned, ethically guided small business providing classes, workshops, residencies and performances in taiko and other music disciplines, and led by Rome Hamner and Kristin Block. Hamner, Co-Artistic Director, has been performing and teaching taiko for 20 years and holds an Orff certification. She serves on the international Taiko Community Alliance board, as General Manager for San Jose Taiko, and performs with several Bay Area ensembles. Block is a queer disabled multi-
instrumentalist and space scientist whose career includes 15 years of taiko, Afro-Cuban, AfroBrazilian, and MiddleEastern percussion as well as teaching private lessons, K-12 music, and music theory. Teamteaching with SSBI is Kristy Oshiro, who started playing taiko at age 9 in Kona, Hawai’i and has performed around the world. She is currently the Artistic Director of the Tsubaki Ensemble and SOKO Taiko, Creative Director of Placer Ume Taiko, founder of Queer Taiko, instructor for San Mateo Buddhist Temple Taiko, and a touring member of Taikoza. Playful People Productions was first founded in 2010 as a positive, inclusive, familyfocused theatre company, and has operated as a 501(c)3 nonprofit since 2017. While initially providing classes, camps, and shows for kids, the company has grown to offer similar classes for adults and stages performances where family members can perform together. Normally performing out of the Historic Hoover Theatre in San Jose, the company immediately sprung into action in March, 2020 to create
POP (Playful Online People) programming, converting all its theatre experiences to virtual formats and continuing to make arts and theatre opportunities available to kids and families during the pandemic. Now with restrictions easing, Playful People is overjoyed to be adding in-person experiences back to its schedule, alongside purely virtual ones. Mother and daughter team Barbara Galiotto and Katie D’ Arcey are Positive Discipline trained; both have worked as early Childhood Educators; and as professional directors with children’s theater. The pair have approximately 50 years experience between them in the musical theater world and, together with a small team of permanent staff and an array of talented directors,
teachers, and support personnel, offer beginner through advanced theatre experiences for the whole family. FOR CALENDAR EDITORS: WHAT: Playful People Productions is offering a fun and energizing inperson Taiko Drumming Workshop, taught by artists from the South Bay Beat Institute. The art of taiko (or kumidaiko) has been used in festivals, theatre, religious and military ceremonies, as well as in social movements. Along with the basics of the art itself, learning the Japanese and Japanese-American percussion art of taiko improves teamwork, self control, communication, and self esteem. This workshop is limited to 12 drum [Continued on Page 06]
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May 28, 2021
The Bay Area Review
City of San José Announces Vigil for Victims of VTA Shooting [Continued from Page 01]
WHAT: Mayor Liccardo will be joined by the San José City council and other elected officials as well as community members to hold a vigil for the victims of the recent VTA shooting. WHO: San José Mayor Sam Liccardo Members of the San José City Council
Representatives from the County of Santa Clara and VTA WHEN: Thursday May 27th at 6:00 p.m. WHERE: San José City Hall Plaza 200 East Santa Clara Street San José, California 95113
MAYOR’S STATEMENT ON UNANIMOUS APPROVAL OF LARGEST PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT IN SAN JOSE HISTORY SAN JOSÉ, CA -- San José Mayor Sam Liccardo released the following statement in response to San José City Council’s unanimous approval of the Downtown West Project, allowing the Google development to proceed: “Tonight, our Council unanimously made an historic decision, one that will enable San Jose to lead the nation not merely
in economic recovery from this pandemic, but in an equitable recovery. With tonight’s vote, Google will make the largest private sector investment in San Jose’s history--and just about any other city’s history-while also delivering more than $1 billion in public benefits, ranging from affordable housing to parks to job training and college scholarships.”
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The Disaster Distress Helpline 1-800-985-5990 provides immediate crisis counseling to people affected by the mass shooting in San Jose, California Incidents of mass violence can have an enormous impact on people, including survivors, first responders, witnesses and even those who see related media reports. The Disaster Distress Helpline, at 1-800985-5990, can provide immediate counseling to anyone who is seeking help in coping with the mental or emotional effects of Wednesday’s shooting in San Jose, California. The Helpline is a 24-hour-a-day, sevenday-a-week resource that responds to people who need crisis counseling
after experiencing the violence in San Jose, or to anyone who is dealing with the traumatic effects of a natural or humancaused disaster. The Helpline is sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Helpline specialists are trained to assist callers who have a range of symptoms. “People who have been through a traumatic event can experience anxiety, worry or insomnia,” said Tom Coderre, the acting Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and the interim head
of SAMHSA. “People seeking emotional help in the wake of disaster or tragedy can call or text 1-800-985-5990 and begin the healing process.” The Helpline immediately connects callers to trained and caring professionals from the nearest crisis counseling center in the nationwide network of centers. The Helpline staff will provide confidential counseling, referrals and other needed support services. Spanish-speakers can press “2” for bilingual support. Callers can also connect with counselors in more than 100 other languages via third-party interpretation services by indicating their preferred language to the responding counselor. More on the Helpline can be found at https://www. disasterdistress.samhsa.gov/
Playful People Productions Offers Taiko Drumming Workshop
stations, which can be shared by two to three members of the same family or pod, and is open for ages 12+ with each station requiring at least one participant to be 15+.
1635 Park Avenue, San Jose CA 95126
South Bay Beat Institute Teaching Individuals and Families
WHEN: Saturday, July 17, 3:00—5:00 PM
[Continued from Page 05]
WHERE: Historic Hoover Theatre
DETAILS: $80 per drum station (up to three people); 12 stations available. For more information on Playful People and their programs, visit https://playfulpeople.org or call (408) 878-5362.
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DOWNTOWN STREETS
By: Renee Robinson
May 28, 2021 Page 7
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The 2021 summer entertainment season kicks off with an event hosted by Downtown Street Team. This nonprofit organization offers a work experience program that empowers those experiencing homelessness and acts as a stepping stone into employment, housing, and a better life. DST, in partnership with their Advisory Council, are hosting it’s second annual
web-a-ton fundraiser event. The event is good timing for those eager to celebrate and get reconnected back to the Bay Area community. The festivities will occur virtually in Santa Cruz on Thursday, June 17th, from 5 pm-5:45 pm. Team Members with DST are unhoused citizens who give back to their community by cleaning up our streets and creeks. The agency’s
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ultimate goal is to change the stigma associated with homelessness. The event will be a time to celebrate while also assist this work-first Model. Jocelyn Curran, Director, Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, states, “We’re ready to celebrate leaving this pandemic behind and the hard work of our Team Members, while raising funds for our work over the next year. “ Curran continues, “Come and enjoy performances from local artists and hear from Santa Cruz Team Members about their experiences during the pandemic and their goals beyond.” The mission of DST is to treat those experiencing homelessness with dignity by giving them a hand up and not a hand out. Team Members set their own goals and DST meets them half way to help them transition from surviving to thriving, Their approach is unique
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in that they not only encourage Team Members to take an active role in their goal-setting, but DST helps reduce the barriers preventing the unhoused population from achieving their goals. Curran states, “Furthermore, our program has the inherent public benefit of a cleaner community as a Team Members engage in beautifications projects such as street cleaning, creek restoration, and syringe removal.” In 2004, Ellen Richardson took a break from tech and was instrumental at the beginning of DST. Over the years, DST has seen
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many success stories: Bill S states: “I became homeless a little over four years ago. Uber took all my driving business, and everybody uses Uber now. After a few bad breaks, I found out about DST from a police officer. I now pass out cards for DST all the time.” To assist our neighbors in the fight to end homelessness and create a cleaner, brighter community, contact Jocelyn Curran at jcurran@streetsteam. org. To donate or volunteer, go to downtownstreetsteams. com/santacruz.
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May 28, 2021
The Bay Area Review
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Camp San José Strong Offers Free Meals to Eligible Youth Through the Summer Food Service Program PRNS’ childcare services provides over 17,000 nutritious meals at no cost to participants each summer
SAN JOSE, Calif. (May 24, 2021) – The Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRNS) Department’s Camp San José Strong program participates in the federally-funded, stateadministered Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) to offer free lunch and afternoon snacks to eligible summer program participants. For over 11 years, PRNS serves as a SFSP sponsor to ensure that low-income children continue receiving nutritious meals when school is not in session. “This past year during increased food insecurity from the pandemic, we served over 85,000 meals to youth through PRNS programs, such as R.O.C.K. ‘n’ Learn, San José Recreation Preschool, After School Education and Safety Program, and Teen Center. During the summer, partnerships like SFSP fill the gap of food necessity for families in
our programs,” said Hal Spangenberg, Interim Division Manager. To be eligible to receive free meals, families must meet the income guidelines for reduced price meals in the National School Lunch Program. Children who are part of households that receive Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), California Work Opportunity and Responsibility for Kids (CalWORKs), Kinship Guardian Assistance Payment (Kin-GAP), or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) benefits are automatically eligible to receive free meals. The following seven sites are among the approved SFSP sites to distribute over 17,000 meals for over 200 youth this summer. Meals are provided to eligible children as follows:
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May 28, 2021
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Opinion
Special to California Black Media Tara Lynn Gray Reflecting on the murder of George Floyd a year later requires that we as Black Americans, Americans as a nation, honestly look at all the meaning that this tragedy embodies. The symbolism is palpable. For life has been, and continues to be, snuffed out of Black Americans in many ways, on many fronts. Many people across the nation and around the world watched in horror the film footage of veteran police officer Derek Chauvin pressing the life out of George Floyd with that defiant, inhumane stare as he pushed his knee against Floyd’s neck with utter disregard for what—we learned during the trial a year later— lasted nine minutes and twenty-nine seconds, long after life had left George Floyd’s body. Chauvin was so enraged he kept killing Floyd long after he was already dead. He showed no concern about the potential consequences of his action as alarmed and pleading citizens stood by, eyewitnesses, watching helplessly. Today, some may have found a bit of justice with the recent murder conviction of Derek Chauvin. But what does that really mean? What does it mean when it comes to achieving real
justice for the known and unknown number of wrongful deaths of Black men and women by the hands of policemen and other law enforcement officers? The real question, and more importantly, what will be done to bring about systemic changes to stop this age-old, generation-old practice of snuffing out the life, literally and figuratively, of Black men, and Black people in many aspects of American life? Blacks in America have had knees on their necks in all strands of the American experience, not just in terms of police brutality. American history is replete with evidence of oppression and inequality when it comes to how Blacks are regarded and treated. For decades and across generations, first it was slavery, then Jim Crow, and now the seemingly endless fight for civil rights and voting rights. In addition to police brutality today, too many states have introduced laws to restrict voting, with the state of Georgia leading the way. Many, not just rogue policemen, are about the business of snuffing out the will and denying those privileges and opportunities to Blacks that are afforded to other Americans. These egregious
One Year Later – The Death of George Floyd and a Racial Reckoning in America
practices can be seen in education, employment, and business—whether it is business in a large corporate environment or in the small business sector that is the bedrock of America. Despite their value, their quality, their contribution, Black employees and Black businesses are all too often under-valued, under-supported, and lack adequate investment capital. If they barely can survive today, how can they expect to participate in the technological advances and become sustainable in the future? As we look at all the facets of what happened to George Floyd and so many others, and what their lives and deaths truly represent, caring Americans must focus on the mistreatment of Blacks, the ravages and denial of Black progress historically and now, across all areas of American society that breed a disproportionate level of poverty, crime, injustice, and unequal opportunity. America must acknowledge and value what Blacks bring to the table. For those of us Blacks
who have first-hand experience with rogue policemen, an unequal
educational system, a discriminating employer who persists in treating you unfairly no matter how excellent your work history has been, or as a small business owner that struggles to survive year after year, there is more to be done and more to endure. This is a call to action to our communities, our state, and our nation to realize that the death of George Flood and others is only symptomatic of larger systemic problems that need to be fixed. America will never be all it can be until it does.
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State News
Special to California Black Media
CAL BUDGET, POLICY EXPERTS SUGGEST REVISIONS TO GOV’S 2021 BUDGET It’s still a long road ahead to economic recovery for the state of California following massive job loss and facing the looming possibility of the COVID-19 pandemic worsening due to variant strains and vaccine hesitancy, say California policymakers and budget experts. “While the state continues to respond to the pandemic, using tools designed for a budget crisis to support state spending at this time is shortsighted and inadvisable,” said analysts at the California Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO). “The state will need these tools to respond to future challenges when federal assistance may not be as significant,” the analysts said in a report on the budget revisions. Number crunchers at the California LAO warn state officials that California may struggle to recover from future economic recessions due to an extreme loss in revenues. The state previously avoided cuts
May 28, 2021 Page 11
to safety net programs in recent years because it took steps in anticipation of a budget crisis. The state’s track record of responsible budgeting before the COVID-19 pandemic helped create the fiscal surplus it now enjoys in its reserves, they say. “We urge the Legislature not to take a step back from its track record of prudent budget management,” said California LAO analysts. According to a report by the California Budget and Policy Center, the revised $267.8 billion May budget proposal exceeds the revenues projected for the new fiscal year. Policymakers estimated that the state’s general fund budget is more than $40 billion higher than the January budget prior to the May revisions. The sources of revenue for the general fund include $38 billion in personal income tax and over $8 billion in both sales and corporation tax. The Budget Center’s report also indicates that the revised budget will exceed the state’s
constitutional spending limit. The Gann Limit restricts the amount of money that California’s local governments, including school districts, can spend. The administration projects that the state will exceed the legal limit by $16 billion over the next two fiscal years. Currently, Gov.Gavin Newsom proposes that the legislature reduces -but not eliminates -- the impact of the spending limit to accommodate the recent budget revisions. “State leaders should explore the available options to change the Gann limit, including the revision proposed by the governor,” said Budget Center policymakers. “Doing so would provide policymakers with greater flexibility to address the challenges facing Californians,” the experts said. The LAO also backed claims that the state has limited capacity for new spending and oversight. According to a report by the LAO, some of the funds for new programs can take longer than anticipated due to the limited funds from the state surplus and federal government. Departments will also have difficulty overseeing new spending in a timely and effective manner due to limited funds. Analysts recommended that the state withholds some decisions due to
the time constraint of the budget process and the limited capacity of the administration during the COVID-19 pandemic. The recommendations aim to give the legislature more time to develop a detailed plan to implement effective spending practices. “The Legislature could wait to allocate the federal fiscal relief funds until more is known about what supports and services are needed as more Californians return to work, federal relief winds down, and the pandemic ebbs,” said LAO analysts. According to an LAO report, analysts provided a list of recommendations to ensure the effective planning and oversight of the new budget revisions. · Make Funding Contingent on Subsequent Legislation · Allocate Funding Over Multiple Years · Include Reporting Requirements Before Releasing Funds · Delay Implementation · Make Funding Contingent on Legislative Notification According to the report by the Budget Center, the leisure and hospitality industry will take a long time to recover most of the jobs lost, seeing that it experienced a critical financial blow during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analysts predict that the industry will take more than three years to gain financial stability and
Bo Tefu
replace the majority of its workers. As a consequence of the jobs lost, analysts highlighted that the budget revisions fail to maintain payment rates for workers who need paid time off for their own health or that of a family member beyond 2021. There has also been a decrease in contributions to the state’s Disability Insurance Fund. In previous years, the state increased taxes to mitigate the loss of funds. However, the recent economic recession restricts the state’s ability to increase taxes for the people of California. Californians. The report indicated that the state could avoid increasing state and federal taxes to provide a one-time payment into the disability fund, but that was not included in the new budget revisions. However, Gov. Newsom proposed that the state deposit over $1 billion in federal relief funds into the Unemployment Insurance trust fund in order to relieve employers of their obligation in the future. California Black Media’s coverage of COVID-19 is supported by the California Health Care Foundation.
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May 28, 2021
The Bay Area Review
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Travel News PM Draghi: Italy Reopenings A Result Of Vaccinations by Mario Masciullo - eTN Italy “The reopenings are largely the result of vaccinations. The logistics are going well and if there is one thing I am proud of, it is the priority given to the most fragile subjects. Two months ago it was the least vaccinated category from 70 to 79 years, today it has reached 80 percent.” PM Draghi said this at the press conference to present the Sostegno (financial support) bis decree, approved by the Council of Ministers. This decree, he stressed, is “different from the past because it looks to the future and to the country that is reopening but leaves no one behind. It assists and helps.” A look to the future with confidence “We must defeat the pandemic to revive the economy. The best support is the reopening of activities. We expect an improvement already in the next quarter. Even if it is still early to talk about sustained growth – for this we will need the PNNR,” Draghi said. That is the Recovery Plan on which Draghi assured “there has been no slowdown and the time that has elapsed was necessary to address its complexity.” The PM’s wish is
in any case that there should no longer be a need for other decrees based on refreshments and subsidies in the coming months. There are certainly no fiscal interventions. Responding to a question on the proposal of the Secretary of the Democratic Party (DC), Enrico Letta, to allocate to a “young dowry” (financial help) through resources taken from inheritance taxes from the income of the richest Italians, the PM replied, “We have never talked about it; we have never considered it, but it is not the time to take money from citizens but to give it.” Draghi had, however, already underlined the executive’s commitment to the new generations both on the employment front and on the purchase of the house – registration and mortgage taxes will be abolished and, for those who have a low income (including under 35 people), the State undertakes to guarantee bank exposure on 80 percent of the loan itself. The Sostegni bis decree is worth 40 billion The head of the government said he
PM Draghi: Italy reopenings a result of vaccinations 2
was satisfied with the resumption of some activities established with a recent decree. “The decisions were courageous,” said Draghi, “albeit with risk as always calculated, and the gradual reopening gave the children an extra month of school.” He then went into the merits of the new decree, which provides for a budget variance of about 40 billion euros, of which 17 are earmarked for businesses and professions, 9 for businesses for credit aid, and 4 for workers and groups in difficulty. 370,000 new VAT numbers have been included in the measure, which will, therefore, benefit from State aid. “We expect an economic jump this quarter; the growth figures will be revised upwards. But for a growth that is sustained, the National Recovery and Resilience Plan is needed,” Prime Minister Draghi said. The issue of migrants
is outside the decree, however, the subject of questions from reporters, given the contingency of the issue, both for the recent landings in Lampedusa and Ceuta and for “the reallocation mechanism,” explained Draghi, “has been to sleep for some time. I will propose it again at the European Council on Monday, May 24; we will have it on the agenda of another European Council, but an agreement must absolutely be found.” It is extremely improper that we discuss
the head of state when he is in office The race for the Quirinale is also excluded from the “Dl Sostegni” reported topical by the words of President Sergio Mattarella, who made it clear once more that he did not want to consider the hypothesis of an extension of the mandate: “I find it extremely improper, to be polite, that the head of state is discussed when he is in office – Draghi cut it short. The only one authorized to speak about the head of state is the President of the Republic.”
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MOST BLACKS LOCKED OUT OF MARKET AS CALIFORNIA MEDIAN HOME COST SOARS PAST $800,000 Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media
The California Association of Realtors (CAR), the California Building Industry Association (CBIA), and Habitat for Humanity California have joined together to urge lawmakers to make additional investments in this year’s state budget to encourage developers to build more homes across California. This is the only way, they insist, to solve two of the state’s most stubborn problems: a critical housing shortage and a general lack of affordable housing. Those three organizations, along with a coalition of homebuilders, racial justice activists and homeownership
advocates, are also calling for investments in the budget to address the racial gap in homeownership by increasing the housing supply at every income level. Black and Latinx households are priced out of the market disproportionately, a CAR. representative said. The median sales price of a home in California surged past a record $813,980 in April, and housing production stalled for the second consecutive year in 2020. “California desperately needs more housing to meet the needs of diverse middle-class and lowincome Californians,” Dave Walsh, president of CAR, said during a
virtual news conference on May 20. “With a historic budget surplus, now is the time to address the racial divide in homeownership and fix California’s severe housing shortage.” As home prices in California continue to set record highs, and only one in four Californians able to afford a home priced at the median cost, investments in new housing supply would address severe disparities in homeownership and reverse decades of exclusionary housing policies, CBIA, CAR., and Habitat for Humanity California said in a joint statement. In February, CAR reported that housing affordability for the
May 28, 2021 Page 13 average Black household in California is 50% worse than that of their White counterparts. Less than one in five Black California households were able to buy a $659,380 median-priced home in 2020. “To achieve the housing we need, our state must make the investment in creating housing opportunities for working Californians to access all forms of stable homeownership,” said Michael Gunning, Senior Vice President of Legislative Affairs for CBIA. “To close the racial homeownership divide, we must address segregation caused by explicit, historic government policies at the local, state, and federal level.” That figure is compared to two in five White households in the state who could buy the same dwelling. A minimum annual income of $122,800 was required to make a monthly payment of over $3,000 on a fixedrate mortgage. Homeownership is a key element to building generational wealth and it helps to stabilize communities. Homeownership rates are at their lowest in California since the 1940s. Black and Latinx households are twice as likely to rent properties as White Californians. CBIA, CAR, and Habitat for Humanity California say that the record state budget surplus this fiscal year creates a historic opportunity to address California’s housing crisis and invest in more
housing inventory across the state. Of the $9.3 billion allocated to housing in Gov. Newsom’s proposed May Revise budget, only $725 million, or less than 8%, goes toward expanding homeownership opportunities with programs such as down payment assistance, CAR points out. “It is time for California to lead through action in Sacramento to address these painful truths about past housing policies and create a new housing future that works for everyone,” Gunning said. “That can start with the budget investments we’re calling for today.” The groups are requesting for additional budget investments in a number of areas that would create opportunities to expand the housing inventory in the state, including matching grants and tax credits to complement those proposed by the Biden Administration; tax credits for first-time and low and moderate-income buyers; and incentives to increase construction. “This is about the future of our state. This is about keeping more Californians from being cost-burdened and falling into homelessness,” Walsh said. “It’s about creating true housing equity for all Californians. Let’s come together to prioritize more ownership housing — it’s the right thing to do to ensure the American dream of homeownership doesn’t slip away for Californians who call the Golden State home.”
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May 28, 2021
The Bay Area Review
Online: www.thebayareareview.com
Community Services West Valley Community Services Unveils New Market At Revamped Headquarters For Families Facing Food Security New Mobile Food Pantry Meets Need For Vulnerable Seniors And
Vice Mayor Chappie Jones, San Jose
Mayor Darcy Paul, Cupertino
Mayor Marico Sayoc, Los Gatos
Those Who Cannot Travel
WHAT: Cupertino, Calif., -- West Valley Community Services, the only social services organization serving the West Valley, today unveiled two new food service options for its clients: an upgraded and expanded WVCS Market, and a brand-new Park-It Market vehicle. Both aim to address the tenacious issue of food insecurity by offering a selection of nocost food and healthcare items to those in need. While both the market and custom vehicle are sparkling new, the key upgrade is choice. “Our guiding principle is human dignity,” says WVCS Executive
Director Josh Selo. “We don’t want people to feel stigmatized as they face the life-altering challenge of not being able to feed their families.” Without adequate space in either the old market or food truck to accommodate COVID safety measures, the organization was limited to distributing pre-bagged goods. The new market, located at WVCS’s renovated headquarters at 10104 Vista Drive in Cupertino, provides plenty of room for a one-way, walk-through experience so clients can select their own items, all at no cost to them. Entering the cheerful,
Josh Selo, Executive Director of WVCS, opens up the new mobile food pantry, named the “Park-it Market”
well-lit space, clients will find a full-service establishment offering dry and canned goods, of course, but also fresh fruits and vegetables, a refrigerated and frozen food section, healthcare items, and even a bakery. Food is labeled and the market is structured to encourage healthy choices -- you have to go through the fruits and vegetables to get to the bakery, for example -- but clients fill the carts on their own. Clients will also be able to make their own selections from the new mobile Park-It Market. Replacing an old, repurposed RV, the new custom vehicle features a pop-up door revealing an array of grocery items to choose from. Designed to serve those with mobility or transportation issues, the Park-It Market will now serve an expanded area, including De Anza College in Cupertino, Rosemary Elementary School in Campbell, and Fellowship Plaza in Saratoga. (Check the WVCS website for the full service area.) West Valley Community Services, 10104 Vista Drive Cupertino, CA 95014 WHO • Josh Selo, Executive Director, West Valley Community Services
• Vice Mayor Chappie Jones, San Jose • Mayor Darcy Paul, Cupertino • Mayor Marico Sayoc, Los Gatos • Client(s) of West Valley Community Services About West Valley Community Services Founded in 1973, West Valley Community Services, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that connects low-income and homeless individuals, families, and children with housing, food, and supportive services. Our mission is to unite the community to fight hunger and homelessness. We envision a community where every person has food on the table and a roof over their head.
WVCS is the sole safety net for the 22,000 people living in poverty in the west valley communities in and around Cupertino, West San Jose, Los Gatos, Saratoga, and Monte Sereno. We provide critical safety-net services like food, housing search support, emergency rental and utility assistance, affordable housing, family support, homeless services, financial coaching, case management, and information and referrals – for those with the greatest needs.
The Bay Area Review
Online: www.thebayareareview.com workgroups. You can sign up for a workgroup here.
Telehealth Equity Campaign Thank you for your continued support and participation in HealthTech for Medicaid’s Telehealth Equity Campaign.
HT4M along with selected experts and partners from around the country are leveraging a broadly defined set of telehealth knowledge to employ working groups for one year to improve the health system/ care quality, promote equity, and reduce cost growth during and post-pandemic. Our campaign will examine and discuss the scope, process, applications, structure, emerging digital technologies and capacity challenges and opportunities faced in telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Widespread telehealth uptake since March 2020, has created and widened the racial/ethnic disparities in the US. The purpose of this campaign is to help us understand the implications for reform, reimaging, and reshaping equity in telehealth. We will impact access to over 1 Million people in vulnerable
communities, including communities of color. You can help by: Joining the Telehealth Equity Campaign Slack Workspace Sharing and signing up for a campaign workgroup. HT4M IS HERE FOR YOU TO: 1) GET EDUCATED We believe that a fundamental step in achieving the change we seek is to understand where we are today and how we got here. To that end, HT4M is launching a series of webinars, town halls & equity learning sessions open to institutions and individuals. We must understand and talk about the root cause of the telehealth disparities and the digital divide we have today in racial/ ethnic groups, geography, income, and health. Check out these resources we recommend
May 28, 2021 Page 15
reading that inform parts of this campaign: Pew Research Center’s Resources on the Digital Divide Among LowIncome Americans and Communities of Color American Telemedicine Association’s Telehealth Taxonomy, and their standardized definitions on telehealth with regard to Coverage and Reimbursement and Medical Practice Center for Care Innovation, UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations, and Commonwealth Fund’s Telemedicine for Health Equity Toolkit 2) GET ACTIVATED We believe that in order to achieve the change we seek, individuals, organizations and institutions must contribute their time, treasure, and talent to make a difference. We encourage you to lead, volunteer, donate, and advocate to our
3) ADVOCATE The systemic change we seek cannot be achieved unless and until individuals and institutions use their individual and collective voices, networks, finances, and influence to advocate for change. The action steps we want you to do are: • Collect and share data.
• Attend HT4M events. • Follow us on social media. • Participate in our Campaign Slack group Think of some ways you can amplify our campaign and get involved! If you’re interested in contributing your thought leadership to the Telehealth Equity Campaign in a different way, please shoot us an email at info@ht4m.org
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