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overseeing the program
Employers should notify its workers of positive COVID-19 tests
SACRAMENTO, CA – On Wednesday, Assemblymembers Eloise Gomez Reyes (D-San Bernardino), Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) and a cast member from Disneyland called for passage of legislation that will save lives and help re-open the economy safely by requiring employers to report COVID-19 infections in workplaces.
“California’s frontline workers are caught between the risks of a deadly pandemic and the realities that can’t wait many more months: hungry kids at the table, rent coming due, and electric bills piling in the mailbox.
These workers are predominately people of color,” said Assemblymember Eloise Gomez Reyes (D-San Bernardino), author of AB 685.
Under AB 685 (Reyes), employers would be required to provide a 24-hour notice to all employees at a worksite should any worker be exposed to COVID-19 and required to report a workplace COVID-19 positive test, diagnosis, order to quarantine or isolate, or death that could be COVID-19 related to Cal/ OSHA and the California Department of Public Health.
California’s workplaces are ground zero for COVID-19 outbreaks. Last week, the Los Angeles Times reported that “from farming communities to urban centers and suburbs, workers in retail, manufacturing, agriculture and logistics are bearing the brunt of COVID-19 outbreaks.”
A Sunday Los Angeles Times story reported that in some workplace outbreaks were reported to county offi cials only after workers had died and many others had become infected.
“Too many farmworkers live in fear: fear of deportation, fear of incurring public charge, fear of losing their job, and now fear of contracting COVID-19,” said Assemblymember Robert Rivas (D-Hollister).
“It is our responsibility to mitigate that fear of infection by increasing their safety in the workplace. We need to protect our essential farmworkers, and all workers, who have put their lives on the line for all of us during this pandemic. I’m proud to co-author AB 685 so our workers have access to timely, accurate information about risks in their workplace, and can take the necessary precautions to protect themselves and their families.”
As California looks to reopen, even more workers, especially Latinx, Black and API workers, are facing serious risk from the pandemic’s resurgence and a lack of accurate data on outbreaks.
“Over 140,000 Latinos in California have tested positive for COVID-19 and over 3,000 have died – numbers grossly disproportionate to the population and make up the majority of our state’s low-wage workers,” said Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego).
“From our hospitals and grocery stores, to meatpacking plants, restaurant kitchens and countless other businesses, workers remain on the job to maintain our supply chain and then bring home the infection to their loved ones and others in the community. Without a requirement to report COVID-19 exposures, no workplace in California is safe.”
“We hear daily that workers are getting sick in California’s grocery stores, meat packing plants and pharmacies, and that they’re afraid of bringing the virus home to their families after their shift,” said Andrea Zinder, president, UFCW Western States Council and UFCW Local 324.
“Workers cannot be treated as disposable if we ever want to win this battle against COVID-19. AB 685 will help workers take appropriate steps to protect themselves, their families and the public while allowing Cal/OSHA to use limited inspection and enforcement funds more eff ectively, imperative when California is looking at years of budget defi cits. UFCW is proud to stand besides these lawmakers to support our state’s essential workers.”
“Over and over, employers have failed to notify workers when COVID-19 exposure occurs,” said Mitch Steiger, legislative advocate, California Labor Federation. “Even when employers do give a warning, the notifi cation is vague, inaccurate, or designed to threaten workers into tolerating unsafe work environments. As a result, case numbers are skyrocketing across a wide variety of industries and uncontrollable outbreaks threaten the lives of not just these workers, but their families and everyone they contact. AB 685 simply requires employers to report COVID-19 exposures, allowing workers to use this information to protect themselves and slow the spread of this terrible virus.”
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testing to Angelenos, working with partner organizations to establish COVID-19 diagnostic testing sites at six drivethrough and two walk-up locations, as well as dozens of pop-up community testing sites throughout the city. The City delivered testing to the majority of skilled nursing facilities in Los Angeles and required monthly testing for all staff and residents. The City will soon partner with Curative to launch testing at mobile kiosks, expanding the availability of testing to communities without access to a drive-through site.
“Mayor Garcetti rose to an unprecedented challenge with no federal strategy and limited support. CORE is proud of its team of everyday citizens who have stepped up to do their part, alongside our City’s fi refi ghters and other workers. Now in our fi fth month of fi ghting this pandemic, we know that testing is one piece of saving the lives and livelihoods at stake right now,” said CORE Co-Founder and CEO Ann Lee.
“We must do more. We ask the public to continue doing its part to mask, distance, and test, and if testing positive, to quarantine and fully participate with contact tracers. We are committed to partners who can maximize the impact of our testing eff orts by providing test results within 48 hours, contact tracing within 72 hours after a positive result, and supporting those who cannot quarantine safely.”
“Curative is pleased to partner with the City of Los Angeles, CORE, and LAFD to supply COVID-19 testing to anyone who needs a test,” said Fred Turner, CEO and Co-Founder of Curative-Korva Labs.
“Innovative approaches to testing are needed to fi ght this pandemic and Curative will continue to adapt and innovate through mobile testing to reach more Angelenos.”
Mayor Garcetti has emphasized that the City’s testing model –– which delivers results within 48 hours –– is a critical component of L.A.’s strategy to slow the spread of COVID-19. To strengthen that approach, the City has partnered with the L.A. County Department of Public Health to scale up a contact tracing program as well, encourage physical distancing protocols, and mandate that residents wear a mask anytime they are outside their homes. "The men and women of the LAFD continue to work collaboratively with Mayor Garcetti's staff and the dedicated personnel from Curative and CORE to facilitate Citywide COVID-19 testing for Angelenos," said LAFD Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas. "The battle against COVID-19 is unlike anything we have seen in our lifetime, and I am proud that our organizations were able to quickly answer the Mayor's call to design, staff , and supply such a complex operation."
The City’s eff orts to scale up testing have been guided by its commitment to equity and informed by data showing that COVID-19 was disproportionately impacting communities of color, especially in particular neighborhoods of our City.
In response, Los Angeles increased the capacity of testing sites in areas with large Black and Latino populations, including quadrupling the size of the Crenshaw Christian Center site, establishing a walkup location at Kedren Community Health Center, and working with the County to add new sites at the Forum in Inglewood and Charles Drew University in Willowbrook.
Residents who believe they need a test should check with their health care practitioners, as well as the more than 100 State, County, and community-based providers who off er free testing in the L.A. area. Angelenos can fi nd those providers through the City testing website at Coronavirus.LACity.org/Testing. New appointments are added daily.
Bacolod Association donates food to Long Beach Police
The Long Beach Bacolod Association (LBBA), in cooperation with Christian Divinagracia of Cuizina LB, recently donated over 100 packs of Filipino meals to the members of the Long Beach Police Department West Station.
Peter Albano Ramirez, LBBA president, together with Long Beach residents Malou C. Mariano and Oscar Dela Cruz, a popular Community leader for the Fil-Am senior citizens, delivered the meals to the grateful police officers.
LBBA's gesture of appreciation for our men and women in blue comes at a time when the need for peace and order cannot be emphasized enough.
The Filipino contingent thanked Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna and the entire Long Beach Police Department for their services.
Among the officers who were present during the event were Eric McGowan, Ruben Navarro and LBPD West Division PRO Officer Janie Cozine.
PALAD releases 2020 candidate endorsements
After a month-long process, the Endorsements Committee, composed of the nine-member Board of Directors of the Pilipino American Los Angeles Democrats (PALAD), concluded round one of the 2020 Endorsements process.
PALAD is the oldest Asian American and Pacific Islander Democratic club in Los Angeles, and our endorsements process seeks to elevate candidates who align with the values PALAD believe in and engage the community on the power of the Filipino American vote.
PALAD worked to ensure a clear, transparent, and fair endorsement process and that the endorsed candidates are committed to supporting the Filipino American and Asian American community and are aligned with the values encompassed in the Democratic Party platform.
PALAD received endorsement applications from 36 candidates, seven of which were contested endorsements.
PALAD hosted an endorsements meeting on Saturday, August 1st and provided a historic opportunity for community, civic, and political engagement in the election process.
Over 100 general members, leaders, and media outlets participated and heard from candidates seeking our support in national, state, local, and judicial races.
With upcoming elections in November, this serves as an important process to strengthen the accountability of those seeking office and aid the Filipino American community in selecting candidates who best understand our interests and needs and have proposals to address them.
Lastly, due to several requests to reopen our endorsements application, the Board of Directors will consider a second and final round for open endorsement positions. More details will be released this week.
PALAD OFFICIAL RESULTS: 2020 ENDORSED CANDIDATES
U.S. House of Representatives District 21 - Congressman TJ Cox* District 28 - Congressman Adam Schiff*** District 34 - Congressman Jimmy Gomez*** District 39 - Congressman Gil Cisneros*** District 47 - Congressman Alan Lowenthal*** State Senate District 21 - Kipp Mueller*** State Assembly District 43 - Assemblymember Laura Friedman*** District 53 - Assemblymember Miguel Santiago*** District 54 - Assemblymember Sydney Kamlager*** District 64 - Assemblymember Mike Gipson*** Los Angeles County Supervisor District 2 - LA City Council President Emeritus Herb Wesson** Los Angeles City Council District 4 - Councilmember David Ryu** District 10 - Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas** Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón** LAUSD School Board District 3 - Scott Schmerelson** District 7 - Patricia Castellanos** Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees Seat 1 - Andra Hoffman (incumbent) Seat 3 - David Vela (incumbent) Seat 5 - Nichelle Henderson Seat 7 - Mike Fong (incumbent) West Hollywood City Council - Noemi Torres Alhambra City Council - Councilmember Jeff Maloney (incumbent) Long Beach City Council District 6 - Dr. Suely Saro** District 8 - Tunua Thrash-Ntuk** Burbank City Council - Nick Schultz Burbank School Board - Emily Weisberg Judicial Stephen Morgan, Judicial Seat No. 72** David Berger, Judicial Seat No. 80** Scott Andrew Yang, Judicial Seat No. 162**
*Endorsed by the California Democratic Party (CADEM) **Endorsed by LA County Democratic Party (LACDP) ***Endorsed by both CADEM and LACDP
Note: In races where there is no CADEM or LACDP endorsed candidate yet, the current incumbent was noted.
