Putin’s War: possibly a would-be emperor’s war, but most assuredly an OIL WAR!
Every news analysis I’ve seen of Russia’s criminally ruthless war against Ukraine has focused on Putin’s nationalistic dream of the resurrection of the old Soviet Union and his Czarist ambitions.
But what about the more convincing economic reasons for the war? Where are our major news outlets, including the progressive ones like MSNBC and CNN when it comes to the proven political wisdom, FOLLOW THE MONEY?
Here’s an eye-opening post I found on an old friend’s Facebook page (thank you, Betsy Collins, originally posted by Christopher Goodfellow,) “From Price Wars by Rupert Russell….The chapter on Ukraine is interesting….if anything this explains Donbas and getting the ring around from Donbas to Odessa to get Control of the Black Sea oil there.” Read on…
MORE: Christopher Goodfellow posted several later FB messages that are even more detailed and illuminating:
A combine harvester makes its way through a wheat field in Suisun Valley, Friday, June 19, 2020. Solano County added 200 farm jobs in May, according to the state Employment Development Department. (Robinson Kuntz/Daily Republic)
Unemployment drops in May; 20,000 fewer Solano jobs than 2019
FAIRFIELD — Solano County is slowly waking up from a hard Covid-19 sleep as unemployment fell from 15.2% in April to 14.2% in May, the Employment Development Department reported Friday.
The number of local jobs climbed to 125,400, a gain of 1,800 over April’s figure, the Labor Market Division of the EDD reported.
However, compared to May 2019, there are 20,200 fewer local jobs, the EDD reported.
One of the more promising figures was that construction added 1,000 jobs since April, now 12,400, though it is down 400 jobs compared to May 2019.
Restaurants also added 1,000 positions, to 8,000. The farm sector added 200 jobs, to 1,500.
The harder reality is being felt in retail, which dropped another 200 jobs to 14,000, the EDD reported.
The civilian labor force in Solano County was reported at 199,800, down from April’s total of 201,500. However, the number of residents employed went up 200 to 171,300, the EDD reported.
The number of residents seeking unemployment benefits in May was 28,400, which is 2,000 fewer than in April.
The state unemployment rate in May was 15.9%, down from 16.2% in April. The rate in May 2019 was 3.6%.
The U.S. unemployment rate was 13%, down from 14.4%. The jobless rate in May 2019 was 3.4%.
Unemployment numbers in Solano County, the state and across the nation saw these improvements as counties across the country began to lift business closures put in place in March to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19.
Those businesses in Solano County that reopen must maintain health, safety, sanitation and social-distancing protocols designed to slow the spread of the virus. Residents must also comply with an order this week from the governor to wear face coverings in public spaces, businesses and offices – both indoors and outdoors – based on criteria established by the state. Continue reading Solano jobless rate in May: a little better than April, much worse than 2019→
[Editor: Seems to me that SMALL BUSINESSES need to APPLY FOR A GRANT FAST! Grants are available to companies with up to 500 employees, and guess who has staff & resources to crank out applications in a hurry….? Note that Sole Proprietors are also eligible. – R.S.]
City of Benicia Announces Benicia Layoff Aversion Fund Grant, Round 2
The City of Benicia Economic Development Division is please to announce the second round of funding to help Benicia businesses avoid layoffs. Applications are being accepted June 1 – June 8. Details are available:
Solano County expands reopening: dine-in restaurants, shopping malls OK’d by state
San Francisco Chronicle, Matt Kawahara May 20, 2020
Dr. Bela Matyas, Publie Health Officer for Solano County Health and Social Services, answers a question during a press conference in Fairfield, Calif., on Thursday, February 27, 2020. Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle
Solano County has received state approval to move ahead with reopening, allowing dine-in restaurants, schools and other businesses to resume operations.
The California Department of Public Health endorsed Solano County’s variance report on Wednesday night, county officials said, making it the second Bay Area county allowed to advance further into stage two of the state’s plan to reopen from coronavirus restrictions. Napa County is the only other Bay Area county to also have this approval.
Retail stores, including shopping malls and swap meets, and restaurants will be able to open immediately with appropriate health guidelines in place, per the county’s attestation report. Schools “will open later in summer or fall once guidance is developed,” the report states.
Businesses such as salons, gyms, fitness studios and clubs remain prohibited in stage two of California’s plan.
Businesses that reopen must follow social distancing requirements in the county and state’s health orders and comply with sector-specific guidance, Solano County officials said.
Solano County submitted a revised report to the public health department on Wednesday outlining its readiness under state criteria for expanded reopening.
The county’s COVID-19 hospitalization rate, positive case rate, testing and hospital capacities meet state requirements, health officer Bela T. Matyas wrote in the report. The county will continue tracking epidemiological data and could retighten restrictions if its case rate increases sharply or infections in health care workers rise for an extended period, the report states.
“As we move to advance more quickly through Stage 2, we will continue to monitor the situation, and our top priority will always remain the health and safety of Solano County residents,” Matyas said in a statement earlier Wednesday after the report was submitted.
County officials said they still encourage residents to maintain distance of six feet from other people in public, wear a cloth face mask outside the home when unable to maintain distance and stay home if feeling unwell.
As of Wednesday, Solano County had confirmed 435 total cases of the coronavirus, including 43 active cases, and 18 deaths. Of the deaths, the county had reported 11 in the last 10 days.
State health officials have now received paperwork from 39 of 58 counties seeking approval to advance more quickly with reopening, according to the public health department website.
Every news analysis I’ve seen of Russia’s criminally ruthless war against Ukraine has focused on Putin’s nationalistic dream of the resurrection of the old Soviet Union and his Czarist ambitions.
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