Archive for category: Updates

Local 5 on Facebook Live

Join us for another Facebook Live session, featuring youth organizers from AiKea and their campaign to register more voters! Go to www.facebook.com/uniteherehawaii/live at 5 pm!

 

COVID Cases Today

World: Cases: 5.1M (+100k).  Deaths: 333k (+5k).

USA: Cases: 1.57M (+20k).  Deaths: 94.7k (+1.3).  Total Tested: 13M (+400k).
Hawaii: Cases:  647 (+4).  Deaths: 17 (+0).  Hospitalized: 83 (+1). Recovered: 579 (+1).

Gov. Ige approves Kaua’i’s plan to re-open more businesses Friday (KITV, May 21, 2020)

Kauai’s hotels’ “common areas” will be allowed to reopen tomorrow, May 22nd, subject to infection control restrictions.  Kauai’s Emergency Order 10 also churches, public and private pools, outdoor-based tours, salons and barber shops, and one-one-one services including massage and personal training.

How to restart tourism? Lawmakers push the idea of requiring negative COVID-19 tests (Hawaii News  Now, May 21, 2020)

The article speaks of a “broad consensus” that pre-flight testing is the only way to revive Hawaii’s tourism industry while keeping the virus out.   Rep. Gene Ward said

he got word from the White House on Wednesday that the state can require travelers to show a negative coronavirus test before they board a flight to avoid quarantine once here.   State transportation officials have volunteered Honolulu’s airport as one of 12 test sites for the TSA to do temperature checks before flights, possibly saving Hawaii some of the $36M of COVID funds directed to airport thermal cameras.

Maui County sets a date for allowing dining in at restaurants (Hawaii News Now, May 21, 2020)

Maui dine in restaurant service will be allowed on June 5th, drive through religious services and salons will start reopening on Friday and Monday, respectively.

Hawaii unemployment passes 22% in April (Star Advertiser, May 21, 2020)

The state is saying is using a total workforce of 627,450, out of that, 139,900 are unemployed leading to a statewide rate of 22.3% in April.  However, we know around 220,000 people filed for unemployment and there is still a backlog of UI claims so this unemployment rate may be low.

AFL-CIO sues OSHA for coronavirus standard, says ‘Trump administration refuses to act’ (Fox Business, May 18, 2020)

Airline catering company lays off Kauai, Hawaii Island employees due to Covid (Pacific Business News, May 21, 2020)

Flying Food issues WARN lay off notice for workers on outer islands after laying off its 500+ workers on Oahu in April.

Strikes erupt as US essential workers demand protection amid pandemic (The Guardian, May 19, 2020)

Workers have started taking direct action in response to corporate apathy about safety and quality of life.

COVID-19 Strike Wave Interactive Map (Pay Day Report)

This site is gathering data in map form on actions and wildcat strikes that have taken place around the country, so far it has gathered 220 of various sizes and types.  The list is far from exhaustive and fails to capture all the worker strikes and actions that have taken place.

CDC quietly releases detailed guidelines for reopening America (CNBC, May 20, 2020)

Guidelines are quietly released after the Trump administration shelved the long-awaited CDC reopening guidance earlier this month.

 

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Gov. David Ige faces the dilemma of eventually reopening to both tourists and new infections (Star Advertiser, May 19, 2020)

Hawaii’s unique geography allowed for the state to achieve some of the best infection control results. But any reopening of the state could invite COVID infections back into the state. It will be impossible to avoid COVID in near future.

It is a question of what actions the state will take to mitigate the worst impacts. That policy debate is happening now, as Ige approaches June reopening dates.

Rep. McDermott and Rep. Ward are pushing for strong screening during a visitor’s airport processing, with visitors taking tests at their origin point 72 hours prior to arrival in Hawaii. Under their plan, in-airport testing would be possible combined with quarantines for positives or forced immediate expulsion of uncooperative visitors. Critics say testing isn’t 100% foolproof, but catching a significant number is better than no testing at all.

LIVE: City unveils plan to offer over 100,000 coronavirus tests as state reopens (Hawaii News Now, May 19, 2020)

Honolulu is using $4 million in federal funds to provide 50,000 antigen tests and 50,000 antibody tests in partnership with local health centers and the John A. Burns School of Medicine. Wastewater treatment plants will also be testing for infection. The tests will be offered at no or low cost.

Under governor’s plan, much of the ‘kamaaina economy’ will be reopened by early June (Hawaii News Now, May 19, 2020)

Moratorium against eviction for failure to pay rent has been extended through June 30. As reported yesterday, Ige plans to open up “medium risk” businesses like gyms, restaurants, salons, in-room dining, theatres, churches, museums, etc. in the month of June.

What the future of buffet restaurants could look like (KHON, May 19, 2020)

Buffet restaurants will have to take additional infection control measures like sneeze guards, individual tongs, gloves for everyone, etc. Not mentioned in this article is that more workers can be used to do portion-service in a buffet context.

Don’t Let Child Care Become An Afterthought (Civil Beat, May 19, 2020)

Depending on what may happen with economic reopenings, second or third wave lock downs, and school openings/closures, childcare availability will affect working families ability to go back to work and function.

Hawaii Foodbank holding food drive on Wednesday (Star Advertiser, May 19, 2020)

The Hawaii Foodbank is holding another major food distribution at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 20 at Aloha Stadium. It is the sixth of nine “Food for Hawai‘i’s ‘Ohana” events planned in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Participants should enter at Gate 3 on Kahuapaani Street and must arrive in a vehicle, with space clear for the food. TheFoodbank requires a valid government-issued ID and a completed Household Information Form for each household represented (an adult from each household represented must be present; three households maximum per vehicle). The form and other information can be found at http://www.hawaiifoodbank.org/covid-oahu . Those who cannot access or print a form should bring a pen.

These events are in addition to 200 drives that the Foodbank regularly participates in via partner agencies.

Republicans Are Planning to Spend $20 Million So You Won’t Vote (Vice, May 19, 2020)

The Republican Party is building a program to recruit tens of thousands of volunteers in over a dozen states to conduct anti-”voter fraud” efforts, which means monitoring polls and challenging votes and voter registrations, according to the New York Times. The Republican party is spending $20 million on its efforts, which intends to recruit up to 50,000 volunteers in 15 states to “monitor polling places and challenge ballots and voters deemed suspicious,” the Times reports. The money is also intended to fight Democratic-backed lawsuits against alleged voter suppression efforts on the part of Republicans.

The Wisconsin conservative protests to “reopen” the economy had large number of people with assault rifles show up. The issue at hand was about the economy, jobs, health, and a microscopic germ. Bringing guns to that protest at a state capital building was nothing but domestic terrorism (lawmakers had to wear bullet proof vests). It was use of fear and intimidation for political purposes (and maybe appeal to party identity). Any Republican justification for their voter suppression is a lie and nothing more than a cover story to once again use fear and intimidation to suppress people.

COVID Cases Today

World: Cases: 4.9M (+100k).  Deaths: 322k (+4k).
USA: Cases: 1.52M (+20k).  Deaths: 91.8k (+1.5).  Total Tested: 12.2M (+400k).
Hawaii: Cases:  641 (+0).  Deaths: 17 (+0).  Hospitalized: 82 (+0). Recovered: 578 (+3).

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Not Simply a ‘Natural Disaster’ (Part 1 of a 3-part series on the economics of the coronavirus) – Labor Notes. 

How the Coronavirus Crisis Became an Economic Crisis (Part 2 of a 3-part series on the economics of the coronavirus) – Labor Notes. 

The two articles above explain how and why the coronavirus could be worse under our current economic system than it would with alternative systems. Part 3 isn’t out, yet.

Trump Salutes Long Island Protest Where “Hang Fauci” Sign Was Displayed – The Intercept. 

Trump tweeted in support of a protest where there were people openly calling for the murders of Dr. Anthony Fauci and Bill Gates, many of whom were militia members or anti-vaxxers spouting conspiracy theories. Some protestors menaced a reporter who was there covering their story (who himself had actually gotten sick with COVID-19 and recovered).

Federal Government Buys Riot Gear, Increases Security Funding, Citing Coronavirus Pandemic – The Intercept. 

The U.S. government is stocking up on weapons intended solely for use against its own citizens.

Being an “Essential Worker” Won’t Save You From Deportation – In These Times. 

Excerpt: “Although he’s been deemed “essential,” José is not entitled to protective gear, compensation, federal financial aid or safeguards from immigration agents. For several weeks, José actually worked without protective equipment.”

COVID Cases Today

World: Cases: 4.7M (+100k).  Deaths: 315k (+4k).
USA: Cases: 1.48M (+20k).  Deaths: 89.5k (+800).  Total Tested: 11.5M (+500k).
Hawaii: Cases:  640 (+1).  Deaths: 17 (+0).  Hospitalized: 82 (+0). Recovered: 573 (+1).