csmonitor--2020-05-26--Rocketing toward history: Why spaceflight still captivates America

“ It ’ s an important inflection point , ” says Sean O ’ Keefe , who led NASA during the George W. Bush administration .
“ This is much akin to the transition when the first civil aviation aircraft took off decades ago after many decades of it being exclusively a public endeavor.
” As many grand endeavors were being canceled or postponed due to the novel coronavirus , NASA weighed the risks but ultimately decided to go ahead , with caution .
The mission aims to lay the groundwork for the next era in human spaceflight : one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just for government astronauts or scientists , but more like air travel today , with trips operated by private companies available to anyone who purchases a ticket .
And such an expansion , say spaceflight advocates , would move humans toward perhaps becoming a multiplanetary species .
For the first time , two astronauts are set to climb aboard SpaceX ’ s Crew Dragon capsule and rocket off into space .
If all goes well with the mission , scheduled for this week , it will be the first time humans have launched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NASA ’ s Space Shuttle program ended in 2011 .
Editor 's note : Since publication NASA and SpaceX postponed the launch and rescheduled for Saturday .
While most earthly attention has been on the pandemic over the past few months , NASA and SpaceX have been taking steps toward what could be the next great leap for humankind .
Two astronauts are set to blast off from Cape Canaveral on Wednesday , May 27 , as a final test of SpaceX ’ s Crew Dragon spacecraft .
If the mission is successful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the American space program – both private and governmental .
It will be SpaceX ’ s first launch with a crew on board , and the first time humans have launched into orbital space from U.S. soil since NASA ’ s Space Shuttle program ended in 2011 .
Since then , American astronauts have traveled to the International Space Station aboard Russian spacecraft .
This week ’ s launch aims to lay the groundwork for the next era in human spaceflight : one in which space travel isn ’ t just for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like air travel today , with trips operated by private companies available to anyone who purchases a ticket .
And such an expansion , say spaceflight advocates , would nudge humans toward perhaps becoming a multiplanetary species .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
As many grand endeavors were being canceled or postponed due to the novel coronavirus , NASA weighed the risks but ultimately decided to go ahead , with caution .
The pandemic has raised questions about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – and human spaceflight is no different .
“ The last thing we want to do is shut down everything that is aspirational and inspiring in our society while so many of us have to hunker down , ” says Greg Autry , who researches commercial spaceflight at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles .
If all goes according to plan , the so-called Demo-2 mission will carry two veteran NASA astronauts , Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley , to the International Space Station .
The pair is set to join @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one American astronaut , and two Russian cosmonauts – and will probably stay for a month to four months .
Their return will also be a significant test for the Crew Dragon spacecraft , as reentry into the Earth ’ s atmosphere is a fiery affair .
This endeavor has been in the works for years , and under normal circumstances such a milestone launch would generate large crowds on nearby Florida beaches .
Given the pandemic , NASA has asked that people stay away , and instead experience the launch virtually .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ preparations for the launch , as many as possible have been working from home and the others have been masked and arranged to stay 6 feet away from one another .
NASA typically quarantines astronauts in the days before they fly to the ISS , but this time they ’ ve been isolating for weeks .
NASA ’ s decision to go ahead with the launch amidst early pandemic lockdowns initially surprised Lori Garver , who served as deputy administrator of NASA during the Obama administration .
But , she says , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something that society was going to be grappling with for a long time , she began to think , “ Well , when are we going to be able to do it ?
” After all , the ISS needs a crew to continue operating .
The Russians were still blasting off , but NASA had been aiming to scale back on buying seats on their Soyuz capsules .
Indeed , the U.S. presence on the ISS is seen as essential , agrees William Russell , who oversees audits of space programs for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a nation , we have invested billions of dollars into the space station and committed to maintaining projects designed to support that program .
“ It is something that NASA has prioritized , ” Mr. Russell says .
“ If you think back to the government shutdown , this program maintained operations during that , too.
” This test launch aims to kick off NASA ’ s new commercial crew program , in which private companies ( Boeing is also developing a crew capsule ) become the space agency ’ s ferry service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not only bring down the cost of delivering U.S. astronauts to the ISS , it would also make it possible for the spaceflight companies to sell trips to space to other sorts of travelers in the future .
“ It ’ s an important inflection point , if you will , of now seeing the opportunity for commercial transportation of humans into space , ” says Sean O ’ Keefe , who served as administrator of NASA under former President George W. Bush and is now a professor at Syracuse University .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the first civil aviation aircraft took off decades ago after many decades of it being exclusively a public endeavor.
” This launch , Mr. O ’ Keefe says , is a significant step toward making space travel as ubiquitous as air travel is today .
“ In the greater scheme of things , ” he says , “ this continues the march of the kinds of things that we do as humankind to access space.
” Many of NASA ’ s exploration and research goals can be achieved using robotic spacecraft today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says Roger Launius , a former chief historian of NASA and author of several books on spaceflight .
So , he says , “ The larger question has to be asked , why is it important to do it at all ?
Why do we need to send people up there at all ?
...
It is not an easy answer.
” There have been many different reasons for nations – particularly the United States – to pursue human spaceflight capabilities over the years .
Initially , one big motivation was to display @ @ @ @ @ @ @ global stage outside of war .
Because human spaceflight is an extremely difficult feat , it continues to hold such regard , says Mr. Launius , and regaining that capability also will mean retaining that prestige .
But , many say , there ’ s also something less tangible driving humanity ’ s desire to push into the final frontier .
Indeed , if this new model of making space travel commercial is successful and eventually nonastronauts and nonscientists do travel to space more readily , it could mean a fundamental shift in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into a vast new territory in a more permanent way .
“ I would contend that ultimately this is about becoming a multiplanetary species , ” capable of moving between worlds readily , says Mr. Launius .
It will likely take generations , “ but the sooner we get started , the sooner we can actually achieve this.
” For some , this is about expanding future possibilities for humanity .
“ If we stay here on Earth , we ’ re going to play a limited resource game , and we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ re going to utilize what resources we have and we ’ re going to fight over them , ” Dr. Autry says .
“ When you open up a new frontier , you create vast new wealth.
” But it also might go deeper than that , suggests Mr. O ’ Keefe , pointing out that Homo sapiens is the only species known to have expanded across the entire globe and settled into the many diverse ( terrestrial ) environments on Earth .
“ We ’ ve explored large swaths of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to improve , to expand , to do better , ” he says .
“ This is yielding to that same instinct that has been kind of ground into human nature.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

The pandemic has raised questions about what aspects of modern society we value. For many, SpaceX's planned test launch is a testament to the enduring power of inspiration and scientific progress.
“It’s an important inflection point,” says Sean O’Keefe, who led NASA during the George W. Bush administration. “This is much akin to the transition when the first civil aviation aircraft took off decades ago after many decades of it being exclusively a public endeavor.”
As many grand endeavors were being canceled or postponed due to the novel coronavirus, NASA weighed the risks but ultimately decided to go ahead, with caution. The mission aims to lay the groundwork for the next era in human spaceflight: one in which space travel isn’t just for government astronauts or scientists, but more like air travel today, with trips operated by private companies available to anyone who purchases a ticket. And such an expansion, say spaceflight advocates, would move humans toward perhaps becoming a multiplanetary species.
For the first time, two astronauts are set to climb aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule and rocket off into space. If all goes well with the mission, scheduled for this week, it will be the first time humans have launched into orbital space from U.S. soil since NASA’s Space Shuttle program ended in 2011.
Editor's note: Since publication NASA and SpaceX postponed the launch and rescheduled for Saturday.
While most earthly attention has been on the pandemic over the past few months, NASA and SpaceX have been taking steps toward what could be the next great leap for humankind.
Two astronauts are set to blast off from Cape Canaveral on Wednesday, May 27, as a final test of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft. If the mission is successful, it will be a big moment for the American space program – both private and governmental. It will be SpaceX’s first launch with a crew on board, and the first time humans have launched into orbital space from U.S. soil since NASA’s Space Shuttle program ended in 2011. Since then, American astronauts have traveled to the International Space Station aboard Russian spacecraft.
Why We Wrote This The pandemic has raised questions about what aspects of modern society we value. For many, SpaceX's planned test launch is a testament to the enduring power of inspiration and scientific progress.
This week’s launch aims to lay the groundwork for the next era in human spaceflight: one in which space travel isn’t just for government astronauts or scientists, but more like air travel today, with trips operated by private companies available to anyone who purchases a ticket. And such an expansion, say spaceflight advocates, would nudge humans toward perhaps becoming a multiplanetary species.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
As many grand endeavors were being canceled or postponed due to the novel coronavirus, NASA weighed the risks but ultimately decided to go ahead, with caution. The pandemic has raised questions about what aspects of modern society we value – and human spaceflight is no different.
“The last thing we want to do is shut down everything that is aspirational and inspiring in our society while so many of us have to hunker down,” says Greg Autry, who researches commercial spaceflight at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
Balancing risks and rewards
If all goes according to plan, the so-called Demo-2 mission will carry two veteran NASA astronauts, Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley, to the International Space Station. The pair is set to join the current ISS crew of three – one American astronaut, and two Russian cosmonauts – and will probably stay for a month to four months. Their return will also be a significant test for the Crew Dragon spacecraft, as reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere is a fiery affair.
SpaceX/AP View caption Hide caption This illustration made available by SpaceX depicts the company's Crew Dragon capsule and Falcon 9 rocket during the uncrewed In-Flight Abort Test for NASA's Commercial Crew Program.
This endeavor has been in the works for years, and under normal circumstances such a milestone launch would generate large crowds on nearby Florida beaches. Given the pandemic, NASA has asked that people stay away, and instead experience the launch virtually.
As for the team making the final preparations for the launch, as many as possible have been working from home and the others have been masked and arranged to stay 6 feet away from one another. NASA typically quarantines astronauts in the days before they fly to the ISS, but this time they’ve been isolating for weeks.
NASA’s decision to go ahead with the launch amidst early pandemic lockdowns initially surprised Lori Garver, who served as deputy administrator of NASA during the Obama administration. But, she says, as it became clear that the pandemic was something that society was going to be grappling with for a long time, she began to think, “Well, when are we going to be able to do it?” After all, the ISS needs a crew to continue operating. The Russians were still blasting off, but NASA had been aiming to scale back on buying seats on their Soyuz capsules.
Indeed, the U.S. presence on the ISS is seen as essential, agrees William Russell, who oversees audits of space programs for the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
As a nation, we have invested billions of dollars into the space station and committed to maintaining projects designed to support that program. “It is something that NASA has prioritized,” Mr. Russell says. “If you think back to the government shutdown, this program maintained operations during that, too.”
This test launch aims to kick off NASA’s new commercial crew program, in which private companies (Boeing is also developing a crew capsule) become the space agency’s ferry service. If successful, this program would not only bring down the cost of delivering U.S. astronauts to the ISS, it would also make it possible for the spaceflight companies to sell trips to space to other sorts of travelers in the future.
“It’s an important inflection point, if you will, of now seeing the opportunity for commercial transportation of humans into space,” says Sean O’Keefe, who served as administrator of NASA under former President George W. Bush and is now a professor at Syracuse University. “This is much akin to the transition when the first civil aviation aircraft took off decades ago after many decades of it being exclusively a public endeavor.”
This launch, Mr. O’Keefe says, is a significant step toward making space travel as ubiquitous as air travel is today. “In the greater scheme of things,” he says, “this continues the march of the kinds of things that we do as humankind to access space.”
The allure of human spaceflight
Many of NASA’s exploration and research goals can be achieved using robotic spacecraft today – and much of it is, says Roger Launius, a former chief historian of NASA and author of several books on spaceflight. So, he says, “The larger question has to be asked, why is it important to do it at all? Why do we need to send people up there at all? ... It is not an easy answer.”
There have been many different reasons for nations – particularly the United States – to pursue human spaceflight capabilities over the years. Initially, one big motivation was to display technological prowess and assert itself on the global stage outside of war. Because human spaceflight is an extremely difficult feat, it continues to hold such regard, says Mr. Launius, and regaining that capability also will mean retaining that prestige.
But, many say, there’s also something less tangible driving humanity’s desire to push into the final frontier.
Indeed, if this new model of making space travel commercial is successful and eventually nonastronauts and nonscientists do travel to space more readily, it could mean a fundamental shift in humanity. Our species would have expanded into a vast new territory in a more permanent way.
“I would contend that ultimately this is about becoming a multiplanetary species,” capable of moving between worlds readily, says Mr. Launius. It will likely take generations, “but the sooner we get started, the sooner we can actually achieve this.”
For some, this is about expanding future possibilities for humanity. “If we stay here on Earth, we’re going to play a limited resource game, and we’re going to pollute the environment and we’re going to utilize what resources we have and we’re going to fight over them,” Dr. Autry says. “When you open up a new frontier, you create vast new wealth.”
But it also might go deeper than that, suggests Mr. O’Keefe, pointing out that Homo sapiens is the only species known to have expanded across the entire globe and settled into the many diverse (terrestrial) environments on Earth.
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“We’ve explored large swaths of this planet in order to advance, to improve, to expand, to do better,” he says. “This is yielding to that same instinct that has been kind of ground into human nature.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


csmonitor--2020-04-02--Record 6.6 million file for unemployment as US economy slows

More than 6.6 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week – doubling a record high set just one week earlier – a sign that layoffs are accelerating in the midst of the coronavirus .
The report Thursday from the Labor Department showed that job cuts are mounting against the backdrop of economies in the United States and abroad that have almost certainly sunk into a severe recession as businesses close across the world .
The figure for last week is much higher than the previous record of 3.3 million reported for the previous week .
The surging layoffs have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as 20 million lost jobs by the end of April .
The unemployment rate could spike to as high as 15 % this month , above the previous record of 10.8 % set during a deep recession in 1982 .
Some economists expect even higher levels of unemployment .
The data also suggest that workers in some of the lowest-paid occupations were among the first to be laid off .
“ Low and low-middle income households are being hit hardest by the crisis , ” Mark Zandi , chief economist of Moody ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Many employers are slashing their payrolls to try to stay afloat because their revenue has collapsed , especially at restaurants , hotels , gyms , movie theaters , and other venues that depend on face-to-face interaction .
Auto sales have sunk , and factories have closed .
Stay-at-home orders , imposed by most U.S. states , have intensified pressure on businesses , most of which face rent , loans , and other bills that must be paid .
Congress significantly expanded the unemployment benefits system in last week 's $ 2.2 trillion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 600 a week in jobless aid , on top of what recipients receive from their states .
This will enable many lower-income workers to manage their expenses and even increase their purchasing power and support the economy .
It also makes many more people eligible for jobless aid , including the self-employed , contractors , and so-called `` gig economy '' workers such as Uber and Lyft drivers .
Kathryn Lickteig , a cook in Kansas City , signed up for unemployment compensation last week after the city shut down dine-in restaurants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 600 will help her ride out the shutdown instead of having to look for an interim job .
`` It has eased my mind so much , '' she said .
`` I do not have to actively go out and expose myself to the public and possibly get sick .
I can stay home now and do my part in social distancing . ''
The legislation will also help fund unemployment benefits for workers whose hours have been cut .
That would enable these people to replace some of their lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep their jobs .
About 26 states allow workers with reduced hours to claim benefits .
Most economists support doing so because it encourages companies to cut back on hours rather than lay off workers .
Any program that encourages companies to maintain connections with their workers can help the economy rebound faster after the virus outbreak is contained .
Typically , people who receive jobless aid are required to actively look for a new job and to document their searches .
But Congress has passed other legislation that encourages states to drop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses are closed , and most Americans have been ordered to stay mostly at home .
Mark Zandi , chief economist at Moody 's Analytics , said this week that just 6 % of companies surveyed by Moody 's say they ’ re hiring – down dramatically from 40 % in the weeks preceding the coronavirus outbreak .
The plunge in hiring underscores the difficulty that anyone out of work would have finding a new job .
On Friday , the government will issue the March jobs report , which economists forecast will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That report is based on data gathered mostly before the spike in layoffs began two weeks ago .
Though relatively small , that loss would still end a record-long 113-month streak of job growth .
Numerous state unemployment agencies have struggled to keep up with the flood of applications for jobless benefits .
New York 's Labor Department asks people to file on different days depending on their last names .
Monday , for example , is reserved for those last names that start with A through F. This story was reported by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .

More than 6.6 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week – doubling a record high set just one week earlier – a sign that layoffs are accelerating in the midst of the coronavirus.
The report Thursday from the Labor Department showed that job cuts are mounting against the backdrop of economies in the United States and abroad that have almost certainly sunk into a severe recession as businesses close across the world.
The figure for last week is much higher than the previous record of 3.3 million reported for the previous week. The surging layoffs have led many economists to forecast as many as 20 million lost jobs by the end of April. The unemployment rate could spike to as high as 15% this month, above the previous record of 10.8% set during a deep recession in 1982.
Some economists expect even higher levels of unemployment. The data also suggest that workers in some of the lowest-paid occupations were among the first to be laid off. “Low and low-middle income households are being hit hardest by the crisis,” Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Analytics tells The Christian Science Monitor.
Many employers are slashing their payrolls to try to stay afloat because their revenue has collapsed, especially at restaurants, hotels, gyms, movie theaters, and other venues that depend on face-to-face interaction. Auto sales have sunk, and factories have closed.
Stay-at-home orders, imposed by most U.S. states, have intensified pressure on businesses, most of which face rent, loans, and other bills that must be paid.
Congress significantly expanded the unemployment benefits system in last week's $2.2 trillion economic rescue package. That legislation added $600 a week in jobless aid, on top of what recipients receive from their states. This will enable many lower-income workers to manage their expenses and even increase their purchasing power and support the economy.
It also makes many more people eligible for jobless aid, including the self-employed, contractors, and so-called "gig economy" workers such as Uber and Lyft drivers.
Kathryn Lickteig, a cook in Kansas City, signed up for unemployment compensation last week after the city shut down dine-in restaurants. She is hopeful that the extra $600 will help her ride out the shutdown instead of having to look for an interim job.
"It has eased my mind so much," she said. "I do not have to actively go out and expose myself to the public and possibly get sick. I can stay home now and do my part in social distancing."
The legislation will also help fund unemployment benefits for workers whose hours have been cut. That would enable these people to replace some of their lost income with unemployment aid even as they keep their jobs.
About 26 states allow workers with reduced hours to claim benefits. Most economists support doing so because it encourages companies to cut back on hours rather than lay off workers. Any program that encourages companies to maintain connections with their workers can help the economy rebound faster after the virus outbreak is contained.
Typically, people who receive jobless aid are required to actively look for a new job and to document their searches. But Congress has passed other legislation that encourages states to drop that requirement, given that so many businesses are closed, and most Americans have been ordered to stay mostly at home.
Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics, said this week that just 6% of companies surveyed by Moody's say they’re hiring – down dramatically from 40% in the weeks preceding the coronavirus outbreak. The plunge in hiring underscores the difficulty that anyone out of work would have finding a new job.
On Friday, the government will issue the March jobs report, which economists forecast will show a loss of 145,000 jobs. That report is based on data gathered mostly before the spike in layoffs began two weeks ago. Though relatively small, that loss would still end a record-long 113-month streak of job growth.
Numerous state unemployment agencies have struggled to keep up with the flood of applications for jobless benefits. New York's Labor Department asks people to file on different days depending on their last names. Monday, for example, is reserved for those last names that start with A through F.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This story was reported by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage.


csmonitor--2020-03-24--Federal Reserve unleashes unprecedented support for US economy

The Federal Reserve is unleashing its boldest effort yet to protect the United States economy from the coronavirus by helping companies and governments pay their bills and survive a devastating crisis .
With lending in Treasury and mortgage markets threatening to shut down , the Fed announced an aggressive set of programs Monday to try to smooth out those markets .
To do so , it committed to buy as much government-backed debt as it deems necessary .
And for the first time ever , the Fed said it plans to buy corporate debt , too .
Its intervention is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , banks , and governments can get the loans they need at a time when their own revenue is fast drying up as the economy stalls .
The Fed 's all-out effort to support the flow of credit through an economy ravaged by the virus outbreak has now gone beyond even the extraordinary drive it made to rescue the economy from the 2008 financial crisis .
`` The coronavirus pandemic is causing tremendous hardship across the United States and around the world , '' the Fed said in a statement .
`` Aggressive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and private sectors to limit the losses to jobs and incomes and to promote a swift recovery once the disruptions abate . ''
The announcement lifted stocks in early trading .
And as rancorous talks in Congress over a $ 2 trillion rescue package appeared to be coming to an agreement , the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up about 7 percent at 11 a.m .
The yield on the 10-year Treasury bond fell , a sign that more investors are willing to purchase the securities .
With its new programs , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is trying to both stabilize the economy and allay panic in financial markets .
As the need for cash has escalated among many corporations and city and state governments , large businesses have been drawing as much as they can on their existing borrowing relationships with banks .
The intensifying need for money means that banks and other investors are seeking to rapidly unload Treasuries , short-term corporate debt , municipal bonds , and other securities .
The Fed 's move to intervene as a buyer of last resort is intended to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump , a frequent Fed critic , had rare praise for Mr. Powell on Monday .
`` I really think he 's caught up and he 's done the right thing , '' Mr. Trump said during a White House press conference .
He said he called Mr. Powell on Monday and said , `` Jerome , good job . ''
Less than two weeks ago , Mr. Trump was noting that he had the power to fire or demote the Fed chief .
The central bank 's actions , meanwhile , increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that would include funds to backstop the Fed 's lending .
Many economists say that whatever financial support Congress eventually provides will likely be even more important than the Fed 's intervention .
And they warn that such fiscal help needs to come soon .
`` The Fed 's intervention is not a substitute for fiscal stimulus , '' said Joseph Gagnon , a former Fed economist who is now a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics .
`` Let 's hope Congress passes something quickly . ''
Joe Brusuelas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tax and advisory firm , said that if Congress can pass the legislation and have it signed into law by Tuesday , banks could start making loans to small and medium-sized businesses , with the Fed 's support , by Friday .
In its announcement Monday , the Fed said it will establish three new lending facilities that will provide up to $ 300 billion by purchasing corporate bonds , a wider range of municipal bonds and securities tied to such debt as auto and real estate loans .
It will also buy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mortgage-backed securities to try to hold down borrowing rates and ensure those markets function smoothly .
The central bank 's go-for-broke approach is an acknowledgment that its previous plans to keep credit flowing smoothly , which included dollar limits , would n't be enough in the face of the viral outbreak , which has brought the U.S. economy to a near-standstill as workers and consumers stay home .
Last week , it said it would buy $ 500 billion of Treasuries and $ 200 billion of mortgage-backed securities , then quickly ran through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end .
And on Monday , the New York Federal Reserve said it would buy $ 75 billion of Treasuries and $ 50 billion of mortgage-backed securities each day this week .
`` They 're really setting the economy up '' to start functioning again when the health crisis subsides , said Donald Kohn , a former Fed vice chair who is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution .
`` Part of this is about the other side of the valley : Make sure the credit is there . ''
Mr. Kohn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set up some of the Fed 's programs , but just knowing that they are on the way should reassure businesses .
Many companies seeking loans are worried about cash flow as their revenue dries up along with their customers .
Elizabeth Cooper McFadden , who runs Novella Brandhouse , a marketing firm in Kansas City , Missouri , has applied for a disaster loan from the Small Business Administration .
But she 's concerned about how long that loan will take to be processed and wonders if the Fed program might be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the next 30 to 60 days .
Ms. McFadden would also like to see more lenient terms than SBA loans allow .
`` We 're looking at any and all options , '' she said , adding , hopefully : `` I feel that 90 days from now , it 's going to be a different picture – in a positive way . ''
The Fed mostly creates the money it will use to buy bonds and lend to large and small businesses .
But it seeks to avoid credit losses .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Treasury fund to offset any losses on its loans .
That fund has already committed most of that money to the Fed 's existing facilities .
The congressional legislation could boost that amount by about $ 500 billion .
`` The steps announced today , combined with the previous ones ... should substantially improve market functioning and should provide some important support for the economy , '' said Roberto Perli , a former Fed economist who is now head of global policy research at Cornerstone Macro .
But Mr. Perli cautioned that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The next couple of quarters will still be probably bad , '' he said .
The new programs announced Monday by the Fed include two that will buy corporate debt issued by large companies .
One program will buy newly issued corporate debt .
This is an effort to revive that market , which has effectively come to a standstill .
The second will buy previously issued corporate debt .
Both programs will include $ 10 billion provided by the Treasury to offset any losses .
A third new lending program will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loans , credit card loans , and some small business loans .
Lending in those areas hinges on the ability of banks to package those loans into securities and sell them .
So the Fed 's move is critical to the ability of banks to continue to provide these loans as the economy falters .
The Treasury will also provide $ 10 billion to that program to offset any losses .
All told , those three programs can lend up to $ 300 billion .
The Fed said that companies `` that are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pending federal legislation '' are not eligible to participate in the corporate lending programs – a reference to the airline industry and perhaps others under consideration .
Companies will have to be rated at investment grade , or above junk level , to be eligible for lending .
The companies can defer payments for up to six months , the Fed said .
If they do suspend payment , they are not allowed to buy back their shares or pay dividends , it said .
The Fed also said it will soon establish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' to support lending to small and medium-sized businesses .
But it provided few details and did n't say when that program would begin .
That program will likely be funded by and is intended to complement the congressional stimulus legislation , which also includes a provision to provide financing to very small companies .
The Fed 's Main Street program will target medium-sized businesses , officials said .
Mr. Brusuelas noted that by announcing the Main Street lending program , the Fed had committed to something before a congressional backstop was in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` You 're never going to see that again , hopefully , '' he said .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
AP writers Paul Wiseman , Martin Crutsinger , and Kevin Freking contributed to this report .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

The Federal Reserve is unleashing its boldest effort yet to protect the United States economy from the coronavirus by helping companies and governments pay their bills and survive a devastating crisis.
With lending in Treasury and mortgage markets threatening to shut down, the Fed announced an aggressive set of programs Monday to try to smooth out those markets. To do so, it committed to buy as much government-backed debt as it deems necessary. And for the first time ever, the Fed said it plans to buy corporate debt, too.
Its intervention is intended to ensure that households, companies, banks, and governments can get the loans they need at a time when their own revenue is fast drying up as the economy stalls.
The Fed's all-out effort to support the flow of credit through an economy ravaged by the virus outbreak has now gone beyond even the extraordinary drive it made to rescue the economy from the 2008 financial crisis.
"The coronavirus pandemic is causing tremendous hardship across the United States and around the world," the Fed said in a statement. "Aggressive efforts must be taken across the public and private sectors to limit the losses to jobs and incomes and to promote a swift recovery once the disruptions abate."
The announcement lifted stocks in early trading. And as rancorous talks in Congress over a $2 trillion rescue package appeared to be coming to an agreement, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up about 7 percent at 11 a.m. The yield on the 10-year Treasury bond fell, a sign that more investors are willing to purchase the securities.
With its new programs, the Fed, led by Chair Jerome Powell, is trying to both stabilize the economy and allay panic in financial markets. As the need for cash has escalated among many corporations and city and state governments, large businesses have been drawing as much as they can on their existing borrowing relationships with banks.
The intensifying need for money means that banks and other investors are seeking to rapidly unload Treasuries, short-term corporate debt, municipal bonds, and other securities. The Fed's move to intervene as a buyer of last resort is intended to supply that needed cash.
President Donald Trump, a frequent Fed critic, had rare praise for Mr. Powell on Monday.
"I really think he's caught up and he's done the right thing," Mr. Trump said during a White House press conference. He said he called Mr. Powell on Monday and said, "Jerome, good job." Less than two weeks ago, Mr. Trump was noting that he had the power to fire or demote the Fed chief.
The central bank's actions, meanwhile, increase pressure on Congress to approve an agreement that would include funds to backstop the Fed's lending. Many economists say that whatever financial support Congress eventually provides will likely be even more important than the Fed's intervention. And they warn that such fiscal help needs to come soon.
"The Fed's intervention is not a substitute for fiscal stimulus," said Joseph Gagnon, a former Fed economist who is now a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. "Let's hope Congress passes something quickly.''
Joe Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM, a tax and advisory firm, said that if Congress can pass the legislation and have it signed into law by Tuesday, banks could start making loans to small and medium-sized businesses, with the Fed's support, by Friday.
In its announcement Monday, the Fed said it will establish three new lending facilities that will provide up to $300 billion by purchasing corporate bonds, a wider range of municipal bonds and securities tied to such debt as auto and real estate loans. It will also buy an unlimited amount of Treasury bonds and mortgage-backed securities to try to hold down borrowing rates and ensure those markets function smoothly.
The central bank's go-for-broke approach is an acknowledgment that its previous plans to keep credit flowing smoothly, which included dollar limits, wouldn't be enough in the face of the viral outbreak, which has brought the U.S. economy to a near-standstill as workers and consumers stay home. Last week, it said it would buy $500 billion of Treasuries and $200 billion of mortgage-backed securities, then quickly ran through roughly half those amounts by week's end.
And on Monday, the New York Federal Reserve said it would buy $75 billion of Treasuries and $50 billion of mortgage-backed securities each day this week.
"They're really setting the economy up'' to start functioning again when the health crisis subsides, said Donald Kohn, a former Fed vice chair who is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. "Part of this is about the other side of the valley: Make sure the credit is there.''
Mr. Kohn noted that it would take time to set up some of the Fed's programs, but just knowing that they are on the way should reassure businesses.
Many companies seeking loans are worried about cash flow as their revenue dries up along with their customers. Elizabeth Cooper McFadden, who runs Novella Brandhouse, a marketing firm in Kansas City, Missouri, has applied for a disaster loan from the Small Business Administration. But she's concerned about how long that loan will take to be processed and wonders if the Fed program might be faster. She will need more money in the next 30 to 60 days.
Ms. McFadden would also like to see more lenient terms than SBA loans allow.
"We're looking at any and all options," she said, adding, hopefully: "I feel that 90 days from now, it's going to be a different picture – in a positive way."
The Fed mostly creates the money it will use to buy bonds and lend to large and small businesses. But it seeks to avoid credit losses. It has been using money from a Treasury fund to offset any losses on its loans. That fund has already committed most of that money to the Fed's existing facilities. The congressional legislation could boost that amount by about $500 billion.
"The steps announced today, combined with the previous ones ... should substantially improve market functioning and should provide some important support for the economy," said Roberto Perli, a former Fed economist who is now head of global policy research at Cornerstone Macro.
But Mr. Perli cautioned that the benefits won't be felt immediately.
"The next couple of quarters will still be probably bad," he said.
The new programs announced Monday by the Fed include two that will buy corporate debt issued by large companies.
One program will buy newly issued corporate debt. This is an effort to revive that market, which has effectively come to a standstill. The second will buy previously issued corporate debt. Both programs will include $10 billion provided by the Treasury to offset any losses.
A third new lending program will buy securities backed by packages of auto loans, credit card loans, and some small business loans. Lending in those areas hinges on the ability of banks to package those loans into securities and sell them. So the Fed's move is critical to the ability of banks to continue to provide these loans as the economy falters.
The Treasury will also provide $10 billion to that program to offset any losses. All told, those three programs can lend up to $300 billion.
The Fed said that companies "that are expected to receive direct financial assistance under pending federal legislation" are not eligible to participate in the corporate lending programs – a reference to the airline industry and perhaps others under consideration.
Companies will have to be rated at investment grade, or above junk level, to be eligible for lending. The companies can defer payments for up to six months, the Fed said. If they do suspend payment, they are not allowed to buy back their shares or pay dividends, it said.
The Fed also said it will soon establish a "Main Street Business Lending Program" to support lending to small and medium-sized businesses. But it provided few details and didn't say when that program would begin.
That program will likely be funded by and is intended to complement the congressional stimulus legislation, which also includes a provision to provide financing to very small companies. The Fed's Main Street program will target medium-sized businesses, officials said.
Mr. Brusuelas noted that by announcing the Main Street lending program, the Fed had committed to something before a congressional backstop was in place, a virtually unheard-of step.
"You're never going to see that again, hopefully," he said.
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This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP writers Paul Wiseman, Martin Crutsinger, and Kevin Freking contributed to this report.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-03-12--Worst market day since 1987; wide-scale event cancellation

The escalating coronavirus emergency sent the stock market Thursday into its worst slide since the Black Monday crash of 1987 , extending a sell-off that has now wiped out most of Wall Street 's big gains since President Donald Trump took office .
The S & P 500 plummeted 9.5 % , for a total drop of 26.7 % from its all-time high , set just last month .
That puts it way past the 20 % threshold for a bear market , officially ending Wall Street 's unprecedented bull-market run of nearly 11 years .
The Dow Jones Industrial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day since its nearly 23 % drop on Oct. 19 , 1987 .
European markets lost 12 % in one of their worst days ever , even after the European Central Bank pledged to buy more bonds and offer more help for the economy .
The heavy losses came amid a cascade of cancellations and shutdowns across the globe – including Disneyland , sporting events , and Broadway , as well as Mr. Trump 's suspension of most travel to the U.S. from Europe – and rising worries that the White House and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or wo n't counter the economic damage from the coronavirus pandemic any time soon .
`` We 're starting to get a sense of how dire the impact on the economy is going to be .
Each day the news does n't get better , it gets worse .
It 's now has hit Main Street to a more significant degree , '' said Liz Ann Sonders , chief investment strategist at Charles Schwab .
Stocks fell so fast on Wall Street at the opening bell that they triggered an automatic , 15-minute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week .
The so-called circuit breakers were first adopted after the 1987 crash , and until this week had n't been tripped since 1997 .
The Dow briefly turned upward and halved its losses at one point in the afternoon after the Federal Reserve announced it would step in to ease `` highly unusual disruptions '' in the Treasury market .
But the burst of momentum quickly faded .
Mr. Trump often points proudly to the big run-up on Wall Street under his administration , warning a crowd at a rally last August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hate , you got ta vote for me , '' or else your 401 ( k ) will go `` down the tubes . ''
Just last month , the Dow was boasting a nearly 50 % gain since Mr. Trump took the oath of office on Jan. 20 , 2017 .
By Thursday 's close , the Dow was clinging to a 6.9 % gain , though it was still up nearly 16 % since just before Trump 's election in November 2016 .
The Dow officially went into a bear market @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day down more than 20 % from its all-time high .
For the S & P 500 , this is the fastest drop from a record high to a bear market since World War II .
The combined health crisis and retreat on Wall Street heightened fears of a recession .
`` This is bad .
The worst and fastest stock market correction in our career , '' Chris Rupkey , chief financial economist at MUFG Union , said in a research note overnight .
`` The economy is doomed to recession if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next 30 days off .
The stock market knows it . ''
In a somber prime-time address Wednesday night from the White House , Trump announced the new travel ban as well as measures to extend loans , payroll tax cuts and other financial relief to individuals and businesses hurt by the crisis .
But the travel restrictions represented another heavy blow to the already battered airline and travel industries , and the other measures did not impress Wall Street .
`` What markets are waiting for are efforts to contain the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we 've seen in other countries , '' said Nela Richardson , investment strategist at Edward Jones .
`` Short of that , nibbling around the edges , maybe doing something that can help a firm with a very short-term impact or help an employee , does n't hurt , but it 's not the bull's-eye , and it 's not as targeted as the markets would like to see . ''
Michael McCarthy of CMC Markets said : `` The market judgment on that announcement is that it 's too little , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worldwide .
Among the big moves : • Travel stocks again were among the hardest hit .
Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean Cruises both lost roughly a third of their value .
Another drop for United Airlines put its loss for the year at nearly 58 % .
• Oil continued its brutal week , with benchmark U.S. crude at $ 31.50 per barrel .
• In Asia , stocks in Thailand and the Philippines fell so fast that trading was temporarily halted .
Japan 's Nikkei 225 sank 4.4 % to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and South Korea 's market lost 3.9 % .
Also alarming were complaints in recent days by investors that trading in the Treasury market was n't working well .
For reasons that were n't immediately clear , traders said they were seeing surprisingly large gaps in prices being offered by buyers and sellers .
That threatened to cause the market to seize up .
In a surprise move , the Fed said it would pump in at least $ 1.5 trillion to help calm the market and facilitate trading .
After earlier thinking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China and that any dip in the economy would be followed by a quick rebound , investors are seeing the damage and disruptions mount , with Italy locking itself down , the NBA suspending games and authorities in the U.S. and beyond banning large gatherings and closing schools .
Among the widespread closures , some notable business and event cancelations include : • The US Capitol is closing to the public until April due to the outbreak .
• The NCAA has canceled all of its championships in every winter and spring sport @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , lacrosse and several others .
• Major League Soccer postponed its season for 30 days , according to ESPN .
• Major League Baseball has suspended spring training , and delayed the start of its season by two weeks .
• Broadway shows in New York City are shutting down for a month .
• Disneyland Park in Anaheim , California , suspending operations on March 14 for two weeks .
• Ireland and the US are canceling all St. Patrick 's Day parades , according to The Hill .
• Coachella @ @ @ @ @ @ @ October , according to The New York Times .
The Democratic National Convention has also announced that the Arizona democratic debates between Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden will no longer allow a live audience , nor would press ( beyond CNN ) be allowed to attend , and that the debate would be moved from Arizona to Washington .
`` Anyone who tells you they know how long this is going to last is wrong , '' said Adam Taback , chief investment officer for Wells Fargo Private Bank .
`` The uncertainty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you get this virus under control , and is that a matter of days , weeks or months . ''
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
AP business writer Yuri Kageyama contributed from Tokyo .
This report includes material from ESPN , The Hill , and The New York Times .

The escalating coronavirus emergency sent the stock market Thursday into its worst slide since the Black Monday crash of 1987, extending a sell-off that has now wiped out most of Wall Street's big gains since President Donald Trump took office.
The S&P 500 plummeted 9.5%, for a total drop of 26.7% from its all-time high, set just last month. That puts it way past the 20% threshold for a bear market, officially ending Wall Street's unprecedented bull-market run of nearly 11 years. The Dow Jones Industrial Average sank 10% for its worst day since its nearly 23% drop on Oct. 19, 1987.
European markets lost 12% in one of their worst days ever, even after the European Central Bank pledged to buy more bonds and offer more help for the economy.
The heavy losses came amid a cascade of cancellations and shutdowns across the globe – including Disneyland, sporting events, and Broadway, as well as Mr. Trump's suspension of most travel to the U.S. from Europe – and rising worries that the White House and other authorities around the world can't or won't counter the economic damage from the coronavirus pandemic any time soon.
"We're starting to get a sense of how dire the impact on the economy is going to be. Each day the news doesn't get better, it gets worse. It's now has hit Main Street to a more significant degree," said Liz Ann Sonders, chief investment strategist at Charles Schwab.
Stocks fell so fast on Wall Street at the opening bell that they triggered an automatic, 15-minute trading halt for the second time this week. The so-called circuit breakers were first adopted after the 1987 crash, and until this week hadn't been tripped since 1997.
The Dow briefly turned upward and halved its losses at one point in the afternoon after the Federal Reserve announced it would step in to ease "highly unusual disruptions" in the Treasury market. But the burst of momentum quickly faded.
Mr. Trump often points proudly to the big run-up on Wall Street under his administration, warning a crowd at a rally last August that "whether you love me or hate, you gotta vote for me," or else your 401(k) will go "down the tubes."
Just last month, the Dow was boasting a nearly 50% gain since Mr. Trump took the oath of office on Jan. 20, 2017. By Thursday's close, the Dow was clinging to a 6.9% gain, though it was still up nearly 16% since just before Trump's election in November 2016.
The Dow officially went into a bear market on Wednesday, when it finished the day down more than 20% from its all-time high. For the S&P 500, this is the fastest drop from a record high to a bear market since World War II.
The combined health crisis and retreat on Wall Street heightened fears of a recession.
"This is bad. The worst and fastest stock market correction in our career," Chris Rupkey, chief financial economist at MUFG Union, said in a research note overnight. "The economy is doomed to recession if the country stops working and takes the next 30 days off. The stock market knows it."
In a somber prime-time address Wednesday night from the White House, Trump announced the new travel ban as well as measures to extend loans, payroll tax cuts and other financial relief to individuals and businesses hurt by the crisis.
But the travel restrictions represented another heavy blow to the already battered airline and travel industries, and the other measures did not impress Wall Street.
"What markets are waiting for are efforts to contain the virus in a very aggressive way, ways we've seen in other countries," said Nela Richardson, investment strategist at Edward Jones. "Short of that, nibbling around the edges, maybe doing something that can help a firm with a very short-term impact or help an employee, doesn't hurt, but it's not the bull's-eye, and it's not as targeted as the markets would like to see."
Michael McCarthy of CMC Markets said: "The market judgment on that announcement is that it's too little, too late."
The damage was worldwide. Among the big moves:
Travel stocks again were among the hardest hit. Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean Cruises both lost roughly a third of their value. Another drop for United Airlines put its loss for the year at nearly 58%.
Oil continued its brutal week, with benchmark U.S. crude at $31.50 per barrel.
In Asia, stocks in Thailand and the Philippines fell so fast that trading was temporarily halted. Japan's Nikkei 225 sank 4.4% to its lowest close in four years, and South Korea's market lost 3.9%.
Also alarming were complaints in recent days by investors that trading in the Treasury market wasn't working well. For reasons that weren't immediately clear, traders said they were seeing surprisingly large gaps in prices being offered by buyers and sellers. That threatened to cause the market to seize up.
In a surprise move, the Fed said it would pump in at least $1.5 trillion to help calm the market and facilitate trading.
After earlier thinking that the virus could remain mostly in China and that any dip in the economy would be followed by a quick rebound, investors are seeing the damage and disruptions mount, with Italy locking itself down, the NBA suspending games and authorities in the U.S. and beyond banning large gatherings and closing schools.
Among the widespread closures, some notable business and event cancelations include:
The US Capitol is closing to the public until April due to the outbreak.
The NCAA has canceled all of its championships in every winter and spring sport, including basketball, hockey, baseball, lacrosse and several others.
Major League Soccer postponed its season for 30 days, according to ESPN.
Major League Baseball has suspended spring training, and delayed the start of its season by two weeks.
Broadway shows in New York City are shutting down for a month.
Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California, suspending operations on March 14 for two weeks.
Ireland and the US are canceling all St. Patrick's Day parades, according to The Hill.
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival postponed until October, according to The New York Times.
The Democratic National Convention has also announced that the Arizona democratic debates between Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden will no longer allow a live audience, nor would press (beyond CNN) be allowed to attend, and that the debate would be moved from Arizona to Washington.
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"Anyone who tells you they know how long this is going to last is wrong," said Adam Taback, chief investment officer for Wells Fargo Private Bank. "The uncertainty here is trying to figure out how you get this virus under control, and is that a matter of days, weeks or months."
This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP business writer Yuri Kageyama contributed from Tokyo. This report includes material from ESPN, The Hill, and The New York Times.


csmonitor--2020-04-15--Crossover lessons: Earth Day and the pandemic

It ’ s been a half-century since the first Earth Day on April 22 , 1970 .
In a less unusual year , that 50th anniversary might have brought worldwide notice .
But a pandemic has consumed most public attention .
Yet the environmental issues that Earth Day highlights are as urgent as ever .
In many ways , they are woven with the coronavirus crisis .
One issue is that humanity ’ s view of the natural world may be changing .
COVID-19 is believed to have leaped to humans from another species .
Will fear grow that other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be avoided ?
Or will a commitment grow to more deeply understand and live in harmony with the natural world ?
Another issue posed by the virus : Will the need to reignite faltering economies result in less protection for the environment ?
That question poses a false choice .
The environment and economy are too interrelated to suppose each fits into separate boxes .
“ The economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the environment , ” pointed out Earth Day ’ s founder , Wisconsin Sen. Gaylord Nelson .
“ Not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy rests on a healthy environment .
The world ’ s economic system has experienced a great disruption .
Governments are responding with unprecedented speed and massive spending .
Old rules of the road are being abandoned .
Will people now accept radical steps to curb climate change ?
Each year lost in reducing carbon emissions will make the need for future steps to be more drastic .
The National Geographic Society recently calculated how climate change might affect cities 50 years from now .
Boston , for example , would have summer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , along with 2 inches more rain .
The shutdown of businesses during the coronavirus outbreak has been a global experiment in the benefits of clean air .
As of March 8 , the forced shuttering of factories in Wuhan , China , and the resulting reduction in air pollution saved an estimated 51,000 to 73,000 lives , estimates Marshall Burke , an assistant professor of earth system science at Stanford University .
That total is far more than the lives reportedly lost to the virus in the surrounding Hubei province .
Earth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individual action , including lifestyle changes and investments in clean technologies .
That grassroots momentum has led to “ green ” policies by most governments and to international climate agreements .
Yet progress has been slow .
Just as the COVID-19 crisis is bringing forth innovative solutions to a complex and urgent issue , new approaches are required on climate change .
This year ’ s Earth Day , coming during a pandemic , is a reminder of the need for global action to solve a problem involving the whole planet .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it can find harmony with the natural world .

It’s been a half-century since the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970. In a less unusual year, that 50th anniversary might have brought worldwide notice. But a pandemic has consumed most public attention. Yet the environmental issues that Earth Day highlights are as urgent as ever. In many ways, they are woven with the coronavirus crisis.
One issue is that humanity’s view of the natural world may be changing. COVID-19 is believed to have leaped to humans from another species. Will fear grow that other forms of life are dangerous and to be avoided? Or will a commitment grow to more deeply understand and live in harmony with the natural world?
Another issue posed by the virus: Will the need to reignite faltering economies result in less protection for the environment? That question poses a false choice. The environment and economy are too interrelated to suppose each fits into separate boxes. “The economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the environment,” pointed out Earth Day’s founder, Wisconsin Sen. Gaylord Nelson. “Not the other way around.” A healthy economy rests on a healthy environment.
The world’s economic system has experienced a great disruption. Governments are responding with unprecedented speed and massive spending. Old rules of the road are being abandoned. Will people now accept radical steps to curb climate change?
Each year lost in reducing carbon emissions will make the need for future steps to be more drastic. The National Geographic Society recently calculated how climate change might affect cities 50 years from now. Boston, for example, would have summer temperatures 8 degrees Fahrenheit hotter on average, along with 2 inches more rain.
The shutdown of businesses during the coronavirus outbreak has been a global experiment in the benefits of clean air. As of March 8, the forced shuttering of factories in Wuhan, China, and the resulting reduction in air pollution saved an estimated 51,000 to 73,000 lives, estimates Marshall Burke, an assistant professor of earth system science at Stanford University. That total is far more than the lives reportedly lost to the virus in the surrounding Hubei province.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
Earth Day has always been a call for individual action, including lifestyle changes and investments in clean technologies. That grassroots momentum has led to “green” policies by most governments and to international climate agreements. Yet progress has been slow.
Just as the COVID-19 crisis is bringing forth innovative solutions to a complex and urgent issue, new approaches are required on climate change. This year’s Earth Day, coming during a pandemic, is a reminder of the need for global action to solve a problem involving the whole planet. If humanity is in harmony on that, it can find harmony with the natural world.


csmonitor--2020-03-26--Safety net? Record 3.3 million people seek unemployment benefits

Nearly 3.3 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week – more than quadruple the previous record set in 1982 – amid a widespread economic shutdown caused by the coronavirus .
The surge in weekly applications was a stunning reflection of the damage the viral outbreak is doing to the economy .
Filings for unemployment aid generally reflect the pace of layoffs .
The pace of layoffs is sure to accelerate as the United States ' economy sinks into a recession .
Revenue has collapsed at restaurants , hotels , movie theaters , gyms , and airlines .
Auto sales @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed factories .
Most such employers face loan payments and other fixed costs , so they 're cutting jobs to save money .
As job losses mount , some economists say the nation 's unemployment rate could approach 13 % by May .
By comparison , the highest jobless rate during the Great Recession , which ended in 2009 , was 10 % .
The economic deterioration has been swift .
As recently as February , the unemployment rate was at a 50-year low of 3.5 % .
And the economy was growing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April-June quarter of the year , some economists think the economy will shrink at its steepest annual pace ever – a contraction that could reach 30 % .
In California , claims for unemployment benefits more than tripled last week to 187,000 .
In New York , they rose by a factor of five to 80,334 .
Nationwide , about 2.25 % of the entire workforce applied for jobless aid last week .
In Nevada , the figure was 6.8 % , in Rhode Island 7.5 % .
Many people who have lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to file for unemployment aid because state websites and phone systems have been overwhelmed by a crush of applicants and have frozen up .
That logjam suggests that Thursday 's report on filings for unemployment benefits actually understates the magnitude of job cuts last week .
With layoffs surging , a significant expansion of unemployment benefits for the millions who will lose jobs as a result of the coronavirus outbreak was included in an economic relief bill nearing final approval in Congress .
One provision in the bill would provide an extra $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unemployment aid that states provide .
Another would extend 13 additional weeks of benefits beyond the six months of jobless aid that most states offer .
Separate legislation passed last week provides up to $ 1 billion to states to enhance their ability to process claims .
But that money will take time to be disbursed .
Jessy Morancy of Hollywood , Florida , was laid off Friday from her job as a wheelchair attendant and customer service agent at Fort Lauderdale Airport .
Ms. Morancy called the state unemployment office Monday to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ encountered just a recorded message telling her to call back later .
She was also concerned that even a full unemployment benefit of $ 275 a week would be less than half of what she earned at her job and insufficient to provide for her children .
`` I 'm still in a state of shock , '' Ms. Morancy said .
She said she has heard that airline employees might continue to receive salaries if Congress provides financial assistance to the airlines .
Yet even so , it 's not clear that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – Eulen America , in her case – would be eligible .
`` If these companies are going to get a bailout , why not include us ? ''
Ms. Morancy said .
Even for those able to file a claim , the benefits will take time to kick in .
It typically takes two to three weeks before applicants receive any money .
State agencies must first contact their former employers to verify their work and earnings history .
Only then can the employee 's weekly unemployment benefits be calculated .
Worsening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handle unemployment claims are operating at historically low funding levels and staffing that are intended to handle a trickle of claims .
Just weeks ago , the job market was in the strongest shape it had been in decades .
Kim Boldrini-Sen has also struggled to even file her claim .
She has tried in two states : In Connecticut , where she works as an acupuncturist in a private practice , and in New York , where she lives and has her own acupuncture business .
In Connecticut , she thought her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she returned last week to re-file as applicants are required to do each week , she found there was no record of her initial filing .
After taking an hour to re-file , she received a pop-up notice that she was ineligible to do so online .
In New York , the state 's website repeatedly crashed when she was halfway through filling out her request .
When she finally managed to press submit , she received a pop-up saying she had to file over the phone .
That has n't worked well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at all hours of the day , '' she said .
`` That 's been my life for a week , and I still ca n't get through to anyone . ''
On Monday , the New York State Department of Labor tweeted , `` If you have been unable to get through our phone and/or online system this week , please keep trying . ''
`` We are working as hard as we can to ensure that all benefits are paid and appreciate your patience , '' the agency said on Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Morgan Stanley , said in a note to clients that 17 million jobs could be lost through May – twice the entire 8.7 million jobs that were lost in the Great Recession .
She expects the unemployment rate to average 12.8 % in the April-June quarter , which would be the highest level since the 1930s .
Still , Ms. Zentner also expects the economy to start recovering by the second half of the year .
It will take time for things to return to something close to normal , she projects : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % at the end of next year .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Nearly 3.3 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week – more than quadruple the previous record set in 1982 – amid a widespread economic shutdown caused by the coronavirus.
The surge in weekly applications was a stunning reflection of the damage the viral outbreak is doing to the economy. Filings for unemployment aid generally reflect the pace of layoffs.
The pace of layoffs is sure to accelerate as the United States' economy sinks into a recession. Revenue has collapsed at restaurants, hotels, movie theaters, gyms, and airlines. Auto sales are plummeting, and car makers have closed factories. Most such employers face loan payments and other fixed costs, so they're cutting jobs to save money.
As job losses mount, some economists say the nation's unemployment rate could approach 13% by May. By comparison, the highest jobless rate during the Great Recession, which ended in 2009, was 10%.
The economic deterioration has been swift. As recently as February, the unemployment rate was at a 50-year low of 3.5%. And the economy was growing steadily if modestly. Yet by the April-June quarter of the year, some economists think the economy will shrink at its steepest annual pace ever – a contraction that could reach 30%.
In California, claims for unemployment benefits more than tripled last week to 187,000. In New York, they rose by a factor of five to 80,334. Nationwide, about 2.25% of the entire workforce applied for jobless aid last week. In Nevada, the figure was 6.8%, in Rhode Island 7.5%.
Many people who have lost jobs in recent days have been unable to file for unemployment aid because state websites and phone systems have been overwhelmed by a crush of applicants and have frozen up. That logjam suggests that Thursday's report on filings for unemployment benefits actually understates the magnitude of job cuts last week.
With layoffs surging, a significant expansion of unemployment benefits for the millions who will lose jobs as a result of the coronavirus outbreak was included in an economic relief bill nearing final approval in Congress. One provision in the bill would provide an extra $600 a week on top of the unemployment aid that states provide. Another would extend 13 additional weeks of benefits beyond the six months of jobless aid that most states offer.
Separate legislation passed last week provides up to $1 billion to states to enhance their ability to process claims. But that money will take time to be disbursed.
Jessy Morancy of Hollywood, Florida, was laid off Friday from her job as a wheelchair attendant and customer service agent at Fort Lauderdale Airport. Ms. Morancy called the state unemployment office Monday to try to file for unemployment benefits but encountered just a recorded message telling her to call back later.
She was also concerned that even a full unemployment benefit of $275 a week would be less than half of what she earned at her job and insufficient to provide for her children.
"I'm still in a state of shock," Ms. Morancy said.
She said she has heard that airline employees might continue to receive salaries if Congress provides financial assistance to the airlines. Yet even so, it's not clear that employees like her who work for contractors – Eulen America, in her case – would be eligible.
"If these companies are going to get a bailout, why not include us?" Ms. Morancy said.
Even for those able to file a claim, the benefits will take time to kick in. It typically takes two to three weeks before applicants receive any money. State agencies must first contact their former employers to verify their work and earnings history. Only then can the employee's weekly unemployment benefits be calculated.
Worsening the problem, most state agencies that handle unemployment claims are operating at historically low funding levels and staffing that are intended to handle a trickle of claims. Just weeks ago, the job market was in the strongest shape it had been in decades.
Kim Boldrini-Sen has also struggled to even file her claim. She has tried in two states: In Connecticut, where she works as an acupuncturist in a private practice, and in New York, where she lives and has her own acupuncture business.
In Connecticut, she thought her application had been submitted. But when she returned last week to re-file as applicants are required to do each week, she found there was no record of her initial filing. After taking an hour to re-file, she received a pop-up notice that she was ineligible to do so online.
In New York, the state's website repeatedly crashed when she was halfway through filling out her request. When she finally managed to press submit, she received a pop-up saying she had to file over the phone. That hasn't worked well, either.
"I've called at all hours of the day," she said. "That's been my life for a week, and I still can't get through to anyone."
On Monday, the New York State Department of Labor tweeted, "If you have been unable to get through our phone and/or online system this week, please keep trying."
"We are working as hard as we can to ensure that all benefits are paid and appreciate your patience," the agency said on Twitter.
Ellen Zentner, an economist at Morgan Stanley, said in a note to clients that 17 million jobs could be lost through May – twice the entire 8.7 million jobs that were lost in the Great Recession. She expects the unemployment rate to average 12.8% in the April-June quarter, which would be the highest level since the 1930s.
Still, Ms. Zentner also expects the economy to start recovering by the second half of the year. It will take time for things to return to something close to normal, she projects: The unemployment rate could still top 5% at the end of next year.
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This story was reported by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-03-24--Justice during pandemic: Police seek to protect public and prisoners

The coronavirus “ has raised awareness that what ’ s going on inside matters , and it affects us , ” says Michele Deitch , a professor who specializes in corrections administration .
“ When we are through this nightmare situation , we may well be willing to make adjustments to our policies that recognize the need to continue some of those new practices.
” The novel coronavirus that has so far infected 400,000 people around the world and brought the global economy to a near standstill is reshaping society in dramatic ways , including how Americans think about care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ricardo García is continuing to talk with the sheriff ’ s office about more ways to safely reduce the inmate population and the risk of contagion .
The number of inmates in the jails has decreased by more than 1,000 , and arrests have dropped from an average of 300 a day to 60 .
In Los Angeles County , home to the country ’ s largest local jail system , Sheriff Alex Villanueva is working to reduce crowding to protect people from COVID-19 .
He ’ s released inmates early , freeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to serve .
Deputies are arresting fewer people , with offenders who would see their bail set at $ 50,000 or less given citations .
For an incarcerated person , visits from family and friends are “ like life support , ” says Jeremiah Bourgeois .
Those visits , he continues , “ help you maintain your humanity ” – and he would know , having spent 27 years in prison in Washington state .
But when the coronavirus outbreak was declared a pandemic March 11 , those visits were one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as it is on incarcerated people and their families , it will protect public health , experts say .
Mr. Bourgeois admits that , at first , he didn ’ t see it that way .
“ I thought it was more a matter of not wanting the virus to come out of the prisons , ” rather than protecting those inside , he says .
“ I ’ m so used to people not caring about what happens to prisoners.
” The pandemic that has infected more than 400,000 people around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a near standstill is reshaping society in dramatic ways .
How Americans think and care about prisoners is one of them .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , we ’ ve removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .
There are 2.3 million people behind bars – many of them older and infirm , many without access to good medical care – and they have lived out of sight and out of mind for most Americans .
But with the coronavirus crisis , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health priority .
Already , states are taking steps to release certain inmates from jails to lower their risk of exposure .
New Jersey is releasing 1,000 prisoners from jails this week , by order of the state Supreme Court chief justice , following similar moves in California .
The intake and transfer of inmates and juveniles into California 's correctional facilities has also been temporarily halted , with them staying in county custody for the next 30 days instead .
New York City is releasing 300 nonviolent inmates from Rikers Island , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the jail .
Iowa , meanwhile , is expediting the release of about 700 people who have already been cleared for parole or work release .
On Monday , 14 senators sent a bipartisan letter to the Trump administration , asking it to quickly transfer to home confinement eligible , nonviolent federal inmates who are deemed at high risk for COVID-19 .
And as more police and sheriff departments lower arrest rates and explore lowering inmate populations , more fundamental questions are emerging : Is this how things should have been all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus era able to endure beyond the outbreak ?
And could any of this transformation be permanent ?
The coronavirus “ has raised awareness that what ’ s going on inside matters , and it affects us , ” says Michele Deitch , a professor at the University of Texas at Austin who specializes in corrections administration .
“ It ’ s not another world ; it ’ s actually part of our public health system , ” she adds .
“ When we are through this nightmare situation , we may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our policies that recognize the need to continue some of those new practices.
” The decentralized nature of the United States justice system means responses to COVID-19 have varied , as different jurisdictions seek to protect the health of their incarcerated population and the broader community while still fulfilling constitutional duties like the right to a speedy trial .
Local , state , and federal courts across the country have closed , from Bexar County , Texas , where justices of the peace have suspended eviction hearings , to the U.S. Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As of March 20 , some 15 states and the U.S. Bureau of Prisons had suspended all visitation , while 37 states were still allowing legal visits , according to a tracker maintained by The Marshall Project .
Corrections administrators and law enforcement , meanwhile , have been taking a three-pronged approach : lowering admissions , speeding up releases , and improving overall hygiene and health screening of inmates and staff .
Local jail systems , which saw 10.6 million admissions in 2017 , are a critical front line in the country ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re going to be the first place this starts , ” says Professor Deitch .
They “ need to be turning off the spigot of who ’ s coming into the system.
” In Los Angeles County , home to the country ’ s largest local jail system , that ’ s what they ’ re trying to do .
LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva is working the problem from both ends .
He ’ s released inmates early , freeing those with fewer than 30 days left to serve .
Deputies are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violent suspects .
Offenders who would see their bail set at $ 50,000 or less are being given citations , an increase from $ 25,000 .
The number of inmates in the jails has decreased by more than 1,000 , and arrests have dropped from an average of 300 a day to 60 .
LA County Public Defender Ricardo García is continuing to talk with the sheriff ’ s office about more ways to safely reduce the inmate population and the risk of contagion .
And on March 24 the Superior Court of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undisclosed number pre-trial inmates from the county jail .
A significant number of people are being held pretrial , not yet convicted of a crime – approximately 40 % of the inmate population in 2016 .
His greatest concern is an acute outbreak in the jails .
“ We have huge swaths of people in jail who would do fine in the community if steps were taken to help them , ” he says .
Sheriff departments in Nashville , Tennessee ; and Cleveland are taking similar actions .
More than 200 inmates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cleveland earlier this month .
In Texas last week , the Fort Worth Police Department stopped making Class C misdemeanor arrests , while in Houston , the Harris County Sheriff ’ s Office is seeking compassionate release for some inmates in the county jail , where 540 people were 56 or older as of March 23 .
The number of people age 55 or older in state and federal prisons increased by 280 % between 1999 and 2006 .
For decades sanitation and health care in prisons have been a low priority , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical officer for New York City Correctional Health Services .
Health care behind bars “ is poor and inadequate because it has been designed to be that way , ” said Dr. Venters on a March 13 conference call organized by The Justice Collaborative .
“ We hear a lot about hand-washing as the most important [ outbreak avoidance ] tool .
Most of the jails and prisons I ’ ve been to around the country don ’ t have enough sinks , ” he added .
“ And if there are enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soap.
” And many prisons , jails , and immigration detention centers are full , if not overcrowded – an environment that , according to Dr. Venters , makes managing and preventing an outbreak “ almost impossible.
” Some departments have been providing inmates with soap free of charge and waiving fees for inmate health care , but they should be doing more , says Professor Deitch .
Prisons should be expanding compassionate release , providing free phone and video calls , ramping up medical checks , and instituting de-escalation measures so public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boil over into violence .
“ Anything we can do to get anyone out of there who doesn ’ t absolutely need to be there is smart from a humanitarian perspective , but also to reduce the spread of the virus in the community , ” she adds .
“ What happens in jails and prisons doesn ’ t stay in jails and prisons , and when we ’ re talking about communicable diseases like this , that ’ s especially true.
” Texas announced on March 24 the first positive case of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There were about 9,600 people age 60 or older in Texas prisons in fiscal year 2018 , with just over half of inmates behind bars for violent offenses .
“ There are a lot of people in prison who don ’ t need to be there , ” says Jennifer Erschabek , executive director of the Texas Inmate Families Association .
“ But you can ’ t just kick them out the door and say , ‘ See you later.
’ ” Still , for inmates and their families , the thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never far from their minds – and restrictions on visitation , logical as they may be , have not helped .
For Jeff Gifford and his wife , visits to their son in the Darrington Unit near Houston have been what they live for .
Since they lost visitation on March 13 , their reactions have varied .
“ My first thought was , ‘ [ Darn ] it , it ’ s horrible.
’ My second thought was , ‘ Thank God , ’ ” says Mr. Gifford , a real estate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a struggle , ” he adds .
“ We ’ re just really happy the disease hasn ’ t spread inside yet.
” “ You just don ’ t know how seriously [ prison staff members ] are taking the edicts set out by management , ” he continues .
“ But you hope for the best ; that ’ s all you can do .
That ’ s what we ’ re doing every day.
” Something else Mr. Gifford , and many others , are hoping for is that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people living and working in prisons and jails aren ’ t shunted back to society ’ s margins , and that new policies of compassion don ’ t disappear with the virus .
“ We all need to be treating each other with more compassion and kindness right now , [ including ] in custodial settings , ” says Professor Deitch .
“ If jurisdictions do what I think they need to do – that ’ s reducing the number of people held in their custody , ” she adds , “ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s possible to do that quickly and safely without putting public safety at risk.
” Editor 's note : This article was updated on March 25 to reflect new moves by states .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , we ’ ve removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

The coronavirus “has raised awareness that what’s going on inside matters, and it affects us,” says Michele Deitch, a professor who specializes in corrections administration. “When we are through this nightmare situation, we may well be willing to make adjustments to our policies that recognize the need to continue some of those new practices.”
The novel coronavirus that has so far infected 400,000 people around the world and brought the global economy to a near standstill is reshaping society in dramatic ways, including how Americans think about care for prisoners.
LA County Public Defender Ricardo García is continuing to talk with the sheriff’s office about more ways to safely reduce the inmate population and the risk of contagion.
Right now, public safety means reducing the number of people in jails. Are measures taken to reduce overcrowding during the pandemic likely to lead to permanent change in how prisoners are cared for?
The number of inmates in the jails has decreased by more than 1,000, and arrests have dropped from an average of 300 a day to 60.
In Los Angeles County, home to the country’s largest local jail system, Sheriff Alex Villanueva is working to reduce crowding to protect people from COVID-19. He’s released inmates early, freeing those with fewer than 30 days left to serve. Deputies are arresting fewer people, with offenders who would see their bail set at $50,000 or less given citations.
For an incarcerated person, visits from family and friends are “like life support,” says Jeremiah Bourgeois.
Those visits, he continues, “help you maintain your humanity” – and he would know, having spent 27 years in prison in Washington state.
But when the coronavirus outbreak was declared a pandemic March 11, those visits were one of the first things to stop. As tough as it is on incarcerated people and their families, it will protect public health, experts say. Mr. Bourgeois admits that, at first, he didn’t see it that way.
Why We Wrote This Right now, public safety means reducing the number of people in jails. Are measures taken to reduce overcrowding during the pandemic likely to lead to permanent change in how prisoners are cared for?
“I thought it was more a matter of not wanting the virus to come out of the prisons,” rather than protecting those inside, he says. “I’m so used to people not caring about what happens to prisoners.”
The pandemic that has infected more than 400,000 people around the world and brought the global economy to a near standstill is reshaping society in dramatic ways. How Americans think and care about prisoners is one of them.
Editor’s note: As a public service, we’ve removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.
There are 2.3 million people behind bars – many of them older and infirm, many without access to good medical care – and they have lived out of sight and out of mind for most Americans. But with the coronavirus crisis, conditions behind bars are now a public health priority.
Already, states are taking steps to release certain inmates from jails to lower their risk of exposure.
New Jersey is releasing 1,000 prisoners from jails this week, by order of the state Supreme Court chief justice, following similar moves in California. The intake and transfer of inmates and juveniles into California's correctional facilities has also been temporarily halted, with them staying in county custody for the next 30 days instead. New York City is releasing 300 nonviolent inmates from Rikers Island, after 38 prisoners and employees tested positive at the jail. Iowa, meanwhile, is expediting the release of about 700 people who have already been cleared for parole or work release.
On Monday, 14 senators sent a bipartisan letter to the Trump administration, asking it to quickly transfer to home confinement eligible, nonviolent federal inmates who are deemed at high risk for COVID-19.
And as more police and sheriff departments lower arrest rates and explore lowering inmate populations, more fundamental questions are emerging: Is this how things should have been all along? Are measures being implemented for the coronavirus era able to endure beyond the outbreak? And could any of this transformation be permanent?
The coronavirus “has raised awareness that what’s going on inside matters, and it affects us,” says Michele Deitch, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin who specializes in corrections administration.
“It’s not another world; it’s actually part of our public health system,” she adds. “When we are through this nightmare situation, we may well be willing to make adjustments to our policies that recognize the need to continue some of those new practices.”
The decentralized nature of the United States justice system means responses to COVID-19 have varied, as different jurisdictions seek to protect the health of their incarcerated population and the broader community while still fulfilling constitutional duties like the right to a speedy trial.
Local, state, and federal courts across the country have closed, from Bexar County, Texas, where justices of the peace have suspended eviction hearings, to the U.S. Supreme Court, which has suspended oral arguments.
As of March 20, some 15 states and the U.S. Bureau of Prisons had suspended all visitation, while 37 states were still allowing legal visits, according to a tracker maintained by The Marshall Project. Corrections administrators and law enforcement, meanwhile, have been taking a three-pronged approach: lowering admissions, speeding up releases, and improving overall hygiene and health screening of inmates and staff.
The front door
Local jail systems, which saw 10.6 million admissions in 2017, are a critical front line in the country’s COVID-19 response.
“They’re going to be the first place this starts,” says Professor Deitch. They “need to be turning off the spigot of who’s coming into the system.”
In Los Angeles County, home to the country’s largest local jail system, that’s what they’re trying to do.
LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva is working the problem from both ends. He’s released inmates early, freeing those with fewer than 30 days left to serve. Deputies are arresting fewer people – though still arresting violent suspects. Offenders who would see their bail set at $50,000 or less are being given citations, an increase from $25,000.
The number of inmates in the jails has decreased by more than 1,000, and arrests have dropped from an average of 300 a day to 60.
LA County Public Defender Ricardo García is continuing to talk with the sheriff’s office about more ways to safely reduce the inmate population and the risk of contagion. And on March 24 the Superior Court of Los Angeles ordered the release of an undisclosed number pre-trial inmates from the county jail.
A significant number of people are being held pretrial, not yet convicted of a crime – approximately 40% of the inmate population in 2016. His greatest concern is an acute outbreak in the jails.
“We have huge swaths of people in jail who would do fine in the community if steps were taken to help them,” he says.
Sheriff departments in Nashville, Tennessee; and Cleveland are taking similar actions. More than 200 inmates were released from Cuyahoga County jail in Cleveland earlier this month.
In Texas last week, the Fort Worth Police Department stopped making Class C misdemeanor arrests, while in Houston, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office is seeking compassionate release for some inmates in the county jail, where 540 people were 56 or older as of March 23.
In the prisons
The number of people age 55 or older in state and federal prisons increased by 280% between 1999 and 2006. For decades sanitation and health care in prisons have been a low priority, according to Homer Venters, former chief medical officer for New York City Correctional Health Services.
Health care behind bars “is poor and inadequate because it has been designed to be that way,” said Dr. Venters on a March 13 conference call organized by The Justice Collaborative.
“We hear a lot about hand-washing as the most important [outbreak avoidance] tool. Most of the jails and prisons I’ve been to around the country don’t have enough sinks,” he added. “And if there are enough sinks, there isn’t enough soap.”
And many prisons, jails, and immigration detention centers are full, if not overcrowded – an environment that, according to Dr. Venters, makes managing and preventing an outbreak “almost impossible.”
Some departments have been providing inmates with soap free of charge and waiving fees for inmate health care, but they should be doing more, says Professor Deitch. Prisons should be expanding compassionate release, providing free phone and video calls, ramping up medical checks, and instituting de-escalation measures so public health restrictions within prisons don’t boil over into violence.
“Anything we can do to get anyone out of there who doesn’t absolutely need to be there is smart from a humanitarian perspective, but also to reduce the spread of the virus in the community,” she adds. “What happens in jails and prisons doesn’t stay in jails and prisons, and when we’re talking about communicable diseases like this, that’s especially true.”
The back door
Texas announced on March 24 the first positive case of the coronavirus in a state prison inmate. There were about 9,600 people age 60 or older in Texas prisons in fiscal year 2018, with just over half of inmates behind bars for violent offenses.
“There are a lot of people in prison who don’t need to be there,” says Jennifer Erschabek, executive director of the Texas Inmate Families Association. “But you can’t just kick them out the door and say, ‘See you later.’”
Still, for inmates and their families, the thought of a COVID-19 outbreak behind bars is never far from their minds – and restrictions on visitation, logical as they may be, have not helped.
For Jeff Gifford and his wife, visits to their son in the Darrington Unit near Houston have been what they live for. Since they lost visitation on March 13, their reactions have varied.
“My first thought was, ‘[Darn] it, it’s horrible.’ My second thought was, ‘Thank God,’” says Mr. Gifford, a real estate agent in Austin.
“It’s a struggle,” he adds. “We’re just really happy the disease hasn’t spread inside yet.”
“You just don’t know how seriously [prison staff members] are taking the edicts set out by management,” he continues. “But you hope for the best; that’s all you can do. That’s what we’re doing every day.”
Something else Mr. Gifford, and many others, are hoping for is that, once the coronavirus pandemic has passed, people living and working in prisons and jails aren’t shunted back to society’s margins, and that new policies of compassion don’t disappear with the virus.
“We all need to be treating each other with more compassion and kindness right now, [including] in custodial settings,” says Professor Deitch.
“If jurisdictions do what I think they need to do – that’s reducing the number of people held in their custody,” she adds, “I think we’re going to learn it’s possible to do that quickly and safely without putting public safety at risk.”
Editor's note: This article was updated on March 25 to reflect new moves by states.
Editor’s note: As a public service, we’ve removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.