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Demand in San Francisco for cancellation of rents and mortgages

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2021.02.06

Demand in San Francisco for cancellation of rents and mortgages

Pamela Cruz. Manuel Ortiz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P].

San Francisco, California. With 30 vehicles, the Bay Area participated in a large demonstration across the country from January 30 to February 1, where, through protests and banners, they demanded that the government cancel rents and mortgages, stop evictions, and thus prevent more people from finding themselves on the streets.

Thus, 24 cars and six bicycles took to the streets of Oakland and San Francisco demanding in Spanish and English the cancellation of rents and mortgages, an end to evictions, foreclosures, and that homeless people be placed in vacant housing.

San Francisco residents actively participated with a caravan that began in the Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood, wound through the Mission and culminated near the home of Mayor London Breed who, just on January 25, announced that the city received $26 million from the federal government to provide rental assistance to people financially affected by COVID-19.

In the case of Oakland, participants began their march at the San Leandro BART station and headed to the Alameda County Courthouse where they began a rally.

For many of the plaintiffs, the fact that there is a large amount of empty housing and thousands of people on the streets is simply not fair, as they consider that they are profiting from a human right, to have a roof over their heads. A home.

"Housing in this country, and especially in this state [California], is considered a luxury, it's something that is sold for profit, but it's not considered a human need when it is," said San Francisco elementary school teacher Nathalie Hrizi who, witnessing the enormous housing problem facing her students, became an activist. "In San Francisco County there are 34,000 uninhabited homes, when there are 8,000 homeless people, and we know this number will increase. Housing should be a right, and currently it's not.

Hrizi, who has been a teacher for the past 14 years, said children are suffering greatly in this pandemic. "We are teaching children who can barely get access to a computer and are living with a lot of stress because of housing issues. We have families who have been evicted, even though we have sent letters to prevent it."

In San Diego, there were also protests. After a press conference, about 40 cars surrounded working-class neighborhoods, protests that were joined by a group of people from the city of San Diego. Anak Bayan SD and Cancel the Rent Coalition, of San Diego.

The city of San Diego has very few tenant protections and the caravan's call for rent cancellation was enthusiastically supported by pedestrians, drivers and workers throughout.

These protests were part of protests in 30 cities across the country, from Tampa Bay, Florida, to Portland, Oregon, from Los Angeles to Boston, people organized to stop and get help in the face of the dire economic situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The extensions to the eviction moratoriums have only stopped millions of evictions, but what happens next? How will the months of rent owed be paid? The situation has reached a limit and an eviction crisis is looming where oppressed and vulnerable communities will be the hardest hit.

For their part, homeowners have initiated eviction lawsuits for hundreds of families, regardless of whether there is an extension in the moratoriums, detailed hundreds of citizens who showed their concern in all the caravans and marches.

The situation is not limited to certain cities in some states, but encompasses and affects localities all over the country, where, soon, the situation will be unsustainable.

Protests that pointed to the need for workers to fight for their rights were coordinated by Cancel the Rents and the Party for Socialism and Liberation.

COVID-19: Stanford Health Care to Get FEMA Support to Deliver Vaccines

Peninsula 360 Press

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2021.02.06

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COVID-19: Stanford Health Care to Get FEMA Support to Deliver Vaccines

Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P].

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will provide $16.8 million to Stanford Health Care to create a synergy to help distribute and administer COVID-19 vaccines at six different sites throughout the Bay Area.

The contribution will cover expenses for the purchase of personal protective equipment, facility costs and other supplies needed to store, handle, transport and administer the immunization doses.

According to a statement from FEMA, the expenses could be extended and will be covered, once Stanford provides the necessary documentation.

"FEMA continues to work with our partners, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other federal agencies, state, tribal and territorial authorities, private sector partners and others to help increase and expedite vaccines in the United States," the agency said.

For its part, Stanford Health Care said it has not yet received grant funds from FEMA, but said that once the funds arrive, it may even be able to open an additional site for the implementation of the vaccine.

"This grant will support our efforts to maintain seven vaccination sites in three counties in which we operate to increase access to vaccines for as many people as quickly as possible in our effort to help end the pandemic. Stanford Health Care does not purchase doses. The state is in charge of vaccine allocation," she said.

Domestic Violence During Pregnancy Increases Risk of Poor Health in Children

Community

Peninsula 360 Press

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2021.02.06

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Domestic Violence During Pregnancy Increases Risk of Poor Health in Children

Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P].

Domestic violence. Babies born to women who experienced an assault in their homes during pregnancy are more likely to be premature and have very low birth weights, which could lead to serious impacts on their health and economic well-being, according to health policy research from Stanford University.

Examining the effects of prenatal exposure to violent crime on infant health, health economist Maya Rossin-Slater and colleagues found that aggression in utero significantly increases the incidence of adverse birth outcomes.

During their study, the researchers found that aggression during pregnancy leads to increases in rates of very low birth weight -- less than 1.5 kilograms -- and low Apgar scores -- a test to evaluate newborns shortly after birth that assesses the baby's heart rate, muscle tone and other signs to determine if he or she needs additional or emergency medical help.

"Our results imply that interventions that reduce violence against pregnant women can have significant consequences not only for them and their partners, but also for the next generation and society as a whole," Rossin-Slater said.

It should be noted that the research was conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic affected virtually every American household in many ways, including through an increase in domestic abuse.

Rossin-Slater noted that several studies have identified an association between stay-at-home orders and an increase in 911 calls for domestic violence, as well as incidents where police have had to be called to the scene. "And there are likely many more cases that are not captured in the data."

"Low-income pregnant women are more likely to be victims of domestic violence than their more advantaged counterparts, and COVID-19 likely amplifies this disparity through shelter-in-place orders," Rossin-Slater noted.

She added that the children of women who suffer this violence are also at a disadvantage, as it can affect them throughout their lives and even in the lives of their own descendants.

The researchers estimated that the annual societal cost of violence during pregnancy in the United States ranges from $3.8 billion to $8.8 billion.

Such costs are the result of higher rates of adverse birth outcomes, which in turn lead to higher infant mortality rates, high medical costs at birth and immediately thereafter, as well as large expenditures associated with childhood and adult disability, decreased adult incomes, and reductions in life expectancy.

"Measuring the social cost of crime, and especially violent crime, is crucial to policy debates about the justice system and programs that impact criminal behavior more broadly," the study's authors concluded.

Redwood City Residents Will Be Key to Possible Sex Offender's Arrival in Neighborhood

Community

Pamela Cruz

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2021.02.05

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Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P].

The input of San Mateo County citizens will be crucial in the Santa Cruz County Superior Court's decision on an order to allow 69-year-old Michael Thomas Cheek, who was convicted as a violent sexual predator by a jury in 2009, to reside in Redwood City as part of his re-entry into society.

"Residents have a choice as to whether they want this person to come forward. We are passing information about this on social media from the county sheriff's office and the Redwood City Police Department because we want to let the community know that they have the right to have a say in this order and the return of this sex offender to the community," said Salvador Zuno of the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office.

In an interview with Peninsula 360 Press, he noted that both the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office and Redwood City Police agree that this "sexually violent predator" should not take up residence in the community they protect.

"We do not agree with this order because, for us, the safety and well-being of our community is the most important thing," he said.

For Redwood City and county residents to provide input on the attempted order, they can send an email to SVP_publiccomments@smcgov.org or call (650) 304 22 04, where they will be heard and listened to.

He also called on anyone concerned about Mr. Cheek's possible arrival in the community to appear on March 1 at 9:00 a.m. in Courtroom 66 of the Santa Cruz Superior Court, 701 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz, where the hearing will be held.

In 1980, Michael Thomas Cheek was convicted in Santa Cruz County, California, of kidnapping, raping and oral copulation of a 21-year-old woman, for which he was sentenced to 20 years in state prison.

In 1981, he was also convicted in Lake County for the forcible rape of a 15-year-old boy with the use of a firearm.

By August 13, 1997 he was committed to the Department of State Hospitals in Coalinga, CA. And in 2009, a jury found Cheek to be a sexually violent predator under the Welfare and Institutions Code.

Whereas, Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Stephen Siegel ordered Cheek's conditional release on Oct. 7, 2019, to begin treatment and outpatient supervision as part of the final phase of the relapse prevention program administered by the Department of State Hospitals in Coalinga.

Moscone Center Opens Friday as a Mass Vaccination Center

Peninsula 360 Press

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2021.02.05

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Moscone Center Opens Friday as a Mass Vaccination Center

Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P].

Starting Friday, the Moscone Center in San Francisco will open its doors as a mass vaccination center, where the goal will be to administer 7,000 to 10,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine daily, provided the state is able to send the necessary supplies.

It should be noted that an appointment is required for the vaccine, and at this time it is only available to people 65 and older, as well as health care workers and those who work in nursing homes.

While a limited supply of vaccine is planned to begin this Friday, it is expected to increase as the state sends more supplies to the city.

The opening of the mass vaccination center is a partnership between the City of San Francisco and Kaiser Permanente Medical Center.

According to the latest report from the city and county of San Francisco, as of Feb. 3, at least 75,275 residents had received one dose of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, while 20,475 people have already received the required two doses of the immunization.

Meanwhile, according to providers, as of yesterday, February 4, they reported having administered a total of 3 million 984,752 doses of vaccines throughout the state.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that, as of last night, 6 million 438,225 doses have been delivered to entities within the state of California.

San Mateo County aims for carbon neutrality by 2035

Peninsula 360 Press

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2021.02.04

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Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P]

Climate Change is also taking its toll on the United States.
Northern California fires are getting more intense every year for this reason, according to researchers like Daniel Swain of the University of California, Los Angeles.
In the picture, a vineyard area in Healdsburg, Sonoma. Photo: Manuel Ortiz Escámez

The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors adopted the Government Operations Climate Action Plan (GOCAP), a comprehensive strategy that will seek to address the climate crisis and enable significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions with the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2035.

Officials said the action places San Mateo County as a regional climate leader with a strong plan for government operations among Bay Area counties.

"San Mateo County is taking bold steps to reach carbon neutrality by 2035, 10 years ahead of the deadline set by the state."
Dave Pine, Supervisor.

The official stressed that the commitment to the ambitious target is also a call to action for cities and public agencies, businesses and local organizations to make a rapid transition to a low-carbon future and a green economy.

And, people in San Mateo County are already experiencing the impacts of climate change, including rising temperatures, wildfires, dangerous air quality, extreme storms, sea level rise and coastal erosion.

These impacts have most affected children, seniors, people with medical conditions, communities of color, and residents with unstable economic or housing situations.

Given that, "it is important to protect county residents, especially those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change," said County Board of Supervisors Chairman David Canepa.

Thus, the GOCAP outlines a path for the county to reduce emissions from government operations by 80 percent by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality entirely by 2035.

The primary sources of greenhouse gas emissions generated by government operations are natural gas combustion in buildings and facilities - 44.5 percent - and gasoline use in employee commuter vehicles - 41.8 percent - in addition to the county's vehicle fleet - 12.7 percent, officials said.

That is why GOCAP will focus on reducing emissions in the energy, water, transport and waste sectors.

The plan includes actions that support the transition to all-electric buildings powered by renewable energy, as well as establishing actions to reduce emissions from employee commuting, including programs to increase the use of electric vehicles, public transportation, telecommuting and bicycles.

The county also plans to phase out gas-powered vehicles from its fleet and replace them with zero-emission vehicles. And finally, any emissions remaining after these steps are taken will be captured and stored through carbon sequestration techniques, including the use of compost.

Cancer, the other pandemic to face

Peninsula 360 Press

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2021.02.04

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Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P].

In the last two decades, the total number of people diagnosed with cancer nearly doubled from an estimated 10 million in 2000 to 19.3 million in 2020, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), and the numbers continue to rise.

Currently, one in five people worldwide will develop cancer in their lifetime and projections suggest that the number of people diagnosed with cancer will increase further in the coming years and will be nearly 50 percent higher in 2040 than in 2020.

As part of World Cancer Day, the organization also noted that the number of deaths due to this disease has also increased, rising from 6.2 million in 2000 to 10 million in 2020. More than one in six deaths is due to cancer.

Late Diagnosis and Lack of Access to Treatment Exacerbated by COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the problems of late-stage diagnosis and lack of access to treatment, WHO said.

This occurs worldwide, however, low- and middle-income countries are the most affected, as in addition to facing disruption of services, people living with cancer are also at increased risk of serious illness from COVID-19 and death.

A WHO survey conducted in 2020 indicated that cancer treatment had been interrupted in more than 40 percent of the countries surveyed during the pandemic.

The findings have been supported by published studies indicating that delays in diagnosis are common, while interruptions and discontinuation of therapy have increased significantly, and clinical trial enrollment and research production have declined.

Breast Cancer Numbers Exceed Lung Cancer Figures

And if that wasn't enough, the global cancer landscape is changing, as breast cancer has now overtaken lung cancer as the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world, according to statistics released by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in December 2020.

Therefore, on this World Cancer Day, WHO will host the first in a series of consultations to establish a new global breast cancer initiative, to be launched at a later date.

This collaborative effort between WHO, IARC, the International Atomic Energy Agency and other sectoral partners will seek to reduce breast cancer deaths by promoting breast health, improving early detection of cancer and ensuring access to quality care.

"WHO and the cancer community are responding with renewed urgency to address breast cancer and respond to the growing global cancer burden that is putting pressure on individuals, communities and health systems," the organisation said in a statement.

World Cancer Day

On 4 February, as every year since 2000, World Cancer Day is commemorated, this year 2021 the theme is "I can and I will", where WHO will show its commitment to other important programs on cervical cancer and childhood cancer.

In this regard, and with the aim of accelerating the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem, three targets have been set for 2030: 90% of girls fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine; 70% of women screened; and 90% of women identified with cervical cancer receiving treatment.

Cancer is also a leading cause of death for children and adolescents, with an estimated 400,000 children diagnosed with cancer each year.

On International Childhood Cancer Day on 15 February, WHO will publish a practical guide for policy-makers and programme managers on strengthening childhood cancer programmes.

Such a tool will enable assessment to facilitate harmonized data collection and achieve rapid, real-time interpretation of data collected on cancer among children; and a clearinghouse of information from the online community of practice on childhood cancer.

It should be noted that breast, cervical and childhood cancers have a high chance of being cured if diagnosed early and treated appropriately.

Zhezhi: Paper folding that turns into art

Lunar new year

Peninsula 360 Press

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2021.02.03

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Zhezhi: Paper folding that turns into art

Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P]

It is easier to bend the body than to bend the will. Chinese proverb.

Hundreds of years ago, there, amidst candles and incense, the "zhezhi"When paper folding first appeared in China, paper folding became present at ceremonial events; so special did it become to fold a piece of paper over and over again that it became art.

Japan is typically credited with the origin of "origami", however, Chinese culture showed, almost parallel to Japanese traditions, examples of paper folding, where artistic minds experimented with various shapes and techniques.

From fibres to paper

It is well known to historians that the invention of paper is attributed to Cai Lun around 105 AD, an official of the imperial court during the Han dynasty, who created sheets of paper from mulberry leaves, bast bark fibers, old rags, fishing nets, and hemp waste.

Although the earliest forms of paper had existed in China since the second century B.C., its standardization of the process and improvements in the overall composition over the years helped paper become widely used as a writing medium, and could become what we know today.

Such was Cai Lun's achievement and advancement, that by 114 A.D., he was bestowed great wealth by Emperor He and made a marquis, including the erection of a temple in his honor in Chengdu after his death in 121 A.D.

The art of paper folding in Chinese culture

The vast majority of people have one word in mind when they think of paper folding, "origami", which is a Japanese term from the union of the words oru -to fold- and kami -paper-.

However, in China it took the name "zhezhi" - in Chinese: 摺紙; pinyin: zhézhǐ-, almost poetic, because with a slightly different accentuation, that same word means massage, an art that also involves the hands.

Thus, the zhezhi was first used in China for ceremonial purposes. Texts detail that at funerals, people burned representations - on folded paper - of gold nuggets, which were used as currency until the 20th century. It was believed that these paper nuggets would accompany the deceased on their journey.

Similarly, it is specified that even small replicas, made of folded paper, of the most precious articles of the deceased were made, which were included in the tombs and altars that were created in his name and for prayer for his soul.

And, unlike origami, which opts for figurines of living beings such as flowers or animals, paper folding in China, focuses on inanimate objects.

So much so that history mentions the Chinese as creators of various paper toys, especially for children. The most famous is an inflatable paper balloon, which was filled with water and used to throw it between children or against the ground, gradually, and in its new version, became the plastic balloon.

Golden Venture

Golden Venture folding, also known as 3D "origami", were models developed and created by a group of Chinese refugees in the early 1990s after they were detained in a U.S. prison for attempting to illegally enter the country on a freighter named "Golden Venture".

They invented a style of paper folding that involves joining hundreds of identically folded triangular units to make swans, pineapples, and other shapes. Refugees spent many hours folding these patterns, which were given as gifts to those working for their freedom or sold at charity fundraisers to help pay their legal fees while they applied for asylum.

From dubbing to literature

Maying Soong published "The Art of Chinese Paper Folding" in 1948. The book helped popularize paper folding in the 20th century and helped the difference in technique and nuance with its Japanese counterpart to be understood.

Among the most important models included in the publication are a love knot, a paper cup, a Dutch hat, a dustpan and a grinder.

Stories like this and more, you can find out more at Peninsula 360 Press' virtual celebration of Chinese New Year 2021 on February 20th at 5 PM, where we will celebrate the arrival of the hardest working animal symbol of the zodiac, the Ox. Don't miss it.

COVID-19: San Mateo and Santa Clara ask for patience in the face of vaccine shortages

Peninsula 360 Press

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2021.02.03

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Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P].

The Santa Clara County notes that it currently does not have sufficient doses of COVID-19 vaccine. for all eligible persons; however, he assured that all those who want to receive the immunization will eventually be able to do so.

And, a shortage of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine throughout the Bay Area has prompted local health officials to prioritize doses for older adults due to the high case fatality rate due to coronavirus within that group.

Pending an increased number of vaccine doses, the San Mateo County Health Department has remained aligned with California state guidelines and continues to vaccinate residents 65 years of age and older who receive care through clinics or have no other access to immunization.

In addition, eligible health care workers continue to be immunized as part of Phase 1 of the national immunization campaign, as well as Home Support Services workers and long-term care residents.

Notably, the County Health Department has launched two new dashboards for vaccine data. The first reports total immunizations performed and locations, while the other details the demographics of vaccine recipients.

Residents can access this information through the following link: https://www.smchealth.org/coronavirus-health-data.
For questions about the COVID-19 vaccine it is possible to access the website: https://cmo.smcgov.org/press-release/covid-19-vaccines-frequently-asked-questionswhere you can get answers to the most frequently asked questions about it.
If testing for SARS-CoV-2 is required, it is necessary to go to the College of San Mateo and to the rotating sites identified at the site. https://www.smcgov.org/testing.
Finally, it is important for county residents to access the site https://smchealth.org/covidvaccine/ to be notified about vaccine clinics for their groups and to be contacted by health care providers.

COVID-19: Latino, Afro-descendant and Asian communities most disadvantaged in immunization system

COVID-19

Peninsula 360 Press

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2021.02.03

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COVID-19: Latino, Afro-descendant and Asian communities most disadvantaged in immunization system

Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P].

People from the Latino and Afro-descendant communities have been the most affected during the last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the deaths are progressing and the light at the end of the tunnel that could provide vaccines against the virus seems increasingly distant, as immunizations to these sectors are advancing at a very slow pace.

This means that these groups, as well as the Asian group, represent a much lower proportion in comparison to the Caucasian race -white- in terms of being able to receive the vaccine.

The various Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that more than 60 percent of those vaccinated were white, while only 11.5 percent were Latino, 6 percent were Asian and just over 5.0 percent were of African descent.

This information is part of data obtained by the CDC during the first month of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in the United States, where about 13 million people have been immunized.

And the numbers of people in these communities who could die from SARS-CoV-2 could grow increasingly because many of their jobs are considered essential and many may have pre-existing conditions.

According to the head of the Joe Biden administration's Health Equity Task Force, Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, an equitable vaccination program cannot be assured without data to guide policymakers, after it was learned that of the 13 million people vaccinated, the race and ethnicity of just under half are known.

"CDC will soon release additional data regarding race and ethnicity and vaccine uptake. But I'm concerned about how far behind we are," she added recently.

In response, Dr. David Hayes-Bautista, director of the Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture at the UCLA School of Medicine, said in an interview for the nonprofit organization, "I've heard that the Latino community has a lot to learn from the Latino community. Democracy Now that "what we're seeing illustrated is approximately 150 years of medical malpractice".

The specialist stressed that "these disparities did not appear suddenly nine months ago at the beginning of the pandemic, as they have been built, decision by decision".

Given the 1,000 percent increase in Latino deaths due to COVID-19 reported in Los Angeles, the specialist noted that all populations of color have much higher mortality rates than non-Hispanic whites, "which tells us a lot about where the medical resources are and where they are not.

He added that the coronavirus struck the Latino sector quickly because as essential workers who have kept the state going - the farm workers who kept the state fed, truck drivers, packinghouse workers, food industry workers, etc. - they worked during the early days of the pandemic and were not provided with personal protective equipment. "They rarely have health insurance anyway, with very low wages."

"It's not because they're Latino that the rates are so high. It's because they're in those occupational and living arrangement spaces that the coronavirus loves. A lot of exposure, a lot of people, boom, there it is. And we've been seeing this for nine months," Dr. Hayes-Bautista noted.

Through a virtual interview, the prominent professor said that "unfortunately, Latinos and other populations of color are paying the price for this maldistribution and limited access to medical resources, in any case. So it's just making a bad situation worse.

In that regard, he explained that the vaccination rate is "very, very low" in California among Latinos and most populations of color.

"Overall, between Oct. 27 and Jan. 27, the overall state death rate for Latinos has doubled. However, it started in October five to six times higher than white. And in January, it's still five to six times higher than white. So compared to whites, yes, the death rate is absolutely huge," he said.

Dr. Hayes-Bautista cautioned that the peak in Latino infections and deaths may not yet have been reached.

On the other hand, he noted that the lingering effects of the Trump administration still need to be dealt with - as recently as last Sunday, at a vaccination event at Dodger Stadium, a group of anti-vaccine supporters of the former president disrupted and shut down that effort for more than an hour as they tried to persuade people not to get vaccinated.

For the Latino population that is undocumented, Hayes-Bautista said access to the vaccine is confusing because, as many times, the information is only in English and many of them are not fluent in the language.

"The message, again, is terribly confusing. Is it free? Is it not? Are you going to a county facility? Are you going to a private facility? Will you get a bill? Will you have insurance? Will you be considered to have used public facilities if you get a vaccine? The messages are very, very confusing."

He also noted that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been sending COVID-19-positive refugees back to their countries of origin - Mexico and Central America - thus seeding the pandemic in countries with fewer resources to respond to the pandemic.