truthout--2020-12-18--To Protect Great Lakes, Michigan Tribes Oppose Enbridge Line 5 Pipelines

Mike Ludwig talks to Whitney Gravelle , an attorney for the Bay Mills Indian Community , about the fight against Enbridge ’ s Line 5 pipeline .
Note : This a rush transcript and has been lightly edited for clarity .
Copy may not be in its final form .
Mike Ludwig : Welcome to Climate Front Lines , the podcast exploring the people and places on the front lines of the climate crisis .
My name is Mike Ludwig .
I ’ m a reporter for Truthout.org .
President-elect Joe Biden announced this week that former environmental protection agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top climate advisor .
The actions from environmentalists have been mixed to say the least on one hand McCarthy was the EPA administrator during the Obama administration .
When regulators attempted to put caps on the energy sector ’ s greenhouse gas emissions for the first time , of course , the Trump administration crushed all these efforts and then some , and on the other hand , McCarthy was EPA administrator during the Obama administration .
When the word fracking became a household term for years , fracking opponents accused the EPA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Showing that fracking for oil and gas is a threat to drinking water .
Still fracking caused an explosion of fossil fuel production across the U.S. , and Canada was pushing to export more oil and gas at the same time .
All of these fossil fuels needed places to go in ways to get there and suddenly fights against new oil and gas pipelines erupted across the nation .
The Keystone XL pipeline , for example , became a political hot potato under president Obama as tribal governments and environmental activists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ During the last days of the Obama administration .
Law enforcement moved to crush the uprising at standing rock where the standing rock , Sioux tribe and other indigenous led activists resisted the Dakota access pipeline for months and drew international attention to the legacy of colonialism in the Americas .
Activists continue to take direct action to stop oil and gas pipelines under President Trump , who made it clear that the fossil fuel industry had a friend in the White House .
Those days are coming to an end , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new infrastructure and locking in decades of fossil fuel production will continue under president Biden .
Like other struggles on the front lines of climate change , many of these campaigns are led by indigenous activists .
One such campaign can be found in Northern Michigan where the Canadian firm Enbridge wants to extend the life of line five to underwater oil and gas pipelines that have operated for decades in the straits of Mackinac , the narrow body of water between Michigan ’ s lower and upper peninsula .
In 2018 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five causing damage and alarming the public lion five runs under what it ’ s essentially headwaters for much of the great lakes and oil spill in this region could spell disaster for ecosystems and fresh water supplies .
Enbridge wants to build a quote unquote tunnel over line five so the pipelines can continue operating for years to come .
But the company is facing opposition from a coalition of tribal governments , along with Michigan ’ s democratic governor Gretchen Whitmer .
To learn more , I spoke with Whitney Gravelle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indian community , a Northern Michigan tribe that has fished the waters flowing above Line 5 for generations .
Whitney Gravelle : So Bay Mills Indian community is a federally recognized Indian tribe located in the upper peninsula of Michigan .
So we ’ re in the Northern most part of the state .
Um , and as I mentioned earlier , uh , closer to Canada than the rest of the state , but we have been here since time immemorial .
So this is where the Aboriginal people of the Bay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have always resided and lived and been a part of the environment and culture here within the state of Michigan .
ML : Can you give us a little bit of background on the Enbridge line five ?
Um , how much construction has been completed , maybe where you all are at , in the permitting process ?
WG : Yeah .
So Enbridge line five , the dual pipelines that run beneath the straits of Mackinac have actually been in existence since 1953 .
That is when Enbridge first saw an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually placed the pipelines into the water .
Since then in early 2018 , there was actually an anchor strike that struck the pipelines in caused some severe damage .
And that was the first time that the tribes or the public in the state of Michigan were actually made aware of the pipelines .
So they had been around , you know , for almost 60 years and all of a sudden , everyone was made aware of what was actually going on beneath the water .
Uh , Which was really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but to the public .
And then it started raising all of these concerns of why did we have an oil and natural gas pipeline running through the straits of Mackinac , running through the Great Lakes , which is the largest freshwater body in the world .
And a critical part of not only the environment of the state of Michigan , but also our economy up here .
ML : Right , and I was watching the video you sent me , that fishing is a big part of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for your community .
WG : Yes , that is correct .
So Bay mills is actually a signatory of the 1836 treaty of Washington .
And in that treaty , there were five different tribes .
Females included that seeded 14 million acres to the United States government for the creation of the state of Michigan .
If we had not signed that treaty back in 1836 , uh , the state of Michigan would not have .
Um , become part of the union , essentially during that time , what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Washington , however , is we reserved rights on reservation and offers a ration to fish hunt and gather throughout the seed and territory , which is essentially that 14 million acres , that 14 million acres also includes the waters of the great lakes .
And in reserving the .
The right to fish in the great lakes , what our ancestors were doing was actually preserving a way of life for our people .
That is something that we have always done commercially as well as subsistently in order to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : And you mentioned earlier , other pipelines , have you drawn inspiration or , uh , maybe some tactical knowledge just from seeing other indigenous led fights against pipelines in the U S. WG : Absolutely .
Um , you know , the most .
The largest example that comes to mind was the No DAPL that took place in the Dakotas against that pipeline .
That was the first time that the , the indigenous community had come together and rallied around one another in order to stop a pipeline .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that occurred in the no dapple protest , but they ultimately succeeded .
Now that pipeline is still in litigation .
Uh , over there in the Dakotas , they ’ re still figuring out what those issues , but the strength that those indigenous communities found amongst each other .
We also had citizens from the mills Indian community that went out to the Dakotas to support them .
We had donations coming from our own tribal community .
It made us realize that if we could draw upon the same strength @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get line five , the dual pipelines out of the straits of Mackinac .
ML : And they ’ re there .
Enbridge is trying to extend these lines , right ?
That is what you ’ re fighting right now .
WG : Yeah .
So originally this has actually been a really rapid and moving process here in the state of Michigan , but originally in 2018 , when those anchor strikes had occurred , that .
As I mentioned brought awareness to the general public and the state of Michigan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Uh , what Enbridge started doing then was coming up with other alternatives in a way to keep the pipeline going underneath the streets of Mackinaw and what the mills Indian community is actively fighting right now is a proposed tunnel project .
So essentially Enbridge wants to build a tunnel beneath the straits of Mackinac that would then house these dual pipelines , still keeping them .
You know , underneath the water , underneath the soil , but endangering our Great Lakes .
ML : Right .
And as , um @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imagine there , isn ’ t just the sense of you .
You want to preserve and protect the water for fishing and , uh , for the area that you live , but you ’ re also fighting to protect the entire great lakes system , really that , that flows from that area .
And also the climate .
WG : Absolutely .
You know , you hear the term often that tribal communities are often the first stewards of the environment , the first stewards of the land , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that our communities and the different indigenous populations take very seriously .
We actually have a teaching amongst our people .
It ’ s called the seven generations teaching .
But what it asks you to do is to look seven generations into the future for every action that you take .
So whether it be a pipeline or driving a car , you know , or constructing something or polluting or recycling , you are supposed to examine that decision that you do and determine how .
Are the actions that I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on my children ’ s children and their children , seven generations into the future .
And that teaching is so ingrained into our society .
That what it really .
Has us do and requires of us is to reflect upon the impacts that we are doing towards the future , which is a direct correlation to climate change , you know , to global warming , uh , to being a steward for the environment .
What are we doing today that will provide the most sustainable future for our children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the fight ?
I know that .
Enbridge filed a lawsuit recently .
I think it was against governor .
Whitmer correct for , um , attempting to block the pipeline .
And then there ’ s also some permits that are in the air .
WG : Yeah .
So most recently , just a few weeks ago , Governor Whitmer actually revoked the easement for the dual pipelines in the streets and Makena first , the governor and the attorney general filed litigation on the easements .
In state court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then Enbridge responded by filing an action in federal court , essentially stating that the governor has no right to revoke the easement and that federal regulations over pipelines actually preempt any state law that may apply in terms of easement or regulation of water and lands .
Uh , dual and running along that there ’ s actually a litigation taking place before the Michigan public service commission , which females is directly involved in .
And the Michigan public service commission is the governing body that will decide whether or not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the streets of Mackinaw into the tunnel .
Also running adjacent to that is there are two permits that are going before Eagle , which is a state regulatory agency in Michigan and also the United States army Corps of engineers to actually build and construct the tunnel .
So first and bridge must receive permission from the Michigan public service commission to place the pipelines into the tunnel .
And then they also need two permits approved by both the army Corps and Eagle in order to build the tunnel .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ permits are , um , the decisions on those are going to be made next month I read .
Is that correct ?
So you ’ re kind of like , this is a crucial time for your campaign .
WG : Yes , um , Eagle the environment , great lakes and energy division actually extended the deadline until January , 2021 .
And then the army Corps is also evaluating that permit .
Their process is a little bit longer , but they typically run very parallel to one another .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Eagle state side , we will also see a decision come from the army Corps as well .
ML : One thing we ’ ve seen internationally .
In the past few years is climate negotiators of the United nations and other intergovernmental organizations that are working on climate have come to recognize the leadership that indigenous people have in , in the movement for climate justice .
And also in the effort to just preserve the planet , um , that indigenous knowledge , not just the United States , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guiding .
For us in determining how to preserve land , to manage forests , to create carbon sinks , um , to do these things that can help us mitigate at least some of the impacts of climate change .
Do you feel like when you ’ re , when you ’ re opposing this pipeline , that that does have climate implications , that you are part of a bigger movement and international recognition of , the , I guess , indigenous knowledge about land and about the areas that need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at this moment in time .
And I think that it is because our focus is so narrowed and lasered-in on the issues that we ’ re confronting here on the ground , in the state of Michigan .
Um , but definitely the inspiration that we have seen from other indigenous communities , not only within the United States , but around the globe .
Have lent us strength in the , in the battles that we are engaging here on the front lines , we learn from their mistakes .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from them as communities and how they engage their state or federal regulatory agencies .
And we try to apply that here because I think as a people and looking at the teachings from indigenous communities , we ’ re all aligned that we ’ re here .
Uh , again , you know , reflecting upon that seven generation principle to continue to provide for our communities who have bet on this land since the beginning of time .
ML : Thanks for listening to Climate Front Lines .
If you ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a like , and a share .
You can also sign up for our free daily email [ email protected ] Stay safe out there , friends .

People protest against the Enbridge Energy Line 3 pipeline project outside the governor's mansion on November 14, 2020, in St. Paul, Minnesota. Stephen Maturen / Getty Images
Part of the Series Climate Front Lines
Mike Ludwig talks to Whitney Gravelle, an attorney for the Bay Mills Indian Community, about the fight against Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline.
TRANSCRIPT
Note: This a rush transcript and has been lightly edited for clarity. Copy may not be in its final form.
Mike Ludwig: Welcome to Climate Front Lines, the podcast exploring the people and places on the front lines of the climate crisis. My name is Mike Ludwig. I’m a reporter for Truthout.org. President-elect Joe Biden announced this week that former environmental protection agency administrator Gina McCarthy will serve as his top climate advisor.
The actions from environmentalists have been mixed to say the least on one hand McCarthy was the EPA administrator during the Obama administration. When regulators attempted to put caps on the energy sector’s greenhouse gas emissions for the first time, of course, the Trump administration crushed all these efforts and then some, and on the other hand, McCarthy was EPA administrator during the Obama administration.
When the word fracking became a household term for years, fracking opponents accused the EPA under Obama and McCarthy of suppressing research. Showing that fracking for oil and gas is a threat to drinking water. Still fracking caused an explosion of fossil fuel production across the U.S., and Canada was pushing to export more oil and gas at the same time.
All of these fossil fuels needed places to go in ways to get there and suddenly fights against new oil and gas pipelines erupted across the nation. The Keystone XL pipeline, for example, became a political hot potato under president Obama as tribal governments and environmental activists launched fierce campaigns against the project.
During the last days of the Obama administration. Law enforcement moved to crush the uprising at standing rock where the standing rock, Sioux tribe and other indigenous led activists resisted the Dakota access pipeline for months and drew international attention to the legacy of colonialism in the Americas.
Activists continue to take direct action to stop oil and gas pipelines under President Trump, who made it clear that the fossil fuel industry had a friend in the White House. Those days are coming to an end, the campaigns to prevent the industry from establishing new infrastructure and locking in decades of fossil fuel production will continue under president Biden.
Like other struggles on the front lines of climate change, many of these campaigns are led by indigenous activists. One such campaign can be found in Northern Michigan where the Canadian firm Enbridge wants to extend the life of line five to underwater oil and gas pipelines that have operated for decades in the straits of Mackinac, the narrow body of water between Michigan’s lower and upper peninsula. In 2018, a ship’s anchor struck line five causing damage and alarming the public lion five runs under what it’s essentially headwaters for much of the great lakes and oil spill in this region could spell disaster for ecosystems and fresh water supplies. Enbridge wants to build a quote unquote tunnel over line five so the pipelines can continue operating for years to come. But the company is facing opposition from a coalition of tribal governments, along with Michigan’s democratic governor Gretchen Whitmer. To learn more, I spoke with Whitney Gravelle, an attorney for the Bay Mills Indian community, a Northern Michigan tribe that has fished the waters flowing above Line 5 for generations.
Whitney Gravelle: So Bay Mills Indian community is a federally recognized Indian tribe located in the upper peninsula of Michigan. So we’re in the Northern most part of the state. Um, and as I mentioned earlier, uh, closer to Canada than the rest of the state, but we have been here since time immemorial.
So this is where the Aboriginal people of the Bay Mills Indian community, Ojibwe Anishinaabe, have always resided and lived and been a part of the environment and culture here within the state of Michigan.
ML: Can you give us a little bit of background on the Enbridge line five? Um, how much construction has been completed, maybe where you all are at, in the permitting process?
WG: Yeah. So Enbridge line five, the dual pipelines that run beneath the straits of Mackinac have actually been in existence since 1953. That is when Enbridge first saw an easement from the state of Michigan and actually placed the pipelines into the water. Since then in early 2018, there was actually an anchor strike that struck the pipelines in caused some severe damage.
And that was the first time that the tribes or the public in the state of Michigan were actually made aware of the pipelines. So they had been around, you know, for almost 60 years and all of a sudden, everyone was made aware of what was actually going on beneath the water. Uh, Which was really surprising, not only to the tribe, but to the public.
And then it started raising all of these concerns of why did we have an oil and natural gas pipeline running through the straits of Mackinac, running through the Great Lakes, which is the largest freshwater body in the world. And a critical part of not only the environment of the state of Michigan, but also our economy up here.
ML: Right, and I was watching the video you sent me, that fishing is a big part of the economy where, where you live or for your community.
WG: Yes, that is correct. So Bay mills is actually a signatory of the 1836 treaty of Washington. And in that treaty, there were five different tribes. Females included that seeded 14 million acres to the United States government for the creation of the state of Michigan.
If we had not signed that treaty back in 1836, uh, the state of Michigan would not have. Um, become part of the union, essentially during that time, what we did when we signed the treaty of Washington, however, is we reserved rights on reservation and offers a ration to fish hunt and gather throughout the seed and territory, which is essentially that 14 million acres, that 14 million acres also includes the waters of the great lakes.
And in reserving the. The right to fish in the great lakes, what our ancestors were doing was actually preserving a way of life for our people. That is something that we have always done commercially as well as subsistently in order to provide and feed our community.
ML: And you mentioned earlier, other pipelines, have you drawn inspiration or, uh, maybe some tactical knowledge just from seeing other indigenous led fights against pipelines in the U S.
WG: Absolutely. Um, you know, the most. The largest example that comes to mind was the No DAPL that took place in the Dakotas against that pipeline. That was the first time that the, the indigenous community had come together and rallied around one another in order to stop a pipeline. And there were a lot of atrocities that occurred in the no dapple protest, but they ultimately succeeded.
Now that pipeline is still in litigation. Uh, over there in the Dakotas, they’re still figuring out what those issues, but the strength that those indigenous communities found amongst each other. We also had citizens from the mills Indian community that went out to the Dakotas to support them. We had donations coming from our own tribal community.
It made us realize that if we could draw upon the same strength that we might be able to then get line five, the dual pipelines out of the straits of Mackinac.
ML: And they’re there. Enbridge is trying to extend these lines, right? That is what you’re fighting right now.
WG: Yeah. So originally this has actually been a really rapid and moving process here in the state of Michigan, but originally in 2018, when those anchor strikes had occurred, that.
As I mentioned brought awareness to the general public and the state of Michigan of the dangers of these pipelines. Uh, what Enbridge started doing then was coming up with other alternatives in a way to keep the pipeline going underneath the streets of Mackinaw and what the mills Indian community is actively fighting right now is a proposed tunnel project.
So essentially Enbridge wants to build a tunnel beneath the straits of Mackinac that would then house these dual pipelines, still keeping them. You know, underneath the water, underneath the soil, but endangering our Great Lakes.
ML: Right. And as, um, and as a community, I imagine there, isn’t just the sense of you.
You want to preserve and protect the water for fishing and, uh, for the area that you live, but you’re also fighting to protect the entire great lakes system, really that, that flows from that area. And also the climate.
WG: Absolutely. You know, you hear the term often that tribal communities are often the first stewards of the environment, the first stewards of the land, and that is an obligation and a duty that our communities and the different indigenous populations take very seriously.
We actually have a teaching amongst our people. It’s called the seven generations teaching. But what it asks you to do is to look seven generations into the future for every action that you take. So whether it be a pipeline or driving a car, you know, or constructing something or polluting or recycling, you are supposed to examine that decision that you do and determine how.
Are the actions that I am taking today, having an impact on my children’s children and their children, seven generations into the future. And that teaching is so ingrained into our society. That what it really. Has us do and requires of us is to reflect upon the impacts that we are doing towards the future, which is a direct correlation to climate change, you know, to global warming, uh, to being a steward for the environment.
What are we doing today that will provide the most sustainable future for our children?
ML: And where are we with the fight? I know that. Enbridge filed a lawsuit recently. I think it was against governor. Whitmer correct for, um, attempting to block the pipeline. And then there’s also some permits that are in the air.
WG: Yeah. So most recently, just a few weeks ago, Governor Whitmer actually revoked the easement for the dual pipelines in the streets and Makena first, the governor and the attorney general filed litigation on the easements. In state court, state of Michigan court, and then Enbridge responded by filing an action in federal court, essentially stating that the governor has no right to revoke the easement and that federal regulations over pipelines actually preempt any state law that may apply in terms of easement or regulation of water and lands.
Uh, dual and running along that there’s actually a litigation taking place before the Michigan public service commission, which females is directly involved in. And the Michigan public service commission is the governing body that will decide whether or not Enbridge can move the duel. Pipelines in the streets of Mackinaw into the tunnel.
Also running adjacent to that is there are two permits that are going before Eagle, which is a state regulatory agency in Michigan and also the United States army Corps of engineers to actually build and construct the tunnel. So first and bridge must receive permission from the Michigan public service commission to place the pipelines into the tunnel.
And then they also need two permits approved by both the army Corps and Eagle in order to build the tunnel.
ML: And so, and those permits are, um, the decisions on those are going to be made next month I read. Is that correct? So you’re kind of like, this is a crucial time for your campaign.
WG: Yes, um, Eagle the environment, great lakes and energy division actually extended the deadline until January, 2021.
And then the army Corps is also evaluating that permit. Their process is a little bit longer, but they typically run very parallel to one another. So once we just see a decision from the Eagle state side, we will also see a decision come from the army Corps as well.
ML: One thing we’ve seen internationally. In the past few years is climate negotiators of the United nations and other intergovernmental organizations that are working on climate have come to recognize the leadership that indigenous people have in, in the movement for climate justice. And also in the effort to just preserve the planet, um, that indigenous knowledge, not just the United States, but across the world can be a guiding.
For us in determining how to preserve land, to manage forests, to create carbon sinks, um, to do these things that can help us mitigate at least some of the impacts of climate change. Do you feel like when you’re, when you’re opposing this pipeline, that that does have climate implications, that you are part of a bigger movement and international recognition of, the, I guess, indigenous knowledge about land and about the areas that need to be preserved.
WG: Not at this moment in time. And I think that it is because our focus is so narrowed and lasered-in on the issues that we’re confronting here on the ground, in the state of Michigan. Um, but definitely the inspiration that we have seen from other indigenous communities, not only within the United States, but around the globe.
Have lent us strength in the, in the battles that we are engaging here on the front lines, we learn from their mistakes. We learn from their achievements. We learn from them as communities and how they engage their state or federal regulatory agencies. And we try to apply that here because I think as a people and looking at the teachings from indigenous communities, we’re all aligned that we’re here.
Uh, again, you know, reflecting upon that seven generation principle to continue to provide for our communities who have bet on this land since the beginning of time.
ML: Thanks for listening to Climate Front Lines. If you’ve enjoyed this podcast, give us a like, and a share. You can also sign up for our free daily email [email protected]. Stay safe out there, friends.
Music by Dan Mason.
Tired of reading the same old news from the same old sources? So are we! That’s why we’re on a mission to shake things up and bring you the stories and perspectives that often go untold in mainstream media. But being a radically, unapologetically independent news site isn’t easy (or cheap), and we rely on reader support to keep the lights on.
If you like what you’re reading, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking for an investment: Invest in a nonprofit news site that’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, not afraid to stand up for what’s right, and not afraid to tell it like it is.
Copyright © Truthout. May not be reprinted without permission.


truthout--2020-12-18--States to Receive Fewer Vaccines Than Promised as Trump Boasts About Rollout

As President Donald Trump praises his administration ’ s handling and delivery of several thousand doses of coronavirus vaccines , several governors across the country have expressed misgivings over what will happen next week , after federal officials told them to expect cuts of up to 40 percent in anticipated dosage numbers .
Hundreds of thousands of Americans , mostly health care workers , have been vaccinated as of Friday .
“ The Vaccine and the Vaccine rollout are getting the best of reviews .
Moving along really well .
Get those ‘ shots ’ everyone !
” Trump tweeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders have expressed worries over distribution of the Pfizer-BioNTech version of the vaccine , which was sent out this week , after federal officials told them that the shipments being sent out next week would be significantly fewer than originally expected .
The federal government gave state leaders few details about why shipments would be down .
Two Trump officials , speaking to The Associated Press on the matter , explained that the delivery reduction was due to changes to schedules and misunderstandings about supply changes .
Gov .
Jay Inslee ( D-Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the rollout of vaccines , as many states are set to see reductions in expected dosage rates between 25 percent to 40 percent .
“ This is disruptive and frustrating , ” Inslee wrote in a tweet .
“ We need accurate , predictable numbers to plan and ensure on-the-ground success.
” Washington State was told to expect cuts of the Pfizer vaccine by as much as 40 percent next week .
The same rate cut is expected in California , which has been hit hard by the pandemic in recent weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in its vaccine numbers as high as 30 percent .
For its own part , Pfizer has said that nothing on its end has changed , as far as production and rollout .
“ Pfizer has not had any production issues with our COVID-19 vaccine , and no shipments containing the vaccine are on hold or delayed , ” Pfizer spokesman Eamonn Nolan said .
The pace of vaccination may increase next week anyway if the Moderna version of the vaccine gets federal authorization .
The Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine on Friday .
Beyond the latest snafus , Trump ’ s glowing praise of his administration ’ s efforts to roll out vaccines for coronavirus may be premature for another reason : Most Americans will not be able to get a vaccine for quite some time .
Even with the Moderna version of the vaccine included , only 150 million Americans — less than half the country ’ s population — will be able to receive a vaccine by June , due in large part to the administration ’ s failure to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year .
For the vaccines to be effective , most experts agree , at least 70 percent of the population has to be inoculated .
Since the start of the pandemic , more than 17.2 million Americans have tested positive for the virus .
As of Friday morning , more than 310,000 have died due to coronavirus .

Several states have been told to expect up to 40 percent in cuts to expected vaccine distribution numbers.
As President Donald Trump praises his administration’s handling and delivery of several thousand doses of coronavirus vaccines, several governors across the country have expressed misgivings over what will happen next week, after federal officials told them to expect cuts of up to 40 percent in anticipated dosage numbers.
Hundreds of thousands of Americans, mostly health care workers, have been vaccinated as of Friday.
“The Vaccine and the Vaccine rollout are getting the best of reviews. Moving along really well. Get those ‘shots’ everyone!” Trump tweeted on Thursday.
But governors and health leaders have expressed worries over distribution of the Pfizer-BioNTech version of the vaccine, which was sent out this week, after federal officials told them that the shipments being sent out next week would be significantly fewer than originally expected.
The federal government gave state leaders few details about why shipments would be down. Two Trump officials, speaking to The Associated Press on the matter, explained that the delivery reduction was due to changes to schedules and misunderstandings about supply changes.
Gov. Jay Inslee (D-Washington) blasted the administration’s handling of the rollout of vaccines, as many states are set to see reductions in expected dosage rates between 25 percent to 40 percent.
“This is disruptive and frustrating,” Inslee wrote in a tweet. “We need accurate, predictable numbers to plan and ensure on-the-ground success.”
.@CDCgov has informed us that WA’s vaccine allocation will be cut by 40 percent next week — and that all states are seeing similar cuts. This is disruptive and frustrating. We need accurate, predictable numbers to plan and ensure on-the-ground success. No explanation was given. — Governor Jay Inslee (@GovInslee) December 17, 2020
Washington State was told to expect cuts of the Pfizer vaccine by as much as 40 percent next week. The same rate cut is expected in California, which has been hit hard by the pandemic in recent weeks. Missouri may also see a cut in its vaccine numbers as high as 30 percent.
For its own part, Pfizer has said that nothing on its end has changed, as far as production and rollout.
“Pfizer has not had any production issues with our COVID-19 vaccine, and no shipments containing the vaccine are on hold or delayed,” Pfizer spokesman Eamonn Nolan said.
The pace of vaccination may increase next week anyway if the Moderna version of the vaccine gets federal authorization. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to grant approval for the vaccine on Friday.
Beyond the latest snafus, Trump’s glowing praise of his administration’s efforts to roll out vaccines for coronavirus may be premature for another reason: Most Americans will not be able to get a vaccine for quite some time. Even with the Moderna version of the vaccine included, only 150 million Americans — less than half the country’s population — will be able to receive a vaccine by June, due in large part to the administration’s failure to purchase enough dosages of both vaccines earlier this year.
For the vaccines to be effective, most experts agree, at least 70 percent of the population has to be inoculated.
Since the start of the pandemic, more than 17.2 million Americans have tested positive for the virus. As of Friday morning, more than 310,000 have died due to coronavirus.
Tired of reading the same old news from the same old sources? So are we! That’s why we’re on a mission to shake things up and bring you the stories and perspectives that often go untold in mainstream media. But being a radically, unapologetically independent news site isn’t easy (or cheap), and we rely on reader support to keep the lights on.
If you like what you’re reading, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking for an investment: Invest in a nonprofit news site that’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, not afraid to stand up for what’s right, and not afraid to tell it like it is.
Copyright © Truthout. May not be reprinted without permission.


truthout--2020-12-18--Deb Haaland’s Nomination for Interior Secretary Lauded as “Important Step”

President-elect Joe Biden has picked New Mexico Congressmember Deb Haaland to become secretary of the interior .
If confirmed , Haaland will be the first Native American to serve in a cabinet position .
Haaland ’ s nomination was backed by progressives , as well as more than 120 tribal leaders , who sent a letter to Biden last month urging him to select her for the post .
“ That was a very , very important step for the Biden administration , ” says Winona LaDuke , executive director of Honor the Earth , rural development economist and Native @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how to take care of this land.
” This is a rush transcript .
Copy may not be in its final form .
AMY GOODMAN : This is Democracy Now !
, democracynow.org , The Quarantine Report .
I ’ m Amy Goodman .
President-elect Joe Biden has nominated New Mexico Congressmember Deb Haaland to become secretary of the interior .
If confirmed , she ’ ll be the first Native American to serve in a Cabinet position .
Haaland ’ s nomination was backed by progressives , as well as more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter to Joe Biden last month urging him to select her for the post .
Haaland responded in a statement , quote , “ As our country faces the impacts of climate change and environmental injustice , the Interior has a role and I will be a partner in addressing these challenges by protecting our public lands and moving our country towards a clean energy future , ” she said .
Journalist Julian Brave NoiseCat tweeted , “ After four years of fossil fuel executives and lobbyists opening up Native lands and sacred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Secretary of Interior will be a Laguna Pueblo woman who went to Standing Rock in 2016 and cooked for the people , ” unquote .
Deb Haaland ’ s appointment comes as the struggle against the Enbridge Line 3 pipeline continues in Minnesota after construction began two weeks ago .
Indigenous and environmental activists have been holding daily protests against the project , which would carry tar sands oil from Alberta , Canada , to a terminal in Superior , Wisconsin , cutting through Indigenous territory and running under more than 200 streams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were arrested in the freezing cold at a Line 3 construction site .
Well , for more on Deb Haaland ’ s historic nomination and the ongoing resistance at Line 3 , we ’ re joined in Sandy Lake , Minnesota , by Winona LaDuke , executive director of Honor the Earth and rural development economist .
She is the author of the upcoming book , To Be a Water Protector .
Winona lives and works on the White Earth Reservation in northern Minnesota .
Winona , welcome back to Democracy Now !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the significance of Deb Haaland to be the first Native American to head the Interior Department , if approved by the Senate — not to mention to be a Cabinet member , as far as we know ?
You are a longtime supporter of her , back to when she ran for Congress .
WINONA LADUKE : I just want to say one thing : [ ululation ] .
That would be an affirmation from all of us over here in Indian Country .
You know , that was a very , very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You know , Indian people know how to take care of this land .
And Deb Haaland comes from Laguna Pueblo , which has one of the largest uranium mining histories in this country .
And I just want to really — you know , the Anaconda uranium mine destroying so much of their territory .
Really grateful for this and this new — this vision that we ’ re going to have .
There ’ s a lot of work to do to undo what the Trump administration has done .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Biden administration has taken these steps .
AMY GOODMAN : And can you talk about what Deb Haaland stands for — she is a congressmember from New Mexico ; she talked immediately about sustainable development — and what the Interior Department does ?
WINONA LADUKE : Well , the Interior Department is kind of like the “ Great White Father ” of Indian people .
And so , mines and Indians are both in the same department .
And what ’ s happened is , is that the Interior Department and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much of the land , water and resources of Indian Country under the Trump administration and previous administrations .
And so , you know , let ’ s just say the public lands and the Native lands should be protected for the public and the Natives , not necessarily some mining corporations .
Deb ’ s history here with a vision that she and other leaders have had in Washington with a just transition and the Green New Deal is exactly what we need in this country .
We don ’ t need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re done .
We ’ re done .
What we need is the vision and a just transition .
AMY GOODMAN : And who has run the Interior Department before ?
I mean , what have been the policies before ?
And what are the pressures she ’ ll be under ?
Many have talked about Joe Biden ’ s Cabinet being largely still from corporate establishment America , and certainly Deb Haaland comes from a very different place .
WINONA LADUKE : Yeah , I mean , I ’ m sure that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and she ’ ll have a lot of support .
I mean , I think that we should be done with appointing corporate heads to run parts of our government .
They have enough influence already .
And so , in this moment in time , you have vast territories of lands that she is going to be able to look at and really provide some redress from what the Trump administration has done , basically deconstructing any environmental regulations we had and any protection of “ public lands ” that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prior to this , all white males in this position .
And so we ’ re really grateful that the new administration has seen the merits of the championship of the environment and of Native people of someone like Deb Haaland .

President-elect Joe Biden has picked New Mexico Congressmember Deb Haaland to become secretary of the interior. If confirmed, Haaland will be the first Native American to serve in a cabinet position. Haaland’s nomination was backed by progressives, as well as more than 120 tribal leaders, who sent a letter to Biden last month urging him to select her for the post. “That was a very, very important step for the Biden administration,” says Winona LaDuke, executive director of Honor the Earth, rural development economist and Native American activist. “Indian people know how to take care of this land.”
This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: This is Democracy Now!, democracynow.org, The Quarantine Report. I’m Amy Goodman.
President-elect Joe Biden has nominated New Mexico Congressmember Deb Haaland to become secretary of the interior. If confirmed, she’ll be the first Native American to serve in a Cabinet position. Haaland’s nomination was backed by progressives, as well as more than 120 tribal leaders, who sent a letter to Joe Biden last month urging him to select her for the post.
Haaland responded in a statement, quote, “As our country faces the impacts of climate change and environmental injustice, the Interior has a role and I will be a partner in addressing these challenges by protecting our public lands and moving our country towards a clean energy future,” she said.
Journalist Julian Brave NoiseCat tweeted, “After four years of fossil fuel executives and lobbyists opening up Native lands and sacred sites to industry tycoons, the next Secretary of Interior will be a Laguna Pueblo woman who went to Standing Rock in 2016 and cooked for the people,” unquote.
Deb Haaland’s appointment comes as the struggle against the Enbridge Line 3 pipeline continues in Minnesota after construction began two weeks ago. Indigenous and environmental activists have been holding daily protests against the project, which would carry tar sands oil from Alberta, Canada, to a terminal in Superior, Wisconsin, cutting through Indigenous territory and running under more than 200 streams. On Monday, 22 water protectors were arrested in the freezing cold at a Line 3 construction site.
Well, for more on Deb Haaland’s historic nomination and the ongoing resistance at Line 3, we’re joined in Sandy Lake, Minnesota, by Winona LaDuke, executive director of Honor the Earth and rural development economist. She is the author of the upcoming book, To Be a Water Protector. Winona lives and works on the White Earth Reservation in northern Minnesota.
Winona, welcome back to Democracy Now! Can you start off by talking about the significance of Deb Haaland to be the first Native American to head the Interior Department, if approved by the Senate — not to mention to be a Cabinet member, as far as we know? You are a longtime supporter of her, back to when she ran for Congress.
WINONA LADUKE: I just want to say one thing: [ululation]. That would be an affirmation from all of us over here in Indian Country.
You know, that was a very, very important step for the Biden administration. You know, Indian people know how to take care of this land. And Deb Haaland comes from Laguna Pueblo, which has one of the largest uranium mining histories in this country. And I just want to really — you know, the Anaconda uranium mine destroying so much of their territory.
Really grateful for this and this new — this vision that we’re going to have. There’s a lot of work to do to undo what the Trump administration has done. And we are really, really grateful that the Biden administration has taken these steps.
AMY GOODMAN: And can you talk about what Deb Haaland stands for — she is a congressmember from New Mexico; she talked immediately about sustainable development — and what the Interior Department does?
WINONA LADUKE: Well, the Interior Department is kind of like the “Great White Father” of Indian people. And so, mines and Indians are both in the same department. And what’s happened is, is that the Interior Department and the federal government has basically given away so much of the land, water and resources of Indian Country under the Trump administration and previous administrations. And so, you know, let’s just say the public lands and the Native lands should be protected for the public and the Natives, not necessarily some mining corporations.
Deb’s history here with a vision that she and other leaders have had in Washington with a just transition and the Green New Deal is exactly what we need in this country. We don’t need any more fossil fuels. We’re done. We’re done. What we need is the vision and a just transition.
AMY GOODMAN: And who has run the Interior Department before? I mean, what have been the policies before? And what are the pressures she’ll be under? Many have talked about Joe Biden’s Cabinet being largely still from corporate establishment America, and certainly Deb Haaland comes from a very different place.
WINONA LADUKE: Yeah, I mean, I’m sure that Deb can stand up to the challenges, and she’ll have a lot of support. I mean, I think that we should be done with appointing corporate heads to run parts of our government. They have enough influence already.
And so, in this moment in time, you have vast territories of lands that she is going to be able to look at and really provide some redress from what the Trump administration has done, basically deconstructing any environmental regulations we had and any protection of “public lands” that we had. You know, so significant prior to this, all white males in this position. And so we’re really grateful that the new administration has seen the merits of the championship of the environment and of Native people of someone like Deb Haaland.


truthout--2020-12-18--Companies Took $1.8 Billion to Save Jobs and Laid Off 90,000 Workers Anyway

Rosa Rodriguez spent eight years ironing and hanging bathrobes for guests at the Mirage , the Bellagio and other five-star hotels on the Las Vegas Strip .
But as COVID-19 spread through the United States and kept tourists away , there were fewer and fewer robes for her to press .
In March , Rodriguez and about 800 of her co-workers were laid off from Brady Linen Services , a laundry service provider for hotels in Las Vegas , Mexico and the Bahamas .
Rodriguez said her boss told her he would call her back when more work was available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was approved for a loan of $ 4.6 million from the federal Paycheck Protection Program , according to data from the U.S. Small Business Administration .
The government-backed loans were supposed to help small businesses that struggled during the pandemic pay employees ’ salaries and benefits for up to six months , among other things .
But Brady Linen did not use the money to rehire Rodriguez and all the other laid-off workers , which the program requires if companies want their loans forgiven .
Brady Linen and its parent company , PureStar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ questions from the Center for Public Integrity about how the federal funds were spent .
Rodriguez , who lost her health insurance after her layoff and had to move in with a friend , said , “ It makes me sad that they got money from the government to help us and they didn ’ t. ” Brady Linen is among hundreds of companies that reported layoffs right before , or soon after , receiving a government loan through the Paycheck Protection Program , according to an analysis by Public Integrity .
More @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 525 billion .
For the SBA to forgive the loans , companies must spend at least 60 % of the money on payroll and employ the same number of full-time workers as they did before the pandemic began .
Public Integrity found that more than 900 companies took PPP loans while laying off or furloughing at least 90,000 workers in 44 states and the District of Columbia .
Those companies received more than $ 1.8 billion total .
It ’ s unclear what they spent the money on or if they broke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that don ’ t rehire all their workers may have to pay back the loans plus 1 % interest , with some exceptions .
If they spent the money on anything besides payroll , rent , utilities or mortgage interest , they could be charged with fraud .
The SBA released the PPP data after newsrooms , including Public Integrity , sued to get it .
( Public Integrity received a PPP loan . )
Like Rodriguez , most of the laid-off employees in Public Integrity ’ s analysis worked in the service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and porters — occupations with a high percentage of Black , Asian and Latino workers .
“ The money was not supposed to go only to the companies ; it was for the people who work there , ” said Geoconda Argüello-Kline , secretary-treasurer of the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 .
“ These workers need an income , they need to go back to work.
” In March , COVID-19 was spreading rapidly .
Americans began to avoid restaurants , hotels , theme parks and other businesses and the economy nosedived .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ record 11.4 million workers .
Hotels and restaurants cut the most jobs : 4.1 million .
That prompted Congress to create the largest bailout program for small businesses in modern U.S. history .
In one week , a bipartisan group of senators hammered out the details of the $ 349 billion Paycheck Protection Program , which was the central program in the $ 2 trillion Coronavirus Aid , Relief , and Economic Security ( CARES ) Act .
On March 27 , President Donald Trump signed the act and the SBA began distributing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two weeks , the program ran out of money , and Congress authorized more .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , praised the PPP as a “ job-saving program.
” Sen. Susan Collins , R-Maine , called it an “ important lifeline ” to small businesses and their employees .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Ca.
, said she was “ very proud ” of it .
Congress made it clear that the money was supposed to pay workers ’ salaries .
“ It gives small businesses emergency capital so that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pink slips , ” McConnell said April 9 on the Senate floor .
The SBA acknowledged that the core purpose of the program was “ keeping workers paid and employed.
” But tens of thousands of employees got pink slips anyway .
One of them was Michael Culmo , a 40-year-old legal assistant who was laid off with dozens of co-workers in March from a law firm in Buffalo , New York .
“ I am behind on every bill I have because of this , ” said Culmo , who made $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the firm Gross Polowy .
He said unemployment checks helped through June , but he had to drain his retirement savings to pay his bills .
On April 14 , a few weeks after Culmo lost his job , the law firm was approved for a $ 3 million federal loan , according to the SBA data .
Instead of using the money to bring back all furloughed workers , the firm laid off more employees — a total of 146 between March and May , according to a notice it sent to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Culmo said he wasn ’ t told the firm had received a loan .
“ Gross Polowy believes it is in full compliance with all statutes , regulation and rules that govern the PPP loan program , ” said Adam Gross , a partner at the firm , in an email to Public Integrity .
He did not respond to a question about how the PPP funds were spent .
Another company that took a PPP loan and laid off workers is Manhattan-based PBM LLC , which provides cleaning services to museums and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clients include Ann Taylor and The Container Store .
The day after it was approved for a $ 10 million loan in April , the company notified New York state authorities that it planned to lay off 349 workers .
Denis Johnston , vice president of the 32BJ union , which represents most of the workers who were laid off , said it ’ s alarming that the loan money didn ’ t reach all the employees it was intended to protect .
“ We are very concerned that even after taking the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hundreds of their cleaners are still out of work and struggling , ” Johnston said in an email to Public Integrity .
A spokesperson for PBM did not respond to questions about how the company spent the PPP funds .
Johnston said the company ’ s lawyer told union leaders that some of the aid was spent to pay out unused vacation time to workers , which the law allows .
But if the company paid all of its cleaners for two weeks ’ vacation , the amount would have been only a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ We are demanding answers from PBM as to why more of the loan proceeds haven ’ t been used to assist workers who remain on layoff , and whose extended health benefits are terminating , ” he said .
Sandy Baruah , former acting SBA administrator in the George W. Bush administration , said the PPP has been a “ critical lifeline ” to millions of businesses that received the loans , the majority of which did not report layoffs .
“ If companies broke the rules , obviously they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Baruah , who now leads the Detroit Regional Chamber .
“ At the very least , all of those loans should be repaid.
” The SBA ’ s inspector general released a report in May evaluating the first round of PPP funding , warning that “ tens of thousands ” of businesses would have to repay parts of their loans because they weren ’ t spending enough on payroll .
This trend could result in an “ unintended burden ” for businesses , the inspector general wrote .
A spokesperson for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to comment on Public Integrity ’ s analysis .
In June , facing pressure from business groups , Congress amended the CARES Act to allow some companies to keep PPP loan money even if they laid off workers .
The SBA will forgive loans to such companies as long as the workers are rehired by Dec. 31 .
Businesses can also have their loans forgiven after cutting jobs if they can prove business activity hasn ’ t returned to pre-pandemic levels because they followed federal COVID-19 safety guidelines .
The bill also lowered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loan each business must spend on employee payroll , from 75 % to 60 % .
Senate Republicans have pushed for another round of funding for businesses .
In October , Senate Republicans introduced a stand-alone bill that would have allowed businesses to take out another PPP loan of up to $ 2 million .
The bill failed , with Democrats insisting it be part of a larger coronavirus relief package .
A bipartisan group of senators and House representatives are negotiating another economic relief package that would set aside $ 300 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Paycheck Protection Program .
Johnston , of the 32BJ union , said the PPP needs better oversight if Congress plans to extend it .

Businesses that don’t rehire all their workers may have to pay back the loans plus 1 percent interest.
This article was originally published by the Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit investigative news organization based in Washington, D.C.
Rosa Rodriguez spent eight years ironing and hanging bathrobes for guests at the Mirage, the Bellagio and other five-star hotels on the Las Vegas Strip. But as COVID-19 spread through the United States and kept tourists away, there were fewer and fewer robes for her to press.
In March, Rodriguez and about 800 of her co-workers were laid off from Brady Linen Services, a laundry service provider for hotels in Las Vegas, Mexico and the Bahamas. Rodriguez said her boss told her he would call her back when more work was available.
On May 27, Brady Linen was approved for a loan of $4.6 million from the federal Paycheck Protection Program, according to data from the U.S. Small Business Administration. The government-backed loans were supposed to help small businesses that struggled during the pandemic pay employees’ salaries and benefits for up to six months, among other things. But Brady Linen did not use the money to rehire Rodriguez and all the other laid-off workers, which the program requires if companies want their loans forgiven.
Brady Linen and its parent company, PureStar Linen Group, did not respond to questions from the Center for Public Integrity about how the federal funds were spent. Rodriguez, who lost her health insurance after her layoff and had to move in with a friend, said, “It makes me sad that they got money from the government to help us and they didn’t.”
Brady Linen is among hundreds of companies that reported layoffs right before, or soon after, receiving a government loan through the Paycheck Protection Program, according to an analysis by Public Integrity. More than 5 million businesses received loans totaling $525 billion. For the SBA to forgive the loans, companies must spend at least 60% of the money on payroll and employ the same number of full-time workers as they did before the pandemic began.
Public Integrity found that more than 900 companies took PPP loans while laying off or furloughing at least 90,000 workers in 44 states and the District of Columbia. Those companies received more than $1.8 billion total. It’s unclear what they spent the money on or if they broke the program’s rules. Businesses that don’t rehire all their workers may have to pay back the loans plus 1% interest, with some exceptions. If they spent the money on anything besides payroll, rent, utilities or mortgage interest, they could be charged with fraud. The SBA released the PPP data after newsrooms, including Public Integrity, sued to get it. (Public Integrity received a PPP loan.) Like Rodriguez, most of the laid-off employees in Public Integrity’s analysis worked in the service industry as cleaners, cooks, servers and porters — occupations with a high percentage of Black, Asian and Latino workers. “The money was not supposed to go only to the companies; it was for the people who work there,” said Geoconda Argüello-Kline, secretary-treasurer of the Culinary Workers Union Local 226. “These workers need an income, they need to go back to work.”
A Massive Bailout Program In March, COVID-19 was spreading rapidly. Americans began to avoid restaurants, hotels, theme parks and other businesses and the economy nosedived. That month, companies laid off a record 11.4 million workers. Hotels and restaurants cut the most jobs: 4.1 million. That prompted Congress to create the largest bailout program for small businesses in modern U.S. history. In one week, a bipartisan group of senators hammered out the details of the $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program, which was the central program in the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. On March 27, President Donald Trump signed the act and the SBA began distributing the money seven days later. Within two weeks, the program ran out of money, and Congress authorized more. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., praised the PPP as a “job-saving program.” Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, called it an “important lifeline” to small businesses and their employees. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Ca., said she was “very proud” of it. Congress made it clear that the money was supposed to pay workers’ salaries. “It gives small businesses emergency capital so that workers can keep getting paychecks instead of pink slips,” McConnell said April 9 on the Senate floor. The SBA acknowledged that the core purpose of the program was “keeping workers paid and employed.” But tens of thousands of employees got pink slips anyway. One of them was Michael Culmo, a 40-year-old legal assistant who was laid off with dozens of co-workers in March from a law firm in Buffalo, New York. “I am behind on every bill I have because of this,” said Culmo, who made $19 an hour filing foreclosure paperwork for the firm Gross Polowy. He said unemployment checks helped through June, but he had to drain his retirement savings to pay his bills. On April 14, a few weeks after Culmo lost his job, the law firm was approved for a $3 million federal loan, according to the SBA data. Instead of using the money to bring back all furloughed workers, the firm laid off more employees — a total of 146 between March and May, according to a notice it sent to the New York Department of Labor. Culmo said he wasn’t told the firm had received a loan. “Gross Polowy believes it is in full compliance with all statutes, regulation and rules that govern the PPP loan program,” said Adam Gross, a partner at the firm, in an email to Public Integrity. He did not respond to a question about how the PPP funds were spent. Another company that took a PPP loan and laid off workers is Manhattan-based PBM LLC, which provides cleaning services to museums and retail stores in the Northeast. Past clients include Ann Taylor and The Container Store. The day after it was approved for a $10 million loan in April, the company notified New York state authorities that it planned to lay off 349 workers. Denis Johnston, vice president of the 32BJ union, which represents most of the workers who were laid off, said it’s alarming that the loan money didn’t reach all the employees it was intended to protect. “We are very concerned that even after taking the PPP loan, to our knowledge, hundreds of their cleaners are still out of work and struggling,” Johnston said in an email to Public Integrity. A spokesperson for PBM did not respond to questions about how the company spent the PPP funds. Johnston said the company’s lawyer told union leaders that some of the aid was spent to pay out unused vacation time to workers, which the law allows. But if the company paid all of its cleaners for two weeks’ vacation, the amount would have been only a fraction of the total loan, Johnston said. “We are demanding answers from PBM as to why more of the loan proceeds haven’t been used to assist workers who remain on layoff, and whose extended health benefits are terminating,” he said. Sandy Baruah, former acting SBA administrator in the George W. Bush administration, said the PPP has been a “critical lifeline” to millions of businesses that received the loans, the majority of which did not report layoffs. “If companies broke the rules, obviously they should be held accountable for that,” said Baruah, who now leads the Detroit Regional Chamber. “At the very least, all of those loans should be repaid.” Weakened Accountability The SBA’s inspector general released a report in May evaluating the first round of PPP funding, warning that “tens of thousands” of businesses would have to repay parts of their loans because they weren’t spending enough on payroll. This trend could result in an “unintended burden” for businesses, the inspector general wrote. A spokesperson for the inspector general’s office declined to comment on Public Integrity’s analysis. In June, facing pressure from business groups, Congress amended the CARES Act to allow some companies to keep PPP loan money even if they laid off workers. The SBA will forgive loans to such companies as long as the workers are rehired by Dec. 31. Businesses can also have their loans forgiven after cutting jobs if they can prove business activity hasn’t returned to pre-pandemic levels because they followed federal COVID-19 safety guidelines. The bill also lowered the requirement for how much of the loan each business must spend on employee payroll, from 75% to 60%. Senate Republicans have pushed for another round of funding for businesses. In October, Senate Republicans introduced a stand-alone bill that would have allowed businesses to take out another PPP loan of up to $2 million. The bill failed, with Democrats insisting it be part of a larger coronavirus relief package. A bipartisan group of senators and House representatives are negotiating another economic relief package that would set aside $300 billion for small businesses, including more funds for the Paycheck Protection Program. Johnston, of the 32BJ union, said the PPP needs better oversight if Congress plans to extend it.
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truthout--2020-12-18--Sudden GOP Push to End Emergency Lending Programs Condemned as Sabotage Attempt

With congressional negotiators on the brink of finalizing a $ 900 billion coronavirus relief package , Senate Republicans are pushing at the last minute to include language that would end emergency lending programs for small and medium-sized businesses as well as state and local governments , a move seen as an attempt to hamstring the incoming Biden administration ’ s ability to respond to the economic crisis .
Pushed by Sen. Pat Toomey ( R-Pa. ) , the language would terminate the Federal Reserve and Treasury Department lending programs authorized under the CARES Act .
As Bloomberg reported Thursday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relief talks and the timeline for stimulus to reach millions of jobless Americans , because it puts Republicans at odds with Democrats who want to keep the programs running.
” “ Democrats have disagreed with [ Toomey ’ s ] stance and said their reading of the law says the facilities can remain active until 2026 , ” Bloomberg noted .
“ They have said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin ’ s moves to end the program are designed to tie the hands of Janet Yellen , the choice of President-elect Joe Biden to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a member of the Congressional Oversight Commission , the panel tasked with overseeing CARES Act funds , said in response to Toomey ’ s effort that “ Senate Republicans are threatening to blow up an agreement to provide basic relief to Americans now if they can ’ t cripple the ability of Biden administration and the Fed to offer more help next year.
” “ In their quest to tie the Biden administration ’ s hands , ” Ramamurti continued , “ Senate Republicans are proposing a serious limitation of the Fed ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would undermine the Fed ’ s ability to respond to a future financial crisis.
” Lisa Gilbert , executive vice president of consumer advocacy group Public Citizen , echoed Ramamurti ’ s warning , tweeting Thursday that “ holding up the stimulus to prevent the Fed from pursuing further lending past early January for facilities funded by the CARES Act is absurd.
” “ The GOP is drawing a line in the sand over policy that would sabotage the economy and tie the Biden admin ’ s hands , ” Gilbert added .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ would “ prevent Treasury Secretary-designate Janet Yellen from restarting the Fed lending programs for small and mid-sized businesses , as well as for state and local governments , that are set to wind down at the end of the year.
” Toomey ’ s provision — which he characterized as a “ bright red line ” that has drawn significant support from other Republicans — would “ prevent any money from the Treasury ’ s rainy day fund , even money not set aside in March as part of the CARES Act , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after 2020 , ” Politico reported .
“ It would also prohibit any similar programs from being created in the future.
” The Republican push to ensure the incoming Biden administration will not be able to make use of CARES Act lending programs was one of several issues delaying completion of a coronavirus relief package that , as it stands , includes one-time $ 600 direct payments , a $ 300-per-week boost to unemployment benefits , funding for vaccine distribution , and other programs .
Progressive lawmakers and activists have criticized the emerging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alarm over the paltry amount of direct assistance and the possible omission of key lifelines such as an extension of paid leave benefits and a federal eviction moratorium .
“ From failing to extend the evictions moratorium to trying to enshrine into law an end to the Fed ’ s emergency programs , the GOP are doing all they can to sabotage economic recovery in 2021 , ” said Alexis Goldstein , a senior policy analyst with Americans for Financial Reform .
“ The Covid relief bill should be about relief — not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s hands .
”

The move is seen as an attempt to hamstring the Biden administration’s ability to respond to the economic crisis.
With congressional negotiators on the brink of finalizing a $900 billion coronavirus relief package, Senate Republicans are pushing at the last minute to include language that would end emergency lending programs for small and medium-sized businesses as well as state and local governments, a move seen as an attempt to hamstring the incoming Biden administration’s ability to respond to the economic crisis.
Pushed by Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), the language would terminate the Federal Reserve and Treasury Department lending programs authorized under the CARES Act. As Bloomberg reported Thursday, “The issue is holding up the relief talks and the timeline for stimulus to reach millions of jobless Americans, because it puts Republicans at odds with Democrats who want to keep the programs running.”
“Democrats have disagreed with [Toomey’s] stance and said their reading of the law says the facilities can remain active until 2026,” Bloomberg noted. “They have said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s moves to end the program are designed to tie the hands of Janet Yellen, the choice of President-elect Joe Biden to lead the Treasury.”
Bharat Ramamurti, a member of the Congressional Oversight Commission, the panel tasked with overseeing CARES Act funds, said in response to Toomey’s effort that “Senate Republicans are threatening to blow up an agreement to provide basic relief to Americans now if they can’t cripple the ability of Biden administration and the Fed to offer more help next year.”
“In their quest to tie the Biden administration’s hands,” Ramamurti continued, “Senate Republicans are proposing a serious limitation of the Fed’s emergency lending powers — one that would undermine the Fed’s ability to respond to a future financial crisis.”
Lisa Gilbert, executive vice president of consumer advocacy group Public Citizen, echoed Ramamurti’s warning, tweeting Thursday that “holding up the stimulus to prevent the Fed from pursuing further lending past early January for facilities funded by the CARES Act is absurd.”
“The GOP is drawing a line in the sand over policy that would sabotage the economy and tie the Biden admin’s hands,” Gilbert added.
Politico reported that Toomey’s language would “prevent Treasury Secretary-designate Janet Yellen from restarting the Fed lending programs for small and mid-sized businesses, as well as for state and local governments, that are set to wind down at the end of the year.”
Toomey’s provision — which he characterized as a “bright red line” that has drawn significant support from other Republicans — would “prevent any money from the Treasury’s rainy day fund, even money not set aside in March as part of the CARES Act, from being used to resume those programs after 2020,” Politico reported. “It would also prohibit any similar programs from being created in the future.”
The Republican push to ensure the incoming Biden administration will not be able to make use of CARES Act lending programs was one of several issues delaying completion of a coronavirus relief package that, as it stands, includes one-time $600 direct payments, a $300-per-week boost to unemployment benefits, funding for vaccine distribution, and other programs.
Progressive lawmakers and activists have criticized the emerging relief package as badly inadequate, raising alarm over the paltry amount of direct assistance and the possible omission of key lifelines such as an extension of paid leave benefits and a federal eviction moratorium.
“From failing to extend the evictions moratorium to trying to enshrine into law an end to the Fed’s emergency programs, the GOP are doing all they can to sabotage economic recovery in 2021,” said Alexis Goldstein, a senior policy analyst with Americans for Financial Reform. “The Covid relief bill should be about relief — not tying the Fed and Biden admin’s hands.”
Tired of reading the same old news from the same old sources? So are we! That’s why we’re on a mission to shake things up and bring you the stories and perspectives that often go untold in mainstream media. But being a radically, unapologetically independent news site isn’t easy (or cheap), and we rely on reader support to keep the lights on.
If you like what you’re reading, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking for an investment: Invest in a nonprofit news site that’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, not afraid to stand up for what’s right, and not afraid to tell it like it is.
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truthout--2020-12-19--2.7 Million Jobs in the Arts Have Been Lost Since the Pandemic Began

This past summer , the Brookings Institution released a report on the pandemic ’ s impact on the U.S. ’ s creative artists and the institutions that showcase their work .
The numbers were overwhelming : a loss of 2.7 million jobs , and a collapse in arts-related revenues to the tune of $ 150 billion .
In the fine and performing arts category ( visual arts , music , theater and dance ) , Brookings estimated that as the pandemic played out fully , half of all jobs in these fields would disappear .
Now , nearly a year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for artists are all too real .
In New York , the fabled Metropolitan Opera House recently announced a lockout of its stagehands after their union refused to agree to potentially multi-year wage cuts of upward of 30 percent ( to be in effect until ticket sales are restored to pre-pandemic levels ) , while the New York Philharmonic ’ s unions accepted lower wages in the face of a lost music season .
Across the country , in San Francisco the opera company imposed a 50 percent pay cut on its members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opted for a still-draconian 30 percent cut .
Early in the shutdowns , the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors reported that a large proportion of the nearly 900,000 workers whose jobs are tied to Hollywood entertainment industries were out of work .
Since then , some film and television production has resumed , but on a very limited basis .
By and large , Los Angeles has remained in shut-down mode throughout most of 2020 , and artists have not received sufficient support as they wait for the pandemic to abate .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shutdowns , without adequately supporting individuals and businesses , so many national movie theater chains have also ended up furloughing their employees .
Recently , the Regal chain closed hundreds of cinemas nationwide and furloughed 40,000 workers .
This fall , the American Alliance of Museums estimated that a third of museums in the country that shut down in March haven ’ t yet reopened , and those that have are operating with extremely limited attendance thresholds , and thus aren ’ t bringing in enough dollars through ticket sales to sustain their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in other sectors , there ’ s not nearly enough federal support bolstering museums , from small local ventures to large , internationally renowned institutions , during this crisis .
The pandemic has made acute a problem in American arts that has been festering for years .
Despite the distribution of National Endowment for the Arts grants , by and large , American artists are more at the mercy of the markets than are , say , continental European artists , who have long been generously subsidized by their countries ’ governments .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have made it more difficult for musicians to survive simply on the proceeds from sales of their music .
Many classical music venues and institutions have been in financial turmoil for the better part of a decade — some since the last financial crisis in 2008-9 .
And a brutally cutthroat media market in the U.S. has put a premium on rant-radio and rant-cable-TV , often at the expense of the arts .
There are solutions , but they involve a willingness to think outside the usual political boxes .
Earlier this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of legislation that she titled the Save Our Stages Act , which would have pushed $ 10 billion in Small Business Administration grants to arts venues to help tide them over during the pandemic .
So far , however , the Act hasn ’ t passed , and nor have its basic principles been incorporated into the slimmed-down economic relief package that Congress is , somewhat half-heartedly , inching toward in these final days of 2020 .
Klobuchar ’ s proposal is a start , but it ’ s insufficient given the vast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ creative classes in the U.S .
There is , however , a template for what could work here .
And that template goes back to the New Deal era , when Franklin D. Roosevelt ’ s administration set up a series of public arts programs to provide funding and projects to the huge number of dancers , photographers , theater workers , musicians , writers , and others who could not survive in a private market that had imploded .
The first of these Roosevelt-era programs was known as the Public Works of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it directly hired thousands of artists , muralists and sculptors around the country to produce art — many examples of which ended up adorning federal buildings .
More long-lasting , however , was PWAP ’ s successor program , the Federal Art Project , run under the aegis of the Works Progress Administration ( WPA ) , which channeled federal resources into sustaining the visual arts from 1935 to 1943 , and provided seed money to young artists such as Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko , who would emerge as huge cultural icons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What made this project so important was its emphasis not just on high culture and classical art , but on a wide range of art and of artists , including new , seemingly edgy professions , such as graphic art .
And instead of only focusing its resources on cultural hubs such as New York , it distributed grants around the country and sent artists out to the most remote regions to chronicle the lives and cultures of people in those communities .
There were also , during the New Deal , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arts alive during the economic crisis .
Five of them , including the Federal Theater Project , were created as a part of the WPA .
The theater project funded works by such figures as Orson Welles , including the ( in ) famous production of the pro-union musical , The Cradle Will Rock , in New York City in 1937 , which was canceled because of its radical message , only for the actors and audience to march through the center of Manhattan , take over an abandoned theater , and hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic calls for a somewhat different federal response .
Simply employing out-of-work actors won ’ t make the production of live-audience theater productions more possible , given the restrictions of social distancing .
But , such direct federal ( or state and local ) hiring and subsidies could keep artists and artistic centers afloat over the coming months , as the vaccines are distributed and before in-person arts events can be fully restored .
With adequate financial backing , arts institutions could expand on the live-streaming concerts and plays that have substituted for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and , in so doing , they could keep growing numbers of artists employed .
They could also utilize outdoors spaces , parking lots , and other nontraditional arts venues — as some theater and opera companies ( including the respected Michigan Opera Theater ) have already done — to safely put on live shows .
Grants could be allocated by cities , states and federal agencies to hire artists to reimagine urban infrastructure , as part of a Green New Deal aimed both at mitigating and adapting to climate change , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ livable and sustainable .
The United States has tremendous economic resources .
To allow millions of workers in the arts to end up jobless – and permit the breakdown of the institutional infrastructure that makes the performance and showcasing of art possible — would be a colossal failure of the political imagination .
It would leave this country culturally impoverished for years to come .
And it would render the post-pandemic world less vibrant , less beautiful , less inquisitive and curious about the great questions that the arts have always sought to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ways to subsidize and nurture the arts in recent years , and in particular , over this past year of pandemic and economic shutdowns .
It ’ s past time for the United States to make similar investments to protect the people and institutions who provide us with art , with song , with melody during good times and bad .
After all , who wants to emerge into a post-pandemic world where the museums and the theaters , the cinemas and the concert venues , and the musicians and actors and painters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?

Part of the Series Despair and Disparity: The Uneven Burdens of COVID-19
This past summer, the Brookings Institution released a report on the pandemic’s impact on the U.S.’s creative artists and the institutions that showcase their work. The numbers were overwhelming: a loss of 2.7 million jobs, and a collapse in arts-related revenues to the tune of $150 billion.
In the fine and performing arts category (visual arts, music, theater and dance), Brookings estimated that as the pandemic played out fully, half of all jobs in these fields would disappear.
Now, nearly a year into the crisis, the on-the-ground consequences for artists are all too real. In New York, the fabled Metropolitan Opera House recently announced a lockout of its stagehands after their union refused to agree to potentially multi-year wage cuts of upward of 30 percent (to be in effect until ticket sales are restored to pre-pandemic levels), while the New York Philharmonic’s unions accepted lower wages in the face of a lost music season. Across the country, in San Francisco the opera company imposed a 50 percent pay cut on its members, while the city’s philharmonic opted for a still-draconian 30 percent cut. Early in the shutdowns, the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors reported that a large proportion of the nearly 900,000 workers whose jobs are tied to Hollywood entertainment industries were out of work. Since then, some film and television production has resumed, but on a very limited basis. By and large, Los Angeles has remained in shut-down mode throughout most of 2020, and artists have not received sufficient support as they wait for the pandemic to abate.
As states impose, loosen and then reimpose shutdowns, without adequately supporting individuals and businesses, so many national movie theater chains have also ended up furloughing their employees. Recently, the Regal chain closed hundreds of cinemas nationwide and furloughed 40,000 workers.
This fall, the American Alliance of Museums estimated that a third of museums in the country that shut down in March haven’t yet reopened, and those that have are operating with extremely limited attendance thresholds, and thus aren’t bringing in enough dollars through ticket sales to sustain their operations over the long term. As in other sectors, there’s not nearly enough federal support bolstering museums, from small local ventures to large, internationally renowned institutions, during this crisis.
The pandemic has made acute a problem in American arts that has been festering for years.
Despite the distribution of National Endowment for the Arts grants, by and large, American artists are more at the mercy of the markets than are, say, continental European artists, who have long been generously subsidized by their countries’ governments. Online music distribution systems such as Spotify have made it more difficult for musicians to survive simply on the proceeds from sales of their music. Many classical music venues and institutions have been in financial turmoil for the better part of a decade — some since the last financial crisis in 2008-9. And a brutally cutthroat media market in the U.S. has put a premium on rant-radio and rant-cable-TV, often at the expense of the arts.
Direct federal (or state and local) hiring and subsidies could keep artists and artistic centers afloat over the coming months.
There are solutions, but they involve a willingness to think outside the usual political boxes.
Earlier this year, Sen. Amy Klobuchar proposed a piece of legislation that she titled the Save Our Stages Act, which would have pushed $10 billion in Small Business Administration grants to arts venues to help tide them over during the pandemic. So far, however, the Act hasn’t passed, and nor have its basic principles been incorporated into the slimmed-down economic relief package that Congress is, somewhat half-heartedly, inching toward in these final days of 2020.
Klobuchar’s proposal is a start, but it’s insufficient given the vast scale of the crisis now facing the creative classes in the U.S.
There is, however, a template for what could work here. And that template goes back to the New Deal era, when Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration set up a series of public arts programs to provide funding and projects to the huge number of dancers, photographers, theater workers, musicians, writers, and others who could not survive in a private market that had imploded.
The first of these Roosevelt-era programs was known as the Public Works of Art Project (PWAP), and it directly hired thousands of artists, muralists and sculptors around the country to produce art — many examples of which ended up adorning federal buildings.
More long-lasting, however, was PWAP’s successor program, the Federal Art Project, run under the aegis of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which channeled federal resources into sustaining the visual arts from 1935 to 1943, and provided seed money to young artists such as Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko, who would emerge as huge cultural icons in the post-World War II years. What made this project so important was its emphasis not just on high culture and classical art, but on a wide range of art and of artists, including new, seemingly edgy professions, such as graphic art. And instead of only focusing its resources on cultural hubs such as New York, it distributed grants around the country and sent artists out to the most remote regions to chronicle the lives and cultures of people in those communities.
It’s past time for the United States to make similar investments to protect the people and institutions who provide us with art, with song, with melody during good times and bad.
There were also, during the New Deal, a range of other projects to keep the arts alive during the economic crisis. Five of them, including the Federal Theater Project, were created as a part of the WPA. The theater project funded works by such figures as Orson Welles, including the (in)famous production of the pro-union musical, The Cradle Will Rock, in New York City in 1937, which was canceled because of its radical message, only for the actors and audience to march through the center of Manhattan, take over an abandoned theater, and hold the production anyway.
Obviously, the pandemic calls for a somewhat different federal response. Simply employing out-of-work actors won’t make the production of live-audience theater productions more possible, given the restrictions of social distancing. But, such direct federal (or state and local) hiring and subsidies could keep artists and artistic centers afloat over the coming months, as the vaccines are distributed and before in-person arts events can be fully restored.
With adequate financial backing, arts institutions could expand on the live-streaming concerts and plays that have substituted for the real things these past nine months, and, in so doing, they could keep growing numbers of artists employed. They could also utilize outdoors spaces, parking lots, and other nontraditional arts venues — as some theater and opera companies (including the respected Michigan Opera Theater) have already done — to safely put on live shows. Grants could be allocated by cities, states and federal agencies to hire artists to reimagine urban infrastructure, as part of a Green New Deal aimed both at mitigating and adapting to climate change, and also aimed at making cities more livable and sustainable.
The United States has tremendous economic resources. To allow millions of workers in the arts to end up jobless – and permit the breakdown of the institutional infrastructure that makes the performance and showcasing of art possible — would be a colossal failure of the political imagination. It would leave this country culturally impoverished for years to come. And it would render the post-pandemic world less vibrant, less beautiful, less inquisitive and curious about the great questions that the arts have always sought to answer.
Many other countries have found ways to subsidize and nurture the arts in recent years, and in particular, over this past year of pandemic and economic shutdowns. It’s past time for the United States to make similar investments to protect the people and institutions who provide us with art, with song, with melody during good times and bad. After all, who wants to emerge into a post-pandemic world where the museums and the theaters, the cinemas and the concert venues, and the musicians and actors and painters have all gone gently into the night?
Tired of reading the same old news from the same old sources? So are we! That’s why we’re on a mission to shake things up and bring you the stories and perspectives that often go untold in mainstream media. But being a radically, unapologetically independent news site isn’t easy (or cheap), and we rely on reader support to keep the lights on.
If you like what you’re reading, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking for an investment: Invest in a nonprofit news site that’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, not afraid to stand up for what’s right, and not afraid to tell it like it is.
Copyright © Truthout. May not be reprinted without permission.