mercurynews--2020-12-20--Panel: People over 75, essential workers next for COVID vaccines

NEW YORK ( AP ) — A federal advisory panel recommended Sunday that people 75 and older and essential workers like firefighters , teachers and grocery store workers should be next in line for COVID-19 shots , while a second vaccine began rolling out to hospitals as the nation works to get the coronavirus pandemic under control .
The two developments came amid a vaccination program that began only in the last week and has given initial shots to about 556,000 Americans , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
The COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being distributed , and regulators last week gave approval to the one from Moderna Inc. that began shipping Sunday .
Earlier this month , the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices said health care workers and nursing home residents — about 24 million people — should be at the very front of the line for the vaccines .
Sunday ’ s vote by the panel was who should be next in line , and by a vote of 13-1 , it decided that it should be people 75 and older , who number about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ front-line workers , who total about 30 million .
The essential workers include firefighters and police ; teachers and school staff ; those working in food , agricultural and manufacturing sectors ; corrections workers ; U.S .
Postal Service employees ; public transit workers ; and grocery store workers .
They are considered at very high risk of infection because their jobs are critical and require them to be in regular contact with other people .
It ’ s not clear how long it will take to vaccinate those groups .
Vaccine doses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But at the same time , some experts noted that not everyone who is recommended to get vaccinated may choose to get a shot .
The committee also voted that behind those groups should be people aged 65 to 74 , numbering about 30 million ; those aged 16 to 64 with medical conditions like obesity and cancer who are at higher risk if they get COVID-19 , numbering as many as 110 million ; and a tier of other essential workers .
This group of as many as 57 million includes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ utility workers but also those in legal and financial jobs and the media .
The expert panel ’ s recommendation next goes to the CDC director and to states as guidance to put together vaccination programs .
CDC directors have almost always signed off on committee recommendations .
No matter what the CDC says , there will be differences from state to state , because various health departments have different ideas about who should be closer to the front of the line .
Federal officials expect that vaccine doses will be limited for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 20 million are projected to start getting shots this month , another 30 million next month , and 50 million in February .
That ’ s 100 million out of a population of more than 330 million .
Pfizer ’ s shots were first shipped out a week ago and started being used the next day , kicking off the nation ’ s biggest vaccination drive .
Public health experts say the shots — and others in the pipeline — are the only way to stop a virus that has been spreading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people per day on average test positive for the virus , which has killed over 316,000 in the U.S. and nearly 1.7 million worldwide .
Earlier Sunday , trucks left the Olive Branch , Mississippi , factory , near Memphis , Tennessee , with the vaccine developed by Moderna and the National Institutes of Health .
The much-needed shots are expected to be given starting Monday , just three days after the Food and Drug Administration authorized their emergency rollout .
In Louisville , Kentucky , UPS driver Todd Elble said his vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I ’ ve hauled ” in a 37-year career .
His parents contracted COVID-19 in November , and his 78-year-old father died .
He said the family speculates that his father got infected while traveling on a hunting trip with four other relatives to Wyoming , and some are still sick .
“ I ’ m going to take the vaccine myself .
I ’ m going to be first in line for my father — I ’ ll tell you that much — and any others that should follow , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my heart that everybody should , to help get this stopped.
” He added : “ To bring this back , I feel Dad was in the truck with me today.
” Dr. Moncef Slaoui , the chief science adviser to the federal government ’ s vaccine distribution effort , said on CNN ’ s “ State of the Union ” that nearly 8 million doses will be distributed Monday , about 5.9 million of the Moderna vaccine and 2 million of the Pfizer vaccine .
Slaoui also predicted the U.S. will experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ larger numbers of coronavirus cases possible from gatherings for Christmas .
“ I think , unfortunately , it will get worse , ” he said .
There won ’ t be enough shots for the general population until spring , so doses will be rationed at least for the next several months .
President-elect Joe Biden pledged earlier this month to have 100 million doses distributed in his first 100 days in office , and his surgeon general nominee said Sunday that it ’ s still a realistic goal .
But Vivek Murthy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Press ” it ’ s more realistic to think it may be midsummer or early fall before vaccines are available to the general public , rather than late spring .
Murthy said Biden ’ s team is working toward having the shots available to lower-risk individuals by late spring but doing so requires “ everything to go exactly on schedule.
” Meanwhile , Trump ’ s surgeon general , Jerome Adams , defended the administration ’ s handling of the Pfizer vaccine Sunday , a day after the Army general charge of getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for “ miscommunication ” with states over the number of doses to be delivered in the early stages of distribution .
At least a dozen states reported they would receive a smaller second shipment of the Pfizer vaccine than they had been told previously .
Gen. Gustave Perna told reporters in a telephone briefing that he made mistakes by citing numbers of doses that he believed would be ready .
Slaoui said the mistake was assuming vaccines that had been produced were ready for shipment when there was a two-day delay .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we will not release vaccine doses for usage , ” he said .
“ And , sometimes , there could be small hiccups .
There have been none , actually , in manufacturing now .
The hiccup was more into the planning.
” But Adams told CBS ’ “ Face the Nation ” that “ the numbers are going to go up and down.
” “ It absolutely was not poor planning , ” he said .
“ There ’ s what we plan .
There ’ s what we actually allocate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delivered , and then there ’ s what ’ s actually put in people ’ s arms.
” Adams , who is Black , said he understands that mistrust of the medical community and the vaccine among Blacks “ comes from a real place , ” the mistreatment of communities of color .
He cited the decades-long Tuskegee experiment in Alabama , where Black men with syphilis were not treated so the disease could be studied .
He also said immigrants in the U.S. illegally should not be denied the vaccine because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not ethically right to deny those individuals.
” “ I want to reassure people that your information when collected to get your second shot , if you get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine , will not be used in any way , shape or form to harm you legally , ” Adams said .
“ That is something that I have been assured of.
” Both the Moderna vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech shot require two doses several weeks apart .
The second dose must be from the same company as the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protective in large , still unfinished studies .
Hanna reported from Topeka , Kansas .
Also contributing was AP Radio correspondent Julie Walker in New York .

By JOHN HANNA and MIKE STOBBE
NEW YORK (AP) — A federal advisory panel recommended Sunday that people 75 and older and essential workers like firefighters, teachers and grocery store workers should be next in line for COVID-19 shots, while a second vaccine began rolling out to hospitals as the nation works to get the coronavirus pandemic under control.
The two developments came amid a vaccination program that began only in the last week and has given initial shots to about 556,000 Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc. and Germany’s BioNTech already is being distributed, and regulators last week gave approval to the one from Moderna Inc. that began shipping Sunday.
Earlier this month, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices said health care workers and nursing home residents — about 24 million people — should be at the very front of the line for the vaccines.
Sunday’s vote by the panel was who should be next in line, and by a vote of 13-1, it decided that it should be people 75 and older, who number about 20 million, as well as certain front-line workers, who total about 30 million.
The essential workers include firefighters and police; teachers and school staff; those working in food, agricultural and manufacturing sectors; corrections workers; U.S. Postal Service employees; public transit workers; and grocery store workers. They are considered at very high risk of infection because their jobs are critical and require them to be in regular contact with other people.
It’s not clear how long it will take to vaccinate those groups. Vaccine doses have come out slower than earlier projections. But at the same time, some experts noted that not everyone who is recommended to get vaccinated may choose to get a shot.
The committee also voted that behind those groups should be people aged 65 to 74, numbering about 30 million; those aged 16 to 64 with medical conditions like obesity and cancer who are at higher risk if they get COVID-19, numbering as many as 110 million; and a tier of other essential workers. This group of as many as 57 million includes a wide category of food service and utility workers but also those in legal and financial jobs and the media.
The expert panel’s recommendation next goes to the CDC director and to states as guidance to put together vaccination programs. CDC directors have almost always signed off on committee recommendations. No matter what the CDC says, there will be differences from state to state, because various health departments have different ideas about who should be closer to the front of the line.
Federal officials expect that vaccine doses will be limited for several months. CDC officials say up to 20 million are projected to start getting shots this month, another 30 million next month, and 50 million in February. That’s 100 million out of a population of more than 330 million.
Pfizer’s shots were first shipped out a week ago and started being used the next day, kicking off the nation’s biggest vaccination drive.
Public health experts say the shots — and others in the pipeline — are the only way to stop a virus that has been spreading wildly. Nationwide, more than 219,000 people per day on average test positive for the virus, which has killed over 316,000 in the U.S. and nearly 1.7 million worldwide.
Earlier Sunday, trucks left the Olive Branch, Mississippi, factory, near Memphis, Tennessee, with the vaccine developed by Moderna and the National Institutes of Health. The much-needed shots are expected to be given starting Monday, just three days after the Food and Drug Administration authorized their emergency rollout.
In Louisville, Kentucky, UPS driver Todd Elble said his vaccine shipment was the “most important load that I’ve hauled” in a 37-year career. His parents contracted COVID-19 in November, and his 78-year-old father died. He said the family speculates that his father got infected while traveling on a hunting trip with four other relatives to Wyoming, and some are still sick.
“I’m going to take the vaccine myself. I’m going to be first in line for my father — I’ll tell you that much — and any others that should follow,” he said. “I feel in my heart that everybody should, to help get this stopped.”
He added: “To bring this back, I feel Dad was in the truck with me today.”
Dr. Moncef Slaoui, the chief science adviser to the federal government’s vaccine distribution effort, said on CNN’s “State of the Union” that nearly 8 million doses will be distributed Monday, about 5.9 million of the Moderna vaccine and 2 million of the Pfizer vaccine.
Slaoui also predicted the U.S. will experience “a continuing surge,” with larger numbers of coronavirus cases possible from gatherings for Christmas.
“I think, unfortunately, it will get worse,” he said.
There won’t be enough shots for the general population until spring, so doses will be rationed at least for the next several months. President-elect Joe Biden pledged earlier this month to have 100 million doses distributed in his first 100 days in office, and his surgeon general nominee said Sunday that it’s still a realistic goal.
But Vivek Murthy told NBC’s “Meet the Press” it’s more realistic to think it may be midsummer or early fall before vaccines are available to the general public, rather than late spring. Murthy said Biden’s team is working toward having the shots available to lower-risk individuals by late spring but doing so requires “everything to go exactly on schedule.”
Meanwhile, Trump’s surgeon general, Jerome Adams, defended the administration’s handling of the Pfizer vaccine Sunday, a day after the Army general charge of getting COVID-19 vaccines across the U.S. apologized Saturday for “miscommunication” with states over the number of doses to be delivered in the early stages of distribution. At least a dozen states reported they would receive a smaller second shipment of the Pfizer vaccine than they had been told previously.
Gen. Gustave Perna told reporters in a telephone briefing that he made mistakes by citing numbers of doses that he believed would be ready. Slaoui said the mistake was assuming vaccines that had been produced were ready for shipment when there was a two-day delay.
“And unless it’s perfectly right, we will not release vaccine doses for usage,” he said. “And, sometimes, there could be small hiccups. There have been none, actually, in manufacturing now. The hiccup was more into the planning.”
But Adams told CBS’ “Face the Nation” that “the numbers are going to go up and down.”
“It absolutely was not poor planning,” he said. “There’s what we plan. There’s what we actually allocate. There’s what’s delivered, and then there’s what’s actually put in people’s arms.”
Adams, who is Black, said he understands that mistrust of the medical community and the vaccine among Blacks “comes from a real place,” the mistreatment of communities of color. He cited the decades-long Tuskegee experiment in Alabama, where Black men with syphilis were not treated so the disease could be studied.
He also said immigrants in the U.S. illegally should not be denied the vaccine because of their legal status because “it’s not ethically right to deny those individuals.”
“I want to reassure people that your information when collected to get your second shot, if you get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, will not be used in any way, shape or form to harm you legally,” Adams said. “That is something that I have been assured of.”
Both the Moderna vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech shot require two doses several weeks apart. The second dose must be from the same company as the first. Both vaccines appeared safe and strongly protective in large, still unfinished studies.
—-
Hanna reported from Topeka, Kansas. Also contributing was AP Radio correspondent Julie Walker in New York.


mercurynews--2020-12-20--49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk keeps climbing up rookie ranks in franchise lore

Brandon Aiyuk did more than just mimic Terrell Owens on Sunday in Dallas .
With nine catches for 73 yards and a touchdown , the 49ers ’ rookie receiver continued his ascent in the team record book .
His 59 receptions already are the most by a 49ers rookie wide receiver — Earl Cooper had 83 as a running back in 1980 — and he has two games left to surpass some mighty big names .
For instance , with 104 yards , Aiyuk will eclipse Jerry Rice ’ s rookie record of 927 .
Sunday , the first-round draft @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gene Washington and Dave Park ls .
With 733 yards , he is behind only Rice and Deebo Samuel , who had 802 receiving yards last season .
Aiyuk has scored seven touchdowns in his 11 games .
The only 49ers rookies with more are Roger Craig ( 12 , 1983 ) and Cooper ( nine , 1980 ) .
CLICK HERE if you ’ re having a problem viewing the photos on a mobile device .
His touchdown catch Sunday was on a jet toss from Nick Mullens on fourth-and-goal from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After that score , Aiyuk celebrated by stretching his arms and gazing skyward .
Except for the fact that he did it in the endzone , rather than sprinting to the Dallas star at midfield , it was reminiscent of Owens ’ controversial celebration during a game in Dallas in 2000 .
Also , T.O .
did it twice .
Aiyuk hasn ’ t had a multi-touchdown game .
All five of his receiving touchdowns have come in the past seven games , with his two rushing touchdowns coming in Weeks 3 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday , including a fourth-quarter throw that resulted in one of Mullens ’ two interceptions that fateful quarter .
Asked how the offense tried to uplift Mullens , Aiyuk said : “ All 11 guys on offense are worried about their own job .
He ’ s a professional and knows what he has to do .
If he misses a throw , he ’ ll be the first one to note he missed the throw.
” The 49ers deployed Aiyuk as their third punt returner Sunday , and he made a fair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trailed just 27-24 .
It was the third straight game he ’ s made a cameo in that role , this time following Richie James ( first-quarter fumble ) and Trent Taylor .
Said Aiyuk : “ They ask me if I want to go in at certain times , and today they asked so I went back there .
I go back when they need me to.
” The 49ers ( 5-9 ) close out their season against the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday and Seattle Seahawks on Jan. 3 , with both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Ariz. • What the 49ers are saying after their loss to the Cowboys • Kurtenbach : The Niners ’ playoff hopes are dead and big offseason decisions loom

Brandon Aiyuk did more than just mimic Terrell Owens on Sunday in Dallas.
With nine catches for 73 yards and a touchdown, the 49ers’ rookie receiver continued his ascent in the team record book.
His 59 receptions already are the most by a 49ers rookie wide receiver — Earl Cooper had 83 as a running back in 1980 — and he has two games left to surpass some mighty big names.
For instance, with 195 yards, Aiyuk will eclipse Jerry Rice’s rookie record of 927. Sunday, the first-round draft pick (25th overall) moved past Gene Washington and Dave Park ls. With 733 yards, he is behind only Rice and Deebo Samuel, who had 802 receiving yards last season.
Aiyuk has scored seven touchdowns in his 11 games. The only 49ers rookies with more are Roger Craig (12, 1983) and Cooper (nine, 1980).
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 20: Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk #11 of the San Francisco 49ers runs for a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during the second quarter at AT&T Stadium on December 20, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
San Francisco 49ers' Brandon Aiyuk (11) is tackled by Dallas Cowboys' Anthony Brown (30) after catching a pass in the second half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
San Francisco 49ers' Brandon Aiyuk (11) celebrates his touchdown catch with Kendrick Bourne (84) in the first half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) catches a pass in front of Dallas Cowboys' Chidobe Awuzie (24) and Sean Lee (50) in the second half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 20: Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk #11 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during the second quarter at AT&T Stadium on December 20, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) is unable to catch a pass as Dallas Cowboys cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (24) defends during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. Dallas won 41-33. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
Dallas Cowboys' Sean Lee (50) moves to help Chidobe Awuzie (24) make a stop against San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk after Aiyuk caught a pass in the second half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 20: Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk #11 of the San Francisco 49ers runs against cornerback Anthony Brown #30 of the Dallas Cowboys during the third quarter at AT&T Stadium on December 20, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
San Francisco 49ers' Brandon Aiyuk (11) is tackled by Dallas Cowboys' Anthony Brown (30) after catching a pass in the second half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, right rear, looks on at the play. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) is tackled by Dallas Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis (26) after a catch in the second half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Dallas Cowboys cornerback Anthony Brown (30) stops San Francisco 49ers' Brandon Aiyuk (11) from gaining extra yardage after catching a pass in the second half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 20: Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk #11 of the San Francisco 49ers is tackled by cornerback Anthony Brown #30 of the Dallas Cowboys during the third quarter at AT&T Stadium on December 20, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Getty Images ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 20: Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk #11 of the San Francisco 49ers runs for a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during the second quarter at AT&T Stadium on December 20, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) high steps into the end zone after catching a pass for a touchdown in front of Dallas Cowboys' Trevon Diggs (27) and Darian Thompson (23) in the first half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
CLICK HERE if you’re having a problem viewing the photos on a mobile device.
His touchdown catch Sunday was on a jet toss from Nick Mullens on fourth-and-goal from the 2 late in the first half. After that score, Aiyuk celebrated by stretching his arms and gazing skyward. Except for the fact that he did it in the endzone, rather than sprinting to the Dallas star at midfield, it was reminiscent of Owens’ controversial celebration during a game in Dallas in 2000.
Brandon Aiyuk with the nod to TO? pic.twitter.com/UMXOOCv3vN — KNBR (@KNBR) December 20, 2020
Also, T.O. did it twice. Aiyuk hasn’t had a multi-touchdown game. All five of his receiving touchdowns have come in the past seven games, with his two rushing touchdowns coming in Weeks 3 and 4.
(Incidentally, Owens had 35 catches for 520 yards and four touchdowns in his rookie season.)
Aiyuk drew 13 targets on Sunday, including a fourth-quarter throw that resulted in one of Mullens’ two interceptions that fateful quarter.
Asked how the offense tried to uplift Mullens, Aiyuk said: “All 11 guys on offense are worried about their own job. He’s a professional and knows what he has to do. If he misses a throw, he’ll be the first one to note he missed the throw.”
The 49ers deployed Aiyuk as their third punt returner Sunday, and he made a fair catch in the fourth quarter when they trailed just 27-24. It was the third straight game he’s made a cameo in that role, this time following Richie James (first-quarter fumble) and Trent Taylor.
Said Aiyuk: “They ask me if I want to go in at certain times, and today they asked so I went back there. I go back when they need me to.”
The 49ers (5-9) close out their season against the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday and Seattle Seahawks on Jan. 3, with both games at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.


mercurynews--2020-12-20--Kurtenbach: The Niners’ playoff hopes are dead and big offseason decisions loom

A team without a real shot at the playoffs saw even their imaginary chances disappear Sunday .
The 49ers season had been unofficially over for weeks , but with their ninth loss on Sunday , the end became official .
But don ’ t think these final games — once unofficially meaningless to the standings and now officially meaningless to the standings — don ’ t have meaning elsewhere .
No , these games are final auditions .
In fact , you can argue that the auditions have been underway for a few weeks now .
And after Sunday ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some players are not going to land a role with this company next year .
• 49ers ’ Brandon Aiyuk keeps climbing up rookie ranks in franchise lore • 49ers vs. Cowboys : Five keys to winning in face of NFC playoff elimination San Francisco has a whopping 25 unrestricted free agents heading into this offseason .
Additionally , they have 14 more early-rights and restricted free agents .
On top of that , there are players — such as Jimmy Garoppolo — with contracts the Niners can purge at little or no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stay flat year-over-year , at best , there is going to be plenty of pruning come early 2021 , and the final two games of a lost season might carry outsized importance .
Recency bias is a difficult thing to avoid .
Of those unrestricted free agents ( restricted free agents and ERFAs carry little risk of exiting and should be treated as if the Niners have team options on all of their contracts ) , there are four that the Niners can not afford to let leave .
It starts with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been as good as advertised in his first season with San Francisco .
Whether the Niners have Garoppolo , a rookie , or an established NFL veteran at quarterback next year , the Niners are going to want Williams at left tackle — the drop off between him and whomever the Niners could get to replace him would not be worth the cost savings ( if there would be any ) .
Cornerback Jason Verrett , nickel back K ’ Waun Williams , and fullback Kyle Juszczyk are the other three must-retains .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be an irreplaceable ( at least for the Niners ) player — a winner — and so long as the prices aren ’ t exorbitant , Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch would be fools to not have them in red and gold next season .
( I ’ d love to include defensive end Kerry Hyder in this group , but I have a hard time believing the 49ers will be able to afford him after his tremendous season .
Someone is going to want to pay him more than the $ 1.5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and , again , with the salary cap situation , I ’ m not sure the Niners can pay his fair-market rate . )
• What the 49ers are saying after their loss to the Cowboys • 49ers ’ Brandon Aiyuk keeps climbing up rookie ranks in franchise lore There are also some players that the 49ers have already written off for 2021 .
Tevin Coleman , Jerick McKinnon , and others will be thanked for their service and sent away once the season ends on Jan. 3 .
But there ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aren ’ t in either category — yet .
Mike McGlinchey might not be a pending free agent , but the Niners have to make a decision on his fifth-year option before the start of next season .
After another game full of viral lowlights Sunday , it ’ s hard to see what the once-stout right tackle could do to have that option , worth an estimated ( and fully guaranteed , come 2022 ) $ 13 million , exercised .
But he ’ ll have two more games to show that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Then there ’ s Richard Sherman .
Now , Richard Sherman , the agent , has made it clear to anyone who wants to listen that Richard Sherman , the player , isn ’ t going to re-sign with the 49ers .
I think that ’ s a negotiation tactic .
But after seeing the one-time backbone of the defense be cooked all day Sunday by Cowboys receivers , might the Niners be inclined to call Sherman ’ s bluff ?
They ’ d save some cash and Verrett could move back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outstanding this season — inarguably better than what Sherman has shown late this season .
There ’ s Jaquiski Tartt .
He ’ s injured and can not play again this season , but can any of his replacements do well enough to supplant him as the team ’ s best option at strong safety in 2021 ?
We ’ re yet to see that happen , but the final two games could prove significant .
We know for certain that Nick Mullens isn ’ t going to be replacing Garoppolo as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Niners give him another couple shots at starting — for whatever reason — could he perform well enough to make up for all of his prior sins this season , and keep his backup job in 2021 , no matter who the starter is ?
And what will the Niners want to keep working with Ahkello Witherspoon , whose only hallmark in San Francisco has been inefficiency , or Jordan Reed , or Kendrick Bourne ?
There ’ s so much to be decided , and an eighth of a season — two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sample size , even if the contests themselves are only significant , from a team standpoint , for draft position .

A team without a real shot at the playoffs saw even their imaginary chances disappear Sunday.
The 49ers season had been unofficially over for weeks, but with their ninth loss on Sunday, the end became official.
But don’t think these final games — once unofficially meaningless to the standings and now officially meaningless to the standings — don’t have meaning elsewhere.
No, these games are final auditions. In fact, you can argue that the auditions have been underway for a few weeks now.
And after Sunday’s 41-33 loss to the Cowboys, some players are not going to land a role with this company next year.
San Francisco has a whopping 25 unrestricted free agents heading into this offseason. Additionally, they have 14 more early-rights and restricted free agents. On top of that, there are players — such as Jimmy Garoppolo — with contracts the Niners can purge at little or no cost.
With the salary cap likely to stay flat year-over-year, at best, there is going to be plenty of pruning come early 2021, and the final two games of a lost season might carry outsized importance. Recency bias is a difficult thing to avoid.
Of those unrestricted free agents (restricted free agents and ERFAs carry little risk of exiting and should be treated as if the Niners have team options on all of their contracts), there are four that the Niners cannot afford to let leave.
It starts with left tackle Trent Williams, who has been as good as advertised in his first season with San Francisco. Whether the Niners have Garoppolo, a rookie, or an established NFL veteran at quarterback next year, the Niners are going to want Williams at left tackle — the drop off between him and whomever the Niners could get to replace him would not be worth the cost savings (if there would be any).
Cornerback Jason Verrett, nickel back K’Waun Williams, and fullback Kyle Juszczyk are the other three must-retains. Each of those players has proven to be an irreplaceable (at least for the Niners) player — a winner — and so long as the prices aren’t exorbitant, Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch would be fools to not have them in red and gold next season.
(I’d love to include defensive end Kerry Hyder in this group, but I have a hard time believing the 49ers will be able to afford him after his tremendous season. Someone is going to want to pay him more than the $1.5 million he’s earned this year, and, again, with the salary cap situation, I’m not sure the Niners can pay his fair-market rate.)
There are also some players that the 49ers have already written off for 2021. Tevin Coleman, Jerick McKinnon, and others will be thanked for their service and sent away once the season ends on Jan. 3.
But there’s a whole mess of players that aren’t in either category — yet.
Mike McGlinchey might not be a pending free agent, but the Niners have to make a decision on his fifth-year option before the start of next season. After another game full of viral lowlights Sunday, it’s hard to see what the once-stout right tackle could do to have that option, worth an estimated (and fully guaranteed, come 2022) $13 million, exercised. But he’ll have two more games to show that he’s “still here”.
Then there’s Richard Sherman. Now, Richard Sherman, the agent, has made it clear to anyone who wants to listen that Richard Sherman, the player, isn’t going to re-sign with the 49ers. I think that’s a negotiation tactic. But after seeing the one-time backbone of the defense be cooked all day Sunday by Cowboys receivers, might the Niners be inclined to call Sherman’s bluff? They’d save some cash and Verrett could move back to the field side, where he outstanding this season — inarguably better than what Sherman has shown late this season.
There’s Jaquiski Tartt. He’s injured and cannot play again this season, but can any of his replacements do well enough to supplant him as the team’s best option at strong safety in 2021? We’re yet to see that happen, but the final two games could prove significant.
We know for certain that Nick Mullens isn’t going to be replacing Garoppolo as the starter anytime soon, but if the Niners give him another couple shots at starting — for whatever reason — could he perform well enough to make up for all of his prior sins this season, and keep his backup job in 2021, no matter who the starter is?
And what will the Niners want to keep working with Ahkello Witherspoon, whose only hallmark in San Francisco has been inefficiency, or Jordan Reed, or Kendrick Bourne?
There’s so much to be decided, and an eighth of a season — two games – isn’t an insignificant sample size, even if the contests themselves are only significant, from a team standpoint, for draft position.


mercurynews--2020-12-21--Sheriff: Pedophilia advocate arrested on cross-country trip with 12-year-old California girl

FRESNO — A self-proclaimed pedophilia advocate who once ran for political office in Virginia has been arrested by authorities who said they caught him flying across the country earlier this week with a 12-year-old girl he had persuaded to run away from her California home .
Nathan Larson , 40 , made the girl wear a long-haired wig to make her look older and told her to pretend to be mute during their travel , Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims announced on Saturday .
The investigation began Monday morning when the girl ’ s family reported her missing from her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said detectives learned that Larson , a resident of Catlett , Virginia , met the girl previously through social media , flew to California and persuaded her to sneak out of her house around 2 a.m. Monday .
They took a rideshare car to the Fresno Airport , where they board a plane bound for Washington , D.C. , she added .
Larson was taken into custody and the girl was rescued by a Denver police officer who stopped the pair during their layover in Colorado , Mims said .
The girl was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her family .
Mims said that while the girl was not physically harmed detectives have evidence of inappropriate touching at the airport .
She said the steps Larson had taken to groom the girl were of a “ sophisticated nature ” and asked anyone who may have had inappropriate contact with Larson to contact police .
She also urged parents to always monitor their children ’ s internet activity and who they are communicating with online .
Federal agents searched Larson ’ s house and discovered that during the past two months since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ persuaded the girl to send him pornographic images of herself , according to Mims .
During the search , Larson ’ s 69-year-old father , Arthur Larson , assaulted a federal agent and was arrested , she said .
Charged with assault and battery , the father was later released from jail after posting bond .
Mims said detectives also discovered the son ’ s “ deeply disturbing background.
” “ He is a white supremacist and a well-known advocate for pedophilia , ” she said of the younger Larson .
“ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which encourages the raping of children and sharing of naked photos and video of children being raped.
” Nathan Larson ran and lost a 2017 campaign to become a member of the Virginia House of Delegates , representing the 31st House District encompassing Prince William and Fauquier counties in northern Virginia .
He ran as an independent and his platform included advocating for fathers to be able to marry their daughters , legalizing child pornography and suppressing women ’ s rights .
In 2009 , while living in Boulder , Colorado , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prison after pleading guilty to sending an email to the Secret Service that he intended to kill the president “ in the near future.
” It is unclear whether Larson was referring to then-President George W. Bush or then-President-elect Barack Obama .
Larson was being held in the Denver County jail facing a misdemeanor charge of harboring a minor .
However , Fresno County authorities will seek an extradition request to Fresno where he will face felony charges of kidnapping , child abduction , soliciting child pornography from a minor and meeting a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It wasn ’ t immediately known whether he has a lawyer .

FRESNO — A self-proclaimed pedophilia advocate who once ran for political office in Virginia has been arrested by authorities who said they caught him flying across the country earlier this week with a 12-year-old girl he had persuaded to run away from her California home.
Nathan Larson, 40, made the girl wear a long-haired wig to make her look older and told her to pretend to be mute during their travel, Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims announced on Saturday.
The investigation began Monday morning when the girl’s family reported her missing from her bedroom in Fresno, California.
Mims said detectives learned that Larson, a resident of Catlett, Virginia, met the girl previously through social media, flew to California and persuaded her to sneak out of her house around 2 a.m. Monday. They took a rideshare car to the Fresno Airport, where they board a plane bound for Washington, D.C., she added.
Larson was taken into custody and the girl was rescued by a Denver police officer who stopped the pair during their layover in Colorado, Mims said. The girl was not injured and later was reunited with her family.
Mims said that while the girl was not physically harmed detectives have evidence of inappropriate touching at the airport.
She said the steps Larson had taken to groom the girl were of a “sophisticated nature” and asked anyone who may have had inappropriate contact with Larson to contact police. She also urged parents to always monitor their children’s internet activity and who they are communicating with online.
Federal agents searched Larson’s house and discovered that during the past two months since meeting her online in October, Larson persuaded the girl to send him pornographic images of herself, according to Mims. During the search, Larson’s 69-year-old father, Arthur Larson, assaulted a federal agent and was arrested, she said.
Charged with assault and battery, the father was later released from jail after posting bond.
Mims said detectives also discovered the son’s “deeply disturbing background.”
“He is a white supremacist and a well-known advocate for pedophilia,” she said of the younger Larson. “This is a man who runs a website, which encourages the raping of children and sharing of naked photos and video of children being raped.”
Nathan Larson ran and lost a 2017 campaign to become a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 31st House District encompassing Prince William and Fauquier counties in northern Virginia. He ran as an independent and his platform included advocating for fathers to be able to marry their daughters, legalizing child pornography and suppressing women’s rights.
In 2009, while living in Boulder, Colorado, he was sentenced to 16 months in prison after pleading guilty to sending an email to the Secret Service that he intended to kill the president “in the near future.” It is unclear whether Larson was referring to then-President George W. Bush or then-President-elect Barack Obama.
He wound up serving 14 months.
Larson was being held in the Denver County jail facing a misdemeanor charge of harboring a minor. However, Fresno County authorities will seek an extradition request to Fresno where he will face felony charges of kidnapping, child abduction, soliciting child pornography from a minor and meeting a child for the intention of sex.
It wasn’t immediately known whether he has a lawyer.


mercurynews--2020-12-21--Drug overdose deaths far outpace COVID-19 deaths in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO — A record 621 people died of drug overdoses in San Francisco so far this year , a staggering number that far outpaces the 173 deaths from COVID-19 the city has seen thus far .
The crisis fueled by the powerful painkiller fentanyl could have been far worse if it wasn ’ t for the nearly 3,000 times Narcan was used from January to the beginning of November to save someone from the brink of death , the San Francisco Chronicle reported Saturday .
The data reflects the number of times people report using Narcan to the Drug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city-funded program that coordinates San Francisco ’ s response to overdose , or return to refill their supply .
Officials at the DOPE Project said that since the numbers are self-reported , they are probably a major undercount .
Last year , 441 people died of drug overdoses — a 70 % increase from 2018 — and 2,610 potential overdoses were prevented by Narcan , a medication commonly sprayed up the nose to reverse an opioid overdose , according to data from the city Medical Examiner ’ s office and the DOPE Project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some San Jose Sharks players who were overseas tested positive • Panel : People over 75 , essential workers next for COVID vaccines • San Jose Sharks officially relocating to Arizona for training camp , and possibly longer The crisis is deepening because fentanyl , which can be 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine , flooded the city ’ s drug supply , the newspaper said .
Moreover , the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted city services like housing and treatment , and left many people who rely on others to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alone .
While nearly 40 % of the deaths occurred in the Tenderloin and South of Market neighborhoods near downtown , city data showed the epidemic has touched every part of the city .
Many people overdosed in low-income apartment buildings and in city-funded hotel rooms for the homeless .
Others died on sidewalks , in alleyways and parks around the city .

SAN FRANCISCO — A record 621 people died of drug overdoses in San Francisco so far this year, a staggering number that far outpaces the 173 deaths from COVID-19 the city has seen thus far.
The crisis fueled by the powerful painkiller fentanyl could have been far worse if it wasn’t for the nearly 3,000 times Narcan was used from January to the beginning of November to save someone from the brink of death, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Saturday.
The data reflects the number of times people report using Narcan to the Drug Overdose Prevention and Education Project, a city-funded program that coordinates San Francisco’s response to overdose, or return to refill their supply. Officials at the DOPE Project said that since the numbers are self-reported, they are probably a major undercount.
Last year, 441 people died of drug overdoses — a 70% increase from 2018 — and 2,610 potential overdoses were prevented by Narcan, a medication commonly sprayed up the nose to reverse an opioid overdose, according to data from the city Medical Examiner’s office and the DOPE Project.
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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 The crisis is deepening because fentanyl, which can be 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, flooded the city’s drug supply, the newspaper said. Moreover, the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted city services like housing and treatment, and left many people who rely on others to help save them if they overdose to use alone.
While nearly 40% of the deaths occurred in the Tenderloin and South of Market neighborhoods near downtown, city data showed the epidemic has touched every part of the city. Many people overdosed in low-income apartment buildings and in city-funded hotel rooms for the homeless. Others died on sidewalks, in alleyways and parks around the city.


mercurynews--2020-12-21--Here’s what’s in the $900 billion pandemic relief bill

Leaders in the House and Senate reached an agreement late Sunday on a $ 900 billion pandemic relief bill that includes enhanced unemployment benefits and direct cash payments .
There were several changes made from a proposal put forward nearly two weeks ago by a bipartisan group of lawmakers .
Direct stimulus checks were brought in at the last minute .
Direct aid to states and liability protections for companies were left out .
If the new bill passes , it will be the second-largest federal stimulus package after the $ 2 trillion CARES Act that Congress approved in March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to vote Monday and send the bill to President Donald Trump ’ s desk for his signature — just in time to get something done before the end of December , when several aid programs in the CARES Act are set to expire , including key pandemic jobless assistance measures and eviction protections .
The full bill text had not been released as of Sunday night .
Here ’ s what we know so far from summaries released by Democratic and Republican leadership : The package would send direct stimulus payments of $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provided in the first round of checks that went out in the spring .
As with the first round , the payments will only be sent to people below a certain income level , though it wasn ’ t clear Sunday where that would be set .
Eligible families would receive an additional $ 600 per child — which is $ 100 more than Congress gave families in the first round of relief last spring .
The jobless would receive a $ 300 weekly federal enhancement in benefits for 11 weeks , from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the deal .
The amount is half of the earlier federal boost , which ran out at the end of July .
Also , the agreement calls for extensions of two other pandemic unemployment programs that were created in the CARES Act in March .
Both are currently set to expire at the end of this week , affecting an estimated 12 million people .
The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program expands jobless benefits to gig workers , freelancers , independent contractors , the self-employed and certain people affected by the coronavirus .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ additional 13 weeks of payments to those who exhaust their regular state benefits .
Both programs would close to new applicants in mid-March and then phase out in early April for existing claimants .
The final agreement is less generous than the original bipartisan deal that was released earlier this month .
It would have provided 16 weeks of enhanced payments and pandemic benefits .
The bill would reopen the Paycheck Protection Program so that some of the hardest-hit small businesses can apply for a second loan .
The program stopped taking applications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ August .
It specifically designates $ 12 billion for minority-owned and very small businesses .
Unlike in the CARES Act , this bill carves out $ 15 billion for live venues , independent movie theaters and cultural institutions .
It also expands eligibility to more nonprofits as well as local newspapers , TV and radio broadcasters .
The bill would provide $ 82 billion in aid for K-12 schools and colleges .
Earlier proposals from Republicans and Democrats called for at least $ 100 billion in aid for schools .
An additional $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care providers that have struggled because of the pandemic .
The bill would extend until January 31 the eviction protection set to expire at the end of the year .
It also would provide $ 25 billion in rental assistance for individuals who lost their source of income during the pandemic .
The deal would raise SNAP benefits by 15 % for six months but would not expand eligibility .
This is more generous that the original bipartisan agreement from earlier in December , which called for a four-month increase .
Democrats have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Program , or SNAP , as food stamps are formally known , since the pandemic began , but the provision never made it into prior relief packages .
The bill would also expand the Pandemic-EBT program to families with children under age 6 , deeming them “ enrolled ” in child care and eligible for benefits .
It now provides money to low-income families with school-age children in lieu of the free and reduced-price meals they would have received in school .
The deal also would send $ 400 million to food banks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Assistance Program .
It would also provide $ 175 million for nutrition services for seniors , such as Meals on Wheels , and $ 13 million for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program , which serves more than 700,000 older Americans monthly .
The agreement would provide $ 20 billion for the purchase of vaccines so they can be available at no charge for those who need it , as well as another $ 8 billion for vaccine distribution .
It also would give states $ 20 billion to assist with testing .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state and local government funding The final deal does not contain any direct aid to state and local governments — dropping an initial call for $ 160 billion in assistance as the basis for good faith negotiations .
The provision has been among the most contentious of the negotiations .
House Democrats had provided $ 875 billion in the relief bill that passed the chamber in May to help states and local governments struggling with lower tax revenues due to the pandemic .
But Republicans have resisted allocating additional aid beyond the $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 trillion relief bill in March , which could only be used for coronavirus-related expenses .
GOP lawmakers have said they don ’ t want to bail out states that have mismanaged their finances .
State and local officials blasted lawmakers in recent days when it became clear that direct aid was falling by the wayside .
• Coronavirus : Doug Wilson says some San Jose Sharks players who were overseas tested positive • Panel : People over 75 , essential workers next for COVID vaccines • San Jose Sharks officially relocating to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longer In a joint statement Sunday night , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer pointed out that the final agreement would provide emergency resources for schools , $ 27 billion for state highways , struggling transit agencies , Amtrak and airports , and $ 22 billion for health-related expenses of state , local , tribal and territorial government .
In addition , the agreement calls for providing $ 2 billion to support intercity buses .
The deal would also extend the deadline for spending down the $ 150 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
State and local governments have been racing to use all the money by the current deadline of December 30 , with many providing assistance to residents .
State and local officials had also asked to be able to use some of the funding to plug budget shortfalls .

Leaders in the House and Senate reached an agreement late Sunday on a $900 billion pandemic relief bill that includes enhanced unemployment benefits and direct cash payments.
There were several changes made from a proposal put forward nearly two weeks ago by a bipartisan group of lawmakers. Direct stimulus checks were brought in at the last minute. Direct aid to states and liability protections for companies were left out.
If the new bill passes, it will be the second-largest federal stimulus package after the $2 trillion CARES Act that Congress approved in March.
Lawmakers in both chambers are expected to vote Monday and send the bill to President Donald Trump’s desk for his signature — just in time to get something done before the end of December, when several aid programs in the CARES Act are set to expire, including key pandemic jobless assistance measures and eviction protections.
The full bill text had not been released as of Sunday night. Here’s what we know so far from summaries released by Democratic and Republican leadership:
Stimulus checks
The package would send direct stimulus payments of $600 to individuals, half the amount provided in the first round of checks that went out in the spring. As with the first round, the payments will only be sent to people below a certain income level, though it wasn’t clear Sunday where that would be set.
Eligible families would receive an additional $600 per child — which is $100 more than Congress gave families in the first round of relief last spring.
[vemba-video id=”politics/2020/12/20/coronavirus-stimulus-package-vpx.cnn”]
Unemployment benefits
The jobless would receive a $300 weekly federal enhancement in benefits for 11 weeks, from the end of December through mid-March under the deal. The amount is half of the earlier federal boost, which ran out at the end of July.
Also, the agreement calls for extensions of two other pandemic unemployment programs that were created in the CARES Act in March. Both are currently set to expire at the end of this week, affecting an estimated 12 million people.
The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program expands jobless benefits to gig workers, freelancers, independent contractors, the self-employed and certain people affected by the coronavirus. The Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program provides an additional 13 weeks of payments to those who exhaust their regular state benefits.
Both programs would close to new applicants in mid-March and then phase out in early April for existing claimants.
The final agreement is less generous than the original bipartisan deal that was released earlier this month. It would have provided 16 weeks of enhanced payments and pandemic benefits.
Small business loans
The bill would reopen the Paycheck Protection Program so that some of the hardest-hit small businesses can apply for a second loan. The program stopped taking applications for the first round of loans in August.
It specifically designates $12 billion for minority-owned and very small businesses.
Unlike in the CARES Act, this bill carves out $15 billion for live venues, independent movie theaters and cultural institutions. It also expands eligibility to more nonprofits as well as local newspapers, TV and radio broadcasters.
Funding for schools and child care
The bill would provide $82 billion in aid for K-12 schools and colleges. Earlier proposals from Republicans and Democrats called for at least $100 billion in aid for schools.
An additional $10 billion is included to support child care providers that have struggled because of the pandemic.
Rental assistance
The bill would extend until January 31 the eviction protection set to expire at the end of the year. It also would provide $25 billion in rental assistance for individuals who lost their source of income during the pandemic.
Nutrition assistance
The deal would raise SNAP benefits by 15% for six months but would not expand eligibility. This is more generous that the original bipartisan agreement from earlier in December, which called for a four-month increase.
Democrats have advocated for augmenting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, as food stamps are formally known, since the pandemic began, but the provision never made it into prior relief packages.
The bill would also expand the Pandemic-EBT program to families with children under age 6, deeming them “enrolled” in child care and eligible for benefits. It now provides money to low-income families with school-age children in lieu of the free and reduced-price meals they would have received in school.
The deal also would send $400 million to food banks and food pantries through The Emergency Food Assistance Program.
It would also provide $175 million for nutrition services for seniors, such as Meals on Wheels, and $13 million for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which serves more than 700,000 older Americans monthly.
Vaccine funding
The agreement would provide $20 billion for the purchase of vaccines so they can be available at no charge for those who need it, as well as another $8 billion for vaccine distribution.
It also would give states $20 billion to assist with testing.
What’s not in the bill — state and local government funding
The final deal does not contain any direct aid to state and local governments — dropping an initial call for $160 billion in assistance as the basis for good faith negotiations.
The provision has been among the most contentious of the negotiations. House Democrats had provided $875 billion in the relief bill that passed the chamber in May to help states and local governments struggling with lower tax revenues due to the pandemic.
But Republicans have resisted allocating additional aid beyond the $150 billion provided in Congress’ $2 trillion relief bill in March, which could only be used for coronavirus-related expenses. GOP lawmakers have said they don’t want to bail out states that have mismanaged their finances.
State and local officials blasted lawmakers in recent days when it became clear that direct aid was falling by the wayside.
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One controversial East Bay parklet reveals dilemmas of pandemic dining Economy | Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms
Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms Economy | COVID Q&A: Can I use an expired test? Time to get boosted? How to cope with California’s sneaky summer surge In a joint statement Sunday night, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer pointed out that the final agreement would provide emergency resources for schools, $27 billion for state highways, struggling transit agencies, Amtrak and airports, and $22 billion for health-related expenses of state, local, tribal and territorial government.
In addition, the agreement calls for providing $2 billion to support intercity buses.
The deal would also extend the deadline for spending down the $150 billion in coronavirus relief funds by a year. State and local governments have been racing to use all the money by the current deadline of December 30, with many providing assistance to residents.
State and local officials had also asked to be able to use some of the funding to plug budget shortfalls.
The-CNN-Wire
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mercurynews--2020-12-21--Racism targets Asian food, business during COVID-19 pandemic

By CHRISTINE FERNANDO and CHEYANNE MUMPHREY | The Associated Press As the coronavirus spread throughout the U.S. , bigotry toward Asian Americans was not far behind , fueled by the news that COVID-19 first appeared in China .
Some initial evidence suggested the virus began in bats , which infected another animal that may have spread it to people at one of Wuhan , China ’ s “ wet markets.
” Such markets sell fresh meat , fish and vegetables , and some also sell live animals , such as chickens , that are butchered on site to ensure freshness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distorted in the U.S. , spurring racist memes on social media that portrayed Chinese people as bat eaters responsible for spreading the virus , and reviving century-old tropes about Asian food being dirty .
Fueling the fire , President Donald Trump repeatedly referred to COVID-19 as “ the China virus.
” “ That old-school rhetoric that we eat bats , dogs and rats — that racism is still alive and well , ” said Clarence Kwan , creator of the anti-racist cooking zine “ Chinese Protest Recipes.
” The speed with which such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ a reflection of how little progress we ’ ve made , ” Kwan said .
In the Wuhan market where the virus is believed to possibly have originated , vendors also advertised wildlife for sale .
Of the 33 samples from the market that tested positive for the coronavirus , officials say 31 were from the area where wildlife booths were concentrated .
But wildlife and other “ exotic ” animals are not part of the modern mainstream Asian diet , either in Asian countries or in the U.S. All of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AAPI Hate , a coalition of Asian American advocacy groups , issued a report in August stating that it had received more than 2,500 reports of hate and discrimination across the country since the group was founded in March , around the time the outbreak began to seriously worsen in the U.S .
The group said it received data from 47 states , with 46 % of the incidents taking place in California , followed by 14 % in New York .
In addition , Asian American small businesses have been among the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic .
While there was a 22 % decline in all small business-owner activity nationwide from February to April , Asian American business-owner activity dropped by 26 % , according to a study by the National Bureau of Economic Research .
Many businesses that survived have been subject to stigmatization , Kwan said .
“ Restaurants have been vandalized .
As if the pandemic wasn ’ t hard enough , there ’ s this added threat to Asian businesses of this lingering hate.
” Conversations about the stigmatization of Asian food reached @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a contestant on “ MasterChef : The Professionals , ” used the phrase “ Dirty Food Refined ” and the hashtag # prettydirtyfood in her Instagram bio , which described her as an Asian food specialist .
“ In a year where Chinese and East Asian communities have essentially been blamed for the pandemic and chastised as ‘ dirty , ’ this type of narrative is completely unacceptable , ” Kwan wrote on Instagram .
Armitage-Mattin ’ s bio has since been changed and the London-based chef apologized on Instagram , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to insult anyone .
“ The way I mean food to be ‘ dirty ’ is indulgent street food ; food that comforts you as in , ‘ going out for a dirty burger , ’ ” she wrote .
But Kwan said especially in the current climate , such phrases can be dangerous .
“ It was a very flippant , ignorant , tone-deaf way of talking about Asian food , ” he said .
Racist rhetoric referring to Asian food as dirty or disease-laden dates back to the 1850s , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indiana University .
Wu said the false notion that Chinese people eat rat or dog meat is rooted in the xenophobic fears of white workers who used Chinese immigrant workers as a scapegoat for their economic woes .
“ To white Americans , these new immigrants were different in a threatening way , and there is fear of the ‘ other , ’ of difference , ” said Wu , who is Asian American .
English professor Anita Mannur of Miami University said the current crisis reminds her of racist cartoons from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by picturing a Chinese man about to eat one of the rodents .
Mannur , who is Indian American , said other persistent false narratives such as that Chinese American neighborhoods or Chinatowns are dens of vice send the message that Asian people are less civilized , and do “ very immediate damage.
” “ People have had their houses graffitied with things like ‘ Dog eaters live here , ’ ” she said .
“ People are beaten up and spat on .
People are told to go back to China.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chow restaurant in Los Angeles ’ Chinatown district and two other locations in Southern California , said even though his businesses have survived the pandemic , they get prank calls almost daily asking if they have dog or cat on the menu or impersonating a thick Asian accent .
“ The worst part is if they realize you speak perfect English , then they just give you a random order and we prepare it and they don ’ t even come to pick it up .
Waste of time and money , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wilson says some San Jose Sharks players who were overseas tested positive • Panel : People over 75 , essential workers next for COVID vaccines • San Jose Sharks officially relocating to Arizona for training camp , and possibly longer For years , health inspectors have been accused of docking points from Chinese restaurants for employing traditional cooking and presentation methods , such as hanging roast duck in the front window .
The common yet scientifically disproven claim that MSG causes illness made the Chinese food flavor enhancer highly unpopular in the 1970s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eliminate it from their kitchens .
Kwan said it is important for Asian Americans to protest the way they are being treated ; to push back against the latest onslaught of bias and racism by continuing to unabashedly celebrate their food and culture .
“ We don ’ t have to change , ” he said .
“ We can live , breathe and eat exactly the way we do without having to adapt to white supremacy , to the white gaze , to whiteness .
We can be proud of our culinary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indiana , and Mumphrey reported from Phoenix .
Fernando is an intern with The Associated Press ’ Race and Ethnicity team .
Follow her on Twitter at https : //twitter.com/christinetfern .

By CHRISTINE FERNANDO and CHEYANNE MUMPHREY | The Associated Press
As the coronavirus spread throughout the U.S., bigotry toward Asian Americans was not far behind, fueled by the news that COVID-19 first appeared in China.
Some initial evidence suggested the virus began in bats, which infected another animal that may have spread it to people at one of Wuhan, China’s “wet markets.” Such markets sell fresh meat, fish and vegetables, and some also sell live animals, such as chickens, that are butchered on site to ensure freshness for consumers.
The information quickly got distorted in the U.S., spurring racist memes on social media that portrayed Chinese people as bat eaters responsible for spreading the virus, and reviving century-old tropes about Asian food being dirty. Fueling the fire, President Donald Trump repeatedly referred to COVID-19 as “the China virus.”
“That old-school rhetoric that we eat bats, dogs and rats — that racism is still alive and well,” said Clarence Kwan, creator of the anti-racist cooking zine “Chinese Protest Recipes.” The speed with which such false stereotypes resurfaced during the pandemic is “a reflection of how little progress we’ve made,” Kwan said.
In the Wuhan market where the virus is believed to possibly have originated, vendors also advertised wildlife for sale. Of the 33 samples from the market that tested positive for the coronavirus, officials say 31 were from the area where wildlife booths were concentrated. But wildlife and other “exotic” animals are not part of the modern mainstream Asian diet, either in Asian countries or in the U.S.
All of the misinformation has had serious consequences.
Stop AAPI Hate, a coalition of Asian American advocacy groups, issued a report in August stating that it had received more than 2,500 reports of hate and discrimination across the country since the group was founded in March, around the time the outbreak began to seriously worsen in the U.S. The group said it received data from 47 states, with 46% of the incidents taking place in California, followed by 14% in New York.
In addition, Asian American small businesses have been among the hardest hit by the economic downturn during the pandemic. While there was a 22% decline in all small business-owner activity nationwide from February to April, Asian American business-owner activity dropped by 26%, according to a study by the National Bureau of Economic Research.
Many businesses that survived have been subject to stigmatization, Kwan said. “Restaurants have been vandalized. As if the pandemic wasn’t hard enough, there’s this added threat to Asian businesses of this lingering hate.”
Conversations about the stigmatization of Asian food reached a crescendo this month when Philli Armitage-Mattin, a contestant on “MasterChef: The Professionals,” used the phrase “Dirty Food Refined” and the hashtag #prettydirtyfood in her Instagram bio, which described her as an Asian food specialist.
“In a year where Chinese and East Asian communities have essentially been blamed for the pandemic and chastised as ‘dirty,’ this type of narrative is completely unacceptable,” Kwan wrote on Instagram.
Armitage-Mattin’s bio has since been changed and the London-based chef apologized on Instagram, while also insisting that she had never meant to insult anyone.
“The way I mean food to be ‘dirty’ is indulgent street food; food that comforts you as in, ‘going out for a dirty burger,’” she wrote.
But Kwan said especially in the current climate, such phrases can be dangerous.
“It was a very flippant, ignorant, tone-deaf way of talking about Asian food,” he said.
Racist rhetoric referring to Asian food as dirty or disease-laden dates back to the 1850s, said Ellen Wu, a history professor at Indiana University. Wu said the false notion that Chinese people eat rat or dog meat is rooted in the xenophobic fears of white workers who used Chinese immigrant workers as a scapegoat for their economic woes.
“To white Americans, these new immigrants were different in a threatening way, and there is fear of the ‘other,’ of difference,” said Wu, who is Asian American.
English professor Anita Mannur of Miami University said the current crisis reminds her of racist cartoons from the late 1800s that advertised for rat poison by picturing a Chinese man about to eat one of the rodents.
Mannur, who is Indian American, said other persistent false narratives such as that Chinese American neighborhoods or Chinatowns are dens of vice send the message that Asian people are less civilized, and do “very immediate damage.”
“People have had their houses graffitied with things like ‘Dog eaters live here,’” she said. “People are beaten up and spat on. People are told to go back to China.”
Benny Yun, owner of the Yang Chow restaurant in Los Angeles’ Chinatown district and two other locations in Southern California, said even though his businesses have survived the pandemic, they get prank calls almost daily asking if they have dog or cat on the menu or impersonating a thick Asian accent.
“The worst part is if they realize you speak perfect English, then they just give you a random order and we prepare it and they don’t even come to pick it up. Waste of time and money,” Yun said.
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Kwan said it is important for Asian Americans to protest the way they are being treated; to push back against the latest onslaught of bias and racism by continuing to unabashedly celebrate their food and culture.
“We don’t have to change,” he said. “We can live, breathe and eat exactly the way we do without having to adapt to white supremacy, to the white gaze, to whiteness. We can be proud of our culinary heritage.”
—-
Fernando reported from Carmel, Indiana, and Mumphrey reported from Phoenix. Fernando is an intern with The Associated Press’ Race and Ethnicity team. Follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/christinetfern.


mercurynews--2020-12-21--Monterey County family cares for each other, loses two to COVID-19

SALINAS – Julia Duran was caught between a rock and a hard place .
She knew that she would be putting herself at risk when her 81-year-old father developed a cough and her 78-year-old mother and 46-year-old brother with down syndrome , soon began to feel sick .
But she had limited options and they needed help .
In the end , COVID-19 would claim the lives of two of her family members while the infection would cause varying degrees of illness and hospital stays for others .
Still fresh in her mind , Duran , 51 , recalled the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4 , when she checked in on her mother , father and brother who lived together .
Earlier that week , Duran ’ s mother had told her and her sister , the caregivers for their parents and brother , not to come over since her dad had developed a slight cough .
But by week ’ s end , the worry had gotten the better of them and they went to check in on their family .
She remembers her father , who had early-onset Alzheimer ’ s disease and dementia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been .
“ I felt guilty about wearing masks and gloves , ” said Duran .
“ I have underlying conditions that made me take those precautions.
” When the sisters checked in with the family , they discovered their father “ did not sound right and was so out of it , ” said Duran .
They thought his medication may have mixed badly with the cough medicine he was taking so they took him to the emergency room .
Coronavirus testing would confirm that Duran ’ s mother and father had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had it too .
Her dad was hospitalized and her sister was allowed to stay with him to help with communication and care due to his condition .
At first , her sister ’ s test came back negative but in the end , they were all infected .
Mother , father , brother , Duran , her sister and brother-in-law .
“ We all had different symptoms , ” said Duran .
“ We were very fortunate because my husband stayed home and didn ’ t come over .
I quarantined at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became the caretaker of her brother as her father remained hospitalized and her mother soon followed with fevers and pneumonia .
Her mom was released , after two days , back into Duran ’ s care and accompanied by an oxygen tank .
Her brother was sick but being helped by an inhaler and a blood oxygen monitor at home .
He soon became worse and Duran found herself back at the hospital emergency room where he was admitted and she would soon follow .
“ I went into the hospital from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was placed in the room next to her father , separated by glass , she could see him .
Her father received treatments and the news was good one day , then bad the next .
“ All the nurses were so connected and just knew what we were going through , ” said Duran .
“ They were just so amazing … they were like angels.
” Duran said she was given updates on the conditions of her father and brother and felt connected to them as she struggled in her own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grateful to have been there when her father died .
“ I woke up one day and saw them comforting him and I knew it was time , ” said Duran .
“ I was able to be by his side in his final moments.
” She said she gave her father a final blessing , as her mother and sister tried but were not able to get onto video chat in time .
Duran said she was so weak , she could not get up to kiss her father goodbye but believes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that thought gives her comfort .
A few days later Duran was well enough to go home .
The nurses wheeled her over to her brother ’ s glass-enclosed quarters .
He had been shaved and looked to be about 12 years old , she said .
“ My brother loved music and they got him a docking station to listen to his music and a deck of cards , ” said Duran .
“ My nurse took care of me and him.
” Duran said that she waved goodbye to her brother @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ He looked at me and pouted .
It was the hardest thing .
But the nurse got him going by starting the music and dancing around him , ” said Duran .
“ She took care of us and went above and beyond.
” Javier “ Javi ” Ortiz , 46 , of Salinas , died peacefully with his mother by his side on Sept. 25 .
Father and son died within six days of each other .
The family would adjust funeral plans for the father so that his son could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were sent off together .
“ With the holidays it ’ s been tough .
We are still thinking about Dad and my brother .
But it ’ s a blessing they went together , ” said Duran .
She said her brother and father were best friends and their deaths within days of each other gives the family peace .
Duran said her mother went back into the hospital a week after the funerals .
Her oxygen levels were not coming up and she knew something was wrong .
She would spend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pneumonia .
Through sickness and death , the family has rallied around one another .
Duran ’ s mother was cared for by her sister and niece while Duran was in the hospital .
Once home , her mother took care of Duran who , just as her mother did , went home on oxygen too .
Both mother and daughter have had chest x-rays since and everything looks good , she said .
As a family , they all took care of each other and realize that is how it was passed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next , but there really was no choice .
“ Unfortunately , it takes others in the caretaker ’ s role .
We followed what we needed to do and we stayed away , but duty called and we had to go , ” she said .
Duran no longer has a cough , but she finds herself short of breath at times , especially when she is tired , which is a lingering effect of the illness for her .
She has experienced hair loss which she said may be a combination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mom is very strong and has a strong faith , ” said Duran .
Her mother is now living alone in the house she once shared with her husband of 55 years and their special-needs son .
She has no intention at the moment to change that .
Both mother and daughter know what they need to do to get healthier and are taking vitamins and getting rest .
• Coronavirus : Doug Wilson says some San Jose Sharks players who were overseas tested positive • Panel : People over 75 , essential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jose Sharks officially relocating to Arizona for training camp , and possibly longer The sisters have become “ PSA announcements for oxygen meters ” or a pulse oximeter , a small electronic device that estimates the saturation of oxygen in the blood .
Duran said that is what made her go to the hospital for her brother and herself .
But she stresses that the primary reason she wants to share her family ’ s story is to let people know that COVID-19 is real , to take it seriously and that many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Duran has high praise for the medical staff at Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System and describes them as being well-organized and “ having it down pat ” doing everything they can to help patients and families .
Duran is back at work after spending a month-and-a-half recovering from COVID-19 .

SALINAS – Julia Duran was caught between a rock and a hard place. She knew that she would be putting herself at risk when her 81-year-old father developed a cough and her 78-year-old mother and 46-year-old brother with down syndrome, soon began to feel sick. But she had limited options and they needed help.
In the end, COVID-19 would claim the lives of two of her family members while the infection would cause varying degrees of illness and hospital stays for others.
Still fresh in her mind, Duran, 51, recalled the family’s ordeal starting on Sept. 4, when she checked in on her mother, father and brother who lived together.
Earlier that week, Duran’s mother had told her and her sister, the caregivers for their parents and brother, not to come over since her dad had developed a slight cough. But by week’s end, the worry had gotten the better of them and they went to check in on their family.
She remembers her father, who had early-onset Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, sounding more disoriented than he had ever been.
“I felt guilty about wearing masks and gloves,” said Duran. “I have underlying conditions that made me take those precautions.”
When the sisters checked in with the family, they discovered their father “did not sound right and was so out of it,” said Duran. They thought his medication may have mixed badly with the cough medicine he was taking so they took him to the emergency room.
Coronavirus testing would confirm that Duran’s mother and father had COVID-19 and later results showed her brother had it too. Her dad was hospitalized and her sister was allowed to stay with him to help with communication and care due to his condition.
At first, her sister’s test came back negative but in the end, they were all infected. Mother, father, brother, Duran, her sister and brother-in-law.
“We all had different symptoms,” said Duran. “We were very fortunate because my husband stayed home and didn’t come over. I quarantined at my parent’s house.”
Duran became the caretaker of her brother as her father remained hospitalized and her mother soon followed with fevers and pneumonia. Her mom was released, after two days, back into Duran’s care and accompanied by an oxygen tank.
Her brother was sick but being helped by an inhaler and a blood oxygen monitor at home. He soon became worse and Duran found herself back at the hospital emergency room where he was admitted and she would soon follow.
“I went into the hospital from the ER,” said Duran.
She was placed in the room next to her father, separated by glass, she could see him. Her father received treatments and the news was good one day, then bad the next.
“All the nurses were so connected and just knew what we were going through,” said Duran. “They were just so amazing … they were like angels.”
Duran said she was given updates on the conditions of her father and brother and felt connected to them as she struggled in her own battle with the coronavirus.
She is grateful to have been there when her father died.
“I woke up one day and saw them comforting him and I knew it was time,” said Duran. “I was able to be by his side in his final moments.”
She said she gave her father a final blessing, as her mother and sister tried but were not able to get onto video chat in time.
Duran said she was so weak, she could not get up to kiss her father goodbye but believes he knew she was there, and that thought gives her comfort.
Jesus Ortiz Ramirez, 81, of Salinas, died peacefully on Sept. 19.
A few days later Duran was well enough to go home. The nurses wheeled her over to her brother’s glass-enclosed quarters. He had been shaved and looked to be about 12 years old, she said.
“My brother loved music and they got him a docking station to listen to his music and a deck of cards,” said Duran. “My nurse took care of me and him.”
Duran said that she waved goodbye to her brother and told him she loved him.
“He looked at me and pouted. It was the hardest thing. But the nurse got him going by starting the music and dancing around him,” said Duran. “She took care of us and went above and beyond.”
Javier “Javi” Ortiz, 46, of Salinas, died peacefully with his mother by his side on Sept. 25.
Father and son died within six days of each other.
The family would adjust funeral plans for the father so that his son could be included and the two of them were sent off together.
“With the holidays it’s been tough. We are still thinking about Dad and my brother. But it’s a blessing they went together,” said Duran.
She said her brother and father were best friends and their deaths within days of each other gives the family peace.
Duran said her mother went back into the hospital a week after the funerals. Her oxygen levels were not coming up and she knew something was wrong. She would spend another eight days in the hospital with pneumonia.
Through sickness and death, the family has rallied around one another. Duran’s mother was cared for by her sister and niece while Duran was in the hospital. Once home, her mother took care of Duran who, just as her mother did, went home on oxygen too. Both mother and daughter have had chest x-rays since and everything looks good, she said.
As a family, they all took care of each other and realize that is how it was passed along from one family member to the next, but there really was no choice.
“Unfortunately, it takes others in the caretaker’s role. We followed what we needed to do and we stayed away, but duty called and we had to go,” she said.
Duran no longer has a cough, but she finds herself short of breath at times, especially when she is tired, which is a lingering effect of the illness for her. She has experienced hair loss which she said may be a combination of medications and stress.
“My mom is very strong and has a strong faith,” said Duran.
Her mother is now living alone in the house she once shared with her husband of 55 years and their special-needs son. She has no intention at the moment to change that. Both mother and daughter know what they need to do to get healthier and are taking vitamins and getting rest.
“We can’t get sick again,” said Duran.
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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 The sisters have become “PSA announcements for oxygen meters” or a pulse oximeter, a small electronic device that estimates the saturation of oxygen in the blood. Duran said that is what made her go to the hospital for her brother and herself.
But she stresses that the primary reason she wants to share her family’s story is to let people know that COVID-19 is real, to take it seriously and that many people have to face it alone.
Duran has high praise for the medical staff at Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System and describes them as being well-organized and “having it down pat” doing everything they can to help patients and families.
Duran is back at work after spending a month-and-a-half recovering from COVID-19.


mercurynews--2020-12-21--George Lucas sues town of San Anselmo over property line conflict

Filmmaker George Lucas is suing the town of San Anselmo and a family that used to own his home to clear up a discrepancy over a property line .
Lucas , who created the “ Star Wars ” and “ Indiana Jones ” franchises , is seeking to prevent the town or the previous resident ’ s family from claiming ownership over a sliver of the property where part of his house is situated .
Lucas bought the San Anselmo property in 2007 , according to a lawsuit filed in Marin County Superior Court by attorneys Richard Munzinger and Diego @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recently that a strip of land along the eastern edge of the property , adjacent to Sequoia Drive , is a road easement , according to an official Marin County map of the Sequoia Park subdivision .
But because of inconsistencies in the way deeds to the lot were written , that strip of land could also be claimed by the family of Frances Hamilton , who bought the property in 1928 , the suit says .
When lots in the Sequoia Park subdivision were sold by the developer , the Doherty Co. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ property included the adjacent road up to the center line , according to the lawsuit .
The roads were not retained as easements , it says .
According to the suit , the developer did not initially offer any of the streets in the neighborhood for public use .
The company later offered the Sequoia Drive easement to the town of San Anselmo in 1921 , “ but the town never accepted the dedication , ” the suit says .
When Hamilton bought the property that Lucas now owns , the deed did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot and by default it included part of Sequoia Drive , according to the suit .
But after Hamilton sold it , future deeds did spell out the lot ’ s eastern boundary , it says .
As a result , Hamilton ’ s family “ may assert some interest in , or cloud on ( Lucas ’ ) title to , the land between the parcel ’ s eastern boundary and the center line of the portion of Sequoia Drive that abuts the parcel , ” the suit says .
That sliver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ house .
The suit aims to “ correct decades-old surveying errors , ” Flores said .
• What ’ s next for couple in their late 80s who lost their handmade house in CZU Fire ?
• FEMA to fund California ’ s Project Roomkey hotels until COVID crisis ends , Newsom says The lawsuit says the Hamilton family , the town of San Anselmo and anyone seeking to claim ownership of that portion of the parcel “ have no right , title , estate , lien , or interest whatsoever ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ San Anselmo Town Council meeting on the suit last month , Mayor Brian Colbert announced that the town “ never accepted the subject land and therefore has no interest in the property.
” He declined to discuss the suit further .
The Hamilton interests have no lawyer of record and have not made a court appearance .
A case management conference is set for March 24 .

Filmmaker George Lucas is suing the town of San Anselmo and a family that used to own his home to clear up a discrepancy over a property line.
Lucas, who created the “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones” franchises, is seeking to prevent the town or the previous resident’s family from claiming ownership over a sliver of the property where part of his house is situated.
Lucas bought the San Anselmo property in 2007, according to a lawsuit filed in Marin County Superior Court by attorneys Richard Munzinger and Diego Flores. The suit says Lucas learned recently that a strip of land along the eastern edge of the property, adjacent to Sequoia Drive, is a road easement, according to an official Marin County map of the Sequoia Park subdivision. But because of inconsistencies in the way deeds to the lot were written, that strip of land could also be claimed by the family of Frances Hamilton, who bought the property in 1928, the suit says.
When lots in the Sequoia Park subdivision were sold by the developer, the Doherty Co., in the early 1900s, each property included the adjacent road up to the center line, according to the lawsuit. The roads were not retained as easements, it says.
According to the suit, the developer did not initially offer any of the streets in the neighborhood for public use. The company later offered the Sequoia Drive easement to the town of San Anselmo in 1921, “but the town never accepted the dedication,” the suit says.
When Hamilton bought the property that Lucas now owns, the deed did not specify the eastern boundary of the lot and by default it included part of Sequoia Drive, according to the suit. But after Hamilton sold it, future deeds did spell out the lot’s eastern boundary, it says.
As a result, Hamilton’s family “may assert some interest in, or cloud on (Lucas’) title to, the land between the parcel’s eastern boundary and the center line of the portion of Sequoia Drive that abuts the parcel,” the suit says. That sliver of land includes a portion of Lucas’ house.
The suit aims to “correct decades-old surveying errors,” Flores said.
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After a closed-session San Anselmo Town Council meeting on the suit last month, Mayor Brian Colbert announced that the town “never accepted the subject land and therefore has no interest in the property.” He declined to discuss the suit further.
The Hamilton interests have no lawyer of record and have not made a court appearance. A case management conference is set for March 24.