UpFront

Economist Richard Wolff on government relief during the time of COVID-19; Plus: Last minute Alameda County BOS item considers giving $85m to Sheriff’s Department for Santa Rita Jail staff and funding

0:08 – COVID-19, the economy, and what real government relief might look like

Richard Wolff (@profwolff) is a Marxian economist, professor emeritus at University of Massachusetts Amherst, and co-founder of Democracy @ Work. He is also the host of Economic Update, on KPFA Fridays at 10am. 

0:34 – Q&A: COVID-19 and staying healthy

Art Reingold is the Division Head of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health.

1:08 – News and social media disinformation and moderation during COVID-19

Casey Newton (@CaseyNewton) is Silicon Valley Editor for The Verge.

1:20 – BREAKING: The Alameda County Board of Supervisors is set to vote on an additional $85 million to the Sheriff’s Department, which oversees Santa Rita Jail, for staffing and other costs, including hiring 216 new Sheriff’s deputies over the next 3 years. The agenda item (32.5) will be considered today, 3/24 at 930am PST – you can read it here.

Jose Bernal (@Jose_Bernal415) is with the Audit Ahern coalition, which is alarmed and want to see Alameda County invest in community resources, affordable housing & healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic, not more Sheriffs or resources for law enforcement. 

To weigh in during public comment: Email to [email protected]: Include your name and telephone number. You will receive a phone call from a private number between 9:30am-1p. Once you answer the county clerk will start your public comment, which will be live in the board chambers.

1:34 – Fears are growing for people in-custody during the coronavirus outbreak, and so is action to release as many people as possible to prevent jails becoming the epicenter.

Chesa Boudin (@chesaboudin) is the District Attorney of San Francisco. 

1:47 – PG&E pleads guilty to 84 counts of manslaughter for those who died in the Camp Fire in Butte County, CA. But advocates say its a ploy to avoid further penalties and maintain its corporate structure, and falls far short of accountability.

Mark Toney is the Executive Director with TURN The Utility Reform Network (@UtilityReform).

 

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