JFS, Davis, Bry prominent in coronavirus fight

 

Other items in today’s column include:
*Recommended reading
*Mazal tov! Mazal tov!

By Donald H. Harrison

SAN DIEGO — In the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, local Jewish individuals and Jewish Family Service are playing prominent roles.

San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher announced on Friday that Jewish Family Service had been selected to operate a program to provide $500-per-individual or  $1,000-maximum-per-household disaster relief assistance for immigrants in the county who are “unauthorized,” according to a report in The San Diego Union-Tribune.

The relief money will be provided by the State of California under a program announced by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Starting on Monday, applicants may call Jewish Family Service at (858) 206-8281.

Meanwhile Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) was among members of the House of Representatives who successfully passed and sent to the U.S. Senate a trillion-dollar “Heroes Act” which, according to Davis, will, provide throughout the nation the following benefits:

–“Another $75 billion for the testing, tracing and treatment we need in order to have a science-based path to safely reopen our counry” and help “ensure that every American can access free coronavirus treatment.”

–“Nearly $1 trillion for funds to pay the local health care workers, police, fire, transportation, EMS, teachers and other vital workers who keep us safe and are in danger of losing their jobs. The Heroes Act will also establish a $200 billion Heroes’ fund to ensure that essential workers receive hazard pay.”

–“A second round of direct payments to families up to $6,000 per household, new payroll protection measures to keep 60 million workers connected with their jobs and extending weekly $600 federal unemployment payments through next January.”

–$10 billion for Covid-19 emergency grants through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.”

In addition, the congresswoman said, “the Heroes Act protects the life of our democracy with new resources to ensure safe elections, an accurate Census, and preserve the Postal Service. This legislation includes my bill, the Universal Vote by Mail Act, which would end arbitrary roadblocks to absentee voting.”

In direct assistance for state and local educational institutions, the bill provides $10.7 billion to California to “maintain or restore state and local fiscal support for elementary, secondary and public higher educa tion and can be used to meet a wide range of urgent needs, including summer learning, after school programs, distance learning and emergency financial aid for college students as well as coordination with public health departments to mitigate the spread of disease.”

San Diego City Councilwoman Barbara Bry, meanwhile, scheduled a Zoom seminar at 5 p.m. Monday, May 18, in which educators Leonita Cole, Meghann Hughes and Erin Summit will share tips on “how to best educate students from afar.”

People may register by clicking here, and may submit questions via this email.

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Recommended reading
*The Moderate Voice, edited by San Diego’s Joe Gandelman, carried a review of Abe by Patrick Holman. The movie is about a boy who has a Jewish mother and a Palestinian father and his efforts to create fusion cuisine, symbolizing his hope for harmony among his extended family.

*Eva Trieger, whose byline we’re happy to say is familiar to San Diego Jewish World readers, has the cover story in this month’s edition of L’Chaim San Diego Magazine.  It is about the work of the Susan B. Komen Foundation in San Diego County and its efforts to find a cure for cancer.

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Mazel tov! Mazel tov!

*Dana Rhinerson, daughter of Bernie and Bobbi Rhinerson, was married to Debbie Vazquez who, like her, is a special education teacher in Los Angeles, in a ceremony monitored on Zoom by friends and family.  Commented Bernie Rhinerson, a trustee of the San Diego Community College Board, “It was sad we couldn’t be together to celebrate other than Zoom.  But love prevails over the pandemic.”  The Orange County Clerk has a booth set up at the Honda Arena Center parking lot. Wedding couples reserve a time and show up in masks with one witness.

*Benjamin Schenk, son of Shari and Fred Schenk, has graduated the University of San Diego law school. He follows in the footstep of his father, who is a named partner in the firm of Casey Gerry Schenk Fracavilla Blatt & Penfield LLP. Benjamin’s mother is director of business development for the firm.  Fred notes that he also is a graduate of the University of San Diego law school, as was his sister, former Congresswoman Lynn Schenk.  Lynn’s late husband,  C. Hugh Friedman, was a distinguished professor on the USD law faculty.
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World.  He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com