npr--2020-05-26--New California Relief Program for Undocumented Overwhelmed By Demand

New California Relief Program for Undocumented Overwhelmed By Demand California 's first-of-its-kind effort to get cash aid into the hands of undocumented workers affected by the coronavirus got off to a bumpy start over the past week .
Across the state , tens of thousands of immigrants calling to apply encountered busy signals , crashed phone lines and frustration .
`` People are desperate right now , '' says Christopher Martinez , the chief program officer for Catholic Charities of the East Bay , `` that 's why they 're reaching out .
And they 're very worried that these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we 're just asking people to keep trying . ''
Catholic Charities is one of a dozen nonprofit and immigrant rights groups the state of California has partnered with to try to reach workers who are living here illegally .
Many are doing work that qualifies as an essential work , but their status makes them ineligible for federal pandemic relief as well as most state and local relief .
`` They were providing valuable services to our community and , because of the pandemic , essentially they 're at zero income right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They were day care providers , house cleaners , providing painting or general contract work . ''
Applicants must meet certain criteria .
For those who are approved , the program offers a direct cash payment of $ 500 per adult , $ 1,000 max per family .
Because of virus-related health concerns , as well as deportation fears , there are no in-person or online applications for the aid money .
It 's almost all processed electronically and through phone lines .
Callers often have no ability to leave phone messages , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consistently overloaded .
`` I dial and dial and dial and I get a busy signal , '' says Jaime , an immigrant from El Salvador , who did not want his last name used because of his status .
`` I feel like the opportunity goes away every day , the funds are running lower every day , and no one picks up my call . ''
The funds are being doled out on a first-come , first-served basis until the taxpayer-funded $ 75 million pot of money runs out .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees pledged an additional $ 50 million in direct financial aid to families of undocumented immigrants .
Jaime says his wife and two children , ages 8 and 5 , are scared .
He works construction in Southern California installing heating and air-conditioning units .
He says he 's paid per installation , but since March , work had been sporadic .
Two weeks ago , it stopped .
His children are U.S. citizens and they qualify for food stamps and some other aid , but not for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children of undocumented workers .
Jaime says he has never before asked for government assistance .
`` I 've always provided with my own work , '' he says , proudly .
But he worries about what will happen as the pandemic wears on .
`` I do n't know what I 'll do , but I know it will get much harder for me . ''
The state of California is working with groups already known and trusted in these communities by people whose immigration status can make them fearful of authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Charities is responsible for implementing the program in the broader region .
It has averaged nearly 200,000 calls a day , so far .
On several days , the call volume crashed lines .
The group has just 100 people answering phones .
`` It really speaks to how enormous the need is , '' Martinez says .
`` Even if we had 500 agents ready to answer calls , we simply would n't be able to get to everybody . ''
Overloaded phone lines are n't the only obstacle .
Some applicants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Others were n't comfortable downloading apps on their phones .
`` Part of the challenge of this process in distributing disaster relief funding is the fact that we do have to walk folks through a process to be able to utilize their phones to get us documents or data '' and to use their mobile phones for e-signatures , says Diana Tellefson-Torres who is the executive director of the United Farm Workers Foundation , a grassroots organization that 's processing and evaluating aid applications in the Central Valley .
`` That is adding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phone . ''
She and her staff often advise applicants with limited tech experience to enlist the help of their teenage children or someone else in the household who is more tech-savvy .
Despite the challenges , immigrants are getting help .
For example , in the first week , Bay Area groups have processed more than 2,500 cash cards worth more than $ 1.2 million , says spokeswoman Mary Kuhn with Catholic Charities .
California Department of Social Services spokesman Jason Montiel declined to answer questions about the program and its rocky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Montiel said only that , `` The 12 nonprofits are receiving a high number of inquiries and are working as quickly as possible to respond to people applying for assistance on a first come , first served basis .
Nonprofits are working to set up additional phone lines for expanded capacity . ''
The scramble is part of a basic math problem : There 's only enough aid money for 250,000 people .
But there are an estimated 2 million workers in the state illegally , potentially leaving some 1.75 million people in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been hearing the needs and the trauma and the stress from our undocumented community since the pandemic rolled out , asking what would happen to them if they would get sick , '' says Luz Gallegos , the community program director at TODEC Legal Center based in Perris , Calif. , one of the nonprofits processing applications .
Gallegos concedes that $ 500 may not cover all expenses , but applicants tell her they 'll use the money to buy food or medications , pay a phone bill or use it for transportation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just to hear folks who have gone through the process and just be so thankful , '' Gallegos says .
California Gov .
Gavin Newsom announced the program in April , saying he felt a deep sense of gratitude to undocumented immigrants who `` are still in fear of deportation , but are still addressing the essential needs of tens of millions of Californians . ''
California officials say undocumented immigrants paid more than $ 2.5 billion in state and local taxes last year .
The overwhelming demand this week has prompted some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of state funding .
That 's unlikely given the state 's enormous budget woes in the pandemic 's wake .
The program has also accelerated efforts by nonprofits to boost their own fundraising for immigrants in need .
A conservative group had sued the state to try to stop taxpayer funds going to undocumented immigrants .
The state Supreme Court dismissed the lawsuit .

New California Relief Program for Undocumented Overwhelmed By Demand
Enlarge this image toggle caption Liz Hafalia/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images Liz Hafalia/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images
California's first-of-its-kind effort to get cash aid into the hands of undocumented workers affected by the coronavirus got off to a bumpy start over the past week.
Across the state, tens of thousands of immigrants calling to apply encountered busy signals, crashed phone lines and frustration.
"People are desperate right now," says Christopher Martinez, the chief program officer for Catholic Charities of the East Bay, "that's why they're reaching out. And they're very worried that these funds will run out quickly. But we're just asking people to keep trying."
Catholic Charities is one of a dozen nonprofit and immigrant rights groups the state of California has partnered with to try to reach workers who are living here illegally. Many are doing work that qualifies as an essential work, but their status makes them ineligible for federal pandemic relief as well as most state and local relief.
"They were providing valuable services to our community and, because of the pandemic, essentially they're at zero income right now," says Martinez. "They were day care providers, house cleaners, providing painting or general contract work."
Applicants must meet certain criteria. For those who are approved, the program offers a direct cash payment of $500 per adult, $1,000 max per family.
Because of virus-related health concerns, as well as deportation fears, there are no in-person or online applications for the aid money. It's almost all processed electronically and through phone lines. Callers often have no ability to leave phone messages, so the lines so far have been consistently overloaded.
"I dial and dial and dial and I get a busy signal," says Jaime, an immigrant from El Salvador, who did not want his last name used because of his status. "I feel like the opportunity goes away every day, the funds are running lower every day, and no one picks up my call."
The funds are being doled out on a first-come, first-served basis until the taxpayer-funded $75 million pot of money runs out. A group of foundations and private donors called Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees pledged an additional $50 million in direct financial aid to families of undocumented immigrants.
Jaime says his wife and two children, ages 8 and 5, are scared. He works construction in Southern California installing heating and air-conditioning units. He says he's paid per installation, but since March, work had been sporadic. Two weeks ago, it stopped.
His children are U.S. citizens and they qualify for food stamps and some other aid, but not for federal coronavirus relief funds because they are children of undocumented workers. Jaime says he has never before asked for government assistance.
"I've always provided with my own work," he says, proudly. But he worries about what will happen as the pandemic wears on. "I don't know what I'll do, but I know it will get much harder for me."
The state of California is working with groups already known and trusted in these communities by people whose immigration status can make them fearful of authorities.
A consortium of Bay Area Catholic Charities is responsible for implementing the program in the broader region. It has averaged nearly 200,000 calls a day, so far. On several days, the call volume crashed lines. The group has just 100 people answering phones.
"It really speaks to how enormous the need is," Martinez says. "Even if we had 500 agents ready to answer calls, we simply wouldn't be able to get to everybody."
Overloaded phone lines aren't the only obstacle. Some applicants don't have access to computers. Others weren't comfortable downloading apps on their phones.
"Part of the challenge of this process in distributing disaster relief funding is the fact that we do have to walk folks through a process to be able to utilize their phones to get us documents or data" and to use their mobile phones for e-signatures, says Diana Tellefson-Torres who is the executive director of the United Farm Workers Foundation, a grassroots organization that's processing and evaluating aid applications in the Central Valley. "That is adding more time to serve folks over the phone."
She and her staff often advise applicants with limited tech experience to enlist the help of their teenage children or someone else in the household who is more tech-savvy.
Despite the challenges, immigrants are getting help. For example, in the first week, Bay Area groups have processed more than 2,500 cash cards worth more than $1.2 million, says spokeswoman Mary Kuhn with Catholic Charities.
California Department of Social Services spokesman Jason Montiel declined to answer questions about the program and its rocky rollout. In an emailed statement, Montiel said only that, "The 12 nonprofits are receiving a high number of inquiries and are working as quickly as possible to respond to people applying for assistance on a first come, first served basis. Nonprofits are working to set up additional phone lines for expanded capacity."
The scramble is part of a basic math problem: There's only enough aid money for 250,000 people. But there are an estimated 2 million workers in the state illegally, potentially leaving some 1.75 million people in need without aid.
"We have been hearing the needs and the trauma and the stress from our undocumented community since the pandemic rolled out, asking what would happen to them if they would get sick," says Luz Gallegos, the community program director at TODEC Legal Center based in Perris, Calif., one of the nonprofits processing applications.
Gallegos concedes that $500 may not cover all expenses, but applicants tell her they'll use the money to buy food or medications, pay a phone bill or use it for transportation.
"It's been very emotional just to hear folks who have gone through the process and just be so thankful," Gallegos says.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the program in April, saying he felt a deep sense of gratitude to undocumented immigrants who "are still in fear of deportation, but are still addressing the essential needs of tens of millions of Californians."
California officials say undocumented immigrants paid more than $2.5 billion in state and local taxes last year.
The overwhelming demand this week has prompted some charities to call for a second round of state funding. That's unlikely given the state's enormous budget woes in the pandemic's wake.
The program has also accelerated efforts by nonprofits to boost their own fundraising for immigrants in need.
A conservative group had sued the state to try to stop taxpayer funds going to undocumented immigrants. The state Supreme Court dismissed the lawsuit.


npr--2020-05-26--Trump Team Killed Rule Designed To Protect Health Workers From Pandemic Like COVID-19

Trump Team Killed Rule Designed To Protect Health Workers From Pandemic Like COVID-19 When President Trump took office in 2017 , his team stopped work on new federal regulations that would have forced the health care industry to prepare for an airborne infectious disease pandemic such as COVID-19 .
That decision is documented in federal records reviewed by NPR .
`` If that rule had gone into effect , then every hospital , every nursing home would essentially have to have a plan where they made sure they had enough respirators and they were prepared for this sort of pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was head of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration until January 2017 .
There are still no specific federal regulations protecting health care workers from deadly airborne pathogens such as influenza , tuberculosis or the coronavirus .
This fact hit home during the last respiratory pandemic , the H1N1 outbreak in 2009 .
Thousands of Americans died and dozens of health care workers got sick .
At least four nurses died .
Studies conducted after the H1N1 crisis found voluntary federal safety guidelines designed to limit the spread of airborne pathogens in medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There were also shortages of personal protective equipment .
`` H1N1 made it very clear OSHA did not have adequate standards for airborne transmission and contact transmission , and so we began writing a standard to do that , '' Michaels said .
OSHA experts were confident new airborne infectious disease regulations would make hospitals and nursing homes safer when future pandemics hit .
That 's because similar rules had already been created for bloodborne pathogens such as Ebola and hepatitis .
Those rules , implemented during the HIV/AIDS epidemic , forced the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and buy more equipment designed to protect staff and patients .
But making a new infectious disease regulation , affecting much of the American health care system , is time-consuming and contentious .
It requires lengthy consultation with scientists , doctors and other state and federal regulatory agencies as well as the nursing home and hospital industries that would be forced to implement the standard .
Federal records reviewed by NPR show OSHA went step by step through that process for six years , and by early 2016 the new infectious disease rule @ @ @ @ @ @ @ formally added it to a list of regulations scheduled to be implemented in 2017 .
Then came the presidential election .
In the spring of 2017 , the Trump team formally stripped OSHA 's airborne infectious disease rule from the regulatory agenda .
NPR could find no indication the new administration had specific policy concerns about the infectious disease rules .
Instead , the decision appeared to be part of a wider effort to cut regulations and bureaucratic oversight .
`` Earlier this year we set a target of adding zero new regulatory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump said in December 2017 .
`` As a result , the never-ending growth of red tape in America has come to a sudden , screeching and beautiful halt . ''
The impact on the federal effort to protect health care workers from diseases such as COVID-19 was immediate .
`` The infectious disease standard was put on the back burner .
Work stopped , '' said Michaels , now a professor at George Washington University .
This spring , hospitals and nursing homes found themselves facing much of the same crisis they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many facilities unprepared and unequipped .
Only this time the scale was larger and deadlier .
The federal government reports that at least 43,000 front-line health care workers have gotten sick , many infected , while caring for COVID-19 patients in facilities where personal protective equipment was being rationed .
`` Even just a few months ago , I could n't have imagined that I would have been on a Zoom call reading out the names of registered nurses who have died on the front lines of a pandemic , '' said Bonnie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United union .
`` The memorial was not only about grief .
It was also about anger . ''
Castillo said Congress should immediately implement the infectious disease regulations shelved by the Trump administration as an emergency rule before a second wave of the coronavirus hits .
`` Which obviously would mandate that employers have the highest level of PPE , not the lowest , '' she said .
Democrats in the House of Representatives passed a bill in mid-May that would do so , but the Republican-controlled Senate has blocked the measure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rules .
The Trump administration has n't responded to NPR 's repeated inquiries about the infectious disease rule .
But in a briefing call with lawmakers this month , the current head of OSHA , Loren Sweatt , argued enough rules are already in place to protect workers .
`` We have mandatory standards related to personal protective equipment and bloodborne pathogens and sanitation standards , '' Sweatt said in a recording provided to NPR .
`` We have existing standards that can address this area . ''
The hospital industry also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foster with the American Hospital Association said voluntary guidelines for airborne pandemics are adequate .
`` You 're right ; they 're not regulations , but they are the guidance that we want to follow , '' Foster said .
`` They set forth the expectation for infection control , so in a sense they 're just like regulations . ''
But the infectious disease standard would have required the health care industry to do far more .
It sets out specific standards for planning and training .
It would also have forced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handle `` surges '' of sick patients such as the ones seen with COVID-19 .
NPR also found the lack of fixed regulations allowed the Trump administration to relax worker safety guidelines .
Federal agencies did so repeatedly this spring as COVID-19 spread and shortages of personal protective equipment worsened .
As a consequence , hospitals could say they were meeting federal guidelines while requiring doctors and nurses to reuse masks and protective gowns after exposure to sick patients .

Trump Team Killed Rule Designed To Protect Health Workers From Pandemic Like COVID-19
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ronen Tivony/Echoes Wire/Barcroft Media via Getty Images Ronen Tivony/Echoes Wire/Barcroft Media via Getty Images
When President Trump took office in 2017, his team stopped work on new federal regulations that would have forced the health care industry to prepare for an airborne infectious disease pandemic such as COVID-19. That decision is documented in federal records reviewed by NPR.
"If that rule had gone into effect, then every hospital, every nursing home would essentially have to have a plan where they made sure they had enough respirators and they were prepared for this sort of pandemic," said David Michaels, who was head of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration until January 2017.
There are still no specific federal regulations protecting health care workers from deadly airborne pathogens such as influenza, tuberculosis or the coronavirus. This fact hit home during the last respiratory pandemic, the H1N1 outbreak in 2009. Thousands of Americans died and dozens of health care workers got sick. At least four nurses died.
Studies conducted after the H1N1 crisis found voluntary federal safety guidelines designed to limit the spread of airborne pathogens in medical facilities often weren't being followed. There were also shortages of personal protective equipment.
"H1N1 made it very clear OSHA did not have adequate standards for airborne transmission and contact transmission, and so we began writing a standard to do that," Michaels said.
HIV/AIDS rule set the standard for protecting workers
OSHA experts were confident new airborne infectious disease regulations would make hospitals and nursing homes safer when future pandemics hit. That's because similar rules had already been created for bloodborne pathogens such as Ebola and hepatitis.
Those rules, implemented during the HIV/AIDS epidemic, forced the health care industry to adopt safety plans and buy more equipment designed to protect staff and patients.
But making a new infectious disease regulation, affecting much of the American health care system, is time-consuming and contentious. It requires lengthy consultation with scientists, doctors and other state and federal regulatory agencies as well as the nursing home and hospital industries that would be forced to implement the standard.
Federal records reviewed by NPR show OSHA went step by step through that process for six years, and by early 2016 the new infectious disease rule was ready. The Obama White House formally added it to a list of regulations scheduled to be implemented in 2017.
Then came the presidential election.
An emphasis on deregulation
In the spring of 2017, the Trump team formally stripped OSHA's airborne infectious disease rule from the regulatory agenda. NPR could find no indication the new administration had specific policy concerns about the infectious disease rules.
Instead, the decision appeared to be part of a wider effort to cut regulations and bureaucratic oversight.
"Earlier this year we set a target of adding zero new regulatory costs onto the American economy," Trump said in December 2017. "As a result, the never-ending growth of red tape in America has come to a sudden, screeching and beautiful halt."
The impact on the federal effort to protect health care workers from diseases such as COVID-19 was immediate.
"The infectious disease standard was put on the back burner. Work stopped," said Michaels, now a professor at George Washington University.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Elaine Thompson/AP Elaine Thompson/AP
A deadly escalation of the H1N1 crisis
This spring, hospitals and nursing homes found themselves facing much of the same crisis they experienced during the H1N1 outbreak, with many facilities unprepared and unequipped. Only this time the scale was larger and deadlier.
The federal government reports that at least 43,000 front-line health care workers have gotten sick, many infected, while caring for COVID-19 patients in facilities where personal protective equipment was being rationed.
"Even just a few months ago, I couldn't have imagined that I would have been on a Zoom call reading out the names of registered nurses who have died on the front lines of a pandemic," said Bonnie Castillo, who heads the National Nurses United union.
"The memorial was not only about grief. It was also about anger."
OSHA's infectious disease rule debated in Washington
Castillo said Congress should immediately implement the infectious disease regulations shelved by the Trump administration as an emergency rule before a second wave of the coronavirus hits.
"Which obviously would mandate that employers have the highest level of PPE, not the lowest," she said.
Democrats in the House of Representatives passed a bill in mid-May that would do so, but the Republican-controlled Senate has blocked the measure, and the White House still opposes the rules.
The Trump administration hasn't responded to NPR's repeated inquiries about the infectious disease rule. But in a briefing call with lawmakers this month, the current head of OSHA, Loren Sweatt, argued enough rules are already in place to protect workers.
"We have mandatory standards related to personal protective equipment and bloodborne pathogens and sanitation standards," Sweatt said in a recording provided to NPR. "We have existing standards that can address this area."
The hospital industry also opposes the new safety rules. Nancy Foster with the American Hospital Association said voluntary guidelines for airborne pandemics are adequate.
"You're right; they're not regulations, but they are the guidance that we want to follow," Foster said. "They set forth the expectation for infection control, so in a sense they're just like regulations."
But the infectious disease standard would have required the health care industry to do far more. It sets out specific standards for planning and training. It would also have forced facilities to stockpile personal protective equipment to handle "surges" of sick patients such as the ones seen with COVID-19.
NPR also found the lack of fixed regulations allowed the Trump administration to relax worker safety guidelines. Federal agencies did so repeatedly this spring as COVID-19 spread and shortages of personal protective equipment worsened.
As a consequence, hospitals could say they were meeting federal guidelines while requiring doctors and nurses to reuse masks and protective gowns after exposure to sick patients.


npr--2020-05-26--White Woman Who Called Police On Black Bird-Watcher In Central Park Has Been Fired

White Woman Who Called Police On Black Bird-Watcher In Central Park Has Been Fired A black man says he asked a white woman in Central Park to put her dog on a leash .
Then video shows her calling police and telling emergency operators that the man was threatening her and her dog .
The woman , who has been identified as Amy Cooper , has apologized .
But by Tuesday afternoon she was fired from her job at an investment management firm , the employer said .
The man who shot the video of the encounter , Christian Cooper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the woman did was `` pretty crappy without a doubt . ''
But , wonders if the response to her actions was `` really proportionate . ''
`` I 'm not sure that her one minute of poor decision-making , bad judgment and , without question , racist response necessarily has to define her completely , '' Christian Cooper said .
Her now former employer , Franklin Templeton , said in a statement posted to Twitter she had been fired , less than a day after announcing she was placed on administrative leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the incident in Central Park yesterday , we have made the decision to terminate the employee involved , effective immediately .
We do not tolerate racism of any kind at Franklin Templeton , '' the company said .
After video of the encounter was posted to social media , Amy Cooper said her behavior was `` unacceptable . ''
`` And you know words are just words and I ca n't undo what I did .
But I sincerely and humbly apologize to everyone .
Especially to that man , his family , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NBC New York on Monday evening .
NPR has requested comment from Amy Cooper but she has not immediately responded .
Christian Cooper said he found the level of attention his recorded interaction with the woman is `` a little stunning '' and also shared empathy for Amy Cooper .
`` It makes me concerned because if it was this stunning for me , I can only imagine what it must have been like for Ms. Cooper , '' Christian Cooper said .
`` I know I 'm not supposed to feel that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it 's got to be harsh . ''
Since Christian Cooper recorded part of their encounter Monday , it has since been viewed hundreds of thousands of times on social media .
The Ramble is a wooded area of Central Park , where dogs are required to be leashed .
According to Christian Cooper , he started recording after asking the woman to leash her dog .
The woman is seen in the video approaching the man , holding the dog 's leash in one hand and pulling her dog by the collar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't come close to me , '' he says , appearing not to move closer to her or retreat from her advancement .
As she approaches , she tells him she is going to take a picture of him and call police if he did n't stop recording her .
Christian Cooper tells her calmly , `` Please call the cops .
Please call the cops . ''
`` I 'm going to tell them there 's an African American man threatening my life , '' she responds .
She backs away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continuing to drag the dog by its collar .
`` I 'm in the Ramble , and there 's a man , African American , he 's got a bicycle helmet .
He 's recording me and threatening me and my dog , '' she said .
She repeats herself once more , though Christian Cooper never appears to come any closer to her .
By the third time , she is yelling into the phone with far more panic in her voice .
`` I 'm sorry .
I ca n't hear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being threatened by a man into the Ramble .
Please send the cops immediately ! ''
she screams .
The aftermath of the incident In a statement to CNN , Amy Cooper said , `` I 'm not a racist .
I did not mean to harm that man in any way , '' adding she also did n't intend to hurt the African American community .
The encounter is being highlighted as another example of a white person calling law enforcement to report black people for doing seemingly banal things .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the threat was , '' Christian Cooper said to NPR .
`` She was threatening to bring the machine that has so long ground us black people to powder ... solely on the basis of our black skin , down on my head on the word of , you know , an innocent young white woman . ''
He said in the moment he had a choice , `` participate in my own dehumanization '' or continue recording until the dog was on the leash .
That is where the video that runs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cooper putting the leash on her dog and Christian Cooper saying `` Thank You . ''
Amy Cooper 's dog has been `` voluntarily surrendered , '' according to statement posted on Facebook by the Abandoned Angels Cocker Spaniel Rescue Inc. '' As of this evening , the owner has voluntarily surrendered the dog in question to our rescue while this matter is being addressed , '' the group said .
The dog was adopted from the rescue a few years ago , the group added .
It reported the dog is `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it will not be making any further statements on the matter .

White Woman Who Called Police On Black Bird-Watcher In Central Park Has Been Fired
Enlarge this image toggle caption Christian Cooper via Facebook/Screenshot by NPR Christian Cooper via Facebook/Screenshot by NPR
Updated at 7:58 p.m. ET
A black man says he asked a white woman in Central Park to put her dog on a leash.
Then, video shows, she called the police and told emergency operators that the man was threatening her and her dog. The woman, who has been identified as Amy Cooper, has apologized. But by Tuesday afternoon, she was fired from her job at an investment management firm, the employer said.
The man who shot the video of the encounter, Christian Cooper, told NPR Tuesday evening, what the woman did was "pretty crappy without a doubt." But, he wonders whether the response to her actions was "really proportionate."
"I'm not sure that her one minute of poor decision-making, bad judgment and, without question, racist response necessarily has to define her completely," Christian Cooper said.
Her now former employer, Franklin Templeton, said in a statement posted to Twitter she had been fired, less than a day after announcing she was placed on administrative leave.
"Following our internal review of the incident in Central Park yesterday, we have made the decision to terminate the employee involved, effective immediately. We do not tolerate racism of any kind at Franklin Templeton," the company said.
After video of the encounter was posted to social media, Amy Cooper said her behavior was "unacceptable."
"And you know words are just words and I can't undo what I did. But I sincerely and humbly apologize to everyone. Especially to that man, his family," she said in an interview with NBC New York on Monday evening.
NPR has requested comment from Amy Cooper but she has not immediately responded.
Christian Cooper said he found the level of attention his recorded interaction with the woman is "a little stunning" and also expressed empathy for Amy Cooper.
"It makes me concerned because if it was this stunning for me, I can only imagine what it must have been like for Ms. Cooper," Christian Cooper said.
"I know I'm not supposed to feel that way, but, you know, it's got to be harsh."
Video of the encounter
Since Christian Cooper recorded part of their encounter Monday, it has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times on social media.
The Ramble is a wooded area of Central Park where dogs are required to be leashed. According to Christian Cooper, he started recording after asking the woman to leash her dog.
The woman is seen in the video approaching the man, holding the dog's leash in one hand and pulling her dog by the collar with her other hand.
"Please don't come close to me," he says, appearing not to move toward her or to retreat.
As she approaches, she tells him she is going to take a picture of him and call police if he didn't stop recording her.
Christian Cooper tells her calmly, "Please call the cops. Please call the cops."
"I'm going to tell them there's an African American man threatening my life," she responds.
She backs away from him and places the call while continuing to drag the dog by its collar.
"I'm in the Ramble, and there's a man, African American, he's got a bicycle helmet. He's recording me and threatening me and my dog," she said.
She repeats herself once more, though Christian Cooper never appears to come any closer to her.
By the third time, she is yelling into the phone with far more panic in her voice.
"I'm sorry. I can't hear. Are you there? I'm being threatened by a man into the Ramble. Please send the cops immediately!" she screams.
The aftermath of the incident
In a statement to CNN, Amy Cooper said, "I'm not a racist. I did not mean to harm that man in any way," adding she also didn't intend to hurt the African American community.
The encounter is being highlighted as another example of a white person calling law enforcement to report black people for doing seemingly banal things.
"Obviously, I was aware of what the threat was," Christian Cooper said to NPR.
"She was threatening to bring the machine that has so long ground us black people to powder ... solely on the basis of our black skin, down on my head on the word of, you know, an innocent young white woman."
He said in the moment he had a choice, "participate in my own dehumanization" or continue recording until the dog was on the leash.
That is where the video that runs roughly 70 seconds ends, with Amy Cooper putting the leash on her dog and Christian Cooper saying, "Thank you."
Amy Cooper's dog with rescue group
Amy Cooper's dog has been "voluntarily surrendered," according to statement posted on Facebook by the Abandoned Angels Cocker Spaniel Rescue Inc.
"As of this evening, the owner has voluntarily surrendered the dog in question to our rescue while this matter is being addressed," the group said.
The dog was adopted from the rescue a few years ago, the group added. It reported the dog is "safe and in good health" and said it will not be making any further statements on the matter.


npr--2020-05-26--Six Flags Will Reopen Its First Park On June 5, Requiring Masks And Health Checks

Six Flags Will Reopen Its First Park On June 5 , Requiring Masks And Health Checks People visiting Six Flags theme parks and water parks this summer will be required to wear face masks at all times , the company said , as it prepares to reopen its first park to visitors since the coronavirus forced mass closures .
Six Flags said it also will use thermal imaging to screen temperatures of guests and employees before they can enter .
Frontier City in Oklahoma City will reopen on June 5 — the first Six Flags park to do so .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make reservations and bring masks ; anyone who does n't have a face covering will need to buy one at the gate , the company said .
`` All guests over the age of [ 2 ] and all team members will be required to wear face masks covering the nose and mouth throughout their visit/work day , '' the company announced Tuesday .
Special accommodations can be made for people with `` disabilities , health concerns , religious restrictions , or other circumstances '' that would prevent them from wearing masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also be restricted , and people will be required to maintain physical distance as they stand in line for rides , food and other attractions .
The safety protocols will apply across all of Six Flags ' 26 locations in the U.S. , Mexico and Canada .
`` Frontier City , like all Six Flags parks , is an outdoor attraction that poses a significantly lower risk of exposure than indoor venues , '' Six Flags President and CEO Mike Spanos said in a statement about the plans .
He added , `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hundreds of acres , we can easily manage guest throughput to achieve proper social distancing . ''
Every U.S. state is in the process of relaxing at least some of the restrictions put in place in the weeks after the COVID-19 outbreak was declared a global pandemic .
Many Americans and public officials alike are weighing how to curb the coronavirus while also restarting normal activities and planning for the summer .
Oklahoma began allowing a broad range of businesses to reopen on May 1 , from restaurant dining rooms to movie theaters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions when it entered the second phase of its reopening plan May 15 .
It 's poised to begin the third phase on Monday .
Oklahoma was reporting more than 6,100 COVID-19 cases and 318 deaths as of Tuesday morning , according to the State Department of Health .
More than 2,800 cases – roughly 46 % of the current total — have been reported in the past 30 days .
The state said more than 4,800 people have recovered from the respiratory disease .

Six Flags Will Reopen Its First Park On June 5, Requiring Masks And Health Checks
Enlarge this image toggle caption Business Wire Business Wire
People visiting Six Flags theme parks and water parks this summer will be required to wear face masks at all times, the company said, as it prepares to reopen its first park to visitors since the coronavirus forced mass closures. Six Flags said it also will use thermal imaging to screen temperatures of guests and employees before they can enter.
Frontier City in Oklahoma City will reopen on June 5 — the first Six Flags park to do so. But before visiting, customers will need to make reservations and bring masks; anyone who doesn't have a face covering will need to buy one at the gate, the company said.
"All guests over the age of [2] and all team members will be required to wear face masks covering the nose and mouth throughout their visit/work day," the company announced Tuesday. Special accommodations can be made for people with "disabilities, health concerns, religious restrictions, or other circumstances" that would prevent them from wearing masks, Six Flags said.
Capacity will also be restricted, and people will be required to maintain physical distance as they stand in line for rides, food and other attractions. The safety protocols will apply across all of Six Flags' 26 locations in the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
"Frontier City, like all Six Flags parks, is an outdoor attraction that poses a significantly lower risk of exposure than indoor venues," Six Flags President and CEO Mike Spanos said in a statement about the plans. He added, "Because our parks cover dozens or even hundreds of acres, we can easily manage guest throughput to achieve proper social distancing."
Every U.S. state is in the process of relaxing at least some of the restrictions put in place in the weeks after the COVID-19 outbreak was declared a global pandemic. Many Americans and public officials alike are weighing how to curb the coronavirus while also restarting normal activities and planning for the summer.
Oklahoma began allowing a broad range of businesses to reopen on May 1, from restaurant dining rooms to movie theaters and gyms. The state further relaxed restrictions when it entered the second phase of its reopening plan May 15. It's poised to begin the third phase on Monday.
Oklahoma was reporting more than 6,100 COVID-19 cases and 318 deaths as of Tuesday morning, according to the State Department of Health. More than 2,800 cases – roughly 46% of the current total — have been reported in the past 30 days. The state said more than 4,800 people have recovered from the respiratory disease.


npr--2020-05-27--A Bold Pitch To Boost School Funding For The Nation's Most Vulnerable Students

A Bold Pitch To Boost School Funding For The Nation 's Most Vulnerable Students School district lines have become engines of inequity in many states .
Not only can they be used to keep children out of a neighborhood 's schools , they can also keep a district 's wealth in .
But with many districts facing severe budget cuts because of the coronavirus pandemic , a new report proposes a radical solution : Leave the lines , but spread the wealth .
The report , titled Clean Slate , comes from EdBuild , a nonprofit that advocates for equitable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pitch to many district and state leaders that recommends distributing local property tax revenue more broadly — at the county or even state level .
According to EdBuild , only 13 states currently do this .
Do n't see the graphic above ?
Click here .
After a nationwide analysis of school funding data , the report found , `` the bigger the school district taxing jurisdiction , the more equity was being created , '' says Rebecca Sibilia , EdBuild 's founder and CEO .
Under this reimagining of America 's school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 2 out of 3 K-12 students ( 69 % ) — and 76 % of low-income students — would receive equal or greater school funding than they do now , an average increase of nearly $ 1,000 per student .
Sibilia admits some communities may see this idea as a threat to their local control of schools , but funding should not be confused with governance , she says .
`` I hope this report will take the first step toward really challenging this question of whether or not being able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep all of the money that you happen to have , '' Sibilia says .
To understand Sibilia 's proposed solution , here 's a quick primer on the system as it is : On average , America 's schools receive nearly half of their funding from local sources , mostly property taxes .
But those local dollars usually do n't cross school district lines .
So if one community 's property wealth far surpasses that of its neighbors across the road , the inequity will show up not just in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of businesses , but in classroom spending , too .
According to EdBuild , in counties with more than one school district , the average difference between the highest- and lowest-wealth district is more than $ 6,000 per student .
And these spending inequities within a given county are most common in northern states .
Do n't see the graphic above ?
Click here .
The report found that school districts in the South — in a triangle tipped by Maryland , Florida and Louisiana — distribute local funding more equitably than their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reason : Districts in the South are larger , and tend to follow county lines .
Georgia , for example , has 159 counties , but the vast majority ( 139 ) have just one school district in them , Sibilia says .
New York , on the other hand , has just 62 counties , but 57 contain two or more districts .
The average difference in local revenue per student , between the highest and lowest-wealth districts in the same Georgia county is $ 186 .
In New York , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In addition to New York , Massachusetts , New Jersey , Connecticut and California all rank among the worst states in the nation for cross-border equity .
Sibilia says this idea that broader , county- or state-based school district spending allows for more equitable local funding , has come up again and again in previous EdBuild reports .
`` Last year we put out a report that highlighted the 969 worst school districts , in terms of both racial and funding gaps .
Only 66 of those school district borders , the worst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that draw school district funding lines along counties . ''
EdBuild 's report comes as districts across the country face severe budget cuts as a result of the coronavirus pandemic .
State revenues , driven largely by income and sales taxes , make up the other half of schools ' funding , after local sources , and with revenues crashing states have already warned schools to prepare for steep cuts .
That 's why , Sibilia says , it 's more important than ever for state lawmakers to rethink how communities collect and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I would find it inexplicable that [ state lawmakers ] do n't do that at the same time that they take the massive cuts that we know are coming , '' Sibilia says .
`` If they do the dual injustice of taking the cuts from the state funds and the injustice of not taking action to spread out local wealth at the same time , then we 're going to just continue to repeat the same problems that have always existed in school funding . ''
The chief obstacle to Sibilia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while nearly 70 % of students would benefit , that leaves almost a third of students who would not .
Those students would see declines in local school funding , making this recommendation political kryptonite in many communities .
Even in places that may be receptive , change likely would not happen fast enough to help schools through the current , pandemic-driven budget crisis .
`` This is an idea that 's ... unbelievably difficult and is not something that would help in the fall , '' says Michael Griffith , who studies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Communities who would stand to lose money would need to be convinced that the change is still in their best interest , he says .
`` If this were easy to do , it would have been done . ''
Griffith points to Michigan as an example of just how hard change can be .
In 1994 , the state moved from a traditional , local property tax school funding system to a statewide tax .
But to do so , lawmakers took dramatic steps .
`` To get everybody on board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will get a property tax cut .
We 'll make up that property tax cut with sales and cigarette taxes and some other things .
And then you 're going to share that property tax revenue with others in the state . '
'' That sweeping property tax cut , says Griffith , helped people to buy in .
But it also made Michigan 's schools more dependent on sales tax revenue , which is more volatile than property taxes in an economic downturn .
While school funding experts may not share Sibilia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be willing to reimagine their school funding systems , they do agree that it 's an important conversation to have .
`` It would benefit all of us if we had more equitably funded schools , '' says Michael Leachman at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities .
`` I hope that we 're moving to a place where we recognize that dealing with these kinds of underlying structural questions really helps all of us . ''

A Bold Pitch To Boost School Funding For The Nation's Most Vulnerable Students
School district lines have become engines of inequity in many states. Not only can they be used to keep children out of a neighborhood's schools, they can also keep a district's wealth in. But with many districts facing severe budget cuts because of the coronavirus pandemic, a new report proposes a radical solution:
Leave the lines, but spread the wealth.
The report, titled Clean Slate, comes from EdBuild, a nonprofit that advocates for equitable school funding. It's a moonshot pitch to many district and state leaders that recommends distributing local property tax revenue more broadly — at the county or even state level. According to EdBuild, only 13 states currently do this.
Loading...
Don't see the graphic above? Click here.
After a nationwide analysis of school funding data, the report found, "the bigger the school district taxing jurisdiction, the more equity was being created," says Rebecca Sibilia, EdBuild's founder and CEO.
Under this reimagining of America's school funding system, EdBuild found, more than 2 out of 3 K-12 students (69%) — and 76% of low-income students — would receive equal or greater school funding than they do now, an average increase of nearly $1,000 per student.
Sibilia admits some communities may see this idea as a threat to their local control of schools, but funding should not be confused with governance, she says.
"I hope this report will take the first step toward really challenging this question of whether or not being able to run your own schools means being able to keep all of the money that you happen to have," Sibilia says.
To understand Sibilia's proposed solution, here's a quick primer on the system as it is: On average, America's schools receive nearly half of their funding from local sources, mostly property taxes. But those local dollars usually don't cross school district lines. So if one community's property wealth far surpasses that of its neighbors across the road, the inequity will show up not just in the size of the homes or the number of businesses, but in classroom spending, too.
According to EdBuild, in counties with more than one school district, the average difference between the highest- and lowest-wealth district is more than $6,000 per student. And these spending inequities within a given county are most common in northern states.
Loading...
Don't see the graphic above? Click here.
The report found that school districts in the South — in a triangle tipped by Maryland, Florida and Louisiana — distribute local funding more equitably than their neighbors to the north for one big reason: Districts in the South are larger, and tend to follow county lines.
Georgia, for example, has 159 counties, but the vast majority (139) have just one school district in them, Sibilia says. New York, on the other hand, has just 62 counties, but 57 contain two or more districts. The average difference in local revenue per student, between the highest and lowest-wealth districts in the same Georgia county is $186. In New York, that difference is $22,006 per student.
In addition to New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut and California all rank among the worst states in the nation for cross-border equity.
Sibilia says this idea that broader, county- or state-based school district spending allows for more equitable local funding, has come up again and again in previous EdBuild reports. "Last year we put out a report that highlighted the 969 worst school districts, in terms of both racial and funding gaps. Only 66 of those school district borders, the worst in the country, exist in states that draw school district funding lines along counties."
EdBuild's report comes as districts across the country face severe budget cuts as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. State revenues, driven largely by income and sales taxes, make up the other half of schools' funding, after local sources, and with revenues crashing states have already warned schools to prepare for steep cuts. That's why, Sibilia says, it's more important than ever for state lawmakers to rethink how communities collect and share their local property tax revenue.
"I would find it inexplicable that [state lawmakers] don't do that at the same time that they take the massive cuts that we know are coming," Sibilia says. "If they do the dual injustice of taking the cuts from the state funds and the injustice of not taking action to spread out local wealth at the same time, then we're going to just continue to repeat the same problems that have always existed in school funding."
The chief obstacle to Sibilia's fix is the fact that, while nearly 70% of students would benefit, that leaves almost a third of students who would not. Those students would see declines in local school funding, making this recommendation political kryptonite in many communities. Even in places that may be receptive, change likely would not happen fast enough to help schools through the current, pandemic-driven budget crisis.
"This is an idea that's ... unbelievably difficult and is not something that would help in the fall," says Michael Griffith, who studies school funding at the Learning Policy Institute. Communities who would stand to lose money would need to be convinced that the change is still in their best interest, he says. "If this were easy to do, it would have been done."
Griffith points to Michigan as an example of just how hard change can be. In 1994, the state moved from a traditional, local property tax school funding system to a statewide tax. But to do so, lawmakers took dramatic steps.
"To get everybody on board, they said, 'Most of you will get a property tax cut. We'll make up that property tax cut with sales and cigarette taxes and some other things. And then you're going to share that property tax revenue with others in the state.'"
That sweeping property tax cut, says Griffith, helped people to buy in. But it also made Michigan's schools more dependent on sales tax revenue, which is more volatile than property taxes in an economic downturn.
While school funding experts may not share Sibilia's optimism for how quickly states might be willing to reimagine their school funding systems, they do agree that it's an important conversation to have.
"It would benefit all of us if we had more equitably funded schools," says Michael Leachman at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. "I hope that we're moving to a place where we recognize that dealing with these kinds of underlying structural questions really helps all of us."


npr--2020-05-27--In The Battle Against COVID-19, A Risk Of 'Vaccine Nationalism'

In The Battle Against COVID-19 , A Risk Of 'Vaccine Nationalism' The race to defeat the coronavirus can be viewed in two very distinct ways .
One is based on international cooperation , with a vaccine treated as a `` global public good . ''
The other is competitive , a battle between nations that 's being described as `` vaccine nationalism . ''
Many are hoping for the former , but are seeing signs of the latter .
The main competition , on this and many other global issues , appears to be between the U.S. and China .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Xi Jinping have faced criticism for their handling of the coronavirus outbreak .
Success with a vaccine at home could make up for the earlier shortcomings .
`` We 're about to have an unprecedented battle over access to the vaccines , which will be far more challenging if we 're in a U.S.-versus-China Cold War environment , '' said Ian Bremmer , president of the Eurasia Group , a political consulting firm .
Trump 's Operation Warp Speed is designed to develop a COVID-19 vaccine for Americans as soon as possible , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential election .
Last week , the U.S. government announced it was paying up to $ 1.2 billion to the drugmaker AstraZeneca to start work on a vaccine that could be ready as early as October , though there 's not yet a vaccine that 's been proven to be safe and effective .
Meanwhile , China 's Xi has adopted a somewhat softer public line that some are describing as `` vaccine diplomacy . ''
Xi says China will spend $ 2 billion to help developing countries .
China also is among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a resolution by member states of the World Health Organization that says a vaccine should be treated as a `` global public good , '' to be distributed as widely , fairly and cheaply .
China faced global condemnation for its early efforts to downplay the severity about the virus and has sought to rewrite the narrative by promoting its efforts to find a vaccine and assist other countries .
China is making a major push to develop a vaccine at home and has at least four trials underway .
Xi wants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most important technologies of the 21st Century , including biopharmaceuticals .
If China became the first to develop a vaccine , it would consider it a huge victory .
However , some U.S. national security officials say the Chinese efforts include attempts to hack into American and other Western drug companies to steal valuable research information .
`` We have the full expectation that China will do everything in their power to obtain any viable research that we are conducting here in the U.S. , '' said Bill Evanina , the director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` That will be in line with their capabilities and intent the last decade plus , and we are expecting them to continue to do so . ''
While one country , or one company , may take the lead when it comes to a vaccine , the worldwide nature of the problem points to the need for a truly global solution , according to those in the international health community .
For example , AstraZeneca , which is getting the U.S. government funding , is a Swedish-British firm , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research conducted at Oxford University in Britain .
AstraZeneca , like all the major Western pharmaceutical companies , has offices and manufacturing plants spread around the globe .
Many players in many countries are likely to be involved .
But it takes time to ramp up vaccine production , and this points to a crucial question : in a world of more than 7 billion people , who 's at the front of the line , and who 's at the back ?
`` The challenge is going to come in the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with disagreements about who should be first , second and third in line , '' said Nancy Kass , professor of bioethics and public health at Johns Hopkins University .
New drugs and vaccines traditionally go first to the wealthiest countries , and that 's the expectation in this case as well .
But the exact order could depend on where the vaccine is first developed .
The U.S. and China could have very different priorities on how to distribute a vaccine .
Rich countries have been hit hardest by the virus so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nations , COVID-19 cases are leveling off or declining , while they are rising rapidly in the developing world , including countries like India , Brazil and Peru .
Global health organizations are working on plans with a focus on poorer nations .
Kate Elder of Doctors Without Borders says her organization often faces challenges in dealing with Western pharmaceutical companies that have tremendous leverage because they are the only , or one of just a few , that make a critical drug .
`` We can design things as a global community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ultimately , since the power is in the pharmaceutical corporation 's hands to make those decisions , it 's up to them .
At what scale they produce these vaccines , at what price they set them , and who are the first customers that they 'll cater to . ''
Because the demand for a new vaccine will be so great , nations , political leaders and drug companies are likely to face a range of conflicting pressures .
They will be need to provide the vaccine at home , but will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widely , fairly and cheaply abroad .
`` It 's set up to be a massive geopolitical battle , '' said Bremmer , of the Eurasia Group .
`` Not just around the discovery of the vaccine , but the manufacturing chain — with billions of doses needed , and the challenges of a global vaccination campaign . ''
Greg Myre is an NPR national security correspondent .
Follow him @ gregmyre1 .

In The Battle Against COVID-19, A Risk Of 'Vaccine Nationalism'
Enlarge this image toggle caption Kevin Lamarque/Reuters Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
The race to defeat the coronavirus can be viewed in two very distinct ways. One is based on international cooperation, with a vaccine treated as a "global public good." The other is competitive, a battle between nations that's being described as "vaccine nationalism."
Many are hoping for the former, but are seeing signs of the latter.
The main competition, on this and many other global issues, appears to be between the United States and China. Both President Trump and China's President Xi Jinping have faced criticism for their handling of the coronavirus outbreak. Success with a vaccine at home could make up for the earlier shortcomings.
"We're about to have an unprecedented battle over access to the vaccines, which will be far more challenging if we're in a U.S.-versus-China Cold War environment," said Ian Bremmer, president of the Eurasia Group, a political consulting firm.
Trump's Operation Warp Speed is designed to develop a COVID-19 vaccine for Americans as soon as possible, and with an eye on the November presidential election.
Last week, the U.S. government announced it was paying up to $1.2 billion to the drugmaker AstraZeneca to start work on a vaccine that could be ready as early as October, though there's not yet a vaccine that's been proved to be safe and effective.
China's line
Meanwhile, China's Xi has adopted a somewhat softer public line that some are describing as "vaccine diplomacy."
Xi says China will spend $2 billion to help developing countries. China also is among dozens of countries that have signed on to a resolution by member states of the World Health Organization that says a vaccine should be treated as a "global public good" to be distributed widely, fairly and cheaply.
China faced global condemnation for its early efforts to downplay the severity of the virus and has sought to rewrite the narrative by promoting its efforts to find a vaccine and assist other countries.
China is making a major push to develop a vaccine at home and has at least four trials underway.
Xi wants China to be a world leader in the most important technologies of the 21st century, including biopharmaceuticals. If China became the first to develop a vaccine, it would consider it a huge victory.
However, some U.S. national security officials say the Chinese efforts include attempts to hack into American and other Western drug companies to steal valuable research information.
"We have the full expectation that China will do everything in their power to obtain any viable research that we are conducting here in the U.S.," said Bill Evanina, the director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center. "That will be in line with their capabilities and intent the last decade plus, and we are expecting them to continue to do so."
Global pandemic, global solution
While one country, or one company, may take the lead when it comes to a vaccine, the worldwide nature of the problem points to the need for a truly global solution, according to those in the international health community.
For example, AstraZeneca, which is getting the U.S. government funding, is a Swedish-British firm, which is hoping to produce vaccines based on promising research conducted at Oxford University in Britain. AstraZeneca, like all the major Western pharmaceutical companies, has offices and manufacturing plants spread around the globe.
Many players in many countries are likely to be involved. But it takes time to ramp up vaccine production, and this points to a crucial question: In a world of more than 7 billion people, who's at the front of the line, and who's at the back?
"The challenge is going to come in the first year in terms of capacity, combined with disagreements about who should be first, second and third in line," said Nancy Kass, professor of bioethics and public health at Johns Hopkins University.
New drugs and vaccines traditionally go first to the wealthiest countries, and that's the expectation in this case as well. But the exact order could depend on where the vaccine is first developed. The U.S. and China could have very different priorities on how to distribute a vaccine.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ted S. Warren/AP Ted S. Warren/AP
Rich countries have been hit hardest by the virus so far. But in many of these nations, COVID-19 cases are leveling off or declining, while they are rising rapidly in the developing world, including countries such as India, Brazil and Peru.
Assessing needs
Global health organizations are working on plans with a focus on poorer nations.
Kate Elder of Doctors Without Borders says her organization often faces challenges in dealing with Western pharmaceutical companies that have tremendous leverage because they are the only one, or one of just a few, that make a critical drug.
"We can design things as a global community," she said. "But ultimately, since the power is in the pharmaceutical corporation's hands to make those decisions, it's up to them. At what scale they produce these vaccines, at what price they set them, and who are the first customers that they'll cater to."
Because the demand for a new vaccine will be so great, nations, political leaders and drug companies are likely to face a range of conflicting pressures. They will need to provide the vaccine at home but will also face intense scrutiny to share it widely, fairly and cheaply abroad.
"It's set up to be a massive geopolitical battle," said Bremmer, of the Eurasia Group. "Not just around the discovery of the vaccine, but the manufacturing chain — with billions of doses needed, and the challenges of a global vaccination campaign."
Greg Myre is an NPR national security correspondent. Follow him @gregmyre1.


npr--2020-05-27--Social Media Usage Is At An All-Time High. That Could Mean A Nightmare For Democracy

Social Media Usage Is At An All-Time High .
That Could Mean A Nightmare For Democracy America 's new socially distant reality has warped the landscape of the 2020 election .
Candidates are n't out knocking on doors , and U.S. election officials are bracing for a record surge in mail ballots .
And another subtler shift is also occurring — inside people 's brains .
Four years after Russia 's expansive influence operation , which touched the feeds of more than 100 million users on Facebook alone , Americans ' usage of social media has only increased — and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic .
More people are more online right now than at any point in human history , and experts say the Internet has gotten only more flooded since 2016 with bad information .
`` It 's far , far worse in terms of quantity , '' says Steven Brill , a former journalist and now the CEO of NewsGuard , a browser extension that helps users discern the quality of what they 're reading online .
In April , NewsGuard published a list of 36 websites that were peddling hoaxes related to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that list had ballooned to more than 200 .
A study out last week from researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found that nearly half of the Twitter accounts spreading messages about the coronavirus pandemic are likely bots — automated accounts designed to make it appear that more humans are acting a certain way than truly are .
And in 2020 , as in 2016 , it 's only a matter of time before the focus shifts back away from the coronavirus and to the presidential election .
`` The same thing is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There 's just no doubt about it , '' Brill says .
`` The great thing about the Internet is everyone can be a publisher .
The really bad thing about the Internet is everyone can be a publisher . ''
More than ever before Social media usage in the U.S. had already been on a steady increase over the past few years , even before the pandemic left millions of Americans stuck in their homes with many hours to kill on their phones and computers .
Do n't see the graphic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ despite the negative barrage of publicity suffered by the social media giants — Facebook in particular — in the wake of the 2016 election .
Among the issues : Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg downplaying Russian interference efforts , the Cambridge Analytica scandal and a bevy of research that seemed to point to people being happier when they were n't so connected .
In the face of all that , Americans stayed online .
Facebook 's main platform saw a small dip in U.S. users in the time after the election , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Instagram , which has seen a steady increase in overall users over the past four years .
The pandemic has supercharged those gains .
`` We know that people especially rely on social apps in times of crisis and in times when we ca n't be together in person , '' Zuckerberg said on April 29 .
`` And right now , we are experiencing both of those all around the world at the same time . ''
For the first time ever , Zuckerberg announced , more than 3 billion people used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a single month .
Twitter announced last month as well that it saw a first-quarter 24 % year-over-year increase in the number of daily users who saw ads .
The increased usage spans the globe , says Pinar Yildirim , a marketing professor at the University of Pennsylvania who specializes in social media trends .
`` If you look at Italy , if you look at Spain , if you look at the United States and Canada , you see the same patterns , '' says Yildirim .
`` There are more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There are more frequent visits , '' she says .
`` And then you look at the amount of time people are spending on social media — that 's where you start seeing even more of an increase . ''
One way that increased usage may be felt in the 2020 election is n't in just the amount of false information being seen and shared , Yildirim says — but in how polarized the American public is during the campaign cycle .
A study from last year found people 's usage of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and how open they are to understanding the views or ideas of the opposition party .
Facebook had internal research pointing to the same conclusion , according to a new report from the Wall Street Journal , but the company reportedly brushed it aside .
`` Our algorithms exploit the human brain 's attraction to divisiveness , '' said one slide , from a 2018 presentation .
This idea is n't new .
Much of Russia 's influence operation on social media in 2016 was n't about introducing new ideas or controversy but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ divides already present in American culture .
`` To put it simply , in this space Russia wants to watch us tear ourselves apart , '' said David Porter , an assistant section chief with the FBI 's Foreign Influence Task Force , earlier this year .
More people spending more time on the platforms where this takes place likely will mean even more attempts at amplifying divisions and stoking discord .
Many federal policymakers , members of Congress and Big Tech leaders agree there are problems , and they are taking some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ race , the social media companies went into damage control mode .
There were multiple days ' worth of Capitol Hill hearings , and new policies rolled out aimed at warning people before they clicked on conspiracy theories .
Facebook introduced a feature last year that tries to limit the spread of websites that are disproportionately popular on the platform , compared with the broader Web .
Twitter said it was taking down more than a million suspicious and fake accounts a day .
And in that same April announcement in which Zuckerberg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the pandemic , he talked about how much the company has done to warn people about bad information .
`` We partner with independent fact-checkers who have marked more than 4,000 pieces of content related to COVID as false , which has resulted in more than 40 million warning labels being seen across our services , '' he said .
Twitter announced a similar labeling approach for tweets `` containing disputed or misleading information '' related to the pandemic and even decided this week to add a fact-check label to one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time .
But many experts are n't satisfied with the industry 's work on the issue .
For one thing , there 's research to suggest that the very act of seeing a headline , even if it 's notated as false by the platform or by a fact-checker , can still contribute to people believing its claim .
`` Fact-checking is predicated on the assumption that people will change their mind when confronted with correct information , '' writes Alice Marwick , a professor at the University of North Carolina , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Technology Review .
`` As we have seen , this ignores a wide variety of social and cultural factors , and is not supported by empirical evidence .
...
In fact , fact-checking may have the opposite effect of making stories 'more sticky . '
`` A number of organizations , including Brill 's NewsGuard , aimed at curing what some see as this kind of media literacy problem have popped up since the 2016 election .
While well-intentioned , they may be missing the true problem — which is how the platforms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ viral , says Peter Pomerantsev , the author of the book This Is Not Propaganda , which details a number of information and influence operations on social media .
`` So many studies have shown people can be super-educated and super-critically minded and ignore any evidence that goes against their identity , '' Pomerantsev says .
`` People will be very critical when they see something they do n't like , and then they switch off their critical faculties when it agrees with their worldviews . ''
Plus , social media platforms are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he argues that people ca n't be blamed for not quitting those platforms cold turkey despite what they may be doing to the structure of democracy .
The real answer , he argues , is for the government to get involved in regulation .
`` We do n't really have any oversight .
They 're marking their own homework , '' Pomerantsev says .
`` And that 's not good enough . ''
That position was a legal and political minefield before the pandemic — and between the coronavirus crisis and the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue in the U.S. government this year , or anytime soon .
This means that as the 2020 presidential election goes forward , posts will be posted , and tweets will be tweeted .
And because of the pandemic , social media will play some role in the outcome , says Yildirim , of the University of Pennsylvania .
`` If you asked me two months ago , I would have had very different predictions about social media 's role on the election , '' she says .
`` But now it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social communication . ''

Social Media Usage Is At An All-Time High. That Could Mean A Nightmare For Democracy
Enlarge this image toggle caption Caroline Amenabar/NPR Caroline Amenabar/NPR
America's new socially distant reality has warped the landscape of the 2020 election.
Candidates aren't out knocking on doors, and U.S. election officials are bracing for a record surge in mail ballots.
But another subtler shift is also occurring — inside people's brains.
Four years after Russia's expansive influence operation, which touched the feeds of more than 100 million users on Facebook alone, Americans' usage of social media has only increased — and drastically so, as a result of the pandemic.
More people are more online right now than at any point in human history, and experts say the Internet has gotten only more flooded since 2016 with bad information.
"It's far, far worse in terms of quantity," says Steven Brill, a former journalist and now the CEO of NewsGuard, a browser extension that helps users discern the quality of what they're reading online.
In April, NewsGuard published a list of 36 websites that were peddling hoaxes related to the coronavirus. Just a month later, that list had ballooned to more than 200.
A study out last week from researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found that nearly half of the Twitter accounts spreading messages about the coronavirus pandemic are likely bots — automated accounts designed to make it appear that more humans are acting a certain way than truly are.
And in 2020, as in 2016, it's only a matter of time before the focus shifts back away from the coronavirus and to the presidential election.
"The same thing is going to happen with the political sphere. There's just no doubt about it," Brill says. "The great thing about the Internet is everyone can be a publisher. The really bad thing about the Internet is everyone can be a publisher."
More than ever before
Social media usage in the U.S. had already been on a steady increase over the past few years, even before the pandemic left millions of Americans stuck in their homes with many hours to kill on their phones and computers.
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That was despite the negative barrage of publicity suffered by the social media giants — Facebook in particular — in the wake of the 2016 election.
Among the issues: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg downplaying Russian interference efforts, the Cambridge Analytica scandal and a bevy of research that seemed to point to people being happier when they weren't so connected.
In the face of all that, Americans stayed online. Facebook's main platform saw a small dip in U.S. users in the time after the election, according to Edison Research, but Facebook also owns Instagram, which has seen a steady increase in overall users over the past four years.
The pandemic has supercharged those gains.
"We know that people especially rely on social apps in times of crisis and in times when we can't be together in person," Zuckerberg said on April 29. "And right now, we are experiencing both of those all around the world at the same time."
For the first time ever, Zuckerberg announced, more than 3 billion people used Facebook, Messenger, Instagram or WhatsApp in a single month.
Twitter announced last month as well that it saw a first-quarter 24% year-over-year increase in the number of daily users who saw ads.
The increased usage spans the globe, says Pinar Yildirim, a marketing professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania who specializes in social media trends.
"If you look at Italy, if you look at Spain, if you look at the United States and Canada, you see the same patterns," says Yildirim.
"There are more users, in terms of unique users. There are more frequent visits," she says. "And then you look at the amount of time people are spending on social media — that's where you start seeing even more of an increase."
Spin cycle
One way that increased usage may be felt in the 2020 election isn't in just the amount of false information being seen and shared, Yildirim says — but in how polarized the American public is during the campaign cycle.
A study from last year found people's usage of Facebook correlated with how polarized they are and how open they are to understanding the views or ideas of the opposition party.
Facebook had internal research pointing to the same conclusion, according to a new report from the Wall Street Journal, but the company reportedly brushed it aside.
"Our algorithms exploit the human brain's attraction to divisiveness," said one slide, from a 2018 presentation.
This idea isn't new. Much of Russia's influence operation on social media in 2016 wasn't about introducing new ideas or controversy but instead was about furthering racial and political divides already present in American culture.
"To put it simply, in this space Russia wants to watch us tear ourselves apart," said David Porter, an assistant section chief with the FBI's Foreign Influence Task Force, earlier this year.
More people spending more time on the platforms where this takes place likely will mean even more attempts at amplifying divisions and stoking discord.
No easy solution
Many federal policymakers, members of Congress and Big Tech leaders agree there are problems, and they are taking some action.
Shortly after the last presidential race, the social media companies went into damage control mode. There were multiple days' worth of Capitol Hill hearings, and new policies rolled out aimed at warning people before they clicked on conspiracy theories.
Facebook introduced a feature last year that tries to limit the spread of websites that are disproportionately popular on the platform, compared with the broader Web. Twitter said it was taking down more than a million suspicious and fake accounts a day.
And in that same April announcement in which Zuckerberg beamed about Facebook's increased global reach during the pandemic, he talked about how much the company has done to warn people about bad information.
"We partner with independent fact-checkers who have marked more than 4,000 pieces of content related to COVID as false, which has resulted in more than 40 million warning labels being seen across our services," he said.
Twitter announced a similar labeling approach for tweets "containing disputed or misleading information" related to the pandemic and even decided this week to add a fact-check label to one of President Trump's tweets for the first time.
But many experts aren't satisfied with the industry's work on the issue.
For one thing, there's research to suggest that the very act of seeing a headline, even if it's notated as false by the platform or by a fact-checker, can still contribute to people believing its claim.
"Fact-checking is predicated on the assumption that people will change their mind when confronted with correct information," writes Alice Marwick, a professor at the University of North Carolina, in a paper published in the Georgetown Law Technology Review.
"As we have seen, this ignores a wide variety of social and cultural factors, and is not supported by empirical evidence. ... In fact, fact-checking may have the opposite effect of making stories 'more sticky.' "
A number of organizations, including Brill's NewsGuard, aimed at curing what some see as this kind of media literacy problem have popped up since the 2016 election.
While well-intentioned, they may be missing the true problem — which is how the platforms allow for bad sensationalist information to go viral, says Peter Pomerantsev, the author of the book This Is Not Propaganda, which details a number of information and influence operations on social media.
"So many studies have shown people can be super-educated and super-critically minded and ignore any evidence that goes against their identity," Pomerantsev says. "People will be very critical when they see something they don't like, and then they switch off their critical faculties when it agrees with their worldviews."
Plus, social media platforms are inherently addicting, Pomerantsev says, so he argues that people can't be blamed for not quitting those platforms cold turkey despite what they may be doing to the structure of democracy.
The real answer, he argues, is for the government to get involved in regulation.
"We don't really have any oversight. They're marking their own homework," Pomerantsev says. "And that's not good enough."
That position was a legal and political minefield before the pandemic — and between the coronavirus crisis and the election, no one expects movement on the issue in the U.S. government this year, or anytime soon.
This means that as the 2020 presidential election goes forward, posts will be posted, and tweets will be tweeted. And because of the pandemic, social media will play some role in the outcome, says Yildirim, of the University of Pennsylvania.
"If you asked me two months ago, I would have had very different predictions about social media's role on the election," she says. "But now it's become the primary source of information and social communication."


npr--2020-05-27--As Lockdown Orders Lift, Can Cities Prevent A Traffic Catastrophe?

Over the last few months , cities have had to deal with tremendous challenges — fighting a pandemic , preserving essential services , protecting their own workers , coping with devastating budget cuts .
One thing local officials did n't have to worry about was traffic , as the pandemic emptied city streets .
But that 's about to change .
Many city dwellers , trying to maintain social distance , are continuing to avoid public transit .
If they replace bus or subway trips with car rides , congestion could grow dire .
Eve Strother , a lawyer in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting on the T anytime soon .
She 's worried about being close to people who refuse to wear masks or follow social distancing guidelines .
`` It 's kind of scary to not know how your commute will go , '' she says .
Strother feels much safer in her car .
Some cities in China have already seen rush hour traffic significantly worse than before the pandemic .
`` We could really see an outcome from this where we have crushing gridlock , '' says Corinne Kisner , the executive director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Officials .
The organization recently released a guide for cities on how to adapt to the ongoing coronavirus crisis and the recovery ahead .
Normally , cities would respond to growing traffic by trying to boost rides on buses or subways .
`` Being able to move more people in the least amount of space has been the mantra of transit agencies around the world , '' says Tiffany Chu , the CEO of transportation planning software company Remix .
`` And now all of a sudden with COVID , because you have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mantra just no longer holds up .
And it 's mind-boggling for people who 've been working in transportation for decades . ''
Making more space for cars , scooters and pedestrians ...
There 's no silver bullet to solve this problem , but one key strategy is to push more people to travel by bike , foot or scooter instead of by car .
Cities like London and Paris , which have already committed to supporting bicycle travel , have accelerated their plans to build bike lanes to help reduce future pandemic-worsened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in contrast , many cities have so far focused on urgent needs during the pandemic shutdowns , instead of the crowding that may come after .
Cities from Oakland to Boston have taken street space previously reserved for cars and used it to reduce crowding and promote social distancing — from expanding sidewalks to using parking lots as dining spaces .
But some of these measures , particularly `` slow streets '' or `` open streets '' reserved for non-car traffic , could also help replace car trips and reduce traffic in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through traffic on some roads and dubbed them Stay Healthy Streets , was the first major U.S. city to announce it would make the pandemic-induced changes permanent .
`` The support and the positivity we got in just the first few weeks of putting these out meant that it ... was pretty easy to say , 'Let 's make this permanent , ' `` says Sam Zimbabwe , the director of Seattle 's Department of Transportation .
The streets were meant to support both recreation and travel needs , he says , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` the transportation aspects will probably grow in importance , '' he says .
Seattle was building on an established network of greenways and bike paths , and many cities have similarly used existing plans and policies as a launching pad .
`` I think cities have been really proactive and sort of standing up projects and initiatives essentially overnight — or within a week or so . ''
says Zabe Bent , the director of design at the National Association of City Transportation Officials .
`` Open streets , shared streets , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just be moved forward a lot faster because there are fewer people traveling on our streets by car . ''
...
While keeping transit rolling , with more empty seats Meanwhile , public transit remains crucial — particularly for communities hardest hit by the coronavirus .
Many essential workers live far from their workplaces and do n't have access to a car .
Transit , an app that provides public transit data , surveyed users who kept riding transit during the crisis .
People of color , low-income riders and people who work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely to keep taking transit during the pandemic .
`` I think some of the rhetoric I 've been hearing in the transportation world — and I do n't think this is intentional — is almost painting transit as sacrificial ... [ that ] it 's not going to be safe for a long time , we 've all got to get on bikes , '' says Lynda Lopez , an advocacy manager at the Active Transportation Alliance in Chicago .
`` I think we need to realize that public transit is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially in communities that do n't have other options . ''
Safety measures , from masks to extra cleaning , can help keep transit as safe as possible for essential riders — and vulnerable transit workers .
Kisner , of the National Association of City Transportation Officials , says cities can also increase the frequency of buses or trains , add bus lanes and redesign their bus routes to better serve essential workers who rely on transit services — not just 9-to-5 office workers .
`` A lot of transit systems have n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frankly , decades , '' she says .
`` It 's been a very slow and gradual process . ''
Now , moving slowly is n't an option for cities that want to keep up with a world transformed by the coronavirus .
Tamika Butler is the head of California planning and equity and inclusion at Toole Design , a consulting firm that helps cities with transportation planning , especially for biking and walking .
She says community input is essential as cities are moving with unprecedented speed .
`` There has to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and doing what folks need while still not recreating processes that continue to exclude people , '' she says .
Done properly , she says , this is an opportunity to address the underlying inequities that have long shaped American cities , and not just keep streets moving , but make them more accessible — and safer — for everyone .

As Lockdown Orders Lift, Can Cities Prevent A Traffic Catastrophe?
Enlarge this image toggle caption Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images
Over the past few months, cities have had to deal with tremendous challenges — fighting a pandemic, preserving essential services, protecting their own workers, coping with devastating budget cuts.
One thing local officials didn't have to worry about was traffic, as the pandemic emptied city streets.
But that's about to change.
Loading...
Many city dwellers, trying to maintain social distance, are continuing to avoid public transit. If they replace bus or subway trips with car rides, congestion could grow dire.
Eve Strother, a lawyer in Boston, says she won't be getting on the T anytime soon. She's worried about being close to people who refuse to wear masks or follow social distancing guidelines. "It's kind of scary to not know how your commute will go," she says.
Strother feels much safer in her car.
Some cities in China have already seen rush hour traffic significantly worse than before the pandemic.
"We could really see an outcome from this where we have crushing gridlock," says Corinne Kisner, the executive director of the National Association of City Transportation Officials. The organization recently released a guide for cities on how to adapt to the ongoing coronavirus crisis and the recovery ahead.
Normally, cities would respond to growing traffic by trying to boost rides on buses or subways.
"Being able to move more people in the least amount of space has been the mantra of transit agencies around the world," says Tiffany Chu, the CEO of transportation planning software company Remix. "And now all of a sudden with COVID, because you have to socially or physically distance, that mantra just no longer holds up. And it's mind-boggling for people who've been working in transportation for decades."
Making more space for cars, scooters and pedestrians
There's no silver bullet to solve this problem, but one key strategy is to push more people to travel by bike, foot or scooter instead of by car.
Cities like London and Paris, which have already committed to supporting bicycle travel, have accelerated their plans to build bike lanes to help reduce future pandemic-worsened traffic jams.
In the U.S., in contrast, many cities have so far focused on urgent needs during the pandemic shutdowns, instead of the crowding that may come after. Cities from Oakland to Boston have taken street space previously reserved for cars and used it to reduce crowding and promote social distancing — from expanding sidewalks to using parking lots as dining spaces.
But some of these measures, particularly "slow streets" or "open streets" reserved for non-car traffic, could also help replace car trips and reduce traffic in the long term.
Seattle, which blocked through traffic on some roads and dubbed them Stay Healthy Streets, was the first major U.S. city to announce it would make the pandemic-induced changes permanent.
"The support and the positivity we got in just the first few weeks of putting these out meant that it ... was pretty easy to say, 'Let's make this permanent,' " says Sam Zimbabwe, the director of Seattle's Department of Transportation.
The streets were meant to support both recreation and travel needs, he says, but as more people resume daily travel, "the transportation aspects will probably grow in importance," he says.
Seattle was building on an established network of greenways and bike paths, and many cities have similarly used existing plans and policies as a launching pad.
"I think cities have been really proactive and sort of standing up projects and initiatives essentially overnight — or within a week or so," says Zabe Bent, the director of design at the National Association of City Transportation Officials. "Open streets, shared streets, bike lanes ... projects that can can just be moved forward a lot faster because there are fewer people traveling on our streets by car."
And keeping transit rolling, with more empty seats
Meanwhile, public transit remains crucial — particularly for communities hardest hit by the coronavirus. Many essential workers live far from their workplaces and don't have access to a car.
Loading...
Transit, an app that provides public transit data, surveyed users who kept riding transit during the crisis. People of color, low-income riders and people who work in food service or health care were disproportionately likely to keep taking transit during the pandemic.
"I think some of the rhetoric I've been hearing in the transportation world — and I don't think this is intentional — is almost painting transit as sacrificial ... [that] it's not going to be safe for a long time; we've all got to get on bikes," says Lynda Lopez, an advocacy manager at the Active Transportation Alliance in Chicago. "I think we need to realize that public transit is a core part of how people move, especially in communities that don't have other options."
Safety measures, from masks to extra cleaning, can help keep transit as safe as possible for essential riders — and vulnerable transit workers. Kisner, of the National Association of City Transportation Officials, says cities can also increase the frequency of buses or trains, add bus lanes and redesign their bus routes to better serve essential workers who rely on transit services — not just 9-to-5 office workers.
"A lot of transit systems haven't really changed their network design in, frankly, decades," she says. "It's been a very slow and gradual process."
Now, moving slowly isn't an option for cities that want to keep up with a world transformed by the coronavirus.
Tamika Butler is the head of California planning and equity and inclusion at Toole Design, a consulting firm that helps cities with transportation planning, especially for biking and walking. She says community input is essential as cities are moving with unprecedented speed.
"There has to be a balance between answering the call and doing what folks need while still not re-creating processes that continue to exclude people," she says.
Done properly, she says, this is an opportunity to address the underlying inequities that have long shaped American cities, and not just keep streets moving, but make them more accessible — and safer — for everyone.