No Vaxx and Masks Off
The death count has broken 1000, we’re running out of vaccines and anti-maskers are out in full force. Smfh.
☀️Good morning, Fresno! It’s Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021.
Hello y’all, Ram here.
So Biden’s president now huh? We don’t have any Biden inauguration stories in this week’s letter, but that was a Thing™ that happened. It really hasn’t hit me yet that Trump isn’t our president anymore. I still think there’s some kooky way he comes back.
But the amount of cringe, 2014-type-beat tweets this week is already reminding me that we are in fact in a Biden presidency. Oh boyyy. And tbh, I kind of miss Trump’s twitter. Imagine how funny the tweets were for inauguration day.
Valley Community leaders are already pressuring Biden to enact comprehensive immigration reform within 100 days. And with Biden already repealing Trump’s Muslim ban, I’m hopeful(?)
So in conclusion: Biden, healthcare and $2000 pls.
Fresno by Five
🦠 Coronavirus Updates: Breaking 1000 Deaths
As of Jan 22, since last Sunday there have been:
84,137 (+5,104) Total Cases
Total Deaths: 1,043 (+111)
Currently Hospitalized: 584 (-64)
💉 Moderna Vaccine in the Valley
A batch of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine was temporarily stopped because it had a “higher than usual” amount of allergic reactions. Six of the 200 health care workers that got them suffered allergic reactions that required medical attention in San Diego County.
The Moderna lot number 041L20A had around 330,000 doses distributed to 300 health care providers in early January, some of those making it into the Valley. Kern County received 3,000 doses. Kings and Mariposa Counties received 300 doses. Fresno County did not receive any vaccines from that lot but some facilities did pause the Moderna vaccine for a short time for caution. No allergic reactions were recorded in these counties
The California Department of Public Health later cleared the vaccine lot for use after a review found no scientific basis to pause it.
💉 Vaccine Shortage
Fresno County will not be vaccinating anyone next week because they have run out of doses. Despite being able to vaccinate 30,000 people a week, the doses coming in — 86,000 doses per week — is not enough to keep up with demand.
Fresno County interim health officer Dr. Rais Vohra said that the amount of vaccines that Operation Warp Speed, the Trump administration’s vaccine distribution plan, is dependent on how quickly manufacturers make the vaccine.
Every week, Operation Warp Speed tells California, ‘This is your state allocation,’ and then the state turns around and tells the local health jurisdictions … this is your weekly allocation for this week.
-Fresno County interim health officer Dr. Rais Vohra
It’s unknown when it will resume. California’s epidemiologist Dr. Erica Pan said that at this rate it will take until the end of June to vaccinate everyone over the age of 65. Welp.
This is not unique to Fresno County as everywhere in the state, 75+ senior citizens, those who can get the vaccine, still find it difficult to get the vaccination they need.
🌬️ High Winds in the Sierras
Winds in the high Sierras and foothills have gotten so strong that it has closed Yosemite National Park. Trees and debris has blocked off the roads to the park and has caused damage to surrounding areas.
Winds were as fast as 110 MPH and PG&E had to be shut off to 5,200 people to prevent wildfires.
🧹 Mayor Jerry Dyer Ramps Up Action
Mayor Jerry Dyer has already begun his first major act as mayor as he attempts to clear homeless people from the freeway. Named “Project Off=Ramp,” homeless outreach workers have started to contact homeless folks along Highway 41 to relocate them into housing.
They were given a seven-day notice to leave with the option to take advantage of public housing through Project Homekey. It’s unclear what happens to these folks if they refuse to leave or if they refuse the public housing option.
“We don’t want it to be law enforcement. I don’t think that’s the appropriate thing to do, although we’ve done it for years. Quite frankly, the people that have the best rapport are those (homeless advocates).”
-Mayor Jerry Dyer
In his Project Off-Ramp video, Dyer emphasized that other than it being ugly to look at, it’s dangerous with 618 fires happening alongside the freeways last year.
🏘️ Mom-and-Pop Landlords(?)
The City of Fresno has received $15.8 million from the federal government as part of the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program. There are no ways to apply for this yet, unfortunately, and I don’t really know why they even announced it. They are still reviewing the specific conditions on how people can receive these grants.
Fresno City Council President Luis Chavez said that the money will go directly to landlords and will be capped at $5,000 per dwelling. He really wants to look out for the “mom-and-pop landlord,” a term I have never heard before today.
“One of the big conversations that I am going to bring up on Monday is that for me, this money was intended for the small mom-and-pop operators that by way of definition are landlords that have five or less dwellings that they are renting.”
-Fresno City Council President Luis Chavez
🎭 Tower Theatre Updates
The Munro Review has published the community letter and petition against Adventure Church buying the Tower Theatre. More than 2,100 people and businesses signed the petition. Alongside the letter was a Q&A with Haley White, creative director of The Fools Collaborative, who unveiled the community letter alongside the Rogue Festival.
I’m not sure if Painted Table has first rights when it comes to purchasing but they are supposed to have Right of Refusal in their contract […] Does that breach of contract mean anything when it comes to The Painted Table’s counter offer? Only time will tell.
-Haley White, Creative Director of The Fools Collaborative
Despite this, Adventure Church is still going through with the sale and some real estate experts say that the Painted Table’s offer is a longshot as the deal is already in escrow.
A homophobic message was sent to Jeromie Garza Hansen, co-owner of The Painted Table, for bidding on the Tower Theatre.
Adventure Church responded with a news release saying that “it does not condone or agree with that type of behavior exhibited in the email.” The email turned out to be from a fake account that wasn’t on any of the church’s email lists.
😒 Cringe of the Central Valley Updates
Eddie Block, known Proud Boy, confirmed on YouTube Live on Friday that the FBI did in fact pay him a visit. Block said that they wanted footage he shot at the Capitol Insurrection and they took his cellphone, another cellphone, laptop, iPad, microphone, Xbox, a computer, battery charges, a cable box and hats.
He also said that this was an example of communism, alongside other dumb shit on his YouTube Live. And in turn, his viewers gave him $150. Grifting has never been so easy.
Freedom has once again been defended thanks to infamous Ben Martin, who was just in the news for shutting down Trader Joe’s. This week he shut down a Sprouts. He and his local group, the Coalition for Individual Liberties, proceeded to whine in front of a Sprouts. They continued their whining at a Total Wine and were Total Idiots.
The best part of this story is the quotes from the customers in the Fresno Bee story:
“We just want to buy something. You got your attention already. Now please leave.”
-Man who just wanted to buy something without anti-maskers shutting down the place
✍️ Good Stuff from Young Valley Writers
Why President Biden Should Increase Access to the Abortion Pill by Moira Tan (Teen Vogue)
Generation Gap Part II: Omega by John Bruce (Magnum Locus)
Fresno City College’s Conversation on the Transfer of Power by Julie Chavez (The Rampage)
If you would like something added to the Community Board, email us at contact@fivebyfivenine.com or DM us on social media @fivebyfivenine
📌Community Board
Free Food Distribution
Free groceries will be given out at Steinbeck Elementary School on Wednesday, January 27.
Gateway Park Input
Fresno EOC is seeking community ideas for a possible future park at Clinton and Marks. Join in the discussion to help guide the creation of this park.
Click here to register and see meeting dates through here.
Central Valley Mutual Aid
The October 4th Coalition is accepting donations to go towards meals and hygiene kits for folks. You can donate via Cashapp: $Tomaeh
Sexual Health and Wellness Week
Fresno Barrios Unidos continues their Health and Wellness event series with a Health Clinic Q&A on Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 5:00 p.m.
Ask your questions live on their Instagram (@fresnobarriosunidos) or submit anonymous questions here: bit.ly/jan27-fbu
🎧This Week on the Pod
He Belongs to the Street Eats feat. Mike Oz
The fellas interviewed Fresno fixture, Yahoo Sports writer and creator of Fresno Street Eats, Mike Oz. This episode delves into the deepest, Fresno cultural archaeology.
Listen to the episode on these other podcasting platforms:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Anchor | Google Podcasts
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Love ya! 🧡💙
This newsletter was written by Ram Reyes (@vibesradiator) and edited by Tommy Tribble (@tomiiwrites) | Follow Five By Five Nine on Instagram & Twitter