We are 45 days into California’s “Shelter At Home” order, which has now been extended another 4 weeks to May 31st while the country faces an important fork in the road on how best to proceed.
States that are choosing the direction to begin opening their economies are typically being vilified by the media, and peer leaders who believe it’s best to continue maintaining social distancing guidelines.
Meanwhile states like New York and their Governor Cuomo are very publicly sharing data that points to dramatically reduced new case instances, hospitalizations, intubations, and deaths, yet remain adamant to take the other road and remain shut down.
New York has now avoided more than 100,000 of initially projected hospitalizations, and has achieved 21 days of declines in new COVID hospitalizations…a 50% greater trend than the 2 week gating threshold … yet they aren’t opening non-essential work areas for a couple more weeks.
Each year 30,000 to 60,000 Americans die from influenza despite a 100% available vaccine, but we somehow manage to keep our economy operating. I’m not trying to be insensitive to those who have lost their lives, but I am contrasting those facts, our state and national policies and our personal behavior … with our current near nationwide lockdown in the face of 65,000 COVID19 deaths while waiting for a vaccine…which may or may not be utilized when it becomes available.
Personally, the Pandemic has cost me more than $6000 in the last 9 weeks, $675 per week. I’ve received the equivalent of 2 weeks of relief via the government’s $1200 stimulus payment, but that still leaves me short another $4800 which is creating hardship – like it is for most Americans.
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance is a Mirage in the Desert of Hardship
Try contacting California’s Employment Development Department (EDD) who administers unemployment (UI) and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) to get help.
It’s a joke.
They are TOTALLY unavailable, making the promise of economic water for those dying of thirst and struggling to pay for their basic needs … a blurring allusion of “CARE”, quite literally.
It’s shameful that millions of citizens who desperately need to document their eligibility, in order to secure the legislated financial assistance that would help them survive, can’t get a soul to answer the phone at EDD – apparently because they lack HIRED STAFF.
I’ve phoned more than 20 times a day between 8am and 8pm … and the EDD further wastes your time by making you listen hopefully to a minutes long recording, before adding “THIS CALL WILL NOW DISCONNECT”. You couldn’t be more brutal if you tried.
The EDD web site is also full of broken promises:
I believe the government’s efforts to offer financial assistance is sincere, it’s just being horribly executed at the state level. Why would anyone suspect that California would have the will or ability to respond to this CRISIS when they can’t even keep their roads maintained or their poorest citizens housed and fed? California’s state and local governments are not up to the task and lack empathetic leadership – who obviously don’t even get out among the communities they lead, or their eyes and hearts would most definitely guide them differently.
Here’s an idea, Governor Newsom – in your next staff meeting, say “Lets pretend we are a ride-share driver who has spent the last 9 weeks transporting those with essential travel needs, all the while exposing themselves to contracting COVID19, while losing 50% of their usual income … and see what it’s like to seek our help and apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance through our EDD.” Then dial 833-978-2511 like you need apply. It will take a while, you’ll want to be prepared to order out for the staff, for a meal or two, or for the week.
#FIXEDD #COVID19 #DOWHATYOUSAY
Ride confidently.
Driving the Daisy's 