DAI Drives Acceptance of Parish ID at Dallas County Mobile Testing Units
Parish identification cards, an IAF immigration strategy developed in collaboration with the Catholic Diocese of Dallas, are now accepted at Dallas County Covid-19 mobile testing units.
[Photo Credit: Smiley N. Pool, Dallas Morning News]
Coronavirus: Condado de Dallas Responde a Preguntas Frecuentes Sobre 'Quédate en Casa' y Covid-19, Al Día Dallas [pdf]
Together Louisiana Draws National Spotlight to Crisis in New Orleans
Relentless efforts by Together Louisiana resulted first in local media attention and then national media focus on the new storm brewing in New Orleans.
New Orleans Faces a Virus Nightmare, and Mardi Gras May Be Why, New York Times [pdf]
New Orleans Has Some of the Highest Coronavirus Infection Rates in the US - Yet It's Overlooked, The Advocate
Together Louisiana Press Conference (done online)
March 15th Infographic Demonstrating Outbreak in New Orleans, Together Louisiana
How Early Intervention Can Save Lives, Together Louisiana
Together LA Raises Alarm on New Orleans Outbreak
As the rate of coronavirus infection in Orleans Parish consistently outranked most other US counties, Together Louisiana raised an early alarm that the conversation about Covid-19 was overlooking New Orleans. Weeks after Together LA leaders produced their own research, based on county-by-county analysis of cases per 1,000 people, local media responded and confirmed what leaders had been arguing for weeks.
One “metaphor we throw around every day is, this truck is moving faster and faster; it’s moving at different distances and different speeds in different places,” said Shawn Moses Anglim, pastor of First Grace United Methodist Church, and a leader with Together Louisiana. “But in New Orleans, the truck is a block away, and it’s coming at 120 mph.”
For weeks, congregational leaders have been educating the public about how early precautionary measures can save lives months later.
[Photo Credit: David Grunsfeld, Times Picayune]
New Orleans Has Some of the Highest Coronavirus Infection Rates in the US - Yet It's Overlooked, The Advocate [pdf]
March 15th Infographic Demonstrating Outbreak in New Orleans, Together Louisiana
How Early Intervention Can Save Lives, Together Louisiana
Texas IAF Successful in Push for Public Utility Commission to Ban Residential Utility Shutoffs
In the only public testimony at today’s Texas Public Utilities Commission (PUC) meeting, Texas IAF leader Rev. Miles Brandon of Central Texas Interfaith called on the PUC to create assistance programs and halt cutoffs for customers impacted by the economic and health impacts of the COVID-19 crisis. At the meeting the PUC voted to create the “COVID-19 Electricity Relief Program” providing financial assistance and halting service disconnections for low-income and unemployed customers in deregulated markets such as Dallas, Houston, and Round Rock
“COVID-19 is causing uncertainty and many hardships, and during this time, Central Texas Interfaith and our partner organizations in Texas IAF don’t want Texas citizens to have their physical or financial health put in danger unnecessarily," said Rev. Brandon.
PUC Chair DeAnn T. Walker recognized Fr. Brandon and the work of the Texas IAF organizations in advocating for families across the state.
6 million Texans live in the areas impact by the measures enacted by PUC today. Today’s actions were a first step. Texas IAF leaders plan to work with PUC leaders to extend and potentially expand these protections and assistance programs as long as the COVID-19 crisis continues.
Texas Regulators Vote to Ban Residential Utility Shut-Offs During Pandemic While Buoying Companies, Texas Tribune [pdf]
Texans Unable to Pay Rent and Utility Bills Get Emergency Relief, NBC-DFW [pdf]
Statement by Rev. Miles Brandon, St. Julian of Norwich Episcopal Church, Central TX Interfaith
Statement by Bryan Lopez, Assumption Catholic Church in Houston, TMO
'Mountain Voices Project' Raises its Voice Against Covid-19 Evictions
'Mountain Voices' Speaks Against Evictions, Displacement, Aspen Daily News [pdf]
'Mountain Voices' Levanta su Voz en Contra del Desalojo, Aspen Daily News [en español]
Sigue Contactando a Sus Congresistas
La pandemia del COVID-19 está precipitando una crisis económica de proporciones históricas que requiere sacrificios por parte de todos los americanos para evitar una pérdida masiva de vidas. Aunque el Congreso ha aprobado un histórico estímulo de emergencia de $2.2 billones ($2.2 Trillion US dollars), este es sin duda el primer paso para nuevas medidas sin precedentes y muy necesarias. La Fundación de Áreas Industriales (IAF, por sus siglas en inglés) urge al Congreso a entregar planes de estímulo económico que proteja a aquellos que más necesitan ayuda: trabajadores, las familias y las pequeñas empresas en el frente de batalla de esta emergencia nacional.
Firma la petición a continuación y contacta a tus Representantes del Congreso para exigirles que actúen con valentía y rapidez en apoyo de los siguientes principios:
- Ayudar a los trabajadores y familias estadounidenses ahora: hacer un pago inmediato de $2000 por persona, seguido de pagos mensuales adicionales mientras dure la crisis económica.
- Salvar los empleos y proteger a los trabajadores del sector de servicios: ampliar el seguro de desempleo y la licencia remunerada por enfermedad para cubrir el 90% de los salarios para todos los trabajadores, independientemente del tamaño de la empresa o de si son trabajadores contratatistas. Brindar a los trabajadores del sector de servicios y de distribución de alimentos un sobresueldo por servicio de riesgo y protecciones de salud adicionales. Ofrecer subvenciones a compañías, pequeñas empresas y organizaciones benéficas sin fines de lucro que mantienen a los trabajadores en su nómina al 80% de los salarios anteriores a la crisis. Otorgar préstamos y subvenciones del 0% a organizaciones benéficas y religiosas sin fines de lucro bajo el programa de asistencia ante desastres de la SBA para satisfacer las necesidades inmediatas de la comunidad. Crear obras públicas a gran escala en asociación con los sectores religiosos y sin fines de lucro para proporcionar empleos con salarios dignos, con beneficios y servicios vitales para las familias.
- Ampliar drásticamente la cobertura de la atención médica para los más vulnerables: proporcionar pruebas COVID-19 universales y gratuitas con un amplio alcance comunitario a poblaciones específicas de alto riesgo. Aumentar la contribución de Medicaid en todo el país en 10 puntos porcentuales sobre la tarifa de cada estado participante y restablecer la contribución federal del 100% para la expansión de Medicaid.
- Invertir fuertemente en infraestructura para atención médica para apoyar a los trabajadores y proveedores de primera línea: hacer uso de todos los poderes bajo la Ley de Defensa de la Producción para fabricar equipos de atención médica, incluidos kits de prueba, ventiladores, máscarillas N95, trajes de protección y camas de hospital.
- Proteger a nuestras comunidades: suspender todos los desalojos, ejecuciones hipotecarias y cortes de servicios públicos para propietarios de viviendas, inquilinos, instituciones religiosas y organizaciones sin fines de lucro. Proporcionar internet, cable y teléfono gratuitos, esenciales para la seguridad y la educación pública remota. Suspender la regla de carga pública mientras dure la crisis y asegurar que ningún servicio utilizado durante este período se aplique a ninguna regla restablecida.
- Evitar los errores del rescate del sector financiero de 2008: exigir las salvaguardas y la estricta rendición de cuentas, que todas las corporaciones que buscan fondos de rescate brinden, entre otras condiciones, protección del empleo para los trabajadores, planes de jubilación, derecho de sindicación, atención médica y licencia remunerada por enfermedad. Prohibir aumentos salariales y bonos para los ejecutivos con estos fondos. Exigir rendimientos a tasa de mercado sobre los dólares públicos invertidos. Para empresas con más de 500 empleados, limitar los rescates solo a las empresas a las que se les niegue el financiamiento privado.
TMO Protects Renters From Evictions During COVID-19
Twice in one week, TMO leaders called on local, state and federal elected officials to adopt legislation and policies to help working families facing economic disaster due to lost wages and jobs. You can watch the press conference here.
On Wednesday, TMO leaders called on Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Governor Abbott to impose a 60-day moratorium on all evictions so that families are not forced onto the street or into homes of others. By Thursday, Judge Hidalgo responded, putting a moratorium in place until the end of March, with the possibility of “ending them as long as necessary.”
With millions of households experiencing a layoff or a reduction in work hours during this pandemic, and millions more uninsured who might need testing and treatment for this virus, TMO is still calling on US Congress, Governor Greg Abbott, Texas State Legislators, and other state officials to act now for families.
Continue Calling on Congress
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The Covid-19 pandemic is precipitating an economic crisis of historic proportions, requiring sacrifices from all Americans to avoid a massive loss of life. Though Congress has passed a historic $2.2 Trillion emergency stimulus, this is assuredly the first step for further unprecedented and much-needed measures.
Congress must continue to respond with fiscal policy aimed at avoiding a serious Depression. The Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) will continue to urge Congress to deliver an economic stimulus plan that protects those who urgently need help the most: American workers, families, and small businesses on the front lines of this national emergency.
Sign the petition below and continue calling on your congressional members to urge them to focus on the following principles:
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Help American Workers and Families Now: Make an immediate payment of $2,000 per person, followed by additional monthly payments for as long as the economic crisis persists.
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Save Jobs and Protect Service Sector Workers: Expand Unemployment Insurance and Paid Sick Leave to cover 90% of wages, for all workers regardless of company size or whether they are contract workers. Provide service and food distribution worker hazard pay and additional health protections. Offer grants to companies, small businesses, and charitable nonprofits that keep workers on their payroll at 80% of pre-crisis wages. Provide 0% loans and grants to charitable and religious nonprofits under the SBA Disaster Relief program to meet immediate community needs. Create large-scale public works in partnership with the religious and non-profit sectors to provide living wage employment with benefits and vital services for families.
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Drastically Expand Health Care Coverage for the Most Vulnerable: Provide universal & free Covid-19 tests with extensive community outreach to targeted high risk populations. Increase Medicaid contribution nationwide by 10 percentage points over each participating state’s rate, and reinstate the 100% federal contribution for Medicaid expansion.
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Invest Heavily in Health Care Infrastructure to Support Front Line Workers and Providers: Exercise the full powers under the Defense Production Act to produce health care equipment including test kits, ventilators, N95 respirator masks, protective clothing and hospital beds.
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Protect Our Communities: Suspend all evictions, foreclosures and utility shutoffs for homeowners, renters, religious institutions, and non-profit organizations. Provide free internet, cable and phone – essential for safety and remote public education. Suspend the public charge rule for the duration of the crisis and ensure that no services utilized during this period apply to any reinstated rule.
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Avoid the Mistakes of the 2008 Financial Sector Bailouts: Require safeguards and strict accountability that all corporations seeking bailout funds provide, among other provisions, protection of workers’ jobs, retirement plans, right to organize, healthcare and paid sick leave. Prohibit executive pay raises and bonuses with these funds. Require market-rate returns on public dollars invested. For corporations with over 500 employees, limit bailouts only to firms denied private financing.