Category Archives: Covid 19

Benicia Unified School District, Coronavirus, Covid 19, Distance learning

Benicia Schools publish Distance Learning Plan

Distance Learning Plan – Update 4-23-20

Apr 23, 2020 | Latest News, nCoV

Dear Benicia Community,

I hope this communication finds you well and managing the stay at home order as best as possible.  There are many unknowns as we move forward, in particular, what school will look like for all of us next year. We will keep everyone updated as we hear more from the Governor, the State Superintendent of schools, and the Health Department and how their guidance will affect our planning.

In the meantime, in our ongoing effort to provide clarity regarding our efforts with Distance Learning, I have attached the BUSD Distance Learning Plan, knowing it is not perfect, but does reflect our intentions, the good work to date and the Memorandum of Understanding with the teacher’s union.  I am very proud of where we are, knowing we were quick in our response to distance learning and that we continue to reflect, learn, and refine our processes as we go along.  Teachers and all staff care deeply for their students, are striving to support them in the new Distance Learning model, and are looking forward to seeing them again in the hopefully not too distant future.

Thank you so much for your patience and support!

Sincerely,
Dr. Charles Young
Superintendent

Click here to read the BUSD District Distant Learning Plan >

Coronavirus, Covid 19, United States of America

Today’s grim milestones: more than 1 million U.S. confirmed cases of Covid-19 and more dead than in Vietnam war

Thank you to George Takei for this sad alert…

George Takei | Adventure Time Wiki | FandomGeorge Hosato Takei is an American actor, author, and activist. He is best known for his role as Hikaru Sulu, helmsman of the USS Enterprise in the television series Star Trek. He also portrayed the character in six Star Trek feature films and one episode of Star Trek: Voyager. Wikipedia
Coronavirus, Covid 19, Long-term care facilities, Nursing homes, Solano County CA, Vallejo CA

Vallejo Nursing Home infected with COVID-19, only skilled nursing facility in Solano County as of April 24

By Roger Straw, April 28, 2020

The national crisis in our nursing homes is real and present here in Solano County.

Windsor Vallejo Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Vallejo CA

On April 20, we reported that the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released a “snapshot” listing of all known skilled nursing facilities reporting COVID-19 among staff or residents.  The list did not include any facilities in Solano County at that time.

As of April 24, the State updated the report, and shows one nursing home in Solano County that was/is dealing with the infection.

Of nine Solano skilled nursing facilities listed, only the Windsor Vallejo Nursing and Rehabilitation Center showed evidence of the coronavirus.  As of April 24, 11 residents and less than 11 staff tested positive.

Windsor Vallejo’s website does an excellent job of sharing extensive information about coronavirus, but does not disclose numbers of positive or active cases.  It leaves unanswered whether any of Solano County’s reported deaths took anyone at their facility.

The State’s “24-hour snapshot” on April 24 showed California’s confirmed active cases in 662 skilled health care workers and ​1,899 nursing care residents.  The cumulative total of cases in the State as of April 24 were 2,329 nursing home health care workers and  3,441 nursing home residents.  Cumulative deaths in the State as of April 24 include less than 11 skilled health care workers and 545 nursing home residents.

Coronavirus, Covid 19, Decommissioning, Ethanol, Fossil fuels, Tar sands crude, Valero Benicia Refinery

Letter from Andrés Soto: Chagrined at Valero’s alcohol diversion

By Andrés Soto, April 27, 2020
Andrés Soto, Benicia CA

As we wound down the first shelter in place Earth Day/Week, I was prodded into chuckling at the Herald’s front page story of Valero diverting some of its ethanol production to the making of hand sanitizing liquids! This is like applying antibiotic ointment to a bleeding gun shot wound. Thanks Valero.

Valero and the other fossil fuel companies have been knowingly contributing to the destruction of our atmosphere and trying to exacerbate the problem by moving into refining extreme crudes such a tar sands and fracked crude. Thanks Valero.

It is now understood that those who have been suffering the greatest health burdens over time from the fossil fuel economy are – surprise, surprise – also the most vulnerable to infection from COVID 19! Benicia and other refinery towns are on the front line with children and seniors suffering disproportionately from asthma and other auto-immune diseases. Thanks Valero.

Of course, to protect their position to profit from poison they need political support. The 2018 Benicia election saw Valero and its deep pocket “boots on the ground” building trades union allies spend an obscene amount of money to personally destroy the reputation of Planning Commissioner Kari Birdseye and and pump up the pro-polluter candidates Lionel Largaespada and Christina Strawbridge to victory. Thanks Valero.

If Valero and its fellow oil cartel members really wanted to help Benicia and Earth it would join community members, workers and city representatives in the planning of a managed decommissioning of the refinery and reduce risks to COVID 19, massive wildfires and toxic pollution. Thanks Valero.

Andres Soto
Benicia CA