Dyer’s Down, Rona’s Up and Thanksgiving is Canceled
A superspreader election night party infected Mayor-Elect Jerry Dyer with the coronavirus. Predictably, COVID-19 is surging and Fresno is in danger of returning to the Purple Tier.
☀️Good morning, Fresno! It’s Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020.
I’m back writing the newsletter all by myself! Y’all missed me? But for real, y’all should tell Tommy to write the newsletter more because:
Less work for me akikikik
Tommy is a better writer than I am
But I did miss writing it and when I read it and got caught up like wow, that was helpful! Sometimes I get so caught up in writing Fiveby that I can’t appreciate it. Some distance and a look from the outside gave me some new perspective.
Speaking of Tommy, we are doing a Q&A Episode for the last pod of the season before we go on a little winter break. Please send your questions using the Google form below. Ask us anything, we will answer all of it, we are an open book.
—Ram 🧡
Fresno By Five
🦠 Coronavirus Update: Return to Purple?
As of Nov. 13, the most recent data available at the time of writing, there have been a total of 33,459 (+2,050) total confirmed cases and 443 (+17) deaths in Fresno County. Currently, there are 120 (+17) hospitalized. A total of 21,652 people have recovered. This is the highest increase we’ve had in cases since July.
We remain in the Red tier which allows restaurants and movie theaters to continue indoor operations at 25% capacity.
We had a positivity rate of 8.3 per 100,000 residents this past week, which is in the Purple tier. If we maintain the positivity rate above 8.3 for another week, we will go back down to the purple tier. To remain in the red tier, Fresno County has to meet the following state requirements.
An adjusted average daily rate of seven new coronavirus cases for every 100,000 residents
Have no more than 8% of residents who are tested for COVID-19 show positive results for the infection on a weekly basis
Testing is available around Fresno. Visitlhi.care to set up an appointment. It’s free even without insurance.
😷 Dyer & Friends Get Covid
COVID-19 did not stop at Fresno County Supervisor Steven Brandau, as it infected others that attended their election night event, including Fresno’s Mayor-elect Jerry Dyer and Granville President/GV Wire Publisher Darius Assemi. Dyer had previously taken a test that turned up negative but developed symptoms later on, testing positive for his second test. Fresno Councilmember Mike Karbassi was also in attendance but did not test positive
The infection event was traced to an election night party held by Serop Torossian, Fresno-based community and government relations manager for Kaiser Permanente. Ironic? Ironic.
Dyer has described his COVID-19 journey as a rollercoaster and even Governor Gavin Newsom and former governor Jerry Brown wished him well.
We here from Fiveby would like to send Dyer a “damn… that’s craaaaazy.”
🦃 Thanksgiving Canceled?
Thanksgiving is almost here and sorry to spoil your colonizer holiday but it’s probably not gonna happen this year. Doctor’s orders. Specifically, Fresno County Interim Health Officer Dr. Rais Vohra’s orders. And Gov. Newsom’s.
The governor issued a travel advisory alongside Oregon and Washington governors against traveling out of state. Vohra advises further to make plans now and consider doing the Thanksgiving celebration remotely.
However, our favorite Fresno City councilmember will NOT be conceding in the War Against Thanksgiving In Person. He took to Twitter yesterday to make a brave stand for freedom. We salute you, sir. Bravo, show those libs what’s up!
But hey at least the Marie Callender’s Fresno location is back from the dead! Finally some good news!
😬 Fresno High’s Mascot is Racist
Fresno Unified held a virtual town hall on Thursday to discuss if Fresno High’s mascot is racist. Statements from students, alumni, staff and the community at large were accepted. If you don’t already know, Fresno sits on Yokuts land, the tribe that lived here before colonizers came and took it over.
Jamie Nelson, a Yokuts Native, told the Bee:
It’s really upsetting. I almost abandoned the forum. They put us in a position as Native people (where) we had to explain trauma to a room full of people who ... ridiculed and tore you down.
The response from the community was mixed with one side saying yeah it’s racist and disrespectful to the culture, and the other side saying, no, actually, it pays homage to the culture—despite what actual Native Americans are saying. Yeah, that tracks.
Monica Velez for the Bee’s Education Lab also includes research that shows the negative psychosocial effects of these mascots on Native American youths.
You can sign Nelson’s petition to change the mascot here.
You can also submit your own feedback by emailing publiccomment@fresnounifed.org or calling (559) 457-6222
It will be submitted to the Fresno Board of Education on Dec. 9 to decide on the matter.
🗳️ Fresno County Election Updates: Valadao-Cox Race Neck and Neck
The latest update from Kern, Tulare and Fresno counties show the race for CA-21 is neck and neck with Valadao leading over Cox 50.7%-49.3%
Valadao is leading in Fresno and Kings county while Cox is leading in Kern and Tulare.
Valadao is leading with 80,627 votes with Cox trailing at 78,370.
Kings county has stopped counting votes due to a COVID-19 exposure and will start again on Nov. 21.
It is expected that this race will go into a recount.
For updates on local Fresno County races, check out our Instagram or check out the results directly from the Fresno County website.
Tim Sheehan from the Fresno Bee also takes a 30-year look on how Fresno County has voted. Interesting that we’ve voted Democrat for president but for governor we tend to vote more Republican. Sus.
👩🚒 Creek Fire Update
As of Nov. 6, the Creek Fire is still 70% contained.
It has burned 379,716 acres and is now considered to be the largest single source wildfire in California history.
A weak weather system dropped an inch of snow over the Creek Fire, helping firefighters. Highway 168 is open but entry to Sierra National Forest remains closed to keep it clear for crews.
Full containment is expected on Nov. 30.
🎧 On the pod this week
The ‘Swedesican’ feat. Jewel Hurtado and Baby Anthony
The brocialists booked the councilwoman from Kingsburg, Fresno EOC Board of Commissioners candidate for Area C and singer-songwriter Jewel Hurtado. Also her son, lil baby Anthony. She talked that post-election feeling, the future of the Central Valley’s progressive movement and explained what the hell a Swedesican is. And Anthony had a lot to say too!
Register to vote for the EOC Board here. Register by November 18.
Read more about Fresno EOC through uSpark's Crash Course
You can find Jewel Hurtado on Twitter @jewelhurtado_, on Instagram @jewelhurtado and on TikTok @jewelhurtado_
This newsletter was written by Ram Reyes (@vibesradiator) and Tommy Tribble (@tomiiwrites) | Follow Five By Five Nine on Instagram & Twitter