Business Community Speaks Out: Since the murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, business and civic leaders have issued statements condemning the act, racism, and inequality. Much of the work the JEDE Committee has undertaken with stakeholders in response to the economic impacts of the pandemic has focused on redressing these historical disparities, which COVID-19 has laid bare. Below are some of the thoughtful comments stakeholders and other leaders have shared with the committee over the last few days.
Corona Chamber of Commerce: “The Corona Chamber, like many of you, is deeply disturbed by the senseless killing of George Floyd. The country is hurting right now. We have seen some beautiful moments captured this weekend at the protests in Flint, MI and Miami, FL, and we have also seen some terrible rioting. We can't adequately express our condolences for all of the pain and loss so many are experiencing.” https://www.mychamber.org/
Los Angeles Latino Chamber of Commerce: “The Los Angeles Latino Chamber of Commerce stands in solidarity with our Afro-Latino and Black community members. We condemn all acts of racism, discrimination and senseless acts of violence. We are a community enriched by diversity and stand on the side of equal justice for all. First and foremost, justice for black lives.” https://lalcc.org/
George W. Bush, 43rd President of the USA: “Laura and I are anguished by the brutal suffocation of George Floyd and disturbed by the injustice and fear that suffocate our country. Yet we have resisted the urge to speak out, because this is not the time for us to lecture. It is time for us to listen. It is time for America to examine our tragic failures – and as we do, we will also see some of our redeeming strengths. It remains a shocking failure that many African Americans, especially young African American men, are harassed and threatened in their own country. It is a strength when protesters, protected by responsible law enforcement, march for a better future. This tragedy — in a long series of similar tragedies — raises a long overdue question: How do we end systemic racism in our society?” https://www.bushcenter.org/about-the-center/newsroom/press-releases/2020/06/statement-by-president-george-w-bush.html
California Retailers Association: “The past weeks and months have not been easy for Californians, but Californians are up to the task. Likewise, California retailers have risen to the challenge by protecting their customers and employees as we navigate COVID-19. Retailers have ensured Californians have access to food and medication, donated supplies to state and local emergency services and first responders and have been an active resource for policy makers as we look to safely re-open California’s economy. We were beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel as counties started to relax stay-at-home orders and malls and businesses welcomed consumers back into their stores. That all changed, however, with the senseless death of George Floyd. Mr. Floyd’s death was avoidable and wrong, not only resulting in shattered buildings and violence on the streets of California, but shattered trust, confidence, and relationships at a time when Californians need them most.” https://calretailers.com/cra-issues-statement-in-response-to-george-floyd-demonstrations-in-california/
CAMEO: “Ensuring economic development opportunities for our minority and underserved business owners was our team’s priority during this pandemic, which already has affected the black community disproportionately; then the death of George Floyd happened. It’s time to reflect for a moment.” “We are devastated by the dehumanization of Black People. We stand with the community in their call for justice and a reckoning of structural inequalities.” https://cameonetwork.org/
Orange County Business Council: “A language of the unheard. The pandemic exposes California's systemic failures like nothing in our history. They are as evident as the pandemic's effects on minority health, as well as decades-long failures in housing, education and opportunities for upward mobility. We must ask clarifying questions and probe. We must press for answers, engage in reform and hold our leaders accountable. We must listen, and listen deeply. Then, above all, we must pay attention, and this time get it right.” http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?m=1011205027523&ca=5673eccb-ed55-4a02-a50c-820ce5e6b412
PolicyLink: “Even as we hurt and mourn, we fight for transformative justice from a nation that must come to grips with the fact that its fate is inextricably bound with Black America. It is time for a national effort to remake this nation into one that is equitable for all.” https://www.policylink.org/covid19-and-race/commentary
Agreement Reached on the State Budget: Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins, and Budget Committee Chairs Senator Holly J. Mitchell and Assemblymember Phil Ting announced that an agreement has been reached between the Senate and the Assembly on the proposed 2020-2021 state budget. “The joint legislative plan builds on the Governor’s framework to further protect jobs and preserve vital services, while recognizing the sober economic outlook facing California. Acknowledging the strong likelihood of additional federal relief, the plan would use reserves to avoid overcutting now, while still keeping reserves on hand for the future, and ensuring full funding of K-14 schools. The plan also increases legislative oversight on COVID-19 spending, recognizes that employee groups are engaging in the collective bargaining process with the administration, and encourages health plans to engage with the administration in discussing options that may be needed in the months ahead.” www.asmdc.org/speaker
COVID-19 Executive Order: Governor Newsom issued an executive order (N-66-20) addressing a variety of issues in response to the pandemic, including (1) extending authorization for local governments to halt evictions for renters impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, through July 28; (2) provides a 60 day extension on the renewal of certain drivers licenses and identification cards by mail; and (3) eliminating the economic development set aside requirements for Community Development Block Grant Funding.
Highlight a Best Practice of the County of San Bernardino: The successful re-opening of a local economy is dependent on businesses being able to ensure the health and safety or their workers and customers. San Bernardino County is taking a pro-active approach by partnering with businesses to increase diagnostic and serology testing. For larger businesses, having onsite testing capabilities can provide certainty that protocols are consistently being observed and help avoid micro outbreaks. Interested businesses asked to complete a Public Health/Business Partnership form regarding their business’ current facility, infection control plan, and testing needs. https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/3957c73fcb1d4265a4815d51527d178b
Response and Recovery Recommendations: Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco issued a white paper, Coronavirus Compounds Challenges for Low-Income Communities and Communities of Color, which summarizes five key challenges where relief and resources are needed most. These challenges include: (1) Reduced income is a heavier burden for low-wage workers and small businesses; (2) Essential workers face higher exposure risks; (3) Families are in a bind due to school and daycare closures; (4) Low-income communities and communities of color are more susceptible to COVID-19 complications; and (5) Community service providers are feeling the strain, too. https://www.frbsf.org/our-district/about/sf-fed-blog/covid19-coronavirus-low-income-disproportionate-impact-communities-color/?utm_source=verticalresponse&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=frs-cd-pulse-survey
Reduced Trade in Services: The World Trade Organization issued a report on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on services trade. Among other findings, the report documents how the services sectors have been heavily affected. While the impacts on tourism were anticipated, the report also highlights how services fit within broader economic activity. Logistical services help to build supply chains that facilitate merchandise trade. The reduction in services globally inordinately impacts women as compared to men, and micro, small, and medium-sized businesses, as compared to large firms. https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news20_e/serv_29may20_e.htm
Extension of Export Finance Supports: The US Export-Import Bank extended several relief measures for US exporters and financial institutions affected by the COVID-19 pandemic through August 31, 2020. This includes a range of relief measures, including the Working Capital Guarantee Program; Multi-Buyer and Single-Buyer Short-Term Insurance Program; and the Medium-Term Single-Buyer Insurance Policies Issued to Exporters or Financial Institutions. https://www.exim.gov/fact-sheet-exim-covid-19-assistance
DATA, SURVEYS, AND EVALUATIONS
Black Workers and COVID-19: The Economic Policy Institute released a report, Black Workers Face Two of the Most Lethal Preexisting Conditions for Coronavirus—Racism and Economic Inequality, which examines the underlying factors contributing to extremely poor health and economic outcomes. Among other issues, the report discusses the impact of higher unemployment rates, significant wage and benefit gaps, lower household income, higher poverty rates, lower household financial reserves, and single-earner households. All other factors explain why, according to the report, it is impossible to construct a race-neutral policy. This report is the first in a series that will explore how racial and economic inequality leave workers of color with few good options for protecting both their health and economic well-being. While this report focuses specifically on Black workers, a forthcoming report will highlight conditions for Hispanic workers. https://www.epi.org/publication/black-workers-covid/
Black-Owned Businesses Hardest Hit by Pandemic: The Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research released a report on the impacts of the pandemic on small businesses using nationally representative data from the April 2020 CPS – the first month fully capturing early effects from the pandemic. Key findings in the report: “The number of active business owners in the United States plummeted by 3.3 million or 22% over the crucial two-month window from February to April 2020. The drop in business owners was the largest on record, and losses were felt across nearly all industries and even for incorporated businesses. African-American businesses were hit especially hard experiencing a 41% [decrease]. Latinx business owners fell by 32%, and Asian business owners dropped by 26%.” https://siepr.stanford.edu/research/publications/impact-covid-19-small-business-owners-evidence-early-stage-losses-april-2020
California Small Businesses Underserved: The Rockefeller Institute of Government (Institute) is tracking federal stimulus funding. According to the Institute’s most recent data release, California and New York received the largest amount of total federal CARES Act funding. However, based on both the number of cases of COVID-19 and per capita, these states were significantly underserved. In addition, the report states that “while businesses in California, New York, and Florida received the largest total funding, the [PPP and EIDL] loans cover fewer than 20% of small business employers in these states. North Dakota, Nebraska, and South Dakota received enough support to cover 50% of the states’ small business employers.” The Institute tracks distribution of three major relief provisions: the Coronavirus Relief Fund, the Paycheck Protection Program, and the Provider Relief Fund. https://rockinst.org/issue-areas/fiscal-analysis/covid-19-state-relief-dashboard/
California COVID-19 Infections by Race and Ethnicity: The California Department of Public Health regularly reports on the number of cases and deaths based on race and ethnicity. The data displayed in the chart below is from June 2, 2020. https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Race-Ethnicity.aspx
Race/Ethnicity
No. Cases
Percent Cases
No. Deaths
Percent Deaths
Percent CA population
Latino
44,975
54.1%
1,631
39.2
38.9%
White
16,402
19.7%
1,395
33.6
36.6%
Asian
7,387
8.9%
613
14.7
15.4
African American/Black
4,298
5.2%
414
10
6%
Multi-Race
638
0.8%
26
0.6
2.2%
American Indian or Alaska Native
173
0.2%
14
0.3
0.5%
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander
652
0.8%
31
0.7
0.3%
Other
8,626
10.4%
32
0.8
0
Total with data
83,151
100%
4,156
100
100%
Federal Loan Activity Involving CA Small Businesses: The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services regularly reports the number and amount of disaster loans California small businesses have accessed.
Tracking Federal Contracting: ProPublica is tracking $14.5 billion in federal contracts awarded to combat the coronavirus. The information is displayed on an easy to employ online platform. Among other categories, federal contract data can be sorted by type of contract, size of contract, vendor headquarters, departments issuing the contract, and whether the vendor is a foreign company, veteran-owned, minority-owned, woman-owned, or first time contractor. https://projects.propublica.org/coronavirus-contracts/
Impact of COVID-19 on Underserved Communities: The Federal Reserve System conducted a survey in April to identify and better understand the range of challenges facing under-resourced and low-income communities as an effect of COVID-19. Among other findings, 72% of respondents indicated COVID-19 is having a significant disruption on the entity they represent, with 41% expecting to bounce back quickly after recovery begins. The Federal Reserve states that it is committed to fielding this survey every eight weeks in order to track how the effects of COVID-19 are changing within communities over time.
Addressing Municipal Liquidity Issues: The Federal Reserve Board announced an expansion in the number and type of entities eligible to directly use its Municipal Liquidity Facility (MLF). Under the new terms, all US states will be able to have at least two cities or counties eligible to directly issue notes to the MLF regardless of population. Governors of each state will also be able to designate two issuers in their jurisdictions whose revenues are generally derived from operating government activities (such as public transit, airports, toll facilities, and utilities) to be eligible to directly use the facility. In addition to these expanded terms, the MLF continues to be directly open to US states, the District of Columbia, US cities with a population of at least 250,000 residents, US counties with a population of at least 500,000 residents, and certain multistate entities. https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/monetary20200603a.htm
Veteran Entrepreneurial Training: The SBA announced the first online Veteran Entrepreneurial Training and Resource Network Streetwise MBA program beginning in August 2020. Veteran small business owners and their immediate families are eligible to apply.
Health and Safety Guidance: OSHA released new planning guidance to help businesses prepare to re-open and provide a healthy environment for workers, customers, and the public. https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3990.pdf
Federal Contracting Designation: The SBA will begin implementing the certification changes to the Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSBs) and Economically Disadvantaged WOSBs (EDWOSBs) designations on July 15, 2020. These new regulations, authorized by the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act, are intended to make the certification process easier and improve oversight of the program. Between June 1 and July 15, 2020, certified WOSBs must download their documentation, currently housed in the WOSB Program Repository, from www.certify.sba.gov. On July 15, 2020, firms can begin submitting applications under the new certification process for initial processing. https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-assistance-programs/women-owned-small-business-federal-contracting-program?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
