Today on AirTalk, we learn more about the status of temporary housing for L.A. County's homeless population. Also on the show, our FilmWeek critics discuss the weekend's digital releases; we get the latest on COVID-19; and more.
COVID-19 AMA: President Trump Lays Out Guidelines To Reopen States As Lawmakers Spar Over Funding Paycheck Protection Program
President Donald Trump gave governors a road map Thursday for recovering from the economic pain of the coronavirus pandemic, laying out “a phased and deliberate approach” to restoring normal activity in places that have strong testing and are seeing a decrease in COVID-19 cases.
The new guidelines are aimed at easing restrictions in areas with low transmission of the coronavirus, while holding the line in harder-hit locations. They make clear that the return to normalcy will be a far longer process than Trump initially envisioned, with federal officials warning that some social distancing measures may need to remain in place through the end of the year to prevent a new outbreak. And they largely reinforce plans already in the works by governors, who have primary responsibility for public health in their states. Places with declining infections and strong testing would begin a three-phase gradual reopening of businesses and schools. The guidelines recommend that states pass checkpoints that look at new cases, testing and surveillance data over the prior 14 days before advancing from one phase to another.
Meanwhile, Lawmakers are struggling to break a stalemate over President Donald Trump’s $250 billion emergency request for a small-business program, stoking uncertainty about when additional support will be available in a key rescue program now exhausted of funds. A House session Friday was expected to simply be a pro forma meeting. A Senate session quickly adjourned Thursday without any progress. GOP aides said that Mnuchin is prepared to accept additional funding sought by Democrats for hospitals, but that additional aid to state and local governments couldn't get approval in the current round. The aides spoke on condition of anonymity to characterize internal party deliberations.
On Thursday, L.A. County reported 399 new coronavirus cases and 55 new deaths, the highest in a single day so far. This brings the total number of deaths in the county to 455, as the fatality rate rises to 4.2%. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer noted this was the highest daily total the county had reported so far in the outbreak.
With files from LAist and the Associated Press
Guest:
Shruti Gohil, M.D., professor of medicine and associate medical director for epidemiology and infection prevention at UC Irvine’s School of Medicine
Checking In On LA County Efforts To Get Temporary Housing For Vulnerable Homeless To Stem Spread, Contraction Of COVID-19
As part of an effort to provide temporary housing for people in L.A. County experiencing homelessness who are vulnerable to COVID-19, the county’s homeless services agency has been working with Sacramento as well as local service providers and hotels and motels to secure rooms where those living on the street who are at high-risk for contracting the virus could have temporary shelter in the hopes of preventing the spread and contraction of COVID-19.
The county announced the plan earlier this month as part of the statewide initiative called “Project Roomkey” which seeks to secure thousands of hotel and motel rooms for “extremely vulnerable individuals experiencing homelessness to help flatten the curve & preserve hospital capacity,” according to a news release from the Governor’s Office. The first site opened here in Los Angeles earlier this month, and the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) says they’re aiming to have more than 1,000 beds at 15 sites operational by the end of this week. Housed individuals will get three meals daily as well as have 24-hour on-site security. LAHSA interim executive director Heidi Marston tells LAist that the program is designed for people who are experiencing homelessness but don’t have symptoms of the virus, with the goal being to prevent exposure in the first place.Efforts are also underway to secure hotels and rooms in Orange County, though the Los Angeles Times reports the city of Laguna Hills is pushing back and suing the county over a plan for one of these hotels to be within their boundaries, saying they have concerns about housing a high-risk homeless population in such close proximity to other neighborhoods.
Today on AirTalk, we’ll check in on how things are going with efforts to secure those beds and hotels, and take your calls and questions about housing the homeless during COVID-19 at 866-893-5722.
For additional information and resources from LAHSA, click here. You can also see LAHSA’s list of frequently-asked questions about “Project Roomkey” here and a fact sheet on the county’s COVID-19 response and homelessness here.
Guests:
Heidi Marston, interim executive director of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, the lead agency coordinating housing and services for homeless families and individuals in Los Angeles County
Rev. Andy Bales, CEO of Union Rescue Mission; he tweets
FilmWeek: ‘Trolls World Tour,’ ‘A White, White Day,’ The Quarry’ and more
Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Lael Loewenstein, Amy Nicholson and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s new movie releases and share some of their recommendations for movies and TV shows to discover, rediscover and binge-watch while you’re at home.
"Trolls World Tour" on VOD (Vudu, FandangoNOW, AppleTV, Amazon Prime Video , Microsoft Store & more)
"The Quarry" on VOD (FandangoNOW, Google Play, DirecTV On Demand)
"Away" on Laemmle's Virtual Cinema and Amazon Prime Video
"Selah And The Spades" on Amazon Prime Video
"The Booksellers" on VOD (Google Play) and virtual cinemas, including Laemmle's and The Virutal Frida Cinema
"Endings, Beginnings" on VOD (iTunes and FandangoNOW)
"Sergio" on Netflix
Want to see what our critics are watching and recommending you watch during stay at home? Click here to see a full list of our FilmWeek critics' favorite TV shows and films to binge-watch during COVID-19.
Guests:
Amy Nicholson, film critic for KPCC, film writer for The Guardian and host of the podcasts ‘Unspooled’ and the podcast miniseries “Zoom”; she tweets
Lael Loewenstein, KPCC film critic and film columnist for the Santa Monica Daily Press; she tweets
Charles Solomon, film critic for KPCC, Animation Scoop and Animation Magazine
2020 TCM Classic Film Festival Goes Virtual With Special Home Edition During COVID-19
Like all public events following the start of widespread stay-at-home orders from the state and federal government, the 2020 TCM Classic Film Festival was unfortunately cancelled this year due to health concerns posed by COVID-19. But festival faithful and classic film buffs won’t be left hanging this year.
Instead of a live, in person event, TCM decided to do a Special Home Edition of the annual festival that will air on the TCM Channel. The festival kicked off Thursday evening with a screening of the 1954 version of “A Star is Born” starring Judy Garland and James Mason and will include a number of films from past years’ festival lineups as well as ones that were slated for this year’s event. It ends late Sunday night (technically early Monday morning) with a screening of the 1982 film Victor/Victoria, for which Julie Andrews was slated to be in attendance at the 2020 festival before it was cancelled.
Today on FilmWeek, Turner Classic Movies hosts Ben Mankiewicz and Dave Karger join Larry Mantle to preview this year’s Special Home Edition of the TCM Classic Film Festival, talk about having to pivot due to the pandemic, and sharing some of their favorite films that are screening at this year’s event.
For a list of films and showtimes, click here.
Guests:
Ben Mankiewicz, host for Turner Classic Movies; he tweets
Dave Karger, host for Turner Classic Movies and special correspondent for the Internet Movie Database (IMDb); he tweets