mercurynews--2020-12-03--Friedman: Biden interview reveals his approach as president

President-elect Joe Biden was in a good mood as we talked on the phone Tuesday evening for an hour — he in Delaware and me in Bethesda , Md .
He had been following the breaking news that Attorney General William Barr had just announced that the Justice Department had not uncovered any significant fraud that could have affected the results of the presidential election .
It ’ s all over .
Biden joked that Barr had just called him , “ asking if I can get him in the witness protection program for endorsing me.
” Considering the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the election results , the president-elect was entitled to a little laugh at their expense .
Otherwise , he was all business .
Exactly how much he will get done will depend to a large degree on two things , Biden noted .
One is how Republicans in the Senate and the House behave once Trump is truly gone from power .
And the other is how Mitch McConnell behaves if he continues to control the Senate .
Biden ’ s top priority , he said , is getting a generous stimulus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ takes office .
Biden was careful about how he talked about McConnell , who has been careful not to call Biden “ president-elect.
” Biden obviously wants to keep the prospects of cooperation open — but also make clear that he may have more leverage with the American people than the GOP realizes if Senate Republicans opt for full-on obstruction .
At the same time , if Republicans clearly “ let all this go down the drain ” just so a Biden administration will not get a win , that “ may have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ running for reelection in 2022.
” On foreign policy , Biden made two significant points .
First , I asked him whether he stood by his views on the Iran nuclear deal that he articulated in a Sept. 13 essay on CNN.com .
He answered , “ It ’ s going to be hard , but yeah.
” He had written that “ if Iran returns to strict compliance with the nuclear deal , the United States would rejoin the agreement as a starting point for follow-on negotiations ” and lift the sanctions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China , he said he would not act immediately to remove the 25 % tariffs that Trump imposed on about half of China ’ s exports to the United States .
“ The best China strategy , I think , is one which gets every one of our — or at least what used to be our — allies on the same page .
It ’ s going to be a major priority for me in the opening weeks of my presidency to try to get us back on the same page with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Biden concluded , it is all about “ leverage , ” and “ in my view , we don ’ t have it yet.
” Part of generating more leverage , though , is developing a bipartisan consensus at home for some good old American industrial policy — massive , government-led investments in American research and development , infrastructure and education to better compete with China — and not just complain about it .
Both Democratic and Republican senators have draft bills calling for such a strategy .
The U.S. semiconductor industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an approach .
“ I want to make sure we ’ re going to fight like hell by investing in America first , ” said Biden .
He ticked off energy , biotech , advanced materials and artificial intelligence as areas ripe for large-scale government investment in research .
Biden closed by reflecting on the ugliness of the past four years — first seeing the glass half empty but then deciding in the end , who knows , maybe it ’ s half full .
“ We got to figure out how to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Otherwise , “ we ’ re in real trouble .
”

President-elect Joe Biden was in a good mood as we talked on the phone Tuesday evening for an hour — he in Delaware and me in Bethesda, Md. He had been following the breaking news that Attorney General William Barr had just announced that the Justice Department had not uncovered any significant fraud that could have affected the results of the presidential election. It’s all over.
Biden joked that Barr had just called him, “asking if I can get him in the witness protection program for endorsing me.”
Considering the Trump team’s hurricane of dishonest claims about the election results, the president-elect was entitled to a little laugh at their expense. Otherwise, he was all business.
Exactly how much he will get done will depend to a large degree on two things, Biden noted. One is how Republicans in the Senate and the House behave once Trump is truly gone from power. And the other is how Mitch McConnell behaves if he continues to control the Senate.
Biden’s top priority, he said, is getting a generous stimulus package through Congress, even before he takes office.
Biden was careful about how he talked about McConnell, who has been careful not to call Biden “president-elect.” Biden obviously wants to keep the prospects of cooperation open — but also make clear that he may have more leverage with the American people than the GOP realizes if Senate Republicans opt for full-on obstruction.
At the same time, if Republicans clearly “let all this go down the drain” just so a Biden administration will not get a win, that “may have an impact on the prospect of Republicans running for reelection in 2022.”
On foreign policy, Biden made two significant points. First, I asked him whether he stood by his views on the Iran nuclear deal that he articulated in a Sept. 13 essay on CNN.com. He answered, “It’s going to be hard, but yeah.”
He had written that “if Iran returns to strict compliance with the nuclear deal, the United States would rejoin the agreement as a starting point for follow-on negotiations” and lift the sanctions on Iran that Trump imposed.
On China, he said he would not act immediately to remove the 25% tariffs that Trump imposed on about half of China’s exports to the United States.
“The best China strategy, I think, is one which gets every one of our — or at least what used to be our — allies on the same page. It’s going to be a major priority for me in the opening weeks of my presidency to try to get us back on the same page with our allies.”
When dealing with China, Biden concluded, it is all about “leverage,” and “in my view, we don’t have it yet.” Part of generating more leverage, though, is developing a bipartisan consensus at home for some good old American industrial policy — massive, government-led investments in American research and development, infrastructure and education to better compete with China — and not just complain about it. Both Democratic and Republican senators have draft bills calling for such a strategy. The U.S. semiconductor industry in particular has been lobbying for such an approach.
“I want to make sure we’re going to fight like hell by investing in America first,” said Biden. He ticked off energy, biotech, advanced materials and artificial intelligence as areas ripe for large-scale government investment in research.
Biden closed by reflecting on the ugliness of the past four years — first seeing the glass half empty but then deciding in the end, who knows, maybe it’s half full.
“We got to figure out how to work together,” he said. Otherwise, “we’re in real trouble.”
Thomas Friedman is a New York Times columnist.


mercurynews--2020-12-03--Steph Curry and Barack Obama swap ideas on leadership, parenting and relationships

Steph Curry and Barack Obama know each other a little bit from the Warriors star ’ s visits to the White House and several community organizing efforts they ’ ve combined on .
Wednesday they connected again , this time virtually , just like many Americans over the last nine-plus months during the coronavirus pandemic .
On the day of his first Warriors media availability since March , Curry took his turn as interviewer , asking the 44th president on Instagram Live about leading the nation , family relationships and his new memoir Promised Land , which set a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Canada upon its release earlier this month .
It was no interrogation , but Curry got some interesting tidbits out of Obama , and the interview revealed many of their shared philosophies .
Obama drew parallels between leading a basketball team and leading an administration , noting that faith in teammates is key to any type of group success .
“ If you can figure out how to empower the other folks on your team so they ’ re doing great , that ’ s good for you .
And by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about your leadership because they ’ re seeing that you ’ re invested in their success , ” Obama said , before taking a veiled shot at his successor , Donald Trump , whose inner circle is reportedly a much more cutthroat environment , as aides vie for his approval .
“ The mistake a lot of folks make is they think being a leader is how do I dominate and stay on top of folks .
If you have that kind of approach , your organization , whatever it is , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it should be.
” “ ( Teammates ) look at the top and they can see that authentic approach that you just mentioned around , ‘ Do you have their best interest ( in mind ) ?
’ Even if you don ’ t agree all the time , even if there are some hard times , hard conversations , that you always have the sense of — we call it ‘ trust , care and commitment , ’ I learned that back at Davidson.
” The pair also share some commonalities at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have made names for themselves far beyond who their husbands are .
Obama ’ s memoir success comes on the heels of his wife Michelle ’ s Becoming topping 10 million copies sold worldwide , while Ayesha Curry has made significant inroads in the culinary world , with her own line of cookware , several restaurants and published cookbooks of her own .
Barack Obama said Wednesday that his wife ’ s perspective allowed him to address blind spots throughout his presidency and beyond , including her insistence that he come back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 6:30 each evening .
“ Nothing ’ s better than having a partner who is complementary to you , that sees things you don ’ t , that has you covered on some blind spots , that can teach you something , ” he said .
“ Now that means there ’ s gon na be some friction … I am better because I ’ ve got someone who has strengths that I don ’ t have , who sees things that I don ’ t see.
” Steph Curry noted that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a mutual respect that overrides any disagreement they may have .
Both Curry and Obama have gone to significant lengths to position themselves as family men despite careers that are time-consuming and travel-heavy .
• Steph Curry is back — and he ’ s ready to remind the NBA what the Warriors can do • Kurtenbach : Big questions face ‘ underdog ’ Warriors , Steph Curry as 2021 campaign kicks off • Nets vs. Warriors to highlight NBA opening night as Durant set to return from injury Obama said he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of entitlement his daughters Sasha and Malia may have incurred during his presidency .
“ We had to tell the staff at the White House , ‘ Look , the girls have to clean their rooms , ' ” he said .
“ We were worried , would they end up not having a sense of reality ?
” For his parting shot , Curry borrowed from Obama ’ s lexicon , asking if he could borrow a boast Obama shouted in a recent viral video of him on the basketball court hitting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less grace than a two-time NBA MVP ) .
“ There aren ’ t any fans in the arena right now so you ’ re probably going to hear me yell it on the court , ” Curry replied , bringing the conversation back to the issues facing both the United States and the NBA .
Click here to watch the full conversation on Curry ’ s Instagram .

Steph Curry and Barack Obama know each other a little bit from the Warriors star’s visits to the White House and several community organizing efforts they’ve combined on.
Wednesday they connected again, this time virtually, just like many Americans over the last nine-plus months during the coronavirus pandemic.
On the day of his first Warriors media availability since March, Curry took his turn as interviewer, asking the 44th president on Instagram Live about leading the nation, family relationships and his new memoir Promised Land, which set a new record for first-day sales in the U.S. and Canada upon its release earlier this month.
It was no interrogation, but Curry got some interesting tidbits out of Obama, and the interview revealed many of their shared philosophies.
Obama drew parallels between leading a basketball team and leading an administration, noting that faith in teammates is key to any type of group success.
“If you can figure out how to empower the other folks on your team so they’re doing great, that’s good for you. And by the way, they’ll feel good about your leadership because they’re seeing that you’re invested in their success,” Obama said, before taking a veiled shot at his successor, Donald Trump, whose inner circle is reportedly a much more cutthroat environment, as aides vie for his approval.
“The mistake a lot of folks make is they think being a leader is how do I dominate and stay on top of folks. If you have that kind of approach, your organization, whatever it is, is not going to be as good as it should be.”
Curry echoed Obama’s sentiments on a collaborative nature of leadership.
“(Teammates) look at the top and they can see that authentic approach that you just mentioned around, ‘Do you have their best interest (in mind)?’ Even if you don’t agree all the time, even if there are some hard times, hard conversations, that you always have the sense of — we call it ‘trust, care and commitment,’ I learned that back at Davidson.”
The pair also share some commonalities at home — both are married to women who have made names for themselves far beyond who their husbands are. Obama’s memoir success comes on the heels of his wife Michelle’s Becoming topping 10 million copies sold worldwide, while Ayesha Curry has made significant inroads in the culinary world, with her own line of cookware, several restaurants and published cookbooks of her own.
Barack Obama said Wednesday that his wife’s perspective allowed him to address blind spots throughout his presidency and beyond, including her insistence that he come back to the White House residence for dinner at 6:30 each evening.
“Nothing’s better than having a partner who is complementary to you, that sees things you don’t, that has you covered on some blind spots, that can teach you something,” he said. “Now that means there’s gonna be some friction … I am better because I’ve got someone who has strengths that I don’t have, who sees things that I don’t see.”
Steph Curry noted that what matters in his relationship with Ayesha is a mutual respect that overrides any disagreement they may have.
Both Curry and Obama have gone to significant lengths to position themselves as family men despite careers that are time-consuming and travel-heavy.
Obama said he was intentional to try to combat any sense of entitlement his daughters Sasha and Malia may have incurred during his presidency.
“We had to tell the staff at the White House, ‘Look, the girls have to clean their rooms,'” he said. “We were worried, would they end up not having a sense of reality?”
For his parting shot, Curry borrowed from Obama’s lexicon, asking if he could borrow a boast Obama shouted in a recent viral video of him on the basketball court hitting a three-pointer (albeit with a little less grace than a two-time NBA MVP).
“‘That’s what I do’ — can I borrow that?” Curry asked. Obama obliged.
“There aren’t any fans in the arena right now so you’re probably going to hear me yell it on the court,” Curry replied, bringing the conversation back to the issues facing both the United States and the NBA.
Click here to watch the full conversation on Curry’s Instagram.


mercurynews--2020-12-03--Bond Fire evacuation map: Wildfire in Orange County

A wildfire burning in Orange County has prompted mandatory evacuations of areas including Silverado Canyon , Williams Canyon and Modjeska @ @ @ @ @ for the Bond Fire are in red on the map above and the warning areas @ @ @ @ @ early Thursday , the fire had burned 2,000 acres .
It is just east of @ @ @ @ @ Fire , which burned 12,466 acres near Irvine a month ago .
A second , @ @ @ @ @ in Southern California : the Airport Fire , west of Corona , in Riverside County @ @ @ @ @ 12 miles north of the Bond Fire .
All evacuation warnings were lifted Wednesday night @ @ @ @ @ the Bond Fire , see the Orange County sheriff ’ s tweets or website .

A wildfire burning in Orange County has prompted mandatory evacuations of areas including Silverado Canyon, Williams Canyon and Modjeska Canyon and the Foothill Ranch and Portola Hills neighborhoods of Lake Forest.
The mandatory zones for the Bond Fire are in red on the map above and the warning areas in orange.
It started around 10:15 p.m. Wednesday in Silverado Canyon and as of Thursday evening had burned 6,400 acres. It is just east of the scar of the Silverado Fire, which burned 12,466 acres near Irvine a month ago, and is burning toward the southwest.
Two smaller fires were burning Thursday in Riverside County: the Airport Fire, west of Corona, and the Cerritos Fire, west of Hemet. The evacuation orders for both have been lifted.
For latest updates on the Bond Fire, see the Orange County sheriff’s tweets or website.


mercurynews--2020-12-03--At your next eye exam, there could be a flu or COVID-19 vaccine shot, too

With multiple COVID-19 vaccines rapidly heading toward approval , optometrists and dentists are pushing for the authority to immunize patients during routine eye exams and dental cleanings .
Across the country , these medical professionals say their help will be needed to distribute the vaccines to millions of Americans — and they already have the know-how .
“ When you look at what dentists do , and how many injections they give day in and day out , I think they ’ re more than qualified , ” said Jim Wood , a California state assembly member and dentist .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ no-brainer.
” In California , the professional organizations representing dentists and optometrists are in talks with state officials to expand their job descriptions to include administering vaccines .
Oregon has already begun training and certifying dentists to give vaccines .
And at least half the states have considered allowing dentists to administer COVID vaccines once they ’ re available , according to the American Association of Dental Boards .
That list is likely to grow , because the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recommended in October that states consider expanding their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and optometrists seeking permission to vaccinate patients against COVID-19 and other diseases argue that their help will take some of the pressure off hospitals and doctors ’ offices .
It could also bring some extra money into their practices .
“ Everyone in our specialized health care system should also play a preventive role , ” said Dr. William Sage , a professor of law and medicine at the University of Texas-Austin .
“ Pandemic or not , being alert to preventive health in any setting is a good thing.
” In November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that their COVID vaccine candidates delivered promising results in clinical trials , and that millions of doses could be ready before the end of the year .
Pfizer ’ s has to be stored at ultracold temperatures , while Moderna ’ s and AstraZeneca ’ s can be kept at standard refrigerator temperatures .
This wouldn ’ t be the first time health professionals other than doctors administered vaccines during a pandemic .
Nursing students , EMTs and midwives in a handful of states were granted temporary and limited authority to administer flu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 2009-10 .
Dentists in Massachusetts , Illinois , New York and Minnesota also were temporarily deputized as vaccinators .
Since then , Minnesota and Illinois have adopted laws to allow dentists to give flu shots to adults .
And last year , Oregon became the first state to allow dentists to give any vaccine to any patient , whether a child or an adult .
So far , more than 200 dentists and dental students in Oregon have completed the training course offered by the Oregon Health & Science University ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected to finish by the end of December , said Mary Pat Califano , an instructor who helped develop the hands-on part of the training .
Students spend around 10 hours in online classes .
They then undergo hands-on training during which they practice injections on a shoulder pad before practicing injecting a partner with saline .
They ’ re taught how to counsel patients about vaccines and avoid injuring patients ’ shoulders when giving the shots .
Once dentists pass an exam , they can register with the Oregon Health Authority and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccines and procuring a fridge to store them .
The goal , Califano said , is not to replace family doctors or primary care physicians , but to supplement them .
The federal Agency for Health Research and Quality found that , in 2017 , 31.1 million Americans saw a dentist but not a physician .
“ We just need as many people as possible to give flu shots and COVID-19 vaccines when they ’ re available , ” Califano said .
“ If it happens that they ’ re in a dental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and capable of giving a vaccine , why not ?
” In California , the state dental association is exploring options for gaining vaccine authority , which would likely require the legislature to step in .
This year , California passed a law allowing pharmacists to administer COVID vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration .
Wood , who carried that measure , hasn ’ t yet committed to sponsoring a bill that would let dentists give vaccines , but says he supports the idea .
“ We give injections in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these are very precise kinds of injections , ” Wood said .
“ I think the learning curve for a dentist would be small.
” Dr. Bill Schaffner , a professor of preventive medicine and infectious disease at Vanderbilt University , said these proposals for expanding the vaccine workforce are promising .
Flu vaccines , which are relatively low-risk and simple to administer , would be the perfect candidate to stock in dental and optometric fridges to start .
But Schaffner doesn ’ t believe dentists and optometrists will play a major role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would take too long to pass legislation to expand the scope of practice for every professional who wants it in every state , he said .
And since some COVID vaccines have specific shipping and subzero storing requirements , they will probably be distributed only to specially trained personnel at a small number of locations , he said .
There ’ s also the question of payment .
It ’ s hard — but not impossible — to make a profit administering vaccines , Schaffner said .
Providers have to decide each season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any that go bad or remain in the fridge at the end of their shelf life equal monetary losses .
“ Unless you ’ re very assiduous about moving the vaccine from the fridge into arms , you ’ re not going to make money , ” Schaffner said .
“ People who do that can augment their income , but nobody is going to drive a Porsche because of vaccines.
” Jeff McCombs , an associate professor of health economics at the University of Southern California School of Pharmacy , agreed it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dentists to start vaccinating .
He said it would be hard to keep a well-stocked vaccine fridge with enough variety to meet patients ’ needs without wasting doses .
Generally , adults who choose not to get vaccinated do so because they ’ re uneducated about vaccines or afraid , he said , not because they can ’ t access them .
“ I don ’ t think it ’ s going to harm people , ” McCombs said .
“ I just don ’ t think they ’ ll make any money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Public Health said the state ’ s current vaccine infrastructure is sufficient for flu shots and routine immunizations , it is “ carefully considering the need to include additional types of immunizers ” to get Californians vaccinated against COVID-19 , according to a statement from the department .
The California Optometric Association said it is in talks with Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s vaccine task force about how to get optometrists into the mix , and is exploring legislative options as well .
“ We can serve the dual role of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID , ” said David Ardaya , an optometrist in Whittier who chairs an association committee that is looking into the issue .
“ Our whole hope is to assist our nation in regaining its health and in returning to a sense of normal.
” A 2017 state law technically allows optometrists who have undergone a certification program to give adults flu , shingles and pneumococcal vaccines .
But three years after AB-443 was signed , the regulations implementing it have yet to be finalized .
That didn ’ t stop Frank Giardina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going through a certification program anyway .
The 20-hour course , which includes online lectures , hands-on lessons and an exam , is the same course pharmacists take when learning how to give all vaccines to people of all ages .
• Man allegedly brandishes gun after being asked to wear mask at Morgan Hill Target • Stanford announces basketball schedule changes in face of rising COVID-19 rates Giardina pointed to the shingles , or herpes zoster , virus as an example of why optometrists are well suited to give vaccines .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even though he ’ s allowed to treat shingles , he can ’ t give a vaccine to prevent it .
For now , he ’ s holding out hope he will get permission to administer vaccines , including for COVID-19 .
He envisions a world in which a patient comes in for contact lenses and he can offer them a flu or COVID vaccine while they ’ re there .
“ We ’ re another member of the health care team .
It ’ s a waste of manpower not to , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re trying to vaccinate all these people , especially in rural areas , you need whoever you can find.
” This story was produced by Kaiser Health News , which publishes California Healthline , an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation .
KHN is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente .

By Rachel Bluth | California Healthline
With multiple COVID-19 vaccines rapidly heading toward approval, optometrists and dentists are pushing for the authority to immunize patients during routine eye exams and dental cleanings.
Across the country, these medical professionals say their help will be needed to distribute the vaccines to millions of Americans — and they already have the know-how.
“When you look at what dentists do, and how many injections they give day in and day out, I think they’re more than qualified,” said Jim Wood, a California state assembly member and dentist. “It’s kind of a no-brainer.”
In California, the professional organizations representing dentists and optometrists are in talks with state officials to expand their job descriptions to include administering vaccines. Oregon has already begun training and certifying dentists to give vaccines. And at least half the states have considered allowing dentists to administer COVID vaccines once they’re available, according to the American Association of Dental Boards.
That list is likely to grow, because the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recommended in October that states consider expanding their list of vaccine providers.
The dentists and optometrists seeking permission to vaccinate patients against COVID-19 and other diseases argue that their help will take some of the pressure off hospitals and doctors’ offices. It could also bring some extra money into their practices.
“Everyone in our specialized health care system should also play a preventive role,” said Dr. William Sage, a professor of law and medicine at the University of Texas-Austin. “Pandemic or not, being alert to preventive health in any setting is a good thing.”
In November, Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca announced that their COVID vaccine candidates delivered promising results in clinical trials, and that millions of doses could be ready before the end of the year. Pfizer’s has to be stored at ultracold temperatures, while Moderna’s and AstraZeneca’s can be kept at standard refrigerator temperatures.
This wouldn’t be the first time health professionals other than doctors administered vaccines during a pandemic. Nursing students, EMTs and midwives in a handful of states were granted temporary and limited authority to administer flu vaccines during the H1N1 swine flu pandemic of 2009-10. Dentists in Massachusetts, Illinois, New York and Minnesota also were temporarily deputized as vaccinators.
Since then, Minnesota and Illinois have adopted laws to allow dentists to give flu shots to adults. And last year, Oregon became the first state to allow dentists to give any vaccine to any patient, whether a child or an adult.
So far, more than 200 dentists and dental students in Oregon have completed the training course offered by the Oregon Health & Science University’s School of Dentistry, with 60 others expected to finish by the end of December, said Mary Pat Califano, an instructor who helped develop the hands-on part of the training.
Students spend around 10 hours in online classes. They then undergo hands-on training during which they practice injections on a shoulder pad before practicing injecting a partner with saline. They’re taught how to counsel patients about vaccines and avoid injuring patients’ shoulders when giving the shots.
Once dentists pass an exam, they can register with the Oregon Health Authority and begin getting their staff trained to handle vaccines and procuring a fridge to store them.
The goal, Califano said, is not to replace family doctors or primary care physicians, but to supplement them. The federal Agency for Health Research and Quality found that, in 2017, 31.1 million Americans saw a dentist but not a physician.
“We just need as many people as possible to give flu shots and COVID-19 vaccines when they’re available,” Califano said. “If it happens that they’re in a dental office, and that provider is educated and capable of giving a vaccine, why not?”
In California, the state dental association is exploring options for gaining vaccine authority, which would likely require the legislature to step in. This year, California passed a law allowing pharmacists to administer COVID vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Wood, who carried that measure, hasn’t yet committed to sponsoring a bill that would let dentists give vaccines, but says he supports the idea.
“We give injections in the mouth all day long, and these are very precise kinds of injections,” Wood said. “I think the learning curve for a dentist would be small.”
Dr. Bill Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine and infectious disease at Vanderbilt University, said these proposals for expanding the vaccine workforce are promising. Flu vaccines, which are relatively low-risk and simple to administer, would be the perfect candidate to stock in dental and optometric fridges to start.
But Schaffner doesn’t believe dentists and optometrists will play a major role in the COVID immunization effort. It would take too long to pass legislation to expand the scope of practice for every professional who wants it in every state, he said. And since some COVID vaccines have specific shipping and subzero storing requirements, they will probably be distributed only to specially trained personnel at a small number of locations, he said.
There’s also the question of payment. It’s hard — but not impossible — to make a profit administering vaccines, Schaffner said.
Providers have to decide each season how many doses to buy, and any that go bad or remain in the fridge at the end of their shelf life equal monetary losses.
“Unless you’re very assiduous about moving the vaccine from the fridge into arms, you’re not going to make money,” Schaffner said. “People who do that can augment their income, but nobody is going to drive a Porsche because of vaccines.”
Jeff McCombs, an associate professor of health economics at the University of Southern California School of Pharmacy, agreed it might not make business sense for most dentists to start vaccinating. He said it would be hard to keep a well-stocked vaccine fridge with enough variety to meet patients’ needs without wasting doses. Generally, adults who choose not to get vaccinated do so because they’re uneducated about vaccines or afraid, he said, not because they can’t access them.
“I don’t think it’s going to harm people,” McCombs said. “I just don’t think they’ll make any money at it.”
While the California Department of Public Health said the state’s current vaccine infrastructure is sufficient for flu shots and routine immunizations, it is “carefully considering the need to include additional types of immunizers” to get Californians vaccinated against COVID-19, according to a statement from the department.
The California Optometric Association said it is in talks with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s vaccine task force about how to get optometrists into the mix, and is exploring legislative options as well.
“We can serve the dual role of assisting with vision needs and protecting from COVID,” said David Ardaya, an optometrist in Whittier who chairs an association committee that is looking into the issue. “Our whole hope is to assist our nation in regaining its health and in returning to a sense of normal.”
A 2017 state law technically allows optometrists who have undergone a certification program to give adults flu, shingles and pneumococcal vaccines.
But three years after AB-443 was signed, the regulations implementing it have yet to be finalized.
That didn’t stop Frank Giardina, an optometrist in Nipomo, from going through a certification program anyway.
The 20-hour course, which includes online lectures, hands-on lessons and an exam, is the same course pharmacists take when learning how to give all vaccines to people of all ages.
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Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms Health | COVID Q&A: Can I use an expired test? Time to get boosted? How to cope with California’s sneaky summer surge Giardina pointed to the shingles, or herpes zoster, virus as an example of why optometrists are well suited to give vaccines. The virus can infect the eyes, and even though he’s allowed to treat shingles, he can’t give a vaccine to prevent it.
For now, he’s holding out hope he will get permission to administer vaccines, including for COVID-19. He envisions a world in which a patient comes in for contact lenses and he can offer them a flu or COVID vaccine while they’re there.
“We’re another member of the health care team. It’s a waste of manpower not to,” Giardina said. “If you’re trying to vaccinate all these people, especially in rural areas, you need whoever you can find.”
This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation. KHN is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.


mercurynews--2020-12-03--Sponsored: HOA refuses to take advice on ‘destructive’ trees, leaving sellers facing a big assessmen

Sponsored: HOA refuses to take advice on ‘destructive’ trees, leaving sellers facing a big assessment; how does this affect their sale?

Q : Thanks to our homeowners association ( HOA ) and its management companies , we received a special assessment of $ 21,800 .
Since we moved in , my husband has been making suggestions to board members , the HOA managers , gardeners and landscapers that go unheeded .
Now the HOA is making major financial decisions driven by the age , height and weight of destructive trees .
Tree roots have lifted many sidewalks , retaining walls , townhouse foundations , patios and fence posts due to an inappropriate tree species in ill-advised locations .
The astronomical cost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hardscape , and fix foundations was avoidable .
The HOA chose improper trees 30 years ago and planted them too close to hardscape and buildings .
Unbelievably , the HOA began replacing these trees with their damaging roots with a like-kind troublesome species .
Last year , my husband provided each HOA board member with a list of species with the least invasive tree root systems .
Specifically , trees with roots that do not creep and lift fences , patios , and hardscaping .
The HOA board and its property managers ignored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warn the landscaper , property manager and HOA board members to keep their ill-advised choice of trees away from hardscaping .
Once again , they disregarded my husband ’ s advice , claiming root barriers are installed “ when needed.
” Yesterday , we contacted an arborist held in high regard , used in lawsuits as a court witness and hired as a consultant for several Silicon Valley cities .
When the arborist heard the story , the new trees , their placements and the type of root barrier , he laughed and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tree are way too powerful.
” And added , “ That tree needs lots of space , not less .
The same problems will occur .
It ’ s just a matter of time.
” The HOA board made arrangements with a lender to provide special assessment loans .
But in COVID-19 recessionary times , many owners will be unable or willing to pay the assessment or qualify for the loan .
Now my husband wants to move , but can we sell with this financial cloud hovering over our townhouse community ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is complete , the special assessments paid or until the pandemic is over ?
And do we have to disclose what the arborist told us ?
A : It is safe to say that the more than two dozen HOA documents that are required to be passed to prospective HOA homebuyers are not compliant with the Davis-Stirling Act .
Make sure you have a professional firm review the HOA documents to clean up the paperwork .
( Visit the excellent website www.davis-stirling.com to comprehend the mandated HOA documents that the seller in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic on its head , and make it work for you ; Bay Area townhouse prices kept increasing , inventory decreasing , days to sell declining , while demand remains strong .
Pay off the special assessment of $ 21,800 if you can , or in escrow during the closing of the sale .
That way , you can offset the financial cloud with a sunny disposition of the special assessment being paid by the seller “ for the new owner.
” Otherwise , any prospective homebuyers , their personal and professional advisers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lender will be scared off .
During The Great Recession , condo sellers hired me to be their seller ’ s agent in a similar situation .
When the referring party described the community , I thought it sounded familiar .
It was an old apartment complex that I had temporarily managed as a young man .
A developer had purchased the apartment complex , remodeled the interiors and sold them off one-by-one as a condo community with a soon-to-be installed HOA .
However , the developer did not touch the roofs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , et cetera .
These condo sellers mentioned they had paid down the special assessment and would pay off the balance in the escrow process .
While waiting for the HOA documents on order , I walked by a glass bulletin board with a bevy of HOA notices and announcements .
The word “ recall ” caught my eye immediately .
The HOA members were planning to recall the entire HOA board of directors for creating a $ 535,000 special assessment toward replacing roofs and siding .
The recall was so new it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We disclosed the special HOA board recall while boasting of paying off the special assessment .
As a result , we received multiple offers .
You are in a much better situation than those condo sellers .
Real estate attorneys would want you to describe your phone conversation with the lauded arborist .
Full disclosure is a seller ’ s best friend .
The “ fog of infatuation ” is the homebuyer ’ s worst enemy .
You ’ ll be paid handsomely in more ways than one to look after “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Q: Thanks to our homeowners association (HOA) and its management companies, we received a special assessment of $21,800. Since we moved in, my husband has been making suggestions to board members, the HOA managers, gardeners and landscapers that go unheeded. Now the HOA is making major financial decisions driven by the age, height and weight of destructive trees. Tree roots have lifted many sidewalks, retaining walls, townhouse foundations, patios and fence posts due to an inappropriate tree species in ill-advised locations.
The astronomical cost to remove and replace the trees, hardscape, and fix foundations was avoidable. The HOA chose improper trees 30 years ago and planted them too close to hardscape and buildings. Unbelievably, the HOA began replacing these trees with their damaging roots with a like-kind troublesome species. Last year, my husband provided each HOA board member with a list of species with the least invasive tree root systems. Specifically, trees with roots that do not creep and lift fences, patios, and hardscaping. The HOA board and its property managers ignored his suggestions. He then proceeded to warn the landscaper, property manager and HOA board members to keep their ill-advised choice of trees away from hardscaping. Once again, they disregarded my husband’s advice, claiming root barriers are installed “when needed.”
Yesterday, we contacted an arborist held in high regard, used in lawsuits as a court witness and hired as a consultant for several Silicon Valley cities. When the arborist heard the story, the new trees, their placements and the type of root barrier, he laughed and said, “The roots of that tree are way too powerful.” And added, “That tree needs lots of space, not less. The same problems will occur. It’s just a matter of time.”
The HOA board made arrangements with a lender to provide special assessment loans. But in COVID-19 recessionary times, many owners will be unable or willing to pay the assessment or qualify for the loan. Now my husband wants to move, but can we sell with this financial cloud hovering over our townhouse community? Do we wait until all the work is complete, the special assessments paid or until the pandemic is over? And do we have to disclose what the arborist told us?
A: It is safe to say that the more than two dozen HOA documents that are required to be passed to prospective HOA homebuyers are not compliant with the Davis-Stirling Act.
Make sure you have a professional firm review the HOA documents to clean up the paperwork. (Visit the excellent website www.davis-stirling.com to comprehend the mandated HOA documents that the seller in an HOA must provide.) Turn the pandemic on its head, and make it work for you; Bay Area townhouse prices kept increasing, inventory decreasing, days to sell declining, while demand remains strong. Pay off the special assessment of $21,800 if you can, or in escrow during the closing of the sale. That way, you can offset the financial cloud with a sunny disposition of the special assessment being paid by the seller “for the new owner.” Otherwise, any prospective homebuyers, their personal and professional advisers, their loan officer, and the lender will be scared off.
During The Great Recession, condo sellers hired me to be their seller’s agent in a similar situation. When the referring party described the community, I thought it sounded familiar. It was an old apartment complex that I had temporarily managed as a young man. A developer had purchased the apartment complex, remodeled the interiors and sold them off one-by-one as a condo community with a soon-to-be installed HOA. However, the developer did not touch the roofs, exteriors, fences, balconies, carports, et cetera. These condo sellers mentioned they had paid down the special assessment and would pay off the balance in the escrow process. While waiting for the HOA documents on order, I walked by a glass bulletin board with a bevy of HOA notices and announcements. The word “recall” caught my eye immediately. The HOA members were planning to recall the entire HOA board of directors for creating a $535,000 special assessment toward replacing roofs and siding. The recall was so new it was not in the mandated HOA disclosures. We disclosed the special HOA board recall while boasting of paying off the special assessment. As a result, we received multiple offers.
You are in a much better situation than those condo sellers. Real estate attorneys would want you to describe your phone conversation with the lauded arborist. Full disclosure is a seller’s best friend. The “fog of infatuation” is the homebuyer’s worst enemy. You’ll be paid handsomely in more ways than one to look after “your” homebuyer(s).
Questions? Full-service Realtor Pat Kapowich is a career-long consumer protection advocate and Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager. 408-245-7700 Pat@SiliconValleyBroker.com DRE# 00979413 www.Silicon ValleyBroker.com YouTube.com/PatKapowich


mercurynews--2020-12-03--Mariah Carey launches delivery-only cookie brand with traditional and holiday flavors

Superstar Mariah Carey has partnered with Virtual Dining Concepts to launch her new cookie brand on National Cookie Day , Friday , Dec. 4 .
Mariah ’ s Cookies will be available in select cities in California .
More cities will be announced in the coming weeks .
Fans can begin ordering cookies via mariahcareyscookies.com on Dec. 4 and they will be delivered via most third-party delivery apps including Grubhub , DoorDash , Postmates , UberEats and Seamless .
The cookie flavors are inspired by some of Carey ’ s favorite bake-at-home staples .
There are classic flavors like chocolate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bar , lemon cooler and spiced oatmeal raisin .
Since Carey is pretty much synonymous with the holiday season thanks to her 1994 smash , “ All I Want for Christmas Is You , ” there are also special holiday-flavored cookies including white chocolate cranberry , pumpkin and gingerbread .
The same day the cookie brand launches , Carey has a special dropping on Apple TV+ , “ Mariah Carey ’ s Magical Christmas Special , ” which will include a slew of special guests , music , dancing and animation as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The cookies are boxed by flavor and customizable for an assortment of a dozen or half dozen with the option to add individual cookies .
There are a number of pre-set flavored boxes as well including the Try Them All with a variety of all the flavors ; the Mimi ’ s Mix Box that includes Carey ’ s favorites ; and the Holiday Hits Box with only the seasonal flavors .
To check availability , pricing and delivery in your area visit the official website and follow Mariah ’ s Cookies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exclusive photos , videos and additional delivery locations .

Superstar Mariah Carey has partnered with Virtual Dining Concepts to launch her new cookie brand on National Cookie Day, Friday, Dec. 4.
Mariah’s Cookies will be available in select cities in California. More cities will be announced in the coming weeks.
Fans can begin ordering cookies via mariahcareyscookies.com on Dec. 4 and they will be delivered via most third-party delivery apps including Grubhub, DoorDash, Postmates, UberEats and Seamless.
The cookie flavors are inspired by some of Carey’s favorite bake-at-home staples. There are classic flavors like chocolate chunk, triple chocolate chunk, Heath Bar, lemon cooler and spiced oatmeal raisin. Since Carey is pretty much synonymous with the holiday season thanks to her 1994 smash, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” there are also special holiday-flavored cookies including white chocolate cranberry, pumpkin and gingerbread.
The same day the cookie brand launches, Carey has a special dropping on Apple TV+, “Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special,” which will include a slew of special guests, music, dancing and animation as a full holiday story and experience is shared.
The cookies are boxed by flavor and customizable for an assortment of a dozen or half dozen with the option to add individual cookies. There are a number of pre-set flavored boxes as well including the Try Them All with a variety of all the flavors; the Mimi’s Mix Box that includes Carey’s favorites; and the Holiday Hits Box with only the seasonal flavors.
To check availability, pricing and delivery in your area visit the official website and follow Mariah’s Cookies on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter for exclusive photos, videos and additional delivery locations.


mercurynews--2020-12-03--The gold standard: Rafer Johnson’s extraordinary life ends at age 86

Those who knew Rafer Johnson tell their stories in sympathetic tones to those who didn ’ t , as if it were the lost opportunity of a lifetime .
Johnson was the 1960 Olympic champion in the decathlon .
When his daughter Jenny began studying ancient Greece in elementary school , Johnson brought out his gold medal .
For many years it was the only time she ever saw it .
“ He was the guy folding up the chairs at the end of a concert , handing out drinks at our soccer games , ” said Bill Shumard , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Special Olympics Southern California , a cause that Johnson made his own .
“ To be honest I never knew how to take him .
He was so normal and understated .
I don ’ t hesitate to say he ’ s the best person I ’ ve ever known.
” “ The world has lost an incredible athlete , ” said Bill Toomey , who won decathlon gold for the U.S. in the 1968 Olympics .
“ He broke through barriers because of his demeanor.
” Johnson ’ s final years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johnson being helped onto a stage in October of 2019 , at the Santa Monica Pier , to deliver an award at a Special Olympics function .
Johnson leaves behind his wife Betsy , and Jenny and son Josh , whom Rafer and Betsy watched compete in a U.S. Olympic Trials decathlon in Sacramento .
Jenny was an Olympian in beach volleyball .
While at UCLA , she scheduled a summer trip to Kansas and Texas , for camps .
Rafer came to the office of volleyball coach Al Scates and said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be adequate supervision for Jenny .
He also said , “ Don ’ t tell her I asked you that.
” “ I watched Jenny play in a lot of club volleyball competitions when she was growing up , ” Scates said , “ and I saw Rafer at every one of them.
” He was UCLA ’ s student body president five years before Congress passed civil rights legislation .
In 1958 , when the Soviet Union was forbidden territory and its leader promised to bury America , the U.S. sent a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decathlon record-holder Vasily Kuznetsov .
The fans cheered Johnson through the javelin and the 1,500 meters , then surrounded him , picked him up and tossed him into the air .
An interpreter told a U.S. AAU official , “ I do not understand .
Russian people are not often so emotional.
” That was the year Johnson won Sports Illustrated ’ s Sportsman of the Year award .
An auto accident in 1959 shattered Johnson ’ s training schedule for the Olympics , but he already knew how to recuperate .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cannery belt and had to take 23 stitches , and walked with crutches for a time .
He worked out anyway , and developed a powerful upper body that gave Johnson a huge advantage in the decathlon throwing events .
UCLA teammate C.K .
Yang became the Olympic favorite in Rome .
Both were coached by Elvin “ Ducky ” Drake , and Johnson remembers getting 1,500-meter advice from Drake in Rome , and then watching , bemused , to see Drake advising Yang as well .
Johnson stayed close enough to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and runnerup Yang became the first native of Taiwan , known as Nationalist China , to Americans back then , to win an Olympic medal .
The two were friends until Yang died in 2007 .
“ Those two guy singlehandedly created the charisma for that event , ” Toomey said .
“ I couldn ’ t read enough stories about what they did.
” Johnson helped bring the 1984 Olympics to Los Angeles , and he was chosen to carry the Olympic torch into the Coliseum .
He held it as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he wore an all-white singlet and shorts , and looked for all the world like a contestant .
As he drove downtown that day , he asked Jenny to guess who the torchbearer might be .
She guessed Michael Jackson , and Johnson smiled .
Johnson was involved in movies and television , was Gloria Steinem ’ s boyfriend for a time , and joined Bobby Kennedy ’ s presidential campaign in 1968 .
Kennedy won the California primary , and Johnson and former Rams ’ defensive tackle Rosey Grier were in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Ambassador Hotel .
RFK was shot and killed by Sirhan Sirhan , and a numb TV audience heard someone yell , “ Get the gun , Rafer.
” Johnson woke up the next morning and put on his sport coat from the night before .
Inside the pocket was the revolver .
“ He was in a deep funk after that , ” Shumard said .
“ Bobby ’ s sister Eunice , who had founded the Special Olympics , told him Bobby wouldn ’ t have wanted him to react that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got involved in the program .
Years later , he and Betsy sold their house on Balboa Island , and that money saved us , kept us going.
” Johnson preceded the day when money took over sports .
Olympians were amateurs then .
“ They started giving us $ 2 a day , ” Toomey said .
“ I used to say you couldn ’ t even buy postcards for that.
” Johnson could have used the money .
He was born in Hillsboro , Tex.
, and his father Lewis moved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ San Joaquin Valley , when Rafer was five .
One brother , Jimmy , became a Pro Football Hall of Famer as a 49ers ’ cornerback .
The Johnsons lived in a railroad boxcar for a while , and when they did get settled , it wasn ’ t unusual for them to lose their electricity .
When Johnson first came to UCLA , he looked west and saw a large hill near campus .
“ I ’ m going to live in a house on that hill , ” he told himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I remember looking up to Bob Mathias and to Rafer , ” Toomey said .
“ Rafer probably was the best ever .
Back then , there was no fiberglass pole for the pole vault , and there was no Fosbury Flop in the high jump .
C.K .
won seven of the 10 events in Rome , but Rafer stayed close enough in that 1,500 to win it.
” “ What drove me , ” Johnson said later , “ was the knowledge that this was the last decathlon for me .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Today , Johnson might have been a prime candidate to run for President , although he said he enjoyed sports because athletes could freely exchange ideas , unlike politicians .
Not even Twitter would have laid a glove on his image .
“ He had a great sense of humor , too , and often he was his own target , ” Shumard said .
“ We were playing golf at Trump National one day for a fund-raiser , and he often described himself as a great athlete but a terrible golfer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ d agreed that Rafer didn ’ t have to get out of the cart unless the first two guys missed their drives .
He got on the phone with the office , and we kept hitting it in the fairway , and they asked how he was doing .
He said , ‘ Great .
We ’ re on No .
8 , I ’ m having the round of my life and I haven ’ t gotten out of the cart.
’ ’ ’ Johnson ’ s life would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beach State had played women ’ s volleyball this season .
Jenny ’ s daughter Jaylen is a freshman there .
She is one of Johnson ’ s four grandchildren .
“ He was a superstar in the field of human endeavor , ” Toomey said , and you wonder who else , in the world of sports , could make that roster .
Shumard remembers office workers idly wondering when the next Rafer Johnson would come along .
Sympathetically , he had to tell them to stop wondering .
• Former 49ers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others as latest San Jose Sports Hall of Fame inductees • U.S. figure skating championships moved from San Jose to Las Vegas

Those who knew Rafer Johnson tell their stories in sympathetic tones to those who didn’t, as if it were the lost opportunity of a lifetime.
Johnson was the 1960 Olympic champion in the decathlon. When his daughter Jenny began studying ancient Greece in elementary school, Johnson brought out his gold medal. For many years it was the only time she ever saw it.
“He was the guy folding up the chairs at the end of a concert, handing out drinks at our soccer games,” said Bill Shumard, who for 15 years was the head of Special Olympics Southern California, a cause that Johnson made his own.
“To be honest I never knew how to take him. He was so normal and understated. I don’t hesitate to say he’s the best person I’ve ever known.”
Johnson, 86, died Wednesday.
“The world has lost an incredible athlete,” said Bill Toomey, who won decathlon gold for the U.S. in the 1968 Olympics. “He broke through barriers because of his demeanor.”
Johnson’s final years were difficult, physically. Shumard remembers Johnson being helped onto a stage in October of 2019, at the Santa Monica Pier, to deliver an award at a Special Olympics function.
Johnson leaves behind his wife Betsy, and Jenny and son Josh, whom Rafer and Betsy watched compete in a U.S. Olympic Trials decathlon in Sacramento.
Jenny was an Olympian in beach volleyball. While at UCLA, she scheduled a summer trip to Kansas and Texas, for camps. Rafer came to the office of volleyball coach Al Scates and said he was concerned that there wouldn’t be adequate supervision for Jenny. He also said, “Don’t tell her I asked you that.”
“I watched Jenny play in a lot of club volleyball competitions when she was growing up,” Scates said, “and I saw Rafer at every one of them.”
But Johnson’s life was gloriously abnormal.
He was UCLA’s student body president five years before Congress passed civil rights legislation. In 1958, when the Soviet Union was forbidden territory and its leader promised to bury America, the U.S. sent a team to Moscow, and Johnson beat decathlon record-holder Vasily Kuznetsov.
The fans cheered Johnson through the javelin and the 1,500 meters, then surrounded him, picked him up and tossed him into the air. An interpreter told a U.S. AAU official, “I do not understand. Russian people are not often so emotional.”
That was the year Johnson won Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year award. An auto accident in 1959 shattered Johnson’s training schedule for the Olympics, but he already knew how to recuperate. At 12 he got his leg caught in a cannery belt and had to take 23 stitches, and walked with crutches for a time. He worked out anyway, and developed a powerful upper body that gave Johnson a huge advantage in the decathlon throwing events.
UCLA teammate C.K. Yang became the Olympic favorite in Rome. Both were coached by Elvin “Ducky” Drake, and Johnson remembers getting 1,500-meter advice from Drake in Rome, and then watching, bemused, to see Drake advising Yang as well.
Johnson stayed close enough to Yang in the 1,500 to win overall, and runnerup Yang became the first native of Taiwan, known as Nationalist China, to Americans back then, to win an Olympic medal. The two were friends until Yang died in 2007.
“Those two guy singlehandedly created the charisma for that event,” Toomey said. “I couldn’t read enough stories about what they did.”
Johnson helped bring the 1984 Olympics to Los Angeles, and he was chosen to carry the Olympic torch into the Coliseum. He held it as he jogged around the track, and he wore an all-white singlet and shorts, and looked for all the world like a contestant. As he drove downtown that day, he asked Jenny to guess who the torchbearer might be. She guessed Michael Jackson, and Johnson smiled.
Johnson was involved in movies and television, was Gloria Steinem’s boyfriend for a time, and joined Bobby Kennedy’s presidential campaign in 1968. Kennedy won the California primary, and Johnson and former Rams’ defensive tackle Rosey Grier were in the corridor behind the podium at L.A.’s Ambassador Hotel. RFK was shot and killed by Sirhan Sirhan, and a numb TV audience heard someone yell, “Get the gun, Rafer.”
Johnson woke up the next morning and put on his sport coat from the night before. Inside the pocket was the revolver.
“He was in a deep funk after that,” Shumard said. “Bobby’s sister Eunice, who had founded the Special Olympics, told him Bobby wouldn’t have wanted him to react that way. That’s how Rafer got involved in the program. Years later, he and Betsy sold their house on Balboa Island, and that money saved us, kept us going.”
RELATED: Rafer Johnson helped something special grow from tragedy
Johnson preceded the day when money took over sports. Olympians were amateurs then.
“They started giving us $2 a day,” Toomey said. “I used to say you couldn’t even buy postcards for that.”
Johnson could have used the money. He was born in Hillsboro, Tex., and his father Lewis moved the family to Kingsburg, in the San Joaquin Valley, when Rafer was five. One brother, Jimmy, became a Pro Football Hall of Famer as a 49ers’ cornerback.
The Johnsons lived in a railroad boxcar for a while, and when they did get settled, it wasn’t unusual for them to lose their electricity.
When Johnson first came to UCLA, he looked west and saw a large hill near campus. “I’m going to live in a house on that hill,” he told himself, and later he did.
“I remember looking up to Bob Mathias and to Rafer,” Toomey said. “Rafer probably was the best ever. Back then, there was no fiberglass pole for the pole vault, and there was no Fosbury Flop in the high jump. C.K. won seven of the 10 events in Rome, but Rafer stayed close enough in that 1,500 to win it.”
“What drove me,” Johnson said later, “was the knowledge that this was the last decathlon for me. There was no reason to hold back.”
Today, Johnson might have been a prime candidate to run for President, although he said he enjoyed sports because athletes could freely exchange ideas, unlike politicians. Not even Twitter would have laid a glove on his image.
“He had a great sense of humor, too, and often he was his own target,” Shumard said. “We were playing golf at Trump National one day for a fund-raiser, and he often described himself as a great athlete but a terrible golfer. We were a foursome, and we’d agreed that Rafer didn’t have to get out of the cart unless the first two guys missed their drives. He got on the phone with the office, and we kept hitting it in the fairway, and they asked how he was doing. He said, ‘Great. We’re on No. 8, I’m having the round of my life and I haven’t gotten out of the cart.’’’
Johnson’s life would have been full to capacity if only Long Beach State had played women’s volleyball this season. Jenny’s daughter Jaylen is a freshman there. She is one of Johnson’s four grandchildren.
“He was a superstar in the field of human endeavor,” Toomey said, and you wonder who else, in the world of sports, could make that roster.
Shumard remembers office workers idly wondering when the next Rafer Johnson would come along. Sympathetically, he had to tell them to stop wondering.


mercurynews--2020-12-03--Del Taco to pay $1.25 million to settle sexual harassment lawsuit

Lake Forest-based Del Taco will pay $ 1,250,000 to settle a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment against female employees at the company ’ s Rancho Cucamonga-area locations , federal regulators said Wednesday .
A filing from the U.S .
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleges Del Taco ’ s general manager and shift leader at stores in Rancho Cucamonga , Pomona , Ontario and Upland sexually harassed young female workers almost daily by subjecting them to unwelcome physical contact , propositions for sex and vulgar comments .
Employee Katelyn Mejia alleges her shift leader described his favorite sexual position and made numerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are hot ” and “ you are sexy.
” The behavior was so prevalent , the agency said , that other male employees felt free to engage in sexual harassment as well .
On June 7 , 2018 , the EEOC issued a letter of determination to the fast-food chain , finding reasonable cause to believe Mejia was sexually harassed , retaliated against and later fired in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 .
Another female worker who was 17 at the time alleges her male shift leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told her to “ drop it like it ’ s hot ” and “ dance for me , baby.
” Another employee claimed a shift leader would brush up against her and hold on to her and other female co-workers ’ hips and shoulders .
When female workers complained to the company ’ s human resources department , the company failed to adequately respond to their complaints or stop the harassment or retaliation , the EEOC said .
The hostile work environment left some workers feeling they had no choice but to quit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filed suit in U.S. District Court for Central District of California after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement .
In a statement issued Wednesday , Del Taco Restaurants said the safety and well being of its employees are “ top priorities ” and that the company takes harassment allegations seriously .
“ We fully cooperated with the EEOC throughout its investigation and the matter has been resolved , ” the company said .
“ In addition , we completed an internal investigation and took appropriate measures.
” In addition to monetary relief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Employment Opportunity monitor and review and revise its policies and procedures on discrimination , harassment and retaliation .
The company must also create a structure for employees to report discrimination and harassment .
The company will be required to provide training to all employees on anti-discrimination laws , with an emphasis on sexual harassment .
“ Young employees may be especially vulnerable to workplace harassment , ” said Rosa Viramontes , who heads the EEOC ’ s Los Angeles district office .
“ It is important for employers to recognize this and create @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and harassment-free work environment .
”

Lake Forest-based Del Taco will pay $1,250,000 to settle a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment against female employees at the company’s Rancho Cucamonga-area locations, federal regulators said Wednesday.
A filing from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleges Del Taco’s general manager and shift leader at stores in Rancho Cucamonga, Pomona, Ontario and Upland sexually harassed young female workers almost daily by subjecting them to unwelcome physical contact, propositions for sex and vulgar comments.
Employee Katelyn Mejia alleges her shift leader described his favorite sexual position and made numerous comments to her including, “you are hot” and “you are sexy.”
The behavior was so prevalent, the agency said, that other male employees felt free to engage in sexual harassment as well.
On June 7, 2018, the EEOC issued a letter of determination to the fast-food chain, finding reasonable cause to believe Mejia was sexually harassed, retaliated against and later fired in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Another female worker who was 17 at the time alleges her male shift leader called her “his girl” and told her to “drop it like it’s hot” and “dance for me, baby.” Another employee claimed a shift leader would brush up against her and hold on to her and other female co-workers’ hips and shoulders.
When female workers complained to the company’s human resources department, the company failed to adequately respond to their complaints or stop the harassment or retaliation, the EEOC said.
The hostile work environment left some workers feeling they had no choice but to quit, the agency said.
The EEOC filed suit in U.S. District Court for Central District of California after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement.
In a statement issued Wednesday, Del Taco Restaurants said the safety and well being of its employees are “top priorities” and that the company takes harassment allegations seriously.
“We fully cooperated with the EEOC throughout its investigation and the matter has been resolved,” the company said. “In addition, we completed an internal investigation and took appropriate measures.”
In addition to monetary relief, Del Taco must retain an Equal Employment Opportunity monitor and review and revise its policies and procedures on discrimination, harassment and retaliation. The company must also create a structure for employees to report discrimination and harassment.
The company will be required to provide training to all employees on anti-discrimination laws, with an emphasis on sexual harassment.


mercurynews--2020-12-04--San Jose teen artist wows Kamala Harris, wins national acclaim

A San Jose teen artist who recently won raves from Kamala Harris for a portrait he painted of the Vice President-elect , is now earning national acclaim .
Tyler Gordon , 14 , has been named a Top 5 finalist for Time magazine ’ s first-ever Kid of the Year honors and will be among the talented youngsters featured in a Nickelodeon television special Friday night .
“ I feel really grateful that , out of the thousands of kids who were considered , I made it this far.
” Gordon said Thursday .
“ And I ’ m grateful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way.
” Time , which has named a Person of the Year for 92 years , decided this year to honor a youth , as well .
The magazine partnered with Nickelodeon on a nationwide search to find the “ most influential kid of 2020.
” The list was narrowed down from more than 5,000 young Americans — ages 8 to 16 — to five finalists , who will appear the “ Kid of the Year ” special ( 7:30 p.m. Friday , Nickelodeon and TV Land ) hosted by Trevor Noah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rao , a 15-year-old scientist and inventor from Lone Tree , Colo. , had earned top honors .
All five finalists , however , will receive a cash prize and be given a chance to contribute to the magazine .
Gordon was praised by the selection committee for overcoming major personal challenges and using his art to advocate for anti-bullying and social justice issues , as well as helping children with speech impediments .
He was born deaf and underwent a surgery at age 5 that gave him some hearing , but he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also used a wheelchair for nearly two years after breaking bones in his legs and hips due to a vitamin D deficiency .
Although Gordon , a freshman at William C. Overfelt High School , missed out on the ultimate Time accolade , he has plenty to celebrate these days .
Last month , he painted a portrait of Harris and shared it on social media , hoping the incoming Vice President would see it .
Chelsea Clinton and San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo were among the Twitter users who helped to spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day before Thanksgiving , Gordon received a phone call from Harris , who told him , “ I ’ m overwhelmed with the magnificence of your artistry .
You really have a gift .
… I was so touched to see it.
” “ I was in complete shock , ” Gordon said .
“ I didn ’ t really expect me to call me .
We had a nice , chill conversation that was cut short only because she was cooking cornbread and the ( oven ) timer went off.
” Gordon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Joe Biden , pointing out that he has a personal connection to both the President and Vice President-elect .
He admires Harris , an Oakland native , for breaking barriers like he has , and Biden for overcoming a stutter .
“ He really inspires me , ” Gordon said of Biden .
“ Even though he has a stutter , he ’ s not afraid to do public speeches .
That gives me more confidence to accept my stutter and slow myself down.
” Meanwhile , the honors keep rolling in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including the Harris and Biden portraits , are now on display in Los Angeles at the Beverly Center as part of an “ Heirs to the Throne ” pop-up exhibit featuring work from Black contemporary artists .
He has also been awarded with a major assignment from Time that he can ’ t yet announce .
Considering all his success , it might be difficult to believe that this talented Kid of the Year candidate was bullied so often in elementary school that he barely spoke .
“ His escape was to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ d nod his head or point , he was so afraid , ” Gordon ’ s mother , Nicole Kindle , told Nickelodeon .
But at 10 , Gordon found his artistic voice .
After watching his mom paint , he decided to give it a try and won first place in a school art contest .
In the years since , he has painted more than 500 portraits , mostly of Black icons who inspire him .
“ Sometimes I can ’ t talk and get words out , so I speak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A big break came in 2018 , when his portrait of Kevin Durant , then with the Golden State Warriors , went viral and caught the eye of Durant ’ s mother , Wanda , who bought it for $ 300 .
Celebrities then started calling on him .
Among the stars Gordon has painted and met are Janet Jackson , Kevin Hart , Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez .
In 2019 , a portrait of the Central Park Five fetched more than $ 100,000 at auction , and he won a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past summer , in the wake of George Floyd ’ s death , Gordon used his canvas to raise awareness about victims of police brutality .
Looking to the future , he wants to he would “ love to attend NYU , open my personal gallery and have my art all over the world.
” … Oh , and he ’ d like to have a presidential portrait hanging in the White House some day .
Despite all the starry-eyed attention , Kindle insists that Gordon , the youngest of five kids , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in trouble for a messy room and not making his bed .
… He still goes crazy for Skittles and Pop-Tarts , ” she said .
“ And he still does his painting with cheap acrylics from Walmart .
”

He won raves from vice president-elect Kamala Harris after painting a portrait of her. Now the rest of America — including LeBron James — is discovering that San Jose teen artist Tyler Gordon, who has overcome a number of physical barriers, is an exceptional talent.
Last week, Gordon, 14, was named a Top 5 finalist for Time magazine’s first-ever Kid of the Year honor during a Nickelodeon TV special. He received the exciting news on-screen from NBA superstar Russell Westbrook.
Tyler Gordon, 14, of San Jose with his painting of the Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. (Courtesy of Nicole Kindle)
Tyler Gordon, 14, of San Jose with his painting of the President-elect Joe Biden. (Courtesy of Nicole Kindle)
SAN JOSE, CA - DECEMBER 04: A painting of the late Chadwick Boseman by Tyler Gordon, 14, of San Jose is photographed at Gordon’s home on Dec. 4, 2020, in San Jose Calif. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group)
A picture shows a painting of the Vice President-elect Kamala Harris by Tyler Gordon, 14, of San Jose. (Courtesy of Nicole Kindle)
SAN JOSE, CA - DECEMBER 04: A painting of San Francisco 49ers’ cornerback Richard Sherman by Tyler Gordon, 14, of San Jose is photographed at Gordon’s home on Dec. 4, 2020, in San Jose Calif. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group)
SAN JOSE, CA - DECEMBER 04: A painting of Marilyn Monroe by Tyler Gordon, 14, of San Jose is displayed at his home on Dec. 4, 2020, in San Jose Calif. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group)
CLICK HERE if you’re having trouble viewing the slideshow on your mobile device.
“It was so hard not to cry,” Gordon said, recalling the magic moment.
He’ll be on TV tonight, Dec. 11, when Time magazine’s “Kid of the Year” special re-airs at 7 p.m. on Comedy Central. It will also broadcast Dec. 21 on CBS.
The contest, modeled after the magazine’s famed Person of the Year campaign, started with a list of some 5,000 youths ages 8 to 16. Gordon is still amazed he broke into the Top 5.
“I feel really grateful that, out of the thousands of kids who were considered, I made it this far. And I’m grateful for my family for helping me along the way,” said the young artist, who was born deaf. He underwent a surgery at age 5 that allowed him to hear in one ear, but after the operation he began to stutter. He also used a wheelchair for nearly two years after breaking bones in his legs and hips due to a Vitamin D deficiency.
In elementary school, Gordon was bullied so often that he barely uttered a word.
“His escape was to not speak at all,” Gordon’s mother, Nicole Kindle, told Nickelodeon. “He’d nod his head or point, he was so afraid.”
But at 10, Gordon found his artistic voice. After watching his mom paint, he decided to give it a try and won first place in a school art contest. In the years since, he has painted more than 500 portraits, mostly of Black icons who inspire him.
“Sometimes I can’t talk and get words out, so I speak through my art,” Gordon said. “My art gives me power to be myself.”
Time announced before the Nickelodeon special that Gitanjali Rao, a 15-year-old Colorado scientist and inventor, had earned top honors. All five finalists receive a cash prize and are given a chance to contribute to the magazine.
Gordon, a freshman at William C. Overfelt High School, was praised by the selection committee for overcoming major personal challenges and using his art to advocate for anti-bullying and social justice issues. He recently started a foundation called TongueTyed to help other kids with speech impediments deal with bullies and get the services they need.
Although Gordon missed out on the ultimate Time accolade, he has plenty to celebrate these days. Last month, he painted a portrait of Harris and shared it on social media, hoping the incoming vice president would see it. Chelsea Clinton and San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo were among the Twitter users who helped to spread Gordon’s message.
On the day before Thanksgiving, Gordon received a phone call from Harris, who told him, “I’m overwhelmed with the magnificence of your artistry. You really have a gift. … I was so touched to see it.”
“I was in complete shock,” Gordon said. “I didn’t really expect her to call me. We had a nice, chill conversation that was cut short only because she was cooking cornbread and the (oven) timer went off.”
Gordon followed that up by painting a portrait of Joe Biden, pointing out that he has a personal connection to both the president-elect and vice president-elect. He admires Harris, an Oakland native, for breaking barriers like he has, and Biden for overcoming a stutter.
“He really inspires me,” Gordon said of Biden. “Even though he has a stutter, he’s not afraid to do public speeches. That gives me more confidence to accept my stutter and slow myself down.”
Meanwhile, the honors keep rolling in. As part of his Kid of the Year tribute, he was commissioned by Time to paint a cover portrait of Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James for its Athlete of the Year issue. In revealing the cover Thursday on his Instagram account, he wrote:
“I have defied the odds, I wouldn’t let the word can’t be a part my vocabulary. I’m proud of who I am and what I’ve been through because without all of the bad that happened to me, there wouldn’t be this good happening to me right now.”
Four of Gordon’s pieces, including the Harris and Biden portraits, are now on display in Los Angeles at the Beverly Center as part of an “Heirs to the Throne” pop-up exhibit featuring work from Black contemporary artists. And earlier this year, he was honored with a 2020 Global Child Prodigy Award.
Gordon’s big break came in 2018 when his portrait of NBA star Kevin Durant, then with the Golden State Warriors, went viral and caught the eye of Durant’s mother, Wanda, who bought it for $300. Celebrities then started calling on him. Among the famous people Gordon has painted and met are Janet Jackson, Kevin Hart, Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez.
In 2019, a portrait of the Central Park Five fetched more than $100,000 at auction,
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SAG-AFTRA working to cover reality stars in its contract Local News | The writers strike has hit 100 days with no end in sight This past summer, in the wake of George Floyd’s death, Gordon used his canvas to raise awareness about victims of police brutality. Looking to the future, he would “love to attend NYU, open my own personal gallery and have my art all over the world.” Oh, and he’d like to have a presidential portrait hanging in the White House some day.
Despite all the starry-eyed attention, Kindle insists that Gordon, the youngest of five kids, remains grounded.
“He still gets in trouble for a messy room and not making his bed. … He still goes crazy for Skittles and Pop-Tarts,” she said. “And he still does his painting with cheap acrylics from Walmart.”
Contact Chuck Barney at cbarney@bayareanewsgroup.com. Follow him at Twitter.com/chuckbarney and Facebook.com/bayareanewsgroup.chuckbarney.


mercurynews--2020-12-04--New COVID stay-home order expected to hit Bay Area later this month

Facing down what he called the “ final surge ” of the coronavirus pandemic , Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Thursday said he expects to shut down many businesses and further restrict residents ’ movements in the COVID-weary Bay Area within the next few weeks .
Newsom laid out the strictest widespread shutdown the state has seen since its initial shelter-in-place orders in March , requiring regions to close outdoor restaurant , brewery and winery seating , hair salons and barbershops , playgrounds and other venues if their hospital ICU capacity dips below 15 % .
The Bay Area “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Contra Costa , Marin , Monterey , Napa , San Francisco , San Mateo , Santa Clara , Santa Cruz , Solano and Sonoma counties — is expected to hit that trigger point by mid-to-late December , Newsom said .
For the rest of the state , it likely will be within the next week .
“ The bottom line is , if we don ’ t act now , our hospital system will be overwhelmed , ” Newsom said .
“ If we don ’ t act now , we ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate climb .
More lives lost.
” The new order comes as more Californians than ever before were hospitalized with COVID-19 this week , and average daily infections continue to rise — hitting a record of nearly 15,000 on Wednesday .
About 23 % of the state ’ s ICU beds remain open , but all could be full by mid-December if no action is taken , according to state projections .
In Santa Clara County , nearly nine in 10 hospital beds are full , and no hospital has more than five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If Alameda County hospitals continue to fill up , officials there might enact the new stay-at-home order even before required to .
Thursday ’ s restrictions differ from California ’ s earliest shelter-in-place orders .
Even when a region hits the 15 % ICU capacity threshold , retail stores — including shopping centers — can continue conducting business indoors at 20 % capacity .
Schools that have begun in-person classes will not be forced to stop and go back to distance learning only .
But the order bans all non-essential travel .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoid the catastrophe that would ensue if California ’ s hospitals run out of room , said Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo , professor and chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at UCSF .
“ I think this has the potential to really turn the corner , ” she said .
But the new order is likely to hit many Bay Area businesses hard again — including restaurants , which have been forced to bounce back and forth between outdoor-only dining and indoor dining with restrictions .
Now , if the Bay Area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they ’ ll be forced to offer takeout and delivery only .
The constantly changing health rules have left Oyo restaurant in downtown Pleasanton in limbo .
The owner , 60-year-old Maurice Dissels , had to lay off workers earlier this year and might again if the Bay Area is hit with another shutdown order .
“ We have a mixed mindset , ” he said Thursday , while standing outside his Guyanese and South American-style restaurant with his partner and son , Samuel .
“ On one hand , this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like to keep my family and my employees safe .
But at the same time , we ’ re trying to make a living here .
So I ’ m struggling.
” The restaurant is still putting the finishing touches on its new wooden parklet — built to accommodate the prior mandate that allowed just outdoor seating .
In addition to the financial strain on businesses , many in the Bay Area are feeling pandemic fatigue .
After more than eight months of COVID-related restrictions , and with the temptation of social gatherings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s unclear how willing people will be to follow Newsom ’ s new mandates .
To further complicate matters , several politicians — including Newsom , San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo and San Francisco Mayor London Breed — have faced criticism for attending gatherings despite urging their constituents to stay home .
As a result , Newsom got some immediate pushback after announcing the new order .
“ The insanity of another lockdown and expecting a different result is madness , ” California State Senator Melissa Melendez , R – Lake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ To add insult to tremendous injury , the Governor and too many Democrat-elected officials don ’ t even follow their own mandates .
Californians damn well deserve better.
” For counties that don ’ t enforce the new rules , Newsom threatened to withhold federal CARES Act dollars and other pandemic relief funding .
Carol Goedde , 78 , was enjoying lunch at Maggiano ’ s Little Italy restaurant in San Jose ’ s Santana Row on Thursday afternoon when she heard about the governor ’ s new order .
The San @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Recall Gavin Newsom ” petitions since the beginning of the pandemic .
“ He ’ s closing down California and making more people depressed , ” Goedde said .
“ I just think that people should be making their own decisions , and it shouldn ’ t be the governor telling us how to live our lives.
” Pointing to the spaced-out tables and servers wearing masks , Goedde said she felt safe eating outdoors .
• Which Californians will be first to get the virus vaccine ?
• Newsom is asking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ French Laundry outing , will anyone listen ?
• Biden says he ’ ll ask Americans to mask up for 100 days • COVID-19 outbreaks infect more than 230 people at two San Jose nursing homes , 60 in homeless shelter But Bibbins-Domingo said that with COVID cases up , she agrees with Newsom that outdoor dining is too risky .
Many outdoor dining areas have become crowded , and others , as the weather gets colder , are putting up make-shift shelters that limit airflow and could increase virus spread , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , diners take their masks off when eating — compounding the risk .
The new order comes two weeks after Newsom announced a limited , nearly statewide curfew designed to curtail the nighttime movements of Californians and slow the virus ’ spread .
Dr. Mark Ghaly , California ’ s Health and Human Services Secretary , on Thursday admitted the curfew hadn ’ t been as effective as desired — which was part of the reason state officials progressed to a more restrictive order .
The curfew led to “ slight reductions ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant , ” he said .
“ We , of course , had hoped and wanted to see more from that already , but we haven ’ t , ” Ghaly said .
More help is on the way , however .
Newsom expects the state will receive 327,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines between Dec. 12 and 15 .
“ There is light at the end of the tunnel , ” he said .
“ We do not anticipate having to do this once again .
But we really all need to step @ @ @

Marisa Kendall, Evan Webeck, Joseph Geha, Maggie Angst

Facing down what he called the “final surge” of the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday said he expects to shut down many businesses and further restrict residents’ movements in the COVID-weary Bay Area within the next few weeks.
Newsom laid out the strictest widespread shutdown the state has seen since its initial shelter-in-place orders in March, requiring regions to close outdoor restaurant, brewery and winery seating, hair salons and barbershops, playgrounds and other venues if their hospital ICU capacity dips below 15%.
PLEASANTON, CA - Dec. 3: Maureen Nokes and her husband Frank Gomez, of Pleasanton, look at the menu at Strizzi's Restaurant in Pleasanton, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a new, regional stay-at-home order, which will force additional restrictions in any of the five regions of the state where fewer than 15% of intensive care units remain available. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)
SAN JOSE, CA - DEC. 3: Carol Goedde and Jackie Moncreiff enjoy an outdoor lunch at Maggiano's Little Italy restaurant in San Jose, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020. They are not happy with restrictions being placed on the restaurant industry during the coronavirus pandemic. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
PLEASANTON, CA - Dec. 3: Maurice Dissels, of Pleasanton, the owner of Oyo restaurant, stands next to his son Samuel Dissels as he talks about Gov. Gavin Newsom's announcement of the new, regional stay-at-home order in Pleasanton, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020. The new restrictions will go into effect in any of the five regions of the state where fewer than 15% of intensive care units remain available. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)
SAN JOSE, CA - DEC. 3: Cassandra Sanidad, co-owner of Bellarmine Salon in San Jose, Calif., gives a haircut, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020, to a customer after Gov. Newsom announced new COVID-19 guidelines for possible closures to businesses providing personal services. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
PLEASANTON, CA - DECEMBER 3: Sharus Bishop, of Pleasanton, and her daughter Tenley, 10, wait for a haircut appointment in Pleasanton, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020. Bishop and her daughters are getting haircuts before salons are shut down due to a possible stay-at-home order. Governor Gavin Newsom announced a new, regional stay-at-home order, which will force additional restrictions in any of the five regions of the state where fewer than 15% of hospital intensive care units remain available. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)
PLEASANTON, CA - Dec. 3: Isabella Montufar and Alex Azila, both of Fremont, have a meal at Oyo restaurant's newly built outdoor dining area in Pleasanton, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020. Gavin Newsom announced a new, regional stay-at-home order, which will force additional restrictions in any of the five regions of the state where fewer than 15% of intensive care units remain available. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)
PLEASANTON, CA - Dec. 3: Samuel Dissels cleans a table at Oyo restaurant's newly built outdoor dining area in Pleasanton, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020. Gavin Newsom announced a new, regional stay-at-home order, which will force additional restrictions in any of the five regions of the state where fewer than 15% of intensive care units remain available. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)
PLEASANTON, CA - Dec. 3: Frank and Gina Waota, of Elk Grove, get ready to eat a meal at Lokanta Grill & Bar in Pleasanton, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a new, regional stay-at-home order, which will force additional restrictions in any of the five regions of the state where fewer than 15% of intensive care units remain available. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)
PLEASANTON, CA - Dec. 3: A person has a meal at one of the outdoor dining areas in Pleasanton, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020. Outdoor dining may and after Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a new, regional stay-at-home order, which will force additional restrictions in any of the five regions of the state where fewer than 15% of intensive care units remain available. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)
Click here if you are having trouble viewing the slideshow on a mobile device.
The Bay Area “region”– which includes Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano and Sonoma counties — is expected to hit that trigger point by mid-to-late December, Newsom said. For the rest of the state, it likely will be within the next week.
“The bottom line is, if we don’t act now, our hospital system will be overwhelmed,” Newsom said. “If we don’t act now, we’ll continue to see (our) death rate climb. More lives lost.”
The new order comes as more Californians than ever before were hospitalized with COVID-19 this week, and average daily infections continue to rise — hitting a record of nearly 15,000 on Wednesday. About 23% of the state’s ICU beds remain open, but all could be full by mid-December if no action is taken, according to state projections. In Santa Clara County, nearly nine in 10 hospital beds are full, and no hospital has more than five open ICU beds, officials said Wednesday. If Alameda County hospitals continue to fill up, officials there might enact the new stay-at-home order even before required to.
Thursday’s restrictions differ from California’s earliest shelter-in-place orders. Even when a region hits the 15% ICU capacity threshold, retail stores — including shopping centers — can continue conducting business indoors at 20% capacity. Schools that have begun in-person classes will not be forced to stop and go back to distance learning only.
But the order bans all non-essential travel.
Newsom is taking the right steps to avoid the catastrophe that would ensue if California’s hospitals run out of room, said Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, professor and chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at UCSF.
“I think this has the potential to really turn the corner,” she said.
But the new order is likely to hit many Bay Area businesses hard again — including restaurants, which have been forced to bounce back and forth between outdoor-only dining and indoor dining with restrictions. Now, if the Bay Area’s hospital capacity continues to drop, they’ll be forced to offer takeout and delivery only.
The constantly changing health rules have left Oyo restaurant in downtown Pleasanton in limbo. The owner, 60-year-old Maurice Dissels, had to lay off workers earlier this year and might again if the Bay Area is hit with another shutdown order.
“We have a mixed mindset,” he said Thursday, while standing outside his Guyanese and South American-style restaurant with his partner and son, Samuel. “On one hand, this is a family-owned business. I’d like to keep my family and my employees safe. But at the same time, we’re trying to make a living here. So I’m struggling.”
The restaurant is still putting the finishing touches on its new wooden parklet — built to accommodate the prior mandate that allowed just outdoor seating.
In addition to the financial strain on businesses, many in the Bay Area are feeling pandemic fatigue. After more than eight months of COVID-related restrictions, and with the temptation of social gatherings particularly strong during the holiday season, it’s unclear how willing people will be to follow Newsom’s new mandates. To further complicate matters, several politicians — including Newsom, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo and San Francisco Mayor London Breed — have faced criticism for attending gatherings despite urging their constituents to stay home.
As a result, Newsom got some immediate pushback after announcing the new order.
“The insanity of another lockdown and expecting a different result is madness,” California State Senator Melissa Melendez, R – Lake Elsinore, said in a statement. “To add insult to tremendous injury, the Governor and too many Democrat-elected officials don’t even follow their own mandates. Californians damn well deserve better.”
For counties that don’t enforce the new rules, Newsom threatened to withhold federal CARES Act dollars and other pandemic relief funding.
Carol Goedde, 78, was enjoying lunch at Maggiano’s Little Italy restaurant in San Jose’s Santana Row on Thursday afternoon when she heard about the governor’s new order. The San Jose resident said she has signed multiple “Recall Gavin Newsom” petitions since the beginning of the pandemic.
“He’s closing down California and making more people depressed,” Goedde said. “I just think that people should be making their own decisions, and it shouldn’t be the governor telling us how to live our lives.”
Pointing to the spaced-out tables and servers wearing masks, Goedde said she felt safe eating outdoors.
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Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms Health | COVID Q&A: Can I use an expired test? Time to get boosted? How to cope with California’s sneaky summer surge But Bibbins-Domingo said that with COVID cases up, she agrees with Newsom that outdoor dining is too risky. Many outdoor dining areas have become crowded, and others, as the weather gets colder, are putting up make-shift shelters that limit airflow and could increase virus spread, she said. And on top of that, diners take their masks off when eating — compounding the risk.
The new order comes two weeks after Newsom announced a limited, nearly statewide curfew designed to curtail the nighttime movements of Californians and slow the virus’ spread. Dr. Mark Ghaly, California’s Health and Human Services Secretary, on Thursday admitted the curfew hadn’t been as effective as desired — which was part of the reason state officials progressed to a more restrictive order. The curfew led to “slight reductions” in nighttime movement but “nothing too significant,” he said.
“We, of course, had hoped and wanted to see more from that already, but we haven’t,” Ghaly said.
More help is on the way, however. Newsom expects the state will receive 327,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines between Dec. 12 and 15.
“There is light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “We do not anticipate having to do this once again. But we really all need to step up.”
Staff writer John Woolfolk contributed.