COVID-19 Update from Council President Pro Tem Barbara Bry

Office of Council President Pro Tem Barbara Bry
San Diego City Council
District 1

May 1, 2020
Contact: Moriah Gaynor
mgaynor@sandiego.gov
C: (619) 207-8616

May 1, 2020: COVID-19 News Update

Dear Community Members,

Yesterday, April 30, I chaired the San Diego City Council Budget Review Committee during one of the most difficult times in its history. As we kicked off hearings for the Fiscal Year 2021 Budget, Councilmembers offered our revised district priorities in the wake of the unprecedented revenue losses caused by COVID-19.

As your District 1 Councilmember and Budget Chair, I called for budget reductions in the City’s bloated middle management and to preserve our neighborhood services. I also called for San Diego’s federal coronavirus relief money to be used to fund Internet access for all San Diegans, and to assist the small business, the nonprofits and the City employees who face the biggest stresses due to the pandemic.

COVID-19 has sparked an opportunity to get creative and reinvent the City’s bureaucratic wheel to better serve our residents. For example, Thursday was the City’s first budget hearing conducted remotely with real-time public participation, and I think the process worked relatively well.

I would like to thank my staff and the City Clerk for their work, and I especially would like to thank the hundreds of members of the public who took the time to phone in to discuss the issues that are crucial to them.

Next week I invite you to participate in the budget hearings by submitting public comment (instructions here) or by sharing your budget priorities with my office (contact form here.)

This is your future we’re shaping, and you deserve a hand in shaping it - I look forward to your input and participation.

Sincerely,

Council President Pro Tem

Budget Town Hall - Saturday, May 2 from 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Join me Saturday, May 2, 2020 from 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. on Zoom to:

Learn more about the budget process from the Office of the Independent Budget Analyst (IBA) Andrea Tevlin
Ask questions to the IBA
Voice community budget priorities directly to Councilmember and Budget Review Committee Chair Barbara Bry.

Registration is required - link here.

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City News
City Begins “Slow Streets” Pilot Program
Mayor Faulconer introduced a “Slow Streets” pilot program to repurpose certain public streets, create more outdoor space, and encourage safe walking and cycling while still following public health rules for physical distancing and facial coverings.

Slow streets will be installed at Diamond Street from Mission Boulevard to Olney Street, Adams Avenue over the I-805, Howard Avenue from Park Boulevard to 33rd Street and a portion of roadway in District 4. Mayor Faulconer is working with Councilmembers to evaluate additional opportunities for slow streets that are feasible from an engineering and safety standpoint, as well as supported by advocates and the community.

Press release here.

City of San Diego COVID-19 Executive Order Extended Until 5/31
The Executive Order declaring a local emergency in preparation and response to COVID-19 in San Diego was extended from April 30 until May 31, 2020.

County News
Beginning May 1, Face Coverings Required in Public
Beginning May 1, all San Diego County residents are required to wear cloth face coverings in public when within 6 feet of another person who is not a household contact.

The cloth facial coverings, which will be required until further notice, don’t have to be hospital grade but should cover the nose and mouth. Homemade masks, bandanas, scarves and neck gaiters are acceptable, since these items can be washed and reused. Facial coverings don’t need to be used when people are at home.

Article here.

4/30 County Eases Park Restrictions, Allows Golf and Boating
The County revised its Health Officer Order to relax restrictions on parks, golf courses and recreational boating, effective May 1. Cities may have their own parks restrictions, and everyone should check the rules for the specific park before visiting.

Among the revisions:

Parks and their parking lots can reopen with 50% parking capacity.
Members of the same household can sit, picnic, or participate in sports and other activities at parks. Group activities and gatherings are not allowed.
Golf courses can open but must have a physical distancing and safety plan in place and conduct temperature screenings for employees and golfers. Golf carts are not allowed. Anyone with a 100-degree temperature or higher must not be allowed on the premises.

Article here.

4/29 County Meets 4 of 5 Criteria for Reopening
The County is using five federal criteria and state recommendations to determine when and how to ease or lift some of the restrictions in the local Health Officer Order. The County has met four of the five federal criteria and is working to meet the testing criteria.

Article here.

Current Cases in San Diego County
As of 5 p.m. 5/1:

Total Cases in San Diego County: 3,711
0-9 years: 29 cases
10-19 years: 96 case
20-29 years: 576 cases
30-39 years: 699 cases
40-49 years: 634 cases
50-59 years: 694 cases
60-69 years: 464 cases
70-79 years: 271 cases
80+ years: 245 cases
Age unknown: 3
Hospitalized Cases: 792
Intensive Care Cases: 250
Deaths: 134

Source here.

State News
EDD Releases Guidance for Those who have Exhausted all Available Benefits
The Employment Development Department is building a new 13-week federal extension of benefits established in the federal CARES Act called the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC). Some workers who have run out of all of their available benefits will be eligible for this extension, while others may qualify for the new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program.

To help navigate mandated requirements, the EDD provided guidance to assist workers.

Guidance here.

4/30 - Governor Newsom Signs Executive Order on Marriages
Governor Newsom signed an executive order today to allow ,adults to obtain marriage licenses via videoconferencing rather than in person amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the executive order, adults will be able to obtain a marriage license, at the discretion of their local county clerk, through videoconferencing, as long as both adults are located within the State of California, are present, and can present identification during the video conference. The license can then be issued via email.

Press release here.

4/30 - Governor Newsom Announces New Online Portal to Help Parents Find Local and Convenient Child Care Options
Governor Newsom announced a new portal to help parents, including essential workers and vulnerable families, find safe, reliable and accessible child care options.

The new portal is available at covid19.ca.gov/childcare and enables parents to enter their location and the type of care they need, instantly receiving a list of local center-based and family child care programs. The list of open licensed child care programs will include health and safety information, age of children accepted, capacity, availability, hours, and contact information for the program and local Child Care Resource and Referral agency. The Child Care Resource and Referral agencies can answer general questions, including those about child care subsidies.

Press release here.

4/29 - Governor Newsom Announces Expansion of Farm to Family Program and New Initiatives to Combat Food Insecurity
The Governor unveiled $3.64 million in new funding to expand the state’s Farm to Family program, including $2.86 million from the USDA and $775,000 committed by philanthropy to jumpstart a $15 million campaign to further support the program through the end of the year. The Governor also highlighted critical expansions of CalFresh and EBT programs to combat food insecurity for low-income Californians, including a new Pandemic-EBT program for children who receive free or reduced lunch and EBT for online purchasing.

Press release here.

Local Resources
LISC Small Business Relief Grants
Thanks to support from funders like Verizon and Sam's Club, LISC is providing grants to small businesses, to help them keep functioning and remain vital facets of their local economies through this challenging period.

Additional information, including application details, can be found here.

The “Love to Ride Challenge”
May is Bike Month in San Diego! Starting Tuesday, May 5, San Diegans have the chance to participate in a bicycling challenge by riding around their own neighborhoods. By signing up and participating online, you have the chance to win prizes like a new bike or bike rental gift card. To enter, share photos and videos of your ride on social media with the hashtag #BetterByBike and register here.

May 7 at 11 a.m. - SANDAG iCommute Webinar “Telework Wellness: How to nurture your teams and boost morale”
The SANDAG iCommute program announced a third telework webinar to support regional employers and employees. “Telework Wellness: How to nurture your teams and boost morale,” is scheduled for Thursday, May 7 at 11 a.m.

This webinar will share best practices for collaboration, connection, and compassion to keep employees engaged and productive. Guest presenters include Suzanne Hoffman, Ph.D., Clinical and Consulting Psychologist at Workplace Guardians Jason Martin, Director of Facilities and Engineering at Fleet Science Center Karen Lerman, Learning and Development Business Partner at Waze.