buzzfeed--2020-04-15--A YouTube Video Accusing Dr. Anthony Fauci Of Being Part Of The Deep State Has Been Viewed Over 6 Mi

A YouTube Video Accusing Dr. Anthony Fauci Of Being Part Of The Deep State Has Been Viewed Over 6 Million Times In A Week

A YouTube video full of what experts have called misinformation about the coronavirus went viral this week , accumulating over 6 million views and close to half a million Facebook shares since it was published last Saturday .
The video features an interview with Shiva Ayyadurai , a candidate for the GOP nomination for Senate in Massachusetts , who questionably claimed to have invented email and who briefly dated actor Fran Drescher .
It was conducted by news anchor Christina Aguayo , who hosts America ’ s Daily Report on America ’ s Voice , a right-wing cable TV network @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MIT PhD Crushes Dr. Fauci Exposes Birx , Clintons , Bill Gates , And The W.H.O ” is full of misinformation about COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus that has killed 132,000 around the world and sickened 2 million .
YouTube ’ s “ coronavirus '' search results remain relatively free of misinformation — a search typically returns a CDC warning , a liveblog about the outbreak from a trusted news source , and hundreds of videos from verified channels .
But the platform has had a tougher time — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go viral outside of its walls , including on Facebook and Twitter .
BuzzFeed News has reached out to YouTube for comment .
“ You 're talking about a guy who is embedded in the deep state , ” Ayyadurai said of Anthony Fauci , the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and top-ranking member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force , in the interview .
“ [ Fauci is ] highly embedded into the Big Pharma medical school education.
” Ayyadurai defined COVID-19 as “ an overactive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's what causes damage to the body '' ( scientists are still trying to understand how the coronavirus interacts with the human immune system ) and claimed that vitamin C could be used to treat it ( USA Today has rated that claim `` false . ''
) BuzzFeed News has reached out to Ayyadurai for comment .
Ayyadurai has yet to back up what he has said with scientific data , but he continues to amass an audience — and court votes .
One of many who in the last few months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic content , he publishes Periscopes about the outbreak almost every day , attacking anti-Trump media , speculating about the deep state , and railing against the medical establishment .
“ The # FakeNews colludes with # FakeScience to create # FakeProblems , # FakeSolutions and # FakeHistory to drive us into slavery and fascism , ” Ayyadurai tweeted Tuesday .
“ Each day I will be exposing a # FakeJournalist and/or # FakeScientist .
It ’ s time these scumbags and parasites got some serious bitter medicine.
” Dr. Ravina Kullar , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News there is no data to support Ayyadurai ’ s claims that the coronavirus causes an overactive immune system or that vitamin C could treat it .
“ I think that shows you that people are just trying to find some kind of reasoning for this coronavirus , ” she said .
Kullar also said she respects Fauci and feels very lucky that he ’ s leading the country ’ s coronavirus task force : “ He 's a substantial infectious disease specialist who has been through this many times . ''
Although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PhD '' and the inventor of email , Ayyadurai is not a medical doctor and in 2016 , a judge ruled that doubting his claim to have invented email , as many journalists have , was not libelous .
In 2018 , he garnered 3.4 % in the general election as an independent candidate for Senate in Massachusetts , placing far behind Sen. Elizabeth Warren , during a race in which he was supported by fake Facebook accounts .
He is now a candidate for the Republican nomination for the state 's other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be held in September .
Having graduated MIT in 1986 with a degree in electrical engineering and computer science , Ayyadurai developed a graphic software that was sold to Lotus Software .
After selling his company he returned to MIT , earning master 's degrees in animation and mechanical engineering and a PhD in computational systems biology .
Most recently , Ayyadurai has cultivated an online following among anti-vaxxers and other pseudoscience communities .
He is also part of a right-wing campaign to discredit Fauci .
They are falsely claiming that Fauci @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hillary Clinton and the deep state to cause an economic collapse and discredit President Donald Trump .
On March 20 , Ayyadurai tweeted , “ Time to expose ‘ Deep State ’ Emperor Fauci & his ‘ illustrious ’ career of # FakeScience imposing ‘ one-size-fits-all ’ Medieval Mandated Medicine to profit his BIG PHARMA minions , [ at ] the expense of crashing our economy.
” Last month , Ayyadurai also tweeted an email Fauci sent to Clinton in 2013 , and has made several Periscope videos accusing Fauci of being a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s video , titled `` How to Kill Coronavirus , '' was removed from YouTube for violating its community standards .
In a petition he hosts on his website , Ayyadurai accuses Fauci of forcing mandatory vaccines on Americans to support Big Pharma .
In his interview with Aguayo , Ayyadurai accused the deep state of orchestrating the coronavirus outbreak to stop Trump ’ s re-election .
`` You have a political motive of the fact that the establishment elite did not want a guy like Donald Trump ever getting elected , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think the deep state 's real effect was to hit [ Trump ] with this coronavirus.
” And in language extremely similar to what ’ s been posted in popular 4chan threads over the last month , Ayyadurai mentioned that Fauci knows singer Elton John .
Anonymous 4chan users have posted dozens of threads about Fauci , using a photo of the doctor and John to accuse Fauci of being part of a global child sexual abuse ring and part of a global Jewish cabal .
( Fauci has described himself as once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a humanist .
John was raised Anglican , but is famously opposed to organized religion . )
`` [ Fauci ] prides himself on connections with Hollywood and Elton John and all this , ” Ayyadurai said .
`` What you 're looking at is a strategic move to destroy the economy [ by ] using it as a vehicle to not only impose vaccine mandates [ ... ] but also as an opportunity to suppress dissent and destroy freedom.
” According to social metrics site CrowdTangle , the biggest referrals for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community Facebook Page , the QAnon-affiliated X22 Report [ Geopolitical ] Facebook Group , the Facebook Page for Christian mommy blog the Transformed Wife , and the Instagram account for Nashville-based chiropractor Chelsea Axe .
BuzzFeed News has reached out to Facebook for comment .
Since it went viral , Aguayo has used her Twitter account to celebrate her interview with Ayyadurai — going so far as to tweet a graphic of her and Ayyadurai with the words “ 5+ million views '' written in gold .
Her interview is one of several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two weeks that are critical of Fauci , none of which have reached similarly large audiences .
Earlier this month , Twitter announced it would be changing its terms of service to prohibit tweets that deny global or local health authority recommendations , promote treatments or protective measures not immediately harmful but known to be ineffective , deny established scientific facts about transmission , or contain other content relating to the virus that pose a health risk .
So far , those policy changes have not impacted Ayyadurai .
BuzzFeed News has reached @ @ @ @ @ @

A YouTube video full of what experts have called misinformation about the coronavirus went viral this week, accumulating over 6 million views and close to half a million Facebook shares since it was published last Saturday.
The video features an interview with Shiva Ayyadurai, a candidate for the GOP nomination for Senate in Massachusetts, who questionably claimed to have invented email and who briefly dated actor Fran Drescher. It was conducted by news anchor Christina Aguayo, who hosts America’s Daily Report on America’s Voice, a right-wing cable TV network.
“Dr. SHIVA Ayyadurai, MIT PhD Crushes Dr. Fauci Exposes Birx, Clintons, Bill Gates, And The W.H.O” is full of misinformation about COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus that has killed 132,000 around the world and sickened 2 million.
YouTube’s “coronavirus" search results remain relatively free of misinformation — a search typically returns a CDC warning, a liveblog about the outbreak from a trusted news source, and hundreds of videos from verified channels. But the platform has had a tougher time — particularly in India — combatting videos that go viral outside of its walls, including on Facebook and Twitter.
According to YouTube, the video was not recommended by its systems. The majority of the traffic and views come from external sites.
“You're talking about a guy who is embedded in the deep state,” Ayyadurai said of Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and top-ranking member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, in the interview. “[Fauci is] highly embedded into the Big Pharma medical school education.”
Ayyadurai defined COVID-19 as “an overactive dysfunctional immune system that overreacts and that's what causes damage to the body" (scientists are still trying to understand how the coronavirus interacts with the human immune system) and claimed that vitamin C could be used to treat it (USA Today has rated that claim "false").
BuzzFeed News has reached out to Ayyadurai for comment.
Ayyadurai has yet to back up what he has said with scientific data, but he continues to amass an audience — and court votes. One of many who in the last few months has built an online fanbase with hyperpartisan pandemic content, he publishes Periscopes about the outbreak almost every day, attacking anti-Trump media, speculating about the deep state, and railing against the medical establishment.
“The #FakeNews colludes with #FakeScience to create #FakeProblems, #FakeSolutions and #FakeHistory to drive us into slavery and fascism,” Ayyadurai tweeted Tuesday. “Each day I will be exposing a #FakeJournalist and/or #FakeScientist. It’s time these scumbags and parasites got some serious bitter medicine.”


buzzfeed--2020-04-15--A Student Is Suing Liberty University For Its Handling Of The Coronavirus

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Falwell called one parent a “ dummy ” on Twitter for criticizing the university ’ s response .
After he had invited students to return after spring break , Falwell moved classes online in March amid growing criticism .
Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. , an ally of President Donald Trump 's who had downplayed the pandemic , has kept the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state and local leaders .
Filed anonymously by Student A , who cited fear of retaliation if they were identified , the complaint in a US district court argues the Lynchburg , Virginia , university was `` glacially slow '' in responding to the pandemic and failed to pay back students for unused services during the spring semester .
A student at Liberty University is suing the Christian school for refusing to refund thousands of dollars in campus services like housing and meals after students fled due to fears of the coronavirus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the college is “ in a very real sense profiting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
” But the lawsuit contends that Falwell kept parts of the campus open so he could retain fees for student housing , meals , health plans , and more — even though most students had left campus , college sports facilities were shut down , and meals were only available for takeout .
Because the class action lawsuit is on behalf of similarly situated individuals , other students could receive money from a ruling in their favor .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is ‘ open ’ is an illusion being put forth to try to keep money that should be returned to students and their families , ” says the complaint , adding that annual dining plans start at $ 3,780 , housing begins at $ 4,750 , and other fees , from medical care to activity centers , add thousands more .
Liberty University sent a statement to BuzzFeed News that said the allegations are “ without legal merit , ” adding that the school had “ taken into account the economic impact and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Describing his decision to switch to online classes , Falwell told Liberty News , a campus media outlet , “ We 're really not operating as a university , except online , ” adding that the campus was functioning as a “ sort of a housing complex , with restaurants doing takeout.
” Liberty News added that “ by keeping the residence halls open , the university is able to accommodate all the international students unable to return home , as well.
” BuzzFeed News reported on several students in late March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return .
Clayton Didinsky , a 22-year-old junior , said on March 26 that the school had given “ mixed messaging and I honestly think it 's a way to keep students ' money.
” '' I do n't think Jerry is worried about students , ” he added .
“ I think it 's about money because what other reason do they have to keep residential students on campus .
There 's caution tape around most things , and there 's not much to do . ''
Returning students were offered a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but the lawsuit argues not all students will be eligible and that the credit is “ a mere fraction ” of what they should get .
“ Liberty has refused to refund students and their families unused portions of the fees they paid , ” the lawsuit adds .
`` Liberty ’ s decision to tell its students that they could remain on campus to continue to use their housing , meal plans , parking , and the benefits of the services and activities for which their fees paid , was not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were no more on-campus classes — but it was also extremely dangerous and irresponsible .
”

But the lawsuit contends that Falwell kept parts of the campus open so he could retain fees for student housing, meals, health plans, and more — even though most students had left campus, college sports facilities were shut down, and meals were only available for takeout. Because the class action lawsuit is on behalf of similarly situated individuals, other students could receive money from a ruling in their favor.
“The university’s statement that it is ‘open’ is an illusion being put forth to try to keep money that should be returned to students and their families,” says the complaint, adding that annual dining plans start at $3,780, housing begins at $4,750, and other fees, from medical care to activity centers, add thousands more.
Liberty University sent a statement to BuzzFeed News that said the allegations are “without legal merit,” adding that the school had “taken into account the economic impact and legal rights of all the parties involved.”
Describing his decision to switch to online classes, Falwell told Liberty News, a campus media outlet, “We're really not operating as a university, except online,” adding that the campus was functioning as a “sort of a housing complex, with restaurants doing takeout.”
Liberty News added that “by keeping the residence halls open, the university is able to accommodate all the international students unable to return home, as well.”
BuzzFeed News reported on several students in late March who were abandoning campus and afraid to return. Clayton Didinsky, a 22-year-old junior, said on March 26 that the school had given “mixed messaging and I honestly think it's a way to keep students' money.”
"I don't think Jerry is worried about students,” he added. “I think it's about money because what other reason do they have to keep residential students on campus. There's caution tape around most things, and there's not much to do."
Returning students were offered a $1,000 credit for the fall semester, but the lawsuit argues not all students will be eligible and that the credit is “a mere fraction” of what they should get.
“Liberty has refused to refund students and their families unused portions of the fees they paid,” the lawsuit adds. "Liberty’s decision to tell its students that they could remain on campus to continue to use their housing, meal plans, parking, and the benefits of the services and activities for which their fees paid, was not only illusory and empty — because there were no more on-campus classes — but it was also extremely dangerous and irresponsible.”


buzzfeed--2020-04-15--Trump’s Coronavirus Briefings Are Just Another Chance For Him To Break Your Brain

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If you close your eyes and sit still for a few minutes , you can remember a time when things weren ’ t so strange — the daily flood of people dying alone , the fear of those forced to venture out , the millions who have lost their jobs , the fact that many ( though far from all ) of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at home , staring at the same four walls .
If you try this exercise around 5 p.m. , however , you will be quickly shaken from your pre-coronavirus nostalgia .
For that , give or take 45 minutes , is the witching hour .
In addition to the myriad adjustments Americans have made to try to survive a deadly pandemic , they have also allowed Donald Trump into their homes on a nightly basis .
No matter if he has an announcement or not , a message to the nation or not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whatever enters his mind .
And there we are — millions of us — to take it in .
It sets a rhythm to the day : breakfast , lunch , Trump press conference , drink , dinner , drink .
It ’ s obvious why Trump , obsessed with attention , has settled into the routine .
The question is why we do this .
For journalists , it ’ s our job — and there ’ s a raging debate over the how and why of it .
But millions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president splatter his id all over the White House briefing room .
It ’ s exhausting .
Last week , a stream of consciousness riff about reopening the US economy took him from talking about the fourth fiscal quarter to comparing the September 11 death toll with that of COVID-19 ( “ we ’ ve more than doubled it , and it ’ s still going ” ) , then sideways into the stock market ( “ we ’ re going to have the best stock market week — shortened week — in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record ” ) , around to airlines , into one of his favorite new lines ( “ we ’ ve learned a tremendous amount ” ) before ending , finally , with ventilators ( “ we have a lot of very exciting things taking place ” ) .
The mental energy it takes to follow his train of thought , let alone suss out new or important information and flag the lies , is enormous .
Since self-isolation has stripped away the romance of things , I ’ ll admit that sometimes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ myself falling asleep — as if my brain is saying , I can ’ t take this anymore .
Even Martha Joynt Kumar — the director of the White House Transition Project who has made it her life ’ s work to study presidents ’ interactions with the press — calls the daily briefings “ overwhelming.
” “ I think at any time the president speaks , one needs to listen , because what he is saying forms the record of his presidency , ” she said .
Despite growing calls for reporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard to turn away when you have such unfettered insight into the mind of the most powerful person in the world — lies , insecurities , and all .
One day , centuries from now , historians will read the White House record and find that in the midst of a global pandemic , Trump was delivering untested medical advice from the podium .
They will see him calling reporters “ fake ” and “ third-rate.
” They ’ ll hear him , three weeks after his address to the nation , using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ I have , you know , hundreds of millions of people .
Number one on Facebook .
Did you know I was number one on Facebook ?
I mean , I just found out I ’ m number one on Facebook .
I thought that was very nice.
” Never before has a president seized the public White House podium nearly every single day for so long .
Trump has spoken for more than 20 hours in the White House briefing room since the crisis began .
Since regularly joining the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there have only been three days when he has not addressed the public .
Several of his press conferences , including one on Friday that clocked in at 2 hours and 13 minutes , beat his previous “ single-day record for talking to the press , ” which came during a NATO press conference in London on Dec. 3 when he spoke to reporters for 2 hours and 1 minute — and even that one was spaced out in three sessions of Q & As , according to a study by Kumar .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when he held a Fox News town hall on the virus during the day , then called into Fox to clarify his comments , and then decided to hold a previously unplanned briefing that evening , which ran for 1 hour and 50 minutes .
For the 18 press conferences that Trump attended fully , rather than handing it over to the actual task force chief , Vice President Mike Pence , the average running time was 91 minutes .
“ He needs one of two things : a group who loves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t like him , so he can get energy from either one of them , ” Kumar said .
No mass gatherings like public rallies ?
Cue increased attacks on reporters in the room .
“ These are different , ” Kumar said .
Trump is up there surrounded by experts who often contradict what he has just said , when he hasn ’ t contradicted himself .
“ It ’ s very confusing for people .
Do we have to stay inside or don ’ t we ?
Is the president the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and mayors ?
”

If you close your eyes and sit still for a few minutes, you can remember a time when things weren’t so strange — the daily flood of people dying alone, the fear of those forced to venture out, the millions who have lost their jobs, the fact that many (though far from all) of us are taking this in while sheltering at home, staring at the same four walls.
If you try this exercise around 5 p.m., however, you will be quickly shaken from your pre-coronavirus nostalgia. For that, give or take 45 minutes, is the witching hour. In addition to the myriad adjustments Americans have made to try to survive a deadly pandemic, they have also allowed Donald Trump into their homes on a nightly basis. No matter if he has an announcement or not, a message to the nation or not, there he is, riffing on whatever enters his mind. And there we are — millions of us — to take it in. It sets a rhythm to the day: breakfast, lunch, Trump press conference, drink, dinner, drink.
It’s obvious why Trump, obsessed with attention, has settled into the routine. The question is why we do this.
For journalists, it’s our job — and there’s a raging debate over the how and why of it. But millions of Americans are tuning in to watch the president splatter his id all over the White House briefing room. It’s exhausting. Last week, a stream of consciousness riff about reopening the US economy took him from talking about the fourth fiscal quarter to comparing the September 11 death toll with that of COVID-19 (“we’ve more than doubled it, and it’s still going”), then sideways into the stock market (“we’re going to have the best stock market week — shortened week — in 50 years, almost broke the all-time record”), around to airlines, into one of his favorite new lines (“we’ve learned a tremendous amount”) before ending, finally, with ventilators (“we have a lot of very exciting things taking place”).
The mental energy it takes to follow his train of thought, let alone suss out new or important information and flag the lies, is enormous. Since self-isolation has stripped away the romance of things, I’ll admit that sometimes, during particularly long sessions, I find myself falling asleep — as if my brain is saying, I can’t take this anymore.
Even Martha Joynt Kumar — the director of the White House Transition Project who has made it her life’s work to study presidents’ interactions with the press — calls the daily briefings “overwhelming.”
“I think at any time the president speaks, one needs to listen, because what he is saying forms the record of his presidency,” she said.
Despite growing calls for reporters to dismiss the briefings, it is hard to turn away when you have such unfettered insight into the mind of the most powerful person in the world — lies, insecurities, and all. One day, centuries from now, historians will read the White House record and find that in the midst of a global pandemic, Trump was delivering untested medical advice from the podium. They will see him calling reporters “fake” and “third-rate.”
They’ll hear him, three weeks after his address to the nation, using the Coronavirus Task Force briefing to brag: “I have, you know, hundreds of millions of people. Number one on Facebook. Did you know I was number one on Facebook? I mean, I just found out I’m number one on Facebook. I thought that was very nice.”
Never before has a president seized the public White House podium nearly every single day for so long. Trump has spoken for more than 20 hours in the White House briefing room since the crisis began. Since regularly joining the task force briefings on March 13, there have only been three days when he has not addressed the public. Several of his press conferences, including one on Friday that clocked in at 2 hours and 13 minutes, beat his previous “single-day record for talking to the press,” which came during a NATO press conference in London on Dec. 3 when he spoke to reporters for 2 hours and 1 minute — and even that one was spaced out in three sessions of Q&As, according to a study by Kumar.
A red-letter day came on March 24, when he held a Fox News town hall on the virus during the day, then called into Fox to clarify his comments, and then decided to hold a previously unplanned briefing that evening, which ran for 1 hour and 50 minutes. For the 18 press conferences that Trump attended fully, rather than handing it over to the actual task force chief, Vice President Mike Pence, the average running time was 91 minutes.
“He needs one of two things: a group who loves him or a group who doesn’t like him, so he can get energy from either one of them,” Kumar said. No mass gatherings like public rallies? Cue increased attacks on reporters in the room. “These are different,” Kumar said. Trump is up there surrounded by experts who often contradict what he has just said, when he hasn’t contradicted himself. “It’s very confusing for people. Do we have to stay inside or don’t we? Is the president the one setting the tone or the governors and mayors?”


buzzfeed--2020-04-14--Christians Were Fined $500 For Attending A Drive-In Church — The Trump Administration Is Supporting

Christians Were Fined $500 For Attending A Drive-In Church — The Trump Administration Is Supporting Them In Court

A sign outside the Temple Baptist Church urging parishioners to stay in their cars during a drive-in church service .
The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus .
To help keep this news free , become a member and sign up for our newsletter , Outbreak Today .
The Justice Department jumped into a federal lawsuit in Mississippi on Tuesday to support parishioners who had been fined $ 500 for attending a drive-in church service , demonstrating the Trump administration ’ s willingness to challenge what it sees as onerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Baptist Temple Church in Greenville , Mississippi , had alleged in a complaint last week that local police overstepped their bounds by enforcing a ban on drive-in church services and trying to “ bust up ” the parking lot congregation .
Worshippers were inside vehicles with their windows rolled up while listening to a broadcast of the sermon inside when eight police officers began issuing tickets , including to the pastor .
The Trump administration filed what ’ s called a statement of interest in the case , showing the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ principles at play , contending parishioners retain certain constitutional rights to assemble and exercise free speech despite the pandemic .
The administration contends the ban on drive-in church gatherings does not appear to be applied neutrally to secular and religious activities alike , and thus , the filing said , “ The facts alleged in the complaint strongly suggest that the city ’ s actions target religious conduct.
” “ The city has the burden to demonstrate that prohibiting the small church here from holding the drive-in services at issue here — services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their cars in the church parking lot at all times with their windows rolled up and spaced consistent with CDC guidelines — is the least restrictive means of furthering a compelling interest , ” the government continued .
“ As of now , it seems unlikely that the city will be able to carry that burden , ” the statement said .
The filing follows a pattern of the Trump administration stepping into cases to support Christians who allege discrimination , even when the administration isn ’ t a party to the litigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ District Court Judge Debra M. Brown , an appointee of former president Barack Obama , on Monday .
The same day , Greenville Mayor Errick D. Simmons said the churchgoers would not have to pay the fines , but he said the city ’ s policy banning drive-in church services would remain intact .
He did not respond to a question from BuzzFeed News about whether drive-in churchgoers would be fined if the services resume .
Responding to the mayor , Alliance Defending Freedom , a Christian legal group representing the church , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenging the ban would proceed : “ The city ’ s order is baseless , and so we intend to continue aggressively pursuing our case against it in court.
” For weeks , Pastor Arthur Scott had been delivering sermons from inside the church — via an FM radio broadcast to worshippers in cars — when police arrived last Wednesday to issue $ 500 citations .
Gov .
Tate Reeves had specifically exempted religious gatherings from his stay-at-home orders during the pandemic , calling them essential services .
But the Greenville mayor and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that prohibited “ drive in ” church gatherings , issuing an executive order on April 7 that said “ all church buildings will be closed for in person and drive in church services.
” The city had also said church gatherings were nonessential services and staff there couldn ’ t convene more than 10 people at a time .
In challenging the citations , the church ’ s complaint filed at a federal court in Greenville noted the church marquee had declared “ STAY IN CAR ” and that the production team inside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The complaint alleges the city violated the church ’ s First Amendment right to assembly and free speech , and ran afoul of the 14th Amendment ’ s right to due process , because the ban was issued without warning or a description of the penalty for breaking the rules .
The lawsuit also argued the state policies that allow religious gatherings during the pandemic override the city ’ s more restrictive rules .
“ In sum , ” the complaint said , “ the Church 's ‘ drive-in ’ services are a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parishioners to worship together and exercise their faith while avoiding in-person contact and ensuring the health and safety of attendees and the local community.
” Responding to the bust , Reeves said on Twitter , “ If you send police after worshippers trying to social distance , you are going to have Mississippians revolt .
I ’ ve asked all pastors not to hold these services — but we ordered churches safe from these outrageous actions .
Don ’ t trample the constitution.
” Alliance Defending Freedom noted that nonreligious fast-food drive-ins were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A Sonic Drive-In a few blocks east of the church continues to operate , allowing drivers to pull up , roll down windows , and get burgers .
“ You call in , ” an employee at Sonic explained to BuzzFeed News in a phone call Monday .
“ When you come , you come pick up your order.
” The Justice Department had telegraphed it would take action in the Mississippi case — as it has by filing statements of interest in other cases to help Christians .
Alliance Defending Freedom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ courtroom support to help a Christian Colorado baker who refused to serve a gay couple and cases to help Christians ’ First Amendment claims on college campuses .
Kerri Kupec — a spokesperson for Attorney General Bill Barr and a former spokesperson for Alliance Defending Freedom — tweeted on Saturday , “ While social distancing policies are appropriate during this emergency , they must be applied evenhandedly & not single out religious orgs .
Expect action from DOJ.
” Kupec then retweeted Kristen Waggoner — a top lawyer for Alliance Defending Freedom — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AG Barr will ensure constitutional rights are protected while also protecting public health.
” Barr added in a statement on Tuesday , `` The United States Department of Justice will continue to ensure that religious freedom remains protected if any state or local government , in their response to COVID-19 , singles out , targets , or discriminates against any house of worship for special restrictions . ''

The Justice Department jumped into a federal lawsuit in Mississippi on Tuesday to support parishioners who had been fined $500 for attending a drive-in church service, demonstrating the Trump administration’s willingness to challenge what it sees as onerous local lockdown rules during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Baptist Temple Church in Greenville, Mississippi, had alleged in a complaint last week that local police overstepped their bounds by enforcing a ban on drive-in church services and trying to “bust up” the parking lot congregation. Worshippers were inside vehicles with their windows rolled up while listening to a broadcast of the sermon inside when eight police officers began issuing tickets, including to the pastor.
The Trump administration filed what’s called a statement of interest in the case, showing the government’s views about the general legal principles at play, contending parishioners retain certain constitutional rights to assemble and exercise free speech despite the pandemic.
The administration contends the ban on drive-in church gatherings does not appear to be applied neutrally to secular and religious activities alike, and thus, the filing said, “The facts alleged in the complaint strongly suggest that the city’s actions target religious conduct.”
“The city has the burden to demonstrate that prohibiting the small church here from holding the drive-in services at issue here — services where attendees are required to remain in their cars in the church parking lot at all times with their windows rolled up and spaced consistent with CDC guidelines — is the least restrictive means of furthering a compelling interest,” the government continued.
“As of now, it seems unlikely that the city will be able to carry that burden,” the statement said.
The filing follows a pattern of the Trump administration stepping into cases to support Christians who allege discrimination, even when the administration isn’t a party to the litigation.
The case was assigned to US District Court Judge Debra M. Brown, an appointee of former president Barack Obama, on Monday.
The same day, Greenville Mayor Errick D. Simmons said the churchgoers would not have to pay the fines, but he said the city’s policy banning drive-in church services would remain intact. He did not respond to a question from BuzzFeed News about whether drive-in churchgoers would be fined if the services resume.
Responding to the mayor, Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian legal group representing the church, said in a statement that the lawsuit challenging the ban would proceed: “The city’s order is baseless, and so we intend to continue aggressively pursuing our case against it in court.”
For weeks, Pastor Arthur Scott had been delivering sermons from inside the church — via an FM radio broadcast to worshippers in cars — when police arrived last Wednesday to issue $500 citations.
Gov. Tate Reeves had specifically exempted religious gatherings from his stay-at-home orders during the pandemic, calling them essential services.
But the Greenville mayor and city council issued a more restrictive ban that prohibited “drive in” church gatherings, issuing an executive order on April 7 that said “all church buildings will be closed for in person and drive in church services.” The city had also said church gatherings were nonessential services and staff there couldn’t convene more than 10 people at a time.
In challenging the citations, the church’s complaint filed at a federal court in Greenville noted the church marquee had declared “STAY IN CAR” and that the production team inside the church never exceeded 10 people.
The complaint alleges the city violated the church’s First Amendment right to assembly and free speech, and ran afoul of the 14th Amendment’s right to due process, because the ban was issued without warning or a description of the penalty for breaking the rules.
The lawsuit also argued the state policies that allow religious gatherings during the pandemic override the city’s more restrictive rules.
“In sum,” the complaint said, “the Church's ‘drive-in’ services are a creative way for the Church and its parishioners to worship together and exercise their faith while avoiding in-person contact and ensuring the health and safety of attendees and the local community.”
Responding to the bust, Reeves said on Twitter, “If you send police after worshippers trying to social distance, you are going to have Mississippians revolt. I’ve asked all pastors not to hold these services — but we ordered churches safe from these outrageous actions. Don’t trample the constitution.”
Alliance Defending Freedom noted that nonreligious fast-food drive-ins were allowed even as congregants were being fined. A Sonic Drive-In a few blocks east of the church continues to operate, allowing drivers to pull up, roll down windows, and get burgers.
“You call in,” an employee at Sonic explained to BuzzFeed News in a phone call Monday. “When you come, you come pick up your order.”
The Justice Department had telegraphed it would take action in the Mississippi case — as it has by filing statements of interest in other cases to help Christians. Alliance Defending Freedom has also enjoyed the administration’s courtroom support to help a Christian Colorado baker who refused to serve a gay couple and cases to help Christians’ First Amendment claims on college campuses.
Kerri Kupec — a spokesperson for Attorney General Bill Barr and a former spokesperson for Alliance Defending Freedom — tweeted on Saturday, “While social distancing policies are appropriate during this emergency, they must be applied evenhandedly & not single out religious orgs. Expect action from DOJ.”
Kupec then retweeted Kristen Waggoner — a top lawyer for Alliance Defending Freedom — who said her group “is grateful AG Barr will ensure constitutional rights are protected while also protecting public health.”
Barr added in a statement on Tuesday, "The United States Department of Justice will continue to ensure that religious freedom remains protected if any state or local government, in their response to COVID-19, singles out, targets, or discriminates against any house of worship for special restrictions."


buzzfeed--2020-04-14--Barack Obama Endorsed Joe Biden For President And Praised Bernie Sanders' Campaign

Barack Obama endorsed his former vice president Joe Biden ’ s presidential campaign in a nearly 12-minute address uploaded to YouTube on Tuesday morning , while acknowledging the movement that Sen. Bernie Sanders built over the course of his two presidential runs .
“ I ’ m so proud to endorse Joe Biden for president of the United States , ” Obama said near the top of his address .
“ Choosing Joe to be my vice president was one of the best decisions I ever made and he became a close friend .
And I believe Joe has all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president right now.
” Obama recalled Biden ’ s work in his administration to come back from crises like the coronavirus pandemic facing America now , specifically highlighting Biden ’ s roles in creating and implementing programs to recover from the recession at the start of his term and his work in response to the H1N1 and Ebola outbreaks .
“ Joe has the character and the experience to guide us through one of our darkest times and heal us through a long recovery , ” Obama said .
The Obama endorsement comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats seek the party ’ s presidential nomination and that was interspersed with events that have taken the spotlight off the election , including an impeachment trial and a global pandemic that has now left the general election campaign stuck in a livestreamed purgatory .
“ Joe will be a better candidate for having run the gauntlet of primaries and caucuses alongside one of the most impressive Democratic fields ever .
Each of our candidates were talented and decent with the track record of accomplishment , smart ideas , and serious visions for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ That ’ s certainly true for the candidate that made it farther than any other — Bernie Sanders.
” “ Bernie is an American original , ” he added .
“ A man who has devoted his life to giving voice to working people ’ s hopes , dreams , and frustrations.
” He said that they both know that “ nothing is more powerful than millions of voices calling for change ” and that the ideas and energy he has inspired is “ critical ” to move the country forward .

Barack Obama endorsed his former vice president Joe Biden’s presidential campaign in a nearly 12-minute address uploaded to YouTube on Tuesday morning, while acknowledging the movement that Sen. Bernie Sanders built over the course of his two presidential runs.
“I’m so proud to endorse Joe Biden for president of the United States,” Obama said near the top of his address. “Choosing Joe to be my vice president was one of the best decisions I ever made and he became a close friend. And I believe Joe has all of the qualities we need in a president right now.”
Obama recalled Biden’s work in his administration to come back from crises like the coronavirus pandemic facing America now, specifically highlighting Biden’s roles in creating and implementing programs to recover from the recession at the start of his term and his work in response to the H1N1 and Ebola outbreaks.
“Joe has the character and the experience to guide us through one of our darkest times and heal us through a long recovery,” Obama said.
The Obama endorsement comes after a primary that saw nearly 30 Democrats seek the party’s presidential nomination and that was interspersed with events that have taken the spotlight off the election, including an impeachment trial and a global pandemic that has now left the general election campaign stuck in a livestreamed purgatory.
“Joe will be a better candidate for having run the gauntlet of primaries and caucuses alongside one of the most impressive Democratic fields ever. Each of our candidates were talented and decent with the track record of accomplishment, smart ideas, and serious visions for the future,” Obama said. “That’s certainly true for the candidate that made it farther than any other — Bernie Sanders.”
“Bernie is an American original,” he added. “A man who has devoted his life to giving voice to working people’s hopes, dreams, and frustrations.” He said that they both know that “nothing is more powerful than millions of voices calling for change” and that the ideas and energy he has inspired is “critical” to move the country forward.


buzzfeed--2020-04-13--Arkansas Is Being Sued For Banning Abortions During The Coronavirus But Letting Dentists Continue Ta

Arkansas Is Being Sued For Banning Abortions During The Coronavirus But Letting Dentists Continue Taking Appointments

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The American Civil Liberties Union filed an emergency lawsuit Monday seeking to block a state order in Arkansas that would prevent the state ’ s sole clinic from performing abortions during the coronavirus outbreak .
Arkansas is the sixth state to issue an order limiting abortion access due to the pandemic .
On April 3 , Arkansas Gov .
Asa Hutchinson issued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ procedures be postponed and that any medical providers who violated the order could be fined up to $ 500 and imprisoned for up to a month .
The following week , Hutchinson announced that Arkansas ’ s only abortion clinic , Little Rock Family Planning Services , was under investigation for potentially violating his order .
On Friday , the clinic received a letter from the state ’ s Department of Health saying that abortions that were “ not immediately necessary to protect the life or health of the patient ” were elective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state ’ s order by continuing to provide abortions .
The ACLU responded in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas , seeking “ emergency relief ” from the order , arguing that banning abortion is unconstitutional and that the state was unfairly targeting abortion providers while letting other medical professionals , like dentists , continue to operate .
Over the past few weeks , state governments in Texas , Ohio , Iowa , Alabama , and Oklahoma have all issued orders or interpretations of orders attempting to ban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the procedure is not medically necessary and that keeping clinics open is using up personal protective equipment and hospital beds that should be reserved for health care workers and people with COVID-19 .
The ACLU , Planned Parenthood , and the Center for Reproductive Rights have filed lawsuits , either separately or together , in each of the six states , arguing in each that abortion is medically necessary , that the amount of protective equipment for medical staffers and hospital beds used in abortion procedures is negligible , and that these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anti-abortion policies .
Federal judges have issued temporary restraining orders preventing the abortions bans from going into effect in Texas , Ohio , Oklahoma , and Alabama , though the states have all appealed these decisions and the cases are currently making their way through the courts .
( The lawsuit in Iowa was dropped after the state clarified that its ban only applied to some procedures . )
After the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals decided to allow Texas ’ s ban to go into effect at the end of March , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ block of the law , the pro–abortion rights groups asked the Supreme Court to intervene and prevent Texas from banning the procedure .
As all these cases raged on in the court system , Arkansas decided to join in on the fray by sending a cease-and-desist letter to its only abortion clinic .
“ Your facility is ordered to immediately cease and desist the performance of surgical abortions , except where immediately necessary to protect the life or health of the patient , ” the letter , included in the ACLU ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violations of the April 3 Directive will result in an immediate suspension of your facilities license.
” In the suit , the ACLU pointed out that Arkansas does not have a stay-at-home order in place and has not closed nonessential businesses , arguing that the governor is specifically targeting abortion clinics .
“ According to the Governor , many hospitals are ‘ empty , ’ and there is no shortage of the medical professionals on whom we all gratefully depend to fight COVID-19 on the frontlines , ” ACLU ’ s complaint says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gave with PBS on Wednesday defending his choice not to issue a lockdown for his state .
“ Manufacturing and places of worship remain open , and medical providers around the State are free to exercise their independent professional judgment to provide patients with all surgical and dental care that they determine can not be safely postponed , ” the complaint continues .
The complaint includes a letter sent from the Arkansas Department of Health to the states ’ dentists outlining the procedures allowed to take place during the ban on nonemergency surgeries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some orthodontic care , treating cracked teeth , and “ third-molar pain , ” among other standard dentist procedures .
“ Indeed , orthodontists in Arkansas remain free to schedule visits to adjust wires on patients ’ braces , and dentists continue to see patients who complain of a cracked tooth , ” the lawsuit states .
The ACLU requested a speedy response to their complaint , and a federal judge is likely to make a ruling in the coming days .

The American Civil Liberties Union filed an emergency lawsuit Monday seeking to block a state order in Arkansas that would prevent the state’s sole clinic from performing abortions during the coronavirus outbreak. Arkansas is the sixth state to issue an order limiting abortion access due to the pandemic.
On April 3, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson issued a statewide directive that all nonvital medical procedures be postponed and that any medical providers who violated the order could be fined up to $500 and imprisoned for up to a month. The following week, Hutchinson announced that Arkansas’s only abortion clinic, Little Rock Family Planning Services, was under investigation for potentially violating his order.
On Friday, the clinic received a letter from the state’s Department of Health saying that abortions that were “not immediately necessary to protect the life or health of the patient” were elective surgeries and that the clinic was violating the state’s order by continuing to provide abortions.
The ACLU responded in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, seeking “emergency relief” from the order, arguing that banning abortion is unconstitutional and that the state was unfairly targeting abortion providers while letting other medical professionals, like dentists, continue to operate.
Over the past few weeks, state governments in Texas, Ohio, Iowa, Alabama, and Oklahoma have all issued orders or interpretations of orders attempting to ban abortion during the coronavirus outbreak, arguing that the procedure is not medically necessary and that keeping clinics open is using up personal protective equipment and hospital beds that should be reserved for health care workers and people with COVID-19.
The ACLU, Planned Parenthood, and the Center for Reproductive Rights have filed lawsuits, either separately or together, in each of the six states, arguing in each that abortion is medically necessary, that the amount of protective equipment for medical staffers and hospital beds used in abortion procedures is negligible, and that these bans are exploiting the pandemic to push anti-abortion policies.
Federal judges have issued temporary restraining orders preventing the abortions bans from going into effect in Texas, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Alabama, though the states have all appealed these decisions and the cases are currently making their way through the courts. (The lawsuit in Iowa was dropped after the state clarified that its ban only applied to some procedures.)
After the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals decided to allow Texas’s ban to go into effect at the end of March, and a lower federal court issued another block of the law, the pro–abortion rights groups asked the Supreme Court to intervene and prevent Texas from banning the procedure.
As all these cases raged on in the court system, Arkansas decided to join in on the fray by sending a cease-and-desist letter to its only abortion clinic.
“Your facility is ordered to immediately cease and desist the performance of surgical abortions, except where immediately necessary to protect the life or health of the patient,” the letter, included in the ACLU’s complaint, read. “Any further violations of the April 3 Directive will result in an immediate suspension of your facilities license.”
In the suit, the ACLU pointed out that Arkansas does not have a stay-at-home order in place and has not closed nonessential businesses, arguing that the governor is specifically targeting abortion clinics.
“According to the Governor, many hospitals are ‘empty,’ and there is no shortage of the medical professionals on whom we all gratefully depend to fight COVID-19 on the frontlines,” ACLU’s complaint says, referring to an interview the governor gave with PBS on Wednesday defending his choice not to issue a lockdown for his state.
“Manufacturing and places of worship remain open, and medical providers around the State are free to exercise their independent professional judgment to provide patients with all surgical and dental care that they determine cannot be safely postponed,” the complaint continues.
The complaint includes a letter sent from the Arkansas Department of Health to the states’ dentists outlining the procedures allowed to take place during the ban on nonemergency surgeries. The procedures include filling cavities, some orthodontic care, treating cracked teeth, and “third-molar pain,” among other standard dentist procedures.
“Indeed, orthodontists in Arkansas remain free to schedule visits to adjust wires on patients’ braces, and dentists continue to see patients who complain of a cracked tooth,” the lawsuit states.
The ACLU requested a speedy response to their complaint, and a federal judge is likely to make a ruling in the coming days.


buzzfeed--2020-04-13--Bernie Sanders Endorsed Joe Biden And Previewed A Big Role In His Campaign

If their joint livestream endorsement special was any indication Monday , Bernie Sanders will have a substantial and substantive role in Joe Biden ’ s presidential campaign .
Sanders , who suspended his own White House bid less than a week ago , formally backed Biden in a surprise afternoon webcast .
Biden , like Sanders before he dropped out , has been using online video to speak to voters over the last month of the coronavirus quarantines .
“ Today , ” Sanders said via split screen with Biden , stationed in his Delaware basement , “ I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every Democrat , I 'm asking every independent , I 'm asking a lot of Republicans , to come together in this campaign to support your candidacy , which I endorse , to make certain that we defeat somebody who I believe — and I ’ m speaking just for myself now — is the most dangerous president in the modern history of this country.
” As Sanders delivered the endorsement , Biden expressed what sounded and looked like a mix of surprise and relief , though the rest of their conversation suggested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former rivals said their teams would work together in specific policy areas .
“ I have been very pleased that your staff and my staff have been working together over the last several weeks [ to come ] up with a number of task forces , ” Sanders said .
“ These are task forces that will look at some of the most important issues facing this country , ” among them the economy , education , immigration , criminal justice , climate change , and health care .
The Democratic primary between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a while , many other candidates — often centered on a clash between the ideas put forth by Sanders and others on the progressive left and the more moderate incrementalism favored by Biden .
But Biden signaled Monday that Sanders could have an influential role akin to policy adviser in the general election campaign .
“ I think that your endorsement means a great deal , it means a great deal to me , ” Biden said before turning deferential .
“ I think people are going to be surprised that we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re awfully close on a whole bunch of others .
If I am the nominee , which it looks like now you just made me , I ’ m going to need you , not just to campaign , but to govern.
” Then , in what struck as a more rehearsed moment , Biden asked if Sanders had any questions for him , ostensibly an opportunity for Sanders to extract some significant promise .
Instead , Sanders asked if he could count on Biden ’ s support for a $ 15-an-hour minimum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endorsing such a policy since launching his candidacy last year , quickly acquiesced .
“ Bernie , ” the former vice president replied , “ I am extremely supportive of that.
” Their livestream continued on for a bit longer , with Sanders expressing confidence that Biden ’ s campaign would be “ inclusive.
” ( Since his strong performance in last month ’ s Super Tuesday primaries , Biden has made several public overtures for Sanders ’ supporters . )
And Biden , who took some hits from Sanders even though they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was eager to hear more from him .
“ Anything you want to do , anything at all , ” Biden said , offering Sanders a closing statement .
Their other competition finally behind them , Sanders joked that they could play some chess .

If their joint livestream endorsement special was any indication Monday, Bernie Sanders will have a substantial and substantive role in Joe Biden’s presidential campaign.
Sanders, who suspended his own White House bid less than a week ago, formally backed Biden in a surprise afternoon webcast. Biden, like Sanders before he dropped out, has been using online video to speak to voters over the last month of the coronavirus quarantines.
“Today,” Sanders said via split screen with Biden, stationed in his Delaware basement, “I am asking all Americans, I'm asking every Democrat, I'm asking every independent, I'm asking a lot of Republicans, to come together in this campaign to support your candidacy, which I endorse, to make certain that we defeat somebody who I believe — and I’m speaking just for myself now — is the most dangerous president in the modern history of this country.”
As Sanders delivered the endorsement, Biden expressed what sounded and looked like a mix of surprise and relief, though the rest of their conversation suggested this was a coordinated moment. The former rivals said their teams would work together in specific policy areas.
“I have been very pleased that your staff and my staff have been working together over the last several weeks [to come] up with a number of task forces,” Sanders said. “These are task forces that will look at some of the most important issues facing this country,” among them the economy, education, immigration, criminal justice, climate change, and health care.
The Democratic primary between Biden and Sanders — and, for a while, many other candidates — often centered on a clash between the ideas put forth by Sanders and others on the progressive left and the more moderate incrementalism favored by Biden. But Biden signaled Monday that Sanders could have an influential role akin to policy adviser in the general election campaign.
“I think that your endorsement means a great deal, it means a great deal to me,” Biden said before turning deferential. “I think people are going to be surprised that we are apart on some issues but we’re awfully close on a whole bunch of others. If I am the nominee, which it looks like now you just made me, I’m going to need you, not just to campaign, but to govern.”
Then, in what struck as a more rehearsed moment, Biden asked if Sanders had any questions for him, ostensibly an opportunity for Sanders to extract some significant promise. Instead, Sanders asked if he could count on Biden’s support for a $15-an-hour minimum wage. Biden, who has been endorsing such a policy since launching his candidacy last year, quickly acquiesced. “Bernie,” the former vice president replied, “I am extremely supportive of that.”
Their livestream continued on for a bit longer, with Sanders expressing confidence that Biden’s campaign would be “inclusive.” (Since his strong performance in last month’s Super Tuesday primaries, Biden has made several public overtures for Sanders’ supporters.)
And Biden, who took some hits from Sanders even though they always maintained their friendship as rivals, was eager to hear more from him.
“Anything you want to do, anything at all,” Biden said, offering Sanders a closing statement.
Their other competition finally behind them, Sanders joked that they could play some chess.


buzzfeed--2020-04-13--The Justice Department Isn’t Giving Employees Enough Guidance On Working During The Coronavirus Pand

The Justice Department Isn’t Giving Employees Enough Guidance On Working During The Coronavirus Pandemic, Workers Say

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus .
To help keep this news free , become a member and sign up for our newsletter , Outbreak Today .
WASHINGTON — A group representing hundreds of Justice Department employees sent a letter to department leadership on Monday identifying inconsistencies in DOJ ’ s response to employees juggling work and family during the coronavirus pandemic .
Each office within the Justice Department has been responsible for developing policies that address how employees can work during the pandemic , including how much flexibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and how much additional coronavirus-related paid leave they can get while caring for elderly relatives and children home from school .
Those policies vary , and some offices haven ’ t issued one at all , according to a letter from the DOJ Gender Equality Network ( DOJ GEN ) to management obtained by BuzzFeed News .
“ [ M ] any workers are now in their fourth week of teleworking with no caretaking assistance and have been forced to use considerable amounts of annual leave , ” DOJ GEN wrote .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by name , and DOJ GEN President Stacey Young declined to comment , but BuzzFeed News reviewed copies of four policies that show one of the differences .
Lawyers and staff in the Environment and Natural Resources Division received a memo making clear they could ask for special paid leave — excused absences from work under what ’ s known as “ evacuation pay ” authority — to apply retroactively .
Memos issued to staff in the Civil Division , Antitrust Division , and Executive Office for Immigration Review don ’ t include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ department leadership to address the disparity , noting that the State Department had allowed for retroactive administrative leave going back to mid-February .
DOJ employees facing coronavirus-specific job pressures have raised concerns about the department ’ s response to the pandemic so far .
Immigration judges and prosecutors have protested the department ’ s decision to keep some immigration courts open during the pandemic .
The union representing the Federal Bureau of Prisons employees has accused the government of failing to provide enough protective equipment and take other steps to keep staff and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filed in federal court last month accuses the government of failing to pay special “ hazard pay ” to BOP employees and other federal workers exposed to the coronavirus .
“ Uniformly the communication has been absolutely horrible , ” said Heidi Burakiewicz , the lead attorney for the BOP and other federal workers who filed the hazard pay lawsuit .
“ It 's been contradictory , it 's not been uniform.
” DOJ GEN in March had sent letters to department leadership asking for teleworking flexibility , paid administrative leave , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus .
The Office of Personnel Management has been issuing guidance to federal agencies about how to handle teleworking and other working conditions during the pandemic , but it ’ s up to each agency to develop and carry out its own policy .
On April 1 , the head of DOJ ’ s administrative office Lee Lofthus sent a memo to all office heads saying they could grant teleworking employees excused absences to care for kids and elderly relatives , and delegated specific policymaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DOJ GEN ’ s letter , the department sent this statement to BuzzFeed News : “ The Department of Justice is enacting all work flexibility guidance issued by [ the Office of Management and Budget ] and OPM .
Based on evacuation orders , the Department of Justice Management Division issued additional flexibility guidance to executive officers for implementation on April 1 .
The Department of Justice will continue to take measures to protect employees while ensuring critical DOJ functions such as national security continue.
” Since April 1 , some DOJ components @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take up to 20 hours of excused absences per two-week pay period , but some haven ’ t yet , according to the letter that DOJ GEN sent to Lofthus and Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen on Monday .
The letter says that “ many ” of the dozens of components that fall under the Justice Department haven ’ t issued new policies in response to the April 1 memo , and that , of those that have , some are more employee-friendly than others .
In addition to the issue of retroactive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that some offices have eliminated “ core job hours ” requirements — giving employees flexibility to do work outside of a normal schedule — and have allowed employees to temporarily switch to part-time status .
Other offices haven ’ t issued specific policies allowing for those changes , according to the group .
“ DOJ GEN members have written to express how appreciative they are of these policies , and how meaningful it is that their components support them and their families during this unprecedented time , ” the group wrote .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ president of the National Association of Immigration Judges , told BuzzFeed News that the immigration judges ’ union was still waiting for clarity on issues like flexible hours and part-time status .
She said that the Executive Office for Immigration Review , which manages US immigration courts , had an “ abysmal ” response to the pandemic so far .
DOJ GEN , which says it represents more than 550 employees across the department , did thank Lofthus for issuing the April 1 memo with guidance on paid leave and said that DOJ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alleviated some of the safety concerns and distress that many DOJ workers experienced in the last few weeks.
” The head of the Civil Division , Joseph “ Jody ” Hunt , sent all staff a message of support shortly after 1:30 a.m. on April 11 , a Saturday .
“ In addition to the issues associated with social distancing and our concern for family , friends , and neighbors , many of you are now having to juggle difficult personal responsibilities along with your professional obligations , ” Hunt wrote , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to BuzzFeed News .
“ These are complicated times and as a division we are endeavoring to do everything we can to ensure that you are provided the flexibilities necessary to attend to your personal situation while doing your job .
”

WASHINGTON — A group representing hundreds of Justice Department employees sent a letter to department leadership on Monday identifying inconsistencies in DOJ’s response to employees juggling work and family during the coronavirus pandemic.
Each office within the Justice Department has been responsible for developing policies that address how employees can work during the pandemic, including how much flexibility they have while working from home, and how much additional coronavirus-related paid leave they can get while caring for elderly relatives and children home from school. Those policies vary, and some offices haven’t issued one at all, according to a letter from the DOJ Gender Equality Network (DOJ GEN) to management obtained by BuzzFeed News.
“[M]any workers are now in their fourth week of teleworking with no caretaking assistance and have been forced to use considerable amounts of annual leave,” DOJ GEN wrote.
The letter doesn’t call out offices by name, and DOJ GEN President Stacey Young declined to comment, but BuzzFeed News reviewed copies of four policies that show one of the differences. Lawyers and staff in the Environment and Natural Resources Division received a memo making clear they could ask for special paid leave — excused absences from work under what’s known as “evacuation pay” authority — to apply retroactively. Memos issued to staff in the Civil Division, Antitrust Division, and Executive Office for Immigration Review don’t include language about that.
DOJ GEN asked department leadership to address the disparity, noting that the State Department had allowed for retroactive administrative leave going back to mid-February.
DOJ employees facing coronavirus-specific job pressures have raised concerns about the department’s response to the pandemic so far. Immigration judges and prosecutors have protested the department’s decision to keep some immigration courts open during the pandemic. The union representing the Federal Bureau of Prisons employees has accused the government of failing to provide enough protective equipment and take other steps to keep staff and inmates safe. A class action lawsuit filed in federal court last month accuses the government of failing to pay special “hazard pay” to BOP employees and other federal workers exposed to the coronavirus.
“Uniformly the communication has been absolutely horrible,” said Heidi Burakiewicz, the lead attorney for the BOP and other federal workers who filed the hazard pay lawsuit. “It's been contradictory, it's not been uniform.”
DOJ GEN in March had sent letters to department leadership asking for teleworking flexibility, paid administrative leave, and better communication about employees testing positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
The Office of Personnel Management has been issuing guidance to federal agencies about how to handle teleworking and other working conditions during the pandemic, but it’s up to each agency to develop and carry out its own policy. On April 1, the head of DOJ’s administrative office Lee Lofthus sent a memo to all office heads saying they could grant teleworking employees excused absences to care for kids and elderly relatives, and delegated specific policymaking to each office.
In response to DOJ GEN’s letter, the department sent this statement to BuzzFeed News: “The Department of Justice is enacting all work flexibility guidance issued by [the Office of Management and Budget] and OPM. Based on evacuation orders, the Department of Justice Management Division issued additional flexibility guidance to executive officers for implementation on April 1. The Department of Justice will continue to take measures to protect employees while ensuring critical DOJ functions such as national security continue.”
Since April 1, some DOJ components have issued policies specifying that employees can take up to 20 hours of excused absences per two-week pay period, but some haven’t yet, according to the letter that DOJ GEN sent to Lofthus and Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen on Monday.
The letter says that “many” of the dozens of components that fall under the Justice Department haven’t issued new policies in response to the April 1 memo, and that, of those that have, some are more employee-friendly than others.
In addition to the issue of retroactive excused absences, the DOJ GEN letter said that some offices have eliminated “core job hours” requirements — giving employees flexibility to do work outside of a normal schedule — and have allowed employees to temporarily switch to part-time status. Other offices haven’t issued specific policies allowing for those changes, according to the group.
“DOJ GEN members have written to express how appreciative they are of these policies, and how meaningful it is that their components support them and their families during this unprecedented time,” the group wrote.
Judge A. Ashley Tabaddor, speaking as president of the National Association of Immigration Judges, told BuzzFeed News that the immigration judges’ union was still waiting for clarity on issues like flexible hours and part-time status. She said that the Executive Office for Immigration Review, which manages US immigration courts, had an “abysmal” response to the pandemic so far.
DOJ GEN, which says it represents more than 550 employees across the department, did thank Lofthus for issuing the April 1 memo with guidance on paid leave and said that DOJ leadership had taken some steps that “alleviated some of the safety concerns and distress that many DOJ workers experienced in the last few weeks.”
The head of the Civil Division, Joseph “Jody” Hunt, sent all staff a message of support shortly after 1:30 a.m. on April 11, a Saturday.
“In addition to the issues associated with social distancing and our concern for family, friends, and neighbors, many of you are now having to juggle difficult personal responsibilities along with your professional obligations,” Hunt wrote, according to a copy of the email read to BuzzFeed News. “These are complicated times and as a division we are endeavoring to do everything we can to ensure that you are provided the flexibilities necessary to attend to your personal situation while doing your job.”


buzzfeed--2020-04-15--Ohio's Coronavirus Outbreak Is Hitting Youngstown Hardest. They're Used To That.

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Nowhere in Ohio has more coronavirus cases per capita than Mahoning County , home to Youngstown , the proud but shrinking steel town that has become synonymous with America ’ s working-class .
And nowhere in Ohio has mourned more deaths from the disease .
Mayor Jamael Tito Brown , known to everybody as Tito , knew things were getting worse nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of an employee at the Youngstown City Schools ’ central kitchen came down with it .
The schools , like just about everything else , are closed .
The central kitchen is not .
The workers there are responsible for making sure children who depend on free and reduced-cost meals — the median household income in the city is less than $ 27,000 — still get breakfast and lunch five days a week .
Suddenly they were all quarantined .
Substitute workers who hadn ’ t been exposed came in to help continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ superintendent and the president of the local United Way on the phone .
They agreed to assemble a volunteer team needed to make sure students got the meals .
Every Monday since , staff from the mayor ’ s office and other city departments have helped distribute the food .
“ Mondays , ” Brown told BuzzFeed News by telephone from his makeshift home office , “ are probably the only day I ’ m out in a public setting.
” As of Saturday , 375 of Ohio ’ s 6,250 COVID-19 cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Mahoning County , the state ’ s 12th most-populous count .
The numbers are disproportionately high , too , in surrounding Trumbull and Columbiana counties .
The latter is home to the Elkton federal prison , where a coronavirus outbreak ( at least 20 cases and three inmate deaths ) prompted Gov .
Mike DeWine to call in the Ohio National Guard for assistance .
It ’ s another crisis for a region that always seems to be in one .
There was the collapse decades ago of the steel industry , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ force many talked themselves into believing was possible .
There was the long reach of organized crime , which extended to the highest levels of government .
More recently , the hits have come in bunches .
General Motors , the Mahoning Valley ’ s dominant employer , closed an assembly plant there .
The Vindicator , Youngstown ’ s daily newspaper , stopped publishing last August .
Now comes a pandemic .
No one is quite sure why the Valley — how locals refer to the tri-county area — became a coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like a spread among guests at a bridal shower held before DeWine issued a stay-at-home order .
There are rumors of outbreaks at nursing homes and of younger Valley expats fleeing New York and returning to their parents ’ homes .
But there are no clear answers , and there won ’ t be for a while .
“ There ’ s nothing that I know of that we could pinpoint , ” said Dr. James Kravec , the chief clinical officer for the Mercy Health hospitals in the area and the medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency .
“ It ’ s not like we can say it ’ s one event or one school or one church.
” It will take time , Kravec added , for research and data to present an accurate accounting of why it spread so fast in the area .
Some patients have been too sick to be interviewed by local health officials .
Kravec offered some “ educated guesses , ” though , starting with the county ’ s aging population .
Elderly people are more vulnerable to the virus .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents are 65 and older , compared to 17 % statewide .
As of Friday , 55 % of the county ’ s coronavirus cases and 94 % of the deaths were among residents 60 and older .
Kravec also suggested the virus may have come to Mahoning County early and begun spreading before the state-mandated lockdowns .
“ There ’ s always going to be a county that ’ s earlier.
” Everyone seems to have a theory or two .
“ I ’ m speculating like everyone else , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We look at our aging population , the 60-plus population in the city .
We look at the long-term care facilities that we have here .
People go away , but they come back to retire here .
Then you know individuals had their theory about how close we are to I-80 connected to New York .
So there are so many theories out there .
I ’ m going to let the doctors and the scientists figure that out for us.
” The I-80 theory is a popular one — essentially that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Valley .
Mahoning County borders Pennsylvania and is at the intersection of a major highway interchange that connects New York to Chicago and Pittsburgh to Cleveland .
“ It ’ s funny , because we do economic development and all that stuff , ” Rep. Tim Ryan , the Democrat who represents much of the region in Congress , said Thursday by telephone .
“ Forever it ’ s been like , yeah , we ’ re halfway between New York and Chicago , we ’ re halfway between Cleveland and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there ’ s a virus.
” Overall the Valley is dealing with challenges not unlike those popping up elsewhere .
Youngstown police have had to bust large gatherings that run afoul of the stay-at-home order .
On the day last week when it became clear Mahoning County had become a relative hotspot , the sheriff , Jerry Greene , posted a Facebook video urging people to “ take a good look at ourselves ” and only leave home if necessary .
“ I don ’ t believe enough people have been taking this @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Nowhere in Ohio has more coronavirus cases per capita than Mahoning County, home to Youngstown, the proud but shrinking steel town that has become synonymous with America’s working-class. And nowhere in Ohio has mourned more deaths from the disease.
Mayor Jamael Tito Brown, known to everybody as Tito, knew things were getting worse nearly three weeks ago, when the spouse of an employee at the Youngstown City Schools’ central kitchen came down with it. The schools, like just about everything else, are closed. The central kitchen is not. The workers there are responsible for making sure children who depend on free and reduced-cost meals — the median household income in the city is less than $27,000 — still get breakfast and lunch five days a week. Suddenly they were all quarantined.
Substitute workers who hadn’t been exposed came in to help continue the program. And Brown got the superintendent and the president of the local United Way on the phone. They agreed to assemble a volunteer team needed to make sure students got the meals. Every Monday since, staff from the mayor’s office and other city departments have helped distribute the food.
“Mondays,” Brown told BuzzFeed News by telephone from his makeshift home office, “are probably the only day I’m out in a public setting.”
As of Saturday, 375 of Ohio’s 6,250 COVID-19 cases and 31 of the 247 deaths were in Mahoning County, the state’s 12th most-populous count. The numbers are disproportionately high, too, in surrounding Trumbull and Columbiana counties. The latter is home to the Elkton federal prison, where a coronavirus outbreak (at least 20 cases and three inmate deaths) prompted Gov. Mike DeWine to call in the Ohio National Guard for assistance.
It’s another crisis for a region that always seems to be in one.
There was the collapse decades ago of the steel industry, which never came back at the full force many talked themselves into believing was possible. There was the long reach of organized crime, which extended to the highest levels of government. More recently, the hits have come in bunches. General Motors, the Mahoning Valley’s dominant employer, closed an assembly plant there. The Vindicator, Youngstown’s daily newspaper, stopped publishing last August. Now comes a pandemic.
No one is quite sure why the Valley — how locals refer to the tri-county area — became a coronavirus cluster. There are anecdotal reports, like a spread among guests at a bridal shower held before DeWine issued a stay-at-home order. There are rumors of outbreaks at nursing homes and of younger Valley expats fleeing New York and returning to their parents’ homes. But there are no clear answers, and there won’t be for a while.
“There’s nothing that I know of that we could pinpoint,” said Dr. James Kravec, the chief clinical officer for the Mercy Health hospitals in the area and the medical director for the Mahoning County Public Health agency. “It’s not like we can say it’s one event or one school or one church.”
It will take time, Kravec added, for research and data to present an accurate accounting of why it spread so fast in the area. Some patients have been too sick to be interviewed by local health officials. Kravec offered some “educated guesses,” though, starting with the county’s aging population. Elderly people are more vulnerable to the virus. In Mahoning County, 21% of the residents are 65 and older, compared to 17% statewide. As of Friday, 55% of the county’s coronavirus cases and 94% of the deaths were among residents 60 and older.
Kravec also suggested the virus may have come to Mahoning County early and begun spreading before the state-mandated lockdowns. “There’s always going to be a county that’s earlier.”
Everyone seems to have a theory or two.
“I’m speculating like everyone else,” said Brown, the Youngstown mayor. “We look at our aging population, the 60-plus population in the city. We look at the long-term care facilities that we have here. People go away, but they come back to retire here. Then you know individuals had their theory about how close we are to I-80 connected to New York. So there are so many theories out there. I’m going to let the doctors and the scientists figure that out for us.”
The I-80 theory is a popular one — essentially that the coronavirus found a convenient resting spot in the Valley. Mahoning County borders Pennsylvania and is at the intersection of a major highway interchange that connects New York to Chicago and Pittsburgh to Cleveland.
“It’s funny, because we do economic development and all that stuff,” Rep. Tim Ryan, the Democrat who represents much of the region in Congress, said Thursday by telephone. “Forever it’s been like, yeah, we’re halfway between New York and Chicago, we’re halfway between Cleveland and Pittsburgh. Which is really great unless there’s a virus.”
Overall the Valley is dealing with challenges not unlike those popping up elsewhere. Youngstown police have had to bust large gatherings that run afoul of the stay-at-home order. On the day last week when it became clear Mahoning County had become a relative hotspot, the sheriff, Jerry Greene, posted a Facebook video urging people to “take a good look at ourselves” and only leave home if necessary.
“I don’t believe enough people have been taking this seriously,” Greene told viewers.


buzzfeed--2020-04-13--The Coronavirus Has Quieted New York City's Flower District

Two businesses — the kinds of wholesalers who provide flowers and plants to florists , event planners , and other outlets — on the financial impact of the pandemic on our complex , interconnected economy .
Like a lot of places , New York City is closed up and quiet , unsettlingly free of people and commerce .
That includes a block of Manhattan known as the flower district or flower market on West 28th Street .
On an overcast , routine Wednesday this week about when the morning market would begin closing up , the grates were already down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ street empty , and the sidewalks free of the trees , plants , and flowers that would normally spill out of the 20 or so flower , plant , and specialty wholesalers and retailers located on this one block — a strange , romantic stretch of New York often written about .
“ Most people have been forced to close their business , ” owner Gary Page said in a recent interview .
He ’ s been in the business since 1984 , and come through Wall Street crises and 9/11 .
Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business , take emailed and shipped orders for topiaries , or work in a limited capacity — but a lot of the business is done directly and in service of events or rooms that are now empty for public health .
When Page 's business , G.Page Flowers , closed on March 21 , they placed bouquets , wrapped in brown paper , on the sidewalk against the storefront 's green grate for passersby .
“ Everyone does understand the situation that we 're in , and that we have to defeat the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That 's the first step.
” More than 10,000 people have died in the United States during the coronavirus pandemic — a staggering number that includes Eddy Marquez , who worked at US Evergreen in the district for decades , and reportedly died from complications earlier this week .
As the shutdowns continue to meet public health guidance , the economic situation across the country has become increasingly difficult .
Untold numbers of small businesses are in bad circumstances ; 16 million people have filed jobless claims in just three weeks — a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ City .
The unprecedented freeze to half the world 's economy has externalized how interconnected and complicated local and global economies really are ; you can ’ t stop or pause one part of life without affecting a multitude of people ’ s livelihoods .
The pandemic 's physical limitations first affected restaurants widely , but the reverberation of empty venues , canceled occasions , and people not going to work and school is staggering — including for the wholesale flowers and plants that would otherwise be sold to florists , event planners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In Holland , growers have destroyed millions of flowers — there 's just not many places for them to go .
“ Think about a bride 's wedding , right ? ''
said Monique Blanco , the Operations and Accounts Manager for Foliage Garden , which specializes in plants .
“ She had to postpone it — it was supposed to be March 20 , right ?
” The kinds of flowers or plants won ’ t be the same when the bride ’ s wedding takes place , if she has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the expense of flowers .
Same with , for another example , the plants inside and outside the restaurants that nobody 's been inside for weeks .
“ We ’ re in all these little niches that nobody really thinks about , ” Blanco added .
“ But it ’ s thousands of people across the country that fulfill these jobs .
So that for us is ever-present in our minds.
” As Page explained , for flowers , the “ grower has to pack stuff in boxes — so you have supplies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this – then they transport them to auction or exporters , they 're then put onto airplanes.
” Depending on the season , growers might be packing those flowers in the Netherlands , Ecuador , Colombia , Vietnam , Thailand , Malaysia , Australia , or New Zealand — or somewhere in the United States .
“ Those planes are flown over to JFK or trucked up to New York from Miami or from local growers.
” “ Then they get to 28th Street.
” The market — which also now includes things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a much earlier era of the city .
A century ago , New York operated as one of the biggest merchant-manufacturing centers in the world , in one of the biggest natural harbors in the world , with well-known districts like the meatpacking or garment .
Among these , populated especially by Greek-immigrant businesses , was the flower district in the same neighborhood — but in the 20th century , it spanned multiple blocks and dozens of businesses that have diminished over time .
( “ Where the hotel is now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s is , all flowers .
The Bank of America , all flowers , ” as one florist put it to the Villager four years ago . )
The transformation of the district ’ s Chelsea neighborhood from a rough scene into the location of Google 's New York headquarters — as well as the zoning laws that have put a number of hotels in its midst— is often the story told about the flower district .
Still , Blanco noted , business was going well .
Foliage Garden operates greenhouses on Long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a niche industry : plant rentals .
Corporations like Chanel that put on events , small fashion houses , people working film sets and photo shoots , Instagram popups , or even for people just throwing weddings or birthday parties — they rent trees and greenery for the occasion , she said .
But an increasing amount of their cash flow came from people walking down the “ jungle utopia ” of West 28th Street , and wanting to buy a plant here or there — basically the effect of millennial fervor for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individual ways .
“ People were coming to realize the value of plants again.
” Until they can resume business , Foliage Garden had to lay off their shop staff — there 's just no money coming in , Blanco said — while their greenhouse team continues working at a reduced schedule to keep the plants alive .
Page said he 's trying to avoid layoffs .
“ People have worked with me for so long , many people — I find that very difficult , I do n't want to do that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it.
” He ’ s hoping government relief efforts for small businesses come through .
Some of the current businesses are family operations ; there are also multi-generational growers and multi-generational florists on either side of the chain .
Blanco has known the owner of Foliage Garden , Maryann Finnegan , since she was 13 ; when Blanco graduated from college into the great recession , Finnegan told her to come work for her until she got settled .
“ So I did .
And I never left.
” This time of year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bulk of their business takes place — is usually fun , she said , but people don ’ t always appreciate the complicated logistics of a business like this .
“ Like everything , we are New Yorkers , and we are a demanding people , '' she joked .
“ So a plant is a plant , yes , but when you throw a New Yorker into anything , it 's going to get complicated.
” And it 's true that outside of the people who grow and sell them , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not like food or lodging or , eventually , a haircut .
It 's a luxury business , as Blanco allowed .
But if you 've experienced a quiet , sad day with the unexpected pop of color or greenery , it ’ s hard to forget .
And if you imagine all these events we 're not having and places we 're not going , without any ornamentation — even with the warm promise of reunion — they look a little dull and gray .
Page anticipates that there will be changes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been after major shocks , like 9/11 and the great recession .
But people still want flowers in the end , he said ; that doesn ’ t change .
“ Flowers have tremendous power , ” Page said , “ especially if you give people flowers .
People remember that.
” The last thing that health care professionals needed at this precise moment was flowers .
But , he added , “ hopefully , when we get through this , we will be able to say to these people , thank you @ @ @ @

Like a lot of places, New York City is closed up and quiet, unsettlingly free of people and commerce.
That includes a block of Manhattan known as the flower district or flower market on West 28th Street.
On an overcast, routine Wednesday this week about when the morning market would begin closing up, the grates were already down, the windows mostly dark, the street empty, and the sidewalks free of the trees, plants, and flowers that would normally spill out of the 20 or so flower, plant, and specialty wholesalers and retailers located on this one block — a strange, romantic stretch of New York often written about.
“Most people have been forced to close their business,” owner Gary Page said in a recent interview. He’s been in the business since 1984, and come through Wall Street crises and 9/11.
Some on the block have launched online wholesale-to-trade business, take emailed and shipped orders for topiaries, or work in a limited capacity — but a lot of the business is done directly and in service of events or rooms that are now empty for public health.
When Page's business, G.Page Flowers, closed on March 21, they placed bouquets, wrapped in brown paper, on the sidewalk against the storefront's green grate for passersby.