• Yesterday, Governor Newsom announced new initiative for Californians who have suffered from lost jobs or wages because of the crisis. These measures include:
    • Extended hours for a new Employment Development Department (EDD) call center that will be operating 7 days a week, 8:00am-8:00pm. The EDD will also be expanding its staffing levels to accommodate the increased demand.
    • The EDD  will also create a “one stop shop” for individuals accessing the new federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program. The resource will be in operation starting April 28, 2020.
    • Undocumented Californians will be receiving direct cash benefits.
    • Read the Executive Order establishing these initiatives here.
  • The CA Labor and Workforce Development Agency created an FAQ page for PUA. Click here to access.
  • Yesterday, San Francisco Mayor Breed released an Executive Order extending the moratorium on commercial evictions through May 17th.
  • Yesterday, Mayor Breed also released a 10th Supplement to her emergency proclamation putting restrictions on tourist hotels. With some exceptions, this order makes it unlawful for a tourist hotel to remove a guest if that guest requests to stay and has tested positive for, is displaying symptoms of, or been exposed to COVID-19.
  • The small business lending program that was allocated $349 billion by the CARES Act has reportedly run out of funds.
    • There are ongoing attempts to add additional funding to the program, but debates continues on how to prioritize allocation of those funds.
    • Several news sites are posting updates on the situation, to read more from the Washington Post, click here.
  • Representatives Tim Ryan and Ro Khanna, two House Democrats, have introduced a piece of legislation, the Emergency Money for the People Act, which would expand the CARES Act.
    • If passed, this legislation would provide $2,000 per month to eligible Americans until employment returns to pre-crisis levels.
    • The eligibility would closely resemble the requirements for Economic Impact Payments, but would also include college students and adults with disabilities who are claimed as dependents.
    • To read more, you can access Representative Ro Khanna’s press release here.

For more information about COVID-19’s impact on California’s political and administrative landscape, visit our coronavirus webpage.

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