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Gov. Pritzker wants a contact tracing system before reopening the state, but officials estimate they would need nearly 4,000 workers to make that happen. Officials hope to have a tracking method in place by the end of May.
The California Homeless Data System team is looking to hire new tech talent; a New York City group rolls out a new Census messaging guide; and the Connecticut Data Collaborative is now hosting online events.
Liberals are calling for an expansion of government, while conservatives say budget shortfalls must lead to cuts. One scholar argues that after the current crisis passes, states will end up looking much like they do now.
By operating as market actors to preserve existing jobs, states can link entrepreneurs to capital and expand programs that help hard-pressed families maintain their spending and investment.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said to begin his State of the City address on Wednesday during the coronavirus pandemic, the first time that the State of the City address was not given live. (City of Minneapolis — April 29, 2020)
The number of daily participants on Zoom meetings but not the number of daily users, which is what was previously reported by the video conferencing company. “This was genuine oversight on our part.”
Health officials estimate that nationwide contact tracing is needed for states to safely reopen their economies. But without funding or a unified plan, many are worried about the effectiveness of a state-by-state approach.
Stern anti-fraud messaging can keep eligible people from applying for the benefits they need. There are effective ways to help people through the application process without threatening them.
Despite a huge drop in revenues, states are taking some measures to relieve pressure on taxpayers and have introduced bills that extend filing deadlines, remove penalties and limit certain liabilities for now.
It may be tempting, in coping with revenue losses brought on by the pandemic, for governments to reduce funding for community economic-development organizations, but it would be short-sighted.
Cynthia Martinez, a 19-year Walmart worker who has been deemed “essential,” says of how many “essential workers” are making minimum wage and have poor benefit packages. (NPR — April 28, 2020)
The annual rate at which the U.S. economy shrank last quarter amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the economy will continue to plunge at a 40 percent rate during this quarter.
In an era of social distancing, some are concerned that cash payments could transmit COVID-19. Even though transmission through currency is unlikely, officials are still concerned there will be a shift away from cash.
Buffalo, N.Y., has a $35 million deficit from the coronavirus and might be unable to overcome the loss without federal financial support. Many other cities have the same fiscal concerns. “We are unable to do this alone.”
Alabama Senate president wants to allocate $800 million of the $1.7 billion that the state is receiving for coronavirus aid for broadband expansion. “I think this is something all people of the state would benefit from.”
The nonprofit MassVOTE published a policy brief to encourage vote-by-mail for the fall election. Many wonder if it will be safe to vote in-person or if there will still be coronavirus concerns that keep voters home.
As the world eagerly awaits a vaccine for the coronavirus, 200 years ago a smallpox cure struggled to gain acceptance. This is how our founding fathers helped promote the medical breakthrough that saved countless lives.
If state and local governments and their employees become pawns in a Beltway ideological battle, the voting could turn on issues of federalism. And health care could be the issue that creates a tidal wave.
Driven by the deadly conditions in our jails, we're beginning to see a way forward for reforms that can produce safer and healthier communities. We need to build on it for the future.
Dr. Sandy Cohen’s 8-year-old daughter wrote in her journal for school. Cohen is a medical doctor as well as secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, advising Gov. Roy Cooper and shaping policies for containing the coronavirus, and hasn’t been getting home recently until after 7 p.m. (The News & Observer — April 24, 2020)
Proportion of Americans opposed to opening the economy if the coronavirus virus is not fully under control, compared to those in other developed economies — the United Kingdom and Canada (70 percent), followed by Mexico (65 percent), Spain and Australia (61 percent) and the United States (59 percent).
States want to reopen their economies but need more tests before that can happen safely, and testing is complicated and slow. Soon the question will become, “How much risk are we willing to take to reopen?”
California’s Bay Area used to rely on public transit for commuting prior to COVID-19. Officials believe that the virus will have lasting impacts on the norms of transit for Bay Area commuters.
California’s outdated and broken unemployment system has been an issue since the Great Recession. The department is still processing claims but it’s slow and frustrating for officials and residents.
Some fears around the coronavirus have arisen due to lack of clear information regarding the disease. Many believe that combatting the virus first begins with addressing stigma and misconceptions.
With schools closed and health services delayed or canceled, it's a challenge to provide support for children with physical or behavioral health needs. Telehealth is one tool that can help fill the gap.
Governments that keep a daily record of obstacles they are encountering and steps they are taking — those that work and those that don't — will be in a better position to weather the next crisis.
Nicole D. Porter, advocacy director for the Sentencing Project, a progressive group that promotes decarceration, commenting on how the coronavirus presents unique challenges when it comes to prison health. Many states have released hundreds of prisoners early due to health concerns. (Governing — April 23, 2020)
The fine that Facebook agreed to pay to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over the 2018 Cambridge Analytica data breach. The settlement amount was approved last week by a federal judge and is the largest in the FTC’s history.
San Diego officials were notified that the $580 million in coronavirus relief they recently received could not be used to cover revenue shortfalls caused by the pandemic. But there are still ways the money will help.
