Support for LAist comes from
Audience-funded nonprofit news
Stay Connected
Audience-funded nonprofit news
Listen

Share This

News

Memo To America's Governors On What To Consider In Order To Reopen

In Venice, Italy two women help deliver food Saturday to people who have been unable to go shopping . (Andrea Pattoro/AFP via Getty Images)
()

With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today. 

The nonprofit investigative newsroom ProPublica has put together a memo to America's governors on what to consider when it comes to reopening their states. It's based on interviews with experts and frontline officials from Italy, Germany, Spain, Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea.

Here's their preface:

Memo to America’s Governors:

From: ProPublica

Support for LAist comes from

Subject: Restarting the Economy

After insisting that he had absolute power to decide when to reopen the American economy, President Donald Trump has turned over to all of you what he initially called “the biggest decision I’ve ever had to make.”

Trump is often guilty of hyperbole, but he’s right in this case. Figuring out how and when to let people go back to work during an outbreak of life-threatening disease is the most consequential decision any of you will ever face. You’ve already seen the stakes in New York, New Jersey and Michigan.

Get this wrong and thousands of people in your state will die. As the presidential election campaign heats up, count on the president to blast you for high unemployment rates in your state (you lifted restrictions too slowly) or clusters of deaths (you went too far, too soon).

Their topline takeaways:

  1. Build an Army of Contact Tracers
  2. Be Prepared to Test Constantly
  3. Isolate People With Suspected Infections From Their Families
  4. Protect, Protect, Protect Health Care Workers
  5. Normal Is Not the Goal
  6. Keep Your Eyes Peeled for the Second Wave
  7. Clear Communication Is Critical

READ THEIR FULL ANALYSIS

MORE ON CORONAVIRUS IN LA

At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.

But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.

We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.

Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist