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Corona by the numbers & local updates Compiled by Kamala Kirk Cases and deaths by neighborhood as of July 17: Culver City: 2,305 (deaths 110); Del Rey: 34 (deaths 1); El Segundo: 773 (deaths 6); Marina del Rey: 441 (deaths 4); Mar Vista: 2,168 (deaths 37); Palms: 2,714 (deaths 61); Playa del Rey: 121 (deaths 1); Playa Vista: 635 (deaths 9); Santa Monica: 5,056 (deaths 183); Venice: 1,862 (deaths 13); Westchester: 2,675 (deaths 49) Total Westside cases: 18,784 Total Westside deaths: 474
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Total confirmed cases in LA County: 1,266,227 Total deaths in LA County: 24,579 Total new cases as of July 17: 1,827 Total new deaths: 11 Hospitalizations: 462 Positivity rate (seven-day daily average): 3.01% Total number of people tested: 7,165,321 (Source: Los Angeles County Department of Public Health)
Voting Rights Is Our Priority Editor: In 2021, we have seen far too many attacks on our right to vote. I’m sure many of us heard about the law in Georgia that made it illegal to give voters water while they’re waiting in line to vote. Well, for every voter suppression law we did hear about, there are 20 more we didn’t. So far this year, 17 states enacted 28 new laws that make it more difficult for eligible Americans to cast their ballots, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. The only answer to this crisis is a response from the federal government. We need lawmakers in Congress to pass legislation that will create national standards to safeguard our right to vote as soon as possible. There are already two bills in the mix that, if passed, would go a long way to securing our freedom to vote. The first is the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the second is the For the People Act. Congress has everything it needs to pass sweeping voting rights protection with these pieces of legislation. I am asking them not to squander it or let the filibuster get in the way. Rabbi Neil Comess-Daniels Los Angeles Voting Rights Editor: In 2006, 192 Republicans voted to renew the Voting Rights Act. Now, we can’t get a
single Republican senator to come out and unequivocally support protecting the freedom to vote for the American people. That tells you everything you need to know about the state of bipartisanship in Washington. It’s time for Senators Joe Manchin, Kyrsten Sinema, and other lawmakers who want to protect the filibuster on bipartisan grounds to wake up. We are up against the clock to pass voting rights and secure access to the ballot box ahead of the midterms. Without abolishing the filibuster, our chances of passing voting rights legislation like the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act are incredibly slim. Please, Democratic lawmakers, put the hard earned rights of the American people ahead of your commitment to working with the bad faith GOP. Sherrie Berlin Playa del Rey Homeless-City Services Need Investigation Editor: Regarding the many letters on why and how the homeless have invaded the Venice/ Mar Vista Area and how to fix it, here are a few more perspectives: The city is not helping the homeless situation but profiting off the problem. Just keeping their “so called” services going. From the city council, the mayor, board of supervisors, VCHC, the developers!
