In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, the New England Patriots decided to send the team's plane to El Salvador with a shipment of 500,000 doses of the Sinovac vaccine against the virus that has brought the world to a standstill.
The news was announced by the presidency of the Central American country, who commanded by President Nayib Bukele, thanked the organization belonging to the NFL for their willingness, all this once this morning landed the jet team six-time SuperBowl champion at the airport Oscar Arnulfo Romero.
This is not the first time the team has been involved in pandemic relief efforts. When the pandemic was at its height in the United States, franchise owner Robert Kraft had 1.2 million KN95 masks brought in from China, which were in short supply in his country.
Increased wildfire danger due to dead grass and hotter, drier conditions in the region has prompted the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection - CAL FIRE - San Mateo and Santa Cruz Unit to suspend all outdoor burning permits within the State Responsibility Area of both counties.
That suspension will take effect May 20, and bans all outdoor burning with some exceptions. In turn, the order is in addition to the restriction of burning in the country that went into effect on May 1, 2021, CAL FIRE said in a statement.
"Last year, California experienced its most destructive fire season in the state's known history. Together, we must continue to adapt and evolve to withstand the intensity of these fires, keeping in mind, the only way to minimize the damage they cause is through education, prevention and mitigation efforts," said Chief Thom Porter, director of CAL FIRE. "We are confident that the public is prepared."
Ian Larkin, CAL FIRE San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit Chief, said, "It is important for the public to be prepared for fires. With the below average precipitation received this year the vegetation is drying out much faster, it will be ready to burn earlier this season. Be prepared, have a plan and practice that plan before a fire occurs.
Since January 1, 2021, CAL FIRE and firefighters across the state have already responded to more than 2,060 wildfires.
While open burning of landscape debris by homeowners is no longer allowed, CAL FIRE is asking residents to take that extra time to make sure they are prepared for wildfires by maintaining a minimum of 100 feet of defensible space around every home and buildings on their property, as well as being prepared to evacuate if the time comes.
California is entering its second consecutive dry year and is bracing for what could be a very dry year.
another devastating wildfire season
It is a fact that wildfires are a natural part of the California landscape, however, the fire season in the state and throughout the West is starting earlier and ending later each year.
Climate change is seen as a key driver of this trend. Warmer spring and summer temperatures, reduced warmer spring and summer temperatures, reduced snowpack and earlier spring snowmelt create longer and more intense dry seasons that increase moisture stress on vegetation and make forests more susceptible to severe wildfires.
Here are some tips to help prepare homes and property in accordance with CAL FIRE:
Clear all dead or dying vegetation 100 feet away from all structures.
Use fire-resistant plants and non-flammable ground cover.
Find alternative ways to dispose of landscape waste, such as chipping it or taking it to a biomass energy or green waste facility.
The department may issue restricted temporary burn permits if there is an essential reason for public health and safety. Agriculture, land management, fire training, and other industrial-type burning may proceed if a CAL FIRE official inspects the burn site and issues a special permit.
The suspension of residential debris burning permits does not apply to campfires within organized encampments or on private property.
Campfires may be allowed if they are maintained in a way that prevents them from spreading into the wild. A campfire permit can be obtained at local fire stations or online at PreventWildfireCA.org.
For additional information on creating defensible space, home hardening, evacuation planning, and wildfire preparedness, as well as wildfire prevention tips, residents can visit the website at www.ReadyForWildfire.org.
The Bay Area Association of Health Officials expressed full support for the California Department of Public Health's strategy to continue the current "face mask" guidance until June 15, when the state will align with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) updated guidance.
CDC's updated guidance on masks is based on evidence showing that vaccines are extremely effective in protecting vaccinated people from infection, serious illness, and death, as well as preventing them from transmitting COVID-19 to others.
In a statement, San Mateo County said that increased vaccination in the 12 health jurisdictions belonging to the Partnership helps mitigate the spread of new variants that are more likely to infect those who are not vaccinated.
In that regard, she said these actions help protect people who cannot yet be vaccinated, such as children under 12, as well as people who may not fully benefit from the vaccine, such as people with weakened immune systems.
With nearly half of California's population over the age of 16 fully vaccinated and nearly 65 percent having received at least one dose of vaccine, great progress has been made statewide in vaccinating eligible residents against COVID-19.
However, a large number of residents are still partially or completely unvaccinated, and even more are not eligible to be vaccinated.
The county said June will be critical to ensure that more residents can access vaccines and that businesses and other entities can prepare for the implementation of the CDC's updated masking guide.
Because COVID-19 continues to circulate in the country and abroad, the best way for residents to protect themselves is to get vaccinated.
"Because the vaccine supply had previously been so low, many people did not have the opportunity to get vaccinated," said Curtis Chan, MD, deputy county health officer for San Mateo County.
"There is now enough vaccine for everyone - at county-sponsored clinics, health care providers, national chain pharmacies and other community organizations. Let's help more people and communities get vaccinated before June 15," she said.
San Mateo County reminded everyone that COVID-19 vaccines are safe, free, effective and available to everyone 12 years of age and older.
The local health jurisdictions that joined the declaration were Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Sonoma and the City of Berkeley counties.
California has already experienced a significant increase in the number of wildfires and acres burned compared to this time last year.
The number of forest fires recorded from January 1 to May 18, 2021, total 2,436, while in the same period, but in 2020 were 1,154, which meant an increase of 1,282 incidents -111.09 percent.
In addition, the number of acres devastated has increased disproportionately, as 14,717 acres have been devastated so far this year, compared to 2,617 acres in 2020, an increase of 462.36 percent.
With this increase in fire activity, it is now more critical than ever for all Californians to be prepared for wildfires, said the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire).
California's geography, weather patterns, and the number of Wildland Urban Interface communities make it a state particularly threatened by devastating wildfires.
As catastrophic wildfires continue to increase each year in California, you need to plan, prepare and stay on top of them.
Be prepared: create and maintain a defensible space and protect your home from flying embers.
Prepare your family and household in advance of the possibility of having to evacuate. Make sure you have a plan for what to take and where to go; evacuation plans will be different this year due to COVID-19.
Ask friends or family outside your area if you could stay with them, should the need arise.
If you need to evacuate and plan to stay with friends or family, ask first if they have symptoms of COVID-19 or if there are people in your household at higher risk of severe illness. If so, make other arrangements. Check with hotels, motels and campgrounds to see if they are open.
Also prepare by learning about your community's response plan for each disaster and determine if these plans have been adapted due to COVID-19.
When a wildfire occurs, go early for your safety. Take the necessary evacuation steps to give your family and home the best chance of surviving a wildfire, says CalFire.
Since the program began two months ago, less than 1 percent of San Mateo County's available funding from a state emergency rental assistance program has been delivered.
Of the $47 million available in rental support funds, $19.9 million has been requested and only $314,000 has been distributed according to an update from County Administrator Mike Callagy in mid-May.
The county also expects another $26.7 million for rental support through the American Recovery Plan Act of 2021, the economic stimulus plan passed by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden in March.
Callagy encouraged tenants and landlords to apply.
"This is a tremendous opportunity for them to get out of that overwhelming rental debt that they haven't been able to pay to keep their housing," Callagy said.
In January, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 91, which extended eviction protections through June 30 and established a rental assistance program for tenants and landlords.
Under SB 91, participating homeowners can receive rental assistance to cover 80 percent of unpaid rent from April 2020 through March 2021, once they forgive the remaining 20 percent.
If landlords do not participate, tenants can also apply for assistance to cover at least 25 percent of the rent debt during the same period, the amount that must be paid by June 30 to avoid eviction under state law.
Callagy said the fund may be underutilized because people may not be aware of the program or landlords may not want to forgive 20 percent of their rent, opting to wait for full payment in the future.
"That may be changing. We're anxiously awaiting word from the governor's office to see if that does in fact change to make it more attractive to homeowners," Callagy said. "To me it's a no-brainer."
Barriers to obtaining support
But the application process has not been as accessible and quick as advocates had hoped.
Emily Hislop, special programs manager for Project Sentinel, one of the partner organizations that helps people apply for rental support, said implementation of the program has been clumsy.
"That has nothing to do with the county. It has to do with the state trying to put a system in place very quickly," Hislop said.
The rental assistance program is run by the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, a national nonprofit organization that the state enlisted to administer the program.
And while San Mateo County has distributed its own COVID-19 rental support and financial assistance in the past, the magnitude of this program led county officials to opt to have the state administer it, as other counties have done. The county remains responsible for conducting outreach and helping people apply for the money.
At several of the nonprofits and organizations that assist with outreach and applications, staff said applicants face language and technology barriers.
Some parts of the application are multilingual, while others are in English only. Some people need help setting up an email address to submit an application or are intimidated by the amount of paperwork required.
"At the end of the day, even if you're tech-savvy or speak English, the process is complicated," said Miriam Yupanqui, executive director of Nuestra Casa, a nonprofit based in East Palo Alto. "Our staff members can take three to four hours to help one family at a time."
Fear of evictions persists
Despite the millions in funding, advocates and tenants are worried about what might happen when the state's moratorium on evictions expires at the end of June.
"Many of them - tenants - are very worried about being evicted and at the end of the day it's about knowledge and information. Many of them don't know that there is legislation in place to protect them from evictions," Yupanqui said. "We're working on a very tight deadline and I'm concerned that we won't be able to help our families in need by June 30."
If tenants can't pay at least 25 percent of the rent due by June 30, eviction could be a possibility. According to the Bay Area Equity Atlas, a regional data center, 14 percent of California tenants were behind on rent at the beginning of the year.
And for those who successfully apply for rental support, it can take several weeks for approvals to come through.
Even if the rental moratorium is extended, the struggle will be far from over for those who have borne the brunt of the pandemic's impact.
Organizers from Faith in Action Bay Area, a network of faith-based organizations that support vulnerable communities, have been on the ground since last year educating tenants about their rights and connecting them to resources.
Adriana Guzman, a lead community organizer with Faith in Action Bay Area, said that despite the state's plan to reopen in June, things won't get back to normal for low-income tenants who have struggled to make ends meet during the pandemic. Many are still having trouble finding work, are working reduced hours or are asking family members for help paying rent.
"They - the tenants - can't handle it anymore. They need to pay the rent, but they also need to pay back the money to their family or friends," Guzman said.
Faith in Action advocates have been pushing local leaders to extend the eviction moratorium and protect tenants. Dozens of advocates and tenants from their organization spoke at a May 4 county Board of Supervisors meeting to urge county leaders to create local protections in case the state does not extend the moratorium.
"People can't wait until the last minute for the state to act," Guzman said. "We really need to see an extension because until people get back to full employment, they won't be able to sustain the payments."
On the San Francisco Peninsula, hiking is becoming more and more common. Aerobic sports are commonly recommended by health experts as the most complete upper and lower body exercises, preventing some cardiovascular diseases.
Hiking - defined as walking along a set route, usually in green or rural spaces and trails - helps reduce tension and stress, reduces the risk of diabetes, lowers cholesterol levels, increases bone density, and strengthens the heart and lungs.
The capacity and development in natural areas of hiking helps to reduce the chances of falling into episodes of depression, in addition to toning the lower body and burn up to 400 calories on average per hour of hiking.
The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space organization aims to preserve a regional ecosystem of more than 60,000 acres, in addition to managing 26 open space preserves.
The struggle to keep these areas alive dates back to 1960, when environmental protectors detected the economic and commercial growth of the Bay Area, so, northwest of Santa Clara, an organization was created that gradually gained land to safeguard it from being absorbed by corporations or allowing it to exceed the growth of the cities.
Nowadays, these reserves are ideal for hiking; the organization even offers guided tours, so you can start an educational hike, where they explain the history of the place, the natural beauty of the area and even the importance of understanding the earthquakes under this area of the peninsula.
Hiking trails range from Mount Bello Open Space, Stevens Creek to the San Andreas Fault switchbacks. Educational trails also take place at Alpine Pond or Skyline Ridge where, in addition, Native American history is told through audio, narrated by Air Force veterans, an app available for Apple and Android devices.
A perfect place for hiking in San Mateo County is Edgewood Park and Nature Preserve. The park's 467 acres of woodlands and meadows provide wonderful opportunities for long hikes while enjoying incredible scenery.
Wetland, grassland, oak woodland, and chaparral plant communities provide varied habitats for the living creatures found in the park.
Visitors can often encounter deer, coyotes, bobcats, lynx, raccoons and other small animals. The cool, wooded ravines on the eastern slope of the park are rich with ferns and mosses and a thick layer of woody and herbaceous plants.
The central part of the park is dominated by a prominent 800-foot-high ridge that offers exceptional views of Skyline Ridge, Huddart Park, the San Andreas Gulf area, Crystal Springs Lakes, and San Francisco Bay. This ridge generally supports Chaparral on its warm western slope and Oak Woodland on its cooler, less exposed eastern slopes.
Notably, the grasslands and warm summer climate make Edgewood home to several species of snakes and reptiles, including rattlesnakes.
Skunks, yellow jacket wasps and bees are also found there, so the reserve calls to respect the presence of these species and avoid contact with them.
If you're a plant lover, it's also a great place to learn about new species. Ten types of rare or endangered plants have been identified, including the San Mateo Thornmint, which graced the hills of the San Francisco Bay Area before urban development destroyed most of its habitat.
The place is full of majestic trees and colorful plants, and the California Native Plant Society's Flora of Edgewood Park lists the remarkable diversity of plant species found there.
Those with a penchant for entomology won't be disappointed by the area either, as the bay checkerspot butterfly, once an inhabitant of the entire Bay Area and now listed as an endangered species, is found only in this park, in Kirby Canyon in southern Santa Clara County, Coyote Ridge in San Jose and San Bruno Mountain State and County Park in northern San Mateo County.
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) expects to see continued passenger growth during the upcoming summer travel season after it was ranked as one of the air terminals hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, the airport has already set a high point for pandemic-era travel, with more than 30,000 passengers processed through SFO's security checkpoints on May 14, 2021.
During the summer travel season, SFO expects to serve 35,000 passengers per day at security checkpoints and more than 38,000 daily during peak periods, San Francisco International Airport said in a statement.
While those levels are more than 50 percent below what the airport was accustomed to before the pandemic, SFO is experiencing the longest sustained period of passenger growth.
"We are excited to welcome more passengers to SFO for the summer travel season," said Airport Director Ivar C. Satero. "With new facilities, amenities and testing clinics, we are offering an airport experience that is safe, healthy and enjoyable."
It should be noted that the SFO still requires all users to wear face masks for air travel.
In that regard, he noted that a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) mandate remains in effect that requires all air, rail and bus travelers over the age of 2 to wear a mask at all times.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) also requires all travelers to wear face masks on airplanes and in airports.
There are currently three on-site COVID-19 testing services available to travelers
- Dignity Health-GoHealth Urgent Care, located on the departure level of the International Terminal.
- XpressCheck, located on the arrivals level of Terminal 3.
- Worksite Labs, a vehicle test site located next to the long-term parking lot
On the other hand, the SFO detailed that the next phase of Harvey Milk Terminal 1 will open next May 25.
The new Terminal 1 "Harvey Milk" section includes seven new departure gates, a new post-security connector to the International Terminal, a new museum gallery and a new exhibit content display honoring the life and legacy of activist and politician Harvey Milk.
In turn, the outdoor observation deck "SkyTerrace" will reopen for Memorial Day weekend for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
SkyTerrace will be open to the general public from Friday, May 28 to Monday, May 31, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. No ticket or boarding pass is required to access the area, but visitors will be subject to a security check upon entering the space.
Visitors may bring food and beverages into the area, but smoking is not permitted at any time.
A California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer in Redwood City provided a satisfying answer Sunday to other drivers who witnessed two speeding cars on the San Mateo Bridge and may have wondered some version of, "Where's a cop when you need one?"
CHP Officer Maldonado was driving westbound on the bridge when he saw two cars, a Chevrolet Camaro and a BMW 3 Series, racing each other at speeds up to 105 mph -169 km/h-.
Both vehicles were using all lanes, making several lane changes, cutting off vehicles and nearly causing several crashes, according to a Facebook post from the CHP Redwood City office.
Officer Maldonado stopped both vehicles at the end of the bridge and was soon joined by other CHP officers.
Each of the drivers was a male in his 20s, one from San Jose and the other from Morgan Hill, and each had a female passenger of approximately the same age. One of the drivers was unlicensed.
Officers impounded both vehicles for 30 days and cited both drivers. The four occupants of the two cars were given a much slower ride off the road by the officers.
His name was Alireza Fazeli Monfared and he was only 20 years old. He was homosexual and due to the difficulties he faced because of his sexual orientation, he was about to flee his native Iran to Turkey, but he could not do it. On May 4, family members beheaded him after accusing him of dishonoring his family.
Today, May 17, is the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. A day to recognize that while the rights of LGBTTTIQ+ people have advanced significantly in recent decades, progress has been slow and uneven in various parts of the world.
According to a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) report issued Nov. 17, 2020, of all hate crimes in the U.S., those based on sexual orientation account for 16.7 percent, the third largest category after race and religion.
The report also shows an increase in hate crimes based on gender identity, they went from 2.2 percent in 2018 to 2.7 percent in 2019.
According to Human Rights Watch, because hate crimes are not required to be reported to the FBI, these alarming statistics probably represent only a fraction of such violence.
The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia was created in 2004 to draw attention to the violence and discrimination suffered by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and all those with diverse sexual orientations, gender and sex identities or expressions.
The date May 17 was chosen specifically to commemorate the World Health Organization's decision in 1990 to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder.
The Day represents an important annual global milestone to draw the attention of decision-makers, the media, the public, corporations, opinion leaders, local authorities, among others, to the alarming situation faced by people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sexual characteristics.
The day is now celebrated in more than 130 countries, including 37 where same-sex acts are illegal.
Many different entities participate in the global mobilization around May 17 and as a consequence it receives many different denominations. Some organizations add Lesbophobia or Intersexphobia as distinct focuses. Acronyms also vary, from the initial IDAHO to IDAHOTB or IDAHOBIT.
In California, according to the Williams Institute at UCLA, the total LGBTQ+ population over the age of 13 is 1,859,000, the percentage of the state's LGBTQ+ workforce is 6.0 percent, the total number of LGBTTTIQ+ workers is 1,194,000, and the percentage of LGBTTTIQ+ adults - age 25 and older - raising children is 24 percent.
California is one of the states that provides full protection to the LGBTTTIQ+ community; that is, discrimination against this community is prohibited in private employment, housing and public establishments. Also, conversion therapies are prohibited in their entirety.
Thirty-one years after the World Health Organization declassified "homosexuality" as a mental disorder, U.S. President Joseph Biden noted that LGBTTTIQ+ Americans still lack basic protections in 25 U.S. states and continue to face discrimination in housing, education and public services.
In that sense, during a statement issued today, May 17, by the White House, as part of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, the U.S. president said that his administration will always support the LGBTTTIQ+ community, so it will continue to implement executive orders to promote equality and equity.
He said he will continue to urge Congress to pass the Equality Act, which would uphold fundamental civil rights protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity for all Americans.
Biden said discriminatory policies targeting LGBTTTIQ+ Americans have been reversed, and historic appointments of LGBTTTIQ+ Americans to the highest levels of government have been made.
She noted that an epidemic of violence still continues against the community, with a particular impact on the transgender community, specifically transgender women and girls of color.
He said courageous activists in the U.S. and around the world have stood up for progress and won.
However, he pointed out that despite this progress, both COVID-19 and growing authoritarianism around the world continue to widen economic, social and security gaps for LGBTTTIQ+ people, as some 70 countries still criminalize same-sex relationships.
In this regard, he stressed that in the American union, marriage equality and greater protection against hate crimes are the law of the land, while abroad, governments, civil society and international organizations such as the United Nations finally recognize that LGBTTTIQ+ people deserve the utmost dignity and equality.
"All people are entitled to dignity and equality, no matter who they are, who they love, or how they identify, and we will continue to engage with allies and partners to advance the human rights of LGBTTTIQ+ people here at home and in every corner of the world," Biden said.
