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Morning Briefing: Impossible Choices For Some College Students
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Adam Sanchez was near the end of his freshman year at Cal State LA when he heard that students were being asked to move out because of coronavirus concerns. Speaking to Adolfo Guzman-Lopez, Sanchez said he wasn’t sure how he would get his classwork done outside the dorms, “because at home, I don't have access to the internet.”
Sanchez represents a cohort of students who are being left behind as colleges have shut down. Unlike unhoused students, they have a place to live but can’t realistically study there. And without a quiet spot to go – libraries, cafes and other public spaces are, of course, closed as well – they’re left with few options.
California might be close to making changes to its stay-at-home order, but for Sanchez, it’s already too little, too late – he felt his best option was dropping out of college to join the army.
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"With the way Cal State LA has been doing everything, it's just ruined my whole perspective on college," he told Guzman-Lopez.
The repercussions of the pandemic have already stretched far and wide, altering the course of so many people’s lives. If you’re one of those people, we’d love to hear your story. In the meantime, thanks for reading, and I’ll see you tomorrow morning.
The Past 24 Hours In LA
L.A., California, The World: There are now at least 24,262 coronavirus cases and 1,174 deaths in L.A. County. There are at least 51,775 cases and 2,111 deaths in California. Worldwide, there are over 3.3 million cases and more than 238,000 deaths (this number is lower than what was being reported earlier in the week).
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Re-opening California: Gov. Newsom said that the state is "days, not weeks" away from announcing significant changes to stay-at-home restrictions. Meanwhile, there's a lot of confusion around eviction moratoriums, some of which are being lifted today. Huntington Beach and Dana Point called for a restraining order against Gov. Newsom's call to shut down OC beaches, but a judge upheld the closures – for now.
Higher Education: Some students with no place else to live have been told by Cal State campuses to leave their dorms. Now those students face the even tougher challenge of keeping up with their studies. One student says he's giving up on college altogether.
DIY: A couple of DWP upholstery shop employees have shifted their work to sewing fire-resistant face covers. L.A. County is providing thousands of coronavirus self-testing kits to residents, but public health officials are leery about whether or not this easier method is reliable.
May Day Celebrations: On this May Day, Zoom calls, Facebook calls and car caravans were held to honor "essential" workers, like grocery store employees and those who deliver food.
L.A. Food Scene: A woman in Lynwood who lost her job turned a charitable gift into a neighborhood menudo micro-business. MacArthur Park's street vendors say they're willing to risk not only their health, but their freedom, to make ends meet.
Protecting The Vulnerable: A federal panel will examine how hard-hit nursing homes responded to the coronavirus pandemic. L.A.'s top prosecutors say fraudulent medical tests are a public health risk.
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Your Moment Of Zen
The pier in Manhattan Beach during this week's red tide, which is caused by a massive bloom of microscopic algae that can produce a blue light.
(Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)
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