mercurynews--2020-07-06--Everyday words and phrases that have racist connotations

The words and phrases permeate nearly every aspect of our society .
“ Master bedrooms ” in our homes .
“ Blacklists ” and “ whitelists ” in computing .
The idiom “ sold down the river ” in our everyday speech .
Many are so entrenched that Americans don ’ t think twice about using them .
But some of these terms are directly rooted in the nation ’ s history with chattel slavery .
Others now evoke racist notions about Black people .
“ Words like ‘ slave ’ and ’ master ’ are so folded into our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history of racial slavery and racism in the US , ” says Elizabeth Pryor , an associate professor of history at Smith College .
But America ’ s reckoning with systemic racism is now forcing a more critical look at the language we use .
And while the offensive nature of many of these words and phrases has long been documented , some institutions are only now beginning to drop them from the lexicon .
Pryor suggests people think about the context certain words can carry and how using them could alienate others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brings as many people into communication with each other , ” she says .
“ If we know , by using certain language , we ’ re disinviting certain people from that conversation , language isn ’ t doing its job.
” Here are some familiar words and phrases you might consider dropping from your vocabulary .
Master bedrooms/bathrooms : A master bedroom typically refers to the largest bedroom in the house , often accompanied by a private bathroom .
Nationally , 42 % of current property listings on Zillow use the term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bedroom or a bath .
The phrase “ master bedroom ” first appeared in the 1926 Sears catalog , according to the real estate blog Trelora .
It was a feature of a $ 4,398 Dutch colonial home , the most expensive in the catalog , referring to a large second floor bedroom with a private bathroom .
“ Master bedrooms ” were more widely implemented in American homes after World War II , intended to give working parents a private space within their own homes , Trelora notes .
While it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in American slavery on plantations , it evokes that history .
Now , because of its slavery-era connotations , some members of the real estate industry are now calling to retire the term “ master.
” The Houston Association of Realtors recently announced it would replace “ master ” with “ primary ” to describe bedrooms and bathrooms on its listings .
And the Real Estate Standards Organization ( RESO ) , a group that includes associations , data companies and multiple listing services , told CNN that it ’ s discussing its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Master/slave : Tech engineers use these terms to describe components of software and hardware in which one process or device controls another .
The terms have been around for decades , and they ’ ve long raised concerns .
In 2014 , the programming language Drupal replaced “ master/slave ” terminology with “ primary/replica.
” Django opted to use “ leader/follower.
” Python , one of the most popular programming languages in the world , eliminated the terms in 2018 .
And last week Twitter announced it ’ s dropping “ master @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blacklist ” from its code after two engineers lobbied for the use of more inclusive programming language .
America ’ s biggest bank , JPMorgan Chase , says it ’ s taking similar steps .
“ Words matter , ” a Twitter engineer said about the move .
Blacklist/whitelist : In tech , a blacklist refers to a directory of specific elements , such as email addresses , IP addresses or URLs , that are blocked .
A whitelist , by contrast , is made up of elements that are allowed .
Though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t appear to be directly connected to race , some argue that they reinforce notions that black=bad and white=good .
Google ’ s Chromium , an open-source browser project , and Android ’ s open-source project have both encouraged developers to use “ blocklist ” and “ allowlist ” instead .
And recently , the National Institute of Standards and Technology — a federal agency that develops technology , metrics and standards for everything from atomic clocks to computer chips — said it would stop using computer security terms with racist overtones .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ other organizations to drop them too .
The Masters Tournament : It ’ s one of the four major tournaments on the PGA tour and is usually called simply , “ the Masters.
” The history of the name goes back to 1934 , when the tournament was first held at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia .
Clifford Roberts , one of the co-founders , wanted to call the event the “ Masters Tournament , ” according to the tournament ’ s website .
But co-founder Bobby Jones rejected the idea over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Roberts finally got his way in 1939 .
The name appears to have been a reference to golfers with great skills , but its connotations have brought the name under scrutiny .
Deadspin sportswriter Rob Parker recently called on the tournament to change its name .
Parker argues the name evokes slave masters in the US South , especially given the history of the golf course where it ’ s held .
For decades Augusta National Golf Club required that all caddies be black .
It also banned black golfers from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Elders broke its color barrier .
Black members weren ’ t admitted to the club until 1990 , and women weren ’ t admitted until 2012 .
Peanut gallery : The phrase typically refers to the cheapest seats in a theater , and is informally used to describe critics or hecklers .
When someone says “ no comments from the peanut gallery , ” it implies that a certain group of commentators is rowdy or uninformed .
The term dates back to the vaudeville era of the late 19th century and referred to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people typically sat .
Jeffrey Barg , who writes a language column for the Philadelphia Inquirer , noted recently that the first documented use of “ peanut gallery ” appeared in the New Orleans Times-Picayune in 1867 .
The term was cemented in pop culture in the 1940s , when the radio show “ Howdy Doody ” used it to refer to its live audience of children .
That name also carried over to the TV version of “ Howdy Doody ” in the 1950s .
Grandfathered in : This legal term broadly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adopted by seven Southern states during the Reconstruction Era .
Under it , anyone who was able to vote before 1867 was exempt from the literacy tests , property requirements and poll taxes needed for voting .
But enslaved Black people were not freed until 1865 , when the 13th Amendment passed , and weren ’ t granted the right to vote until the 15th Amendment was passed in 1870 .
The grandfather clause effectively excluded them from voting — a practice that continued until the 1960s , according to Encyclopedia Britannica .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that a person or company are exempt from following new laws , but “ grandfather clause ” in its original context disenfranchised Black Americans for decades .
Cakewalk : It ’ s what we call an easy victory , or something that ’ s easily accomplished .
The cakewalk originated as a dance performed by enslaved Black people on plantations before the Civil War .
It was intended to be a mockery of the way White people danced , though plantation owners often interpreted slaves ’ movements as unskillful attempts to be like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enslaved people competed for a cake .
Later , the dance — and the idiom — was popularized through minstrel shows , characterized by a “ a high-leg prance with a backward tilt of the head , shoulders and upper torso.
” Lynch mob : The racist roots of the phrase are hidden in plain sight .
Though it ’ s evolved into an umbrella term for an “ unjust attack , ” lynch mobs originated as hordes of people , most always White , who ’ d torture and kill Black people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a form of vigilante justice .
In the 19th and 20th centuries , Black Americans could be lynched for speaking to a White person or being perceived as insubordinate .
White Americans have since co-opted the term to characterize what they feel is undue punishment .
President Donald Trump last October called his impeachment inquiry a “ lynching , ” an interpretation of the word that doesn ’ t fit the description from the Equal Justice Initiative , a group which fights racism in the criminal justice system .
In the organization ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” lynchings are defined as hangings that inflict terror and are usually racially motivated .
Uppity : It ’ s an epithet used by White people in the Jim Crow era to describe Black people they believed weren ’ t showing them enough deference .
It ’ s far more malevolent than a synonym for “ arrogant , ” though .
Per PBS ’ long-running “ American Experience ” series , many Black men and women were lynched by White mobs for seeming too “ uppity.
” “ It was and remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person because it suggests that they are ‘ too big for their britches ’ or are demonstrating a sense of dignity or autonomy they are not supposed to possess , ” said Krystal Smalls , an assistant professor of anthropology and linguistics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign .
The insult was frequently lodged at President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama throughout the 44th president ’ s two terms , usually by conservative opponents who claimed they were unaware of the word ’ s racist origins .
And American and British @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meghan Markle , who is biracial , after she became the Duchess of Sussex .
Blackball , black mark : The terms both imply wrongdoing .
If you bear a black mark , you ’ ve done something that people hold against you .
If you ’ ve been blackballed , you ’ ve been banned from joining an organization because of something you ’ ve done .
The phrases didn ’ t originate in times of slavery , but the use of “ black ” to describe things that are wrong is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a UCLA researcher who published a study in 1979 on color connotations and race .
“ Black has connoted evil and disgrace , while white has connoted decency and purity , ” Longshore wrote then .
Those colors and their connotations , he added , “ may well reinforce social norms pertaining to those groups ” of people .
Sold down the river : While this phrase now refers to a devastating betrayal , its history is more fraught .
In the 1800s , Black slaves were literally sold down the river @ @ @ @ @ @ @ River , selling enslaved people to plantation owners further south .
There awaited inhumane conditions and brutal labor that often ended in death .
• Changing the nickname of the NFL team in Washington : Better late than never , but so very , very late “ Thus to be ‘ sold down the river ’ was to commence a life of crushing circumstances , ” according to the Mississippi Encyclopedia , a project from the University of Mississippi ’ s Center for the Study of Southern Culture .
Americans may unwittingly evoke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for exaggeration , said Jamaal Muwwakkil , a PhD candidate in linguistics at the University of California , Santa Barbara .
“ It takes away the weight of the reality of chattel slavery , ” he said .
“ You can , through hyperbole , water down the association of [ that word ] to slavery.
” But the association remains .
And in 2020 , people are seeing these words in a new light .

The words and phrases permeate nearly every aspect of our society.
“Master bedrooms” in our homes. “Blacklists” and “whitelists” in computing. The idiom “sold down the river” in our everyday speech.
Many are so entrenched that Americans don’t think twice about using them. But some of these terms are directly rooted in the nation’s history with chattel slavery. Others now evoke racist notions about Black people.
“Words like ‘slave’ and’ master’ are so folded into our vocabulary and almost unconsciously speak to the history of racial slavery and racism in the US,” says Elizabeth Pryor, an associate professor of history at Smith College.
But America’s reckoning with systemic racism is now forcing a more critical look at the language we use. And while the offensive nature of many of these words and phrases has long been documented, some institutions are only now beginning to drop them from the lexicon.
Pryor suggests people think about the context certain words can carry and how using them could alienate others.
“Language works best when it brings as many people into communication with each other,” she says. “If we know, by using certain language, we’re disinviting certain people from that conversation, language isn’t doing its job.”
Here are some familiar words and phrases you might consider dropping from your vocabulary.
In real estate
Master bedrooms/bathrooms: A master bedroom typically refers to the largest bedroom in the house, often accompanied by a private bathroom.
Nationally, 42% of current property listings on Zillow use the term “master” in reference to a bedroom or a bath.
The phrase “master bedroom” first appeared in the 1926 Sears catalog, according to the real estate blog Trelora. It was a feature of a $4,398 Dutch colonial home, the most expensive in the catalog, referring to a large second floor bedroom with a private bathroom.
“Master bedrooms” were more widely implemented in American homes after World War II, intended to give working parents a private space within their own homes, Trelora notes.
While it’s unclear whether the term is rooted in American slavery on plantations, it evokes that history.
Now, because of its slavery-era connotations, some members of the real estate industry are now calling to retire the term “master.”
The Houston Association of Realtors recently announced it would replace “master” with “primary” to describe bedrooms and bathrooms on its listings.
And the Real Estate Standards Organization (RESO), a group that includes associations, data companies and multiple listing services, told CNN that it’s discussing its standards around the use of the term.
In computer technology
Master/slave: Tech engineers use these terms to describe components of software and hardware in which one process or device controls another.
The terms have been around for decades, and they’ve long raised concerns.
In 2014, the programming language Drupal replaced “master/slave” terminology with “primary/replica.” Django opted to use “leader/follower.” Python, one of the most popular programming languages in the world, eliminated the terms in 2018.
And last week Twitter announced it’s dropping “master,” “slave” and “blacklist” from its code after two engineers lobbied for the use of more inclusive programming language. America’s biggest bank, JPMorgan Chase, says it’s taking similar steps.
“Words matter,” a Twitter engineer said about the move.
Blacklist/whitelist: In tech, a blacklist refers to a directory of specific elements, such as email addresses, IP addresses or URLs, that are blocked. A whitelist, by contrast, is made up of elements that are allowed.
Though the origins of those terms don’t appear to be directly connected to race, some argue that they reinforce notions that black=bad and white=good.
Google’s Chromium, an open-source browser project, and Android’s open-source project have both encouraged developers to use “blocklist” and “allowlist” instead.
And recently, the National Institute of Standards and Technology — a federal agency that develops technology, metrics and standards for everything from atomic clocks to computer chips — said it would stop using computer security terms with racist overtones. The agency said it would formally urge other organizations to drop them too.
In sports
The Masters Tournament: It’s one of the four major tournaments on the PGA tour and is usually called simply, “the Masters.”
The history of the name goes back to 1934, when the tournament was first held at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia. Clifford Roberts, one of the co-founders, wanted to call the event the “Masters Tournament,” according to the tournament’s website. But co-founder Bobby Jones rejected the idea over concerns that it was too “presumptuous.”
Roberts finally got his way in 1939. The name appears to have been a reference to golfers with great skills, but its connotations have brought the name under scrutiny.
Deadspin sportswriter Rob Parker recently called on the tournament to change its name.
Parker argues the name evokes slave masters in the US South, especially given the history of the golf course where it’s held.
For decades Augusta National Golf Club required that all caddies be black. It also banned black golfers from the Masters Tournament until 1975, when Lee Elders broke its color barrier.
Black members weren’t admitted to the club until 1990, and women weren’t admitted until 2012.
In the arts
Peanut gallery: The phrase typically refers to the cheapest seats in a theater, and is informally used to describe critics or hecklers.
When someone says “no comments from the peanut gallery,” it implies that a certain group of commentators is rowdy or uninformed.
The term dates back to the vaudeville era of the late 19th century and referred to the sections of the theater where Black people typically sat. Jeffrey Barg, who writes a language column for the Philadelphia Inquirer, noted recently that the first documented use of “peanut gallery” appeared in the New Orleans Times-Picayune in 1867.
The term was cemented in pop culture in the 1940s, when the radio show “Howdy Doody” used it to refer to its live audience of children. That name also carried over to the TV version of “Howdy Doody” in the 1950s.
In law
Grandfathered in: This legal term broadly refers to the “grandfather clause” adopted by seven Southern states during the Reconstruction Era.
Under it, anyone who was able to vote before 1867 was exempt from the literacy tests, property requirements and poll taxes needed for voting. But enslaved Black people were not freed until 1865, when the 13th Amendment passed, and weren’t granted the right to vote until the 15th Amendment was passed in 1870.
The grandfather clause effectively excluded them from voting — a practice that continued until the 1960s, according to Encyclopedia Britannica.
Now, “grandfathered in” means that a person or company are exempt from following new laws, but “grandfather clause” in its original context disenfranchised Black Americans for decades.
In everyday speech
Cakewalk: It’s what we call an easy victory, or something that’s easily accomplished.
The cakewalk originated as a dance performed by enslaved Black people on plantations before the Civil War. It was intended to be a mockery of the way White people danced, though plantation owners often interpreted slaves’ movements as unskillful attempts to be like them.
Owners held contests in which enslaved people competed for a cake. Later, the dance — and the idiom — was popularized through minstrel shows, characterized by a “a high-leg prance with a backward tilt of the head, shoulders and upper torso.”
Lynch mob: The racist roots of the phrase are hidden in plain sight. Though it’s evolved into an umbrella term for an “unjust attack,” lynch mobs originated as hordes of people, most always White, who’d torture and kill Black people — often by hanging them — as a form of vigilante justice.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, Black Americans could be lynched for speaking to a White person or being perceived as insubordinate. White Americans have since co-opted the term to characterize what they feel is undue punishment.
President Donald Trump last October called his impeachment inquiry a “lynching,” an interpretation of the word that doesn’t fit the description from the Equal Justice Initiative, a group which fights racism in the criminal justice system. In the organization’s report, “Lynching in America,” lynchings are defined as hangings that inflict terror and are usually racially motivated.
Uppity: It’s an epithet used by White people in the Jim Crow era to describe Black people they believed weren’t showing them enough deference.
It’s far more malevolent than a synonym for “arrogant,” though. Per PBS’ long-running “American Experience” series, many Black men and women were lynched by White mobs for seeming too “uppity.”
“It was and remains an insulting way to describe a Black person because it suggests that they are ‘too big for their britches’ or are demonstrating a sense of dignity or autonomy they are not supposed to possess,” said Krystal Smalls, an assistant professor of anthropology and linguistics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
The insult was frequently lodged at President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama throughout the 44th president’s two terms, usually by conservative opponents who claimed they were unaware of the word’s racist origins. And American and British journalists have used the term to describe Meghan Markle, who is biracial, after she became the Duchess of Sussex.
Blackball, black mark: The terms both imply wrongdoing. If you bear a black mark, you’ve done something that people hold against you. If you’ve been blackballed, you’ve been banned from joining an organization because of something you’ve done.
The phrases didn’t originate in times of slavery, but the use of “black” to describe things that are wrong is subconsciously racialized, according to Douglas Longshore, a UCLA researcher who published a study in 1979 on color connotations and race.
“Black has connoted evil and disgrace, while white has connoted decency and purity,” Longshore wrote then. Those colors and their connotations, he added, “may well reinforce social norms pertaining to those groups” of people.
Sold down the river: While this phrase now refers to a devastating betrayal, its history is more fraught.
In the 1800s, Black slaves were literally sold down the river. Slave traders traveled along the Mississippi River, selling enslaved people to plantation owners further south. There awaited inhumane conditions and brutal labor that often ended in death.
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Americans may unwittingly evoke racism when they use phrases like this for exaggeration, said Jamaal Muwwakkil, a PhD candidate in linguistics at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
“It takes away the weight of the reality of chattel slavery,” he said. “You can, through hyperbole, water down the association of [that word] to slavery.”
But the association remains. And in 2020, people are seeing these words in a new light.
The-CNN-Wire
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mercurynews--2020-07-06--On this date, 2010: Giants’ Madison Bumgarner gets first career win

MILWAUKEE — Madison Bumgarner must wait 31/2 more weeks to chug a beer legally .
But he isn ’ t too young to knock back the Brewers .
The 20-year-old left-hander pitched to his lofty potential , reached a career milestone and helped the Giants keep some momentum on their side Tuesday night .
Bumgarner threw eight shutout innings to earn his first major league victory in a 6-1 win at Miller Park .
“ It hasn ’ t really settled in yet , ” said Bumgarner , who limited the Brewers to three hits — all singles — along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hit batter in a 115-pitch effort .
“ It ’ s a very humbling experience to get a win up here .
This is the best there is.
” Bumgarner ( 1-2 ) received a game ball , a signed lineup card — and a not-so-surprising shower of Milwaukee ’ s finest liquid refreshment from teammates .
Rest assured , the quiet , country-strong kid from North Carolina kept his mouth shut the whole time .
At 20 years , 340 days , Bumgarner became the youngest Giants pitcher to win a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2005 .
Cain was just two days younger than Bumgarner — 20 years , 338 days — when he broke into the victory column .
Cain and Bumgarner throw with different arms , but they share a few other attributes .
“ I ’ ve always said he ’ s a guy who goes out and competes every time , ” catcher Buster Posey said of Bumgarner .
“ Even if he doesn ’ t feel good or doesn ’ t have his best stuff , he ’ ll do what he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win .
“ He ’ s very mature on the mound .
I was impressed with his poise .
He kept it throughout the game.
” Brewers shortstops didn ’ t , and they might be drowning their sorrows as a result .
Amazingly , for the second consecutive game , the Giants roared to their winning rally when a Brewers shortstop bungled a potential double-play ground ball .
In Monday night ’ s 6-1 victory , rookie Alcides Escobar opened the door to a four-run seventh inning .
This time , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head after his gulp moment led to a five-run sixth .
In a scoreless game , Counsell fielded Pablo Sandoval ’ s routine grounder with the bases loaded and one out .
It looked as if Sandoval would add an NL-high 19th double play to his woodpile .
But Counsell ’ s little sidearm throw to second base sailed into the outfield as two runs scored .
Travis Ishikawa followed with a two-run single that glanced off second baseman Rickie Weeks ’ glove .
“ We got a break , we know it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ But you ’ ve still got to take advantage of them.
” Ishikawa was an unlikely hero .
He entered the game with just two at-bats all season against left-handed pitchers ( and had struck out in both of them ) .
He got a start against left-hander Randy Wolf because a tired Aubrey Huff was on the verge of spontaneous combustion .
• Kurtenbach : Is baseball ’ s new preseason long enough ?
• Buster Posey comes to camp , but will he stay ?
• Giants add three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Posey arrives in San Francisco Ishikawa struck out feebly and hit into a fielder ’ s choice in his first two trips against Wolf .
But he came through in the sixth .
“ It ’ s hard to have a game plan in that situation , ” Ishikawa said .
“ I just wanted to not chase out of the zone .
If I was going to make an out , I wanted to hit the ball hard or at least get a good pitch to hit.
” Bumgarner followed with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inning — another run-scoring single — to complete the rally .
“ He got a bunt down , got a hit , had a rocket hit back at him and made it look easy — he had it all going for him , ” Bochy said .
“ At 20 years old , he ’ s got great composure out there .
Just a good look about him.
” Even though Bumgarner lost each of his two previous starts , Posey said , “ To me , this is his third quality start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in and out .
He had that cutter working .
Then he started flipping curveballs for strikes the second and third time through the lineup .
He did a great job .
”

(This story was originally published on July 6, 2010)
MILWAUKEE — Madison Bumgarner must wait 31/2 more weeks to chug a beer legally. But he isn’t too young to knock back the Brewers.
The 20-year-old left-hander pitched to his lofty potential, reached a career milestone and helped the Giants keep some momentum on their side Tuesday night. Bumgarner threw eight shutout innings to earn his first major league victory in a 6-1 win at Miller Park.
“It hasn’t really settled in yet,” said Bumgarner, who limited the Brewers to three hits — all singles — along with three walks, five strikeouts and a hit batter in a 115-pitch effort. “It’s a very humbling experience to get a win up here. This is the best there is.”
Bumgarner (1-2) received a game ball, a signed lineup card — and a not-so-surprising shower of Milwaukee’s finest liquid refreshment from teammates. Rest assured, the quiet, country-strong kid from North Carolina kept his mouth shut the whole time.
At 20 years, 340 days, Bumgarner became the youngest Giants pitcher to win a major league game since right-hander Matt Cain in 2005. Cain was just two days younger than Bumgarner — 20 years, 338 days — when he broke into the victory column.
Cain and Bumgarner throw with different arms, but they share a few other attributes.
“I’ve always said he’s a guy who goes out and competes every time,” catcher Buster Posey said of Bumgarner. “Even if he doesn’t feel good or doesn’t have his best stuff, he’ll do what he can to give you a chance to win.
“He’s very mature on the mound. I was impressed with his poise. He kept it throughout the game.”
Brewers shortstops didn’t, and they might be drowning their sorrows as a result. Amazingly, for the second consecutive game, the Giants roared to their winning rally when a Brewers shortstop bungled a potential double-play ground ball.
In Monday night’s 6-1 victory, rookie Alcides Escobar opened the door to a four-run seventh inning. This time, it was veteran Craig Counsell who hung his head after his gulp moment led to a five-run sixth.
In a scoreless game, Counsell fielded Pablo Sandoval’s routine grounder with the bases loaded and one out. It looked as if Sandoval would add an NL-high 19th double play to his woodpile. But Counsell’s little sidearm throw to second base sailed into the outfield as two runs scored.
Travis Ishikawa followed with a two-run single that glanced off second baseman Rickie Weeks’ glove.
“We got a break, we know it,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “But you’ve still got to take advantage of them.”
Ishikawa was an unlikely hero. He entered the game with just two at-bats all season against left-handed pitchers (and had struck out in both of them). He got a start against left-hander Randy Wolf because a tired Aubrey Huff was on the verge of spontaneous combustion.
Ishikawa struck out feebly and hit into a fielder’s choice in his first two trips against Wolf. But he came through in the sixth.
“It’s hard to have a game plan in that situation,” Ishikawa said. “I just wanted to not chase out of the zone. If I was going to make an out, I wanted to hit the ball hard or at least get a good pitch to hit.”
Bumgarner followed with the Giants’ only other hit in the inning — another run-scoring single — to complete the rally.
“He got a bunt down, got a hit, had a rocket hit back at him and made it look easy — he had it all going for him,” Bochy said. “At 20 years old, he’s got great composure out there. Just a good look about him.”
Even though Bumgarner lost each of his two previous starts, Posey said, “To me, this is his third quality start in a row. He really threw in and out. He had that cutter working. Then he started flipping curveballs for strikes the second and third time through the lineup. He did a great job.”


mercurynews--2020-07-06--The struggle to enter California’s cannabis market: ‘So much heartache, so much pain’

Linda Grant sold weed in the streets of East Oakland for 35 years before California legalized marijuana in 2016 .
She ’ s been “ going through hell ” trying to open a licensed business ever since .
Five years and two frustrating partnerships later , Grant still has to get a loan to pay for a business storefront before she can even apply for a license to operate .
“ It ’ s just ridiculous , ” Grant said .
“ So much heartache , so much pain.
” The process is daunting : business plans , tax returns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programs designed to close the gap , experts and advocates say the cost of entry and long list of requirements are still keeping people of color and low-income applicants from entering the state ’ s lucrative legal market .
“ We allowed people who already have money and position to jump on this new business opportunity , ” said Dr. FloJaune Cofer , senior director of policy for the nonprofit Public Health Advocates .
“ And the people who were underground are still underground.
” To reduce the barriers to entry , California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 64 , created equity programs to give licensing priority to members of low-income and minority communities disproportionately affected by the war on drugs .
The programs receive 20 percent of state tax revenues from marijuana sales .
In Oakland , Black people were 25 times more likely to get arrested than whites , according to a report analyzing California marijuana arrest data from 1996-2016 by Public Health Advocates .
That ’ s despite Blacks making up less than 15 percent of illegal drug users .
The city had the third-highest disparity rate in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after Sacramento and Palo Alto .
“ It was terror in East Oakland , ” recalled Grant , 51 , who was briefly incarcerated for possession in the 90s , a conviction since dismissed .
But equity programs are administered locally , and experts say their degree of success varies greatly from city to city , depending mostly on community activism .
A handful of success stories , such as the Black-owned dispensary Farmacy Berkeley , arose from Bay Area equity programs , but state officials say it ’ s too early to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the racial makeup of the legal industry .
Even through an equity program , breaking in isn ’ t easy .
A license can cost between $ 5,000 and $ 100,000 a year , and that ’ s after start-up costs and investments .
“ A middle-income person , someone making $ 60,000 a year today , with no financial backing ?
No way on Earth , ” said Dr. William Armaline , assistant professor of sociology and the director of the Human Rights Program at San José State University .
Marc Matulich @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s self-proclaimed largest single-site dispensary that boasts a fleet of delivery Teslas , said that even with a business degree , the framework to operate legally is intimidating .
“ If you don ’ t have an attorney helping you , if you don ’ t have the funds to hire the right resources to get you started , it ’ ll be very difficult , ” said Matulich , who is white and wasn ’ t part of an equity program .
Sean Kali-Rai , lobbyist and founder of the trade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Matulich invested nearly $ 3 million before he could open .
Today , opening a cannabis retail shop is virtually impossible in San Jose .
In 2016 , applicants were given a short window during which they had to secure a retail space in specifically-designated zones .
Only 16 firms succeeded in getting a retail license .
Few , if any , are majority-Black-owned , but it ’ s hard to tell since the state does not gather data on the race of its cannabis licensees .
The City of Oakland took a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cannabis regulations so half the permits issued by the city would go to equity program applicants .
Grant qualified because she ’ d lived for more than 10 of the past 20 years in one of the neighborhoods with the most disproportionate number of marijuana arrests .
Applicants could either start their own business , partner with larger companies , or both .
Grant , who didn ’ t have the money for her own license , paired up with two incubator companies who reached out to her through the program .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equity program , it was like a wave of vultures came into Oakland , ” said Grant .
The deal was simple : Grant ’ s name would be on the business licenses as a co-signee .
That way , investors could open without having to compete for limited non-equity licenses .
In exchange , she would receive monthly payments and mentoring to open her own dispensary .
Four years later , Grant said she has barely set foot in the businesses whose licenses bear her name , although the monthly payments help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hasn ’ t secured her own license , a task she says the incubators didn ’ t help nearly enough with .
One declined to comment ; the other is no longer operating .
“ She ’ s not just a poor person on a piece of paper .
She ’ s an asset , ” said Laura Herrera , an independent cannabis consultant and researcher at the UC Berkeley Cannabis Research Center who ’ s helped many applicants obtain licenses .
Herrera says Grant isn ’ t the only one struggling .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ program is among the best in the state , Herrera said few feel they ’ ve gotten the help needed to successfully start their own business .
Now , those operating without licenses have one more thing to worry about : the Bureau of Cannabis Control ’ s new enforcement unit .
Last week , Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s budget was approved , and with it , a proposal allocating $ 9.6 million to a new 87-officer police force under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Cannabis Control .
Its mandate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 8.3 billion underground market .
The enforcement unit includes 75 sworn officers .
Although most are being shifted from the Department of Consumer Affairs , 29 positions will be brand new .
Alex Traverso , spokesman for the state ’ s cannabis bureau , said that complaints by licensed retailers against their underground competitors are the main driver behind the new force .
“ Those folks want them gone , ” Traverso said .
• Not your typical grow house : Bay Area buyers paid cash , moved in the marijuana • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lettuce in top spot , cannabis in fifth • Sheriff : 2 tons of pot , $ 1 million seized from Chinese operation in California Until now , he said , unlicensed sellers had been treated rather diplomatically — with a warning letter .
But with that “ grace period ” over , the bureau will be responding to calls for tighter enforcement .
Traverso said it is unlikely applicants like Grant will be targeted , but specific policies have yet to be laid out .
“ We don ’ t need more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What we need is to make sure that we ’ ve removed all the barriers for those folks who are underground operators to become part of the legal economy.
” Grant hasn ’ t given up but she ’ s decided she can ’ t count solely on a career in weed .
So she ’ s also applied for a food truck license .
She hopes breaking into that business won ’ t burn nearly as much time .
This article is part of The California Divide , a collaboration among newsrooms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California .

Linda Grant sold weed in the streets of East Oakland for 35 years before California legalized marijuana in 2016. She’s been “going through hell” trying to open a licensed business ever since.
Five years and two frustrating partnerships later, Grant still has to get a loan to pay for a business storefront before she can even apply for a license to operate. “It’s just ridiculous,” Grant said. “So much heartache, so much pain.”
The process is daunting: business plans, tax returns, seed money. Even with state programs designed to close the gap, experts and advocates say the cost of entry and long list of requirements are still keeping people of color and low-income applicants from entering the state’s lucrative legal market.
“We allowed people who already have money and position to jump on this new business opportunity,” said Dr. FloJaune Cofer, senior director of policy for the nonprofit Public Health Advocates. “And the people who were underground are still underground.”
To reduce the barriers to entry, California’s cannabis law, Prop. 64, created equity programs to give licensing priority to members of low-income and minority communities disproportionately affected by the war on drugs. The programs receive 20 percent of state tax revenues from marijuana sales.
In Oakland, Black people were 25 times more likely to get arrested than whites, according to a report analyzing California marijuana arrest data from 1996-2016 by Public Health Advocates. That’s despite Blacks making up less than 15 percent of illegal drug users. The city had the third-highest disparity rate in the state, the report found, after Sacramento and Palo Alto.
“It was terror in East Oakland,” recalled Grant, 51, who was briefly incarcerated for possession in the 90s, a conviction since dismissed.
But equity programs are administered locally, and experts say their degree of success varies greatly from city to city, depending mostly on community activism. A handful of success stories, such as the Black-owned dispensary Farmacy Berkeley, arose from Bay Area equity programs, but state officials say it’s too early to tell whether the programs have helped shape the racial makeup of the legal industry.
Even through an equity program, breaking in isn’t easy. A license can cost between $5,000 and $100,000 a year, and that’s after start-up costs and investments.
“A middle-income person, someone making $60,000 a year today, with no financial backing? No way on Earth,” said Dr. William Armaline, assistant professor of sociology and the director of the Human Rights Program at San José State University.
Marc Matulich, founder of Airfield Supply, California’s self-proclaimed largest single-site dispensary that boasts a fleet of delivery Teslas, said that even with a business degree, the framework to operate legally is intimidating. “If you don’t have an attorney helping you, if you don’t have the funds to hire the right resources to get you started, it’ll be very difficult,” said Matulich, who is white and wasn’t part of an equity program.
Sean Kali-Rai, lobbyist and founder of the trade organization Silicon Valley Cannabis Alliance, said Matulich invested nearly $3 million before he could open.
Today, opening a cannabis retail shop is virtually impossible in San Jose. In 2016, applicants were given a short window during which they had to secure a retail space in specifically-designated zones. Only 16 firms succeeded in getting a retail license. Few, if any, are majority-Black-owned, but it’s hard to tell since the state does not gather data on the race of its cannabis licensees.
The City of Oakland took a different route. It amended its medical cannabis regulations so half the permits issued by the city would go to equity program applicants. Grant qualified because she’d lived for more than 10 of the past 20 years in one of the neighborhoods with the most disproportionate number of marijuana arrests. Applicants could either start their own business, partner with larger companies, or both. Grant, who didn’t have the money for her own license, paired up with two incubator companies who reached out to her through the program.
“When wealthy people found out about the equity program, it was like a wave of vultures came into Oakland,” said Grant.
The deal was simple: Grant’s name would be on the business licenses as a co-signee. That way, investors could open without having to compete for limited non-equity licenses. In exchange, she would receive monthly payments and mentoring to open her own dispensary.
Four years later, Grant said she has barely set foot in the businesses whose licenses bear her name, although the monthly payments help her get by. And she still hasn’t secured her own license, a task she says the incubators didn’t help nearly enough with. One declined to comment; the other is no longer operating.
“She’s not just a poor person on a piece of paper. She’s an asset,” said Laura Herrera, an independent cannabis consultant and researcher at the UC Berkeley Cannabis Research Center who’s helped many applicants obtain licenses. Herrera says Grant isn’t the only one struggling. Although she believes Oakland’s equity program is among the best in the state, Herrera said few feel they’ve gotten the help needed to successfully start their own business.
Now, those operating without licenses have one more thing to worry about: the Bureau of Cannabis Control’s new enforcement unit.
Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s budget was approved, and with it, a proposal allocating $9.6 million to a new 87-officer police force under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Cannabis Control. Its mandate: cracking down on California’s $8.3 billion underground market. The enforcement unit includes 75 sworn officers. Although most are being shifted from the Department of Consumer Affairs, 29 positions will be brand new.
Alex Traverso, spokesman for the state’s cannabis bureau, said that complaints by licensed retailers against their underground competitors are the main driver behind the new force. “Those folks want them gone,” Traverso said.
Until now, he said, unlicensed sellers had been treated rather diplomatically — with a warning letter. But with that “grace period” over, the bureau will be responding to calls for tighter enforcement. Traverso said it is unlikely applicants like Grant will be targeted, but specific policies have yet to be laid out.
“We don’t need more oversight,” said Cofer. “What we need is to make sure that we’ve removed all the barriers for those folks who are underground operators to become part of the legal economy.”
Grant hasn’t given up but she’s decided she can’t count solely on a career in weed. So she’s also applied for a food truck license. She hopes breaking into that business won’t burn nearly as much time.
This article is part of The California Divide, a collaboration among newsrooms examining income inequity and economic survival in California.


mercurynews--2020-07-06--Cyclist helped apprehend a murder suspect by lending a cop his bike

A cyclist assisted Atlanta police in the capture of a murder suspect by loaning an officer his bike for the chase .
On Tuesday , officers were canvassing an area in the city ’ s Old Fourth Ward where a fatal shooting occurred when they spotted the suspect , according to a news release from the Atlanta Police Department .
The man immediately fled the area on a bicycle and rode onto the BeltLine , a popular multi-use trail that runs through the city , the release said .
Stephen Willard told CNN that he bicycling to his home when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m riding home from work… and the next thing I see is APD officers jogging towards me , ” Willard said .
“ The next thing I know one of the officers is waving his arms and flags me down and says , ‘ Hey , ma , n let me borrow your bike !
’ ” Willard got off his bike and handed it to the police officer .
Bodycam video the police posted online captures the officer pedaling down the BeltLine and onto busy city streets while keeping the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he provides updates on the suspect ’ s location .
After a few minutes , the officer on the bicycle pulls up to Ponce City Market , a mixed-use development .
Another officer is already taking the suspect into custody .
“ We got him , we got him , we got him , ” the bicycling officer says .
Meanwhile , Willard had called the precinct and let the police know where he was waiting .
After 30 to 40 minutes the officer returned with his bike .
“ He was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and he thanked me quite a bit , ” Willard said .
“ I said , you guys are appreciated , even though the voices are loudly denouncing you , you are appreciated.
” “ It was pretty great , and it made me feel good , and everything worked out really well , ” Willard said .
“ They caught the suspect and I got my bike back in one piece.
” Nicholas Fonsaca , 21 , of Atlanta was arrested and charged with felony murder , according to the police .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a 37-year-old man on Sunday , the police said .
Fonsaca is being held at the Fulton County Jail and police told CNN that it is unknown if he has a lawyer at this time .
“ We are proud of the work our investigators put into this case and proud of the efforts made by our officers in pursuing and apprehending this dangerous suspect , ” Atlanta Police said in a statement .
“ Additionally , we are grateful for the assistance of the cyclist in loaning us his bicycle .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ can make the City of Atlanta safer .
”

A cyclist assisted Atlanta police in the capture of a murder suspect by loaning an officer his bike for the chase.
On Tuesday, officers were canvassing an area in the city’s Old Fourth Ward where a fatal shooting occurred when they spotted the suspect, according to a news release from the Atlanta Police Department.
The man immediately fled the area on a bicycle and rode onto the BeltLine, a popular multi-use trail that runs through the city, the release said.
[vemba-video id=”us/2020/07/04/police-borrow-bike-to-catch-murder-suspect-orig-llr.cnn”]
Stephen Willard told CNN that he bicycling to his home when he noticed the police chase.
“I’m riding home from work… and the next thing I see is APD officers jogging towards me,” Willard said. “The next thing I know one of the officers is waving his arms and flags me down and says, ‘Hey, ma,n let me borrow your bike!’ ”
Willard got off his bike and handed it to the police officer.
Bodycam video the police posted online captures the officer pedaling down the BeltLine and onto busy city streets while keeping the suspect in sight. In the audio, he provides updates on the suspect’s location.
After a few minutes, the officer on the bicycle pulls up to Ponce City Market, a mixed-use development. Another officer is already taking the suspect into custody.
“We got him, we got him, we got him,” the bicycling officer says.
Meanwhile, Willard had called the precinct and let the police know where he was waiting. After 30 to 40 minutes the officer returned with his bike.
“He was really excited about catching the guy, and he thanked me quite a bit,” Willard said. “I said, you guys are appreciated, even though the voices are loudly denouncing you, you are appreciated.”
Willard and the officer parted ways.
“It was pretty great, and it made me feel good, and everything worked out really well,” Willard said. “They caught the suspect and I got my bike back in one piece.”
Nicholas Fonsaca, 21, of Atlanta was arrested and charged with felony murder, according to the police. He is accused in the shooting death of a 37-year-old man on Sunday, the police said.
Fonsaca is being held at the Fulton County Jail and police told CNN that it is unknown if he has a lawyer at this time.
“We are proud of the work our investigators put into this case and proud of the efforts made by our officers in pursuing and apprehending this dangerous suspect,” Atlanta Police said in a statement.
“Additionally, we are grateful for the assistance of the cyclist in loaning us his bicycle. With help from the community, we can make the City of Atlanta safer.”
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.


mercurynews--2020-07-06--Nick Cordero, Broadway actor, dies at 41 after battle with Covid-19

Nick Cordero , a Broadway actor who had admirers across the world rallying for his recovery , has died after a battle with Covid-19 , according to his wife , Amanda Kloots .
“ God has another angel in heaven now , ” Kloots posted on her official Instagram account Sunday night .
“ My darling husband passed away this morning .
He was surrounded in love by his family , singing and praying as he gently left this earth.
” Kloots has been regularly updating her social media accounts with news of her husband ’ s ups and downs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including an amputated leg .
She said Cordero battled the disease for 95 days .
Born in Canada , Cordero grew up in Hamilton , Ontario , and eventually made his way to the Big Apple .
In 2014 he was nominated for a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award his role in “ Bullets Over Broadway , ” a role that earned him a Theatre World Award and Outer Critics Circle Award .
Cordero originated the role of the husband , Earl , in the Broadway production of “ Waitress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Sonny in the musical version of Chazz Palminteri ’ s “ A Bronx Tale.
” He also found success on the small screen , making appearances in episodes of “ Blue Bloods , ” “ Law & Order : Special Victims Unit ” and “ Lilyhammer.
” Cordero and Kloots , a fitness trainer , relocated to Los Angeles , where he starred in the musical “ Rock of Ages ” in 2019 .
He met Kloots , a former Broadway dancer , when they were both performing in “ Bullets over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to Kloots , Cordero was initially hospitalized in March at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles .
She shared on social media that Cordero spent some time on a ventilator , suffered multiple Covid-19 complications and in April had to have his leg amputated .
He spent weeks unconscious , even as doctors brought him out of sedation , and the hashtag campaign # WakeUpNick sprung up on social media to support Cordero as he recovered .
In May , Kloots posted that her husband was awake and while very weak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closing his eyes , takes it out of him , ” she said .
“ They ’ re waiting for him to regain strength , of course , time and recovery will help with that and then eventually PT will help him get stronger.
” Earlier in the month she had said her husband had a low blood count but was not bleeding internally .
Yet on another front the news was not great .
“ However , we did learn that due to COVID Nick ’ s lungs are severely damaged , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost like he ’ s been a smoker for 50 years they said .
They are that damaged.
” • Why tick season could be worse in the summer of Covid-19 • How did wearing masks to combat coronavirus become such a political football ?
• Coronavirus : Oakland Athletics ’ tests haven ’ t been shipped to the lab in Utah • Coronavirus : California records almost 2,000 more cases with some counties not reporting Kloots recently told “ CBS This Morning ” co-host Gayle King that Cordero had been so critically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ double lung transplant .
“ That is most likely the possibility , ” she said .
“ A 99 % chance that he would be needing that in order to live the kind of life that I know my husband would want to live.
” In addition to Kloots , Cordero is survived by their 1-year-old son , Elvis .

Nick Cordero, a Broadway actor who had admirers across the world rallying for his recovery, has died after a battle with Covid-19, according to his wife, Amanda Kloots.
He was 41.
“God has another angel in heaven now,” Kloots posted on her official Instagram account Sunday night. “My darling husband passed away this morning. He was surrounded in love by his family, singing and praying as he gently left this earth.”
Kloots has been regularly updating her social media accounts with news of her husband’s ups and downs as he battled the virus and complications, including an amputated leg. She said Cordero battled the disease for 95 days.
Born in Canada, Cordero grew up in Hamilton, Ontario, and eventually made his way to the Big Apple.
In 2014 he was nominated for a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award his role in “Bullets Over Broadway,” a role that earned him a Theatre World Award and Outer Critics Circle Award.
Cordero originated the role of the husband, Earl, in the Broadway production of “Waitress,” as well as the role of Sonny in the musical version of Chazz Palminteri’s “A Bronx Tale.”
He also found success on the small screen, making appearances in episodes of “Blue Bloods,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and “Lilyhammer.”
Cordero and Kloots, a fitness trainer, relocated to Los Angeles, where he starred in the musical “Rock of Ages” in 2019.
He met Kloots, a former Broadway dancer, when they were both performing in “Bullets over Broadway” and they married in 2017.
According to Kloots, Cordero was initially hospitalized in March at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
She shared on social media that Cordero spent some time on a ventilator, suffered multiple Covid-19 complications and in April had to have his leg amputated.
He spent weeks unconscious, even as doctors brought him out of sedation, and the hashtag campaign #WakeUpNick sprung up on social media to support Cordero as he recovered.
In May, Kloots posted that her husband was awake and while very weak, was making progress.
“Even closing his eyes, takes it out of him,” she said. “They’re waiting for him to regain strength, of course, time and recovery will help with that and then eventually PT will help him get stronger.”
Earlier in the month she had said her husband had a low blood count but was not bleeding internally.
Yet on another front the news was not great.
“However, we did learn that due to COVID Nick’s lungs are severely damaged,” she said. “To look almost like he’s been a smoker for 50 years they said. They are that damaged.”
Related Articles Entertainment | San Jose office building wobbles into default — again
San Jose office building wobbles into default — again Entertainment | College students blocked from campus when COVID hit want money back. Some are getting refunds
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Long Covid cases in US adults are on the decline, but many continue to struggle with symptoms Entertainment | COVID Q&A: Can I use an expired test? Time to get boosted? How to cope with California’s sneaky summer surge Kloots recently told “CBS This Morning” co-host Gayle King that Cordero had been so critically ill that he may have needed a double lung transplant.
“That is most likely the possibility,” she said. “A 99% chance that he would be needing that in order to live the kind of life that I know my husband would want to live.”
In addition to Kloots, Cordero is survived by their 1-year-old son, Elvis.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.


mercurynews--2020-07-06--6-year-old boy fatally shot in San Francisco neighborhood

SAN FRANCISCO — A 6-year-old boy was killed in a San Francisco shooting that left another person wounded , police @ @ @ @ @ to reports of gunfire found the child suffering from a gunshot wound late Saturday in @ @ @ @ @ San Francisco Chronicle reported .
The young victim was rushed to a hospital , where @ @ @ @ @ said .
A second male victim , whose age was not released , was hospitalized @ @ @ @ @ police described as non-life-threatening .
There have been no arrests and there is no suspect @ @

SAN FRANCISCO — A 6-year-old boy was killed in a San Francisco shooting that left another person wounded, police said Sunday.
Officers responding to reports of gunfire found the child suffering from a gunshot wound late Saturday in the Bayview neighborhood, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
The young victim was rushed to a hospital, where he died, the newspaper said.
A second male victim, whose age was not released, was hospitalized with a gunshot wound that police described as non-life-threatening.
There have been no arrests and there is no suspect description.


mercurynews--2020-07-06--Why tick season could be worse in the summer of Covid-19

After more than three months of shutdowns , mandatory quarantines , self-imposed exile from society and working from home , nature-lovers looking for a well-earned breath of fresh air could face a possible collision course between coronavirus and tick-borne illnesses this summer .
A “ perfect storm , ” warns Eva Sapi , a University of New Haven biology professor and group director for the Lyme Disease Research Group .
Noting the mild winter on the East Coast , Sapi says , “ We do have a bad year for the ticks.
” Hikers , campers and anyone else eager @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the outdoors .
And there may not be the same thoughtful approach ” to preventing exposure , explains Dr. Sorana Segal-Maurer , director of the Dr. James J. Rahal , Jr. Division of Infectious Diseases at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens health care system .
“ I ’ m a little nervous that their guard may be down just a slight bit , ” she adds .
Outdoor crowds were so big around Memorial Day weekend , that parks from southern California to North Carolina had to close early after hitting capacity .
Last year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prevention announced a rise in Lyme and other tick-borne diseases , with seven additional germs identified in the US in the last two decades , while the “ lone star tick ” expanded its footprint beyond the southeast to northern states and the Midwest .
The CDC ’ s guide to visiting parks and recreational facilities in the Covid-19 era includes avoiding crowded parks , staying home if you ’ re infected and choosing parks closer to home to limit extra stops that carry added risk of contagion .
But ignoring basic steps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vector-borne illnesses to focus solely on Covid-19 prevention is just one danger .
Another is the possibility of confusing the symptoms if you start feeling sick .
Warning signs for tick-borne illnesses are “ very similar to the severity that we ’ ve seen with Covid-19 , which is that fever , the muscle aches , the headaches , the severe fatigue , ” says Dr. Segal-Maurer .
She believes a unique difference is that breathing problems are common in coronavirus patients , but not with those infected by tick diseases .
Yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Pulmonary involvement , even to a fatal degree , has been documented in a range of tick-borne infections , ” Dr. Steven Phillips of the Bay Area Lyme Foundation tells CNN .
“ Although serious pulmonary involvement with vector-borne infections is relatively uncommon , non-specific pulmonary complaints , such as shortness of breath , are extremely common.
” The National Park Service , which welcomes more than 300 million people in a normal year , continues its “ phased ” reopening of lands and services .
It launched a “ Recreate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only about social distancing at trails , boat launches and parking lots , but encouraging guests to postpone difficult hikes or new activities , with first responders and others still busy with pandemic response .
Even if you follow the Covid-19 tips , heeding the advice to avoid bites is just as important .
Dr. Segal-Maurer describes a “ realistic ” scenario if you ’ re on a crammed hiking trail : “ You ’ re all going to be pushing into the vegetation … you ’ re going to be just a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ hang off the very tip of the blade of grass or the leaf or the vegetation , and they have these little feelers that they … sort of shake out there .
So , the second you brush by , they latch on.
” Last month , Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine announced an increase in emergency room visits over the past several months “ related ” to tick bites .
“ Some symptoms of Lyme disease , such as fever , chills and headache , are similar to symptoms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement , reiterating what other experts say .
As with coronavirus , the number of reported Lyme disease cases is likely undercounted .
While the CDC estimates 30,000 Americans contract Lyme yearly , the federal agency notes recent estimates suggest that the true number may be 10 times higher , around 300,000 .
Dr. Segal-Maurer says health care professionals always need to ask patients about their travel and other activities .
“ You have to cover all your bases… we don ’ t want to be Covid-blinded.
” Patients , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both possibilities .
And when it comes to guarding yourself from ticks , she says , “ You need to use DEET .
It ’ s got ta be 30 % .
You need to watch where you hike .
And then you need to do a body check when you get back inside.
” Dr. Phillips prefers Permethrin , which he says is stronger , but “ can only be sprayed on clothes , not skin , and should be allowed to dry overnight before wearing.
” • Nick Cordero , Broadway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Covid-19 • How did wearing masks to combat coronavirus become such a political football ?
• Coronavirus : Oakland Athletics ’ tests haven ’ t been shipped to the lab in Utah • Coronavirus : California records almost 2,000 more cases with some counties not reporting Other tips include putting on hats , light-colored clothing to make ticks easier to spot , placing socks over your pants and choosing long-sleeved shirts to block ticks from getting near your skin .
That , of course , is in addition to wearing a mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the extra hassle for a safer summer getaway , Dr. Segal-Mauer encourages people to head outside this summer because she believes “ it ’ s been such a traumatic several months .
I think the great outdoors is a very healing place .
”

After more than three months of shutdowns, mandatory quarantines, self-imposed exile from society and working from home, nature-lovers looking for a well-earned breath of fresh air could face a possible collision course between coronavirus and tick-borne illnesses this summer.
A “perfect storm,” warns Eva Sapi, a University of New Haven biology professor and group director for the Lyme Disease Research Group.
Noting the mild winter on the East Coast, Sapi says, “We do have a bad year for the ticks.”
Hikers, campers and anyone else eager for an escape could “just explode into the outdoors. And there may not be the same thoughtful approach” to preventing exposure, explains Dr. Sorana Segal-Maurer, director of the Dr. James J. Rahal, Jr. Division of Infectious Diseases at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens health care system.
“I’m a little nervous that their guard may be down just a slight bit,” she adds.
Outdoor crowds were so big around Memorial Day weekend, that parks from southern California to North Carolina had to close early after hitting capacity.
Last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a rise in Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, with seven additional germs identified in the US in the last two decades, while the “lone star tick” expanded its footprint beyond the southeast to northern states and the Midwest.
The CDC’s guide to visiting parks and recreational facilities in the Covid-19 era includes avoiding crowded parks, staying home if you’re infected and choosing parks closer to home to limit extra stops that carry added risk of contagion.
But ignoring basic steps that reduce the risk of tick and vector-borne illnesses to focus solely on Covid-19 prevention is just one danger. Another is the possibility of confusing the symptoms if you start feeling sick.
Lyme disease and Covid-19: a tale of similar symptoms
Warning signs for tick-borne illnesses are “very similar to the severity that we’ve seen with Covid-19, which is that fever, the muscle aches, the headaches, the severe fatigue,” says Dr. Segal-Maurer.
She believes a unique difference is that breathing problems are common in coronavirus patients, but not with those infected by tick diseases. Yet even that distinction is up for debate.
“Pulmonary involvement, even to a fatal degree, has been documented in a range of tick-borne infections,” Dr. Steven Phillips of the Bay Area Lyme Foundation tells CNN. “Although serious pulmonary involvement with vector-borne infections is relatively uncommon, non-specific pulmonary complaints, such as shortness of breath, are extremely common.”
The National Park Service, which welcomes more than 300 million people in a normal year, continues its “phased” reopening of lands and services. It launched a “Recreate Responsibly” campaign, reminding visitors not only about social distancing at trails, boat launches and parking lots, but encouraging guests to postpone difficult hikes or new activities, with first responders and others still busy with pandemic response.
Even if you follow the Covid-19 tips, heeding the advice to avoid bites is just as important. Dr. Segal-Maurer describes a “realistic” scenario if you’re on a crammed hiking trail: “You’re all going to be pushing into the vegetation … you’re going to be just a little bit off the path.”
Ticks “hang off the very tip of the blade of grass or the leaf or the vegetation, and they have these little feelers that they … sort of shake out there. So, the second you brush by, they latch on.”
Last month, Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine announced an increase in emergency room visits over the past several months “related” to tick bites. “Some symptoms of Lyme disease, such as fever, chills and headache, are similar to symptoms of COVID-19,” Dr. Levine said in a statement, reiterating what other experts say.
Head outside — but responsibly
As with coronavirus, the number of reported Lyme disease cases is likely undercounted. While the CDC estimates 30,000 Americans contract Lyme yearly, the federal agency notes recent estimates suggest that the true number may be 10 times higher, around 300,000.
Dr. Segal-Maurer says health care professionals always need to ask patients about their travel and other activities. “You have to cover all your bases… we don’t want to be Covid-blinded.”
Patients, in turn, should also be asking about both possibilities.
And when it comes to guarding yourself from ticks, she says, “You need to use DEET. It’s gotta be 30%. You need to watch where you hike. And then you need to do a body check when you get back inside.”
Dr. Phillips prefers Permethrin, which he says is stronger, but “can only be sprayed on clothes, not skin, and should be allowed to dry overnight before wearing.”
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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 Other tips include putting on hats, light-colored clothing to make ticks easier to spot, placing socks over your pants and choosing long-sleeved shirts to block ticks from getting near your skin.
That, of course, is in addition to wearing a mask to fight coronavirus spread.
Yet even with the extra hassle for a safer summer getaway, Dr. Segal-Mauer encourages people to head outside this summer because she believes “it’s been such a traumatic several months. I think the great outdoors is a very healing place.”
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.


mercurynews--2020-07-06--Coronavirus: L.A. County reports 7,232 cases, 30 more deaths over July 4th weekend

LOS ANGELES — County health officials reported Sunday that a total of 7,232 new coronavirus cases were processed since Thursday , while the county ’ s data-processing systems were updated .
The breakdown was as follows : Thursday had 2,643 cases ; Friday , 3,187 cases ; and Saturday , 1,402 cases , according to Los Angeles County health officials .
There were also 30 deaths in the county during that span , health officials said .
“ We send our condolences and prayers to the families who have lost loved ones to COVID-19 , said L.A. Director of Public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be in our thoughts every day.
” Health officials said that the latest figures , which include Saturday ’ s , indicate that 1,947 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 countywide .
That number excludes patients in Long Beach and Pasadena , which have their own health departments .
The figure is up from 1,889 on Wednesday , and continues an upward trend .
It also echoes statewide figures , with Gov .
Gavin Newsom announcing Thursday that hospitalizations across the state had increased by 56 % in the past two weeks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the county ’ s overall coronavirus totals stood at 109,194 cases and 3,487 deaths .
The overall percentage of people testing positive for the virus in the county remained about 9 % .
County health officials said Wednesday that the daily average of positive tests over the past seven days was 8.4 % , up from about 5.8 % two weeks ago .
Newsom said positivity rates also continued to increase statewide , with the daily average over the past 14 days up to 6.3 % , representing a roughly 37 % increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nick Cordero , Broadway actor , dies at 41 after battle with Covid-19 • Why tick season could be worse in the summer of Covid-19 • How did wearing masks to combat coronavirus become such a political football ?
• Coronavirus : Oakland Athletics ’ tests haven ’ t been shipped to the lab in Utah • Coronavirus : California records almost 2,000 more cases with some counties not reporting On Wednesday , county health officials issued a revised health order to come into compliance with requirements announced earlier in the day by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of many indoor business operations , most notably eliminating indoor dine-in service at restaurants .
Also barred were indoor activities at museums , zoos , aquariums and card rooms .
Those restrictions will be in effect for at least three weeks , Newsom said .
Los Angeles County had already ordered the closure of all beaches for the Fourth of July weekend , along with the cancellation of all fireworks displays .
All bars in the county were closed by a governor ’ s order last Sunday .
During the holiday weekend , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about people gathering for parties or family gatherings with people outside their own households , threatening to lead to even more infections .

LOS ANGELES — County health officials reported Sunday that a total of 7,232 new coronavirus cases were processed since Thursday, while the county’s data-processing systems were updated.
The breakdown was as follows: Thursday had 2,643 cases; Friday, 3,187 cases; and Saturday, 1,402 cases, according to Los Angeles County health officials. There were also 30 deaths in the county during that span, health officials said.
“We send our condolences and prayers to the families who have lost loved ones to COVID-19, said L.A. Director of Public Health Barbara Ferrer. “You continue to be in our thoughts every day.”
Health officials said that the latest figures, which include Saturday’s, indicate that 1,947 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 countywide. That number excludes patients in Long Beach and Pasadena, which have their own health departments. The figure is up from 1,889 on Wednesday, and continues an upward trend. It also echoes statewide figures, with Gov. Gavin Newsom announcing Thursday that hospitalizations across the state had increased by 56% in the past two weeks.
With the new figures released Sunday, the county’s overall coronavirus totals stood at 109,194 cases and 3,487 deaths.
The overall percentage of people testing positive for the virus in the county remained about 9%. County health officials said Wednesday that the daily average of positive tests over the past seven days was 8.4%, up from about 5.8% two weeks ago.
Newsom said positivity rates also continued to increase statewide, with the daily average over the past 14 days up to 6.3%, representing a roughly 37% increase over the past two weeks.
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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 On Wednesday, county health officials issued a revised health order to come into compliance with requirements announced earlier in the day by Newsom. The governor ordered the closure of many indoor business operations, most notably eliminating indoor dine-in service at restaurants. Also barred were indoor activities at museums, zoos, aquariums and card rooms.
Those restrictions will be in effect for at least three weeks, Newsom said.
Los Angeles County had already ordered the closure of all beaches for the Fourth of July weekend, along with the cancellation of all fireworks displays. All bars in the county were closed by a governor’s order last Sunday.
During the holiday weekend, health officials said they were increasingly concerned about people gathering for parties or family gatherings with people outside their own households, threatening to lead to even more infections.


mercurynews--2020-07-06--How did wearing masks to combat coronavirus become such a political football?

Of all the polarizing issues dividing Americans during the overlapping crises of a worldwide pandemic and nationwide civil unrest over police brutality , the facial mask has become an odd symbol of partisan passions .
But there it is , sparking discord far and wide .
While most other nations have quietly required face coverings to help stop the spread of the coronavirus , in this nation , these ubiquitous pieces of paper and cloth have triggered an enduring debate over government authority versus personal freedoms .
In Southern California alone , the evidence of conflict over masks is everywhere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confrontations , partisan bickering and shaming on social media , political tirades at public meetings — even death threats .
Last month , Orange County Health Officer Dr. Nichole Quick resigned after she started getting death threats and protesters began showing up outside her home in reaction to the agency ’ s countywide mask mandate .
The county health agency ’ s director who took over her job , Dr. Clayton Chau , said he has been threatened as well .
Fallout stemming from the mask mandate has surfaced all around Southern California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a North Hollywood Trader Joe ’ s on June 26 , a woman was captured on cellphone video in a tirade , throwing down her shopping basket and screaming that market employees were “ Democratic pigs ” for insisting that she wear a face mask .
• On the same day , the owners of Hugo ’ s Tacos shut down the popular food spot in Los Angeles , saying they were “ exhausted ” by customers refusing to wear face masks and harassing , name-calling and assaulting employees with objects and liquids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopen “ when it ’ s safe.
” • Basilico ’ s Pasta e Vino in Huntington Beach took a stand online , announcing that it is opposed to asking people to wear masks in public , eliciting mixed reactions from customers .
• Citrone Cafe in Redlands announced on Instagram that it would shut down its dine-in operations after its kitchen staff was criticized for not wearing masks .
The social media post said kitchen workers were given the option of not wearing masks because of the “ intense heat ” in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Research Center survey conducted from June 4 to 10 , 65 % of U.S. adults said they wore a mask in stores or businesses all or most of the time in the past month while 15 % said they did so some of the time .
The survey also found that Democrats or those who lean Democratic are more likely than Republicans to say they personally wore a mask in the past month — 76 % versus 53 % .
While more Republican leaders in Congress and Republican governors have started speaking in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases surged in the past few weeks , President Donald Trump has yet to wear a mask in front of a camera .
But after mounting pressure from his party , he changed his tone last week , saying Wednesday that he is “ all for masks ” and would not have a problem wearing one in public .
But the mask issue has clearly become part of “ our polarized national debate around identity and political affiliation , ” said Andrew Lakoff , professor of sociology at the USC .
“ You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) has taken it on as an emblem of his political ideology .
Not wearing a mask is being implicitly linked to masculinity and freedom .
It ’ s become a statement for some , a badge of identity.
” The anti-mask sentiment also taps into a long-existing belief in individual freedom , anti-government ideology and a distrust of those in authority telling the people what ’ s best for them , Lakoff said .
Regardless of political affiliation , it does appear that a majority of people now support mask use .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which has nearly 6,000 members , mask proponents call out Orange County businesses that don ’ t follow mask or social distancing rules .
San Clemente resident Marissa Padilla-Williams , a member of that Facebook group , says she will not support a business that is “ anti-mask.
” “ When I go to a store and I see a manager talking to someone without a mask , I question that store ’ s policies , too , ” she said .
Padilla-Williams says she is moderate in her political views , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be politicized .
“ I never thought common courtesy and listening to health experts would become political issues , ” she said .
Inconsistent messaging from health experts — from the Centers for Disease Control to the World Health Organization to Dr. Anthony Fauci , the White House ’ s chief expert on the coronavirus — appears to be the source of much of the conflict .
During the initial days of the pandemic , wearing masks was discouraged for the public , with Fauci and others saying there was no evidence they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claim was walked back and health officials acknowledged their initial fears that panic-buying of masks could cause a shortage of personal protective equipment for health-care workers .
The CDC has since said any type of face covering can help prevent the spread of the virus .
“ We now know that any barrier in front of your face is better than none , ” said Dr. David Eisenman , professor of medicine at public health at UCLA .
“ We know that it will prevent you not just from exhaling the virus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the science on wearing facial coverings has evolved from the early days of the pandemic .
“ Other countries that have been strict with masks , such as Hong Kong , Singapore and Vietnam , have seen their numbers get much better , ” he said .
“ Using face coverings can result in a large reduction of infections .
This is not something we ’ re pulling out of thin air .
There are studies that show face coverings reduce airborne transmission by trapping droplets.
” The lack of mask usage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an increase of coronavirus cases in Orange County .
Although Gov .
Gavin Newsom has made wearing masks a statewide mandate in an effort to combat the latest COVID-19 surge , several police agencies , including the Orange County Sheriff ’ s Department , have said they won ’ t enforce it .
Dozens of Orange County residents have come to Board of Supervisors meetings in recent weeks urging the board to abolish its own mask mandate , while others have signed an online petition to keep the rules in place .
Opponents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from skepticism about the science behind masks to the need for individual freedom .
The nationwide protests that followed George Floyd ’ s death at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer have added another political dimension to the issue , with many — largely conservatives — questioning how protesters can be allowed to congregate in large numbers with no social distancing measures while others are prohibited from gathering for important life events such as weddings and funerals , or congregating at houses of worship .
Eisenman believes critics are merely “ weaponizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out against the protesters ’ cause .
He said there is no evidence yet that the recent protests have caused a surge in coronavirus cases .
He believes that because the protests are held outdoors and most participants were wearing masks , it is unlikely they caused an increase in coronavirus spread .
Chau agreed there is no evidence yet to link the protests to the recent surge in coronavirus cases , but Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti finally acknowledged last week , after initially denying it , that large protests in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infections .
To encourage more people to use masks and to get beyond the polarization , Eisenman said new marketing approaches must be devised .
“ The idea that my mask protects you and your mask protects me simply has not worked in many parts of the country , ” he said .
“ So , maybe , we need to appeal to people ’ s self-interest — be it fashion , jobs , the economy , patriotism — whatever it is.
” In Philadelphia , Matt Carl , a 30-year-old entrepreneur and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making and selling red “ Make America Great Again ” and “ Trump 2020 ” cloth masks .
He sells about 100 of them every day and says Californians buy most of his masks .
“ This is a business venture , no question about it , ” he said .
“ But what I ’ ve found is that it opens up the idea of wearing masks for people who wouldn ’ t otherwise wear them.
” Carl believes in the science behind masks and hopes more people , including Trump , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost a lot of trust when it initially told us not to wear masks , giving anti-establishment groups legs to stand on , ” he said .
“ They should ’ ve managed the messaging better.
” Carl said he believes the reason the mask issue became politicized was because of the anti-Trump sentiment in the news media .
“ The more the media knocks ( Trump ) for not wearing a mask , the more he doubles down and refuses to wear one , ” he said .
“ People think masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reality , the more people wear masks , the quicker we can all get out of it.
” The polarization over masks has been “ disheartening to the health-care community , ” said Dolores Green executive director of the Riverside County Medical Association .
“ To be able to care for those who are in hospitals and for those who are coming to be able to have the resources , we need the public to do their part , ” she said .
“ If not , our hospitals and emergency rooms will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ San Bernardino counties have already begun to take steps to be able to accommodate more coronavirus patients in anticipation of a surge .
The first step is to stop politicizing the issue of wearing face coverings , Green said .
“ We really need our leaders all over the country to stand behind the science and make this a uniform message , ” she said .
“ No matter who you are , this is the right thing to do to get our country through this pandemic .
”

Of all the polarizing issues dividing Americans during the overlapping crises of a worldwide pandemic and nationwide civil unrest over police brutality, the facial mask has become an odd symbol of partisan passions. But there it is, sparking discord far and wide.
While most other nations have quietly required face coverings to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, in this nation, these ubiquitous pieces of paper and cloth have triggered an enduring debate over government authority versus personal freedoms.
In Southern California alone, the evidence of conflict over masks is everywhere: viral videos of public tantrums and confrontations, partisan bickering and shaming on social media, political tirades at public meetings — even death threats.
Last month, Orange County Health Officer Dr. Nichole Quick resigned after she started getting death threats and protesters began showing up outside her home in reaction to the agency’s countywide mask mandate. The county health agency’s director who took over her job, Dr. Clayton Chau, said he has been threatened as well.
Political hot potato
Fallout stemming from the mask mandate has surfaced all around Southern California:
At a grand opening of a North Hollywood Trader Joe’s on June 26, a woman was captured on cellphone video in a tirade, throwing down her shopping basket and screaming that market employees were “Democratic pigs” for insisting that she wear a face mask.
On the same day, the owners of Hugo’s Tacos shut down the popular food spot in Los Angeles, saying they were “exhausted” by customers refusing to wear face masks and harassing, name-calling and assaulting employees with objects and liquids. Hugo’s said it would reopen “when it’s safe.”
Basilico’s Pasta e Vino in Huntington Beach took a stand online, announcing that it is opposed to asking people to wear masks in public, eliciting mixed reactions from customers.
Citrone Cafe in Redlands announced on Instagram that it would shut down its dine-in operations after its kitchen staff was criticized for not wearing masks. The social media post said kitchen workers were given the option of not wearing masks because of the “intense heat” in the room.
According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted from June 4 to 10, 65% of U.S. adults said they wore a mask in stores or businesses all or most of the time in the past month while 15% said they did so some of the time. The survey also found that Democrats or those who lean Democratic are more likely than Republicans to say they personally wore a mask in the past month — 76% versus 53%.
While more Republican leaders in Congress and Republican governors have started speaking in support of wearing facial coverings as COVID-19 cases surged in the past few weeks, President Donald Trump has yet to wear a mask in front of a camera. But after mounting pressure from his party, he changed his tone last week, saying Wednesday that he is “all for masks” and would not have a problem wearing one in public.
But the mask issue has clearly become part of “our polarized national debate around identity and political affiliation,” said Andrew Lakoff, professor of sociology at the USC.
“You have a situation where (President Trump) has taken it on as an emblem of his political ideology. Not wearing a mask is being implicitly linked to masculinity and freedom. It’s become a statement for some, a badge of identity.”
The anti-mask sentiment also taps into a long-existing belief in individual freedom, anti-government ideology and a distrust of those in authority telling the people what’s best for them, Lakoff said.
‘It shouldn’t be about politics’
Regardless of political affiliation, it does appear that a majority of people now support mask use. On the Facebook page Safe Places OC, which has nearly 6,000 members, mask proponents call out Orange County businesses that don’t follow mask or social distancing rules. San Clemente resident Marissa Padilla-Williams, a member of that Facebook group, says she will not support a business that is “anti-mask.”
“When I go to a store and I see a manager talking to someone without a mask, I question that store’s policies, too,” she said.
Padilla-Williams says she is moderate in her political views, but believes wearing a mask should not be politicized. “I never thought common courtesy and listening to health experts would become political issues,” she said.
Inconsistent messaging
Inconsistent messaging from health experts — from the Centers for Disease Control to the World Health Organization to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the White House’s chief expert on the coronavirus — appears to be the source of much of the conflict.
During the initial days of the pandemic, wearing masks was discouraged for the public, with Fauci and others saying there was no evidence they were very effective. Later, that claim was walked back and health officials acknowledged their initial fears that panic-buying of masks could cause a shortage of personal protective equipment for health-care workers.
The CDC has since said any type of face covering can help prevent the spread of the virus.
“We now know that any barrier in front of your face is better than none,” said Dr. David Eisenman, professor of medicine at public health at UCLA. “We know that it will prevent you not just from exhaling the virus, but also inhaling it.”
Chau agrees that the science on wearing facial coverings has evolved from the early days of the pandemic.
“Other countries that have been strict with masks, such as Hong Kong, Singapore and Vietnam, have seen their numbers get much better,” he said. “Using face coverings can result in a large reduction of infections. This is not something we’re pulling out of thin air. There are studies that show face coverings reduce airborne transmission by trapping droplets.”
The lack of mask usage, he said, has contributed to an increase of coronavirus cases in Orange County.
Although Gov. Gavin Newsom has made wearing masks a statewide mandate in an effort to combat the latest COVID-19 surge, several police agencies, including the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, have said they won’t enforce it.
Dozens of Orange County residents have come to Board of Supervisors meetings in recent weeks urging the board to abolish its own mask mandate, while others have signed an online petition to keep the rules in place. Opponents have cited a variety of reasons, from skepticism about the science behind masks to the need for individual freedom.
Protests played a part
The nationwide protests that followed George Floyd’s death at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer have added another political dimension to the issue, with many — largely conservatives — questioning how protesters can be allowed to congregate in large numbers with no social distancing measures while others are prohibited from gathering for important life events such as weddings and funerals, or congregating at houses of worship.
Eisenman believes critics are merely “weaponizing” masks and social distancing to speak out against the protesters’ cause.
He said there is no evidence yet that the recent protests have caused a surge in coronavirus cases. He believes that because the protests are held outdoors and most participants were wearing masks, it is unlikely they caused an increase in coronavirus spread.
Chau agreed there is no evidence yet to link the protests to the recent surge in coronavirus cases, but Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti finally acknowledged last week, after initially denying it, that large protests in his city have contributed to the rise in infections.
New marketing strategies
To encourage more people to use masks and to get beyond the polarization, Eisenman said new marketing approaches must be devised.
“The idea that my mask protects you and your mask protects me simply has not worked in many parts of the country,” he said. “So, maybe, we need to appeal to people’s self-interest — be it fashion, jobs, the economy, patriotism — whatever it is.”
In Philadelphia, Matt Carl, a 30-year-old entrepreneur and supporter of the president, has been making and selling red “Make America Great Again” and “Trump 2020” cloth masks. He sells about 100 of them every day and says Californians buy most of his masks.
“This is a business venture, no question about it,” he said. “But what I’ve found is that it opens up the idea of wearing masks for people who wouldn’t otherwise wear them.”
Carl believes in the science behind masks and hopes more people, including Trump, will wear them.
“The government lost a lot of trust when it initially told us not to wear masks, giving anti-establishment groups legs to stand on,” he said. “They should’ve managed the messaging better.”
Carl said he believes the reason the mask issue became politicized was because of the anti-Trump sentiment in the news media.
“The more the media knocks (Trump) for not wearing a mask, the more he doubles down and refuses to wear one,” he said.
“People think masks take away their freedom. But in reality, the more people wear masks, the quicker we can all get out of it.”
Going beyond polarization
The polarization over masks has been “disheartening to the health-care community,” said Dolores Green executive director of the Riverside County Medical Association.
“To be able to care for those who are in hospitals and for those who are coming to be able to have the resources, we need the public to do their part,” she said. “If not, our hospitals and emergency rooms will be overwhelmed.”
Hospitals in Riverside and San Bernardino counties have already begun to take steps to be able to accommodate more coronavirus patients in anticipation of a surge.
The first step is to stop politicizing the issue of wearing face coverings, Green said.
“We really need our leaders all over the country to stand behind the science and make this a uniform message,” she said. “No matter who you are, this is the right thing to do to get our country through this pandemic.”
Staff writer Ryan Carter contributed to this report.


mercurynews--2020-07-06--Word Game: July 6, 2020

Word Game: July 6, 2020

TODAY ’ S WORD — CIVILIANS ( CIVILIANS : sih-VIL-yens : Persons not belonging to the military or police . )
Can you find 18 or more words in CIVILIANS ?
The list will be published tomorrow .
SATURDAY ’ S WORD — PETALS pale palest past paste pastel pate peal peat pelt pest plat plate plea pleat east tale tape taps teal apse lapse lase last late leap leapt least lest sale salt sate seal seat sepal sept slap slat slate slept spat spate spelt splat stale staple steal stela step To purchase the Word Game book , visit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 5 while supplies last !
1 .
Words must be of four or more letters .
2 .
Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “ s , ” such as “ bats ” or “ dies , ” are not allowed .
3 .
Additional words made by adding a “ d ” or an “ s ” may not be used .
For example , if “ bake ” is used , “ baked ” or “ bakes ” are not allowed , but “ bake ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Proper nouns , slang words , or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed .

TODAY’S WORD — CIVILIANS (CIVILIANS: sih-VIL-yens: Persons not belonging to the military or police.)
Average mark 13 words
Time limit 30 minutes
Can you find 18 or more words in CIVILIANS? The list will be published tomorrow.
SATURDAY’S WORD — PETALS pale palest past paste pastel pate peal peat pelt
pest plat plate plea pleat east tale tape taps teal apse lapse lase last late leap leapt
least lest sale salt sate seal seat sepal sept slap slat slate slept spat spate spelt splat
stale staple steal stela step
To purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!
RULES OF THE GAME:
1. Words must be of four or more letters.
2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.
3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.
4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.
Contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe at kzsaxe@gmail.com.