Today on AirTalk, we talk with LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger. Also on the show, we look at how landlords are navigating COVID-19; hear how Ramadan traditions are changing in response to the pandemic; and more.
LA County Supervisor Barger On Homelessness, Budget And More
L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger joins us on AirTalk today to update on us on some of the latest COVID-19 relief measures being pursued by the County. We’ll talk to her about:
Los Angeles County's Homeless Initiative
LA County’s partnership with Airbnb to provide housing for medical workers
Potential timeline for loosening stay-at-home restrictions
LA County’s financial situation
$20 million to LA County from CARES Act Funds
Follow up on Emergency Operations, after Sheriff removal from position
LA County resources for small businesses or others in need
Status of testing kits
Rent assistance measures
If you have a question for Supervisor Barger, call us at 866-893-5722.
You can find a list of County resources at LACountyHelpCenter.org
Guest:
Kathryn Barger, L.A. County supervisor representing the 5th district, which includes the Antelope, San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys
COVID-19: Governor Newsom To Detail Guidelines For Gradual Rollback Of Stay-At-Home
Governor Gavin Newsom said guidelines for easing stay-at-home orders in phases in California will be announced Wednesday. At his daily news conference on Tuesday, Newsom said the state is receiving calls from local areas like Ventura County, San Luis Obispo and Placerville about how they can start making adjustments to stay-at-home restrictions.
Local areas have the option to lift restrictions as long as those jurisdictions don't conflict with the state's stay-at-home orders, Newsom said, responding to a question about Riverside County opening up golf courses and Port Hueneme opening beaches. Today’s briefing is expected to include a deep dive covering testing, tracking, tracing, isolation and quarantine and a discussion on the distribution of tests and the different kinds of tests. The state is currently aiming at doing 25,000 tests per day by the end of the month. That said, Newsom acknowledged, the question of how many tests are actually needed is dynamic and opinions vary. Some experts say that the state needs to test 1% of its population a week, others 1% a day, while others are saying it's about testing and continuing to re-test, Newsom said.
In Washington, Congress is sprinting to approve a $483 billion coronavirus aid package, as the White House and lawmakers begin scoping out the next rescue deal for health care providers and an economy battered by the crisis. The House is expected to vote Thursday on the latest bill, already passed by the Senate, which would replenish a small-business payroll fund and pump more money into hospitals and testing programs. President Donald Trump has said he would sign it into law.
With files from the Associated Press and LAist
Guest:
Richard V. Riggs, M.D., senior vice president of medical affairs and chief medical officer at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles
The Landlord Economy: The Effect Of Rent Deferrals On Landlords And The Rental Market
Unless politicians strengthen emergency tenant protection laws to include forgiveness for back rent owed, experts and advocates warn that Los Angeles (and California) could see a huge surge in homelessness in the near future.
The problem is that renters are still responsible for rent missed during the COVID-19 emergency, as the laws are written right now in many jurisdictions. While they don't have to pay during the emergency, the clock for repayment — 12 months in the City of Los Angeles — begins ticking as soon as the emergency is over.
Read more about this on LAist.
Some groups and two L.A. City Councilmembers are pushing for full on rent forgiveness to help tenants in difficult situations. But what would this mean for landlords, who still have to pay maintenance costs, utility bills and potentially mortgages?
And what are the effects of current deferral policies and eviction moratoriums for “mom-and-pop” landlords? What about management groups? What might be the larger effect on housing and the economy? And is there a way to help both renters and landlords without asking either group to take it on the chin?
Today, we dive into what rent deferrals and potential rent forgiveness policies might mean for landlords, tenants and the rental market.
Plus, if you’re a landlord navigating managing your property and renters amidst shifting regulations and an uncertain economic future, we want to hear from you. Call us at 866-893-5722.
With files from LAist.
Guests:
Craig Mordoh, general counsel for the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles; he is also a sole practitioner based in Santa Monica, specializing in providing legal services to rental property owners
Adam Fowler, director of research with Beacon Economics, whose expertise includes Southern California’s housing market; he tweets
Carol Galante, faculty director of the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley; she served as Assistant Secretary for Housing / Federal Housing Commissioner at the U.S. Department for Housing and Urban Development under President Obama; she tweets
Amidst The COVID-19 Pandemic, Muslims Plan To Move Ramadan Traditions Online
The coronavirus pandemic will make this year’s observance of Ramadan highly unusual, as many Muslims move their traditions and rituals online to better adhere to physical distancing guidelines.
During Ramadan, observers fast throughout the day after eating a pre-dawn meal, called suhur. Each day culminates with iftar, a festive and communal meal that is taken when the fast is broken at sundown. Iftar is a social affair, often experienced in the company of family and friends. Mosques commonly open their doors to serve the community. But because of the novel coronavirus, Muslims in southern California and around the world are having to adjust traditions and rituals—some centuries old— in order to keep community members safe. Iftars are moving to Zoom, as are some prayer services. Mosques have already foregone in-person services and begun to distribute masks and organize grocery shopping trips on behalf of the elderly. With all the changes, many Muslims are wondering how to preserve the religious experience of Ramadan, which observers look forward to every year as an opportunity to deeply engage with their community and faith.
How are you planning to observe Ramadan? Give us a call at 866-893-5722.
Guest:
Shaykh Mustafa Umar, Imam and education director at the Islamic Institute of Orange County (IIOC); he tweets
AirTalk Extra: Interview With Governor Gavin Newsom
Larry is joined by Governor Newsom for a check-in on the state’s response to Covid-19 and testing capacity.
Newsom has made it clear that he doesn’t want to lift stay at home orders too soon, even as some have protested in different areas of SoCal. Local areas have the option to lift restrictions as long as those jurisdictions don't conflict with the state's stay-at-home orders, Newsom said, responding to a question about Riverside County opening up golf courses and Port Hueneme opening beaches. The state leader also says more testing is a necessary component to determining when those orders can be eased. The state is currently aiming at doing 25,000 tests per day by the end of the month. That said, Newsom acknowledged, the question of how many tests are actually needed is dynamic and opinions vary.
With files from LAist
Guest:
Gavin Newsom, governor of California; he tweets