Monthly Archives: November 2020

2020 elections, Benicia elections, Benicia Mayor, Benicia Mayor Steve Young

Benicia election results – Steve Young handily defeats Strawbridge and the Valero PAC

STEVE YOUNG, BENICIA’S NEW MAYOR!

(Ok… Mayor-Elect)
By Roger Straw, November 4, 2020
Benicia Mayor-elect Steve Young

I called it at 10:48pm last night.  It wasn’t even close.  Steve Young is Benicia’s Mayor-elect.

This morning, with all mail-in, early and precinct votes counted, Steve won by a wide margin – 51.9% to 30.6%, a spread of over 21 points!

Benicia voters returned a resounding win for Steve and his campaign workers – and a huge defeat for Valero’s big money effort to buy Benicia’s election.

CONGRATULATIONS, MAYOR STEVE YOUNG!!

Coronavirus, Covid 19, Keeping Watch on Earth News, Solano County CA

Solano COVID numbers continue to rise: 48 new cases, test rate over 7% first time since Sept 2

[Source: Solano County Coronavirus Dashboard.  For a complete archive of day by day data, see my Excel ARCHIVE.]

Tuesday, November 3: 48 new cases overnight, no new deaths, no new hospitalizations.  Since the outbreak began: 7,849 cases, 532 hospitalized, 76 deaths.Compare previous report, Monday, Nov. 2:Summary

  • Solano County reported 48 new cases overnight, much higher than average of late.  Total of 7,849 cases since the outbreak started.
  • Deaths – no new deaths reported today.  Total of 76 Solano deaths since the pandemic began.
  • Active cases – Solano reported the same number of ACTIVE case today, total of 393.  Note that only 20 of these 393 people are hospitalized, so there are a lot of infected folks out among us, hopefully quarantined.  Is the County equipped to contact trace so many infected persons?  Who knows?  To my knowledge, Solano County has offered no reports on contact tracing.
  • Hospitalizations – Solano County reported the number of currently hospitalized persons decreased by 6 overnight, total of 20.  TOTAL hospitalized since the outbreak began increased dramatically last week, adding 106 previously unreported hospitalizations!  Today the numbers held steady, total of 532 hospitalized since the outbreak began.  For manual calculation of total, see age group stats below.
  • ICU Beds – The County reported fewer ICU beds available today, down from 41% to 35%.  (Still no information about availability of ventilators.)

Positive Test Rate

Solano County reported today that our 7-day average test rate climbed over 7% today for the first time since September 2.  Our rate rose today from 6.9% to 7.1%.  Average percent positive test rates are among the best metrics for measuring the spread of the virus.  The much lower and more stable California 7-day test rate has been on the rise lately, held steady today, at 3.2%.  (Note that Solano County displays past weeks and months in a 7-day test positivity line graph which also shows daily results.  However, the chart does not display an accurate number of cases for the most recent days, as there is a lag time in receiving test results.  The 7-day curve also lags behind current unknown results.) 

By Age Group

  • Youth 17 and under – 3 new cases overnight, total of 892 cases, representing 11.4% of the 7,849 total cases.  No new hospitalizations reported today.  Thankfully, no deaths have ever been reported in Solano County in this age group.  But cases among Solano youth rose steadily over the summer, from 5.6% of total cases on June 8 to 11% on August 31 and has plateaued just over 11% since September 30.  Youth are 22% of Solano’s general population, so this 11.x% may seem low.  The significance is this: 1) youth numbers increased steadily and at a faster rate than the other age groups, and 2) youth are SERIOUSLY NOT IMMUNE (!) – in fact 14 youth have now been hospitalized.
  • Persons 18-49 years of age – 30 new cases overnight, total of 4,619 cases. This age group is 41% of the population in Solano, but represents just under 60% of the total cases, by far the highest percentage of all age groups.  (1 fewer hospitalization reported today, total of 178, probably a correction – note 1 more hospitalization among the 50-64 age group.)  No new deaths in this young group today, total of 6 deaths.  Some in this group are surely ignoring public health orders, and many are providing essential services among us.  I expect this group is a major factor in the spread of the virus.
  • Persons 50-64 years of age – 9 new cases overnight, total of 1,523 cases.  This age group represents over 19% of the 7,849 total cases.  (1 more hospitalization reported today, total of 150, probably a correction – note 1 fewer hospitalization among the 18-49 age group.)  No new deaths in this age group today, a total of 15 deaths.
  • Persons 65 years or older – 6 new cases today, total of 812, representing 10.3% of Solano’s 7,849 total cases.  No new hospitalizations reported today, total of 190 since the outbreak began.  No new deaths in this age group today, total of 55 of our elders who died of COVID.  This group accounts for 55 of the 76 total deaths, or 72%.

City Data

  • Benicia added 1 new cases today, total of 198 cases since the outbreak began.
  • Dixon added 3 new cases today, total of 520 cases.
  • Fairfield added 10 new cases today, total of 2,493 cases.
  • Rio Vista added 2 new cases today, total of 63 cases.
  • Suisun City added 3 new cases today, total of 570 cases.
  • Vacaville added 13 new cases today, total of 1,449 cases.
  • Vallejo added 15 new cases today, total of 2,529 cases.
  • Unincorporated areas added 1 new case today, total of 27 cases.

Race / Ethnicity

The County report on race / ethnicity includes case numbers, hospitalizations, deaths and Solano population statistics.  This information is discouragingly similar to national reports that indicate significantly worse outcomes among black and brown Americans.  Note that all of this data surely undercounts Latinx Americans, as there is a large group of “Multirace / Others” which likely is composed mostly of Latinx members of our communities.

  • Asian Americans are 14% of Solano’s population, and account for 10% of cases, 11% of hospitalizations, and 20% of deaths.
  • Black Americans are 14% of Solano’s population, and account for 12% of cases, but 18% of hospitalizations, and 24% of deaths.
  • Latinx Americans are 26% of Solano’s population, but account for 27% of cases, 29% of hospitalizations, and 17% of deaths.
  • White Americans are 39% of the population in Solano County, but only account for 23% of cases, 25% of hospitalizations and 29% of deaths.

More…

The County’s new and improved Coronavirus Dashboard is full of much more information, too extensive to cover here on a daily basis.  The Benicia Independent will continue to summarize daily and highlight a report or two.  Check out the Dashboard at https://doitgis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=055f81e9fe154da5860257e3f2489d67.

2020 elections, Benicia elections, Campaign finance, Valero Benicia Refinery, Valero PAC

Valero’s pet labor union kicks in another $24,000 on Nov. 2 to help buy Benicia’s next Mayor

Total Independent Expenditure funding for 2020 now at $249,000

By Roger Straw, November 3, 2020

Reporting on forms required by Benicia ordinance, the Valero PAC that is attempting to buy the Benicia Mayor race detailed a new contribution of $24,000 on  November 2.

The new money comes from an independent expenditure committee (PAC) formed by the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, forgers & Helpers Local 549.  It is interesting that this ultra-conservative labor group has been convinced to jump in with Valero, which is a non-union corporation.  It’s not the first time – this PAC contributed heavily to Valero’s 2018 smear campaign against Kari Birdseye.

I wonder how many of the Sacramento-based Brotherhood PAC decision-makers live in Benicia or even work at Valero?  I’d guess the decision was made by a small group of highly-paid executives who have rarely if ever set foot in Benicia.  And one might wonder where and who their FUNDING comes from??

Cumulative Valero PAC contributions to date: over $249,000.  (COMPARE: All candidates running for Benicia mayor and Council who pledge to run fair campaigns may not spend over $34,200 on their own campaigns.)

Cumulative Valero PAC spending to date: over $214,000.  (AGAIN COMPARE: All candidates running for Benicia mayor and Council who pledge to run fair campaigns may not spend over $34,200 on their own campaigns.)

REFERENCE: Valero PAC Financial Disclosures – City of Benicia website

Source: from the City of Benicia website, 2020 Campaign Finance Reports

FURTHER REFERENCE: BENICIA MUNICIPAL CODE ORDINANCES ON FAIR ELECTIONS

2020 elections, Benicia elections, Benicia Mayor, Campaign finance, Steve Young, Valero Benicia Refinery, Valero PAC

Valero spends another $5,000 for last minute live calls in effort to buy Benicia Mayor race

Total now over $214,000 to buy Benicia’s 2020 Mayor’s race

On Saturday, October 31, The Valero PAC reported another payment of $5,000 to the Washington, D.C. based company Winning Connections for scripted live phone calls to Benicia residents to get out the vote for Valero’s chosen candidate.

The report, filed according to law with the City of Benicia and posted on the City’s website, shows the $5,000 expenditure and a 3-page script.  The script includes proper pronunciation of “Benicia” for the out-of -state callers, (ben-ee-sh-a).

Benicia  residents have largely been outraged and outspoken about the huge influx of outside money from the massive Texas-based corporation and a local labor union that is considered to be in the pocket of it’s primary employer, Valero.

All local candidates have expressed disapproval of Valero’s attempt to influence our election, including the candidate Valero hopes to buy.

Valero’s primary purpose is to defeat current City Council member and Mayoral candidate Steve Young.  Young has been endorsed by the Benicia Independent and many other local individuals and groups.  See SteveYoungForMayor.org.