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The Nooner for Monday, December 7, 2020, presented by SYASL Partners
Hey there! Crazy morning interrupted by the Governor's 9:30am presser. There really wasn't much news, except for a new opt-in notification app for Apple and Android to notify a user that they have been exposed. The app has been piloted at the campuses of the University of California and should be available Thursday. More deets for you soon. He spent a good amount of time explaining the rationale for regions, something that has been a major question from residents of many counties. Anyway, here are the links to watch the video:
Anyway, more later today if anything comes up! DECEMBER FIRES:
NO JUICE FOR YOU: This week in PSPS (public safety power shutoff)...
HUNGER GAMES: Well, at least we had something talk about yesterday rather than impending shutdowns of many activities amidst very troubling numbers. Following President-elect Joe Biden's choice of Xavier Becerra for HHS Secretary, Governor Gavin Newsom could have three big upcoming appointments. We have the Senate seat. If Newsom taps Secretary of State Alex Padilla, now the odds-on favorite following yesterday's pick of Becerra as HHS Secretary, that opens up an appointment to SOS. Then, presuming Becerra is confirmed by the US Senate to HHS, then Newsom will have AG to fill. On the Senate speculation list (assuming not a caretaker):
On the Attorney General speculation list, some additions and some deletions from that included yesterday. List again is alphabetical.
Removed is Rep. Katie Porter, and not for the reason most think (competitive seat when Dems have a slim majority). Rather, Gov't Code §12503 requires admission to practice before the California Supreme Court for the five years immediately preceding the appointment and Porter has never been a member of the State Bar of California. California does not grant reciprocity for bar admissions in other states. This was an issue with Becerra since he was on inactive status but after reactivation was deemed qualified. Also removed are the other four members of the House, as Speaker Pelosi has asked Biden's team for no more congressional appointments given the narrow majority left for Democrats and Newsom will hear a similar message. That strikes Barragán, Lieu, Schiff, and Speier. Added were Becton, Bonta, Chiang, Chiu, Herrera, Krell, and Steinberg. I can't believe I forgot fellow King Hall alum and Sacramento mayor Darrell Steinberg as I've often floated his name in conversations over the last couple of weeks. He's close to Newsom and is co-chair with former LA supe Mark Ridley-Thomas of the governor's task force on homelessness. Steinberg also served as President Pro Tem of the State Senate while Governor Newsom was Lieutenant Governor, aka President of the State Senate. Following a rebuke in the election by the defeat of a measure to strengthen the role of the Sac mayor, the election of councilmembers from the left critical of his leadership (and defeat of a key ally), and a looming budget problems because of the pandemic, most observers believe Steinberg's ready to move on given the right opportunity. On the Secretary of State speculation list (alphabetical):
GOVERNOR 2022: In the Times, George Skelton writes that this year's election results show that anything is possible in the 2022 race for governor, including the election of a member of the GOP in a state currently with no statewide Republicans.
--IF YOU LIKE THE NOONER AND DON'T ALREADY, CONSIDER A SUBSCRIPTION, ADVERTISING, OR OTHERWISE SUPPORT THE WORK USING SQUARE, PAYPAL, OR CHECK. COVID-19: Yesterday, 56 deaths were reported in the state, bringing the total to 19,938. As usual, The weekend reporting caveat applies, with lower reports that push into the work week. On CNN this morning, If you look at the hospitalizations and ICU availability, we are now at the worst point of the pandemic in California. If you look at the dailies (light blue vertical columns) in the hospitalizations, we're at the highest point. Thus, the 14-day trend line will continue to increase. ICU bed availability/capacity is also at its lowest yet. Remember, on ICU bed capacity -- the measurement determining the stay-at-home orders -- this is beyond COVID-19. I've written it before, but I know not everyone reads every day. Public health officers at the county and state levels have a duty to ensure availability (locally or through mutual aid out-of-county) of ICU beds in case of a disaster, ranging from transportation to natural. This is what has them scared. From everything I have read about the COVID-19 experience thus far and after therapeutics have been developed, ICU demand is usually around 7 days following admission of a patient for those requiring it. -Tiers for fears: No changes to county tier assignments. Purple/Widespread=52 counties; Red=5/Substantial; Orange/Moderate=1 -Stay at home: I am not including all of the main points and restrictions of the new stay at home order. You can find them in The Nooner for December 5, or read the state order or state guidance. Documents: Press conference on 12/03 with Governor Newsom and HHS Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly: Regions: Here is the latest ICU capacity by region, which is from this state page.
*County has voluntarily adopted the state's Stay At Home Order Cite: COVID19.CA.GOV: About COVID-19 restrictions (Under "Regional Stay Home Order") Trend: We now have four days of data. Tomorrow this likely becomes a line chart.
SacTown: While the state is operating off percentages, it comes down to available beds. The absolute number is based on two factors -- bed/equipment and staffing. Staffing is a big issue, particularly in the smaller counties even in normal times, particularly with a large number of staff either ill or in quarantine. Here are the bed numbers for the Greater Sacramento Region over the last two days.
I started doing it for the Greater Sacramento Region, and ended up doing it for all five and I'm guessing this may become a morning routine since there's no other way to track (like the %s) without recording it in a spreadsheet each day. Here's my spreadsheet of all five regions. Some people have asked "What is the total number of beds?" That's complicated, but you can draw inferences from yesterday's ICU capacity/availability of 18.2% that the Greater Sacramento Region has a total of around 742 ICU beds. Source: State dashboard, drop-down "ICU Available Beds." Data obtained 12/07 0730. Lodging: During this morning's update, Governor Newsom made clear that hotels and other lodging reservations are only to be accepted or honored in Stay At Home counties for essential workers or for quarantine/isolation. No leisure travel stays are allowed. Lingering questions: I've written before that the new state Stay At Home Order appeared rushed, albeit likely necessary. However, here are some questions I've heard (beyond playgrounds, which we've all heard):
EVICTIONS: For CalMatters, Nigel Duara looks at how Californians are preparing for a rash of evictions ahead as tenant protections expire and courts begin processing cases.
On that note, it does sound like tenant and landlord assistance is part of the developing bipartisan compromise federal relief bill. Of course, the details of the plan coming together through Zoom meetings are not available and it's unclear whether the eventual deal will have leadership support.
CAKEDAY: Happy birthday to former state senator Jim Beall, Odysseus Bostick, Sarah Bachez Campos, Julia Spiess Lewis, and Kassy Perry! ClassifiedsAdd your classified now both in The Nooner and online for $50/week or $150/month by emailing scottlay@gmail.com, with a headline, a summary of up to 200 words, and what you'd like the end date to be. You can attach a PDF or provide a link for a bigger job description/info to apply. [Other advertising options]CCST Expert Briefing: Carbon Neutral California: Blue Carbon Sequestration along California’s Coast Join the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) in partnership with the Office of Assemblymember Mark Stone and the California Ocean Science Trust on Wednesday, December 9th from 1:30-2:30pm for our latest Virtual CCST Expert Briefing: Blue Carbon Sequestration along California’s Coast. A panel of experts from San Diego State University, USGS, Silvestrum Climate Associates, and LandSea Science will discuss strategic ways to increase blue carbon sequestration in California’s coastal ecosystems. RSVP Offices available for sublease: Meridian Plaza Between 1-3 offices are available for sublease in the Meridian Plaza office building, 1415 L Street, two blocks from the Capitol. The offices are approximately 150 SF each. Internet, gym, partially furnished (desk, chair, bookcases) are included. 24/7/365 key card access; floor-ceiling windows facing Sierras; professional offices. One year lease preferred. $1,500 per office. Contact Jane at admin@stoneadvocacy.com or (415) 577-9734 with questions. Political Data Inc. For 30 Years PDI has been California’s premier data vendor. Now, you can get live online trainings on the newest PDI software every week: |