City of Oakland Mayor Virtual Townhall Recap - AIA

Last night, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf hosted a virtual townhall in regards to the pandemic. You can view the townhall meeting here. Here’s a recap of what topics were covered:

General Info presented by Mayor Schaaf

Main change is the extension of SIP to early May with new prohibitions
Schools will not reconvene this school year
Started testing site for first responders, and city employees
2 hotels are starting to get utilized – one for homeless, seniors (+ FEMA trailers arriving Friday)
Update on school meals
Oakland Covid-19 Fund: oaklandfund.org
Violations of SIP can be reported through County’s website: acgov.org
Mortgage banks are starting to offer 90-day payment holidays; BofA’s is during the length of this current SIP. Check with your lender.

Chanee Franklin Minor – Rent Adjustment Program manager

Eviction and Rent Increase Moratorium (most prohibitive in state, passed by council last week) for most residential and commercial properties through end of May 31st. “Complete defense” for non-payment, landlords cannot charge late fees
Courts are not taking action on eviction proceedings
Moratorium on lockouts by Sheriff
Oakland’s Housing Dept. is reaching out now to property owners to find further solutions

Daryel Dunston – Homeless Administrator

Current on-the-ground measures: City has doubled # of encampments receiving hygiene services 3x/wk, plus increase in garbage collection. Also, ceased closure of encampments during this time.
Strategic measures: Working with partners (such as shelter partners, CDC), measuring occupancy/trends
Planning measures for a surge: Working with county partners for isolation and quarantine spaces

Jenna Gerry – senior attorney at Legal Aid at Work

SF-based non-profit, assists low-income working families, offers free legal advice, and free virtual assistance for individuals that need it. More info on their website and FAQ: www.legalaidatwork.org
1.9 new unemployment claims in CA last month, 878k claims just last week. EDD wait times, 450 staff have been re-allocated to assist EDD.
Main provisions for workers and how they may have been changed recently (Families First Coronavirus Response and CARES Acts).
- Sick leave:
  - CA law= 3 days, Oakland= 5 days for small employers (<10 employees), otherwise 9 days
  - Federal law now = 10 days of additional paid sick days paid by employer (if employer has 499 or fewer employees)
  - Can be used for yourself or a family member due to Covid 19
  - However, only available to those still employed. May not be available to you if your employer had to shut down.
  - Up to $511/day.
  - 2/3 pay if you’re using it for childcare due to a school or care closure, capped at $200/day.
  - Clarified that days can be taken intermittently, except in the case that it’s because you are diagnosed/quarantined because of Covid 19 – in that case, the whole point is to take a chunk of time so that you can stay properly isolated or quarantined.
- Unemployment Benefits
  - For unemployed or underemployed
  - Usually: $50-$450/week up to 26 weeks
  - Now: 3 big changes
    - Increase of weekly benefits by $600/week + whatever you would have through July
    - Additional 13 weeks of benefits (26 + 13 = 39 weeks)
    - Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program: new program for independent contractors, gig workers, etc. but still getting set up/application not yet available. Would also be through EDD, but claims would be retroactive to January. Although many are miscategorized under CA law
  - State Family Leave or State Disability not restricted to immigration documentation status. Available to you as long as it’s on your pay stub. Up to 60-70% of your income.

Alexa Jeffress – Director of Workforce Development (help for small businesses)

City has posted a survey on its website, please participate. www.oaklandbusinesscenter.com
City launched a Small Business Emergency Grant Program for very low-income business owners ($5k grants are very limited)
SBA Disaster Loan (aka Economic Injury Assistance Loan) newly streamlined. Includes a $10k advance that can come to you in as little as 3 days. 3.75%, or 2.75% for non-profits.
SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), forgivable for payroll and certain approved expenses. Available to sole proprietors. Available to 501c(3)s, churches and related organizations may be eligible. Review the SBA’s guidelines.
Also look at other organizations:
- Kiva.org crowd-sourced loans up to $15k, Pacific Community Ventures, Working Solutions, Main Street Launch, among others
- There are also organizations working on grants and loans for artists and non-profit arts organizations. Those resources will also be listed on the website.
Info on the commercial eviction moratorium also on their website.
Businesses need to post a Social Distancing Protocol if they are continuing to operate (not remote).
State level – free deferral of sales tax for eligible small businesses for up to 1 year without fines or penalties. covid19.ca.gov
Tax – Alameda County will waive late fee for late payment of property taxes (form will become available)
Oakland Chamber of Commerce is maintaining a list of businesses that are remaining open for restaurants take-out/delivery during SIP. Businesses can apply for a temporary white curb in front of their business.

Dr. Bechara Sukar – Kaiser

Globally: 1M confirmed cases
US: largest # of current cases
Starting to see a flattening of the curve
70% of Kaiser’s outpatient care is now through telephone/virtual visits, more utilization of mail delivery of medications
Good news: they are seeing a 40% decrease week over week of flu, cough, cold (leading indicators of future hospitalizations).
Surge planning:
- Better equipped after past years’ experience with power outages, etc.
- Surge space planning/preparation is in process
Seeing uptick in testing, test availability, primarily for first responders

Congresswoman Barbara Lee

1st package: $8.3B, included $3B for development of treatments and vaccines, $2B for Public Health (including funding for community health centers, free testing but test kits, PPE, ventilators are still in short supply)
2nd package, Families First Coronavirus Response Act: strengthened unemployment benefits, food assistance program funding, additional Medicare funding
3rd package, CARES Act: $2T bill, includes funding for state/local governments, more unemployment insurance benefits, small business and non-profit relief
Lee is on the Appropriations Committee – fought for clarifications that checks also go to seniors
Maxine Waters has fought for funding to help stabilize affordable housing
There will be a 4th bill – invites input on our/Mayor’s priorities for Oakland.

Related Articles