Thursday, April 16, 2020
100+ Lawmakers Demand Moratorium on Utility Shutoffs to Ensure Access to Services 'Essential to Survive' During Coronavirus Crisis
"There is absolutely no excuse left for Congress to exclude basic human needs from the next coronavirus stimulus package, or in general," said Food & Water Action's Rianna Eckel.
by
Andrea Germanos, staff writer
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/04/15/100-lawmakers-demand-moratorium-utility-shutoffs-ensure-access-services-essential
Over 100 federal lawmakers on Wednesday demanded a nationwide moratorium on utility shutoffs with a letter to congressional leadership demanding the freeze be part of the next coronavirus relief package to ensure Americans have access to services that are "essential to survive during this health crisis."
Spearheaded by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Reps. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), Brenda Lawrence (D-Mich.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), and Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), the letter addresses not only water but other utility services including electricity, heating, telecommunications, and internet—all "especially critically" amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The call comes as over 16 million Americans have been thrown out of work in recent weeks, the need for continued public health measures to stem the spread of coronavirus means many workplaces remain closed, and millions of people are still waiting for their one-time $1,200 stimulus checks.
In their letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), the lawmakers write:
Water service ensures that Americans can handwash and disinfect surfaces necessary to slow and stop the coronavirus outbreak. Electricity is necessary for families to turn on the lights and have refrigerated food to eat. Internet access is essential for many employees to be able to work from home and for children who are out of school to access educational resources. Millions working service jobs on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic are facing disconnection.
Demands in the letter include a pause on utility shutoffs "for at least six months beyond the end date of the national state of emergency," reconnection for those who've already had services cut off, and an erasure of late fees for low-wealth families through the six-month period.
The letter adds:
The COVID-19 outbreak has highlighted the systemic problems of poverty and utility insecurity in the United States and its disparate impact on low-wealth communities and communities of color. When Congress enacts legislation to speed the economic recovery of our country, it should prioritize permanently increasing the economic security for low-wealth individuals. Priority should go to building infrastructure to support distributed renewable energy, safe water systems, and broadband access in rural areas.
The new letter was welcomed by advocacy group Food & Water Action, which urged congressional leaders to act swiftly.
"There is absolutely no excuse left for Congress to exclude basic human needs from the next coronavirus stimulus package, or in general," said Rianna Eckel, senior national water organizer with Food & Water Action. "People are facing the reality of living through a summer without running water right now. We need national action to protect every single person in this country from inhumane utility shutoffs, nothing less."
Food & Water Action was one of 830 advocacy groups who on Monday made a similar demand to congressional leadership regarding utility shutoffs in the next relief package.
Those groups noted that while a utility shutoff moratorium is needed, congressional action should go beyond that, as a pause in shutoffs "does not tackle the systemic issues driving these all-too-common utility injustices across America."
They wrote:
We therefore urge you to invest significant stimulus funds into long-term solutions, including funding and financing for distributed clean energy systems and funding for percentage-of-income payment plans for municipal water systems, broadband, and other utility services, which enhance the long-term energy, water, and utility resilience for all communities, in particular low-wealth households, communities of color, and tribes across the country.
It's time for a people-friendly, not big business-friendly, legislative package to help ordinary Americans facing economic pain, said Jean Su, director of the Center for Biological Diversity's energy justice program, one of the groups behind the letter.
"It's unconscionable that Senate Republicans chose to protect corporate America over families in the last rescue package," Su said in a Monday statement. "Families are facing impossible choices between paying for food or electricity, water, or healthcare."
'Biggest Coronavirus Stimulus of All': Richest Man in the World Jeff Bezos Now $24 Billion Richer Amid Pandemic
"Our society cannot sustain itself when so few have so much, while so many have so little," said Sen. Bernie Sanders.
by
Jessica Corbett, staff writer
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/04/15/biggest-coronavirus-stimulus-all-richest-man-world-jeff-bezos-now-24-billion-richer
Amplifying fresh critiques of wealthy inequality that have mounted throughout the coronavirus pandemic, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos—the world's richest man—has added nearly $24 billion to his already massive fortune in 2020 as virus-related lockdowns across the globe have forced people to stay inside and fueled increased e-commerce demand.
Explaining the source of a nearly 5% jump in Bezos' net worth Tuesday, Forbes reported that Amazon stock surged 5.3%, "hitting a new record close of $2,283 per share. The stock is now up over 20% so far this year, outpacing the benchmark index (the S&P 500 is down over 12%)."
Bezos was worth $138 billion as of Tuesday, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. He is Amazon's CEO and president, and owns an 11.2% stake the e-commerce giant, which has come under fire for how it has treated workers during the outbreak.
While Bezos tops the index, Fortune noted that the 18th spot now belongs to his ex-wife MacKenzie, "who was left with a 4% stake in Amazon as part of the couple's recent divorce settlement. Her net worth has climbed $8.2 billion to $45.3 billion."
The index updates followed a Forbes report from Saturday about how "market gains led to a combined $51.3 billion boost for 10 of the world's billionaires since the market closed a week ago, on April 2." Bezos gained $6.8 billion in that time, an increase second to only that of Amancio Ortega of the Spanish fast-fashion retailer Inditex.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a longtime labor rights advocate and foe of millionaires and billionaires, tweeted the Forbes report Wednesday and highlighted how the wealth increases of Bezos and other billionaires contrast with the millions of Americans who have lost their jobs because of the ongoing public health crisis.
As Common Dreams reported last week, U.S. unemployment claims during the pandemic have soared to 16.8 million, which one economist noted "is a mind-boggling 2,500% increase over the pre-virus period."
That contrast between U.S. billionaires and the nation's newly unemployed was also pointed out on Twitter Wednesday by Public Citizen, which cited the Forbes report.
While millions of people across the United States have lost their incomes due to COVID-19, Amazon has filled 100,000 new jobs since March and plans to add 75,000 more "to help meet customer demand and assist existing employees fulfilling orders for essential products," according to a Sunday blog post on the company's website. The retailer has "increased pay for hourly employees by $2/hour in the U.S., C$2/hour in Canada, and €2/hour in many E.U. countries."
Amazon has "made over 150 process updates to help protect employees—from enhanced cleaning and social distancing measures to piloting new efforts like using disinfectant fog in our New York fulfillment center," the blog post said. The company is also building a lab to test its front-line workers for COVID-19 and has "distributed personal protective gear, such as masks for our employees, and implemented temperature checks across our operations worldwide."
However, workers at Amazon warehouses and Whole Foods Market—the grocery chain acquired by Amazon in 2017—have expressed fear and frustration about working conditions, and accused the company of not doing enough to protect employees. Just this week, Amazon also elicited condemnation for firing three workers who publicly criticized the company's pandemic response and treatment of employees.
"Instead of firing employees who want justice," Sanders tweeted Tuesday, "maybe Jeff Bezos—the richest man in the world—can focus on providing his workers with paid sick leave, a safe workplace, and a livable planet."
The safety of Amazon facilities in the midst of a pandemic has raised particular alarm. According to Business Insider:
More than 74 U.S. warehouses alone have now reported cases of the virus, and concerns from workers about safety and sanitation have ballooned, leading to employee walkouts and protests.
On Tuesday, Business Insider broke the news that Amazon had seen its first warehouse worker death, an operations manager who worked at the company's Hawthorne, California warehouse. The man died on March 31.
Some Amazon employees told Business Insider that they feel they have to choose between paying their bills and risking the health of themselves and vulnerable family members.
"I was grateful at first for the unlimited [unpaid time off] and $2 increase, but as things got worse and the virus was spreading more and more, it didn't matter. I don't want to be there, but I need the income," said one worker who cares for an elderly relative. "The stress of bringing it home to him makes me physically ill."
Save our post office — and our elections (links to articles)
Postal Carriers Are Essential Workers. They Need a Stimulus, Too. | Sarah Anderson
The president is trying to use the coronavirus crisis to kill the public postal service. We can’t let him.
I Take Hydroxychloroquine. Please Don’t Hoard It. | Olivia Alperstein
To prevent hoarding and protect public health, we need to move towards universal care and lower-cost drugs.
The Next Coronavirus Bill Must Protect the 2020 Election | Robert P. Alvarez
We need no-excuse absentee voting now — and that’s the bare minimum.
Coronavirus and Small Government Sociopathy | Jim Hightower
As the devastating impact of Trump’s inaction becomes clear, Americans are discovering a hidden socialist streak.
Disunited in Grief | Khalil Bendib
What's the real cost of Covid-19?
In Case You Missed It
The EPA Just Gave Polluters a License to Kill | Lois Gibbs
Using the pandemic as cover, the agency is suspending environmental regulations. I’ve seen firsthand what happens next — people die.
Cruel Immigration Policies Make the Pandemic Worse | Basav Sen
Warehousing people in unsanitary conditions and then deporting them to poor countries is a recipe for contagion.
A Trillion in Prevention | Dedrick Asante-Muhammad and Anneliese Lederer
Our economy was never as strong for working people as the numbers made it look. As we prepare to spend trillions on this crisis, let’s invest in changing that.
What Could Become Possible | Tracey L. Rogers
From health care for all to lower-carbon lifestyles, many once radical ideas now seem more possible — and more necessary — than ever.
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
The Lee Camp Ledger, week of April 15
Week Of April 14, 2020
News The Corporate Media Is Scared You'll See!
Lee Camp Apr 15
This app might help you sign up for unemployment. (But I haven’t tested it myself.) Just throwing it out there if you’ve had trouble — learn more in this Fast Company article
The power elite are using the coronavirus as an opportunity to curtail our civil rights, just like they did after 9/11 — in my latest article for Consortium News
Bernie’s decision to endorse Biden proves that his political revolution was never serious about challenging our oligarchy — this week on Moment Of Clarity
Eleanor Goldfield & I discuss why Bernie endorsed Biden & what that means for Bernie’s supporters — and more this week on our news podcast Common Censored
Naomi Karavani, Natalie McGill & I sat down to discuss how this global pandemic is unfolding & who’s profiting — on this episode of VIP
Our governments are failing us in this pandemic but we aren’t failing each other. Mutual aid projects are feeding & caring for people across the country — in MintPress News
Dr. Jeb Sprague believes that Haiti might expect up to 800,000 deaths from coronavirus. The entire population of Haiti is just over 11 million — on The Grayzone
We haven’t been able to convince the ruling class that peace is good because war is horrific but maybe we can convince them that peace is profitable — in Popular Resistance!
Watch my latest comedy special at LeeCampAmerican.com & if you’re looking for some reading material check out my book at LeeCampBook.com
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