This week we explore the State of the Arts — namely audiences, artists and the pandemic between them — a new series by arts editor Charlie Swanson about how COVID-19 and the coronavirus that causes are affecting the art scene. Meanwhile, reporter Will Carruthers updates us on the new anti-eviction measures afoot and we sample M-M-M-My Corona, which was inevitable. Takeshi Lewis produces, Daedalus Howell hosts.

[embed-1]

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and Google Podcasts.

Two Santa Rosa police officers have tested positive for COVID-19 according to a video released by Chief of Police, Rainer Navarro.

The Santa Rosa Police Department (SRPD) increased safety precautions and implemented employee education at the onset of the coronavirus in the community a few weeks ago. Despite these efforts, not only have the two officers come down with the illness caused by the novel coronavirus, a third officer sought medical treatment this week after exhibiting flu-like symptoms. That officer is currently awaiting test results to see if they are also positive for COVID-19.

The Santa Rosa Police Department (SRPD), along with other essential City Service Departments, continue to follow enhanced protocols to protect staff and the community from getting sick from the coronavirus.

“We continue to take every precaution we can both in the field with personal protective equipment and around the department with only essential staff reporting for duty,” Chief of Police Rainer Navarro says in the video. He adds that when the shelter in place order went into effect on March 18, “We closed public access to our police station lobby and expanded the use of our online reporting system.”

News of the COVID-19-positive officers should not dissuade Santa Rosa residents from reaching out to the police when necessary says Navarro.

“The police department will continue to answer calls for service and meet the needs of our community,” says Navarro.

[embed-1]

Less than a week after Assemblymember Marc Levine (D- Marin County) joined a bipartisan coalition making emergency funding available to address the COVID-19 pandemic in California, the first grants to local governments have been made to assist people experiencing homelessness.

The North Bay’s Sonoma County will receive over $1.1 million and the County of Marin will receive over $386,000 to address the immediate needs of homeless individuals at risk of COVID-19 and prevent the spread of the virus in this highly vulnerable community. Funding levels were based on homeless population data from the 2019 Point in Time counts of homeless individuals in counties across the state. Funds can be used to provide immediate shelter for individuals, increase sanitation or provide other relevant support services during this emergency.

In total, Governor Gavin Newsom has been authorized to spend over a billion dollars statewide to lead state efforts to prevent the spread and treat those determined to be COVID positive. Specifically, the Legislature last week appropriated up to one billion dollars to support Governor Gavin Newsom’s emergency declaration to address the COVID-19 pandemic and gave the Governor significant resources to both increase the capacity of our healthcare system while supporting preventative efforts to reduce transmission of the coronavirus across the state. These funds will also be used to begin a conversation about the long recovery period the state will likely experience after this crisis has abated – particularly ways to support small business, non-profits and other individuals that experience economic hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additionally, Levine supported legislation to waive the current Average Daily Attendance requirement in K-12 public schools for the remainder of this academic school year. With the governor’s Stay at Home declaration impacting over 6 million students in California’s K-12 public schools, this legislation will ensure that all school districts receive their full enrollment funding for the year and makes an additional $100 million available to school districts to purchase personal protective equipment or for supplies and labor costs necessary to conduct additional deep cleaning of school sites.

Earlier this year, Levine introduced AB 2646 to permanently eliminate ADA and fund K-12 public education based upon enrollment, not attendance. That legislation will be considered later this year.

“California is taking bold action to address and prevent the spread of COVID-19,” said Assemblymember Levine. “Governor Newsom’s leadership is helping the state work around the clock to address immediate and long term needs arising from this pandemic. We will make every resource of the State of California available to curb the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on our society and economy. When we protect the homeless, we protect everyone – including ourselves.”

“As a father, I know what a stressful time this is for families in the North Bay and across California,” continued Levine. “This is a public health crisis that impacts us all and I am here to support you and your family during this difficult time. There will be a number of difficult days in the weeks ahead, but we must shelter in place in order to save lives. By listening to public health officials and by banding together, we will get through this.”

Thanks to a recent relaxation of California alcohol laws, Margaritaville is closer than ever.

Cocktails can now be ordered to-go and delivered curbside to customers courtesy of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) and its response to COVID-19

The department enacted the regulatory relief to “support the alcoholic beverage industry in its efforts to assist California in slowing the spread of the virus while assisting the industry in dealing with the economic challenges it is facing as a result,” it said in a statement.

The ABC arrived at this decision after careful consideration of the public’s health safety or welfare and whether it be negatively affected. “Exercised on a temporary basis,” the ABC thinks not. There are rules, however—to-go cocktails can only be purchased with a matching meal, whether that be through a drive-thru, pick up or delivery. Other adult beverages available in this manner include wine and beer.

“Any such alcoholic beverages must be packaged in a container with a secure lid or cap and in a manner designed to prevent consumption without removal of the lid or cap (e.g., no lids with sipping holes or openings for straws),” reads the ABC’s “notice of regulatory relief.”

Naturally, consumers acquiring cocktails and other alcoholic beverages are discouraged from drinking them while driving or break open container laws by allowing non-drivers to do so.