www.coachellavalleyweekly.com to follow the protocols, do our part – stay in place, use facial masks, wash hands, and social distance until we see a downward trend (sic), which we have over the course of months. However, its also very import to balance that with thinking about what does economic recovery look like and how do we transition. How do we do this in a way that can garner the support of the Governor? Because in the short term, although it’s important, it seems like we need to open, but in the long term we don’t know if it will spike a surge.” Perez is working in coordination with the Governor’s office so that in the future the county is able to receive funding from the State. “The state funds things like disaster relief and supports Cal State University, Palm Desert. We want to be able to fund programs that diversify our workforce and economy, and insure we get funding streams for the Salton Sea restoration,” said Perez. “There are a lot of other areas we need to be mindful of. We need to get people back to work safely and at the same time keep fighting this pandemic.” For the most part, the County Board of Supervisors has had a lot of support, but there are people who are not happy with the direction the Board is taking. Perez is doing his best to bring along those who disagree. “At a county level, there is going to be a $100 million deficit in 20/21 [fiscal year],” said Perez. “I know cities are facing large deficits as well. On one end, we need to suppress the pandemic and on the other end, we have to open up the economy in which we are cautious, taking care of customers and workers, so that we are not hard hit to the degree of the great depression. This is something that concerns me very much.” Although Perez has not directly met with the Governor, and the Governor has not threatened counties with withholding funding, there are counties in the state who tried to reopen only to find the state revoked licenses and emergency funds. “I want to work as closely as I can with the Governor to do the right thing,” said Perez. “Even though our Covid case numbers are rising, the county is testing at a much higher rate than any other county in the state. We have a 2.8 percent testing rate per capita in relation to our population. As a result, it seems we have more cases and deaths. This week, we will have 13 sites in addition to the private sites already testing. We are adding 75 to 200 tracers [people who track the infected] so we can insure the safety of both those who tested positive and those they came in contact with.” Riverside County has 17 hospitals. The county is actively coordinating with healthcare professional to share resources, stock supplies and consult with doctors to prepare in the event there is a surge. “We have two areas of concern regarding the thresholds required by the Governor,” said Perez. “For a county our size it is impossible to meet the 14 days without a death and to reduce cases to 1 in 10,000. Other required thresholds are possible and we are moving to ramp up contact information, house the homeless, provide safety material to protect workers, and so on.
Steven Hernandez Mayor of Coachella
We are demonstrating breakthroughs and seeing downward trends. The Governor’s requirements are challenging. Why not use the CDC guide lines?” Perez recognizes that valley mayors are getting antsy and each has challenges within their own cities. The Coachella Valley’s tourism and hospitality business is the most lucrative industry – at $7.5 billion – of the county’s five districts. The crisis and subsequent economic disaster has affected everyone in the valley either directly or indirectly. “They want to open now. I get that,” said Perez. “I believe we have to think in terms of regional variances, but it doesn’t mean it will change the requirements. People are saying its either one or the other, save lives or the economy. I’m saying it has to be a balance. We have to do both. No one knew this was coming even though we talked about it when it first appeared in China.” The first person infected came into the United State from Wuhan, China, arriving at March Air Force base which is in Riverside County. GROUND ZERO “We were ground zero. Then the first death of corona virus was in in the CV,” said Perez. “When the workers at the Murrieta nursing home didn’t show up, it was the county that mobilized a team and moved the people even though it’s a state regulated business. We are doing everything possible to demonstrate to the public that public health is number one and we work everyday to meet the Governor’s requirements.” The County has received $436 million in Federal Funding. The County Board of Supervisors is still deciding how to best use and distribute the funds. Some of it will go to cover their deficit. “We cannot grant the money to cities, but potentially, the funds can be used for small main street businesses who didn’t qualify for the PPP – Paycheck Protection Program. Restaurants, hotels, retail can receive some relief to help keep them a float and prepare them for Phase 2.5 openings.” For Perez, funding more testing is an option and he is open to other ideas that will directly help the public health crisis. When it comes to recognizing the CV as a singular regional entity reliant on one major industry, Perez doesn’t necessarily have a problem. He understands and recognizes the valley’s unique conditions. “I have to think about the state, the county, the district and the micro areas,” said Perez. “Our economy has been hard hit and it will take some time for the region to recover. We need to convince the Governor
Linda Evans
Mayor of La Qunita to fast track where possible to help the valley reopen.” Riverside County is funded in part by the Federal government, and revenue is generated through sales and property taxes. CITY OF COACHELLA The City of Coachella has set their goal to be absolutely safe. It has had 169 cases of Covid-19 and three deaths. “Coachella is not a tourism economy,” said Steven Hernandez, Mayor of Coachella. “We are not reliant on the festivals, tournaments or large events like other cities. The city is okay financially. But a lot of our residents work in the tourism industry. They save during season for the summer months.” Hernandez has been in public service since leaving college. He is 37 years old, and this is the second economic crisis he’s experienced. He has seen the fallout of financial disasters and how they devastate families and businesses. “Nothing worse than folks losing their jobs,” said Hernandez. “Domestic violence, substance abuse, depression, suicide – there’s a whole lot of stresses when there is a loss of economic opportunity.” Hernandez does not see the cancelled “big” events returning in the fall and plans to be in lock step with the county requirements. He does not want to draw the ire of the government. “We have to be creative and nimble,” said Hernandez about local leadership. “I’d like to see personal protective equipment (PPE) manufactured here in Coachella instead of China. Businesses need to have the necessary supplies to operate. There are opportunities here for entrepreneurs.” LA QUINTA On May 1, La Quinta Mayor, Linda Evans sent letters to California Governor Newsom and the Riverside County Board of Supervisors requesting the “sub-region” of Riverside County -- the Coachella Valley -- be allowed to open more businesses. The letters were signed by mayors Evans, Nestande, Miller, Peabody and Matas. The letter to the Governor requested specific dates through May 22, to reopen valley businesses – restaurants, services, and hotel/resorts in order to be prepared to accept leisure guests in a limited capacity for Memorial Day weekend. In part, the letter to the Governor read: “We believe that the health data provided by Riverside County for our respective cities, in addition to our valley’s ability to continue to monitor cases, should allow our cities a thoughtful reopening of our economy.” The two-page letter mentions that the extensions of the stay at home orders “…
May 14 to May 20, 2020
Geoff Kors
Mayor of Palm Springs are not only mentally and emotionally intolerable, but also an economic disaster.” Evans also wrote that valley cities support delaying the reopening of large gatherings, group sports, movie theaters, and schools. Evans works in the health care industry for Desert Care Network. The letter to County Supervisors concluded: “With the collaborative knowledge and guidance from the cities and county used to keep the public’s health and safety maintained, it’s time for our residents to decide on their own if they choose to remain sheltered in place or if they decide they want to work, shop and live – for the betterment of our communities and our health.” Whether or not Evans’ letters were making impossible demands, the message was received by the Supervisors and Governor. That same week, the Governor moved to make some adjustments and address the very serious issues in Evans’ letter. “Reopen safely is the mantra,” said Evans. “We need to forge ahead and learn to coexist with the Covid virus. It’s out there, but we can’t live in fear.” La Quinta has 83 Covid cases and seven deaths. PALM SPRINGS With Federal leadership lacking, local governments are taking steps to set public health mandates within their own jurisdictions. When the County rolled back protective facemasks, the Palm Springs City Council voted to require face coverings when anyone is in an open business, masks are to be provided to employees and in places where people cannot maintain physical distancing. The city has 108 cases of the coronavirus and nine deaths. “I have to say, I am very appreciative, as always, and even more so to live in the valley and to be in Palm Spring,” said Geoff Kors, Mayor, Palm Springs. “Everyone has acted with thoughtfulness and kindness.” The city is following the Governor’s orders and is doing everything they can to be ready for the tourism and hospitality industry to rebut. “Yes, the county is aware of the unique economic crisis in the Coachella Valley as well as the state and nation,” said Kors. “We have advocated that the Governor consider looking at parts of counties separately from the entire county. In the CV we have a disproportionate number of Corona virus cases. We have also bent the curve faster than the state as a whole. So, if we can meet the criteria, the question is, can we be continue to page 6
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