mercurynews--2020-12-05--Santa Clara County Housing Authority workers protest high caseloads, not working remotely

About two dozen Santa Clara County Housing Authority union workers gathered in San Jose Saturday for a car caravan outside a board commissioner ’ s house , protesting what they describe as high caseloads and unfair working conditions amid the COVID-19 pandemic .
Members of SEIU Local 521 met up early Saturday morning at Galarza Elementary School at Bird and Pine avenues , their cars decked out with signs like “ Fair Contract , ” before driving around the block of board commissioner Kathy Espinoza-Howard ’ s home , honking as they went .
Since their three-year contract expired in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tried to push higher caseloads upon them — even after reducing hours — which makes it hard to keep up with clients .
And meanwhile the 70 union members say they aren ’ t allowed to work from home like non-union employees , making them fearful of COVID-19 exposures .
“ It ’ s very , very stressful for us , because we want to get back to our clients quickly , but with the workload , it ’ s very hard to do that , ” said Alma Gallegos , 54 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 20 years and handles around 400 cases at a time .
“ Our caseloads are so big , and it ’ s not manageable.
” The Santa Clara County Housing Authority manages federal rental assistance programs , also known as Section 8 vouchers , for around 17,000 households across the county .
Housing program managers oversee the flow of new and existing applicants , working closely with individuals and families seeking help .
When reached by phone Saturday , Housing Authority Executive Director Katherine Harasz acknowledged that workers feel pressed for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But with about 3,400 people on the waitlist since 2006 for rental assistance , she said , the agency has an obligation to continue processing cases .
“ This is a time when people feel they ’ re really in need , ” Harasz said , adding of the negotiations , “ I really believe that we can resolve whatever issues we have for the better of the community , and I look forward to continuing to meet at the table.
” Program managers were overworked before the pandemic , said Cory Noltensmeier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has worked at the Authority for 15 years .
But now management wants to increase workers ’ caseloads to around 500 cases at a time , he said .
“ With the higher caseloads , you get a community that isn ’ t served well , because we can ’ t provide the customer service that we used to , ” Noltensmeier said .
“ What we ’ re trying to tell them is that it ’ s not conducive to a good work environment.
” Although workers have been told that their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they access private client information , other employees with the same access are allowed to work remotely , the union alleges .
That prompted SEIU to file a complaint with the California Public Employment Relations Board about six weeks ago .
Harasz contends that the employees are more intimately involved in day-to-day case management , heightening the need for privacy , as compared to those who work remotely .
With contract negotiations ongoing , SEIU has hosted two previous car caravans this fall at the homes of Housing Authority leaders , including the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the board .
As the car caravan circled the block , several neighbors came outside to observe the commotion — although the commissioner herself was not among them .
Resident Nima Pakravan , 42 , said that he supported the cause but was frustrated that his quiet Saturday morning had been disrupted .
• East Bay protesters focus on suburbs to bring about change “ I don ’ t know how I can help them , ” Pakravan said , adding , “ I would be very supportive of what they need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ picked a different method to do this.
” Workers said that getting the block ’ s attention was exactly what they aimed to do .
“ It ’ s one day for him , and it ’ s been nine months for us , ” said worker Iris Sanchez .

About two dozen Santa Clara County Housing Authority union workers gathered in San Jose Saturday for a car caravan outside a board commissioner’s house, protesting what they describe as high caseloads and unfair working conditions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Members of SEIU Local 521 met up early Saturday morning at Galarza Elementary School at Bird and Pine avenues, their cars decked out with signs like “Fair Contract,” before driving around the block of board commissioner Kathy Espinoza-Howard’s home, honking as they went.
Since their three-year contract expired in June, workers said, management has tried to push higher caseloads upon them — even after reducing hours — which makes it hard to keep up with clients. And meanwhile the 70 union members say they aren’t allowed to work from home like non-union employees, making them fearful of COVID-19 exposures.
“It’s very, very stressful for us, because we want to get back to our clients quickly, but with the workload, it’s very hard to do that,” said Alma Gallegos, 54, who has worked at the department for more than 20 years and handles around 400 cases at a time. “Our caseloads are so big, and it’s not manageable.”
The Santa Clara County Housing Authority manages federal rental assistance programs, also known as Section 8 vouchers, for around 17,000 households across the county. Housing program managers oversee the flow of new and existing applicants, working closely with individuals and families seeking help.
When reached by phone Saturday, Housing Authority Executive Director Katherine Harasz acknowledged that workers feel pressed for time given their reduced six-hour workday. But with about 3,400 people on the waitlist since 2006 for rental assistance, she said, the agency has an obligation to continue processing cases.
“This is a time when people feel they’re really in need,” Harasz said, adding of the negotiations, “I really believe that we can resolve whatever issues we have for the better of the community, and I look forward to continuing to meet at the table.”
Program managers were overworked before the pandemic, said Cory Noltensmeier, 46, a Livermore resident who has worked at the Authority for 15 years. But now management wants to increase workers’ caseloads to around 500 cases at a time, he said.
“With the higher caseloads, you get a community that isn’t served well, because we can’t provide the customer service that we used to,” Noltensmeier said. “What we’re trying to tell them is that it’s not conducive to a good work environment.”
Although workers have been told that their jobs require being in the office because they access private client information, other employees with the same access are allowed to work remotely, the union alleges. That prompted SEIU to file a complaint with the California Public Employment Relations Board about six weeks ago.
Harasz contends that the employees are more intimately involved in day-to-day case management, heightening the need for privacy, as compared to those who work remotely.
With contract negotiations ongoing, SEIU has hosted two previous car caravans this fall at the homes of Housing Authority leaders, including the deputy executive director and the chair of the board.
As the car caravan circled the block, several neighbors came outside to observe the commotion — although the commissioner herself was not among them. Resident Nima Pakravan, 42, said that he supported the cause but was frustrated that his quiet Saturday morning had been disrupted.
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Workers said that getting the block’s attention was exactly what they aimed to do.
“It’s one day for him, and it’s been nine months for us,” said worker Iris Sanchez.


mercurynews--2020-12-05--The Latest: Oregon doc’s anti-mask comment draws suspension

By The Associated Press SALEM , Ore. — The Oregon Medical Board has suspended the medical license of a doctor who said at a pro-Trump rally that he doesn ’ t wear a mask at his Dallas , Oregon , clinic .
KGW-TV reported Friday that Dr. Steven LaTulippe also said at the November rally that he also encourages others not to wear masks .
The medical board voted this week to suspend LaTulippe ’ s license immediately due to concerns about patient safety .
LaTulippe did not respond to a request for comment from KGW-TV and has previously declined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much of the U.S. is threatening to overwhelm hospitals in California .
Southern California , five San Francisco Bay Area counties and the San Joaquin Valley have imposed new , tighter restrictions that will take effect Sunday .
In Moscow , thousands of doctors , teachers and others in high-risk groups have signed up for COVID-19 vaccinations ahead of a Russia-wide immunization effort , though the Russian-designed vaccine has yet to complete the advanced studies needed to ensure its effectiveness and safety .
HERE ’ S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING : ST. LOUIS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have started treating adult patients as area hospitals struggle to keep up with rising coronavirus cases .
Dr. Marya Strand , chief medical officer for SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children ’ s Hospital , told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that is treating adults who don ’ t have COVID-19 to take some of the pressure off other hospitals .
St. Louis Children ’ s Hospital also has opened its doors to adults .
About 1,054 people were hospitalized in the St. Louis area Wednesday for COVID-19 , including 221 patients in intensive care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 82 % capacity for in-patient beds and 81 % capacity for ICU beds .
Staff at SSM Health and BJC Healthcare children ’ s hospitals have also started volunteering to work at other overwhelmed hospitals .
PHOENIX — Arizona health officials used a blunt tone Saturday as the state reported 6,799 coronavirus cases , the second-highest daily increase since the start of the pandemic .
The Department of Health Services says on Twitter that people should wear masks “ around anyone who isn ’ t a member of your household , even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the department ’ s director , Dr. Cara Christ , says individuals “ must take precautions as if we may be infected .
And we must act as though anyone we are around may be infected.
” The cases reported Saturday trailed only the record 10,322 cases reported Tuesday .
Officials have said record high included data delayed by the Thanksgiving holiday weekend .
There were four daily reports of more than 5,000 cases this week .
The hospitalizations for coronavirus rose to 2,931 on Friday , five times as many since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ducey has not ordered a statewide mask mandate or curfews .
The state reported 40 deaths on Saturday .
Arizona has 358,900 total cases and 6,935 confirmed deaths .
ROME — Italy had more than 21,000 daily coronavirus cases and added 662 deaths in the last 24 hours .
The 21,052 new cases raised Italy ’ s total to nearly 1.6 million .
There ’ s been 59,514 confirmed deaths , the second-highest toll in Europe behind Britain ’ s toll .
This week , Italy ’ s Premier Giuseppe Conte signed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Jan. 6 , national Epiphany Day holiday .
Conte hopes that will prevent holiday vacations that could fuel contagion .
RALEIGH , N.C. — North Carolina reported a record increase in cases of the coronavirus and hospitalizations on Saturday .
The state reported 6,018 cases since Friday and 2,171 people with coronavirus in the hospitals .
That ’ s up 14 from a day earlier .
“ In less than a week , we went from exceeding 5,000 new cases reported in one day to exceeding 6,000 , ” said Dr. Mandy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secretary .
“ This is very worrisome .
This indicates we have even more viral spread across our state right now.
” North Carolina has a record number of people in intensive care , Cohen says .
Another 49 people have died , bringing the confirmed total to 5,516 , the health department says .
OKLAHOMA CITY — There were 4,370 newly reported coronavirus cases Saturday in Oklahoma .
The rolling averages of cases rose from 2,843 per day on Nov. 20 to 3,044 on Friday .
The daily average of deaths increased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same period , according to data by Johns Hopkins University .
The increase is due largely to community spread , according Dr. Dale Bratzler of the University Oklahoma medical center .
He says , “ it ’ s typically places like restaurants , bars , gyms , places of worship.
” Oklahoma has 213,245 total confirmed cases .
There were 14 more deaths reported Saturday , bringing the total to 1,874 confirmed deaths .
BOISE , Idaho — National Guard troops are directing people outside a Boise urgent-care clinic revamped into a facility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Idaho ’ s attempt to hold the coronavirus in check is failing as infections and deaths surge .
They ’ ve halted elective surgeries to save bed space .
Inside Primary Health Medical Group ’ s clinic , physician assistant Nicole Thomas works extra 12-hour shifts .
She dons protective gear to examine 36 patients a day with symptoms .
Some days , she says , half test positive for coronavirus .
In a state where many citizens are resisting pandemic restrictions , overworked staff are getting sick or quitting to avoid the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days to get an appointment for a test .
Primary Health officials say they ’ ll turn three more facilities into COVID-19 clinics by Dec. 30 .
More than 1,000 people have died from the coronavirus in Idaho .
Confirmed infections have surpassed 100,000 .
DETROIT — Michigan state health officials reported more than 8,600 daily confirmed cases on Friday and 81 deaths .
“ When we look at the number of daily deaths , we have doubled in numbers of daily deaths , again nationally and regionally in the past couple of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive vice president and chief clinical officer for Henry Ford Health System in Detroit .
He ’ s concerned about the possibility of travel and family gatherings at the holidays .
Munkarah says the health system currently has 576 employees out because they have tested positive , have pending tests or are quarantined because of close contact .
That number is up nearly 200 workers from a week ago , he says .
LONDON — The leader of Britain ’ s main opposition party is in 14-day quarantine after a member of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A spokesman for Labour Party leader Keir Starmer says he hasn ’ t shown symptoms but would work from home until Dec. 16 .
It is the second time Starmer has self-isolated .
In September , one of his children developed possible symptoms of the virus , but a test came back negative two days later .
Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson was hospitalized with COVID-19 in April .
Last month , he also self-isolated for 14 days after contact with a lawmaker who tested positive .
LISBON , Portugal — Portugal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the coronavirus may be eased during the Christmas holidays if the coronavirus numbers continue a downward trend .
António Costa asked the country to take seriously the existing limitations , including partial curfews and a ban on driving from 1 p.m. during the next two weekends .
He says the weeks up to Christmas will be key to make holiday gatherings possible .
The government will assess on Dec. 18 whether to give the final go-ahead to travel between different towns from Dec. 23-26 , although there will be a 2 a.m. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Costa says .
If cases grow again , he says the government will “ apply the handbrake.
” Portugal has 318,000 coronavirus cases and more than 4,800 confirmed deaths .
WASHINGTON — Coronavirus infections continue to spread at record levels in the United States , reaching a new daily high of nearly 228,000 cases on Friday .
The 227,885 cases eclipses the previous high of more than 217,000 on Thursday , according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University .
The seven-day rolling average of COVID-19 attributable deaths in the U.S. has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spring .
It reached 2,011 on Friday .
Two weeks ago , the seven-day average was 1,448 .
There were 2,607 deaths reported in the U.S. on Friday .
Globally , Johns Hopkins reports more than 1.5 million people have died from the coronavirus pandemic , including more than 279,000 in the United States .
MOSCOW — Thousands of doctors , teachers and others in high-risk groups signed up Saturday for coronavirus vaccinations in Moscow .
The vaccination effort comes three days after President Vladimir Putin ordered the launch of a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian-designed vaccine has yet to complete the advanced studies needed to ensure its effectiveness and safety in line with established scientific protocols .
The Russian leader said Wednesday that more than 2 million doses of the Sputnik V shot will be available in the next few days , allowing authorities to offer shots to medical workers and teachers across the country starting late next week .
On Saturday , Russia reported a record 28,782 daily cases , including 7,993 in Moscow .
Russia ’ s 2.4 million confirmed cases is the fourth-largest caseload @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , India and Brazil .
NEW DELHI — India has registered 36,652 confirmed coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours .
India ’ s health ministry on Saturday also recorded 512 deaths in the past 24 hours , taking total deaths to nearly 140,000 .
The pace of new cases has seen a downward trend , with single-day cases remaining below the 50,000 mark for a month .
India has 9.6 million total cases , second behind the U.S. with 14.3 million .
But globally it has one of the lowest deaths per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ministry .
India ’ s home ministry has allowed states to impose local restrictions , such as night curfews .
It has asked state officials to consult before imposing lockdowns at state , district or city levels .
HARTFORD , Conn. — Connecticut Gov .
Ned Lamont has signed an order allowing the state Department of Labor to expand eligibility for a federal pandemic unemployment program to an estimated 38,000 people who were previously disqualified .
Under Friday ’ s order , $ 7.5 million from the state ’ s unemployment trust fund @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are unemployed due to the coronavirus outbreak and were previously disqualified from receiving the temporary , extra financial benefit receive at least $ 100 a week in unemployment benefits .
That would then make them eligible retroactively for an additional $ 300 under the federal Lost Wages Assistance Program .
More than 160,000 Connecticut residents already received the supplemental federal benefits , resulting in a total of $ 370 million being allocated over six weeks , from July 26 to Sept. 5 .
CASPER , Wyo .
— An official in Wyoming ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s response to the coronavirus is questioning the legitimacy of the pandemic and describes a forthcoming vaccine as a biological weapon .
The Casper Star-Tribune reports that Igor Shepherd called COVID-19 a “ so-called pandemic ” at a Nov. 10 event in Loveland , Colorado .
It says Shepherd described efforts to develop a vaccine as a plot by Russia and China to spread communism worldwide .
Shepherd was introduced as a Wyoming Department of Health employee before his presentation .
Wyoming Gov .
Mark Gordon and other top state officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ N.J. — The FBI is telling anyone who underwent a coronavirus test at a New Jersey laboratory to get retested and to contact the agency .
In a statement Friday on Twitter , the FBI ’ s Newark office urges people who were recently tested for the virus at Infinity Diagnostic Laboratory in Ventnor “ to be retested as soon as possible.
” It also asks that anyone who was administered a finger-prick blood test at the laboratory to contact a victim assistance unit at the FBI .
The announcement gave no further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the FBI seeking further information was not immediately returned .
Voicemail for the company ’ s operations director Friday evening said it was closed and didn ’ t offer the opportunity to leave a message .
NASHVILLE , Tenn. — Tennessee Gov .
Bill Lee has authorized medically trained National Guard soldiers to fill nursing roles , drive ambulances and perform coronavirus testing for hospitals that are overstretched with coronavirus patients .
The order Friday allows the adjutant general to send hospitals reinforcements from the Tennessee National Guard .
The state is focusing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including those serving in coronavirus testing roles statewide , but not those currently serving in civilian jobs in health care .
State health officials decline to identify which hospitals have expressed interest , but say there is need statewide .
The state reports 2,485 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 , with only 14 % of floor beds and 8 % of ICU beds available .
SAN FRANCISCO — The health officers in six San Francisco Bay Area regions issued a new stay-at-home order Friday as the number of virus cases surge and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effect for most of the area at 10 p.m. Sunday and last through Jan. 4 .
The counties have not yet reached Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s threshold announced a day earlier requiring such an order when 85 % of ICU beds at regional hospitals are full , but officials said the hospital system will be overwhelmed before the end of December when Newsom ’ s order would apply .
It comes the same day the state recorded another daily record number of cases , with 22,018 , and hospitalizations topped 9,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will have to close to both indoor and outdoor dining , bars and wineries must close along with hair and nail salons and playgrounds .
Retail stores and shopping centers can operate with just 20 % customer capacity .
Gatherings of any size with people outside of your household are banned .

By The Associated Press
SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Medical Board has suspended the medical license of a doctor who said at a pro-Trump rally that he doesn’t wear a mask at his Dallas, Oregon, clinic.
KGW-TV reported Friday that Dr. Steven LaTulippe also said at the November rally that he also encourages others not to wear masks.
A state order requires health care workers to wear a mask in health care settings.
The medical board voted this week to suspend LaTulippe’s license immediately due to concerns about patient safety.
LaTulippe did not respond to a request for comment from KGW-TV and has previously declined to comment.
___
THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:
A coronavirus surge hitting much of the U.S. is threatening to overwhelm hospitals in California. Southern California, five San Francisco Bay Area counties and the San Joaquin Valley have imposed new, tighter restrictions that will take effect Sunday.
In Moscow, thousands of doctors, teachers and others in high-risk groups have signed up for COVID-19 vaccinations ahead of a Russia-wide immunization effort, though the Russian-designed vaccine has yet to complete the advanced studies needed to ensure its effectiveness and safety.
___
Follow AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
___
HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:
ST. LOUIS — St. Louis children’s hospitals have started treating adult patients as area hospitals struggle to keep up with rising coronavirus cases.
Dr. Marya Strand, chief medical officer for SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that is treating adults who don’t have COVID-19 to take some of the pressure off other hospitals. St. Louis Children’s Hospital also has opened its doors to adults.
About 1,054 people were hospitalized in the St. Louis area Wednesday for COVID-19, including 221 patients in intensive care units. St. Louis-area hospitals are at about 82% capacity for in-patient beds and 81% capacity for ICU beds.
Staff at SSM Health and BJC Healthcare children’s hospitals have also started volunteering to work at other overwhelmed hospitals.
__
PHOENIX — Arizona health officials used a blunt tone Saturday as the state reported 6,799 coronavirus cases, the second-highest daily increase since the start of the pandemic.
The Department of Health Services says on Twitter that people should wear masks “around anyone who isn’t a member of your household, even those you know and trust.”
Similarly, the department’s director, Dr. Cara Christ, says individuals “must take precautions as if we may be infected. And we must act as though anyone we are around may be infected.”
The cases reported Saturday trailed only the record 10,322 cases reported Tuesday. Officials have said record high included data delayed by the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. There were four daily reports of more than 5,000 cases this week.
The hospitalizations for coronavirus rose to 2,931 on Friday, five times as many since early October. Republican Gov. Doug Ducey has not ordered a statewide mask mandate or curfews.
The state reported 40 deaths on Saturday. Arizona has 358,900 total cases and 6,935 confirmed deaths.
___
ROME — Italy had more than 21,000 daily coronavirus cases and added 662 deaths in the last 24 hours.
The 21,052 new cases raised Italy’s total to nearly 1.6 million. There’s been 59,514 confirmed deaths, the second-highest toll in Europe behind Britain’s toll.
This week, Italy’s Premier Giuseppe Conte signed a decree limiting travel between regions Dec. 21 to Jan. 6, national Epiphany Day holiday. Conte hopes that will prevent holiday vacations that could fuel contagion.
___
RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina reported a record increase in cases of the coronavirus and hospitalizations on Saturday.
The state reported 6,018 cases since Friday and 2,171 people with coronavirus in the hospitals. That’s up 14 from a day earlier.
“In less than a week, we went from exceeding 5,000 new cases reported in one day to exceeding 6,000,” said Dr. Mandy Cohen, the state’s health secretary. “This is very worrisome. This indicates we have even more viral spread across our state right now.”
North Carolina has a record number of people in intensive care, Cohen says. Another 49 people have died, bringing the confirmed total to 5,516, the health department says.
___
OKLAHOMA CITY — There were 4,370 newly reported coronavirus cases Saturday in Oklahoma.
The rolling averages of cases rose from 2,843 per day on Nov. 20 to 3,044 on Friday. The daily average of deaths increased from 15 daily to 22 during the same period, according to data by Johns Hopkins University.
The increase is due largely to community spread, according Dr. Dale Bratzler of the University Oklahoma medical center. He says, “it’s typically places like restaurants, bars, gyms, places of worship.”
Oklahoma has 213,245 total confirmed cases. There were 14 more deaths reported Saturday, bringing the total to 1,874 confirmed deaths.
___
BOISE, Idaho — National Guard troops are directing people outside a Boise urgent-care clinic revamped into a facility for coronavirus patients.
Health officials say Idaho’s attempt to hold the coronavirus in check is failing as infections and deaths surge. They’ve halted elective surgeries to save bed space.
Inside Primary Health Medical Group’s clinic, physician assistant Nicole Thomas works extra 12-hour shifts. She dons protective gear to examine 36 patients a day with symptoms. Some days, she says, half test positive for coronavirus.
In a state where many citizens are resisting pandemic restrictions, overworked staff are getting sick or quitting to avoid the stress. It takes at least two days to get an appointment for a test. Primary Health officials say they’ll turn three more facilities into COVID-19 clinics by Dec. 30.
More than 1,000 people have died from the coronavirus in Idaho. Confirmed infections have surpassed 100,000.
___
DETROIT — Michigan state health officials reported more than 8,600 daily confirmed cases on Friday and 81 deaths.
“When we look at the number of daily deaths, we have doubled in numbers of daily deaths, again nationally and regionally in the past couple of weeks,” Dr. Adnan Munkarah, executive vice president and chief clinical officer for Henry Ford Health System in Detroit.
He’s concerned about the possibility of travel and family gatherings at the holidays.
Munkarah says the health system currently has 576 employees out because they have tested positive, have pending tests or are quarantined because of close contact.
That number is up nearly 200 workers from a week ago, he says.
___
LONDON — The leader of Britain’s main opposition party is in 14-day quarantine after a member of his office staff tested positive for the coronavirus.
A spokesman for Labour Party leader Keir Starmer says he hasn’t shown symptoms but would work from home until Dec. 16.
It is the second time Starmer has self-isolated. In September, one of his children developed possible symptoms of the virus, but a test came back negative two days later.
Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson was hospitalized with COVID-19 in April. Last month, he also self-isolated for 14 days after contact with a lawmaker who tested positive.
___
LISBON, Portugal — Portugal’s prime minister says current restrictions against the coronavirus may be eased during the Christmas holidays if the coronavirus numbers continue a downward trend.
António Costa asked the country to take seriously the existing limitations, including partial curfews and a ban on driving from 1 p.m. during the next two weekends. He says the weeks up to Christmas will be key to make holiday gatherings possible.
The government will assess on Dec. 18 whether to give the final go-ahead to travel between different towns from Dec. 23-26, although there will be a 2 a.m. curfew for both Christmas Eve and Day, Costa says.
If cases grow again, he says the government will “apply the handbrake.”
Portugal has 318,000 coronavirus cases and more than 4,800 confirmed deaths.
___
WASHINGTON — Coronavirus infections continue to spread at record levels in the United States, reaching a new daily high of nearly 228,000 cases on Friday.
The 227,885 cases eclipses the previous high of more than 217,000 on Thursday, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
The seven-day rolling average of COVID-19 attributable deaths in the U.S. has passed 2,000 for the first time since the spring. It reached 2,011 on Friday. Two weeks ago, the seven-day average was 1,448. There were 2,607 deaths reported in the U.S. on Friday.
Globally, Johns Hopkins reports more than 1.5 million people have died from the coronavirus pandemic, including more than 279,000 in the United States.
___
MOSCOW — Thousands of doctors, teachers and others in high-risk groups signed up Saturday for coronavirus vaccinations in Moscow.
The vaccination effort comes three days after President Vladimir Putin ordered the launch of a “large-scale” immunization campaign even though a Russian-designed vaccine has yet to complete the advanced studies needed to ensure its effectiveness and safety in line with established scientific protocols.
The Russian leader said Wednesday that more than 2 million doses of the Sputnik V shot will be available in the next few days, allowing authorities to offer shots to medical workers and teachers across the country starting late next week.
On Saturday, Russia reported a record 28,782 daily cases, including 7,993 in Moscow. Russia’s 2.4 million confirmed cases is the fourth-largest caseload in the world behind the United States, India and Brazil.
There’s been 42,684 total confirmed deaths in Russia.
___
NEW DELHI — India has registered 36,652 confirmed coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours.
India’s health ministry on Saturday also recorded 512 deaths in the past 24 hours, taking total deaths to nearly 140,000. The pace of new cases has seen a downward trend, with single-day cases remaining below the 50,000 mark for a month.
India has 9.6 million total cases, second behind the U.S. with 14.3 million. But globally it has one of the lowest deaths per million population, according to the Health Ministry.
India’s home ministry has allowed states to impose local restrictions, such as night curfews. It has asked state officials to consult before imposing lockdowns at state, district or city levels.
___
HARTFORD, Conn. — Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont has signed an order allowing the state Department of Labor to expand eligibility for a federal pandemic unemployment program to an estimated 38,000 people who were previously disqualified.
Under Friday’s order, $7.5 million from the state’s unemployment trust fund will be used make sure residents who are unemployed due to the coronavirus outbreak and were previously disqualified from receiving the temporary, extra financial benefit receive at least $100 a week in unemployment benefits.
That would then make them eligible retroactively for an additional $300 under the federal Lost Wages Assistance Program.
More than 160,000 Connecticut residents already received the supplemental federal benefits, resulting in a total of $370 million being allocated over six weeks, from July 26 to Sept. 5.
___
CASPER, Wyo. — An official in Wyoming’s Department of Health involved in the state’s response to the coronavirus is questioning the legitimacy of the pandemic and describes a forthcoming vaccine as a biological weapon.
The Casper Star-Tribune reports that Igor Shepherd called COVID-19 a “so-called pandemic” at a Nov. 10 event in Loveland, Colorado. It says Shepherd described efforts to develop a vaccine as a plot by Russia and China to spread communism worldwide.
Shepherd was introduced as a Wyoming Department of Health employee before his presentation.
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon and other top state officials have declined to comment.
___
VENTNOR, N.J. — The FBI is telling anyone who underwent a coronavirus test at a New Jersey laboratory to get retested and to contact the agency.
In a statement Friday on Twitter, the FBI’s Newark office urges people who were recently tested for the virus at Infinity Diagnostic Laboratory in Ventnor “to be retested as soon as possible.” It also asks that anyone who was administered a finger-prick blood test at the laboratory to contact a victim assistance unit at the FBI.
The announcement gave no further details, and a message left with the FBI seeking further information was not immediately returned.
Voicemail for the company’s operations director Friday evening said it was closed and didn’t offer the opportunity to leave a message.
___
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has authorized medically trained National Guard soldiers to fill nursing roles, drive ambulances and perform coronavirus testing for hospitals that are overstretched with coronavirus patients.
The order Friday allows the adjutant general to send hospitals reinforcements from the Tennessee National Guard. The state is focusing on troops who are actively assigned, including those serving in coronavirus testing roles statewide, but not those currently serving in civilian jobs in health care.
State health officials decline to identify which hospitals have expressed interest, but say there is need statewide.
The state reports 2,485 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19, with only 14% of floor beds and 8% of ICU beds available.
___
SAN FRANCISCO — The health officers in six San Francisco Bay Area regions issued a new stay-at-home order Friday as the number of virus cases surge and hospitals fill.
The changes will take effect for most of the area at 10 p.m. Sunday and last through Jan. 4. The counties have not yet reached Gov. Gavin Newsom’s threshold announced a day earlier requiring such an order when 85% of ICU beds at regional hospitals are full, but officials said the hospital system will be overwhelmed before the end of December when Newsom’s order would apply.
It comes the same day the state recorded another daily record number of cases, with 22,018, and hospitalizations topped 9,000 for first time.
It means restaurants will have to close to both indoor and outdoor dining, bars and wineries must close along with hair and nail salons and playgrounds. Retail stores and shopping centers can operate with just 20% customer capacity. Gatherings of any size with people outside of your household are banned.
___


mercurynews--2020-12-05--On the edge of a key COVID-19 decision: Five questions answered

WASHINGTON — The coming week could mark an early turning point in the U.S. battle against COVID-19 .
Advisers to the Food and Drug Administration are set to review the first vaccine and their guidance could speed authorization , clearing the way to making it a top weapon against the virus .
An advisory panel made of top medical experts will help the agency gain outside perspective in reviewing an experimental shot from Pfizer Inc. and its German partner BioNTech SE before any final ruling is made on whether its use can be authorized on an emergency basis .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are five key points to help clarify the approval process : Queston : Why are they meeting ?
Answer : FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn pledged earlier this year to hold public advisory committee meetings for each COVID-19 vaccine that seeks emergency authorization .
That vow came after trust in the agency , as well as any vaccine that might be made available , waned following President Donald Trump ’ s push for a vaccine to be approved ahead of the presidential election in early November .
A : Two days before the panel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lengthy session , the advisers and the public will get their first hint of the agency ’ s view of the clinical trial data with the release of extensive briefing documents and comments from the FDA staff .
The briefing documents are also likely to include questions the FDA wants its advisers to answer as well as specific wording for any final vote .
Typically , advisory committees vote at the end of a meeting to indicate whether they think the FDA should approve the product under review , but not always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the recommendations ?
A : No .
The agency often is in agreement with an advisory committee , but there have been instances where it takes the opposite stance .
Hahn has said he is leaving the final decisions up to Peter Marks , the head of the agency center that oversees vaccines , and other top officials in that office .
Marks and the others in his office are career officials with the agency while Hahn was appointed by Trump .
Q : What happens after the advisers are done ?
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for FDA authorization that range from a few days to a few weeks following the meeting .
The time line really depends on how straightforward the clinical trial data is .
Pfizer , in news releases , has said the vaccine appears to be safe and 95 % effective , though the company hasn ’ t gone into great detail .
But any complications within the data could extend the time as the FDA staff seeks to determine who the vaccine is best suited for , based on age or other factors including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ side effects or were not studied widely enough .
Operation Warp Speed officials expect to start distributing the vaccine within 24 hours of FDA authorization , with as many as 6.4 million doses immediately available .
A separate advisory panel for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that the first doses go to health care workers and long-term care residents , though states get the ultimate say .
Q : Is that it ?
A : Not by a long shot .
The FDA wants vaccine makers that gain emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as possible .
The agency is granting emergency clearance based on two months of safety follow-up after trial participants received the last shot in a two-dose regimen .
Full approval requires six months .
This may prove difficult as vaccines become more available and people drop out of trials if they think they ’ re getting a placebo .
Meanwhile , other U.S. programs will be tracking potential adverse effects in the public that weren ’ t seen in the clinical trials .
• With 15 COVID cases among employees , Barstow City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Coronavirus was 49ers ’ Trent Williams ’ toughest opponent in career that included cancer bout Medical experts including Dr. Anthony Fauci , the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , have said it could take until late spring to immunize enough people to end the pandemic .
In the meantime , Fauci and other health officials , have said that mask-wearing and social distancing should continue to battle a rising surge in cases .

By Anna Edney | Bloomberg News
WASHINGTON — The coming week could mark an early turning point in the U.S. battle against COVID-19. Advisers to the Food and Drug Administration are set to review the first vaccine and their guidance could speed authorization, clearing the way to making it a top weapon against the virus.
An advisory panel made of top medical experts will help the agency gain outside perspective in reviewing an experimental shot from Pfizer Inc. and its German partner BioNTech SE before any final ruling is made on whether its use can be authorized on an emergency basis.
The meeting is set for Thursday. Here are five key points to help clarify the approval process:
Queston: Why are they meeting?
Answer: FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn pledged earlier this year to hold public advisory committee meetings for each COVID-19 vaccine that seeks emergency authorization. That vow came after trust in the agency, as well as any vaccine that might be made available, waned following President Donald Trump’s push for a vaccine to be approved ahead of the presidential election in early November.
[vemba-video id=”tv/2020/12/05/first-doses-of-covid-19-vaccine-arriving-but-not-enough.cnn”]
Q: What’s the timeline?
A: Two days before the panel meets in what is expected to be a lengthy session, the advisers and the public will get their first hint of the agency’s view of the clinical trial data with the release of extensive briefing documents and comments from the FDA staff.
The briefing documents are also likely to include questions the FDA wants its advisers to answer as well as specific wording for any final vote. Typically, advisory committees vote at the end of a meeting to indicate whether they think the FDA should approve the product under review, but not always.
Q: Must the FDA accept the recommendations?
A: No. The agency often is in agreement with an advisory committee, but there have been instances where it takes the opposite stance.
Hahn has said he is leaving the final decisions up to Peter Marks, the head of the agency center that oversees vaccines, and other top officials in that office. Marks and the others in his office are career officials with the agency while Hahn was appointed by Trump.
Q: What happens after the advisers are done?
A: Hahn and Marks have given estimates for FDA authorization that range from a few days to a few weeks following the meeting. The time line really depends on how straightforward the clinical trial data is.
Pfizer, in news releases, has said the vaccine appears to be safe and 95% effective, though the company hasn’t gone into great detail. But any complications within the data could extend the time as the FDA staff seeks to determine who the vaccine is best suited for, based on age or other factors including whether certain groups were found to have side effects or were not studied widely enough.
Operation Warp Speed officials expect to start distributing the vaccine within 24 hours of FDA authorization, with as many as 6.4 million doses immediately available. A separate advisory panel for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that the first doses go to health care workers and long-term care residents, though states get the ultimate say.
Q: Is that it?
A: Not by a long shot. The FDA wants vaccine makers that gain emergency authorization to seek full approval as soon as possible.
The agency is granting emergency clearance based on two months of safety follow-up after trial participants received the last shot in a two-dose regimen. Full approval requires six months.
This may prove difficult as vaccines become more available and people drop out of trials if they think they’re getting a placebo. Meanwhile, other U.S. programs will be tracking potential adverse effects in the public that weren’t seen in the clinical trials.
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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 Medical experts including Dr. Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, have said it could take until late spring to immunize enough people to end the pandemic. In the meantime, Fauci and other health officials, have said that mask-wearing and social distancing should continue to battle a rising surge in cases.
(c)2020 Bloomberg News
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC


mercurynews--2020-12-06--Opinion: California must join Europe as leading Amazon enforcers

California lawmakers have staked their claim as national leaders when it comes to regulating the tech industry in recent years , often demonstrating more in common with their European peers than they do those back home in reining in the power of these tech giants .
Now , with the announcement of new allegations against Amazon coming from Europe , California lawmakers once again have an opportunity to send an unmistakable message and join alongside these regulators to address the unyielding power that Amazon has amassed .
European Union Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager launched an investigation in July 2019 into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abuses — data from its third-party marketplace sellers .
What resulted was a harrowing report that Amazon takes critical data from the 800,000 sellers on its French and Germany websites , such as sales figures , page views , and shipping information , to inform decisions about what products it should sell itself .
California third-party marketplace sellers — those who Amazon has depended on for years to fuel its massive growth — are all too familiar with these accusations .
Working closely with online sellers in the state and worldwide , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pick winners and losers in its marketplace at the expense of these small businesses— and have even had my own products copied by Amazon ’ s private label and offered for sale with preferential placement not available to me as a seller .
If regulators have found these instances of Amazon taking advantage of seller data to benefit its own private label and retail businesses taking place in France and Germany , they can certainly find such instances here in California and across the nation as well .
With more than one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it is clear that the state must get serious about protecting sellers who depend on these online marketplaces for their livelihoods .
Meanwhile , this would not be the first time that officials in California took a leading role in challenging the most dominant tech companies .
California lawmakers looked across the Atlantic when crafting their sweeping data privacy laws , which mirror the European General Data Protection Regulation and are now among the most stringent in the world .
And when it comes to Amazon in particular , California officials have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ footsteps .
In fact , earlier this year Attorney General Xavier Becerra launched his own investigation on how Amazon treats sellers in its online marketplace , with a focus on Amazon ’ s practices for selling its own products in competition with third-party sellers just as Commissioner Vestager has done in the E.U .
There are any number of important measures California lawmakers could take that would help level the playing field .
For instance , third-party sellers should be allowed to file suit in California against Amazon both individually and collectively for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impossible to do now .
At the same time , lawmakers could explore new rules that would prevent Amazon from punishing third-party sellers when Amazon finds them offering a lower price on another e-commerce platform — a hallmark of competition that the company is actively stifling .
Now is the time for California lawmakers to approach these issues with a fresh perspective .
Taking a stand alongside Commissioner Vestager would be a welcome sign to sellers that policymakers in one of the leading states for tech policy , California , are serious in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ field for all competitors on the digital marketplace .
Small businesses in California that depend on the digital marketplace need a champion in their corner .
Lawmakers in the Golden State must take the lead to help support these sellers as we confront this challenge .
Jason Boyce of Simi Valley is a former Top 200 Amazon seller , founder of the Amazon consultancy Avenue7Media , and author of the recently published book “ The Amazon Jungle ” .

California lawmakers have staked their claim as national leaders when it comes to regulating the tech industry in recent years, often demonstrating more in common with their European peers than they do those back home in reining in the power of these tech giants. Now, with the announcement of new allegations against Amazon coming from Europe, California lawmakers once again have an opportunity to send an unmistakable message and join alongside these regulators to address the unyielding power that Amazon has amassed.
European Union Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager launched an investigation in July 2019 into whether Amazon misuses — or worse, abuses — data from its third-party marketplace sellers. What resulted was a harrowing report that Amazon takes critical data from the 800,000 sellers on its French and Germany websites, such as sales figures, page views, and shipping information, to inform decisions about what products it should sell itself.
California third-party marketplace sellers — those who Amazon has depended on for years to fuel its massive growth — are all too familiar with these accusations. Working closely with online sellers in the state and worldwide, I have witnessed first-hand how Amazon is able to pick winners and losers in its marketplace at the expense of these small businesses— and have even had my own products copied by Amazon’s private label and offered for sale with preferential placement not available to me as a seller.
If regulators have found these instances of Amazon taking advantage of seller data to benefit its own private label and retail businesses taking place in France and Germany, they can certainly find such instances here in California and across the nation as well. With more than one in five Amazon sellers located in California, it is clear that the state must get serious about protecting sellers who depend on these online marketplaces for their livelihoods.
Meanwhile, this would not be the first time that officials in California took a leading role in challenging the most dominant tech companies. California lawmakers looked across the Atlantic when crafting their sweeping data privacy laws, which mirror the European General Data Protection Regulation and are now among the most stringent in the world.
And when it comes to Amazon in particular, California officials have already begun following in Europe’s footsteps. In fact, earlier this year Attorney General Xavier Becerra launched his own investigation on how Amazon treats sellers in its online marketplace, with a focus on Amazon’s practices for selling its own products in competition with third-party sellers just as Commissioner Vestager has done in the E.U.
There are any number of important measures California lawmakers could take that would help level the playing field. For instance, third-party sellers should be allowed to file suit in California against Amazon both individually and collectively for unfair practices, which current agreements make impossible to do now. At the same time, lawmakers could explore new rules that would prevent Amazon from punishing third-party sellers when Amazon finds them offering a lower price on another e-commerce platform — a hallmark of competition that the company is actively stifling.
Now is the time for California lawmakers to approach these issues with a fresh perspective. Taking a stand alongside Commissioner Vestager would be a welcome sign to sellers that policymakers in one of the leading states for tech policy, California, are serious in their commitment to ensuring a level playing field for all competitors on the digital marketplace.
Small businesses in California that depend on the digital marketplace need a champion in their corner. Lawmakers in the Golden State must take the lead to help support these sellers as we confront this challenge.
Jason Boyce of Simi Valley is a former Top 200 Amazon seller, founder of the Amazon consultancy Avenue7Media, and author of the recently published book “The Amazon Jungle”.


mercurynews--2020-12-06--Walters: Legislative session shaping up to be one for the history books

The California Legislature will reconvene Monday for what may be its most unusual session in the state ’ s 170-year history .
Even the manner of its first meeting of the biennial session will be odd due to concerns about the surging COVID-19 pandemic .
The 80-member state Assembly will initially gather in Sacramento ’ s Golden One basketball arena because its Capitol chambers aren ’ t large enough for individual distancing .
During their fitful meetings in the summer , legislators experimented with various alternatives to in-person committee and floor conclaves , such as telecommuting .
But legislative leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legal , and the unresolved conflict affected what happened during the session ’ s final hours in August .
Even if they work out the mechanics of legislating during a pandemic , it will dominate what legislators do over the next nine months — most obviously in writing a 2021-22 state budget that accounts for a state economy in unpredictable turmoil and uncertain state revenues .
The Capitol ’ s dominant Democrats hope that once Joe Biden is sworn in as president , another massive federal aid package will be enacted to shore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that was curtailed in the 2020-21 budget due to projections of steep revenue declines .
However , it turned out that revenues were less impacted than feared because upper-income Californians , who pay most of the taxes , have maintained their taxable incomes by working from home .
Another pandemic-related issue hanging over the new session is whether lawmakers will allow Gov .
Gavin Newsom to continue running the state under an emergency decree , largely bypassing legislative input .
Legislators were willing to cede authority in the initial stages of the health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year wore on , even Newsom ’ s fellow Democrats began to complain about one-man rule and Republicans challenged his authority in court with some success .
Of course , the pandemic did not erase issues that had been vexing the Legislature for years , such as the state ’ s housing crisis and its close relatives , homelessness and poverty .
In many ways , COVID-19 has worsened them and other problems , such as the “ achievement gap ” in public schools .
Finally , the Legislature itself has changed as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both houses .
The Legislature ’ s most liberal members — they would say “ progressive ” — are becoming more vocal about using those supermajorities to remake California ’ s socioeconomic matrix .
That intent was voiced last week in a New York Times interview with the Legislature ’ s youngest new member , 25-year-old Alex Lee of San Jose .
“ I felt like we have a Democratic ultra , super majority , right ?
We have all the executive positions .
And yet we can ’ t seem to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Lee told the Times .
“ We haven ’ t gotten universal health care , or even close to it .
We haven ’ t guaranteed housing for everyone .
Wealth inequality is out of control .
There ’ s something deeply wrong about that .
And I think that frustration in the system drove me to run .
“ On Dec. 7 , which is swearing-in day , I ’ m going to introduce a bill to prohibit candidates in California from taking corporate money or business entity money and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to incentivize people to opt out .
“ My ultimate goal is to lean on public social housing as a strong alternative means for the production of housing .
Right now , the for-profit market has basically a monopoly on housing production .
And cities and localities basically can only negotiate within those confines.
” Whether Lee and like-minded legislators can advance their left-leaning agenda will be an interesting subtext to what already shapes up as a session for the history books .

The California Legislature will reconvene Monday for what may be its most unusual session in the state’s 170-year history.
Even the manner of its first meeting of the biennial session will be odd due to concerns about the surging COVID-19 pandemic. The 80-member state Assembly will initially gather in Sacramento’s Golden One basketball arena because its Capitol chambers aren’t large enough for individual distancing.
During their fitful meetings in the summer, legislators experimented with various alternatives to in-person committee and floor conclaves, such as telecommuting. But legislative leaders wrangled over what was and was not legal, and the unresolved conflict affected what happened during the session’s final hours in August.
Even if they work out the mechanics of legislating during a pandemic, it will dominate what legislators do over the next nine months — most obviously in writing a 2021-22 state budget that accounts for a state economy in unpredictable turmoil and uncertain state revenues.
The Capitol’s dominant Democrats hope that once Joe Biden is sworn in as president, another massive federal aid package will be enacted to shore up education, welfare and health spending that was curtailed in the 2020-21 budget due to projections of steep revenue declines.
However, it turned out that revenues were less impacted than feared because upper-income Californians, who pay most of the taxes, have maintained their taxable incomes by working from home.
Another pandemic-related issue hanging over the new session is whether lawmakers will allow Gov. Gavin Newsom to continue running the state under an emergency decree, largely bypassing legislative input.
Legislators were willing to cede authority in the initial stages of the health crisis last spring, but as the year wore on, even Newsom’s fellow Democrats began to complain about one-man rule and Republicans challenged his authority in court with some success.
Of course, the pandemic did not erase issues that had been vexing the Legislature for years, such as the state’s housing crisis and its close relatives, homelessness and poverty. In many ways, COVID-19 has worsened them and other problems, such as the “achievement gap” in public schools.
Finally, the Legislature itself has changed as Democrats padded their already immense majorities in both houses. The Legislature’s most liberal members — they would say “progressive” — are becoming more vocal about using those supermajorities to remake California’s socioeconomic matrix.
That intent was voiced last week in a New York Times interview with the Legislature’s youngest new member, 25-year-old Alex Lee of San Jose.
“I felt like we have a Democratic ultra, super majority, right? We have all the executive positions. And yet we can’t seem to do the things that are big and progressive,” Lee told the Times. “We haven’t gotten universal health care, or even close to it. We haven’t guaranteed housing for everyone. Wealth inequality is out of control. There’s something deeply wrong about that. And I think that frustration in the system drove me to run.
“On Dec. 7, which is swearing-in day, I’m going to introduce a bill to prohibit candidates in California from taking corporate money or business entity money and to build a publicly financed election system to incentivize people to opt out.
“My ultimate goal is to lean on public social housing as a strong alternative means for the production of housing. Right now, the for-profit market has basically a monopoly on housing production. And cities and localities basically can only negotiate within those confines.”
Whether Lee and like-minded legislators can advance their left-leaning agenda will be an interesting subtext to what already shapes up as a session for the history books.
Dan Walters is a CalMatters columnist.


mercurynews--2020-12-06--40 plus virtual shows and events in the Bay Area

Just because you ’ re stuck at home during the COVID-19 shutdown doesn ’ t mean you can ’ t explore the greater world .
Here ’ s a sampling of family-friendly shows , concerts , activities and more streaming over the next several weeks .
All-Star Storytime Series with Berkeley Symphony : 11 a.m. Fridays on Berkeley Public Library ’ s Facebook page .
Each week , a Bay Area celebrity will read a beloved children ’ s book with musical accompaniment by members of the Berkeley Symphony .
www.facebook.com/berkeleypubliclibrary/ BATS Improv Online Shows : This San Francisco-based improv @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to bring a little improv magic into homes via Zoom .
At 7:30 p.m. on the night of each show , click the link next to the show you want to see to connect to the BATS virtual theater .
www.improv.org/online-shows/ Bay Area Children ’ s Theatre Creativity Corner : This virtual “ playborhood ” offers kids stories that unfold via video , plus follow-up activities they can do on their own , inspired by the make-believe they ’ ve seen .
Parents can submit their children ’ s creations to BACT , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
https : //bactheatre.org Beat the Lock Escape Room : 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily .
Solve a virtual escape room with your friends via an audio/video call and live feed that lets you play by instructing a game master to search for clues .
$ 25 .
www.beatthelock.com Bringing BADM to You : Bay Area Discovery Museum offers a series of fun , engaging learning experiences to enjoy as a family .
Explore three different themes — science and math , body and brain and talk and play — designed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school and life .
Within each theme , you ’ ll find both step-by-step videos and activities with written-out instructions .
https : //bayareadiscoverymuseum.org/bringing-badm-to-you Broadcast Platform , Marshstream : 7:30 p.m. nightly .
Programming varies by night with offerings including short performances , book/writer discussions , singalongs , storytelling , game nights and more .
Find more information at : www.themarsh.org .
Cal Performances at Home : Available through Dec. 30 .
Featuring Tessa Lark , violin and Andrew Armstrong , piano .
$ 5- $ 60 .
https : //bit.ly/2KXnyXq Coastal Artists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 31 .
All coastal artists in San Mateo County , from Montara to Pescadero , will be featured for virtual sales .
Categories include painters , photographers , jewelers , digital artists , potters , fiber arts/textiles , food and more .
The main festival has been canceled due to COVID-19 closures .
www.madeonthecoast.com Diablo Symphony Orchestra Virtual Concerts : First Thursday of each month .
Featuring works that have been performed and recorded at Lesher Center for the Arts in past years .
www.diablosymphony.org/ 18 Reasons Cooking School : Check out a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may not have everything listed in the equipment and shopping list , but instructors will give you guidance on how to adapt their recipes to what you have access to .
Learn new recipes and techniques .
https : //18reasons.org/ Festival Napa Valley ’ s Remote Ensemble Project : This virtual performance of the “ Va , Pensiero ” chorus from Verdi ’ s opera “ Nabucco ” features instrumentalists and singers from 26 states , eight countries and five continents .
They represent two dozen orchestras , ensembles , opera companies and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ School , San Francisco Conservatory of Music , Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and San Francisco Opera Orchestra .
The performance can be seen on Festival Napa Valley ’ s YouTube channel : https : //youtu.be/jHV9wLvNYxA Funkmode Dance Studio Digital Workouts : Offering free dance videos , including breakdance , hip hop , youth dance party and more .
Find the videos at https : //www.youtube.com/user/FUNKMODE Hillsdale High School Drama — “ Almost , Maine ” : Now through Dec. 13 .
A romantic comedy with student actors playing 19 different characters .
Free .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Theatre Multimedia : Lamplighters brings their wit and musicality to the virtual stage with an inside look into the company and the rich history of Gilbert and Sullivan .
The monthly assortment includes new interviews and video essays , alongside archival vignettes highlighting the best of the company ’ s 68-year performance history .
Free .
lmt.lamplighters.org/patreon Livermore Shakes Educates : A Shakespeare resource webpage for kids and parents , this is an extension of the company ’ s “ So Wise So Young ” program for second , third and fourth graders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Virtual Concerts and Sing-A-Longs : Enjoy free family-friendly , multigenerational and sensory-friendly shows at noon daily on the Magical Bridge Facebook page .
https : //www.facebook.com/pg/MagicalBridge/events/ Moraga Art Gallery Virtual Tour : View the Moraga Art Gallery exhibit and hear artists talk about their work and what motivates them .
Visit the Lamorinda Arts Alliance website for the link to the virtual tour : https : //laa4art.org Mount Diablo Peace & Justice Center 2020 Art & Writing Challenge : Middle and high school students in Contra Costa County are invited to submit visual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ writing and essays on the topic of “ Our Connected Planet.
” No fee .
http : //tinyurl.com/mdpjc-artandwriting2020 “ Dichterliebe ( ‘ A Poet ’ s Love ’ ) ” from Opera San Jose : Available for streaming .
In addition to English supertitles , Opera San Jose has announced plans to offer its virtual performances with Spanish and Vietnamese translations .
$ 15- $ 50 .
www.Operasj.org Once on This Island : Now through Dec. 20 .
Sunnyvale Community Players presents the tale of Ti Moune , a fearless peasant girl in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ready to risk it all for love .
$ 24.95 .
https : //sunnyvaleplayers.org/ Opera San Jose — “ Three Decembers ” : Now through Dec. 31 .
An American opera about family — the ones we are born into and those we create .
$ 40- $ 50 .
www.operasj.org/ Palo Alto Players — Homebound Cabaret Series : Through Dec. 13 .
These at-home cabaret experiences are streamed live with special guests .
“ Holiday Family Sing Along.
” $ 20 to $ 50 .
https : //paplayers.org/season/ Persian and Central @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Zoom with teachers from all over the world including Iran , Kazakhstan , Uzbekistan , Xinxiang and more .
$ 10 to $ 20 .
www.pomegranategardendance.com Playful People Productions Game Nights : 7 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 18 .
Featuring musical theater-themed trivia , dance-offs , bingo , musical chairs and more .
$ 30 .
https : //bit.ly/POPFall2020 Prescott Circus Theatre — The Show Goes On : 5 to 6 p.m. Dec. 17 .
This family-friendly online event features special guest appearances and performances , archival footage of the original Prescott @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Higher Ground stilt dance .
Free .
https : //bit.ly/3mEi1Df Saint Francis Foundation ’ s Hob Nob Gala ‘ Unmaking the Future ’ : 6 p.m. VIP virtual reception , 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. main event , live broadcast , Dec. 12 .
This annual event emceed by Greg Quiroga , includes a VIP and sponsor pre-event cocktail reception and a program of inspiring guests , lively entertainment and a presentation of the 2020 Bella Farrow Award to Dr. Kathleen Jordan , M.D .
$ 50 to $ 500 donation suggested .
saintfrancisfoundation.org/event/hob-nob-2020-virtual-gala @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Virtual Gala : 6 p.m. Dec. 11 .
Join the musicians of San Francisco ’ s only conductorless chamber orchestra for their virtual gala .
Celebrate One Found Sound , hear some incredible music and check out the silent auction .
Orchestral works include Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson ’ s Sinfonietta No .
1 for Strings and Edward Elgar ’ s Enigma Variations .
Free .
https : //bit.ly/38RCf8h School of Rock Remote Lessons : School of Rock is a performance-based music school for ages 5 to adult .
Learn to play drums , guitar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by putting on seasonal rock shows .
The school is offering a combination of one-on-one remote lessons and access to master classes on music theory , songwriting , instrument exploration and genre journeys .
Cost varies .
schoolofrock.com/sanramon Second Saturday @ California Symphony : 7 p.m. solo and ensemble performances include “ Season in Song ” on Dec. 12 with vocalists Kelley O ’ Connor and Nicholas Phan .
Free .
Go to californiasymphony.org/tickets-events/calendar .
Shotgun Players — “ The Light ” : 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays , 5 p.m. Sundays through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A rollercoaster ride of laughter , romance and despair .
Nightly talk backs follow the performances .
Pay what you can , starting at $ 8 .
https : //shotgunplayers.org/online/article/the-light Smuin ’ s Virtual Classes : Dancers of all levels participate in Zoom-based drop-in lessons covering styles from ballet to contemporary , to hip-hop .
All classes are “ pay what you can ” .
https : //bit.ly/smuinclasses Square One Yoga : Stay fit and grounded practicing live , interactive yoga .
Check out the schedule of classes available at bayareane.ws/2yfH3oc .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Your team will communicate with each other and a host at The Escape Game using Zoom .
$ 30 per player .
https : //theescapegame.com/remote-adventures/ Virtual Author Discussion with Obi Kaufmann : 5 to 6 p.m. Dec. 9 .
Author , artist and activist Kaufmann will present his latest book , “ The Forests of California , ” which guides readers through the Golden State ’ s forested lands and a vision of nature in the 21st century .
Free .
https : //bit.ly/2VyiomL Voices of Music 2020-21 Online Season : 11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A series of talks and interviews with internationally acclaimed performers .
$ 15 to $ 120 .
https : //app.arts-people.com/index.php ?
ticketing=vom

Just because you’re stuck at home during the COVID-19 shutdown doesn’t mean you can’t explore the greater world. Here’s a sampling of family-friendly shows, concerts, activities and more virtual, and occasionally in-person, events over the next several weeks.
In-person
Fun at the Drive-in: Poirier vs. McGregor 2 Lightweight Bout, 7 p.m. Jan. 23, Alameda County Fairgrounds, Gate 8 or 12, corner of Bernal and Valley Ave., Pleasanton. http://bit.ly/3bFGoxB
Livermore Art Installation: Through Feb. 18, Republic Square at Livermore, 4705-4729 Livermore Outlets Drive, Livermore. Featuring more than 50 professional Bay Area artists with creations displayed inside empty storefronts. All works are for sale. http://conta.cc/2XEzgJw
Virtual
All-Star Storytime Series with Berkeley Symphony: 11 a.m. Fridays on Berkeley Public Library’s Facebook page. Each week, a Bay Area celebrity will read a beloved children’s book with musical accompaniment by members of the Berkeley Symphony. www.facebook.com/berkeleypubliclibrary/
Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour Virtual Screening: Now through Oct. 24, 2021. This year’s tour features a streaming collection of action, environmental and adventure films. Benefits Rio Theatre Santa Cruz and the Banff world tour. $15. http://bit.ly/3asD8VJ
BATS Improv Online Shows: This San Francisco-based improv group will stream free shows each week to bring a little improv magic into homes via Zoom. At 7:30 p.m. on the night of each show, click the link next to the show you want to see to connect to the BATS virtual theater. www.improv.org/online-shows/
Bay Area Children’s Theatre Creativity Corner: This virtual “playborhood” offers kids stories that unfold via video, plus follow-up activities they can do on their own, inspired by the make-believe they’ve seen. Parents can submit their children’s creations to BACT, which is planning to share examples online. https://bactheatre.org
Beat the Lock Escape Room: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Solve a virtual escape room with your friends via an audio/video call and live feed that lets you play by instructing a game master to search for clues. $25. www.beatthelock.com
Bringing BADM to You: Bay Area Discovery Museum offers a series of fun, engaging learning experiences to enjoy as a family. Explore three different themes — science and math, body and brain and talk and play — designed to develop skills for children to succeed in school and life. Within each theme, you’ll find both step-by-step videos and activities with written-out instructions. https://bayareadiscoverymuseum.org/bringing-badm-to-you
Broadcast Platform, Marshstream: 7:30 p.m. nightly. Programming varies by night with offerings including short performances, book/writer discussions, singalongs, storytelling, game nights and more. Find more information at: www.themarsh.org.
Diablo Symphony Orchestra Virtual Concerts: First Thursday of each month. Featuring works that have been performed and recorded at Lesher Center for the Arts in past years. www.diablosymphony.org/
18 Reasons Cooking School: Check out a slate of new online classes. You may not have everything listed in the equipment and shopping list, but instructors will give you guidance on how to adapt their recipes to what you have access to. Learn new recipes and techniques. https://18reasons.org/
Family Game Nights: 7 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 19 and March 19. The musical theater-themed game nights range from trivia to dance-offs, bingo to musical chairs. Free. https://playfulpeople.org/family-game-nights/
Festival Napa Valley’s Remote Ensemble Project: This virtual performance of the “Va, Pensiero” chorus from Verdi’s opera “Nabucco” features instrumentalists and singers from 26 states, eight countries and five continents. They represent two dozen orchestras, ensembles, opera companies and music conservatories, such as the Juilliard School, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and San Francisco Opera Orchestra. The performance can be seen on Festival Napa Valley’s YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/jHV9wLvNYxA
Festpocalypse — an epic virtual variety show: 5 p.m. Jan. 30. This all-star SF Sketchfest alumni live-streamed show will celebrate 20 years of the festival with comedy sketches, improvised scenes, game shows, musical performances and more. $20. www.sfsketchfest.com/
Full Moon Fridays — Live Cabaret Series: 8 p.m. Fridays. Featuring live cabaret style performances. https://www.facebook.com/42ndStreetMoon/
Funkmode Dance Studio Digital Workouts: Offering free dance videos, including breakdance, hip hop, youth dance party and more. Find the videos at https://www.youtube.com/user/FUNKMODE
Lamplighters Music Theatre Multimedia: Lamplighters brings their wit and musicality to the virtual stage with an inside look into the company and the rich history of Gilbert and Sullivan. The monthly assortment includes new interviews and video essays, alongside archival vignettes highlighting the best of the company’s 68-year performance history. Free. lmt.lamplighters.org/patreon
Livermore Shakes Educates: A Shakespeare resource webpage for kids and parents, this is an extension of the company’s “So Wise So Young” program for second, third and fourth graders. http://livermoreshakes.org/educates/
Magical Bridge Foundation Virtual Concerts and Sing-A-Longs: Enjoy free family-friendly, multigenerational and sensory-friendly shows at noon daily on the Magical Bridge Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/pg/MagicalBridge/events/
Moraga Art Gallery Virtual Tour: View the Moraga Art Gallery exhibit and hear artists talk about their work and what motivates them. Visit the Lamorinda Arts Alliance website for the link to the virtual tour: https://laa4art.org
Mount Diablo Peace & Justice Center 2020 Art & Writing Challenge: Middle and high school students in Contra Costa County are invited to submit visual art (any medium), creative writing and essays on the topic of “Our Connected Planet.” No fee. http://tinyurl.com/mdpjc-artandwriting2020
“Dichterliebe (‘A Poet’s Love’)” from Opera San Jose: Available for streaming. In addition to English supertitles, Opera San Jose has announced plans to offer its virtual performances with Spanish and Vietnamese translations. $15-$50. www.Operasj.org
Persian and Central Asian Dance Classes: Take daily classes on Zoom with teachers from all over the world including Iran, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Xinxiang and more. $10 to $20. www.pomegranategardendance.com
Quintet WindSync in a concert of Rhythm and Wind: 7 p.m. Feb. 2-14. This program with Berkeley Chamber Performances includes Marc Mellits’ “Apollo” with unreleased video of the Apollo 11 moon landing by Robin Gould, works by Erberk Eryilmaz, Beethoven and more. $20. https://bit.ly/3nHlYGI
School of Rock Remote Lessons: School of Rock is a performance-based music school for ages 5 to adult. Learn to play drums, guitar, keyboard, bass guitar and vocals by putting on seasonal rock shows. The school is offering a combination of one-on-one remote lessons and access to master classes on music theory, songwriting, instrument exploration and genre journeys. Cost varies. schoolofrock.com/sanramon
Smuin’s Virtual Classes: Dancers of all levels participate in Zoom-based drop-in lessons covering styles from ballet to contemporary, to hip-hop. All classes are “pay what you can”. https://bit.ly/smuinclasses
Square One Yoga: Stay fit and grounded practicing live, interactive yoga. Check out the schedule of classes available at bayareane.ws/2yfH3oc.
The Escape Game Remote Adventures Virtual Escape Rooms: Your team will communicate with each other and a host at The Escape Game using Zoom. $30 per player. https://theescapegame.com/remote-adventures/
Tiny But Mighty — Honoring RBG: Featuring the artwork of 26 Lamorinda Arts Alliance member artists with mixed media, collage, photography, monotype, watercolor, oil and acrylic paints. Through Feb. 26. www.mainstreetarts.net/
Voices of Music 2020-21 Online Season: 11 a.m. Sundays now through March 7. A series of talks and interviews with internationally acclaimed performers. $15 to $120. https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=vom
Whalefest Monterey: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Jan. 26-29. Whalefest’s traditional scientific symposium, exhibits, entertainment and activities have moved from Fisherman’s Wharf to online with talks and presentations by world-renowned scientists, videos from local environmental nonprofits, and virtual history walks, arts and crafts demonstrations and music performances. The event will be live-streamed each night. For links, go to the Whalefest page at https://www.montereywharf.com/.


mercurynews--2020-12-06--Brooks: The winter Mitch McConnell created

If we can ’ t get a COVID-19 relief package through Congress in the next week or two , we ’ re sunk .
It means we have a legislative branch so ideologically divided it can ’ t address even our most glaring problems .
It means we have representatives so lacking in the willingness and ability to compromise that minimally competent government will be impossible , even under a President Joe Biden .
The problems a basic relief measure would address couldn ’ t be more obvious .
Under current law , up to 12 million Americans could lose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end — a wretched Christmastime for millions of families , which could spawn a wave of depression , morbidity , family breakdown and suicide .
Millions of people could be evicted from their homes .
Thousands more businesses may close during the long winter months before a vaccine is widely available .
These are not failing , unproductive businesses .
These are good , strong businesses that would have provided jobs and opportunity for millions of Americans for decades if they hadn ’ t been hit by the pandemic .
Wendy Edelberg of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passes , the U.S. economy will be $ 1 trillion smaller in 2021 and $ 500 billion smaller in 2022 .
The means to prevent this suffering are also glaringly obvious .
We did it less than a year ago with the coronavirus relief bill .
All we have to do is pass a version of what we did before .
How hard can this possibly be ?
The $ 2 trillion coronavirus relief bill was one of the most successful pieces of legislation of modern times .
Because of the lockdowns , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 9 % in the second quarter of 2020 , compared with the first quarter .
But because of the coronavirus relief bill , disposable household incomes increased by 10 % .
The personal savings rate increased by 34 % in April .
I don ’ t love big government , but government is supposed to step up in a crisis , and with the coronavirus relief bill , it did .
Since summer , as the economy has deteriorated , Congress has been gridlocked on how to pass a supplemental relief package .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ uncompromising , as if not wanting to hand Donald Trump a victory .
But the core problem is that Republicans have applied a dogmatically ideological approach to a situation in which it is not germane and is in fact ruthlessly destructive .
Some Republicans act as if this is a normal recession and the legislation in front of them is a conventional Keynesian stimulus bill .
But this is not a normal recession .
It ’ s a natural disaster .
The proposals on offer are not conventional stimulus .
They are measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that disaster over the next five brutal months .
I agree with Janet Yellen , Biden ’ s choice for Treasury secretary , who said , “ The U.S. debt path is completely unsustainable under current tax and spending plans.
” But that concern is for another day .
Right now , we need to protect the workers and businesses that generate wealth in this society .
Either we roar out of this pandemic with the economic might and surging wages we enjoyed in 2019 , or we endure another decade of grinding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people losing faith in America .
Microscopic interest rates make this additional debt a relatively easy lift for us .
The 2020 election results have powerfully strengthened moderates .
After months of gridlock , the moderates took charge this week , crafting a bipartisan $ 908 billion relief compromise .
Led by Sens .
Susan Collins , Joe Manchin , Mitt Romney and Mark Warner and endorsed by a bipartisan group of House members from the Problem Solvers Caucus , it is big enough to make a real difference and includes two thorny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liability protection , which should , on the merits , be in the law .
This is how democracy is supposed to work !
Partisans stake out positions , and then dealmakers reach a compromise .
This is a glimpse of the sort of normal-functioning democratic process that has been largely missing since Newt Gingrich walked onstage lo these many decades ago .
To their great credit , Pelosi and Chuck Schumer embraced the bipartisan framework .
Mitch McConnell went on the Senate floor Thursday , pretended to soften , ignored the compromise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McConnell may think the Democrats will eventually come to him because something is better than nothing .
But his proposal can not pass .
Democrats in the House will not accept a complete capitulation to McConnell on every front .
For the first time in a long time we have a core group of moderates , progressives and conservatives willing to practice politics — willing to work with the other party toward a reasonable solution .
Talks between the moderates and McConnell continue .
But if McConnell won ’ t do a deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear crisis and under a Republican president , there certainly won ’ t be one with more controversial issues under a Democratic president in 2021 .
If we don ’ t see a COVID-19 relief measure pass in the next week or two , then our democracy is existentially broken .
If that happens , McConnell should spend Christmas with people thrown out of work and witness the suffering he has caused .

If we can’t get a COVID-19 relief package through Congress in the next week or two, we’re sunk. It means we have a legislative branch so ideologically divided it can’t address even our most glaring problems. It means we have representatives so lacking in the willingness and ability to compromise that minimally competent government will be impossible, even under a President Joe Biden.
The problems a basic relief measure would address couldn’t be more obvious. Under current law, up to 12 million Americans could lose their jobless benefits by year’s end — a wretched Christmastime for millions of families, which could spawn a wave of depression, morbidity, family breakdown and suicide.
Millions of people could be evicted from their homes. Thousands more businesses may close during the long winter months before a vaccine is widely available. These are not failing, unproductive businesses. These are good, strong businesses that would have provided jobs and opportunity for millions of Americans for decades if they hadn’t been hit by the pandemic.
Wendy Edelberg of the Hamilton Project calculates that if nothing passes, the U.S. economy will be $1 trillion smaller in 2021 and $500 billion smaller in 2022.
The means to prevent this suffering are also glaringly obvious. We did it less than a year ago with the coronavirus relief bill. All we have to do is pass a version of what we did before. How hard can this possibly be?
The $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill was one of the most successful pieces of legislation of modern times. Because of the lockdowns, U.S. economic output contracted by a horrific 9% in the second quarter of 2020, compared with the first quarter. But because of the coronavirus relief bill, disposable household incomes increased by 10%. The personal savings rate increased by 34% in April.
I don’t love big government, but government is supposed to step up in a crisis, and with the coronavirus relief bill, it did.
Since summer, as the economy has deteriorated, Congress has been gridlocked on how to pass a supplemental relief package. At times Nancy Pelosi has been rigidly uncompromising, as if not wanting to hand Donald Trump a victory. But the core problem is that Republicans have applied a dogmatically ideological approach to a situation in which it is not germane and is in fact ruthlessly destructive.
Some Republicans act as if this is a normal recession and the legislation in front of them is a conventional Keynesian stimulus bill. But this is not a normal recession. It’s a natural disaster. The proposals on offer are not conventional stimulus. They are measures to defend our national economic infrastructure from that disaster over the next five brutal months.
I agree with Janet Yellen, Biden’s choice for Treasury secretary, who said, “The U.S. debt path is completely unsustainable under current tax and spending plans.” But that concern is for another day. Right now, we need to protect the workers and businesses that generate wealth in this society.
Either we roar out of this pandemic with the economic might and surging wages we enjoyed in 2019, or we endure another decade of grinding stagnation, more populist anger, more people losing faith in America. Microscopic interest rates make this additional debt a relatively easy lift for us.
The 2020 election results have powerfully strengthened moderates. After months of gridlock, the moderates took charge this week, crafting a bipartisan $908 billion relief compromise. Led by Sens. Susan Collins, Joe Manchin, Mitt Romney and Mark Warner and endorsed by a bipartisan group of House members from the Problem Solvers Caucus, it is big enough to make a real difference and includes two thorny issues: aid to the states and liability protection, which should, on the merits, be in the law.
This is how democracy is supposed to work! Partisans stake out positions, and then dealmakers reach a compromise. This is a glimpse of the sort of normal-functioning democratic process that has been largely missing since Newt Gingrich walked onstage lo these many decades ago.
To their great credit, Pelosi and Chuck Schumer embraced the bipartisan framework. Mitch McConnell went on the Senate floor Thursday, pretended to soften, ignored the compromise and did not move an inch.
McConnell may think the Democrats will eventually come to him because something is better than nothing. But his proposal cannot pass. Democrats in the House will not accept a complete capitulation to McConnell on every front.
For the first time in a long time we have a core group of moderates, progressives and conservatives willing to practice politics — willing to work with the other party toward a reasonable solution.
Talks between the moderates and McConnell continue. But if McConnell won’t do a deal now, in the midst of a clear crisis and under a Republican president, there certainly won’t be one with more controversial issues under a Democratic president in 2021. If we don’t see a COVID-19 relief measure pass in the next week or two, then our democracy is existentially broken.
If that happens, McConnell should spend Christmas with people thrown out of work and witness the suffering he has caused.
David Brooks is a New York Times columnist.