thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-07--Family Of Sean Monterrosa, Man Fatally Shot By Vallejo Police, Sues City

The family of Sean Monterrosa , a 22-year-old fatally shot by police in Vallejo , California , in June , is suing the city and the officer involved .
The federal civil rights lawsuit filed Thursday accuses the Vallejo Police Department of not disciplining or re-training police officer Jarett Tonn despite a “ shocking history of shooting his gun at civilians.
” Tonn was reportedly involved in three other shootings in the past five years ( the suspects all survived ) .
It also accuses the city of destroying evidence by replacing the windshield of the truck that Tonn shot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service .
At a press conference in Vallejo Thursday , civil rights attorney John Burris , who filed the suit and is representing the family , called Tonn ’ s actions “ flat out murder.
” The suit calls Tonn “ trigger-happy.
” “ It ’ s hard — we lost our only brother , ” Monterrosa ’ s sister , Michelle , said at the press conference “ This is not the end .
We will do everything we can to make sure my brother gets justice.
” On June 2 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responded to reports of looting on the night of a Black Lives Matter protest .
According to the police report , the officers saw a man ( later identified as Monterrosa ) outside a Walgreens who “ appeared to be armed ” and who ran toward a car , then turned to face officers and crouched .
Monterrosa , it turned out , was not carrying a gun — he had a hammer in his sweatshirt pocket , per the report .
The lawsuit says Monterrosa was “ unarmed , on his knees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he was shot .
Officers shot at Monterrosa five times , killing him .
The lawsuit claims Tonn fired an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle at Monterrosa through the windshield of an unmarked pickup truck .
Tonn and other officers present were placed on paid administrative leave .
None so far has been fired , arrested or charged .
Monterrosa ’ s family has repeatedly called for California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to launch an independent investigation into the shooting .
Becerra ’ s office did not immediately return HuffPost ’ s request for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to HuffPost Thursday that they will not investigate the shooting itself , pointing to remarks from Becerra last month saying , “ We ’ re not equipped to take on every case like this.
” However last month his office announced an investigation into alleged destruction of evidence in the case .
“ We are sick and tired of murderers being on the force and still getting paid , yet no convictions , ” Michelle Monterrosa said in a video after the rally , provided to HuffPost .
The family ’ s lawsuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against racism and police brutality nationwide .
Sean Monterrosa is one of several young Latino men to be killed by police in California in recent months .
“ Don ’ t wait until one of yours is taken in the hands of police brutality to speak up , ” Michelle Monterrosa said .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
The family of Sean Monterrosa, a 22-year-old fatally shot by police in Vallejo, California, in June, is suing the city and the officer involved.
The federal civil rights lawsuit filed Thursday accuses the Vallejo Police Department of not disciplining or re-training police officer Jarett Tonn despite a “shocking history of shooting his gun at civilians.” Tonn was reportedly involved in three other shootings in the past five years (the suspects all survived). It also accuses the city of destroying evidence by replacing the windshield of the truck that Tonn shot through and putting the vehicle back into service.
Advertisement
At a press conference in Vallejo Thursday, civil rights attorney John Burris, who filed the suit and is representing the family, called Tonn’s actions “flat out murder.” The suit calls Tonn “trigger-happy.”
“It’s hard — we lost our only brother,” Monterrosa’s sister, Michelle, said at the press conference “This is not the end. We will do everything we can to make sure my brother gets justice.”
On June 2, Monterrosa was killed when Vallejo police officers responded to reports of looting on the night of a Black Lives Matter protest. According to the police report, the officers saw a man (later identified as Monterrosa) outside a Walgreens who “appeared to be armed” and who ran toward a car, then turned to face officers and crouched. Monterrosa, it turned out, was not carrying a gun — he had a hammer in his sweatshirt pocket, per the report. The lawsuit says Monterrosa was “unarmed, on his knees” and with nothing in his hands when he was shot.
Officers shot at Monterrosa five times, killing him. The lawsuit claims Tonn fired an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle at Monterrosa through the windshield of an unmarked pickup truck.
Advertisement
Tonn and other officers present were placed on paid administrative leave. None so far has been fired, arrested or charged.
Sean Monterrosa's sisters Michelle (left) and Ashley (right) at a rally for victims of police violence in Sacramento, California, on July 1. Monterrosa
Vallejo police responded to the lawsuit in a statement to HuffPost: “Our hearts go out to the Monterrosa family during this difficult time. We respect their right to initiate legal action and we respect the judicial process to follow.”
Monterrosa’s family has repeatedly called for California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to launch an independent investigation into the shooting. Becerra’s office did not immediately return HuffPost’s request for comment. Becerra’s office confirmed to HuffPost Thursday that they will not investigate the shooting itself, pointing to remarks from Becerra last month saying, “We’re not equipped to take on every case like this.” However last month his office announced an investigation into alleged destruction of evidence in the case.
House speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has called for the FBI to investigate the shooting.
In July, Monterrosa’s sisters rallied in Sacramento with other family members of police brutality victims.
Advertisement
“We are sick and tired of murderers being on the force and still getting paid, yet no convictions,” Michelle Monterrosa said in a video after the rally, provided to HuffPost.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-07--Postal Service Reshuffles Leadership As Democrats Push For Answers On Delays

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — The U.S .
Postal Service says it lost $ 2.2 billion in the three months that ended in June as the beleaguered agency — hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic — piles up financial losses that officials warn could top $ 20 billion over two years .
But the new postmaster general , Louis DeJoy , disputed reports that his agency is slowing down election mail or any other mail and said it has “ ample capacity to deliver all election mail securely and on time ” for the November presidential contest , when a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While package deliveries to homebound Americans were up more than 50 % , that was offset by continued declines in first-class and business mail , even as costs increased significantly to pay for personal protective equipment and replace workers who got sick or chose to stay home in fear of the virus , DeJoy said .
Without an intervention from Congress , the agency faces an impending cash flow crisis , he said .
The Postal Service is seeking an infusion of at least $ 10 billion to cover operating losses as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a congressional requirement that the agency pre-fund billions of dollars in retiree health benefits .
The agency is doing its part , said DeJoy , a Republican fundraiser and former supply chain executive who took command of the agency June 15 .
DeJoy , 63 , of North Carolina , is a major donor to President Donald Trump and the Republican Party .
He is the first postmaster general in nearly two decades who is not a career postal employee .
In his first month on the job , DeJoy said , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the ingrained inefficiencies in our operations , ″ including by applying strict limits on overtime .
“ By running our operations on time and on schedule , and by not incurring unnecessary overtime or other costs , we will enhance our ability to be sustainable and ... continue to provide high-quality , affordable service , ″ DeJoy said .
DeJoy ’ s remarks came as lawmakers from both parties called on the Postal Service to immediately reverse operational changes that are causing delays in deliveries across the country just as big volume @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Thursday that changes imposed by DeJoy “ threaten the timely delivery of mail — including medicines for seniors , paychecks for workers and absentee ballots for voters — that is essential to millions of Americans.″ While there will “ likely be an unprecedented increase in election mail volume due to the pandemic , the Postal Service has ample capacity to deliver all election mail securely and on time in accordance with our delivery standards , and we will do so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... we can not correct the errors of ( state and local ) election boards if they fail to deploy processes that take our normal processing and delivery standards into account.″ Later Friday , DeJoy released another memo detailing changes that reshuffle dozens of officials on his executive leadership team .
The former chief operating officer , David Williams , was moved to lead logistics and processing operations , while Kevin McAdams , vice president of delivery and retail operations , was removed from leadership .
Rep. Carolyn Maloney , D-N.Y. , chairwoman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DeJoy should not be instituting such major changes during “ the middle of a once-in-a-century pandemic with a national election around the corner.″ Maloney , who has called DeJoy to testify before her committee next month , demanded he ” halt these changes now.
” DeJoy ran into similar resistance at a closed-door meeting Wednesday with Schumer and Pelosi .
Schumer called it “ a heated discussion ” and said Democrats told DeJoy that “ elections are sacred.
” They urged him not to impose cutbacks “ at a time when all ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ separate letters , two Montana Republicans , Sen. Steve Daines and Rep. Greg Gianforte , also urged the Postal Service to reverse the July directive , which eliminates overtime for hundreds of thousands of postal workers and mandates that mail be kept until the next day if distribution centers are running late .
And 84 House members — including four Republicans — signed yet another letter blasting the changes and urging an immediate reversal .
“ It is vital that the Postal Service does not reduce mail delivery hours , which could harm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and millions of Americans who rely on the mail for critical letters and packages , ″ the House members wrote .
The flurry of letters came as the top Democrat on a Senate panel that oversees the Postal Service launched an investigation into the operational changes .
Michigan Sen. Gary Peters , the top Democrat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee , said DeJoy has failed to provide answers about the service delays , despite repeated requests .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Postal Service says it lost $2.2 billion in the three months that ended in June as the beleaguered agency — hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic — piles up financial losses that officials warn could top $20 billion over two years.
But the new postmaster general, Louis DeJoy, disputed reports that his agency is slowing down election mail or any other mail and said it has “ample capacity to deliver all election mail securely and on time” for the November presidential contest, when a significant increase in mail-in ballots is expected.
Advertisement
Still, DeJoy offered a gloomy picture of the 630,000-employee agency Friday in his first public remarks since taking the top job in June.
“Our financial position is dire, stemming from substantial declines in mail volume, a broken business model and a management strategy that has not adequately addressed these issues,″ DeJoy told the postal board of governors at a meeting Friday.
“Without dramatic change, there is no end in sight,″ DeJoy said.
While package deliveries to homebound Americans were up more than 50%, that was offset by continued declines in first-class and business mail, even as costs increased significantly to pay for personal protective equipment and replace workers who got sick or chose to stay home in fear of the virus, DeJoy said.
Without an intervention from Congress, the agency faces an impending cash flow crisis, he said. The Postal Service is seeking an infusion of at least $10 billion to cover operating losses as well as regulatory changes that would undo a congressional requirement that the agency pre-fund billions of dollars in retiree health benefits.
Advertisement
The agency is doing its part, said DeJoy, a Republican fundraiser and former supply chain executive who took command of the agency June 15. DeJoy, 63, of North Carolina, is a major donor to President Donald Trump and the Republican Party. He is the first postmaster general in nearly two decades who is not a career postal employee.
In his first month on the job, DeJoy said, he directed the agency to vigorously “focus on the ingrained inefficiencies in our operations,″ including by applying strict limits on overtime.
“By running our operations on time and on schedule, and by not incurring unnecessary overtime or other costs, we will enhance our ability to be sustainable and ... continue to provide high-quality, affordable service,″ DeJoy said.
While not acknowledging widespread complaints by members of Congress about delivery delays nationwide, DeJoy said the agency will “aggressively monitor and quickly address service issues.″
DeJoy’s remarks came as lawmakers from both parties called on the Postal Service to immediately reverse operational changes that are causing delays in deliveries across the country just as big volume increases are expected for mail-in election voting.
Advertisement
Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Thursday that changes imposed by DeJoy “threaten the timely delivery of mail — including medicines for seniors, paychecks for workers and absentee ballots for voters — that is essential to millions of Americans.″
In his remarks to the postal board of governors, DeJoy called election mail handling “a robust and proven process.″
While there will “likely be an unprecedented increase in election mail volume due to the pandemic, the Postal Service has ample capacity to deliver all election mail securely and on time in accordance with our delivery standards, and we will do so,″ DeJoy said. “However ... we cannot correct the errors of (state and local) election boards if they fail to deploy processes that take our normal processing and delivery standards into account.″
Later Friday, DeJoy released another memo detailing changes that reshuffle dozens of officials on his executive leadership team. The former chief operating officer, David Williams, was moved to lead logistics and processing operations, while Kevin McAdams, vice president of delivery and retail operations, was removed from leadership.
DeJoy said the changes — which also include a management hiring freeze — would improve efficiency and “align functions based on core business operations.″
Advertisement
Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., chairwoman of the House Oversight Committee, said DeJoy should not be instituting such major changes during “the middle of a once-in-a-century pandemic with a national election around the corner.″ Maloney, who has called DeJoy to testify before her committee next month, demanded he ”halt these changes now.”
DeJoy ran into similar resistance at a closed-door meeting Wednesday with Schumer and Pelosi. Schumer called it “a heated discussion” and said Democrats told DeJoy that “elections are sacred.” They urged him not to impose cutbacks “at a time when all ballots count,″ Schumer said.
In separate letters, two Montana Republicans, Sen. Steve Daines and Rep. Greg Gianforte, also urged the Postal Service to reverse the July directive, which eliminates overtime for hundreds of thousands of postal workers and mandates that mail be kept until the next day if distribution centers are running late.
And 84 House members — including four Republicans — signed yet another letter blasting the changes and urging an immediate reversal. “It is vital that the Postal Service does not reduce mail delivery hours, which could harm rural communities, seniors, small businesses and millions of Americans who rely on the mail for critical letters and packages,″ the House members wrote.
The flurry of letters came as the top Democrat on a Senate panel that oversees the Postal Service launched an investigation into the operational changes. Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, the top Democrat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said DeJoy has failed to provide answers about the service delays, despite repeated requests.
Advertisement
Democrats have pushed for $10 billion for the Postal Service in talks with Republicans on a huge COVID-19 response bill. The figure is down from a $25 billion plan in a House-passed coronavirus measure. Key Republicans whose rural constituents are especially reliant on the post office support the idea.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-07--Mark Zuckerberg Gets Even Richer, Joins The Ranks Of The 'Centibillionaires'

Mark Zuckerberg ’ s fortunes have risen even more , propelling the Facebook founder and CEO into the ranks of the “ centibillionaires ” — those whose net worth is at least $ 100 billion .
As of Thursday , according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index , the 36-year-old Zuckerberg was the third-richest person in the world , right behind Bill Gates , worth $ 120 billion , and Jeff Bezos , worth $ 190 billion .
His net worth — the majority of which is derived from a 13 % stake in Facebook — is 1,590,552 times the median @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The bump in Zuckerberg ’ s fortunes occurred as Facebook stock jumped up 6.3 % one day after the company ’ s Wednesday release of Instagram Reels , a short video feature so reminiscent of a certain rival social media network that TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer outright declared it a “ copycat product.
” In a July earnings call , Facebook announced that the users of its various apps , including Instagram and WhatsApp , had surpassed 3 billion for the first time , with revenue growing 11 % to nearly $ 18.7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ engagement as people around the world sheltered in place ” due to the COVID-19 pandemic as a reason for the growth .
Zuckerberg , who originally launched Facebook in 2004 from his Harvard University dorm room , may now be in the $ 100 billion club , but the CEO has also been the recipient of a number of recent headaches .
In late July , Zuckerberg was grilled by members of Congress alongside Amazon ’ s Bezos , Google ’ s Sundar Pichai and Apple ’ s Tim Cook on a number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ competition in the tech industry .
A 100-page independent civil rights audit into Facebook ’ s business practices also released in July revealed that the company was “ far too reluctant to adopt strong rules to limit misinformation and voter suppression.
” Zuckerberg in particular has drawn strong criticism from civil rights groups for failing to limit extremist content and misinformation on Facebook , with Rashad Robinson , president of the nonprofit civil rights group Color of Change , blasting the CEO for “ lecturing [ activists ] on freedom of expression ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ products without any kind of understanding of voter suppression , of suppression of voices .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Mark Zuckerberg’s fortunes have risen even more, propelling the Facebook founder and CEO into the ranks of the “centibillionaires” — those whose net worth is at least $100 billion.
As of Thursday, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, the 36-year-old Zuckerberg was the third-richest person in the world, right behind Bill Gates, worth $120 billion, and Jeff Bezos, worth $190 billion. His net worth — the majority of which is derived from a 13% stake in Facebook — is 1,590,552 times the median U.S. household income, Bloomberg reported.
Advertisement
The bump in Zuckerberg’s fortunes occurred as Facebook stock jumped up 6.3% one day after the company’s Wednesday release of Instagram Reels, a short video feature so reminiscent of a certain rival social media network that TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer outright declared it a “copycat product.”
In a July earnings call, Facebook announced that the users of its various apps, including Instagram and WhatsApp, had surpassed 3 billion for the first time, with revenue growing 11% to nearly $18.7 billion. The company cited “increased engagement as people around the world sheltered in place” due to the COVID-19 pandemic as a reason for the growth.
A 100-page independent civil rights audit into Facebook’s business practices also released in July revealed that the company was “far too reluctant to adopt strong rules to limit misinformation and voter suppression.”
Advertisement


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-07--Jerry Falwell Jr. Taking 'Indefinite Leave Of Absence' As Liberty University President

Jerry Falwell Jr. , president and chancellor of Liberty University , is taking an “ indefinite leave absence from his roles ” at the school , the university ’ s board of Trustees announced Friday .
The announcement comes after Falwell , a top evangelical Christian personality in the U.S. , shared ― and then deleted ― a vacation photo on Instagram in which his pants were unbuttoned and unzipped .
Falwell has faced pressure this week to resign over the photo , which he defended as having been taken “ in good fun.
” Critics have pointed out the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s own strict honor code , which prohibits media containing sexual content and urges students to dress with “ appropriateness ” and “ modesty.
” Liberty ’ s board of trustees said it had requested Falwell take the leave of absence and that he had agreed to do so .
The change is “ effective immediately , ” the board said .
Falwell , a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump , is no stranger to controversy .
Liberty was slapped with a class-action lawsuit in April after Falwell insisted on keeping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And last year , several current and former Liberty University employees told Politico of multiple instances of questionable behavior by the school president , including his penchant for graphically discussing his sex life with staffers and fostering a toxic , fear-based workplace .
“ Everybody is scared for their life .
Everybody walks around in fear , ” one employee said at the time .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Jerry Falwell Jr., president and chancellor of Liberty University, is taking an “indefinite leave absence from his roles” at the school, the university’s board of Trustees announced Friday.
The announcement comes after Falwell, a top evangelical Christian personality in the U.S., shared ― and then deleted ― a vacation photo on Instagram in which his pants were unbuttoned and unzipped.
Advertisement
Falwell has faced pressure this week to resign over the photo, which he defended as having been taken “in good fun.”
Critics have pointed out the photo’s apparent breach of Liberty’s own strict honor code, which prohibits media containing sexual content and urges students to dress with “appropriateness” and “modesty.”
Jerry Falwell Jr. Robert Downen/Twitter
Liberty’s board of trustees said it had requested Falwell take the leave of absence and that he had agreed to do so. The change is “effective immediately,” the board said.
Advertisement
NEWS: Jerry Falwell Jr. is taking “indefinite leave of absence” from Liberty University. pic.twitter.com/kl8SF8Omcy — Michael Stratford (@mstratford) August 7, 2020
Falwell, a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump, is no stranger to controversy.
Liberty was slapped with a class-action lawsuit in April after Falwell insisted on keeping campus open during the coronavirus pandemic. And last year, several current and former Liberty University employees told Politico of multiple instances of questionable behavior by the school president, including his penchant for graphically discussing his sex life with staffers and fostering a toxic, fear-based workplace.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-07--19 Amazing Photos You Missed This Week

19 Amazing Photos You Missed This Week

A ship in flames at the port of Beirut following a massive explosion that hit the heart of the Lebanese capital on Tuesday .
Spanish matador Enrique Ponce is attacked by the bull after stabbing the sword to kill it during a bullfight at El Puerto de Santa Maria ’ s bullring on Thursday .
Dr. Deborah Birx , coronavirus response coordinator ( left ) , and White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany listen during a meeting between President Donald Trump and Arizona Gov .
Doug Ducey ( not pictured ) in the Oval Office of the White House on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Phillies is hit with the throw to Luke Voit of the New York Yankees in the bottom of the eighth inning of a game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Thursday .
The Phillies defeated the Yankees , 5-4 .
A skateboarder at Rockefeller Park in Manhattan wears a face mask on Wednesday during the fourth phase of New York City ’ s reopening .
A body of a woman who died from COVID-19 is lowered into the ground during her funeral at a graveyard in New Delhi , India , on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a tree in the Atlantic Forest region of Silva Jardim in Rio de Janeiro state , Brazil , on Thursday .
A recently built eco-corridor will allow these primates to safely cross a nearby busy interstate highway that bisects one of the last Atlantic coast rainforest reserves .
An injured man lies at the back of a car before being rushed from the scene of a massive explosion at the port of Lebanon ’ s capital , Beirut , on Tuesday .
People hold flares and Polish flags during the so-called “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 76th Anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising on Saturday .
The Warsaw Uprising , considered the largest urban battle of WWII , was organized by the underground Polish resistance as an attempt to liberate the capital from Nazi occupation .
The mission killed over 150,000 citizens , and 90 % of Warsaw was destroyed .
The march has been highly controversial , as banned far-right symbols have been seen during the event in previous years .
This year , Warsaw Uprising survivors signed a letter to the mayor of Warsaw , Rafal Trzaskowski , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ People are reflected in a window as they walk in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin on Thursday .

With the ever-changing news cycle, it’s easy to miss great images that fly under the radar. We’ve got you covered.
We’re highlighting exceptional photos from around the world for the week of Aug. 1 to Aug. 7. Check them out below. Above: The sister of Nicole al-Helou, who was killed by the explosion that hit the seaport of Beirut on Tuesday, mourns during her funeral on Thursday.
Caitlin Ochs/Reuters
A protester marches for justice system reform and equity in education in Portland, Oregon, on Saturday.
Michael Probst/AP
A young couple with face masks kisses goodbye at the airport in Frankfurt, Germany, on Monday.
AFP/Getty Images
Advertisement
A ship in flames at the port of Beirut following a massive explosion that hit the heart of the Lebanese capital on Tuesday.
CRISTINA QUICLER/AFP/Getty Images
Spanish matador Enrique Ponce is attacked by the bull after stabbing the sword to kill it during a bullfight at El Puerto de Santa Maria’s bullring on Thursday.
Doug Mills/The New York Times/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Dr. Deborah Birx, coronavirus response coordinator (left), and White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany listen during a meeting between President Donald Trump and Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (not pictured) in the Oval Office of the White House on Wednesday.
Advertisement
Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
Didi Gregorius of the Philadelphia Phillies is hit with the throw to Luke Voit of the New York Yankees in the bottom of the eighth inning of a game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Thursday. The Phillies defeated the Yankees, 5-4.
Costas Baltas/Reuters
A full moon rises behind the Temple of Poseidon in Cape Sounion, near Athens, Greece, on Monday.
Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP
A firefighter watches a brush fire at the Apple Fire in Cherry Valley, California, on Saturday.
Ezra Acayan/Getty Images
Advertisement
A medical worker wearing personal protective equipment interviews a child lining up for free COVID-19 swab testing at a basketball court in the Philippines on Thursday.
Peter Cziborra/Reuters
A woman takes a selfie in a lavender field at Hitchin Lavender farm in Ickleford, Britain, on Tuesday.
Roy Rochlin/Getty Images
A skateboarder at Rockefeller Park in Manhattan wears a face mask on Wednesday during the fourth phase of New York City’s reopening.
Advertisement
Adnan Abidi/Reuters
A body of a woman who died from COVID-19 is lowered into the ground during her funeral at a graveyard in New Delhi, India, on Friday.
Silvia Izquierdo/AP
A Golden Lion Tamarin sits on a tree in the Atlantic Forest region of Silva Jardim in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, on Thursday. A recently built eco-corridor will allow these primates to safely cross a nearby busy interstate highway that bisects one of the last Atlantic coast rainforest reserves.
MARWAN TAHTAH/AFP/Getty Images
Advertisement
An injured man lies at the back of a car before being rushed from the scene of a massive explosion at the port of Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, on Tuesday.
Omar Marques/Getty Images
People hold flares and Polish flags during the so-called “W Hour” as they celebrate the 76th Anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising on Saturday. The Warsaw Uprising, considered the largest urban battle of WWII, was organized by the underground Polish resistance as an attempt to liberate the capital from Nazi occupation. The mission killed over 150,000 citizens, and 90% of Warsaw was destroyed. The march has been highly controversial, as banned far-right symbols have been seen during the event in previous years. This year, Warsaw Uprising survivors signed a letter to the mayor of Warsaw, Rafal Trzaskowski, requesting a ban on the march.
Markus Schreiber/AP
People are reflected in a window as they walk in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin on Thursday.
Advertisement
Michael Probst/AP
A cat goes for an early-morning walk near subway rails in Frankfurt on Tuesday.
Michael Probst/AP


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-07--At Least 16 Dead, Dozens Injured After Air India Plane Skids Off Runway

NEW DELHI ( AP ) — A special evacuation flight bringing people home to India who had been trapped abroad because of the coronavirus skidded off a runway and split in two while landing Friday in heavy rain in the southern state of Kerala , killing at least 16 passengers and injuring 123 more , police said .
Abdul Karim , a senior Kerala state police officer , said the dead included one of the pilots of the two-year-old Boeing 737-800 flying for Air India Express airline .
He said at least 15 of the injured were in critical condition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The NDTV news channel said the plane flew from Dubai to Kozhikode , also called Calicut , in Kerala , India ’ s southernmost state .
No fire was reported on the Boeing 737 aircraft after it landed and broke into two pieces , Rajiv Jain , a spokesman for the Civil Aviation Ministry , said .
Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep S. Puri said in a statement that the flight “ overshot the runway in rainy conditions and went down 35 feet ( 10.6 meters ) into a slope before breaking up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be conducted by the ministry ’ s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau , he said .
Dubai-based aviation consultant Mark Martin said that while it was too early to determine the cause of the crash , annual monsoon conditions appeared to be a factor .
“ Low visibility , wet runway , low cloud base , all leading to very poor braking action is what looks like led to where we are at the moment with this crash , ” Martin said , calling for the European Aviation Safety Agency and the U.S. Federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government ’ s investigation .
It was a repatriation flight carrying Indian citizens back to the country , officials said .
Regular commercial flights have been halted in India because of the coronavirus outbreak .
There were 174 adult passengers , 10 infants , two pilots and four cabin crew on board the aircraft , Jain said .
Amitabh Kant , who heads the government ’ s planning commission , said the runway is on a hilltop with deep gorges on either side , making it difficult to land .
“ The incident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visibility .
This is truly devastating , ” he told NDTV .
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that he was “ pained by the plane accident in Kozhikode , ” and that he had spoken to Kerala ’ s top elected official .
The worst air disaster in India was on Nov. 12 , 1996 , when a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight collided midair with a Kazakhastan Airlines Flight near Charki Dadri in Haryana state , killing all 349 on board the two planes .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
NEW DELHI (AP) — A special evacuation flight bringing people home to India who had been trapped abroad because of the coronavirus skidded off a runway and split in two while landing Friday in heavy rain in the southern state of Kerala, killing at least 16 passengers and injuring 123 more, police said.
Abdul Karim, a senior Kerala state police officer, said the dead included one of the pilots of the two-year-old Boeing 737-800 flying for Air India Express airline. He said at least 15 of the injured were in critical condition, and that rescue operations were over.
Advertisement
The NDTV news channel said the plane flew from Dubai to Kozhikode, also called Calicut, in Kerala, India’s southernmost state.
No fire was reported on the Boeing 737 aircraft after it landed and broke into two pieces, Rajiv Jain, a spokesman for the Civil Aviation Ministry, said.
Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep S. Puri said in a statement that the flight “overshot the runway in rainy conditions and went down 35 feet (10.6 meters) into a slope before breaking up into two pieces.”
An inquiry will be conducted by the ministry’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, he said.
Dubai-based aviation consultant Mark Martin said that while it was too early to determine the cause of the crash, annual monsoon conditions appeared to be a factor.
Advertisement
“Low visibility, wet runway, low cloud base, all leading to very poor braking action is what looks like led to where we are at the moment with this crash,” Martin said, calling for the European Aviation Safety Agency and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration to assist with the Indian government’s investigation.
It was a repatriation flight carrying Indian citizens back to the country, officials said. Regular commercial flights have been halted in India because of the coronavirus outbreak.
There were 174 adult passengers, 10 infants, two pilots and four cabin crew on board the aircraft, Jain said.
Amitabh Kant, who heads the government’s planning commission, said the runway is on a hilltop with deep gorges on either side, making it difficult to land.
“The incident happened because of heavy rains and poor visibility. This is truly devastating,” he told NDTV.
Advertisement
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that he was “pained by the plane accident in Kozhikode,” and that he had spoken to Kerala’s top elected official.
Air India Express is a subsidiary of Air India.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-08--Trump Using COVID-19 As A Cover To Gut Social Security And Medicare, Critics Charge

While Trump characterized the move as a financial boost for Americans struggling amid the COVID-19 crisis , critics blasted it a cynical ploy to do what Trump has long intended to do : Gut the vitally important social service programs just as Americans need them more than ever during the pandemic .
This is all a stunt—cutting unemployment benefits and threatening Social Security and Medicare only deepen the pain people are feeling .
Congress must act in a way that meets the scale of this crisis .
Trump and Senate Republicans need to stop the games and come to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cory Booker ( @ CoryBooker ) August 8 , 2020 Rep. Ayanna Pressley ( D-Mass . )
pointed out that the president just “ unilaterally cut Social Security and your unemployment benefits .
In the middle of a pandemic.
” Trump himself presented the move as an opening gambit in his long game to eliminate the payroll taxes , which provide the funding for the social service programs .
He promised to “ terminate ” the payroll tax if he ’ s reelected .
“ If I ’ m victorious on November 3rd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and make permanent cuts to the payroll tax , ” Trump said at a news conference at his Bedminster golf course in New Jersey .
“ In other words , I ’ ll extended beyond the end of the year and terminate the tax.
” Sen. Kamala Harris ( D-Calif. ) warned on Twitter that such an action would “ gut ” the programs if Trump gets a second term .
“ Trump ’ s payroll tax holiday is a lose-lose strategy , ” said a statement from Tax March to HuffPost Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It won ’ t deliver any relief to struggling small businesses or laid-off workers , but it will dangerously diminish funding for Social Security and Medicare at a time when millions of people depend on these programs.
” Employers typically withhold payroll taxes to send directly to the federal government to fund Social Security and Medicare .
Trump ’ s order would defer workers ’ portion of those taxes — 6.2 % for Social Security and 1.45 % for Medicare — for those making less than $ 100,000 annually from September 1 through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would do nothing to help unemployed workers , and would shrink the funding pool supporting the social service programs , already massively struggling as funds dwindle amid record unemployment .
“ Deferred ” taxes would presumably have to be repaid at some point , though Trump held out the carrot of cancelled taxes — but only if he ’ s reelected .
Not only would payroll tax deferments weaken the “ bedrock retirement and health programs , ” the money might not even reach the pockets of strapped workers , warned economists at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liberal think tank .
Employers are responsible for ultimately passing on employee ’ s share of the tax to the government , so they might hang onto it .
“ Employers could simply withhold the tax and keep the money until the later payment deadline , ” the group warned .
As a candidate in 2016 , Trump declared that it was his “ absolute intention to leave Social Security the way it is.
” But this January he said that his administration would look at cost savings in “ entitlement ” plans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2017 slashed Treasury income .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Critics erupted Saturday after President Donald Trump signed four executive actions that included deferring payroll taxes that provide funding for both Social Security and Medicare.
While Trump characterized the move as a financial boost for Americans struggling amid the COVID-19 crisis, critics blasted it as a cynical ploy to do what Trump has long intended to do: Gut the vitally important social service programs just as Americans need them more than ever during the pandemic.
Advertisement
“The American people desperately need relief,” noted Rep. Val Demings (D-Fla.). “Instead, the president decided to defund Social Security and Medicare.”
House Ways and Means Chair Richard Neal (D-Mass.) called the move “a poorly disguised first step in an effort to fully dismantle these vital programs by executive fiat.”
Trump also signed an order providing $400 a week in enhanced unemployment benefits — down from the $600 weekly benefit that expired last month.
Advertisement
Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) called the orders a “stunt.”
This is all a stunt—cutting unemployment benefits and threatening Social Security and Medicare only deepen the pain people are feeling.
Congress must act in a way that meets the scale of this crisis. Trump and Senate Republicans need to stop the games and come to the table now. https://t.co/Jw60t5gtt9 — Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) August 8, 2020
Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) pointed out that the president just “unilaterally cut Social Security and your unemployment benefits. In the middle of a pandemic.”
Don’t let the occupant of the White House distract you.
He just unilaterally cut Social Security and your unemployment benefits. In the middle of a pandemic. — Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) August 8, 2020
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) warned in a statement that the move would “endanger” Social Security and Medicare.
Trump himself presented the move as an opening gambit in his long game to eliminate the payroll taxes, which provide the funding for the social service programs. He promised to “terminate” the payroll tax if he’s reelected.
Advertisement
“If I’m victorious on November 3rd, I plan to forgive these taxes and make permanent cuts to the payroll tax,” Trump said at a news conference at his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf course. “In other words, I’ll extend beyond the end of the year and terminate the tax.”
Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) warned on Twitter that such an action would “gut” the programs if Trump gets a second term.
Trump just promised that if he wins reelection he'll gut Social Security and Medicare.
A vote for @JoeBiden in November means protecting and expanding these benefits—ensuring our seniors have the ability to retire with dignity. — Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 8, 2020
An organization representing taxpayer interests slammed Trump’s executive order as a “holiday for the wealthy and a death sentence for Social Security and Medicare beneficiaries.”
“Trump’s payroll tax holiday is a lose-lose strategy,” said a statement from Tax March to HuffPost Saturday after the order was signed. “It won’t deliver any relief to struggling small businesses or laid-off workers, but it will dangerously diminish funding for Social Security and Medicare at a time when millions of people depend on these programs.”
Advertisement
Employers typically withhold payroll taxes to send directly to the federal government to fund Social Security and Medicare. Trump’s order would defer the workers’ portion of those taxes — 6.2% for Social Security and 1.45% for Medicare — for those making less than $100,000 annually from Sept. 1 through the end of the year.
It would do nothing to help unemployed workers and would begin to drain the funding pool supporting the social service programs, already massively struggling as funds dwindle amid record unemployment.
“Deferred” taxes would presumably have to be repaid at some point, though Trump held out the carrot of canceled taxes — but only if he’s reelected.
Not only would payroll tax deferments weaken the “bedrock retirement and health programs,” the money might not even reach the pockets of strapped workers, warned economists at the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank.
Employers are ultimately responsible for passing on an employee’s share of the tax to the government. “Employers could simply withhold the tax and keep the money until the later payment deadline,” the group warned.
Advertisement
It’s unclear how Trump could legally “terminate” payroll taxes. Only Congress has the power to change taxes. But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) issued a statement Saturday supporting Trump’s executive actions.
Not all Republicans expressed support for Trump’s move. Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) said in a statement that the “pen-and-phone theory of executive lawmaking is unconstitutional slop. President Trump does not have the power to unilaterally rewrite the payroll tax law. Under the Constitution, that power belongs to the American people acting through their members of Congress.”
As a candidate in 2016, Trump declared that it was his “absolute intention to leave Social Security the way it is.” But this January he said that his administration would look at cost savings in “entitlement” plans after his massive tax cut to corporations in 2017 slashed Treasury income.
🤡 This defunds Medicare.
🤡 This defunds Social Security.
🤡 Tax collection is just deferred.
🤡 You’ll still owe these taxes next year. https://t.co/sraSTbHOxs — The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) August 9, 2020
The Payroll Tax funds Social Security and Medicare.
Trump is using the pandemic to defund them.
He's not giving you money. He's stealing money from your future. — Nick Jack Pappas (@Pappiness) August 8, 2020
Advertisement
I mean, “elect me and I’ll permanently defund Medicare and Social Security” is a helluva campaign slogan. — Helen Kennedy (@HelenKennedy) August 8, 2020
When Trump says “defer payroll tax” he is really saying “defund Social Security and Medicare.” Remember this when he claims Democrats want to “defund” the police. — George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) August 8, 2020
Donald Trump once promised he would be ‘the only Republican that doesn’t want to cut Social Security’
Trump: If Reelected, I will “Terminate” Social Security.
The Social Security helps many Seniors who have paid into the system for 50-60 years. https://t.co/dHmEC0M43c — JakeMusc96 (@Musc96) August 8, 2020
Candidate Trump promised to protect Social Security and Medicare.
President Trump just promised to PERMANENTLY DEFUND Social Security and Medicare. — SocialSecurityWorks (@SSWorks) August 8, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-08--Trump Attempts To Sidestep Congress By Ordering 4 Points Of Coronavirus Relief

With no deal on a new coronavirus relief package in sight , President Donald Trump signed four executive actions Saturday afternoon that include a $ 400-per-week boost to unemployment benefits and a payroll tax cut in an attempt to provide Americans some economic help .
His legal ability to do so , however , remains unclear , and legal challenges are all but guaranteed .
Trump has directed money to be allocated from the Department of Homeland Security ’ s Disaster Relief Fund , saying it holds about $ 70 billion in emergency assistance .
Trump appeared optimistic about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power , telling reporters gathered at his New Jersey golf club , “ If we get sued , it ’ s somebody that doesn ’ t want people to get money .
And that ’ s not going to be a very popular thing.
” Under the president ’ s memorandum , states would be required to pay 25 % of the additional unemployment benefits ― at a time when states are already straining their budgets as they fight a virus outbreak that is still raging across many parts of the country .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ states would be able to implement the new policy , which calls for them to coordinate with multiple federal agencies on setting up an entirely new “ lost wages assistance program.
” State workforce agencies have struggled this year just to pay federal benefits through their regular unemployment systems .
Legislation that allowed Americans an extra $ 600 per week in unemployment benefits , enacted by Congress earlier this year , was allowed to expire last week .
Negotiations between Republicans and Democrats on a fresh relief package have been stalled for days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ push for legislation that would continue the $ 600 payments .
If he gets his way , Trump ’ s “ payroll tax holiday ” ― an unpopular proposal on both sides of the aisle ― will apply to people making less than $ 100,000 per year and begin Sept. 1 , lasting through the rest of the year .
But critics argue that cutting the payroll tax would hurt Social Security and Medicare as the struggling pandemic economy has forced Americans to rely more heavily on both programs .
The cuts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and health programs , ” a group of economists at the Center for American Progress , a liberal think tank , said in a statement earlier this week .
Since the start of the crisis , Trump has repeatedly spoken in favor of the move .
But the economists argued that employers are incentivized to hold onto the employee ’ s share of the tax , rather than passing it on , because they are ultimately responsible for making sure payroll taxes go to the government .
“ Thus , postponing the deadline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no effect on employees , ” they said .
“ Employers could simply withhold the tax and keep the money until the later payment deadline.
” Trump ’ s other economic stimulus measures include cuts to student loan interest rates and eviction protections through the rest of 2020 that encourage states to find ways to allow financially struggling Americans to say in their homes .
An estimated 30 million to 40 million people face the threat of eviction this year because of the coronavirus crisis , according to a report released Friday by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Families with children would be particularly hard hit , the group said .
While the unemployment rate is down to 10.2 % from its April peak of 14.7 % , it is still much higher than its February level of 3.5 % .
In his announcement on Saturday , Trump said he would extend many of the benefits into the new year if reelected in November , adding that he is also considering other tax cuts .
At another point , he accused the Democrats of trying to interfere in the 2020 election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill measures to discourage voter suppression , such as voter ID laws .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
With no deal on a new coronavirus relief package in sight, President Donald Trump signed four executive actions Saturday afternoon that include a $400-per-week boost to unemployment benefits and a payroll tax cut in an attempt to provide Americans some economic help.
His legal ability to do so, however, remains unclear, and legal challenges are all but guaranteed. Trump has directed money to be allocated from the Department of Homeland Security’s Disaster Relief Fund, saying it holds about $70 billion in emergency assistance.
Advertisement
Trump appeared optimistic about the threat of a lawsuit over his executive power, telling reporters gathered at his New Jersey golf club, “If we get sued, it’s somebody that doesn’t want people to get money. And that’s not going to be a very popular thing.”
Under the president’s memorandum, states would be required to pay 25% of the additional unemployment benefits ― at a time when states are already straining their budgets as they fight a virus outbreak that is still raging across many parts of the country. It’s not clear how quickly states would be able to implement the new policy, which calls for them to coordinate with multiple federal agencies on setting up an entirely new “lost wages assistance program.” State workforce agencies have struggled this year just to pay federal benefits through their regular unemployment systems.
Legislation that allowed Americans an extra $600 per week in unemployment benefits, enacted by Congress earlier this year, was allowed to expire last week. Negotiations between Republicans and Democrats on a fresh relief package have been stalled for days, with the Republican caucus resisting Democrats’ push for legislation that would continue the $600 payments.
Asked why he settled on $400, Trump said the lesser amount gives people “a great incentive to go back to work.”
Advertisement
If he gets his way, Trump’s “payroll tax holiday” ― an unpopular proposal on both sides of the aisle ― will apply to people making less than $100,000 per year and begin Sept. 1, lasting through the end of the year. But critics argue that cutting the payroll tax would hurt Social Security and Medicare as the struggling pandemic economy has forced Americans to rely more heavily on both programs.
The cuts would “weaken those two bedrock retirement and health programs,” a group of economists at the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank, said in a statement earlier this week. Since the start of the crisis, Trump has repeatedly spoken in favor of the move. But the economists argued that employers are incentivized to hold onto their employees’ share of the tax, rather than passing it on, because they are ultimately responsible for making sure payroll taxes go to the government.
“Thus, postponing the deadline to pay payroll taxes would likely have no effect on employees,” they said. “Employers could simply withhold the tax and keep the money until the later payment deadline.”
Trump’s other economic stimulus measures include cuts to student loan interest rates and eviction protections through the rest of 2020 that encourage states to find ways to allow financially struggling Americans to say in their homes.
An estimated 30 million to 40 million people face the threat of eviction this year because of the coronavirus crisis, according to a report released Friday by the National Low Income Housing Coalition. Families with children would be particularly hard hit, the group said.
Advertisement
While the unemployment rate is down to 10.2% from its April peak of 14.7%, it is still much higher than its February level of 3.5%.
In his announcement on Saturday, Trump said he would extend many of the benefits into the new year if reelected in November, adding that he is also considering other tax cuts.
The president appeared to scoff at the idea of providing additional relief to the states, though, arguing that it was partisan instead of practical.
“What they really want is bailout money for states that are run by Democrat governors and mayors,” Trump said of his political rivals.
At another point, he accused the Democrats of trying to interfere in the 2020 election by arguing to include in the next bill measures to discourage voter suppression, such as voter ID laws.
Advertisement
“They want to try to steal this election,” Trump said without evidence.
He exited the press conference prematurely when pressed on a claim that he passed Veterans Choice, a piece of legislation passed under the Obama administration in 2014.
In a statement Saturday, Democratic leadership denounced Trump’s executive orders as “unworkable, weak and narrow.”
“Democrats repeat our call to Republicans to return to the table, meet us halfway and work together to deliver immediate relief to the American people,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote in their joint statement. “Lives are being lost, and time is of the essence.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-08--Trump Seeks To Go It Alone After Coronavirus Stimulus Talks Break Down

“ Amid congressional inaction , POTUS will be taking action to help Americans in need , ” the official told @ @ @ @ @ to give a news conference at his New Jersey golf club at 3:30 p.m .
@ @ @ @ @ .
Nearly two weeks of talks between White House officials and congressional Democrats ended on @ @ @ @ @ still about $ 2 trillion apart on next steps to address the heavy human and @ @ @ @ @ has taken on the United States , where it has killed more than 160,000 people @ @ @ @ @ week increase in unemployment payments that has served as a lifeline to the tens of @ @ @ @ @ their jobs in the pandemic expired at the end of July .
Democrats wanted to @ @ @ @ @ amount , while Republicans wanted to cut them , saying they served as a disincentive @ @ @ @ @ Trump on Friday night said he would sign executive orders to extend enhanced unemployment benefits @ @ @ @ @ , suspend student loan repayments and rental housing evictions in the coming days .

“Amid congressional inaction, POTUS will be taking action to help Americans in need,” the official told Reuters. Trump is due to give a news conference at his New Jersey golf club at 3:30 p.m. ET (1930 GMT).
Nearly two weeks of talks between White House officials and congressional Democrats ended on Friday with the two sides still about $2 trillion apart on next steps to address the heavy human and economic toll the coronavirus pandemic has taken on the United States, where it has killed more than 160,000 people.
A $600 per week increase in unemployment payments that has served as a lifeline to the tens of millions of Americans who lost their jobs in the pandemic expired at the end of July. Democrats wanted to extend the payments at that amount, while Republicans wanted to cut them, saying they served as a disincentive to return to work.
Trump on Friday night said he would sign executive orders to extend enhanced unemployment benefits, unilaterally suspend payroll taxes, suspend student loan repayments and rental housing evictions in the coming days.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-08--Be Kind To Your Waitpersons. They're Going Through Hell Right Now.

Since then , service has turned out to be the best way to make my money when I ’ m not doing theater .
I literally wrote the server manual at my current job ( a brewery-restaurant with a solid local and tourist clientele ) and treat every shift like my section is my company , and I am the CEO .
I have more regulars than most bartenders I know .
Every restaurant I ’ ve worked in , I have been able to pick and choose my shifts , my sections and even the clientele I prefer to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mistake from the kitchen , or we are out of something , I am sent to the table to do damage control , and I usually end up selling more by spinning it into a positive .
I was ( and I can not stress this enough ) one of the very lucky ones who had no issue receiving unemployment .
Even so , I felt pressure to go back to work .
I was sure we would have conscientious patrons who wanted to eat , put their masks back on and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me in a way that makes every shift feel like it ’ s my first day .
I used to be able to take about 10 tables at a time .
That ’ s 50 people .
Now I get confused and forget things when I have half as many .
3 .
There is no time for me to bond with any table at all .
In order for you to sit down at your table , it has to be sanitized twice and left to dry .
The menus have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to prep , clean and dry cups , water bottles , napkins , plates and cutlery for your table ; wash my hands before and after that ; sanitize my tablet after the previous customer used it ; explain all of our new rules to you ; and only then begin the dining experience .
If my bussers are out on a delivery , I also do all cleanup .
If I have no host , I also seat everyone and facilitate to-go orders .
4 .
People haven ’ t been out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a cocktail , a feeling with which I overwhelmingly sympathize .
But many people forget to say “ please ” and “ thank you.
” I am not a total prude , but this throws me off my game hard .
Imagine greeting six people in a row with a friendly “ hello , ” and they all bark back at you , “ Cheeseburger , well done , no pickles.
” 5 .
All these new practices , combined with the simple fact that I am in a mask , shouting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , means that I have virtually no time for a break .
We are cutting down on labor costs , and servers-for-hire are hard to come by right now , so I am nearly always fully in charge of the floor .
If three tables seat themselves on the patio ( rude ) , two of those tables will get slower service and take it personally , and there is nothing I can do about it .
I have more than once felt dizzy in the heat but knew there was no time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time for water or bathroom breaks , my shifts have gone from fun , flirty catering to actual dangerous outdoor cardio .
I ’ m a good waitress .
I have sunblock and bug spray in my apron if a guest needs it .
I ’ ve recommended modified dishes so many times , the modifier became a menu item .
I ’ ve held peoples ’ babies , taught key sign language words to other servers so we can wait on patrons who are deaf , helped brides do their makeup , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for expectant mothers in their very secretive first trimester .
The disconnect is real .
Every time I clock in , I struggle with the reality that people ’ s lives are at risk , and that risk goes up with every single dirty cup I lift from a table .
The New York State Department of Labor stopped giving us the extra weekly $ 600 last week .
Was it selfish to go back to work ?
Or are we noble for sticking together and fighting through it ?
The reality is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ playing the short game .
We need money and shifts now .
You , our customer , however , should be playing the long game .
Wear a mask when we approach the table .
Take it off to eat , put it back on to talk to us , no exceptions .
Go to an ATM and get enough cash to cover a 30 % or higher tip .
If you can not follow these guidelines , do not go out .
Your need for a steak is far inferior to my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from table to table in 99-degree weather in the sun .
We can debate the morality of servers ’ wages after this is all over .
For now , know that we all want the same thing : for you to have a nice time while keeping those around you safe .
If returning to work has been this chaotic for me , please extend your empathy as to what it must be like for teachers who are walking on eggshells as they return to school .
And grocery store employees who never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And , you know , nurses .
Despite the difficulties , I am reveling in the ingenuity and tenacity of our city ’ s restaurants .
I live on a street with many restaurants and bars , and the entire street smelled of sawdust for a day as restaurant owners scrambled to literally build sidewalk and street seating .
New Yorkers have always had the remarkable ability to make it work , no matter how much heavy lifting is required .

Igor Vershinsky via Getty Images
I got my first waitressing job the day I turned 16 because I couldn’t wait to make my own money.
Since then, service has turned out to be the best way to make my money when I’m not doing theater. I literally wrote the server manual at my current job (a brewery-restaurant with a solid local and tourist clientele) and treat every shift like my section is my company, and I am the CEO. I have more regulars than most bartenders I know.
Every restaurant I’ve worked in, I have been able to pick and choose my shifts, my sections and even the clientele I prefer to wait on. When there’s a mistake from the kitchen, or we are out of something, I am sent to the table to do damage control, and I usually end up selling more by spinning it into a positive.
Advertisement
When we got word that we were closing indefinitely, I was naively hopeful. I had set aside enough money to get me through April and thought, “No big deal. I’ll lose maybe one week’s pay and hustle through the summer.”
*Cue laugh track.*
I was (and I cannot stress this enough) one of the very lucky ones who had no issue receiving unemployment. Even so, I felt pressure to go back to work. I was sure we would have conscientious patrons who wanted to eat, put their masks back on and leave.
Even with the current pandemic, exclusively outdoor seating and half a dozen new mandates regarding clean surfaces, when we reopened in late June, I assumed I’d go back to work and hit my stride in no time.
But COVID-19 customers have thrown me in a way that makes every shift feel like it’s my first day. I used to be able to take about 10 tables at a time. That’s 50 people. Now I get confused and forget things when I have half as many.
Advertisement
Here’s why.
1. No one wants to wear a mask when they talk to me. So I already start the entire exchange knowing they have no regard for any of my patrons or me. Off to a bad start.
2. Nobody wants to tip a server on a patio. They’re mad they have to sit outside. They’re mad it costs so much (maybe everyone forgot New York City prices?). And they weren’t ready.
3. There is no time for me to bond with any table at all. In order for you to sit down at your table, it has to be sanitized twice and left to dry. The menus have to be sanitized and dry. I have to prep, clean and dry cups, water bottles, napkins, plates and cutlery for your table; wash my hands before and after that; sanitize my tablet after the previous customer used it; explain all of our new rules to you; and only then begin the dining experience. If my bussers are out on a delivery, I also do all cleanup. If I have no host, I also seat everyone and facilitate to-go orders.
4. People haven’t been out for months and just want a burger and a cocktail, a feeling with which I overwhelmingly sympathize. But many people forget to say “please” and “thank you.” I am not a total prude, but this throws me off my game hard. Imagine greeting six people in a row with a friendly “hello,” and they all bark back at you, “Cheeseburger, well done, no pickles.”
5. All these new practices, combined with the simple fact that I am in a mask, shouting in my friendliest Disney-princess voice all day, means that I have virtually no time for a break. We are cutting down on labor costs, and servers-for-hire are hard to come by right now, so I am nearly always fully in charge of the floor. If three tables seat themselves on the patio (rude), two of those tables will get slower service and take it personally, and there is nothing I can do about it. I have more than once felt dizzy in the heat but knew there was no time to sit down. With barely enough time for water or bathroom breaks, my shifts have gone from fun, flirty catering to actual dangerous outdoor cardio.
Advertisement
I’m a good waitress. I have sunblock and bug spray in my apron if a guest needs it. I’ve recommended modified dishes so many times, the modifier became a menu item. I’ve held peoples’ babies, taught key sign language words to other servers so we can wait on patrons who are deaf, helped brides do their makeup, and I’ve cleverly concealed mocktails for expectant mothers in their very secretive first trimester.
My tip average last week was 12%.
The disconnect is real. Every time I clock in, I struggle with the reality that people’s lives are at risk, and that risk goes up with every single dirty cup I lift from a table. The New York State Department of Labor stopped giving us the extra weekly $600 last week. Was it selfish to go back to work? Or are we noble for sticking together and fighting through it?
The reality is that all restaurant employees right now are playing the short game. We need money and shifts now. You, our customer, however, should be playing the long game. Wear a mask when we approach the table. Take it off to eat, put it back on to talk to us, no exceptions.
DO NOT DEMAND WE WAIT ON YOU WHEN IT IS RAINING OUTSIDE. I can’t believe I have to say that, but someone surprises me every day.
Go to an ATM and get enough cash to cover a 30% or higher tip. If you cannot follow these guidelines, do not go out. Your need for a steak is far inferior to my need to stay hydrated while literally jogging from table to table in 99-degree weather in the sun.
Advertisement
We can debate the morality of servers’ wages after this is all over. For now, know that we all want the same thing: for you to have a nice time while keeping those around you safe.
If returning to work has been this chaotic for me, please extend your empathy as to what it must be like for teachers who are walking on eggshells as they return to school. And grocery store employees who never stopped working. And sanitation workers. And, you know, nurses.
Despite the difficulties, I am reveling in the ingenuity and tenacity of our city’s restaurants. I live on a street with many restaurants and bars, and the entire street smelled of sawdust for a day as restaurant owners scrambled to literally build sidewalk and street seating. New Yorkers have always had the remarkable ability to make it work, no matter how much heavy lifting is required.
In this good, tenacious company, I hope we can move forward together.
Do you have a compelling personal story you’d like to see published on HuffPost? Find out what we’re looking for here and send us a pitch!


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-08--Trump Vows Coverage For Preexisting Conditions — As He Fights To Kill It In Court

President Donald Trump ’ s promised breakthrough in health care coverage looks like it could be insurance protection for preexisting conditions .
One sticking point : It ’ s already guaranteed by the Affordable Care Act — which his administration is fighting to kill in the Supreme Court .
“ Over the next two weeks I ’ ll be pursuing a major executive order requiring health insurance companies to cover all preexisting conditions for all companies , ” Trump crowed at a news conference Friday at his Bedminster golf resort in New Jersey .
“ That ’ s a big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very strongly in favor .
We have to cover preexisting conditions.
” The news was so “ major ” that it was touted in an official White House tweet .
But it has been done before .
Health insurance companies have been required to cover people with preexisting conditions ever since the Affordable Care Act , also known as Obamacare , was enacted 10 years ago .
To put an extra head spin on the whole incident , Trump ’ s Department of Justice argued before the Supreme Court in June to shut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for preexisting conditions .
It even specifically singled out coverage for preexisting conditions as something that ’ s got to go .
If the action against Obamacare by Trump ’ s DOJ succeeds , some 20 million Americans would lose their health insurance amid the COVID-19 crisis .
Coverage for preexisting conditions is “ already the law of the land , ” he said .
Now , “ not only is he lying to you about giving you something you already have , he ’ s actively trying to take it away , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was something , we can call it the AFFORDABLE CARE ACT , and it can have exactly those types of protections and coverages and ... .oh right @ BarackObama did that already .
Seems like you are an expert at copy/paste .
First # NAFTA , no the # ACA .
# TrumpIsALaughingStock — The Voice Of Reason ( @ portarican_RT ) August 8 , 2020 I 'll be curious to see how the lawyers try to square Trump signing this executive order while simultaneously arguing before the Supreme Court that the Affordable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be annihilated .
— Steven Dennis ( @ StevenTDennis ) August 8 , 2020 This was six weeks ago .
Is @ realDonaldTrump going to instruct the Solicitor General to withdraw this brief and file a new one arguing for upholding the pre-existing protections ?
Or is he just telling another outright lie ?
https : //t.co/Xp5u2VcWx9 — Max Kennerly ( @ MaxKennerly ) August 8 , 2020

LOADING ERROR LOADING
President Donald Trump’s promised breakthrough in health care coverage looks like it could be insurance protection for preexisting conditions. One sticking point: It’s already guaranteed by the Affordable Care Act — which his administration is fighting to kill in the Supreme Court.
“Over the next two weeks I’ll be pursuing a major executive order requiring health insurance companies to cover all preexisting conditions for all customers,” Trump crowed at a news conference Friday at his Bedminster golf resort in New Jersey. “That’s a big thing. I’ve always been very strongly in favor. We have to cover preexisting conditions.”
Advertisement
The news was so “major” that it was touted in an official White House tweet.
President @realDonaldTrump is pursuing a major executive order requiring health insurance companies to cover all pre-existing conditions. pic.twitter.com/dXMJgjmo0w — The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 8, 2020
Trump claimed it’s “never been done before.”
But it has been done before. Health insurance companies have been required to cover people with preexisting conditions ever since the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, was enacted 10 years ago.
To put an extra head spin on the whole incident, Trump’s Department of Justice argued before the Supreme Court in June to shut down the ACA with its guaranteed coverage for preexisting conditions. It even specifically singled out coverage for preexisting conditions as something that’s got to go.
If the action against Obamacare by Trump’s DOJ succeeds, some 20 million Americans would lose their health insurance amid the COVID-19 crisis.
Advertisement
CNN’s Chris Cuomo slammed Trump’s vow as a “dangerous lie.”
Coverage for preexisting conditions is “already the law of the land,” he said. Now, “not only is he lying to you about giving you something you already have, he’s actively trying to take it away,” Cuomo added.
Twitter went bonkers over Trump’s announcement.
Fun fact: Obamacare, better known as the law, already does that. — Rose Benson (@NotoriousRBF) August 8, 2020
If only there was something, we can call it the AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, and it can have exactly those types of protections and coverages and....oh right @BarackObama did that already. Seems like you are an expert at copy/paste. First #NAFTA, no the #ACA. #TrumpIsALaughingStock — The Voice Of Reason (@portarican_RT) August 8, 2020
Advertisement
I'll be curious to see how the lawyers try to square Trump signing this executive order while simultaneously arguing before the Supreme Court that the Affordable Care Act's protections for pre-existing conditions be annihilated. — Steven Dennis (@StevenTDennis) August 8, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-08--Vaccine Expert Has A Grim Prediction Of What Coronavirus Will Do 'For Years And Years'

Vaccine expert Dr. Peter Hotez on Friday predicted the coronavirus will continue to plague the United States “ for years and years , even after vaccines are out and we get people vaccinated.
” Hotez , the director of the Texas Children ’ s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development , told MSNBC ’ s Nicolle Wallace that COVID-19 in the U.S. was “ still spiraling out of control , ” noting recent forecasts that 300,000 people could die from the disease by December .
Hotez , who has long rejected and contested the anti-vaccine movement , noted how Russian intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disinformation campaign to sow doubt about vaccines in development for the virus .
Anti-science campaigners were fueling further deaths with their stances against social distancing and the wearing of face masks to mitigate its spread , Hotez argued .
He warned the White House will step up its attacks on scientists , as it did with Dr. Anthony Fauci , the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , who has countered the government ’ s narrative on the crisis .
“ So , put your tray-table up in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s going to be a very tough fall , I ’ m afraid , ” said Hotez .
The coronavirus could still be contained , Hotez claimed , but that would require “ leadership at the federal level , and there was never an interest or curiosity for the federal government to lead this , ” a reference to Trump ’ s passing of the buck to governors .
The White House ’ s failure to properly advocate for face masks , support contact tracing and introduce more lockdowns to quell outbreaks “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s worst COVID-19 epidemic and it ’ s still growing , ” he said .
Trump for months downplayed the risk of the illness and later pushed for the premature reopening of schools and businesses , which many pundits claim was a ploy to get the economy back on track ahead of the 2020 election .
“ Sometimes we talk about it as though it ’ s the past and the worst is over .
The worst is yet to come , ” Hotez concluded .
“ We ’ re going to double @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few months and now we know it ’ s not just deaths .
We ’ re seeing long-term injury to the lungs , to the vascular system , to the heart , neurologic deficits , cognitive deficits .
This will plague the country for years and years , even after vaccines are out and we get people vaccinated.
” '' Our epidemic is still spiraling out of control ... with still no plan for control at all and then on top of that we have so many conspiracy theories including those put out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also learned that the Russians are involved '' - @ PeterHotez w/ @ NicolleDWallace pic.twitter.com/NwNZkXlL4j — Deadline White House ( @ DeadlineWH ) August 7 , 2020

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Vaccine expert Dr. Peter Hotez on Friday predicted the coronavirus will continue to plague the United States “for years and years, even after vaccines are out and we get people vaccinated.”
Hotez, the director of the Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, told MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace that COVID-19 in the U.S. was “still spiraling out of control,” noting recent forecasts that 300,000 people could die from the disease by December.
Advertisement
The virus has now killed more than 160,000 people nationwide.
Hotez, who has long rejected and contested the anti-vaccine movement, noted how Russian intelligence officers have reportedly been part of a disinformation campaign to sow doubt about vaccines in development for the virus.
Anti-science campaigners were fueling further deaths with their stances against social distancing and the wearing of face masks to mitigate its spread, Hotez argued.
He warned the White House will step up its attacks on scientists, as it did with Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who has countered the government’s narrative on the crisis.
“So, put your tray-table up in the upright and locked position. It’s going to be a very tough fall, I’m afraid,” said Hotez.
Advertisement
The coronavirus could still be contained, Hotez claimed, but that would require “leadership at the federal level, and there was never an interest or curiosity for the federal government to lead this,” a reference to Trump’s passing of the buck to governors.
The White House’s failure to properly advocate for face masks, support contact tracing and introduce more lockdowns to quell outbreaks “is why we have the world’s worst COVID-19 epidemic and it’s still growing,” he said.
Trump for months downplayed the risk of the illness and later pushed for the premature reopening of schools and businesses, which many pundits claim was a ploy to get the economy back on track ahead of the 2020 election.
“Sometimes we talk about it as though it’s the past and the worst is over. The worst is yet to come,” Hotez concluded. “We’re going to double the number of deaths over the next few months and now we know it’s not just deaths. We’re seeing long-term injury to the lungs, to the vascular system, to the heart, neurologic deficits, cognitive deficits. This will plague the country for years and years, even after vaccines are out and we get people vaccinated.”
Check out Hotez’s comments here:
"Our epidemic is still spiraling out of control... with still no plan for control at all and then on top of that we have so many conspiracy theories including those put out by the White House... We've also learned that the Russians are involved" - @PeterHotez w/ @NicolleDWallace pic.twitter.com/NwNZkXlL4j — Deadline White House (@DeadlineWH) August 7, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-08--Vote-By-Mail Worries Mount As Election Nears

Amid the coronavirus pandemic , voting by mail in a contactless and socially distant way seems like a no-brainer .
States have made the option widely available ― only 10 now require voters to provide an excuse beyond fear of COVID-19 when requesting a ballot by mail ― and some three in four Americans are expected to embrace the option for the Nov. 3 presidential election , up from one in four in the 2018 contest .
— Not all states are equal when it comes to letting voters fix mistakes that lead to rejection of their ballots , such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In a New Jersey special election in May , a whopping 10 % of mailed ballots were rejected .
“ The more complicated we make the ballot-casting process , the more stuff is going to go wrong , ” said Wisconsin activist Karen McKim .
Election management in Wisconsin is as decentralized as it gets , relying as it does on 72 county clerks , 1,850 municipal clerks and thousands of poll workers .
McKim says it ’ s “ unrealistic and unfair ” to expect those workers to be ready for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a few months .
In Wisconsin , requested absentee ballots never got to thousands of voters who asked .
Jonas Zahn , a 46-year-old IBM executive , risked his health to vote in person on April 7 after twice requesting absentee ballots .
“ They still haven ’ t come so they must still be in the mail , ” the Beaver Dam resident said in late July .
States including Wisconsin are now scrambling to add USPS “ intelligent mail ” bar codes to their systems so ballots can be tracked through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Ohio , North Carolina and Georgia , counties are adding ballot-tracking software that gives voters more precise ballot status all the way to election authorities , said Steve Olsen , CEO of BallotTrax , the leading provider .
In some states , voters who don ’ t trust the mail can use drop boxes instead .
But boxes have been vandalized and poorly secured .
Some Republicans say they invite fraud .
The Trump campaign is suing Pennsylvania over plans to use them in November .
Veteran vote-by-mail states send out periodic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ updated signatures .
They also have built “ ballot-curing ” measures into existing systems in case voter signatures don ’ t match what ’ s on record or ballot envelopes arrive damaged or missing required information .
But such systems are far from universal and their absence has led to lawsuits in some states .
“ It ’ s terrible , but it ’ s the best option we have , ” said Jennifer Morrell , a former elections official in Colorado and Utah .
Rigorous training and bipartisan teams reviewing signatures can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but people ’ s signatures change over time and physical ledgers capturing these changes are an endangered species .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
BOSTON (AP) — Brace yourself for what’s expected to be the first U.S. presidential election conducted mostly by mail. It could be messy.
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, voting by mail in a contactless and socially distant way seems like a no-brainer. States have made the option widely available ― only 10 now require voters to provide an excuse beyond fear of COVID-19 when requesting a ballot by mail ― and some three in four Americans are expected to embrace the option for the Nov. 3 presidential election, up from one in four in the 2018 contest.
Advertisement
But running a vote-by-mail election is surprisingly complicated, and there’s a lot of room for things to go wrong. Validating and counting a deluge of posted ballots in an open and accountable way presents a major challenge, one that only about a half dozen states are fully prepared for.
It doesn’t help that President Donald Trump has waged a vigorous offensive against the idea via a barrage of baseless tweets alleging the imminence of massive voting fraud. Turmoil in the U.S. Postal Service has only heightened concerns surrounding the ability of the nation’s myriad election systems to manage a presidential vote.
Oregon, Colorado and Washington have held successful all-mail elections for years and others including Florida and California expanded capacity long before the pandemic. Nearly everywhere else, the technical and logistical challenges loom large for budget-squeezed election officials with limited experience.
Chaotic events during this year’s primaries did not instill confidence. Untold thousands of absentee ballot requests went unfulfilled, and tens of thousands of mailed ballots were rejected for multiple reasons including arriving too late to be counted.
Advertisement
“The system is buckling under the weight of the dramatic surge and demand for absentee mail ballots,” said Wendy Weiser, director of the democracy program at the Brennan Center for Justice. “It hasn’t been built to withstand that high of a volume.”
Among the major concerns:
— Although Congress has sent $400 million to help states deal with pandemic-related pressures on election systems, it’s well short of the estimated $2 billion experts say officials need to be ready for November.
— Not all states are equal when it comes to letting voters fix mistakes that lead to rejection of their ballots, such as failure to sign the mail-in envelope. In a New Jersey special election in May, a whopping 10% of mailed ballots were rejected.
— The rapid introduction of new technologies and processes in state voting systems heightens the risk of foreign interference and insider tampering. That’s true even if simple human error or local maneuvering for political advantage are more likely threats.
— The slower count of mailed ballots could clash with voter expectations of a clear Election Night winner. Election officials have already warned voters across the country that it could take days after the polls close to count all the votes.
Advertisement
— In general, voting by mail is much less forgiving than the in-person method, where a voter’s identity is verified on the spot and any difficulties can be handled by poll workers.
To ensure success, all the pieces of mail-in balloting systems have to be in place well before Election Day. That’s because processing absentee ballots is a complex, multi-step process in most states: Voter fills out application, mails it to local election office; local election office verifies voter’s eligibility, sends back ballot; voter completes ballot, signs envelope, returns it. Election office verifies ballot’s authenticity, counts it.
“The more complicated we make the ballot-casting process, the more stuff is going to go wrong,” said Wisconsin activist Karen McKim. Election management in Wisconsin is as decentralized as it gets, relying as it does on 72 county clerks, 1,850 municipal clerks and thousands of poll workers. McKim says it’s “unrealistic and unfair” to expect those workers to be ready for a flood of absentee ballots in just a few months.
BALLOT REQUESTS
Ahead of multiple primaries this year, some election administrators were buried under an unprecedented flurry of absentee ballot requests. Some blank ballots got misaddressed; others were lost.
In Georgia’s Fulton County, which includes Atlanta and is the state’s most populous, thousands of absentee ballots didn’t reach voters until after the polls had closed, according to local news reports. Washington, D.C., voters were similarly afflicted.
Advertisement
In Wisconsin, requested absentee ballots never got to thousands of voters who asked. Jonas Zahn, a 46-year-old IBM executive, risked his health to vote in person on April 7 after twice requesting absentee ballots. “They still haven’t come so they must still be in the mail,” the Beaver Dam resident said in late July.
In Milwaukee, nearly 2,700 absentee ballots were never mailed because election staff goofed and halted a batch printing of mailing labels, the state election commission later reported. It was just one of multiple snafus.
MAIL RELIABILITY
Will the U.S. Postal Service be up to processing and delivering an election-eve flood of tens of millions of ballots? Under a major Trump donor named postmaster general in June, cost-cutting plans are already triggering delays in ordinary mail. A surge of mailed ballots could put the system under extraordinary strain.
Zahn, the Wisconsin voter, said his local mail is now routed through Milwaukee 50 miles away, meaning mail that reached a neighbor in a day or two a decade ago now takes about a week.
“The pipeline that moves mail between voters and election officials is very leaky,” Charles Stewart III, a political scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, wrote in a 2010 study. In a July update, Stewart estimated that roughly 4% of mail ballots were lost through this process in the 2016 general election.
Advertisement
States including Wisconsin are now scrambling to add USPS “intelligent mail” bar codes to their systems so ballots can be tracked through the mail. In states including Florida, Ohio, North Carolina and Georgia, counties are adding ballot-tracking software that gives voters more precise ballot status all the way to election authorities, said Steve Olsen, CEO of BallotTrax, the leading provider.
But such measures aren’t yet widespread.
In some states, voters who don’t trust the mail can use drop boxes instead. But boxes have been vandalized and poorly secured. Some Republicans say they invite fraud. The Trump campaign is suing Pennsylvania over plans to use them in November.
BALLOTS REJECTED
Once a completed ballot arrives at a local election office, the voter’s eligibility and identity must be verified. Sometimes, missing signatures or unsealed or damaged envelopes can gum up the process.
In Jefferson County, Kentucky, the state’s largest, 3,848 absentee ballots were rejected in the June primary due to lack of a voter signature. That was out of roughly 180,000 absentee ballots cast. Not all states give voters a quick and easy way to fix these problems.
Veteran vote-by-mail states send out periodic mailers to verify voter addresses and get updated signatures. They also have built “ballot-curing” measures into existing systems in case voter signatures don’t match what’s on record or ballot envelopes arrive damaged or missing required information. But such systems are far from universal and their absence has led to lawsuits in some states.
Advertisement
The complexity of signature matching is a major issue. Many election offices register voter signatures from a variety of sources ― for instance, those scribbled with styluses on cramped touchscreens at motor vehicle departments. The result: A matching process prone to human error.
“It’s terrible, but it’s the best option we have,” said Jennifer Morrell, a former elections official in Colorado and Utah. Rigorous training and bipartisan teams reviewing signatures can help mitigate some of the concerns, but people’s signatures change over time and physical ledgers capturing these changes are an endangered species.
But the bigger risk is that first-time and minority voters — who more often vote Democratic — will have their signatures rejected, studies show.
University of Florida political scientist Daniel Smith found that Black and Latino voters and those under age 30 in the state were at least twice as likely as older and white voters to have ballots rejected over signature mismatches.
COUNTING AND CUSTODY
It took nearly two weeks for Philadelphia to count 140,000 mailed ballots after the June 2 primary. In New York City, it took six weeks after the June 23 primary to tally absentee ballots in one congressional primary where a dispute over ballots lacking postmarks ended up in federal court.
Advertisement
Ensuring a trustworthy chain of ballot custody and bipartisan oversight contributes to those delays. And sometimes insider fraud does happen. A former Democratic Pennsylvania congressman was recently indicted for it.
Which is why election officials including Neal Kelley, the registrar in Orange County, California, urge transparency measures for ballot counting such as live video streaming and obligatory audits.
Eighty percent of the county’s residents voted absentee in this year’s primary, up from 60% in 2018. Kelley said it took time to get all the pieces in place — he’s developed homegrown ballot-tracking — to handle such capacity and instill voter confidence.