We're Grounded
Newsom announces a curfew, churches says nah to all that and the Fresno City Council approves police reform. Also do the Fiveby Reader Survey to win some local coffee.
☀️Surprise! It’s Friday, Nov. 20, 2020.
Welcome to a special edition of the Fiveby newsletter. It’s special because it’s a Friday. Not that days matter in 2020 because all days seem to blend together.
We will be in a remote cabin in the middle of nowhere (Utah) so we wanted to get the newsletter early. Hopefully, Newsom doesn’t stop us on the way there. So, don’t worry we ain’t going to Hawaii, unlike like some politicians.
We do have something to ask of you, our dear Fiveby reader. A special request. We want to really get to know you and find out how we can better serve you in 2021. We have big plans in growing Fiveby, but that that can only happen with your help.
Below is a link to The Big Fiveby Reader Survey. It’s meant to give us a better sense of direction where Fiveby will go in the future. We want you to be a part of building Five By Five Nine.
And as a bonus, we partnered with Fulton Street Coffee to give away three (3) $10 gift cards to Fulton Street Coffee. Complete the survey by Dec. 4 to be entered.
So pleeeeeeeease, pretty pleeeeease take the survey? 🥺
Fresno by Five
🙅♂️Newsom Issues Limited Stay at Home Order
California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a limited Stay at Home Order on Thursday afternoon.
Non-essential work and gatherings must stop from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. in counties in the purple tier. It will take effect on Saturday, and remain in effect for one month.
🗳️ Council Approves to Maybe Approve Police “Reform” “Recommendations”
The Fresno City Council unanimously approved the 73 recommendations made by Fresno’s commission on police reform. However, they won’t immediately become policy. They still need to be approved by a seven-member Police Reform Implementation Team to review the recommendations and then present their findings to the city council, who have final say.
These recommendations include changes to the use-of-force policy, equity in hiring and recruiting, police contracts with schools and response to mental health calls. Most notably there is no recommendation to cut police funding. So, it’s safe to say wow this is useless!
🗳️Cox-Valadao Neck and Neck
Politics. Check it. So, Valadao’s (R-Fresno) still in the lead following the completion of Fresno County’s vote count. Valadao’s lead shrunk to 1,796 votes on Wednesday, less than half the difference he had a week ago.
More ballots remain in Kern, Kings and Tulare counties. The exact amount left is ambiguous, so it’s gonna be a nailbiter to the end it seems like. Kern County is Coxland but Kings County is on some Valadao Vibes, and both saw sizeable leads in each county so far.
This race should be over by Nov. 25, and certified by Dec. 11.
✊🏽Local Leaders Want a Latinx Senator to Fill Harris Seat
Kamala Harris’ California senate seat will become vacant as she ascends to the vice presidency, and local Latinx leaders want her replacement to be Latinx.
Newsom has the authority to replace Harris with a political appointment. A Latinx person has never served as a California senator.
🦠 Coronavirus Update: Back to Purple
As of Nov. 19, the most recent data available at the time of writing, there have been a total of 34,765 (+1,538) total confirmed cases and 463 (+0) deaths in Fresno County. Currently, there are 170 (-14) hospitalized. A total of 21,891 people have recovered.
We have reentered the purple tier, and restaurants, gyms, places of worship and movie theaters can only conduct outdoor operations. Bars are closed. Barbershops and salons can conduct indoor operations.
We had a positivity rate of 14.6 per 100,000 residents this past week, which is in the purple tier. To reenter the red tier, Fresno County must meet the following 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. Visit lhi.care to set up an appointment. It’s free even without insurance.
👼Death Cults Have Entered the Chat
Two (2) Fresno churches say that they will continue holding indoor services, despite Fresno County and California at large reentering the purple tier, the worst tier.
People’s Church canceled 85% of its in-person gatherings and ministries, but Pastor Brad Liebe says Sunday service is essential, but virtual services are still an option for people with concerns.
Pastor Brad Bell, a whole idiot, said that the virus isn’t going anywhere, so indoor operations will persist because Reasons.
“You can’t hide from it. You’re gonna get it eventually. We could all lock ourselves in a bunker for six months and when we came out, we’ll all get it,” Bell said, loud and wrong.
Our favorite council member agrees with Bell because of course he does.
Churches have a batting average of fucking zero this week as Bishop Joseph Brennan with the Diocese of Fresno calls on Catholics to wait on the COVID-19 vaccine because, get this, stem cells. Jesus Thee Christ.
Spokespeople from Pfizer and AstraZeneca, two of the vaccine developers, told Fox26 that embryonic cells were not utilized in the production or testing of their vaccines, rendering Brennan’s critique both baseless and pointless. Moderna couldn’t be reached for comment, so hey there’s that.
Brennan, who peddled these unsubstantiated fears to 1.2 million Catholics across eight counties, did say he isn’t against vaccines in principle. Just the stem cell related ones. So if you’re Catholic and you rock with this guy, use the stem cell free Pfizer vaccine, which is 95% effective according to the final analysis of the Phase 3 vaccine trial.
😷Six Weeks Left to CARE
Yeah, so our leaders in Fresno have about six weeks to spend the $190 million of CARES Act funds we received. The deadline is Dec. 30.
In June, Fresno spent $45 million towards community investment. A million has been repurposed from housing the homeless towards testing, but availability and access to testing remains a huge concern. Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig says it’s nowhere near enough money given the harm the pandemic has wrought on businesses.
👩🍳Restaurants Mad
Restaurants are hurting and they want you to know about it, so they’re throwing a noon rally outside the Fresno County Health Department.
Local restaurant owners say they can’t weather another shutdown, and the descent into purple tier will permanently shut some businesses, according to Lewis Everk, who owns Vyxn Restaurant & Lounge.
Rally organizers want restaurants to remain open at 25% capacity, which the purple tier forbids.
😡CUSD Sued for Ignoring Warning Signs of ‘Sexual Attacks’
A lawsuit claims that Clovis Unified ignored warning signs and exposed a special needs teenager to “sexual attacks.”
In 2018, a girl with an intellectual disability, speech disorder and autism was forced into the bushes by another student and sexually assaulted. Disturbingly, a teacher blamed her, assumed it was consensual and suspended her for five days.
🙏🏼Get Well Soon Corrin
ABC30 journalist Corin Hoggard is going on an eight week medical leave because of a pancreatic tumor. He promises to be back in 2021.
An investigative reporter and occasional anchor, Hoggard has worked at ABC30 since 2005, and he’ll be missed during this time. Get well soon. We look up to you for real.