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Irvine City Council Newsletter October 2020 |
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Celebrate Irvine's 2020 Global Village Festival with Three Weeks of Interactive Online Experiences and Two Drive-In Concerts!
Join us for three weeks of unique, interactive online experiences and two socially distanced drive-in concerts that will highlight memories of festivals past and create new memories uniting the community.
My favorite event of the year is the Irvine Global Village Festival, founded in 1998 by a group of Irvine residents to help promote understanding and build harmony within Irvine's many diverse cultures. Over the years, the Global Village Festival has expanded from one day to two days, and moved from Col. Bill Barber Park across from Irvine City Hall to the much larger Orange County Great Park.
Because of COVID-19, this year's festival will be somewhat different. While we can't gather in person this year, we look forward to celebrating Orange County's premier multicultural event in innovative ways that keep the public safe, connected, and engaged.
The 2020 Global Village Festival will consist of a series of responsibly planned events that adhere to social distancing guidelines as we navigate these unusual times.
From September 21-October 10, 2020, you're invited to celebrate Irvine's multicultural community through music, art, food, and fun:
- Browse photo albums and videos exploring the history of the Irvine Global Village Festival. Share your own photos of favorite memories from past festivals to see them included on the City's social media accounts.
- Make new memories of Irvine Global Village Festival at home. Families can take part in weekly themed art activities and classes from home, including downloadable coloring sheets for kids.
- Explore a list of multicultural restaurants in Irvine with outdoor dining or take-home options to dine globally and celebrate Irvine's rich diversity while staying safe at home. Share photos of your festive meals with the City so we can share them online!
- Enjoy entertaining videos featuring the international cuisine, dance, and musical performances of previous Irvine Global Village Festivals.
The Irvine Global Village Festival also includes drive-in concerts at the Orange County Great Park, put on in partnership between the City and Irvine Barclay Theatre. On Saturday, October 10, with a show by award-winning all-female mariachi band Mariachi Divas. Park your cars and enjoy a picnic to pay tribute to the rich musical history of the Irvine Global Village Festival, all while safely practicing social distancing. Tickets for the concerts are $25 per car for general admission and $40 per car for VIP front-row access. Pre-registration is required. Tickets will be on sale at yourirvine.org for three weeks prior to the start of each event; the first week of sales is open to Irvine residents only, and the remaining two weeks are open to all members of the public. A $5 non-resident fee will be applied.
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I'm delighted to join in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month!
Hispanic Americans are the largest minority group in both California and the United States, and generations of Hispanic Americans have helped make our country and our state strong and prosperous. The Hispanic American community continues to shape who we are, what we stand for, and where we're going.
I'm grateful for the extraordinary contributions that Hispanic Americans make every day to our country, our state, and our county -- as scientists and business owners, doctors and teachers, soldiers and veterans, artists and musicians, labor leaders and public servants, and as essential workers keeping us safe during this crisis.
The Hispanic American Heritage is a vibrant legacy of leadership, vision, creativity, kindness, resilience and commitment. I'm proud to work together with my Hispanic American friends, colleagues, and neighbors to overcome the pandemic and save lives, make our economy stronger and fairer, ensure affordable housing and healthcare for all, fix our broken immigration system, fight climate change, restore our democracy, and make our world a better place for everyone. ¡Sí, se puede!
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My son, Max Fox, is an EMT and HazMat specialist. He had been studying firefighting and emergency management at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, until he came home for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis. With wildfires raging across the state, I asked him about what he would advise local families that want to prepare for emergencies. Here is what he wrote:
"As Californians, there are certain emergencies that we should all be prepared for: earthquakes, fire, and flood. We should have Family Emergency Plans for these all too common occurrences.
Family Emergency Plans should include (1) an emergency family communication plan in case of separation, (2) consideration of the special needs of each member of your household (such as medications or medical equipment), and (3) plans for your most important documents (such as identification and insurance).
Documents you should consider including as part of your Family Emergency Plan are: - A copy of each family member's driver's license and passport
- Each family member's Social Security card or number
- A copy of each family member's birth certificate
- A copy of everyone's medical records and list of vaccinations, including your pet's
- Authorization for treatment
- Property titles for your car and home
- All of your bank, credit card and investment account numbers and corresponding customer service telephone numbers
- Health insurance and life insurance account information
- Photographs or videos of all of your property to make potential insurance claims easier
- Wills, as well as living wills and a power of attorney
- Your latest tax return
- Your marriage certificate
- Adoption and citizenship papers
- Military records
- Medications and eyeglass prescriptions
- Important files backed up on an external hard-drive
- Copies of your favorite family photographs
A Family Emergency Plan for the current COVID-19 pandemic should incorporate many of the same features. For families with young children, plans should also include lists of other trusted adults who are able to look after your children should a parent become sick and/or hospitalized. People with children - or people taking care of seniors - should also make a list that has everything the caregiver should know about the children and/or seniors, their allergies, any medical documentation that may be needed, as well as written authorizations for treatment. Plans should also include provisions for care of your pets, if you are not able to leave them home or continue to care for them.
In an emergency, it is very easy to forget something, so an important part of making your plan should also include making a pre-prepared "go-bag" (a bag of stuff needed in an emergency that is already pack with everything you need). An emergency go-bag might include: - At least three days of water for every member of the family
- Non-perishable food options, like nuts, canned goods and granola bars
- Changes of clothing and footwear for each member of the family
- Sleeping bags or rolled blankets
- First-aid kit supplies
- Emergency supplies, such as a battery-operated radio, a flashlight with extra batteries, duct tape, plastic bags, water purification tablets, local maps and a compass, aluminum foil, matches and a can opener
- Basic tools, like pliers, a wrench, an axe and a utility knife
- Personal care items such as toilet paper, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, feminine products, extra eyeglasses and contact lens solution
- Money, including a few personal checks.
I hope no one will have to use their plan, but it is always better to have a plan and go-bag and not need it, then it is to need a plan and go-bag but not have them. Please stay safe. Whether in case of fire, earthquake or other emergency, please remember that COVID-19 is still a killer, so be sure to wear a mask, wash your hands, and maintain social distancing."
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Helping Wound Walk OC
Wound Walk OC tends to the wounds of unsheltered people in Orange County.
Founded three years ago by filmmaker Michael Sean Wright, Wound Walk OC's mission is to "Practice equity in action. Bring relief to those most in need. Inspire empathetic future healthcare advocates and field medics. Provide encouragement to communities by showing what caring volunteers can accomplish."
The members of Wound Walk OC are street medics who go to where unsheltered people live - in parks and other areas - with a "wound wagon" filled with emergency medical supplies donated by the community.
They offer emergency first aid/medical care to homeless people with wounds and other injuries that, without Wound Walk's intervention, would go untreated, with serious and potentially deadly consequences. They also provide food, drinking water, underwear and socks. Their work in helping unsheltered people with wounds and other medical issues is truly on the front lines of the homelessness crisis - even more so under the dangerous conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. As Spectrum News One has reported, "While doctors and nurses continue to battle on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, Wright [and Wound Walk OC] is in many ways on the front lines of its humanity."
The street medics of Wound Walk OC protect themselves against the pandemic as best they can with disinfectant, multiple layers of personal protective equipment, and sets of gloves, as they provide direct relief for those who need it most.
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| | Max Fox of Wound Walk OC check a woman_s blood pressure. |
As Michael Sean Wright recently told ABC News, "For the unsheltered communities, public libraries and fast food restaurants are sometimes their only access to restrooms, and so when those close down, as they have during this pandemic, it's like the water turned off. If you're not getting water flowing or the wound covered or cleaned outside, you are exposed to insects, or further trauma that's coming and infections. When that happens, we urge them to seek medical attention. We have great clinics up and down here that folks don't know they can go to, so our opportunity is to intro and help them get that care."
I'm glad that I was recently able to help my friends Teresa Lai and Jerry Chen and Asian American for a Better Community contribute 5,000 face masks to Wound Walk OC.
I'm also proud that my son, Max Fox, has joined Wound Walk OC and is putting his EMT and HazMat training to much needed use while he is on pandemic-break from college and from the Fairbanks North Star Borough HazMat Team.
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| | Grateful for the opportunity to help my friends Teresa Lai and Jerry Chen and Asian American for a Better Community contribute 5_000 face masks to Wound Walk OC. With Michael Sean Wight. |
If you would like to know more, or learn more about how you can help, contact Wound Walk OC at [email protected] or call 949-973-3317.
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Irvine Continues Free COVID-19 Testing at the Orange County Great Park
Due to continued high demand, the City of Irvine has continued to offer its residents and work force free COVID-19 testing at the Great Park.
Irvine began to offer COVID-19 testing on July 13. We have now agreed to have the testing program continue into October. 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.
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Stop the Dangerous Santiago Creek Development: Vote No on City of Orange Measure AA!
I urge my friends in the City of Orange to stop the dangerous Santiago Creek development.
The proposed development - which would squeeze 128 expensive homes on 40.9 acres just south of Santiago Creek, near the already excessively congested intersection of Santiago Canyon Road and Cannon Street - is too dangerous to be approved.
- The area of the proposed development is prone to wildfire and has few evacuation routes. Those few evacuation routes are already excessively congested. During the recent 2017 Canyon II Fire, cars were backed up for miles with people trying to flee. This proposed development will create even more congestion, which could prove fatal in the next wildfire.
- The area of the proposed development is subject to serious flooding danger. The area is in a flood plain and has a history of dangerous flooding. Major floods in Orange County have occurred in 1810, 1815, 1825, 1884, 1891, 1916, 1927, 1938, 1969, 1983, 1993 and 1997. In February 1969, heavy rains led to catastophic flooding of Santiago Creek that washed out bridges and roads, destroyed homes and cars, and caused hundreds to be evacuated. The danger of flooding in the area remains unabated.
- The proposed development is on a known fault line and subject to liquefaction in an earthquake. In addition, two earthen dams upstream of the proposed development are also on a fault line and subject to liquefaction, increasing the danger of catastophic flooding.
- There are active methane vents next to the site. The homes built on the proposed site will require methane gas detectors to monitor dangerous levels of methane. The release of methane into the air can cause debilitating health problems, ranging from rashes, nosebleeds and wheezing to headaches, nausea, vomiting, brain injury and death.
- The development project is also an affront to democracy. Residents of the area have opposed the development for years, yet the developers and the Orange City Council has ignored their concerns. Despite the people's opposition, the Orange City Council pushed ahead with approving this project, putting the financial interests of the developers ahead of the wishes and the safety of the people. When this most recent development plan came before the Orange City Council, more than 80% of the Orange residents who spoke at the public hearing opposed the project. The Orange City Council approved it anyway, forcing the residents to overturn their decision through the referendum process. Residents then collected more than 13,000 signitures - nearly double the number needed - in less than 30 days to put Measure AA on the ballot. The people do not want this project!
I am a strong advocate for action on the local and state level addressing the housing and homelessness crises, but not at the cost of lives lost due to development plans that fail to properly account for the high danger of flood, wildfire, and other natural disasters. Plus, more multi million-dollar homes are not what the City of Orange, Orange County, or California need right now. Vote No on Measure AA to stop this dangerous development! Watch a video on the Santiago Creek development here:
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Democracy in Action: Public Outrage Leads Irvine City Council to Call on U.S. Postal Service to End and Rescind Actions that Impede Prompt Delivery of the Mail
Thanks to tremendous public support, we succeeded! At the Irvine City Council meeting on September 8, 2020, the Council unanimously agreed to send an official letter to the U.S. Postmaster, on behalf of our residents, to cease and rescind any actions that undermine prompt delivery of the mail, including "expeditious action to re-store mail sorting equipment and remedy the recent changes to USPS polices and procedures that would result in reduced or delayed mail service levels." Here is the full text of the official letter sent to the U.S. Postmaster General:
Thank you to everyone who wrote to the Irvine City Council in support of the U.S. Postal Service! This letter is truly the result of democracy in action.
Now, we must keep the pressure on the federal government to ensure that the USPS "to provide prompt, reliable, and efficient services to patrons in all areas and render postal services to all communities, without interruption."
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Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933-2020):
Time for Us to Carry on the Fight
I was having dinner with my family to celebrate the Jewish New Year when I learned that Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had died. As my friend Lauren Johnson Norris posted on Facebook, "According to Jewish tradition, a person who dies on Rosh Hashanah, which began tonight, is a tzaddik, a person of great righteousness. We found that very comforting. So strange to be eating these apples and honey with this sadness."
We have lost a woman of valor and righteousness. We have lost our warrior and champion. Salt water next to our apples and honey.
Mixed with our sadness is the acute realization that the tragic loss of Justice Ginsburg means that a woman's right to control her own body, already under extreme siege, is more in danger now than at any time since Roe v. Wade was decided nearly 50 years ago.
Now, more than ever, we must ensure that our representatives, at every level of government, are fully committed to protecting our fundamental reproductive rights. I want to share with you the statement released today by my friend and Irvine Community Services Commissioner Lauren Johnson-Norris. It eloquently puts into words what I and many other women are thinking and feeling at this difficult and pivotal moment in our history:
"Justice Ginsburg is an icon for many women, especially women lawyers, because she dedicated her professional life to a singular focus in moving the law toward equality for women. She entered spaces where women were not welcomed and won time and again, not just because of her brilliant mind and persuasive advocacy, but because she stood on the side of equality. As a jurist, she sought to build consensus but, when that was not possible, she provided an essential voice of dissent that spoke truth to power. The loss of Justice Ginsburg on the United States Supreme Court is devastating at a time when women's fundamental right to reproductive health care is under attack. The right of a woman to make autonomous decisions about her own body is the core of her fundamental right to equality and privacy. As a lawyer, mother, and advocate for women, I know that in order to drive equality, we must commit fully and actively to reproductive rights and healthcare for all." RBG gave us all she could. She brought us this far. Now it's our time to carry on the fight, in her name and in her memory, for ourselves, our mothers, our sisters, and our daughters.
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The Irvine Community Land Trust Land Continues Construction Progress on Salerno, Our Newest Affordable Housing Community!
I was elected to serve as Chair of the Irvine Community Land Trust (ICLT) in 2018, guiding its mission of providing secure, high-quality affordable housing for the benefit of income-eligible families. Like all Irvine Community Land Trust Board Members, I serve as a volunteer, without compensation.
We build high-quality affordable rental, ownership and special needs housing for the benefit of income-eligible families. Located in the heart of Southern California's one of the most expensive real estate markets, there is a tremendous need for affordable housing.
 Both as a member of the Irvine City Council and as Chair of the Irvine Community Land Trust, I have made it a priority to create more affordable housing, especially for working families, verterans, and people with disabilities. I have worked with legislators in Sacramento to cut taxes on affordable housing construction, and I have made for easier to more working people to become homeowners.
As we fight the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, secure and affordable housing has never been more important.
Through a series of special protocols, the Irvine Community Land Trust is continuing construction on our new community, Salerno, even during the pandemic. Out of concern for our construction workers, we've undertaen extraordinary measures to ensure they stay safe and healthy while on the job.
I recently received some photos of the progress that we've made at Salerno, which will bring 80 affordable homes to the city. Still on schedule to be completed in the Fall of 2020, Salerno will offer affordable rents as low as $550 for a one-bedroom, $625 for a two-bedroom and $695 for a three-bedroom.
Thirty-five of the homes will be reserved for those earning less than 30 percent of the area median income: 15 for veterans; 10 for individuals with developmental disabilities; and 10 for families at risk of homelessness.
When completed in the fall, Salerno will join Parc Derian, Alegre Apartments and Doria Apartment Homes as places where income eligible residents will proudly call Irvine "home." As the Orange County Register observed, these affordable communities offer "a new beginning for veterans, developmentally disabled people and families at risk of homelessness."
The interest list for Salerno is currently closed. However, you can get your name on our interest list for future projects and available homes HERE.
We will notify you when a project becomes available.
Here are some photos of our progress at Salerno:
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Video: Councilmember Melissa Fox Discusses COVID-19 and Its Impact on Children with Renowned Pediatrician
Dr. Charles L. Schleien
I recently had a very informative discussion on the topic COVID-19 and its impact on children with renowned pediatrician Dr. Charles L. Schleien, the Philip Lanzkowsky Professor of Pediatrics and Pediatrician-in-Chief at Northwell Health, a nonprofit integrated healthcare network and New York State's largest healthcare provider.
Our discussion covered several extremely important and timely topics, including the potential impact of COVID-19 on children, new diseases of children that have appeared with COVID-19, the effectiveness of face masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) for both adults and children, the tremendous strain that COVID-19 has caused on our entire healthcare system, and Dr. Schleien's own personal story of being hospitalized for, and recovering from, COVID-19 in early March.
Dr. Charles Schleien is a long-time family friend. He received an M.D. from Mount Sinai School of Medicine and a Master of Business Administration from Columbia University. He completed a pediatric residency at Baylor Texas Children's Hospital; an anesthesia residency at The Johns Hopkins Hospital; and a fellowship in pediatric critical care medicine at The Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Prior to joining Northwell Health, Dr. Schleien was executive vice chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and professor of pediatrics and anesthesiology at Columbia University/New York Presbyterian Hospital. He is past director of the Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, which he founded upon his arrival at Columbia in 1999, and served as medical director of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at the Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of Columbia University. Dr. Schleien previously served as director of pediatric critical care medicine in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center, and professor of pediatrics and anesthesiology at the University of Miami School of Medicine.
Watch our discussion here
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| | Fox Town Hall: COVID & Kids with Dr. Charles Schleien |
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Join Are You Ready for Wildfire? Low-Cost Retrofits to Your Home that Can Save Property and Lives!
Being Ready for Wildfire starts with maintaining an adequate defensible space and by hardening your home by using fire resistant building materials.
In a recent blog post, I presented my firefighter son's Family Emergency Plan information. Here are several low-cost ways to harden your home to maximize its ability to withstand a wildfire and to keep your family safe when you can't evacuate.
Nearly all of the 68th Assembly District is considered " Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)," where human made structures and infrastructure (e.g., cell towers, schools, water supply facilities, etc.) are in or adjacent to areas prone to the danger of wildfire. Newer developmnents are pressing ever closer to wildland, increasing the danger of WUI wildfires and the need to be prepared.
Taking the right actions now to prepare your family and home for the next California wildfire can save your property and your family members' lives.
Roof:
The roof is the most vulnerable part of your home. Homes with wood or shingle roofs are at high risk of being destroyed during a wildfire. Build your roof or re-roof with materials such as composition, metal or tile. Block any spaces between roof decking and covering to prevent embers from catching.
Vents:
Vents on homes create openings for flying embers. Cover all vent openings with 1/16-inch to 1/8-inch metal mesh. Do not use fiberglass or plastic mesh because they can melt and burn. Protect vents in eaves or cornices with baffles to block embers (mesh is not enough). Eaves and Soffits:
Eaves and soffits should be protected with ignition-resistant or non-combustible materials. Windows:
Heat from a wildfire can cause windows to break even before the home is on fire. This allows burning embers to enter and start fires inside. Single-paned and large windows are particularly vulnerable. Install dual-paned windows with one pane of tempered glass to reduce the chance of breakage in a fire. Consider limiting the size and number of windows that face large areas of vegetation. Walls:
Wood products, such as boards, panels or shingles, are common siding materials. However, they are flammable and not good choices for fire-prone areas. Build or remodel your walls with ignition resistant* building materials, such as stucco, fiber cement wall siding, fire retardant, treated wood, or other approved materials. Be sure to extend materials from the foundation to the roof.
Decks:
Surfaces within 10 feet of the building should be built with ignition-resistant*, non-combustible, or other approved materials. Ensure that all combustible items are removed from underneath your deck.
Rain Gutters:
Keep rain gutters clear or enclose rain gutters to prevent accumulation of plant debris.
Patio Cover:
Use the same ignition-resistant* materials for patio coverings as a roof.
Chimney:
Cover your chimney and stovepipe outlets with a non-flammable screen. Use metal screen material with openings no smaller than 3/8-inch and no larger than 1/2-inch to prevent embers from escaping and igniting a fire.
Garage:
Have a fire extinguisher and tools such as a shovel, rake, bucket, and hose available for fire emergencies. Install weather stripping around and under the garage door to prevent embers from blowing in. Store all combustible and flammable liquids away from ignition sources.
Fences:
Consider using ignition-resistant* or non-combustible fence materials to protect your home during a wildfire.
Driveways and Access Roads:
Driveways should be built and maintained in accordance with state and local codes to allow fire and emergency vehicles to reach your home. Consider maintaining access roads with a minimum of 10 feet of clearance on either side, allowing for two-way traffic. Ensure that all gates open inward and are wide enough to accommodate emergency equipment. Trim trees and shrubs overhanging the road to allow emergency vehicles to pass.
Clearly Marked Address:
Make sure your address is clearly visible from the road.
Water Supply:
Consider having multiple garden hoses that are long enough to reach all areas of your home and other structures on your property. If you have a pool or well, consider getting a pump.
Watch CalFire's video on harding your home to protect from wildfire:
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Please Consider Donating to the California Fire Foundation's SAVE Program!
Through this program, frontline firefighters in California provide SAVE gift cards to eligible victims of fire and natural disasters, so they may purchase basic necessities such as food, clothing or medicine.
The SAVE program has grown steadily since 2014 and has impacted more than 55,000 victims in California to date. The SAVE program is administered directly by participating fire departments across California each day, and mobilizes for rapid disaster relief when communities are impacted by wildfire or natural disasters. The SAVE program is a reliable way for Foundation supporters to provide direct relief to victims, especially in the first 24-48 hours after a disaster.
You can watch a video about the SAVE program here:
The California Fire Foundation provides critical support to surviving families of fallen firefighters, firefighters, and the communities they serve. Your tax-deductible donations will help commemorate fallen heroes, offer scholarships to children of fallen firefighters, provide aid to victims of fire or other natural disaster, and provide fire safety resources to underserved communities across California.
Note: Nearly all of the 68th Assembly District is subject to the danger of wildfire! Residents are strongly encouraged to sign up to receive emergency notifications at AlertOC.org.
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Watch the New TV Ad for Melissa Fox for California Assembly!
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| | Melissa Fox New Generation for California Assembly District 68 |
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Join Us for Join us for Howl-O-Ween,!
Join Melissa Fox for California Assembly for Howl-O-Ween, a fun fundraiser with prizes!
Send us a picture of your pet in a costume for our prize contest!
[Pictures of you and your pet(s) in costume is even better!]
Thurs., October 8, 2020
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Send RSVP and Pet Pix to [email protected]
ZOOM link and meeting ID# provided on RSVP.
Co-Sponsored by Compassion PAC (Judy Mancuso) and L.A. City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield
Suggested contributions:
$25 Costume
$50 Jack-o-Lantern
$250 Couldron
$1000 Spider
$2500 Trick-or-Treat
$4700 Halloween
We hope to see you -- and your great Howl-O-Ween pet pix -- there!
Visit Melissa's website: http://votemelissafox.com
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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 Carson at [email protected].
Thanks!
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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, MPP, 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
Richard Cody Prince, Green Ribbon Environmental Committee
Fred Judd, Investment Advisory Committee (Chair) |
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