Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
Some Farmworkers In California Are Finally Getting Vaccinated; Gov. Newsom Visited One Site Today
TODEC Legal Center is one of the non-profit partners helping to vaccinate farmworkers in Riverside County. (Photo Courtesy TODEC via Twitter)
()
Who to vaccinate and when has been a huge issue here in California. When the state widened the priority list to include people 65 and older, advocates who represent California's farmworkers worried about when the shots would get to that vulnerable group of essential workers.
Farmworkers are largely Latino, and Latinos in California have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 cases and deaths. Now, at least in some areas, agricultural workers are eligible for shots. Riverside County, for example, has been registering workers in the field for pop-up sites. (In L.A. County, which is also expanding the pool of eligible essential workers, agricultural workers will be eligible to receive the vaccine in mid-March.)
Addressing the criticism over equity, Governor Gavin Newsom visited a packing house in Coachella that will vaccinate up to 350 farmworkers a day. He spoke about his changing views on all this:
"[We are] recognizing that equity is not just about race and ethnicity. Equity is also about the ability to get in a car, to be [in] closer proximity to public transportation, [to] have the ability to even access a device or even understand what to do when you do access a device... You've got to meet people where they are. And it's exactly what folks are doing here."
Support for LAist comes from
But despite Newsom's talk of equity, some farmworker advocates are still concerned that vulnerable residents are being overlooked:
"Advocates say community groups also need to work with health departments to ensure that scheduling is doable for farmworkers. For example, a system where appointments open up at noon each day might not work for someone who is in the field without reliable internet access at that time."
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline. -
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
-
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
Best of LAist