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shadowkatI'm pretty certain it's been twenty-seven days since I stopped taking the subways and going to work - and holed up in my apartment. With the exception of maybe four grocery store runs, a couple of walks about the neighborhood, taking recyclables to the basement,and picking up packages and mail from the lobby - I've not ventured outside my apartment and had no actual contact with people.
It is sort of funny in the way - to see masks. At first it was mainly bandanas and head scarfs with a few, very few, surgical masks. But now folks have gotten creative and sewn their own masks or managed to purchase some - so less face scarfs and bandanas.
Watching how this changes day by day, week by week is similar to watching the slow progression of spring outside my window.
Outside of allergies (because hello, spring, and dust), I'm well. My family is well, if a tad stir crazy in their locations. I don't feel sorry for them. They can wander about the hills, valleys, streams, and do laundry. I'm stuck in a city apartment with no balcony - but a halfway decent view of trees and birds and sky so there's that.
1. New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Jersey vs. the Corona Virus (and Trump)
So, I watched or rather listened to the NY State Governor's live press Q&A with reporters and Governors from four other states. He's leading the East Coast Governor Coalition. On the chat were Conneticut's Governor, Rhode Island's, New Jersey, and I think Massachustus and Pennsylvania - not positive about the later two. I'd have to check somewhere. Memory is kind of sketchy on that point.
Reporters: So when are you opening things up again?
Governor: This has to be done slowly and in coordination with other States. Because if Conneticut opens up their bars and restaurants - New Yorkers will travel to Conneticut to eat dinner and go to their bars. We have to do it together. Otherwise what's to stop someone who has tested positive for the Virus from jumping on Amtrack, exposing half the people to the virus to go to Connetitcut.
Reporters: Anything on when you will open the schools? The Mayor said -
Governor: The schools will open when I say they will open.
Reporters: When?
Governor: I closed all the schools in all the counties by executive order - the reason I did it that way is two-fold. One the executive order means that you can still get certain items even if you aren't open for the required 190 days during the current fiscal year. Without that executive order - the schools may not get certain benefits. (I can't remember exactly what it was. - Ah found it. It has to do with school meal plans, remote learning programs, and credits over an 180 day period. ) It was a difficult decision to close the schools - and we had to do all the counties at the same time, we can't have some closed and some open - that could defeat the purpose and the learning has to be coordinated between them. Also, we need to be certain that people who are working have adequate childcare services in place. We can't send everyone back to work and leave the schools closed with remote learning required. This has to be carefully coordinated, and it had to be down with other states.
Reporters: So you see the schools as childcare?
Governor: No, I don't see them that way. You have to look at all the variables in play here. So, I will reiterate, the schools are closed until I tell you otherwise.
In short, they are most likely closed for the school year. I honestly don't see him starting everything up again until July at the earliest and even then? My father was a historian and I'm a pseudo-policy wonk - I know that you can't just flip a switch and go back to work. Like that. It takes time.
Also a city the size of NYC is really hard to shut down. As the Governor put it - we can't just send everyone back to work, without resuming full public transportation service. We'd have a mess. Also, as New Rochelle indicated - you can't have large public gatherings - those are like rolling buffets for the virus.
The virus can spread from one person to 100 in a large public gathering in a confined space.
Reporter's:The President said he's making the decision to re-open.
Governor - Specifically Conneticut: Yeah, right. Considering he didn't shut it down, we did. That ain't happening. IT opens when we say so. He didn't make the decision from the beginning, he can't make it now. Besides it would undo everything we've done to ope up too soon. We're not taking that risk!
Reporters: What about testing? The President says that's up to the States.
Governor of NY: No, it's not. We don't have the capacity for that. Only the Federal government has the capacity. We're struggling to get good testing in place, but we don't have the resources or the ability to do it on our own - that requires Federal Oversight. FEMA - used to procure these things, they did when I worked in Fema. But the President stripped FEMA of that ability.
Sigh. We're doomed.
2. Found this funny ...
Poster ranting about the corruption of the US Postal Service
Response: What do you know about the US Postal Service? You live in Russia and can barely speak English?
It is sort of funny in the way - to see masks. At first it was mainly bandanas and head scarfs with a few, very few, surgical masks. But now folks have gotten creative and sewn their own masks or managed to purchase some - so less face scarfs and bandanas.
Watching how this changes day by day, week by week is similar to watching the slow progression of spring outside my window.
Outside of allergies (because hello, spring, and dust), I'm well. My family is well, if a tad stir crazy in their locations. I don't feel sorry for them. They can wander about the hills, valleys, streams, and do laundry. I'm stuck in a city apartment with no balcony - but a halfway decent view of trees and birds and sky so there's that.
1. New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Jersey vs. the Corona Virus (and Trump)
So, I watched or rather listened to the NY State Governor's live press Q&A with reporters and Governors from four other states. He's leading the East Coast Governor Coalition. On the chat were Conneticut's Governor, Rhode Island's, New Jersey, and I think Massachustus and Pennsylvania - not positive about the later two. I'd have to check somewhere. Memory is kind of sketchy on that point.
Reporters: So when are you opening things up again?
Governor: This has to be done slowly and in coordination with other States. Because if Conneticut opens up their bars and restaurants - New Yorkers will travel to Conneticut to eat dinner and go to their bars. We have to do it together. Otherwise what's to stop someone who has tested positive for the Virus from jumping on Amtrack, exposing half the people to the virus to go to Connetitcut.
Reporters: Anything on when you will open the schools? The Mayor said -
Governor: The schools will open when I say they will open.
Reporters: When?
Governor: I closed all the schools in all the counties by executive order - the reason I did it that way is two-fold. One the executive order means that you can still get certain items even if you aren't open for the required 190 days during the current fiscal year. Without that executive order - the schools may not get certain benefits. (I can't remember exactly what it was. - Ah found it. It has to do with school meal plans, remote learning programs, and credits over an 180 day period. ) It was a difficult decision to close the schools - and we had to do all the counties at the same time, we can't have some closed and some open - that could defeat the purpose and the learning has to be coordinated between them. Also, we need to be certain that people who are working have adequate childcare services in place. We can't send everyone back to work and leave the schools closed with remote learning required. This has to be carefully coordinated, and it had to be down with other states.
Reporters: So you see the schools as childcare?
Governor: No, I don't see them that way. You have to look at all the variables in play here. So, I will reiterate, the schools are closed until I tell you otherwise.
In short, they are most likely closed for the school year. I honestly don't see him starting everything up again until July at the earliest and even then? My father was a historian and I'm a pseudo-policy wonk - I know that you can't just flip a switch and go back to work. Like that. It takes time.
Also a city the size of NYC is really hard to shut down. As the Governor put it - we can't just send everyone back to work, without resuming full public transportation service. We'd have a mess. Also, as New Rochelle indicated - you can't have large public gatherings - those are like rolling buffets for the virus.
The virus can spread from one person to 100 in a large public gathering in a confined space.
Reporter's:The President said he's making the decision to re-open.
Governor - Specifically Conneticut: Yeah, right. Considering he didn't shut it down, we did. That ain't happening. IT opens when we say so. He didn't make the decision from the beginning, he can't make it now. Besides it would undo everything we've done to ope up too soon. We're not taking that risk!
Reporters: What about testing? The President says that's up to the States.
Governor of NY: No, it's not. We don't have the capacity for that. Only the Federal government has the capacity. We're struggling to get good testing in place, but we don't have the resources or the ability to do it on our own - that requires Federal Oversight. FEMA - used to procure these things, they did when I worked in Fema. But the President stripped FEMA of that ability.
Sigh. We're doomed.
2. Found this funny ...
Poster ranting about the corruption of the US Postal Service
Response: What do you know about the US Postal Service? You live in Russia and can barely speak English?
no subject
Date: 2020-04-14 07:26 pm (UTC)They believe that anything that isn't privately run is pure bureaucracy and inefficient and corrupt. Clearly they haven't looked closely at themselves or companies. Because I've worked in the private industry and it's as bad if not worse than public. Both have their problems. Public may feel very chaotic, but so is private.
But that's the reason, they hate it. They also hate the MTA, Amtrak, FEMA,
National Arts Council, Medicare...basically the only thing they think should receive funds are the military.
For that to change? They have to hit rock bottom and be shown how wrong they are.
In their perspective, if the economy is completely laizze faire - we'd be better off. No red tape.
On the mask front? They are already making fashion statements with them. LOL! I can't sew or make one - so I'm relegated to whatever I can get my grubby paws on. But I have noticed that it is hard to go down steps with masks - I can't see where I'm going as easily, also the surgical mask likes to ride up my nose. I actually prefer the banadana which fit better.