usatoday--2020-12-17--Ex-election security chief Christopher Krebs confronts GOP on fraud claims: 'It's got to stop'

WASHINGTON – Former election security chief Christopher Krebs said he has not seen anything that would change his opinion that the 2020 election was secure and urged Republicans to call out baseless claims of widespread voter fraud .
`` This is not the America I recognize .
It 's got to stop .
We need everyone across the leadership ranks to stand up , '' Krebs said during a testimony Wednesday before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs .
`` I would appreciate more support from my own party , the Republican Party , to call this stuff out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to move on . ''
Krebs also defended local and state election officials who have been the subject of threats and harassment for refusing to back claims of massive fraud .
He singled out Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Gabriel Sterling , the state 's voting implementation manager .
`` These are Republicans that are putting country over party , '' Krebs said .
`` They are being subjected to just horrific threats as a result . ''
Krebs , who presided over an elaborate election security effort by the Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Donald Trump last month as part of a post-election purge of top national security officials .
Krebs ' ouster follows the agency 's declaration that the general election was the most secure in U.S. history .
The statement served as a pointed rebuke to Trump , who has continued to make unsubstantiated allegations of voter fraud while his legal team sought to overturn election results in battleground states that President-elect Joe Biden won .
Local and federal judges , including those appointed by Trump , have largely rejected those efforts .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenges brought by the president 's allies .
`` To be clear , based on my experience and understanding , no adversary has yet developed the ability to manipulate a single vote cast in a U.S. election .
Furthermore , even if such a hack were conducted , it would be incredibly difficult to carry out such an operation on a scale that could change the outcome of a national election , '' Krebs said in his written opening statement .
Krebs also said claims that hackers and malicious algorithms flipped votes in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that an election equipment vendor had ties to a deceased foreign dictator do n't square `` with what we know about the facts . ''
`` They are also dangerous and only serve to confuse , scare , and ultimately undermine confidence in the election , '' Krebs said .
Former Trump attorney Sidney Powell , whom Krebs did not name , had spun an elaborate tale that former Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez orchestrated an effort to rig U.S. elections by conspiring with Dominion Voting Systems .
Chavez died seven years ago .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ election claims .
In Michigan , a federal judge said : `` This lawsuit seems to be less about achieving the relief Plaintiffs seek – as much of that relief is beyond the power of this Court – and more about the impact of their allegations on People ’ s faith in the democratic process and their trust in our government . ''
Claims of vote flipping are both `` inaccurate '' and `` technically incoherent , '' Krebs said , citing a statement signed by 59 national security experts .
`` Do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vulnerabilities do not automatically translate into hacked systems and votes changed , '' Krebs said .
`` Appropriate resilience measures built into election systems mean that with reliable paper and meaningful post-election canvassing and auditing that can repeatedly confirm outcomes , voters can still have confidence in the process . ''
Earlier this month , Krebs sued the Trump campaign and one of the president 's lawyers for defamation , claiming that the attorney falsely characterized his remarks as treasonous while suggesting that Krebs be `` taken out at dawn and shot .
@

Ex-election security chief Christopher Krebs calls out GOP on threats against election officials: 'It's got to stop'
Show Caption Hide Caption Trump fires CISA Director Chris Krebs, who denied election fraud President Trump has fired Chris Krebs, the head of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. CISA is tasked with protecting elections from cyberattacks. Newsy, Newsy
Corrections/clarifications: An earlier version of this article misstated Christopher Krebs' message to Republicans. It has been updated to reflect he urged Republicans to stand up to threats against election officials.
WASHINGTON – Former election security chief Christopher Krebs said he has not seen anything that would change his opinion that the 2020 election was secure and urged Republicans to call out threats and harassment against local election officials who have rejected baseless claims of widespread fraud.
"This is not the America I recognize. It's got to stop. We need everyone across the leadership ranks to stand up," Krebs testified Wednesday before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. "I would appreciate more support from my own party, the Republican Party, to call this stuff out and end it. We've gotta move on. We have a president-elect in President-elect Biden."
Krebs defended election officials who have been the subject of threats, particularly Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Gabriel Sterling, the state's voting implementation manager. Both have pushed back against claims from President Donald Trump and his allies that the 2020 election was tainted with systemic fraud.
"These are Republicans that are putting country over party," Krebs said. "They are being subjected to just horrific threats as a result."
Krebs also called out domestic disinformation campaigns.
"We have to stop this. It's undermining confidence in democracy," he said.
Krebs, who presided over an elaborate election security effort by the Department of Homeland Security, was fired by Trump last month as part of a post-election purge of top national security officials. Krebs' ouster follows the agency's declaration that the general election was the most secure in U.S. history.
Trump fires election security chief: Trump ousts Homeland Security cyber chief Chris Krebs, who called election secure
The statement served as a pointed rebuke to Trump, who has continued to make unsubstantiated allegations of voter fraud while his legal team sought to overturn election results in battleground states that President-elect Joe Biden won. Local and federal judges, including those appointed by Trump, have largely rejected those efforts. The Supreme Court has also refused to hear challenges brought by the president's allies.
"To be clear, based on my experience and understanding, no adversary has yet developed the ability to manipulate a single vote cast in a U.S. election. Furthermore, even if such a hack were conducted, it would be incredibly difficult to carry out such an operation on a scale that could change the outcome of a national election," Krebs said in his written opening statement.
Krebs also said claims that hackers and malicious algorithms flipped votes in several states, as well as allegations that an election equipment vendor had ties to a deceased foreign dictator don't square "with what we know about the facts."
"They are also dangerous and only serve to confuse, scare, and ultimately undermine confidence in the election," Krebs said.
Former Trump attorney Sidney Powell, whom Krebs did not name, had spun an elaborate tale that former Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez orchestrated an effort to rig U.S. elections by conspiring with Dominion Voting Systems. Chavez died seven years ago.
Judges in multiple states have dismissed the election claims. In Michigan, a federal judge said: "This lawsuit seems to be less about achieving the relief Plaintiffs seek – as much of that relief is beyond the power of this Court – and more about the impact of their allegations on People’s faith in the democratic process and their trust in our government."
Election security officials: 'No evidence voting systems compromised'
Claims of vote flipping are both "inaccurate" and "technically incoherent," Krebs said, citing a statement signed by 59 national security experts.
"Do systems have vulnerabilities? Yes. But vulnerabilities do not automatically translate into hacked systems and votes changed," Krebs said. "Appropriate resilience measures built into election systems mean that with reliable paper and meaningful post-election canvassing and auditing that can repeatedly confirm outcomes, voters can still have confidence in the process."
Earlier this month, Krebs sued the Trump campaign and one of the president's lawyers for defamation, claiming that the attorney falsely characterized his remarks as treasonous while suggesting that Krebs be "taken out at dawn and shot."
Contributing: Kevin Johnson


usatoday--2020-12-16--Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in quarantine after contact with individual who has COVID-19

WASHINGTON – Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in quarantine after coming into contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus , the State Department said Wednesday .
“ For reasons of privacy , we can ’ t identify that individual , ” a department spokesperson said in a statement .
Pompeo has been tested for the virus and is negative , the statement said .
But “ in accordance with CDC guidelines , he will be in quarantine , ” the statement said .
“ He is being closely monitored by the department ’ s medical team.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how Pompeo came into contact with the infected individual .
'Smooth transition ' : Despite election results showing Biden win , Pompeo said he expects 'transition to a second Trump administration' President Donald Trump held a cabinet meeting on Wednesday that was closed to the press , but Pompeo was n't expected to attend .
The secretary has no public events on his schedule for the day .
Dozens of administration staffers and White House visitors have contracted COVID-19 , which has infected nearly 17 million Americans and killed more than 304,000 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump and first lady Melania Trump , tested positive after attending a Rose Garden ceremony in late September at which Trump announced the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court .
Mysterious sickness : Report finds pulsed radio frequency 'most plausible ' cause of illness that hit US diplomats in Cuba , China Fast and deadly : A small town dragged its feet on COVID-19 mask mandates .
Now residents are paying the price .
Trump said Sunday he was delaying a plan for senior White House officials to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to front-line health workers and people in nursing homes and long-term care facilities .
Trump , Vice President Mike Pence and other top federal officeholders were scheduled to be offered COVID-19 vaccines as soon as this week to guard against an outbreak that could cripple the functions of government .
But Trump tweeted that people working in the White House should receive the vaccine “ somewhat later in the program , unless specifically necessary .
”

Michael Collins, John Fritze and David Jackson, USA TODAY

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in quarantine after contact with individual who has COVID-19
Show Caption Hide Caption Pompeo ready for 'smooth transition' to second Trump administration Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says "there will be a smooth transition to the second Trump administration" when asked about Biden transition. USA TODAY, Associated Press
WASHINGTON – Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in quarantine after coming into contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus, the State Department said Wednesday.
“For reasons of privacy, we can’t identify that individual,” a department spokesperson said in a statement.
Pompeo has been tested for the virus and is negative, the statement said. But “in accordance with CDC guidelines, he will be in quarantine,” the statement said. “He is being closely monitored by the department’s medical team.”
The statement did not say when or how Pompeo came into contact with the infected individual.
'Smooth transition': Despite election results showing Biden win, Pompeo said he expects 'transition to a second Trump administration'
President Donald Trump held a cabinet meeting on Wednesday that was closed to the press, but Pompeo wasn't expected to attend. The secretary has no public events on his schedule for the day.
Dozens of administration staffers and White House visitors have contracted COVID-19, which has infected nearly 17 million Americans and killed more than 304,000. More than a dozen people, including Trump and first lady Melania Trump, tested positive after attending a Rose Garden ceremony in late September at which Trump announced the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.
Mysterious sickness: Report finds pulsed radio frequency 'most plausible' cause of illness that hit US diplomats in Cuba, China
Fast and deadly: A small town dragged its feet on COVID-19 mask mandates. Now residents are paying the price.
Trump said Sunday he was delaying a plan for senior White House officials to get the COVID-19 vaccine while distribution is limited to front-line health workers and people in nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and other top federal officeholders were scheduled to be offered COVID-19 vaccines as soon as this week to guard against an outbreak that could cripple the functions of government. But Trump tweeted that people working in the White House should receive the vaccine “somewhat later in the program, unless specifically necessary.”


usatoday--2020-12-16--Lawsuit over absentee ballots filed in Georgia runoff elections

AUGUSTA , Georgia — A federal judge in Augusta will hear arguments Thursday in a new lawsuit challenging election processes used in Georgia for the presidential election and attempting to alter them ahead of Jan. 5 runoffs for U.S. Senate .
Filed by the 12th Congressional District Republican Committee , the suit contends procedures used to process absentee ballots in the general election could enable massive fraud in the runoffs .
The case is one of the latest in a string of what have been unsuccessful cases challenging the integrity of the presidential election in Georgia and echoing President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cost him the election .
The lawsuit names Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger , members of the State Elections Board and one county elections board , Richmond County Board of Elections as defendants .
Chief Judge J. Randal Hall will hear arguments from both sides Thursday to decide whether to grant the plaintiffs ' request for an injunction blocking election processes in use in the runoffs , in which hundreds of thousands of Georgia voters have already cast ballots .
He 's also being asked to issue a judicial declaration that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constitutional rights .
'It really is over now ' : The 24 hours that likely thwarted Trump 's effort to overturn the election The named voter plaintiffs are Richmond County voter Brian W. Tucker , Coffee County voter Cathy A. Latham and Edward T. Metz , a Libertarian candidate for governor in 2018 whose home county is not included in the lawsuit .
The 12th Congressional District Republican Committee is an unincorporated organization dedicated to Republican candidates in the 12th Congressional District , the suit states .
The district , currently represented by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most of Columbia County , all of Richmond County and runs south almost to Savannah and west including Vidalia , Dublin and Douglas .
The lawsuit alleges the use of absentee ballots enables fraudulent votes , and it facilitates the collection of large numbers of absentee ballots by third parties , which the plaintiffs contend is ballot harvesting .
The plaintiffs allege the secretary of state 's directive to county election boards does not require verification of the signature on absentee ballots with the signature on the voter 's registration card .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawsuit , requires more than one person to compare absentee ballot signatures if there is an initial suspicion the signatures do not match .
A majority of those reviewers determine if the signature is valid compared to the other voter 's signature on file and on the registration card .
Lynn Bailey , executive director for Richmond County Board of Elections , has detailed the process her office has used for years to twice verify a voter ’ s signature .
Upon receipt of an absentee ballot application , the application signature is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signature that ’ s already scanned into the election system , she said .
When the voter returns the ballot by mail or using a drop box , the voter ’ s signature on the return envelope is compared with the signature on file , she has said .
If it appears a mismatch , three workers attempt to confirm its validity .
If they don ’ t , the ballot is placed in provisional status and the voter must show ID and sign an affidavit confirming their identity before the ballot is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the process is similar , although some counties may have acquired software that aids the signature matching process , she has said .
The state election board adopted earlier this year a policy of the early opening of absentee ballots because of the large number of such ballots expected because of COVID-19 .
The plaintiffs are seeking a stop to the practice used this year for absentee ballots to be opened and scanned before election day , meaning results would take much longer to tally , and invalidate Raffensperger 's signature directive .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the use of ballot drop boxes they say are conducive to fraud .
The boxes are monitored on video 24 hours a day , according to elections officials .
Raffensperger and Gov .
Brian Kemp have declined or ignored Trump 's demand for a statewide signature audit , which is challenging as ballots have already been separated from their enclosing signature envelopes .
This week , Raffensperger announced the state will audit a sample of absentee ballots in Cobb County that wo n't change the election result .
In a case the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton claimed there were more than 80,000 forged signatures on Georgia absentee ballots in the general election , but presented no credible evidence to substantiate it .
In another case for which Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani was co-counsel , a video of Fulton County workers scanning ballots is claimed to show them injecting fraudulent absentee ballots stored in hidden suitcases into the election .
The suit , which filing attorney Sidney Powell said would be like an attack by the mythical “ kraken ” sea monster , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State officials said an investigation by certified Georgia law enforcement officers found only routine election activities shown in the video .
The Jan. 5 runoffs are between Republican Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler and their corresponding Democratic challengers Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock .
If Ossoff and Warnock win , it will shift the balance of power in Congress to the Democrats .
Also on the ballot is a runoff between Public Service Commission incumbent Republican Lauren `` Bubba '' McDonald and Democrat challenger Daniel Blackman .

Sandy Hodson and Susan McCord, Augusta Chronicle

Lawsuit over absentee ballots filed in Georgia runoff elections
Show Caption Hide Caption Elections 2020: Mail-in voting could decide next president Many states are planning on drastically different elections this year and mail-in ballots could be a big game changer. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
AUGUSTA, Georgia — A federal judge in Augusta will hear arguments Thursday in a new lawsuit challenging election processes used in Georgia for the presidential election and attempting to alter them ahead of Jan. 5 runoffs for U.S. Senate.
Filed by the 12th Congressional District Republican Committee, the suit contends procedures used to process absentee ballots in the general election could enable massive fraud in the runoffs.
The case is one of the latest in a string of what have been unsuccessful cases challenging the integrity of the presidential election in Georgia and echoing President Trump’s baseless claim that vote fraud cost him the election.
The lawsuit names Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, members of the State Elections Board and one county elections board, Richmond County Board of Elections as defendants.
Chief Judge J. Randal Hall will hear arguments from both sides Thursday to decide whether to grant the plaintiffs' request for an injunction blocking election processes in use in the runoffs, in which hundreds of thousands of Georgia voters have already cast ballots. He's also being asked to issue a judicial declaration that the state's processes violate the plaintiffs' constitutional rights.
'It really is over now': The 24 hours that likely thwarted Trump's effort to overturn the election
The named voter plaintiffs are Richmond County voter Brian W. Tucker, Coffee County voter Cathy A. Latham and Edward T. Metz, a Libertarian candidate for governor in 2018 whose home county is not included in the lawsuit.
The 12th Congressional District Republican Committee is an unincorporated organization dedicated to Republican candidates in the 12th Congressional District, the suit states. The district, currently represented by Rep. Rick Allen, R-Augusta, includes most of Columbia County, all of Richmond County and runs south almost to Savannah and west including Vidalia, Dublin and Douglas.
The lawsuit alleges the use of absentee ballots enables fraudulent votes, and it facilitates the collection of large numbers of absentee ballots by third parties, which the plaintiffs contend is ballot harvesting.
The plaintiffs allege the secretary of state's directive to county election boards does not require verification of the signature on absentee ballots with the signature on the voter's registration card.
Georgia Senate candidates attack each other's backgrounds All eyes are on Georgia as control of the Senate is up for grabs during runoff elections on Jan. 5. USA TODAY Handout
But the directive, which attached to the lawsuit, requires more than one person to compare absentee ballot signatures if there is an initial suspicion the signatures do not match. A majority of those reviewers determine if the signature is valid compared to the other voter's signature on file and on the registration card.
Lynn Bailey, executive director for Richmond County Board of Elections, has detailed the process her office has used for years to twice verify a voter’s signature. Upon receipt of an absentee ballot application, the application signature is compared with a voter’s registration signature that’s already scanned into the election system, she said.
More: In Georgia Senate race, Loeffler and Perdue demand updated list of registered voters
When the voter returns the ballot by mail or using a drop box, the voter’s signature on the return envelope is compared with the signature on file, she has said. If it appears a mismatch, three workers attempt to confirm its validity. If they don’t, the ballot is placed in provisional status and the voter must show ID and sign an affidavit confirming their identity before the ballot is counted, Bailey has said.
Statewide the process is similar, although some counties may have acquired software that aids the signature matching process, she has said.
The state election board adopted earlier this year a policy of the early opening of absentee ballots because of the large number of such ballots expected because of COVID-19.
The plaintiffs are seeking a stop to the practice used this year for absentee ballots to be opened and scanned before election day, meaning results would take much longer to tally, and invalidate Raffensperger's signature directive.
They also want the judge to prohibit the use of ballot drop boxes they say are conducive to fraud. The boxes are monitored on video 24 hours a day, according to elections officials.
Vice President Mike Pence visits Augusta Vice President Mike Pence campaigns for Republican Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler at Augusta Regional Airport Thursday December 10, 2020. Michael Holahan, Augusta Chronicle
Raffensperger and Gov. Brian Kemp have declined or ignored Trump's demand for a statewide signature audit, which is challenging as ballots have already been separated from their enclosing signature envelopes. This week, Raffensperger announced the state will audit a sample of absentee ballots in Cobb County that won't change the election result.
More: President-elect Biden campaigns for Democratic candidates in high-stakes Georgia Senate runoffs
In a case the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear last week, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton claimed there were more than 80,000 forged signatures on Georgia absentee ballots in the general election, but presented no credible evidence to substantiate it.
In another case for which Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani was co-counsel, a video of Fulton County workers scanning ballots is claimed to show them injecting fraudulent absentee ballots stored in hidden suitcases into the election.
The suit, which filing attorney Sidney Powell said would be like an attack by the mythical “kraken” sea monster, was soon dismissed by a federal judge. State officials said an investigation by certified Georgia law enforcement officers found only routine election activities shown in the video.
The Jan. 5 runoffs are between Republican Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler and their corresponding Democratic challengers Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock. If Ossoff and Warnock win, it will shift the balance of power in Congress to the Democrats. Also on the ballot is a runoff between Public Service Commission incumbent Republican Lauren "Bubba" McDonald and Democrat challenger Daniel Blackman.


usatoday--2020-12-17--Trump diversity training ban challenged by Elizabeth Warren, Democrats call executive order a 'polit

Trump diversity training ban challenged by Elizabeth Warren, Democrats call executive order a 'political stunt'

Democrats are calling on the federal government to back off President Trump 's executive order restricting federal agencies and government contractors from offering diversity training programs .
Bob Menendez ( D-N.J. ) , Sherrod Brown ( D-Ohio ) , Elizabeth Warren ( D-Mass . )
and 18 other senators sent a letter Thursday opposing the implementation of the executive order , saying it 's stifling `` much-needed efforts in our states to reduce racial and sex-based discrimination . ''
`` There is widespread uncertainty regarding the scope of the Executive Order , and some entities have cancelled their diversity and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ losing federal funding , ” they wrote to Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought .
“ Given that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has exposed our nation ’ s stark racial inequities and other health disparities , the Administration should focus on reducing racial and sex-based discrimination rather than engaging in ill-informed political stunts . ''
The executive order 's stated goal is `` to combat offensive and anti-American race and sex stereotyping and scapegoating . ''
According to the Labor Department , eliminating `` race and sex stereotyping and scapegoating in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights priority of the Trump Administration . ''
Critics say the executive order was a broadside against diversity and inclusion programs seeking to reverse patterns of discrimination and exclusion going back decades .
It had an almost immediate chilling effect on reinvigorated efforts to address racial disparities in the workplace after the death of George Floyd , a Black man , under the knee of white officer in Minneapolis in May .
The Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services stopped all diversity and inclusion training programs and some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Companies and non-profit organizations with federal contracts also put training on hold .
In October , civil rights groups filed a lawsuit challenging the executive order on the grounds that it violates free speech rights , calling it an `` extraordinary and unprecedented act by the Trump administration to undermine efforts to foster diversity and inclusion in the workplace . ''
President-Elect Joe Biden 's administration will likely scrap the order , Franklin Turner , a partner with law firm McCarter & English , told USA TODAY last month .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this executive order will be rescinded in fairly short order , ” said Turner , who represents multinational contractors and small and medium-sized companies .
A White House memo in late September suggested rooting out `` ideologies that label entire groups of Americans as inherently racist or evil '' in diversity training materials by searching for keywords such as `` white privilege , '' `` systemic racism , '' `` intersectionality '' and `` unconscious bias . ''
Asked about his executive order during the first presidential debate , Trump said : `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a horrible place , it ’ s a racist place .
And they were teaching people to hate our country .
And I ’ m not gon na allow that to happen . ''
“ The fact is that there is racial insensitivity , '' he told Trump .
The target of the executive order was critical race theory , which teaches that racism pervades government and other American institutions , giving white people an advantage .
Trump seized on the issue following appearances by conservative activist Christopher Rufo on Fox News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lawmakers said that legitimate diversity and inclusion training programs “ would not promote repugnant ideas such as the ‘ inherent superiority ’ of a particular race '' and are already illegal under anti-discrimination laws .
`` By continuing to implement this misguided policy during the final days of President Trump ’ s Administration , your agency is discouraging and needlessly politicizing critical efforts to end racial and sex-based discrimination , '' they wrote .

Trump diversity training ban challenged by Elizabeth Warren; Democrats call executive order a 'political stunt'
Show Caption Hide Caption Corporate racism: Not enough Black executives in American businesses Companies across the country have been speaking out against racism, but less than 2% of top executives at 50 largest companies are Black. USA TODAY
Democrats called on the federal government to back off President Donald Trump's executive order restricting federal agencies and government contractors from offering diversity training programs.
Bob Menendez, D-N.J.; Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio; Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.; and 18 other senators sent a letter Thursday opposing the implementation of the executive order, saying it stifles "much-needed efforts in our states to reduce racial and sex-based discrimination."
"There is widespread uncertainty regarding the scope of the Executive Order, and some entities have cancelled their diversity and inclusion trainings altogether out of fear of losing federal funding,” they wrote to Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought. “Given that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has exposed our nation’s stark racial inequities and other health disparities, the Administration should focus on reducing racial and sex-based discrimination rather than engaging in ill-informed political stunts."
Trump diversity training ban: Joe Biden administration likely to overturn Trump's controversial executive order
Trump administration sued: Civil rights groups file lawsuit over Trump executive order restricting diversity training
The executive order's stated goal is "to combat offensive and anti-American race and sex stereotyping and scapegoating." According to the Labor Department, eliminating such "stereotyping" in employment is "a key civil rights priority of the Trump Administration."
Critics said the executive order was a broadside against diversity and inclusion programs seeking to reverse patterns of discrimination and exclusion going back decades. It had an almost immediate chilling effect on reinvigorated efforts to address racial disparities in the workplace after the death of George Floyd, a Black man, under the knee of a white police officer in Minneapolis in May.
The Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services stopped all diversity and inclusion training programs, and some colleges and universities canceled or paused programs. Companies and nonprofit organizations with federal contracts also put training on hold.
In October, civil rights groups filed a lawsuit challenging the executive order on the grounds that it violates free speech rights, calling it an "extraordinary and unprecedented act by the Trump administration to undermine efforts to foster diversity and inclusion in the workplace."
President-Elect Joe Biden's administration will probably scrap the order, Franklin Turner, a partner with law firm McCarter & English, told USA TODAY last month.
“I think it’s highly probable that this executive order will be rescinded in fairly short order,” said Turner, who represents multinational contractors and small and medium-sized companies.
A White House memo in late September suggested rooting out "ideologies that label entire groups of Americans as inherently racist or evil" in diversity training materials by searching for keywords such as "white privilege," "systemic racism," "intersectionality" and "unconscious bias."
Asked about his executive order during his first presidential debate with Biden on Sept. 29, Trump said, "They were teaching people that our country is a horrible place, it’s a racist place. And they were teaching people to hate our country. And I’m not gonna allow that to happen."
Biden responded: “Nobody’s doing that.”
“The fact is that there is racial insensitivity," he told Trump.
The target of the executive order was critical race theory, which teaches that racism pervades government and other American institutions, giving white people an advantage. Trump seized on the issue after appearances by conservative activist Christopher Rufo on Fox News' "Tucker Carlson Tonight."
The Democratic lawmakers said legitimate diversity and inclusion training programs “would not promote repugnant ideas such as the ‘inherent superiority’ of a particular race."
"By continuing to implement this misguided policy during the final days of President Trump’s Administration, your agency is discouraging and needlessly politicizing critical efforts to end racial and sex-based discrimination," they wrote.


usatoday--2020-12-17--Airlines cancel 600+ more flights Thursday as snow blankets East Coast

Airlines have canceled upward of 600 flight after the parts of Northeast received a foot of snow or more with additional precipitation expected to fall through Thursday morning .
Snow fell from northern Virginia to parts of New England on Wednesday .
It carried on north into the evening , sustaining a storm that was poised to drop as much as 2 feet of snow in some places by Thursday .
United Airlines had the most cancellations , calling off 103 flights .
Southwest canceled 64 and JetBlue scrubbed 63 .
Delta and American canceled about 50 each , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as airports go , Boston Logan had 131 canceled flights as of 7:30 a.m. EST on Thursday , while Newark Liberty Airport in New Jersey had 123 .
Most U.S. airlines have already announced flight waivers covering travel on Wednesday and Thursday .
The destinations covered , travel dates and other fine print vary by airline and are likely to change with the storm 's projected path and severity .
Note that passengers with nonrefundable tickets are not eligible for a refund unless the airline cancels their flight .
However , travelers are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ credit toward a future flight and wo n't have to pay onerous ticket change fees , even on basic economy tickets .
Most airlines will also allow you to make changes to a reservation online .
Thinking of changing your flight to another day or time this week or early next week if it is covered by the waiver ?
Do n't dawdle .
Rebooking options , already limited by airline flight cuts due to the pandemic , dwindle as more passengers scramble to change their plans .
Complicating matters : the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this weekend .
Heading out early for the holidays ?
Airlines are issuing travel waivers ahead of East Coast snow Here 's a look at airports with significant cancellations and delays : Holiday travel forecast : AAA expects 30 % fewer holiday travelers between Dec. 23 and Jan. 3 , due to COVID concerns

Airlines cancel 600+ more flights Thursday as snow blankets East Coast
Show Caption Hide Caption Northeast braces for a substantial snowstorm The nor'easter will whip up fierce winds and also deliver heavy rain in some areas Accuweather
Airlines have canceled upward of 600 flight after the parts of Northeast received a foot of snow or more with additional precipitation expected to fall through Thursday morning.
Snow fell from northern Virginia to parts of New England on Wednesday. It carried on north into the evening, sustaining a storm that was poised to drop as much as 2 feet of snow in some places by Thursday.
United Airlines had the most cancellations, calling off 103 flights. Southwest canceled 64 and JetBlue scrubbed 63. Delta and American canceled about 50 each, according to flight-tracking site FlightAware.
As far as airports go, Boston Logan had 131 canceled flights as of 7:30 a.m. EST on Thursday, while Newark Liberty Airport in New Jersey had 123.
Most U.S. airlines have already announced flight waivers covering travel on Wednesday and Thursday. The destinations covered, travel dates and other fine print vary by airline and are likely to change with the storm's projected path and severity.
Note that passengers with nonrefundable tickets are not eligible for a refund unless the airline cancels their flight. However, travelers are eligible to cancel their flight and receive credit toward a future flight and won't have to pay onerous ticket change fees, even on basic economy tickets. Most airlines will also allow you to make changes to a reservation online.
Thinking of changing your flight to another day or time this week or early next week if it is covered by the waiver? Don't dawdle. Rebooking options, already limited by airline flight cuts due to the pandemic, dwindle as more passengers scramble to change their plans. Complicating matters: the first batch of holiday travelers will take off this weekend.
Heading out early for the holidays? Airlines are issuing travel waivers ahead of East Coast snow
Airports with major cancellations
Here's a look at airports with significant cancellations and delays:
Boston
Boston Logan International Airport
Wednesday cancellations: 68
Thursday cancellations: 131
New York area
Newark Liberty International Airport
Wednesday cancellations: 131
Thursday cancellations: 123
John F. Kennedy International Airport
Wednesday cancellations: 108
Thursday cancellations: 78
70
Thursday cancellations: 73
Philadelphia
Philadelphia International Airport
Wednesday cancellations: 25
Thursday cancellations: 28
Washington, D.C. area
Washington Dulles International Airport
Wednesday cancellations: 130
Thursday cancellations: 26
Baltimore/Washington International Airport
Wednesday cancellations: 102
Thursday cancellations: 44
Reagan National Airport
Wednesday cancellations: 31
Thursday cancellations: 16
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte Douglas International Airport
Wednesday cancellations: 39
Thursday cancellations: 34
Chicago
Chicago O'Hare International Airport
Wednesday cancellations: 60
Thursday cancellations: 41
Holiday travel forecast: AAA expects 30% fewer holiday travelers between Dec. 23 and Jan. 3, due to COVID concerns


usatoday--2020-12-17--Ford stockpiling thousands of new F-150 pickups near Detroit airport

Ford is conducting final quality checks on thousands of early-production F-150 pickups that are stockpiled in lots around Detroit Metro Airport as dealers clamor for deliveries of America ’ s best-selling truck .
Ford factory employees at the Dearborn Truck Plant in Michigan have been working to meet an insatiable demand for the 2021 F-150 .
That meant Ford had to build trucks while the prototypes were still being driven as test models .
Those trucks from the early build make up the stockpile of vehicles that are plain to see parked near the airport lately , and they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ford .
New F-150s coming out of the factory in recent weeks have been loaded directly with no delay onto truck haulers and trains to go to dealerships around the country , Ford said .
`` Trucks are on their way to dealers now and in customer hands , '' Ford spokesman Said Deep told the Detroit Free Press , part of the USA TODAY Network , on Tuesday .
`` We do have this other batch of 150s that were built before those shipments began and they 're going through a final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Deep said quality reviews may require the need for things like software updates or parts adjustments , but he did n't provide detail on these trucks .
Car care : How often should I start my car and let it idle in cold weather ?
Answer : Do n't .
Customers who have already taken delivery of the new pickups have raved about them while dealers ' lists of interested potential buyers grow .
CEO Jim Farley , who assumed leadership of the company Oct. 1 , has assured Wall Street analysts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as is reducing overall warranty costs for the company .
Automakers often store vehicles temporarily after building them , but this latest stockpile of the first redesign since 2015 has attracted attention from readers who see what appears to be thousands of them .
A source close to the situation who was not authorized to discuss the matter told the Free Press in recent days the stockpile in lots around the airport was larger than usual , possibly 6,000 or 7,000 .
Ford declined to provide specific numbers , acknowledging `` a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's a quality testing site where trucks are being driven and reviewed prior to shipping , an extra step following factory inspection .
`` Ford is full-throttle building and shipping new F-150s while simultaneously giving ( this ) batch of trucks one more quality inspection , '' he said .
The company built up the supply while first-run vehicles were being tested , refined and perfected .
Ford is mindful of the manufacturing issues it had in 2019 with the Ford Explorer launch and the company is committed to releasing its most valuable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vehicles called back for software , other problems More : Factory ZERO 's first year of production set with 10,000+ Hummer orders This storage situation is not related to supply chain issues like those that have delayed delivery of the 2021 Ford Bronco , Deep said .
`` We began shipping the new F-150 to dealers last month and are building as many trucks as we can to meet demand , '' Deep said .
`` These were trucks built before dealer shipments started , '' he said .
`` As part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are now in the process of conducting final quality inspections on those units to ensure all of them meet the quality expectations of our customers . ''
Industry analysts responded to news of the F-150 hold with praise .
`` Automakers always encounter issues during launch periods that require verification or fixing before delivering the vehicle to the customers , '' said Jeoff Burris , founder of Plymouth-based Advanced Purchasing Dynamics , a supply chain consultant to auto suppliers primarily in North America .
He worked at Ford for 13 years .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ themselves or ship to dealers who perform them , '' he said .
`` There is considerable financial pressure to ship to dealers so that the automaker can record sales and profits .
However , doing so increases the likelihood of customers experiencing issues .
With an F-150 selling upwards of $ 70,000 , kudos to Ford for putting the customer first and resisting the pressure to ship potential issues . ''
In 2019 , Ford sold 896,526 F-Series in the U.S .
They have been the best-selling trucks for more than 40 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who advises automakers and auto suppliers , said Ford would never risk its crown jewel .
`` So it is absolutely critical that its legacy of Built Ford Tough high quality and reliability be maintained no matter what the cost or delay , '' he said .
`` So it is a true testament to the new Ford under Farley , that rather than rushing these preproduction vehicles to dealers and then customers , that they have segregated them and are making the needed tweaks no matter how minor they may be .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ prototypes Sept. 21 .
The Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo , Missouri started in late October .
Contact Phoebe Wall Howard at 313-222-6512 orphoward @ freepress.com.Follow her on Twitter @ phoebesaid

Ford stockpiling thousands of new F-150 pickups near Detroit airport
Show Caption Hide Caption 53 seconds: An F-150 is built Watch as Ford Motor Co. flexes its manufacturing muscles, where a new Ford F-150 rolls off the line every 53 seconds at the Rouge Complex in Dearborn. Ford Motor Company, Detroit Free Press
Ford is conducting final quality checks on thousands of early-production F-150 pickups that are stockpiled in lots around Detroit Metro Airport as dealers clamor for deliveries of America’s best-selling truck.
Ford factory employees at the Dearborn Truck Plant in Michigan have been working to meet an insatiable demand for the 2021 F-150. That meant Ford had to build trucks while the prototypes were still being driven as test models.
Those trucks from the early build make up the stockpile of vehicles that are plain to see parked near the airport lately, and they are undergoing a final assessment, according to Ford. New F-150s coming out of the factory in recent weeks have been loaded directly with no delay onto truck haulers and trains to go to dealerships around the country, Ford said.
"Trucks are on their way to dealers now and in customer hands," Ford spokesman Said Deep told the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, on Tuesday. "We do have this other batch of 150s that were built before those shipments began and they're going through a final quality check before they're released."
Deep said quality reviews may require the need for things like software updates or parts adjustments, but he didn't provide detail on these trucks.
Car care: How often should I start my car and let it idle in cold weather? Answer: Don't.
Customers who have already taken delivery of the new pickups have raved about them while dealers' lists of interested potential buyers grow.
CEO Jim Farley, who assumed leadership of the company Oct. 1, has assured Wall Street analysts that quality control is his top priority as is reducing overall warranty costs for the company.
Automakers often store vehicles temporarily after building them, but this latest stockpile of the first redesign since 2015 has attracted attention from readers who see what appears to be thousands of them.
A source close to the situation who was not authorized to discuss the matter told the Free Press in recent days the stockpile in lots around the airport was larger than usual, possibly 6,000 or 7,000.
Ford declined to provide specific numbers, acknowledging "a few thousand." Deep did say there's a quality testing site where trucks are being driven and reviewed prior to shipping, an extra step following factory inspection.
"Ford is full-throttle building and shipping new F-150s while simultaneously giving (this) batch of trucks one more quality inspection," he said.
The company built up the supply while first-run vehicles were being tested, refined and perfected.
Ford is mindful of the manufacturing issues it had in 2019 with the Ford Explorer launch and the company is committed to releasing its most valuable product without flaws.
Honda recall: 1.4M US vehicles called back for software, other problems
More: Factory ZERO's first year of production set with 10,000+ Hummer orders
This storage situation is not related to supply chain issues like those that have delayed delivery of the 2021 Ford Bronco, Deep said.
"We began shipping the new F-150 to dealers last month and are building as many trucks as we can to meet demand," Deep said.
"These were trucks built before dealer shipments started," he said. "As part of our commitment to delivering high-quality vehicles, we are now in the process of conducting final quality inspections on those units to ensure all of them meet the quality expectations of our customers."
Industry analysts responded to news of the F-150 hold with praise.
"Automakers always encounter issues during launch periods that require verification or fixing before delivering the vehicle to the customers," said Jeoff Burris, founder of Plymouth-based Advanced Purchasing Dynamics, a supply chain consultant to auto suppliers primarily in North America. He worked at Ford for 13 years.
"They can either complete these actions themselves or ship to dealers who perform them," he said. "There is considerable financial pressure to ship to dealers so that the automaker can record sales and profits. However, doing so increases the likelihood of customers experiencing issues. With an F-150 selling upwards of $70,000, kudos to Ford for putting the customer first and resisting the pressure to ship potential issues."
In 2019, Ford sold 896,526 F-Series in the U.S. They have been the best-selling trucks for more than 40 years.
Market analyst Jon Gabrielsen, who advises automakers and auto suppliers, said Ford would never risk its crown jewel.
"So it is absolutely critical that its legacy of Built Ford Tough high quality and reliability be maintained no matter what the cost or delay," he said. "So it is a true testament to the new Ford under Farley, that rather than rushing these preproduction vehicles to dealers and then customers, that they have segregated them and are making the needed tweaks no matter how minor they may be."
Dearborn Truck began building preproduction F-150 prototypes Sept. 21. The Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Missouri started in late October.
Contact Phoebe Wall Howard at 313-222-6512 or phoward@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @phoebesaid


usatoday--2020-12-17--Virginia Tech players opt out of playing in bowl, ending nation's longest streak at 27 years

Virginia Tech 's nation-long 27-year run of bowl appearances is coming to an end as players opted out of accepting a potential invitation .
“ Our players have decided to not play , and I ’ m going to support them 100 % , '' coach Justin Fuente told reporters Wednesday .
`` I think it speaks to the difficulty of the season they ’ ve been through.
” Virginia Tech finished 5-6 this season but could have been eligible because the usual six-win threshold was waived due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
Georgia will now hold the longest active @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 23 consecutive bowls dating to 1997 and will play in a 24th this season .
Fuente said some team members had wanted to go to a bowl game .
“ We were going to do this all together or not , '' he said .
`` It became evident that it was a very difficult situation .
There ’ s kids who would like to go home for Christmas and there ’ s kids who haven ’ t been home in some time.
” Virginia Tech athletic director Whit Babcock told reporters Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had contracted COVID since March .
“ This is ultimately about our kids , '' Fuente said .
`` I think they sacrificed enough.
” Virginia Tech ended its season on an up note by beating rival Virginia 33-15 to end a four-game losing streak .
“ I think it really came down to there ’ s nothing they could ever do to recreate what happened with our team last week , '' Fuente said .
`` I think they ’ re tired .
It ’ s been really , really difficult , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an important part of what we should take into consideration .
”

Virginia Tech players opt out of playing in bowl, ending nation's longest streak at 27 years
Show Caption Hide Caption Four notable findings on the salaries of college football assistant coaches SportsPulse: Tom Schad discusses the findings within USA TODAY Sports' analysis of college football assistant coaches compensation. SportsPulse, USA TODAY
Virginia Tech's nation-long 27-year run of bowl appearances is coming to an end as players opted out of accepting a potential invitation.
“Our players have decided to not play, and I’m going to support them 100%," coach Justin Fuente told reporters Wednesday. "I think it speaks to the difficulty of the season they’ve been through.”
Virginia Tech finished 5-6 this season but could have been eligible because the usual six-win threshold was waived due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Georgia will now hold the longest active streak. The Bulldogs have played in 23 consecutive bowls dating to 1997 and will play in a 24th this season.
Fuente said some team members had wanted to go to a bowl game.
“We were going to do this all together or not," he said. "It became evident that it was a very difficult situation. There’s kids who would like to go home for Christmas and there’s kids who haven’t been home in some time.”
Virginia Tech athletic director Whit Babcock told reporters Tuesday that half to three-quarters of the team had contracted COVID since March.
“This is ultimately about our kids," Fuente said. "I think they sacrificed enough.”
Virginia Tech ended its season on an up note by beating rival Virginia 33-15 to end a four-game losing streak.
“I think it really came down to there’s nothing they could ever do to recreate what happened with our team last week," Fuente said. "I think they’re tired. It’s been really, really difficult, and I think their mental health is an important part of what we should take into consideration.”


usatoday--2020-12-17--Colleges still have millions to fire football coaches despite claiming financial trouble from corona

The University of Arizona athletic department announced some troubling news last month in Tucson .
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic , the Wildcats said they faced $ 45 million in losses and were forced to make job cuts , including 21 layoffs .
Athletic director Dave Heeke called it “ a difficult day of very tough decisions.
” “ These challenging economic times have affected all of us , ” Heeke said then .
Less than six weeks later , the Wildcats didn ’ t seem quite as broke .
After his football team lost its 12th consecutive game dating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sumlin and put Arizona on the hook to pay Sumlin $ 7.3 million to buy out his contract , half of which is due to Sumlin within 30 days of his termination .
This is part of a surprising trend in recent days .
Despite claiming financial trouble during the pandemic , several major college football programs found the huge sums of money necessary to fire coaches for not winning enough games during a truncated season filled with disruption .
Schools in the Football Bowl Subdivision ( FBS ) already are on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million in contract buyout costs after firing eight head coaches this season and putting dozens of their assistant coaches in limbo , according to a USA TODAY Sports estimate .
That includes $ 21 million to fire coach Gus Malzahn at Auburn and $ 15 million to fire Will Muschamp at South Carolina .
More : Opinion : With Supreme Court , Congress poised to act , 2021 could be historic year for NCAA This kind of spending , at this time , for this reason , has elicited criticism and some astonishment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ college sports .
“ We were certain there would be a limited number of changes , and they would come with retirements or guys going to the NFL , but we really didn ’ t anticipate people would pay multimillion-dollar buyouts in this environment , ” said Todd Turner , president of Collegiate Sports Associates , which assists colleges in coaching searches .
It was supposed to be a mulligan year for coaches , according to this theory .
Because it was a short , troubled season and because schools were supposed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was schools would give losing coaches a pass this year instead of paying them so much not to coach .
That has not been the case .
Auburn fired Malzahn after eight seasons and a record of 68-34 , including 6-4 this season .
He is owed $ 21 million for the school breaking his contract , half of which is due to him in 30 days and the rest payable over four years .
In November , a university official said at a board of trustees meeting that athletic revenues were down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Auburn athletic director Allen Greene issued a letter to season-ticket holders saying “ we are evaluating every expense ” in response to the impact of the pandemic .
“ Your contributions will help Auburn weather this crisis , ” he stated .
Auburn didn ’ t immediately respond with a comment when asked about the situation .
South Carolina owed Muschamp $ 15 million after firing him last month , when his record after four-plus years was 28-30 .
In September , athletic director Ray Tanner reported the Gamecocks were facing a $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has taken pay cuts , furloughs and other measures to reduce expenses .
In June , university president Bob Caslen also issued a dire message to faculty and staff .
“ The budget outlook before us is more serious than any the university has faced since the Great Recession , and the loss of revenue next fiscal year could surpass the recession in terms of a single year impact , ” Caslen said .
“ It will require a new level of creativity and shared sacrifice from our entire campus community.
” Illinois @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million after he went 17-39 in five seasons .
In August , athletic director Josh Whitman addressed financial challenges his department faced , which included more than $ 300 million in debt , at least 15 job cuts and at tens of millions in lost revenue .
“ I think we only have so many levers to pull , ” he told reporters then .
Illinois said the buyout will be absorbed in the operations budget for fiscal year 2021 and any shortfall at the end of it will have to be made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after he went 9-20 in three seasons .
Asked how his buyout costs square with the financial challenges there , Arizona athletics referred USA TODAY Sports to a statement that said the university will honor Sumlin ’ s contract “ including all buyout provisions , with funding from athletics-generated revenue and sources.
” Some of the buyout money owed to fired coaches can be spread out over time .
It also can be reduced if these fired coaches get new jobs and use their new pay to mitigate the buyout pay from their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always required and often is just a small fraction of what the coach will be owed by his firing school .
In Malzahn ’ s case , Auburn owes him that full amount regardless if he gets a new job .
Even if they 're partially reduced , such buyouts still add up to a huge and questionable expense , demonstrating why the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics recently advocated a breakup between FBS football programs and the NCAA .
The independent group pushes for reforms that strengthen the educational mission of college @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colleges paying excessive buyouts to football coaches at a time of significant cuts and dwindling revenue erodes public trust in college athletics and is a good example of why the Knight Commission has recommended separating FBS football from the NCAA , ” said Nancy Zimpher , incoming co-chair of the Knight Commission and chancellor emeritus of the State University of New York .
“ The first necessary step of getting a grip on spending is to fix the dysfunctional governance of college sports , including the fragmented governance of FBS football .
Once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accountable FBS football organization can explore solutions to control spending.
” Turner , the search executive , previously served as athletic director at several schools , including Washington and Vanderbilt .
He said athletic directors are looking “ past the pandemic and how we ’ re going to recover from this , ” with football still the primary driver of that .
That means getting fans and alumni excited about a new coach after the current one fell short .
In Arizona ’ s case , Sumlin at Arizona got canned after a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Even if this season deserves an asterisk , school presidents and athletic directors are still hearing complaints from alumni and donors if their team loses like that and doesn ’ t win enough .
“ They could never make a commitment that it was a mulligan year , because the alumni never were going to treat it that way , ” said David Berri , a sports economist at Southern Utah .
“ If you ’ re going to play the game , there were going to be losers and whoever lost was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then how are they paying for it ?
“ It ’ s the big cigar guys with big dollars who are willing to spend it , because it suits them and because they can , ” Turner said of donors .
“ Universities get held hostage over that , and it just takes courage on the part of presidents and other leaders in higher ed to say that ’ s inappropriate.
” Berri notes that the big universities have billions of dollars and that these severance packages are nothing in comparison .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proposed budget of $ 1.4 billion for 2019-20 .
He also said athletic directors deal with problems as they come and prioritize according to what their constituency considers to be important .
“ You didn ’ t have ( $ 7 million ) last month ” to save those jobs , Berri said .
“ Yeah , that was a different problem on a different day .
This is a new problem on a new day .
My problem today is people are yelling at me ( about firing the coach ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7 million ) to spend on that problem.
” Public pressure plays a big role .
And football has a much bigger constituency than the athletic department staff members who lost jobs or suffered pay cuts .
“ If the president would have gotten calls from hundreds of people about those 15 furloughed positions , '' Berri said , `` then it wouldn ’ t have happened .
”

Colleges still have millions to fire football coaches despite claiming financial trouble from coronavirus
Show Caption Hide Caption Four notable findings on the salaries of college football assistant coaches SportsPulse: Tom Schad discusses the findings within USA TODAY Sports' analysis of college football assistant coaches compensation. SportsPulse, USA TODAY
The University of Arizona athletic department announced some troubling news last month in Tucson.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wildcats said they faced $45 million in losses and were forced to make job cuts, including 21 layoffs.
Athletic director Dave Heeke called it “a difficult day of very tough decisions.”
“These challenging economic times have affected all of us,” Heeke said then.
Less than six weeks later, the Wildcats didn’t seem quite as broke. After his football team lost its 12th consecutive game dating to 2019, Heeke fired coach Kevin Sumlin and put Arizona on the hook to pay Sumlin $7.3 million to buy out his contract, half of which is due to Sumlin within 30 days of his termination.
This is part of a surprising trend in recent days. Despite claiming financial trouble during the pandemic, several major college football programs found the huge sums of money necessary to fire coaches for not winning enough games during a truncated season filled with disruption.
Altogether, Football Bowl Subdivision public schools have committed themselves to more than $107.5 million in buyout-related payments this season for head coaches, assistants and strength coaches, according to figures compiled by USA TODAY Sports. This includes just over $63.8 million for head coaches at eight schools. Vanderbilt, a private school, also fired its coach, Derek Mason.
Among public schools, Auburn will owe Gus Malzahn about $21 million and his staff as much as $8.3 million. South Carolina will owe Will Muschamp about $15.4 million and Arizona will owe Kevin Sumlin about $7.3 million.
More: Opinion: With Supreme Court, Congress poised to act, 2021 could be historic year for NCAA
More: Winners and losers from college football's early signing day
This kind of spending, at this time, for this reason, has elicited criticism and some astonishment from those who monitor and work in college sports.
“We were certain there would be a limited number of changes, and they would come with retirements or guys going to the NFL, but we really didn’t anticipate people would pay multimillion-dollar buyouts in this environment,” said Todd Turner, president of Collegiate Sports Associates, which assists colleges in coaching searches.
It was supposed to be a mulligan year for coaches, according to this theory. Because it was a short, troubled season and because schools were supposed to be strapped for cash, the expectation was schools would give losing coaches a pass this year instead of paying them so much not to coach.
That has not been the case.
Auburn fired Malzahn after eight seasons and a record of 68-34, including 6-4 this season. He is owed $21 million for the school breaking his contract, half of which is due to him in 30 days and the rest payable over four years. In November, a university official said at a board of trustees meeting that athletic revenues were down $62 million. In July, Auburn athletic director Allen Greene issued a letter to season-ticket holders saying “we are evaluating every expense” in response to the impact of the pandemic.
“Your contributions will help Auburn weather this crisis,” he stated. Auburn didn’t immediately respond with a comment when asked about the situation.
South Carolina owed Muschamp $15 million after firing him last month, when his record after four-plus years was 28-30. In September, athletic director Ray Tanner reported the Gamecocks were facing a $58 million revenue shortfall. His department has taken pay cuts, furloughs and other measures to reduce expenses. In June, university president Bob Caslen also issued a dire message to faculty and staff.
“The budget outlook before us is more serious than any the university has faced since the Great Recession, and the loss of revenue next fiscal year could surpass the recession in terms of a single year impact,” Caslen said. “It will require a new level of creativity and shared sacrifice from our entire campus community.”
South Carolina didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Illinois owed fired coach Lovie Smith $2.5 million after he went 17-39 in five seasons. In August, athletic director Josh Whitman addressed financial challenges his department faced, which included more than $300 million in debt, at least 15 job cuts and at tens of millions in lost revenue. “I think we only have so many levers to pull,” he told reporters then. Illinois said the buyout will be absorbed in the operations budget for fiscal year 2021 and any shortfall at the end of it will have to be made up over time.
Arizona fired Sumlin after he went 9-20 in three seasons. Asked how his buyout costs square with the financial challenges there, Arizona athletics referred USA TODAY Sports to a statement that said the university will honor Sumlin’s contract “including all buyout provisions, with funding from athletics-generated revenue and sources.”
Some of the buyout money owed to fired coaches can be spread out over time. It also can be reduced if these fired coaches get new jobs and use their new pay to mitigate the buyout pay from their previous employers. But that is not always required and often is just a small fraction of what the coach will be owed by his firing school. In Malzahn’s case, Auburn owes him that full amount regardless if he gets a new job.
Even if they're partially reduced, such buyouts still add up to a huge and questionable expense, demonstrating why the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics recently advocated a breakup between FBS football programs and the NCAA. The independent group pushes for reforms that strengthen the educational mission of college sports.
“The unseemly spectacle of colleges paying excessive buyouts to football coaches at a time of significant cuts and dwindling revenue erodes public trust in college athletics and is a good example of why the Knight Commission has recommended separating FBS football from the NCAA,” said Nancy Zimpher, incoming co-chair of the Knight Commission and chancellor emeritus of the State University of New York. “The first necessary step of getting a grip on spending is to fix the dysfunctional governance of college sports, including the fragmented governance of FBS football. Once that happens, a new, fully accountable FBS football organization can explore solutions to control spending.”
Turner, the search executive, previously served as athletic director at several schools, including Washington and Vanderbilt. He said athletic directors are looking “past the pandemic and how we’re going to recover from this,” with football still the primary driver of that.
That means getting fans and alumni excited about a new coach after the current one fell short.
In Arizona’s case, Sumlin at Arizona got canned after a 70-7 loss against rival Arizona State.
Even if this season deserves an asterisk, school presidents and athletic directors are still hearing complaints from alumni and donors if their team loses like that and doesn’t win enough.
“They could never make a commitment that it was a mulligan year, because the alumni never were going to treat it that way,” said David Berri, a sports economist at Southern Utah. “If you’re going to play the game, there were going to be losers and whoever lost was going to lose their job.”
So then how are they paying for it?
“It’s the big cigar guys with big dollars who are willing to spend it, because it suits them and because they can,” Turner said of donors. “Universities get held hostage over that, and it just takes courage on the part of presidents and other leaders in higher ed to say that’s inappropriate.”
Berri notes that the big universities have billions of dollars and that these severance packages are nothing in comparison. At Auburn, the university system had a proposed budget of $1.4 billion for 2019-20.
He also said athletic directors deal with problems as they come and prioritize according to what their constituency considers to be important.
“You didn’t have ($7 million) last month” to save those jobs, Berri said. “Yeah, that was a different problem on a different day. This is a new problem on a new day. My problem today is people are yelling at me (about firing the coach). It turns out I have ($7 million) to spend on that problem.”
Public pressure plays a big role. And football has a much bigger constituency than the athletic department staff members who lost jobs or suffered pay cuts.
“If the president would have gotten calls from hundreds of people about those 15 furloughed positions," Berri said, "then it wouldn’t have happened.”
Contributing: Steve Berkowitz
Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. E-mail: bschrotenb@usatoday.com


usatoday--2020-12-17--'What's a heater gonna do when it's 30 degrees': Restaurants face bleak winter in COVID-19

NEW YORK – Billy Cole said the restaurant has lost tens of thousands of dollars since the start of the pandemic , if not $ 100,000 .
Workers have been furloughed and salaries cut at Little Dokebi , a Korean restaurant in Brooklyn 's Greenpoint neighborhood .
Despite the losses , they 've been one of the lucky ones because they 're on a corner with plenty of outdoor dining space , said Cole , the general manager .
Now , with a snow storm signaling the start of cold weather and a recently renewed ban on indoor dining , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost exclusively takeout and delivery orders that drive business for the next several months .
`` What 's a heater gon na do when it 's 30 degrees out and you 're 50 % exposed any way , '' Cole said .
Restaurants around the country have struggled for months to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic , facing layoffs and pay cuts and investing in personal protective equipment and outdoor dining infrastructure all while some customers still have n't returned .
However , the start of winter weather portends what could be an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industry in New York and across the country as restaurants struggle to balance safety measures for their patrons and staff with meeting their bottom lines .
`` We need to brace ourselves for an even worse period for the restaurant industry , '' said Andrew Rigie , executive director of the New York City Hospitality Alliance .
According to the National Restaurant Association , sales have begun to dip again in the colder months after the summer saw some progress .
Restaurant sales were around $ 65 billion in the months before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion in April , according to Census Bureau data .
They peaked in September at $ 55.7 billion but have declined for two months in October and November .
This restaurant 's revenue is better than last year : How some owners can survive even in COVID-19 winter One reason for the dip has been the closing of outdoor dining options , the National Restaurant Association said .
From September to November , the number of full-service restaurants offering outdoor dining nationwide dropped by almost a quarter , while partial-service operators also saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offerings .
`` For many restaurants , outdoor dining was what was sustaining them through this crisis because they needed that revenue , '' said Mike Whatley , the restaurant group ’ s vice president of state and local affairs .
`` But cold weather and especially the snow is a real challenge for the industry . ''
On Wednesday , the nearly 11,000 restaurants participating in New York City 's outdoor dining program faced a new dilemma for this year : About a foot of snow forecast .
The Department of Sanitation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , told restaurants that the structures many had built to house their outdoor seating could remain on the streets but that staff would have to bring in tables , chairs and electric heaters .
New York City 's restaurants also faced a new indoor dining ban that went into effect Monday as Gov .
Andrew Cuomo reversed the policy that had allowed diners to eat inside since late September while operating at 25 % capacity indoors .
The rest of the state has indoor dining still operating at 50 % capacity , except @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which drop to 25 % .
Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce President Randy Peers described the snow , closing indoor dining and other COVID-19 restrictions as a triple whammy .
`` We ca n't control the weather , but we can control things like , do we shut down our economy , do we allow restaurants to open indoors and things like that , ” Peers said .
“ It 's the worst possible timing for our restaurants and we 'll have to see how it all plays out , how long it lasts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it 's a pretty dire situation . ''
At Little Dokebi , Cole said staff partially deconstructed and lifted their structure onto the sidewalk ahead of the storm .
That , in effect , closed their outdoor dining , which Cole said he does n't see coming back in the cold months .
He said the guidance from the city on what is and is n't allowed has been `` very vague and they 've changed the rules too many times to count . ''
When indoor dining was allowed , an outdoor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ covered was considered extra capacity for the indoor operation .
But now with indoor dining banned , Rigie said those restaurants have to open their structures by removing walls or lifting flaps if they want to still use them .
However , the danger comes with compliance .
Dr. Isaac Weisfuse , a former deputy health commissioner at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene , said that when the cold weather picks up , diners may ask for the flaps on these open structures to close .
`` What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patron requests that ? ''
'Not all outdoor structures are created the same' Outdoor dining may pose less risk of coronavirus transmission than indoor dining because there is greater ventilation outside , which dilutes the virus particles in the air more quickly , public health experts say .
But outdoor dining is not risk-free .
`` You can think about the virus as behaving in the air like cigarette smoke does , '' said Dr. Linsey Marr , a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech .
`` If you have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , think about what that does to the smoke if you have four walls and a roof , versus being out in the open air . ''
Some outdoor dining structures may be safer than others , said Dr. Sadiya Khan , an epidemiologist and assistant professor of medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine .
`` If a structure is created in such a way that it is an enclosed space , with heating and carpeting , it 's basically an indoor facility outside , '' she said .
COVID-19 indoors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key role in preventing the spread Like New York , many cities that permit outdoor dining placed restrictions on the number of walls or sides that must be open to retain ventilation .
Chicago requires temporary outdoor structures that hold multiple parties to have at least 50 % of the sides open to allow for air flow , and enclosed structures are permitted for people living in the same household but must have adequate ventilation to allow for air circulation , according to city guidelines .
`` Igloos '' and mini tents can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throughout Chicago .
Many restaurants require patrons to reserve spaces in advance , limit dining time to two hours or less and clean the structures between uses .
But experts were mixed about the safety of these individual dining experiences .
`` The challenge is that the waiter would be coming in or out , or it 's possible that the person who dined there before you , even though they ’ re not there anymore , the virus in the air could still persist , '' Khan said .
Weisfuse said these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for people to eat out while doing so safely .
If the igloos remained truly limited to one household and restaurants aired them out for 15 to 20 minutes between parties , it could be safer than some of the multi-table enclosed structures cities have seen built .
But like with most things in the pandemic , the particulars of a dining setup matter , he said .
`` You have to judge for yourself what the situation is . ''
What 's the least risky option ?
Marr said that would involve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with patrons wearing face masks when not eating or drinking .
Some restaurants nationwide are planning to take this approach over the winter by investing in bonfire pit tables that can be scattered on open patios .
But these options may be more limited in cities like New York , where extra space is a hot commodity .
Contact tracing : Officials worry about virus spread at restaurants , but failed contact tracing leaves diners in the dark There 's another factor for people to consider when they 're thinking about dining outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May study found that loud talking could leave coronavirus particles in the air for up to 14 minutes , according to the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences .
`` We know that talking louder releases more aerosols , so if there ’ s a lot of background noise and that forces someone to talk louder , that ’ s a riskier situation , '' Marr said .
`` Keep things quiet , and hope that the people around you are quiet , too . ''
It 's still unclear how much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is contributing to rising COVID-19 case counts , experts said .
In New York , spread in restaurants and bars accounts for less than 2 % of all viral transmission while nearly 74 % is through household and social gatherings , according to state contract-tracing data .
In Illinois , where indoor dining has been closed since early November , restaurants and bars may account for nearly 6 % of all COVID-19 exposures in the state , according to Illinois state data contract-tracing data .
California is n't taking any chances .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newsom issued stay-at-home orders and business shutdowns for regions at risk of running out of intensive care unit beds .
A ban on indoor and outdoor dining is expected to run through at least Dec. 27 .
`` The most important thing that we ’ ve learned over the last year is that there is no zero-risk situation , '' Khan said .
`` The only way to eliminate risk is to not dine at a restaurant . ''
Restaurants are 'teetering on the edge of survival' At Modern Love , a vegan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the restaurant never reopened for indoor dining and has had counter service with a small outdoor structure for patrons on the street .
`` Our guests pick up at the window , '' said Kubersky , one of its owners .
`` We just thought it was safer for the staff and our guests as well . ''
`` If you are going to eat , the less people you interact with , the safer it is , '' she added .
While the restaurant used to serve up a `` swanky '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they 've pivoted to more of a `` fast casual kind of restaurant , '' focusing also on delivery and takeout .
New Yorkers enjoy eating outdoors but `` when it gets cold you definitely see a drop in business , '' she said .
More on restaurant industry during COVID-19 : Your favorite restaurant or small business – as many as 36,000 – faces closure without coronavirus relief Rigie , of the New York City Hospitality Alliance , said outdoor dining was `` critically important '' to keeping restaurants open during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the edge of survival . ''
`` It brought a vitality and energy back to the city 's streets that was so important for our economic and social wellbeing , '' he said .
Before the COVID-19 shutdowns , there were 325,000 industry jobs in the city .
That plummeted to 90,000 in April , Rigie said .
It has since ticked back up to 192,000 in recent weeks thanks to outdoor dining and the brief stretch of indoor service .
But with the weather and the dining ban , those 100,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the chopping block again , '' Rigie added .
While Modern Love planned to keep its wooden structure in place during the storm , Kubersky wishes there was more aid from government sources to keep the restaurant industry afloat .
From having to buy more take out containers to building their outdoor dining structure , the costs add up .
`` Our bottom line is affected .
... Our sales have n't quite hit to where they were . ''
`` Before I do anything much bigger with outdoor dining , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the winter , '' she added .
Ryan Miller reported from New York City ; Grace Hauck reported from Chicago ; and Kelly Tyko reported from Coral Springs , Florida .

Ryan W. Miller, Grace Hauck and Kelly Tyko, USA TODAY

'What's a heater gonna do when it's 30 degrees': Restaurants face bleak winter during COVID-19
Show Caption Hide Caption Indoor dining banned in NYC to limit virus spread Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced that indoor dining restrictions will be reinstated in New York City on Monday, as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continue climbing in the city and throughout the state. (Dec. 11) AP
NEW YORK – Billy Cole said the restaurant has lost tens of thousands of dollars since the start of the pandemic, if not $100,000.
Workers have been furloughed and salaries cut at Little Dokebi, a Korean restaurant in Brooklyn's Greenpoint neighborhood. Despite the losses, it's been one of the lucky ones because it's on a corner with plenty of outdoor dining space, said Cole, the general manager.
After this week's snowstorm signaled the start of cold weather and the governor renewed a ban on indoor dining, Cole knows it's going to be almost exclusively takeout and delivery orders that drive business for the next several months.
"What's a heater gonna do when it's 30 degrees out and you're 50% exposed anyway," Cole said.
Restaurants around the country have struggled for months to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic, facing layoffs and pay cuts and investing in personal protective equipment and outdoor dining infrastructure all while some customers still haven't returned.
Climate change: How a warmer Earth could mean more snow Climate change is making winters colder despite rising temperatures and hotter summers. Here’s why. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The start of winter weather portends what could be an even darker few months for the dining industry as restaurants struggle to balance safety measures for their patrons and staff with meeting their bottom lines.
"We need to brace ourselves for an even worse period for the restaurant industry," said Andrew Rigie, executive director of the New York City Hospitality Alliance.
According to the National Restaurant Association, sales have begun to dip again in the colder months after the summer saw some progress.
Restaurant sales were about $65 billion in the months before the pandemic but plummeted to $30 billion in April, according to Census Bureau data. They peaked in September at $55.7 billion but declined in October and November.
This restaurant's revenue is better than last year: How some owners can survive even in COVID-19 winter
One reason for the dip has been the closing of outdoor dining options, the National Restaurant Association said. From September to November, the number of full-service restaurants offering outdoor dining nationwide dropped by almost a quarter, while partial-service operators saw almost a 15% decline in outdoor offerings.
"For many restaurants, outdoor dining was what was sustaining them through this crisis because they needed that revenue," said Mike Whatley, the restaurant group’s vice president of state and local affairs. "But cold weather and especially the snow is a real challenge for the industry."
Wednesday, the nearly 11,000 restaurants participating in New York City's outdoor dining program faced a new dilemma: about a foot of snow forecast.
The Department of Sanitation, which operates the city's snowplows, told restaurants that the structures many had built to house their outdoor seating could remain on the streets but that staff would have to bring in tables, chairs and electric heaters.
New York City's restaurants also faced an indoor dining ban that went into effect Monday as Gov. Andrew Cuomo reversed the policy that had allowed diners to eat inside since late September while operating at 25% capacity. The rest of the state has indoor dining operating at 50% capacity, except for areas with high COVID-19 rates, which drop to 25%.
Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce President Randy Peers described the snow, closing indoor dining and other COVID-19 restrictions as a triple whammy.
"We can't control the weather, but we can control things like, do we shut down our economy, do we allow restaurants to open indoors and things like that,” Peers said. “It's the worst possible timing for our restaurants, and we'll have to see how it all plays out, how long it lasts. But from an economic perspective, it's a pretty dire situation."
At Little Dokebi, Cole said staff partially deconstructed and lifted their structure onto the sidewalk before the storm. That, in effect, closed outdoor dining, which Cole said he doesn't see coming back in the cold months.
He said guidance from the city on what is and isn't allowed has been "very vague, and they've changed the rules too many times to count."
When indoor dining was allowed, an outdoor structure that was more than 50% covered was considered extra capacity for the indoor operation. Now that indoor dining is banned, Rigie said, those restaurants have to open their structures by removing walls or lifting flaps if they want to still use them.
Dr. Isaac Weisfuse, a former deputy health commissioner at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, said that when the cold weather picks up, diners may ask for the flaps on these open structures to close.
"What will the restaurant owner do when the patron requests that?" he said.
'Not all outdoor structures are created the same'
Outdoor dining may pose less risk of coronavirus transmission than indoor dining because there is greater ventilation outside, which dilutes the virus particles in the air more quickly, public health experts said. But outdoor dining is not risk-free.
"You can think about the virus as behaving in the air like cigarette smoke does," said Linsey Marr, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech. "If you have a few people at different tables smoking, think about what that does to the smoke if you have four walls and a roof, versus being out in the open air."
Some outdoor dining structures may be safer than others, said Sadiya Khan, an epidemiologist and assistant professor of medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
"If a structure is created in such a way that it is an enclosed space, with heating and carpeting, it's basically an indoor facility outside," she said.
COVID-19 indoors: Ventilation and air filtration play a role in preventing the spread
Like New York, many cities that permit outdoor dining placed restrictions on the number of walls or sides that must be open to retain ventilation.
Chicago requires temporary outdoor structures that hold multiple parties to have at least 50% of the sides open to allow for air flow. Enclosed structures are permitted for people living in the same household, but they must have adequate ventilation to allow for air circulation, according to city guidelines.
"Igloos" and mini-tents can be seen on sidewalks and closed-off roadways throughout Chicago. Many restaurants require patrons to reserve spaces in advance, limit dining time to two hours or less and clean the structures between uses.
Experts were mixed about the safety of these individual dining experiences.
"The challenge is that the waiter would be coming in or out, or it's possible that the person who dined there before you, even though they’re not there anymore, the virus in the air could still persist," Khan said.
Weisfuse said individual structures could provide a good way for people to eat out safely. If the igloos remain limited to one household and restaurants air them out for 15 to 20 minutes between parties, it could be safer than some of the multi-table enclosed structures cities have seen built.
But like most things in the pandemic, the particulars of a dining setup matter, he said. "You have to judge for yourself what the situation is."
Marr said the least risky option would involve tables spread out in the open air and patrons wearing face masks when not eating or drinking. Some restaurants plan to take this approach over the winter by investing in bonfire pit tables that can be scattered on open patios. Such options may be more limited in cities such as New York, where extra space is a hot commodity.
Contact tracing: Officials worry about virus spread at restaurants, but failed contact tracing leaves diners in the dark
There's another factor for people to consider when they're thinking about dining outside, experts said: noise.
A study in May found that loud talking could leave coronavirus particles in the air for up to 14 minutes, according to the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
"We know that talking louder releases more aerosols, so if there’s a lot of background noise and that forces someone to talk louder, that’s a riskier situation," Marr said. "Keep things quiet, and hope that the people around you are quiet, too."
It's unclear how much transmission at outdoor dining structures contributes to rising COVID-19 case counts, experts said.
In New York, spread in restaurants and bars accounts for less than 2% of all viral transmission while nearly 74% is through household and social gatherings, according to state contract-tracing data. In Illinois, where indoor dining has been closed since early November, restaurants and bars may account for nearly 6% of COVID-19 exposures, according to state contract tracing data.
California isn't taking any chances. Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued stay-at-home orders and business shutdowns for regions at risk of running out of intensive care unit beds. A ban on indoor and outdoor dining is likely to run through at least Dec. 27.
"The most important thing that we’ve learned over the last year is that there is no zero-risk situation," Khan said. "The only way to eliminate risk is to not dine at a restaurant."
Restaurants are 'teetering on the edge of survival'
At Modern Love, a vegan restaurant in Williamsburg, co-owner Sara Kubersky said the restaurant never reopened for indoor dining and has had counter service with a small outdoor structure for patrons on the street.
"Our guests pick up at the window," Kubersky said. "We just thought it was safer for the staff and our guests as well.
"If you are going to eat, the less people you interact with, the safer it is," she said.
Though the restaurant used to serve from a "swanky" menu closer to fine dining comfort food, it pivoted to more of a "fast casual kind of restaurant," focusing on delivery and takeout.
New Yorkers enjoy eating outdoors, but "when it gets cold you definitely see a drop in business," Kubersky said.
More on restaurant industry during COVID-19: Your favorite restaurant or small business – as many as 36,000 – faces closure without coronavirus relief
Rigie, of the New York City Hospitality Alliance, said outdoor dining was "critically important" to keeping restaurants open during the pandemic as restaurants are "teetering on the edge of survival."
"It brought a vitality and energy back to the city's streets that was so important for our economic and social well-being," he said.
Before the COVID-19 shutdowns, there were 325,000 industry jobs in the city. That plummeted to 90,000 in April, Rigie said. It ticked back up to 192,000 in recent weeks thanks to outdoor dining and the brief stretch of indoor service.
But after the storm and the dining ban, those 100,000 jobs that were brought back "are on the chopping block again," Rigie said.
While Modern Love planned to keep its wooden structure in place during the storm, Kubersky wishes there was more aid from government sources to keep the restaurant industry afloat. From having to buy more takeout containers to building outdoor dining structures, the costs add up. "Our bottom line is affected. ... Our sales haven't quite hit to where they were," Kubersky said.
"Before I do anything much bigger with outdoor dining, I really want to see what happens in the winter," she said.
Miller reported from New York City, Hauck reported from Chicago, and Tyko reported from Coral Springs, Florida.