Economic Studies & COVID-19
Last week 5.2 million workers filed for unemployment in a single week (CNN), bringing the total number of filings near 22 million in the past four weeks. This was more than five times worse than the worst 4-week stretch of the Great Recession.
Interim COVID-19 Stimulus This Week, Larger Bill Possible Later
Right now, Members of Congress and the Trump Administration continue to negotiate a $450 billion “interim” COVID-19 bill that could be passed this week. The new bill could provide an additional funds for the Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses and nonprofits (the program ran out of funds last Thursday). House and Senate Democrats are pushing to direct some of the funds to minority-owned and rural businesses, and to add more for hospitals and enhanced COVID-19 testing capacity. The interim bill is smaller than the $2 trillion CARES Act signed in late March. For more, see the New York Times, CNN & Politico.
Deepwater Horizon: BP’s SECOND Blowout–The Secret History
Greg Palast reporting for Channel 4 (UK)
Ten years ago, April 20, 11 men on the Deepwater Horizon were incinerated when the BP/Transocean oil rig blew out and exploded.
New App Designed to Help Keep Employees Safe When They Return to Work Is Seeking Beta Testers.
With pressure building to reopen the country, employers want to protect their workers from the coronavirus, alleviate return-to-work anxiety, and mitigate the risk of legal liability. Howard Tiersky
There's a nationwide outcry to reopen the country and put people back to work. And yet, even as owners and employees alike long for life to get back to some semblance of normal, there's plenty of anxiety to go around. No employee wants to get sick. Certainly, no company owner wants to put their people at risk—nor do they want to be held liable if an employee does get sick.
The Hidden Pre-Existing Condition
With over 750,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States, state and local officials are beginning to acknowledge who is most impacted by the virus. For those of us who work to promote affordable housing and energy efficiency, it came as no surprise to learn that African-Americans are the hardest hit in this pandemic.
AAMBC Literary Awards premieres April 22 digitally on YouTube Live hosted by Tamika Newhouse and Chanel Hudson
On April 22, 2020, Founder and Creator of the AAMBC Literary Awards, Tamika Newhouse will host the annual celebration digitally alongside Chanel Hudson, a prominent media personality. The virtual event is slated to take place on April 22, 2020, at 7 pm and will stream from the AAMBC Awards “YouTube” channel. Since it’s inception in 2009, the AAMBC Awards is one of the few award shows that celebrates and honors African American literary writers, screenwriters and those in the publishing industry.
Communities Foundation of Texas receives $1 Million donation from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas to aid COVID-19 Relief Efforts across Texas
Funding will help pay for personal protective equipment and childcare costs for first responders and assist with services for senior adults
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and in support of Texas community foundations and nonprofits, Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT) today announced a $1 million donation from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) to help with COVID-19 relief efforts through their newly created Collaborative Grant Fund.
Congressman Al Green Introduced H.R. 6475 and H.R. 6476 to Speed the Delivery of Relief Funds to Small Businesses Impacted by Coronavirus
On Friday, April 10, 2020, Congressman Al Green introduced two bills – H.R. 6475 and H.R. 6476 – to help speed the delivery of emergency funds to small businesses, their employees, and the self-employed. He released the following statement:
METRO Bus Operator, METROLift Contract Driver Test Positive for COVID-19
METRO has received confirmation a bus operator and a Yellow Cab contractor who drove for METROLift have tested positive for COVID-19. This brings the total number of cases to 11 METRO employees and two contractors. The Authority continues to track positive test results among its workforce of more than 4200. We are also conducting temperature checks of all employees before they begin their workday.
Congressman Al Green and Fort Bend County’s Ninth Congressional District Elected Officials Hosted PPE Donation Drive
On Thursday, April 16, 2020, Congressman Al Green, Fort Bend County Judge KP George, Missouri City Mayor Yolanda Ford, and Stafford Mayor Leonard Scarcella hosted a personal protective equipment (PPE) donation drive. They released the following statement:
MCTX Call to Action: Residents Encouraged to Serve On Boards, Committees and Commissions; Apply Online @ www.missouricitytx.gov
City Council and staff value input and feedback from citizens and are seeking applicants for all boards, committees and commissions. When serving, residents will have a unique opportunity to participate in the governing process and to provide ideas and suggestions on public policy.
2nd grade students at KIPP Sharp write thank you letters to health care workers
Second graders at KIPP SHARP wanted to spread some joy and positivity to our heath care workers. They wrote letters of appreciation to the hardworking doctors and nurses at LBJ Hospital. See pictures of the doctors and nurses with the students letters below.
COVID-19 and Community Updates
The City of Houston made another huge stride this week and doubled our daily testing capacity from 1,000 to 2,000 individuals. This means that now the City is testing anyone who wishes to be tested. You or your family member can call 832-393-4220 where you will be provided a unique identification code and directions on where to go.
Beyond Walls Gospel Radio (BWGR) Station Launches New Interactive Website for Listeners to Connect with Christian Music and Sermons During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Offers a Platform for Pastors and Artists to Gain Worldwide Exposure
In this scary and uncertain time, people are trapped at home practicing social distancing due to the new COVID-19 aka coronavirus pandemic. In most parts of the world, citizens are not able to attend their church services in a physical building. Not being able to worship, connect and interact with other church members can cause anxiety, depression and loneliness.
Houston Sailor participates in cleaning stations aboard U.S. Navy warship
Information Systems Technician 3rd Class Ricardo Trevino, from Houston, scrubs a door handle with HTH (bleach) aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8). Makin Island personnel conduct a deep cleaning of the ship with HTH multiple times a day as part of coronavirus mitigation measures to ensure the health of the crew. (US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ethan Jaymes Morrow)
Social Distancing Shouldn’t Lead to Social Isolation
Even in the best of times, social isolation is a significant problem. In Texas, more than 1.5 million people over the age of 50 live alone and are at higher risk of social isolation, which is now magnified by the “social distancing” requirements across the country.
Harris, Booker, Colleagues Demand DOJ Provide Training to Combat Racial Profiling During COVID-19 Pandemic
U.S. Senators Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) and Cory A. Booker (D-NJ) on Friday led a letter to Attorney General William Barr and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray demanding racial profiling training for all law enforcement during the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter comes after reports of African American men being targeted by law enforcement based on the CDC’s guidance to wear face coverings.
The National Basketball Wives Association & Morgan Stanley Team Up To Donate 15,000 Books To Underserved Students With Virtual Party With A Purpose
The National Basketball Wives Association (NBWA) and Morgan Stanley have partnered together to donate more than 15,000 books to 5,000 students in under-resourced areas that have been impacted by current shelter in place orders. NBWA organized the "Spread Love Fest," a virtual 'party with a purpose' that tapped hip-hop artist, entrepreneur and philanthropist, MC LYTE, to host and DJ the experience on Instagram Live, Friday, April 17th from 8-10 p.m. ET. The initiative is tied to the NBWA's "Books & Ball" program which works with the nonprofit First Book to close the gap on educational inequities.
Court Orders Release of Individual From Immigration Detention Due to COVID-19 Concerns
A United States District Court today granted the ACLU of Texas’ request to release a person who is highly vulnerable to serious illness and death from novel coronavirus, held at the Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe, Texas.
Reynolds Statement on Re-opening Texas
"I find it premature and irresponsible of Governor Abbott to even consider re-opening our state up at this time in this unprecedented public health crisis. The medical community is reporting that Texas is still 2 to 4 weeks away from peaking in COVID-19 cases, and we are currently rapidly rising daily in new cases and deaths. In order for it to be safe for Texans to go back to work, several items need to happen:
