CoViD-19: Nurses Urge Continued Mask Use | Parents Should "Model Good Behavior" | WHO Addresses Next Pandemic Steps | UC's Require Vax | Busy Biden at US-EU Summit | NIVA Issues Statement on CA Budget |

Today is World Sea Turtle Day (Taken at Sea World 6.13.21)

We ended up running out to Fiesta Island on Tuesday afternoon, but by the time we all got dressed and I finished what I was doing on this site and we loaded up the van and drove out, it was already about 7pm, with sunset to come at 7:58 and the monsoonal pressure and clouds rolling in, it wasn't really even hot anymore. Still, we laid out our mats and watched some water skiers, kept an eye out for flying fish, played with strangers' dogs and splashed in the water for awhile until by the time we got out we were actually cold and grateful that I got new cozy gigantic beach towels. 

I intended to do another post when I got home and I intended to hang out with Darren in the speakeasy, but my eyes just got so heavy and I think I was actually asleep by 10:30 or so, though I can't be sure. The result of that means I've been up since about 4:30am and the news just keeps rolling in. Darren always says, "if you keep watching it, they'll keep making it." 

It's a lot of the same...Biden is in Europe but has still been busy with ambassador and judge nominations, addressing domestic terrorism, while also negotiating world trade agreements and having his meeting with various world leaders, including today's with Putin, which had no deliverables or expectations so I think that's exactly what we got. But I'll wait for Biden's presser. 

In the meantime, this post is mostly just playing catch-up with yesterday...NIVA issued a statement on the California budget passing and kpbs talked about venues reopening. The UC system is going to require vaccines even if they don't get full FDA authorization which was really the only new part of their previous statement. The WHO had a briefing today and it was a public Q&A and I might put some of the video highlights in the next post. And the rest of the articles are just kinda rehashing what we keep talking about over and over, but the KHN article FINALLY addresses why if you have or are around kids, you should keep wearing your mask... “to protect them and to model good behavior." One other thing of note was that Reality Winner was quietly released this week, and I can't help but think it was timed perfectly before Biden met with Putin, who has aggressively been calling out US hypocrisy in advance of the meeting.  

I'm not sure what data will still be provided on a daily basis, but I'll include it in my post tonight. As I said, this was more like a part II from yesterday. 

Stay safe out there. 

• COVID-19:
• Being Vaccinated Doesn’t Mean You Must Go Maskless. Here’s Why. - KHN (6.15.21)
• Information About Required COVID-19 Vaccinations UC California (This is only different in that before the mandate was conditional on the FDA granting full authorization of the vaccines by fall, but now will require them for all students, staff, and employees even under FDA emergency use authorization.) 
• For the safety and well-being of the entire university community, the policy will require, with few exceptions, that all students, faculty and staff be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus before they will be allowed on campus or in a facility or office.
• Individuals will be required to show proof of vaccination, and UC locations are preparing for how they will record individual vaccination status.
• For campuses, compliance with the policy will be required two weeks before faculty, staff and students are expected to be on campus for the fall term.
• Please still wear a mask, California nurses implore ahead of state's reopening - Becker's Hospital Review (6.14.21)
• Considerations for implementing and adjusting public health and social measures in the context of COVID-19 - WHO (June 2021)
• WHO Public Q&A (YouTube): WHO Identifies New Variant of Interest called LAMDA. Elevated prevalence in South America- Peru, Chile, etc. "Vaccines work against severe disease and death." In 2-dose vaccines, people need to take both doses. Variants are evolving and vaccines against them are being studied, some so far suggest reduced neutralization, but the reduction of severe illness and death is beneficial. Work on boosters is happening. Problem now is that vaccines work, but they're not in the right places. Vulnerable around the world are still not being vaccinated. People in developed countries need to get vaccines when offered, but as a collective, global citizens need to put pressure to get vaccines in countries who need them. 10-11k people are still dying every day globally. In the one hour of this presentation, 430 people will die that we will be aware of. Must keep transmission down by decreasing exposure. Not everyone has the luxury of staying home, staying distant and isolated or not going in to work.  
  I've said before that I love Dr. Mike Ryan. World health disparities are still our biggest problem. "If a house is on fire, all the neighbors can help put out the fire, but what happens when all the houses are on fire?" Health systems and health justice are the biggest universal societal issues we're facing. 
• New COVID-19 variant of interest identified in 29 countries: WHO - XinhuaNet (6.16.21)
• Politics: 
• UPDATE: Something extraordinary is happening in Texas - Popular.Info (6.15.21)
• White House: 
• Action the Biden-Harris Administration Has Taken to Address the Border Challenge
• Statement by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on DACA Day
• Background Press Gaggle by Senior Administration Officials En Route Geneva, Switzerland
• Statement by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on Agreement with the European Union on Boeing-Airbus
• FACT SHEET: U.S. – EU Understanding on a Cooperative Framework for Large Civil Aircraft
• On-the-Record Press Call by United States Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai
• Statement by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on the National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism
• FACT SHEET: National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism
• Background Press Call by Senior Administration Officials on the National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism
• U.S.-EU Summit Statement
• Remarks by President Biden at the U.S.-EU Summit Expanded Plenary Session
• Remarks by President Biden, President of the European Council Charles Michel, and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen Before the U.S.-EU Summit
• Background Press Call by a Senior Administration Official Previewing the U.S.-EU Summit
• FACT SHEET: Rebuilding, Revitalizing, and Raising the Ambition of U.S.-EU Relations
• 10th Anniversary of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
• Joint Statement by the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Homeland Security on the Expansion of Access to the Central American Minors Program
• News:
• Reality Winner, NSA contractor in leak case, out of prison - AP News (6.14.21)
• U.S. judge orders resumption in federal drilling auctions in setback for Biden - Reuters (6.15.21)
• Federal Judge Says Biden Cannot Pause New Leases for Drilling on Public Lands - New York Times (6.15.21)
• More blackouts? California grid manager warns of power shortage as major heatwave looms - SacBee (6.15.21)
  
• I keep posting various versions of this same information, but I can't drill it in enough: U.S. Traffic Fatalities Climbed In 2020 Despite The Pandemic - Statista (6.15.21)
• Other Reading:
• Stop Exploiting Suicide For Political Gain— False claims have driven moral panic during the COVID pandemic - MedPage Today (6.15.21)
• Music News:
• Live Audiences Return To San Diego. As California lifts pandemic restrictions on crowds and social distancing, San Diego performance venues prepare for a long-awaited return of live audiences. - kpbs (6.15.21)

Statement From The National Independent Venue Association of California (NIVA CA) Regarding Passage of $150M in Critical Relief in the 2021-2022 California Budget:

Sacramento, CA - June 15th, 2021 - California’s 2021-2022 State Budget (AB 128) passed through both houses of the California Legislature yesterday (June 14th) and is now on Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk for signature. The budget contains proposals to help California “roar back,” including $150M in financial assistance to independent venues and promoters that have been devastated by the pandemic’s shutdown.

 

With over 600 member venues throughout the Golden State, NIVA CA is grateful for this critical support approved by the Legislature. With California stepping up, the actions taken will help prevent a cultural extinction. With the passage of this allocation, these venues are equipped with the working capital to reopen, rehire and resume as anchor tenants and major economic drivers of local and state revenue in communities up and down the state when it is safe to do so.

 

“This allocation will play a big role in saving many California stages,” said Casey Lowdermilk, co-founder of NIVA California. “Without independent venues and promoters across the state

working to engage their communities, staff, and artists, our voices would not have been heard. We are thankful for those tireless efforts and look forward to working with California legislators to voice our industry as we build back. ”

 

NIVA California worked with Strategies 360 California, led by Alex Torres in Sacramento and Obai Rambo and Timothy Burr in San Francisco, to advocate for the inclusion of this proposal in the budget. Strategies 360’s offices in Los Angeles and San Diego also guided process and outreach for regional venue coalitions focused on state and local relief efforts.

 

“My colleagues and I were proud to work with independent venues and promoters throughout the state in a true grassroots effort to bring this proposal into existence,” said Alex Torres, Director of Government Relations, Strategies 360. “A thank you also to a few champions  for the industry, Senator Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg), Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), and Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Glendale), for their advocacy and leadership throughout the process!”