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Irvine City Council Newsletter
Special Up-Dated COVID-19 Recovery Resources Edition August 2020
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Irvine Extends COVID-19 Testing at the Great Park!
Due to continued high demand, the City of Irvine has again extended the time period for COVID-19 testing at the Great Park.
Irvine began to offer COVID-19 testing on July 13. On July 24, we added additional test appointments. Tonight, we agreed to have the testing program continue for an additional 30 days.
Testing is available for individuals who live or work in Irvine, regardless of whether they are symptomatic or asymptomatic. Only PCR testing, which determines if someone currently has the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is available.
Testing is by appointment only and is available Mondays through Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Lot 6 at the Great Park. There is no out of pocket fee for this COVID-19 testing.
In order to facilitate the registration process, please have the following information available:
- Insurance card, if you have insurance.
- Driver's license or state ID.
- Proof of residence or employment in Irvine (i.e. any utility bill with Irvine address and your name or copy of pays tub from work with an Irvine address. If your pay stub lists a corporate address NOT in Irvine, please ALSO include some identifying document with your name and place of work in Irvine.
Once residency or employment verification is complete, you will receive an opportunity to select an appointment. This may take several days and participants will be processed in order of registration.
At the appointment, patients must remain in their vehicle, bring a driver's license or photo ID, and registration confirmation. During the appointment, a licensed healthcare professional will be present during the self-administered nasal or oral swab test to collect the specimen to send to FDA-approved laboratories. Test results should be expected within three days after the appointment.
Tests will be conducted by
Curogram and multiple medical laboratories, including Orange County based
Pangea Laboratory. Curogram has worked with many other cities, including New York City and Atlanta, to provide COVID-19 testing.
The Orange County Great Park is located at 8000 Great Park Blvd. Lot 6 can be accessed via Marine Way and Skyhawk. Visit
ocgp.org/maps for complete directions. Please note that GPS systems may not provide reliable directions.
While I am pleased to have authorized expanding these much-needed tests, Irvine should never have had to provide COVID-19 testing on its own. We are now doing so because of the failure of the federal government and Orange County Board of Supervisors to provide adequate COVID-19 testing.
Irvine does not have a public health officer or a public health department. We rely on Orange County to provide these critical services. The taxes we pay to the State of California for public health services go to Orange County, not the City of Irvine. Orange County received all of our CARES ACT funds from the federal government. But regarding COVID-19, we can not rely on Orange County.
The City of Irvine is providing COVID-19 testing - at our own taxpayers' expense - because at this point, with COVID-19 infections setting new records on an almost daily basis in both Orange County and the nation, we have no other choice.
We should not be in this position. While other nations are seeing declines in the number of new COVID-19 infections, our new infections continue to rise. The basic reason for our continuing rise in infections and deaths is the catastrophic failure of our federal government to deal with the COVID-19 crisis, including President Trump's continuing denial of its seriousness and his undermining of social distancing and face coverings as the best weapons we now have against this virus.
As the Voice of OC reported , "Throughout the pandemic, OC officials haven't strictly enforced business closures on restaurants and bars. And OC Sheriff Don Barnes said he wouldn't enforce former health officer Dr. Nichole Quick's mandatory mask order, which was issued over Memorial Day weekend as diners and shopping centers reopened."
Under these circumstances, it is good that Irvine is now providing free COVID-19 testing for residents and people who work in Irvine. But Irvine's COVID-19 testing also highlights the failure of our federal government and the Orange County Board of Supervisors to provide testing or any effective strategy in response to this deadly disease. Our friends and neighbors who live or work in other Orange County cities still have no good COVID-19 testing options.
Be safe and wear a mask!
Schedule a COVID-19 Test Appointment
HERE.
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Helping Each Other in a Time of Crisis: Here are Some Organizations that Could Use Your Help Now
Over the last several months during the COVID-19 crisis,
Second Harvest Food Bank and
OC Food Bank have seen record volumes of food distribution. As the crisis continues, it is likely that the demand for food assistance will continue to increase.
As we work together to fight back against COVID-19, there are many volunteer organizations in our community looking for additional resources and support. In particular, many families in Orange County are in need of food. Blood centers are also in urgent need.
Here are some organizations that could use your help right now:
11870 Monarch St.
Garden Grove, CA 92841
(714) 897-6670
Possible volunteer tasks: Box and deliver lunches.
1200 N Knollwood Circle
Anaheim, CA 92801
(714) 220-0224
Possible volunteer tasks: Drivers and donations.
8014 Marine Way
Irvine, CA 92618
(949) 653-2900
Possible volunteer tasks: Harvest Truck Brigade, Field Distribution Team, Donations.
Possible volunteer tasks: Blood donation.
1231 E Chapman Avenue
Fullerton, CA 92831
(714) 680-3691
Possible volunteer tasks: Transporting, sorting, stocking food.
During this time of crisis, it is important that we all look out for our fellow community members.
If you have any questions or need assistance connecting to other community resources, please contact my Senior Executive Assistant, Alli Binder at
[email protected].
Please wear a mask in public and practice social distancing. Let's work together to stop the spread of COVID-19 so we can all return to work, school, and our normal lives!
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Say Thank You From Orange County to Governor Newsom For His COVID-19 Leadership!
Dear Governor Newsom,
Specifically, we wish to counter the narrative that a majority of Orange County's residents object to Governor Newsom's orders mandating social distancing and face covering in order to stop the spread of this deadly virus.
We are appalled by the much-publicized and politically motivated opposition to the Governor's COVID-19 orders by the Orange County Board of Supervisors, the Orange County Board of Education, and individual "anti-maskers" in Orange County.
They do not represent us.
On the contrary, we stand with the great majority of scientists, doctors, nurses, and other health care and public health professionals in calling for mask wearing and social distancing.
We want our economy and our schools to reopen, but we know that to do so safely we will need to increase testing and reduce the rate of infection.
We join with you, Governor Newsom, in saying that social distancing and wearing a face covering is critical for keeping people safe and healthy, keeping businesses open, and getting people back to work and school.
Again, thank you, Governor Newsom, for your leadership during this challenging time!
Melissa Fox
Sign on to this letter
HERE.
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On my motion, brought with City Councilmember Farrah Khan, the The Irvine City Council unanimously repealed and removed a section of the municipal code (known as Measure N) that had prohibited any anti-discrimination protections for people based on their sexual orientation.
Current Irvine Mayor Christina Shea was one of the initiative's supporters when it was adopted in 1989.
As the
Voice of OC noted
, "Over the last year, Irvine has seen a dramatic shift in its recognition of the LGBTQ+ community after widespread calls from the public for renewed action to acknowledge the community. In June 2019, the panel voted against flying the pride flag during pride month, with Carroll referring to the flag as a '
spectacle of divisiveness.' . . . But last month, the
council reversed its position, voting 4-1 to fly the flag over City Hall for the remainder of June and to make it an annual occurrence, flying from Harvey Milk Day (May 22) to the end of pride month. The city also officially recognized pride month for the first time this June two weeks ahead of the flag vote.
The City Attorney questioned whether we had the authority to repeal the anti-LGBTQ ordinance. The council decided to move forward with the vote I noted that the only challenges that could potentially come to their decision would be a lawsuit calling for the legislation to be restored to the old city code. "Who in their right mind is going to come sue us to put this anti-LGBTQ language back in our code?" Fox said. "Lets clean this up and move on."
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The most important issue facing all of us right now is the COVID-19 pandemic that has killed more than 150,000 Americans and sickened millions and the economic crisis it has caused.
For the foreseeable future, the primary role of government -- at the national, state and local levels -- must be stopping the spread of this disease, helping to provide treatment and support to those who have become ill, and helping people and small businesses survive the pandemic's devastating impact on our economy.
Help must include financial assistance to workers who have lost their jobs, families that need help to stay in their homes, and small businesses that need help to keep their doors open and their people employed.
When the pandemic subsides, the primary focus of government must then become helping families recover their financial stability, students recover lost their educational opportunities, and the small businesses that energize our communities recover their vibrancy.
Public health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic require strong leadership grounded in respect for science. In sharp contrast to my opponent, who has flagrantly rejected the advice of scientists and public health experts, voted with anti-vaxxers, and given his unquestioning support to the disastrous mishandling of this pandemic by the Trump administration, I will listen carefully to the voices of scientists, public health experts, and first responders.
I fully support
The Biden Plan to Combat COVID-19 and Prepare for Future Global Health Threats, which sets out an effective national emergency response to saves lives, protect frontline workers, and minimize the spread of COVID-19 and commits to economic measures to help hard-hit workers, families, and small businesses and to stabilize the American economy.
Most importantly, I will ensure that California's economic recovery from COVID-19 will be based on helping Main Street, not Wall Street, and guided by the core values we share: compassion for those in need, fiscal responsibility, fairness and inclusion.
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Free Summer Concerts and Movies for Irvine Residents!
E
njoy movies and concerts in the park - with a twist - during the Irvine Summer Drive-In Series. This series of modified events brings the community together while safely following social distance guidelines.
The Summer Drive-In Series features movies on the big screen and live concerts to the Orange County Great Park in drive-in format every Saturday this August. Park your cars, bring a picnic basket, or plan to purchase treats from gourmet food trucks.
The drive-in will be set up in parking lot 2 at the Great Park.
Movie gates open at 6:45 p.m. and movies begin after sunset, approximately 8:15 p.m.
Concert gates open at 4:30 p.m. and start at 5:30 p.m.
Guests will be able to listen through amplified sound or tune in through their car radios via a special FM station for the events.
Space for this special event is limited, and guests must register in advance.
Summer Drive-In Series Schedule:
- Saturday, August 1: Southland Mega Groove concert (Rocking the Decades), with an intermission performance by Irvine High School Youth Team Akustikoff finalists Haley Tran & Nathan Nguyen
- Saturday, August 8: "The Secret Life of Pets 2" movie screening (Rated PG)
- Saturday, August 15: Tijuana Dogs concert (Dance Party Rock), with an intermission performance by Irvine High School Youth Team Akustikoff winner Ana Carvalho
Saturday, August 22: "Sonic the Hedgehog" movie screening (Rated PG)
- Saturday, August 29: Yachty by Nature concert (Soft Rock)
Due to limited space available, these events are open to Irvine residents only.
Admission is free and advanced registration is required.
The Orange County Great Park is located at 8000 Great Park Blvd., in Irvine. For more information, visit
cityofirvine.org/specialevents or call 949-724-6606.
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Is Your Pet Ready for Their Close-Up? Enter the 2021 Irvine Pet Calendar Contest!
Is your dog, cat or rabbit ready for their close-up?
Until the end of the contest, all eligible photos with a minimum of 5 votes will be included in the 2021 Irvine Animal Care Center Wall Calendar. For the top 13 winners, pets appear in the entire monthly spread of the calendar. Each participant is provided with a print itinerary and additional copies may be sold in November.
Photo submission is possible from August 1 to September 8. Admission is $25 per photo. Voting is online and is open to the general public from August 1 to September 8. Votes are $1 each.
All proceeds benefit the Center's Enhanced Care, Foster Care and Third Chance for Pets programs. For more information, please contact the center at 949-724-7740.
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Free Summer Movies at the Hanger in Tustin!
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Drive-Thru Farmer's Market at Orange County Great Park Remains Open on Sundays!
I worked with City of Irvine staff and the coordinator for the Great Park Farmer's Market to develop a Drive-Thru Farmer's Market for Sundays, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
I've always loved farmer's markets, and I'm glad I was able to help provide fresh food to our community when it's never been more important to eat right to stay healthy!
The Sunday Drive-Thru Farmer's Market at the Great Park allows for the market to be open during the COVID19 outbreak while maintaining social distancing in keeping with state and federal guidelines will continue until further notice.
At this time, there are approximately 23 vendors scheduled to participate with items varying from fruits and vegetables to hummus, bread, beef jerky, honey, and eggs.
A traffic safety plan has been developed with the assistance of Public Works & Transportation, Public Safety, and Community Services staff to facilitate anticipated traffic.
Some options from the first Drive-Thru Farmer's Market at the Great Park. Photo by Caroline Djang.
The Market is staffed with uniformed police officers in marked vehicles to assist in traffic flow and to ensure social distancing is adhered to. Community Services will also have three staff on-site beginning at 6 a.m. to facilitate the vendors or provide additional assistance as needed.
Admission is free. The Farmers Market is located in Lot No. 2; enter along Great Park Boulevard at Sand Canyon Avenue.
Here is some important information:
- Drive-thru only. No walk-ups or cyclists will be served.
- Exact cash is required, if using cash. Venmo and bank cards will be accepted.
- Purchase only what is needed, be considerate of others in need.
- Be patient and proceed slowly when waiting in traffic.
- Wash all produce before consumption.
The Great Park Certified Farmers Market is operated by Mary Ann Senske. For vendor details or other information, visit the market on
Facebook.
For questions or to request an application to be a vendor, contact her at 714-733-3167 or
[email protected].
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Participate in the 2020 Census to Ensure
Everyone is Counted!
Everyone should to participate in the 2020 Census to ensure that everyone is counted during the nation's once-a-decade count of every person in the United States.
The results of the 2020 Census will help determine how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding flow into our communities in the next decade.
That funding shapes many different aspects of every community throughout the U.S., from highway planning and public transit to educational programs and housing assistance.
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California Needs a Racial Bias Strike Team Against Anti-Asian COVID-19 Racism
Asian Americans in California have self-reported 832 incidents of discrimination and harassment in the last three months, including 81 incidents of assault and 64 potential civil rights violations, according to
Stop AAPI Hate, a reporting center and the leading aggregator of incidents against Asian Americans during the pandemic, founded by the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council (A3PCON) and San Francisco State University Asian American Studies Department.
Discrimination and harassment of Asian Americans in California has drawn national attention recently after a series of
videos in Torrance, California, featured a woman using graphic racist language against Asian Americans. The videos have received millions of views, and reflect just a handful of the incidents reported to Stop AAPI Hate in California. The new report shows that incidents of racism and discrimination are not isolated to any particular area but are a statewide problem - Asian Americans have reported incidents in 34 counties so far. Incidents are reportedly taking place in California in retail stores, in the workplace, and online.
I am appalled by these acts of hatred and by President Trump's continued stoking of anti-Chinese and anti-Asian bigotry.
In response to these attacks, Stop AAPI Hate has now called on California Governor Gavin Newsom to establish a Racial Bias Strike Team comprised of key state agencies and departments that have jurisdiction over public education, implementing state and federal civil rights laws, overseeing workplace and employment discrimination, providing mental health services to vulnerable communities, and offering support to local Asian American-serving community-based organizations.
As Dr. Russell Jeung, Chair and Professor of Asian American Studies at San Francisco State University, explains, "Without government accountability, we risk COVID-related racism against Asian Americans becoming deeply entrenched, ultimately impacting the lives of millions of people in California and around the country."
I join with Stop AAPI Hate in calling on California Governor Gavin Newsom to establish a Racial Bias Strike Team against anti-Asian COVID-19 racism.
I further call on all my colleagues in elected office in Orange County, both Democratic and Republican, to join me in loudly and unequivocally condemning these acts of hatred, as well as President Trump's continued stoking of anti-Chinese and anti-Asian hatred and bigotry by using the terms "Chinese virus" and "Kung Flu" in reference to COVID-19.
No one, especially not the president, should use racial or racist terms in describing COVID-19.
Sadly, no Orange County Republican elected official has explicitly condemned Trump's racist, anti-Asian "Chinese virus" and "Kung Flu" language regarding COVID-19. Their cowardice and complicity leaves an indelible stain on their party and themselves.
All who have witnessed or experienced anti-Asian attacks are encouraged to file a report
HERE.
Reports may be made in English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Hindi, Japanese, Hmong, Tagalog, Khmer, Thai and Punjabi.
If you have experienced anti-Asian bullying, harassment, hate speech, or violence in Irvine, please also contact the Irvine Police Department at 949-724-7000. In an emergency, call 911. Neither the Irvine Police Department nor the Irvine City Council will tolerate any such anti-Asian attacks or discrimination in Irvine.
We're in this together. Don't hate, stay safe, and wear a mask!
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Join Me for the "Ending Child Marriage Advocacy Summit"!
The meeting on August 5, 2020, we will be focused on engaging the group in advocacy. Come prepared to really engage with the issue, with each other, and with people who have experienced being the victims of Child Marriage.
Speakers:
- Rima Nashashibi, President and Founder, Global Hope 365
- Sen. Joseph Dunn (ret.), Special Advisor to the Dean, UCI School of Law
- Dr. Eleanor Kennelly Gaetan, Director of Public Policy at the National Center on Sexual Exploitation
- Jeanne Smoot, Senior Counsel for Policy and Strategy, Tahirih Justice Center
Advocacy Leaders:
- Melissa Fox, Councilmember, City of Irvine
- Dave Min, Candidate for California State Senate District 37
- Barry Simon, President UNA-USA Southern California Division
- Isabel Treidl, President, United Nations Association Orange County
- Stephanie Oddo, Candidate, Laguna Niguel City Council
- Mellissa Withers, PhD, MHS, Associate Professor (clinical), USC Keck School of Medicine, USC Institute on Inequalities in Global Health, Director, APRU Global Health Program
Survivors:
- Genevieve Meyer, Survivor, The Resiliency Foundation
- Elizabeth Sitton, Survivor
- Sara Tasneem, Survivor and Advocate, Sara Tasneem Advocacy
- Dawn Tyree, Survivor and Advocate
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Join Our "Supporting Seniors" Virtual Phone-Bank!
All Californians should check in on their older neighbors with a call, text or physically-distanced door knock to make sure they're okay during this COVID-19 outbreak and stay-at-home order.
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Our campaign -- Melissa Fox for California Assembly (AD68) -- has decided to use our phone-banking and community outreach resources to call seniors and people in need of critical services in the cities of Assembly District 68 - Lake Forest, Tustin, Orange, Irvine, Anaheim Hills and Villa Park - to ask how they're doing during this stressful time and to see whether they need any help, including food assistance and mental health assistance and other community resources.
Our volunteer callers will be able to provide information and connect seniors with any community assistance or resources they might need.
If you would like to join our "Supporting Seniors" virtual phone-bank and be a volunteer caller, please contact meredith
@votemelissafox.com.
Thanks!
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Join Ashleigh Aitken and Michael Penn for an
IRISH PUB NIGHT
for Melissa Fox for California Assembly!
with Special Performance
by Terry Casey of The Fenians!
August 26th at 5:00 pm
ZOOM Code provided with RSVP
Learn more about Melissa Fox for California Assembly at
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For a complete list of measures in effect in the City of Irvine and for regular updates on this rapidly evolving situation, visit
http://cityofirvine.org.
Consult these additional resources for up-to-date COVID-19 information:
For Small Businesses:
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers low-interest loans to help businesses and homeowners recover from declared disasters. Assistance is available up to $2 million with a loan interest rate of 3.75% for small businesses that have been impacted economically by COVID-19. For more information or to apply online visit
https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.
Applicants may also call the customer service center at 800-659-2955 or email
[email protected]. Completed applications can be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155
The Irvine Company has issued a statement regarding deferring rent for their retail companies. Starting on April 1, 2020 the Irvine Company will be deferring rent at retail properties for 90 days. Deferred rent will be paid back over a 12-month period with no interest commencing on January 1, 2021.
Unemployment Benefits (California):
Individuals who have had hours reduced or their employer has shut down have the option to file an Unemployment Insurance (UI) claim through EDD. UI will provide workers who have lost their jobs or have had their hours reduced with partial wage replacement benefit (applies only to those who have lost their employment or had hours reduced through no fault of their own). To learn more about UI or file a claim visit:
Link to EDD in Chinese HERE.
Individuals may also be eligible for UI benefits if their child's school has closed and they must miss work to care for them. Eligibility considerations include whether or not individuals have other care options and if you are unable to continue working normal hours remotely.
Disability Insurance (California):
Individuals who are unable to work due to having or being exposed to COVID-19 (must be certified by a medical professional), may file a Disability Insurance (DI) claim. DI provides short-term benefit payments that amount to approximately 60-70 percent of wages (depending on income). For more information or to file a claim online visit:
https://www.edd.ca.gov/Disability/How_to_File_a_DI_Claim_in_SDI_Online.htm
COVID-19 Information for AD 68 Cities:
School information:
Community Colleges:
Universities:
Additional Support for Families/Communities (Locally):
Any households that may be financially impacted by COVID-19 and are concerned about paying for various utilities and other essential services should visit the following links for the latest updates:
Under California's anti-price gouging statute, it is illegal to raise the price of many consumer goods and services by more than 10% after an emergency has been declared. Report price gouging at 800-952-5225.
Report any COVID-19 related scams or fraudulent activities to the Orange County District Attorney at their Fraud Hot Line: 714-834-3482.
Please also see my blog posts related to COVID-19:
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Melissa Fox
Irvine City Council
Staff and Commissioners
Allison Binder, Lead Council Executive Assistant
Meredith Marquis, Council Executive Assistant
Lauren Johnson Norris,
Community Services Commissioner
Dustin Nirschl,
Planning Commissioner
Roger Sievers,
Finance Commissioner
Kenneth Montgomery, Transportation Commissioner
Zhihai Li,
Children, Youth and Families Committee
Aarti Kaushal Chopra,
Childcare Committee
Juneu Kim,
Senior Council
Richard Cody Prince,
Green Ribbon Environmental Committee
Fred Judd,
Investment Advisory Committee (Chair)
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