Thread by @shayshinecastle

Howdy, #Boulder: How have the first 45 minutes of stay-at-home orders treated you?

I napped through 30 of them. So far, so good.

It's city council night. First fully remote meeting. We'll see how it goes. You can watch at home here: bouldercolorado.gov/boulder8

Here's what's on the agenda for tonight: boulderbeat.news/2020/03/23/bou…

First up is a COVID briefing. Here's the pwr pt for that: www-static.bouldercolorado.gov/docs/COVID_Bri…

I have been "encouraged" to watch the broadcast just like the rest of you schmoes, so my tweets won't be as quick as usual.

As promised, here's my first piece of "positive" news to give ya'll the warm and fuzzies.

Photos by Ellen Orleans of socially distancing snowmen in NoBo Park over the weekend. Be like these snowmen!

OK, correction. These snowmen were in Holiday Park.

Now they're probably melted, but I don't want to dishonor their memory with inaccuracies.

We're getting started. Our first late start but some bumps were expected in going remote.

"I'm banging the virtual gavel here," Mayor Weaver says.

I ended up calling in bc I was getting worried. Looks like broadcast is still delayed a bit; they're hoping to fix that before the first public participation on April 7.

First, update from BoCo Public Health exec director Jeff Zayach.

Numbers as of 4 p.m. today: 912 total cases in state; 7,701 ppl tested. so 11% are testing positive. 84 hospitalized, so roughly 9% of individuals.

35 of 64 counties have cases
11 deaths; about 1% fatality rate which "tracks pretty closely with what we're seeing happen in other nations."

One thing that's Dif for us is % of ppl under 65 that have been hospitalized: 70% at this point

BoCo, as of 9:30 a.m. this morning, has 46 cases total

"Bc our testing in the U.S. is not at the same level, we are underestimating the total number of cases." Best estimates are 50X reported positives, Zayach says.

28% of actual cases in BoCo are 19-29 y.o.
44% are 30-59
28% are 60+

Zayach: We know that still 80% of ppl who get this virus are going to have very mild symptoms
20% will be more acute, and of those, we are seeing that fatality rate hold around 1%

"Virus needs to be taken extremely seriously," Zayach says, "but we want to remind ppl that most ppl are going to recover from this."

Local hospitalization rate is around 10%, Zayach says.

We're working to expand testing and "do a better job of controlling some of those positive cases" so they're not exposing as many ppl, Zayach says.

Zayach: "Personal protective equipment continues to be a challenge."

"We're fairly certain at this point we will not see a response from the federal gov't that will require manufacturers" to work to provide gear, Zayach says. But Governor Polis is directing a Colorado effort to do so.

"I'm very appreciative" Boulder has done as much as they can to align with the stay-at-home order we'll (Boulder County) put out in next 24-48 hours.

Zayach: Hospitals are working to prepare for a "surge" that will happen "in the next few weeks" — end of April to end of May, depending on prediction models and preventative measures.

Friend asks about the high % of younger ppl being hospitalized.
Zayach addressing that, based of recent reports. "That's a little different than what we've seen at an international level and something that has concerned us."

Friend: "That's concerning to me bc I think in general younger ppl have taken some of the measures less seriously."

Zayach: "I wouldn't want to posit a theory bc I don't have that level of expertise.

But we are making sure as we get new info, we are addressing that in our communication strategies."

Brockett: Will county's order supersede city's?
Yes, Zayach says. It will apply countywide, not just outside municipalities.

Yates: How long is average hospital say?
Zayach: Not positive, so I don't want to guess.

Dr. Vissers from BCH might be able to address later.

That's Dr. Robert Vissers.

Approx 3 weeks; obvs much longer for ppl who are critically ill. Some of that time is "waiting for patients to be negative."

In trying to predict when peak will be, 3 wks is the figure being used.
10-14 days in the ICU for ppl who make it there.

Vissers says that's why it important to ID sites where ppl who can "convalesce" after they're not sick enough to be in a hospital but still not negative for COVID, to open up some capacity in the hospital.

Not sure how accurate these numbers are, but this map (originally from High Country News) shows hospital beds by county.

Boulder County has 450 beds. motherjones.com/environment/20…

Young: How do more stringent orders for social distancing affect the fatality rate?
Vissers: I've not seen specific predictions on that, but I've seen predictions on how it would knock down total number of cases.

"These social mitigation measures can affect how fast the curve goes up and how long it lasts," he adds.

City Manager Jane Brautigam: We've been working closely with BoCo public health. Will amend city's order tomorrow "to conform completely" to their order.

We'd prefer to wait to see what the county does, she says (in response to Brockett q).

Nagle asks about enforcement: I know we've had a lot of complaints and issues with CU students. I'm assuming our police officers are stretched pretty thin.

How's that going to be handled vs. just someone trying to get to work, she asks.

Brautigam: Our police can't be enforcing every person who might be out on the street. Just as Mayor Hancock said yesterday, we intend to enforce this through "education and encouragement."

"We won't be arresting anybody and probably not issuing tickets" except maybe to repeat offenders, Brautigam says.

Wallach: When you model the peak period, how does the patient counts vs. beds work out? Ditto with respirators?

I think this is Zayach, but could be Vissers.
"The model has been put together specific to every state in the nation." So maybe no more local data....? It was hard to understand him.

Nothing specific to Boulder County, Zayach says. "We don't have modeling that breaks it down to all counties. Only a statewide model at this point."

That's in response to Joseph q.

Crap, Weaver just rattled off numbers for beds but I missed them.

Data is available, Brautigam says.

It's kinda hard to count bc beds are by department and can be shifted around, etc.

Dr. Vissers, back again.

"We feel we're doing very well in terms of our preparation and contingency planning," he says.

Updating on 3 Ps: People, Product (equipment and gear), Place

Vissers praising Boulder for stay-at-home order. "The actions taken ... we all believe will make a tremendous difference."

"Expect to have a challenging couple months ahead," but "it's very heartening and encouraging" to see these actions.

Peak is defined as: What's the highest number of cases I'm going to have to take care of at one time? Highest number of ppl needing critical care bed? Max number of ppl who need ventilators?

If our capacity is below the peak of that surge, "that clearly will cost people's lives," Vissers says.

"Ideally we want less ppl infected, but even if we can spread it out over a couple months rather than a couple weeks," that will help our capacity.

As important as beds and ventilators is getting ppl out of the hospital who don't need to be there, Vissers says.

Looking at hotels and dorms.

For places ppl can go after they're not longer critically ill but still positive and therefore contagious.

Taking 4-8 days to get test results back, "so it's very difficult for us to answer questions" on modeling "bc we just don't have the data to feed into the models."

Vissers: We've done 450 tests, 130 are still pending.
288 negatives; 32 positives

Only 3 positives that have required in-patient care.
1 already discharged; patient doing well
2 in-patients now that we know are positive
11 patients being ruled out

88 employees screened; higher rate of screening for employees bc when testing became limited, we prioritized them
48 negative
2 positive

1 already back at work
The other doing well
"Strong likelihood" they were infected in community, likely through travel. Not at work

"Our efforts to keep ppl out of the hospital are working," Vissers says.

Exploring ways to "extend the life" of masks. Some more supposed to be coming in soon.
90-day supply of masks; "where we're really struggling is disposable gowns," Vissers says. Brainstorming alternatives.

"Overall feeling pretty good, at least compared to other parts of the country."

No staffing shortages.

Vissers: Best prediction is we will need 5,000 additional critical care beds across Colorado.
Right now, we have 1,400.

"Feeling is we prob need 3-4X ICU beds than we currently have in Colorado." Same for ventilators.

179 licensed beds at BCH; has received approval from state to go up to 230 beds.

Right now we could "comfortably" increase ICU beds from 12 to 57, Vissers says.

Could also increase ventilators by modifying other machines: from 4-5 up to mid 30s and "probably beyond."

Can double acute care capacity and medical bed capacity, too, Vissers says.

Challenge with that is "ppl are still going to be having babies," needing other beds.

It's tricky to count beds also bc it is tied in with number of staff. Apologies if some of these terms don't make sense to you; moving quickly here. Will try to respond to qs and will gladly take any explanations from knowledgable followers.

Vissers: "One of the things that has made me believe, more than anything else, that we in Boulder will get through this OK" is the "outpouring of support," including the donation of supplies, equipment, "ideas," food.

Young: Lyons has redirected short-term rentals as recovery beds. Would that be helpful in Boulder?
Vissers: Anything we can do to decompress hospital would be helpful.

Yates: Are there other things you want us to be doing, in addition to stay-at-home order?

Zayach: "The city of Boulder has been incredible." Most important piece in next week "is to support education around these orders."

Still "a lot of ppl out, gathering." BoCo Public Health focus will be on reducing that.

Vissers: Rode my bike home from hospital last night at 8 p.m.; "it could have been 3 in the morning." No one was out. "I do think ppl in Boulder are taking it seriously."

Zayach: Ppl who want to help by making masks are being directed to state health dept to make sure they are following guidelines.

Vissers: We really appreciate all the efforts. It is helpful we know they are meeting similar standards to surgical masks.

BCH is coordinating through volunteer services. "There's been so much response there that we put out recommendations."

State hospital association has put those recommendations online. Is looking at doing kits that they can send out to ppl to then make masks.

"This may end up representing an important way to continue to protect ourselves and our employees.

Another update on city response. Here is that landing page: bouldercolorado.gov/coronavirus

Info (including videos) available in English and Spanish.
Traffic up 58% from average, Brautigam said. 53% of all traffic is going to COVID site.

Kurt Firnhaber going over some of the work being done to serve unhoused residents. REMINDER: Volunteers are needed! boulderbeat.news/2020/03/21/pla…

He has a story. He always has a story.

Currently 7 ppl at COVID center for the homeless:
March 20: 1 person referred from Clinica
March 21: Expanded to BSH and SWS
March 23: Expanded screening to Longmont

BSH = Boulder Shelter for the Homeless (in NoBo)
SWS = Severe Weather Shelter (on 30th Street)

"Goal is to keep shelters functioning and healthy," Firnhaber says. CRC (at East Boulder Rec Center) will hopefully make sure that happens by preventing spread.

Here's a slide on shelter capacity. Some nights were over capacity prior to recent changes, Firnhaber says.

Back to the need for volunteers: Lots of response, but there is still some need.
321.5 Total Volunteer Hours (staff and community volunteers)
• 157 hrs from community volunteers
• 164.5 hrs from staff volunteers
• 50+ shifts covered at CRC, Screeners and Drivers

87% of shifts are currently filled for next 5 days (3/24-3/28)

Getting into discussion of capacity. Reminder: SWS has 72 beds.
Demand:
Jan.1-Feb.28, 2019 Average = 68.92
Jan.1-Feb.29, 2020 Average = 93.85

"We've begun to go consistently over capacity" at SWS, Firnhaber says.

70% of individuals entering the system have been in BoCo for less than 6 months, he says.

Firnhaber: Shelters do open during the day when severe weather triggers are met, but they struggle to have enough staff. And they have to close for a little bit every day to do cleaning.

On to rental assistance: City working through EFAA to help families and individuals

(disclosure: I work as a paid consultant for EFAA)

Colorado gave $3M to public housing authorities for this purpose. BHP, BoCo Housing and Longmont put together a single application

BHP survey of 1,400 units: 40 households are struggling to pay next month's rent. 20 are on vouchers.

All non-essential residential and business evictions on hold until 5/31, Firnhaber says. Not sure where that came from... maybe the court timeout on accepting those cases...?

Per presentation: Since 3/16, approx. $870K released/identified for immediate release to support agencies regionally

Hey, it's a map of public restrooms in Boulder! There are 8 with running water and hand washing facilities.

Blue is restrooms; yellow is outhouses/port-a-potties

"Some" of the outhouses/port-a-potties have hand sanitizer, Firnhaber says.

"I would plead with the community to not take hand sanitizer from these facilities." Parks & rec are "having a difficult time" keeping soap and sanitizer at restrooms.

I can't believe this but my roommate is completely MIA and I have to take a quick break to feed the dogs. BRB.

I mean, I'm still listening but a bit distracted

Young: Where should ppl go if they need rental assistance?
Firnhaber: EFAA

Young: Why is demand for SWS up so much?
Firnhaber: Providers have told us that ppl in navigation dropped out bc shelter was open every night. "They didn't need it any more" bc, in their minds, cold-weather shelter "was always there."

"It basically dropped in half."
Navigation: Used to average 38 individuals; now at 15.

"It basically dropped in half."
Navigation: Used to average 38 individuals; now at 15."

And it drew ppl from other places, he says.

Young asked a q but I kinda missed it.
Firnhaber: We've increased resources to EFAA. Some (other) funds can help ppl with rent assistance for up to 3 months.

Reminder: You can go here to volunteer for various COVID-related efforts in #Boulder: countmein.bouldercolorado.gov

Swetlik: Is standard practice at SWS that we take those ppl over capacity and van them to Boulder Shelter?
Yes

Swetlik: Have we also hit capacity at Boulder Shelter?
"I'm not aware we've hit capacity," Firnhaber says.

Usually 3-5 beds empty.

OK, now saying they did hit capacity but had 1-2 beds left over, but they were for women and one male individual was turned away.

Swetlik: Is assumption that when it warms up, we'll have fewer capacity issues?
Yes.

Swetlik: Do you anticipate an increase in demand bc of the crisis and economic situation?

Firnhaber: There's a lot of things we don't know how they're going to roll out.

Currently 7 at COVID unhoused center; we don't know how much that might increase.

But that should correlate with decrease at other shelters.

Swetlik: Can we put a mobile handwashing station near 30th Street facility?
Firnhaber: It would have to be on city property. Maybe parks and rec could answer that.

Swetlik: What if owners of 30th Street gave us permission?
Firnhaber: We'll look into it.

Swetlik: Can our daily updates include when SWS hits capacity?
Firnhaber: At this point, I can't promise that.

Providers usually give info on monthly basis, he says.

Firnhaber: It's been requested of those organizations.
Anything we get, we'll pass on to you immediately.

Might be getting another public restroom open at Mapleton Ballfields on April 1

Friend: We've had "a lot" of requests for more hand washing and hand sanitizer stations. Why aren't we doing that more widely?

Firnhaber: Usually the sanitizer is being taken within 30 min

Brautigam: Dispensers are back-ordered bc of the current crisis. We have some on back order.

Joseph: Can we have some link that is readily available for ppl to complain, bc I have received quite a few calls from community members who are being pressured to vacate their property. "I want to ensure we protect ppl."

Firnhaber: Mediation team is working telephonically, which may not be quite as effective.

bouldercolorado.gov/community-rela…

Firnhaber: If they need $$, they can go to EFAA: efaa.org

Joseph: Do we need to post that info somewhere? Ppl don't seem to know who to contact.

Last Joseph q: I want to volunteer at COVID unhoused center. But shifts are so long (4 or 8 hours). Can we offer some shorter ones?

Firnhaber: Screening positions are 3 hours.
The rest at CRC are all 8 hours. One of the reasons for that is bc protective equipment is in such high demand; we can't have more shifts and deplete those supplies.

Friend: I thought individuals who need rental assistance were going through coordinated entry?
Firnhaber: Ppl who are not yet unhoused go to EFAA — families and individuals.

Friend: You said unhoused might be at more risk for COVID. Are we seeing that yet in the numbers?
Firnhaber: Luckily, I don't think we are yet.

Of 7 ppl at CRC now, a couple are "likely" to have COVID.

Firnhaber: One concern is that 3 individuals who tested positive, we were going to pick up but "they disappeared."

"They're not used to being inside 24/7 for 10-14 days. I think there's a little bit of fear for some individuals about being taken by the government to some location."

Community members can donate stuff to keep folks comfortable and occupied at the CRC: games, movies, books, etc.

Friend asking about more info on domestic violence/child abuse.
County has more info on that bc they handle those cases, Firnhaber says.

We're gonna move into financial impacts of the pandemic and state/federal response. Was gonna start a new thread but I'm too lazy.

I shouldn't have worked all day but I did. On this: boulderbeat.news/2020/03/24/ami…

Anyway, back to council. *sigh*

Already appropriated: $8.3 billion "Corona Virus Preparedness and Response Act" (COVID-1) - Mostly health-focused, but provided $20 million for the US Small Business Administration

And this: $100 billion + "Families First Coronavirus Response Act" (COVID-2)– Provided sick leave, free coronavirus testing, expanded food assistance, unemployment benefits, and required employers to provide additional protections for health care workers

Boulder policy advisor Carl Castillo going over the specifics. Lots in there for WIC, food assistance for kids, $$$ for small businesses to give workers paid sick leave

Still under consideration; might be approved tonight: $1.8 trillion stimulus package under consideration (COVID-3)
- Cash payments to families
- Increased loans to business through SBA
- Expansion of unemployment insurance benefits
- Increased funding for state and local gov't

- $500 billion fund to offer loans to struggling industries
- Increased resources for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to people affected by the pandemic

Castillo on individual rebates: $1,200 checks for each individual of adjusted gross income up to $75,000 (single) and $112,000 (filing jointly) based on 2018 returns.

And $500 per child

Again, that hasn't passed yet, but Castillo says it could happen tonight.

Moving onto foreclosures and evictions: National stay on those mortgages backed by Fannie/Freddie through April 30

Evictions: Polis has "encouraged" local gov't to not allow resources to be used to enforce those. Boulder County courts are not accepting those cases.

Brockett: I understand stimulus bill is still in-process. What's in there for local small businesses?

$329B for loan guarantees and subsidies, Castillo says

That includes $2B for Colorado small biz loans. Link in this story: boulderbeat.news/2020/03/21/bou…

Brockett: What about folks struggling to pay rent? Anything in there for them?
Castillo: Rebates could help with that

Brockett asks for followup once the package gets passed.

Council still asking qs. I'm skipping ahead a bit bc DATA!

Most of Boulder’s 7,000 businesses are small
• 96% have ≤ 50 employees
• 78% ≤ 10 employees
• Small businesses provide approximately half of the
jobs and roughly 40% of wages in Boulder
• Businesses with 50 or more employees represent 4% of Boulder businesses

Less than 1% have 250 or more employees.

Retail businesses generate sales and use tax contribute 50% of general fund revenues (excluding utilities)

Young: Any actual limits on foreclosure/eviction or just "encouragement" and "discouragement"?
Castillo: Governor has sent "strong messaging" on that. Colorado Legislature is considering reconvening and "adding teeth" to governor's words.

Castillo: Idk if there are plans to make these messages into actual requirements.

Wallach: Have any major institutions actually responded to these requests from the governor?
Castillo: I'll get back to you.

OK, back to Boulder's businesses.

Boulder Chamber sent a survey to local biz. 308 responses.
Here's what biz need right now:
Resources for operating expenses
Resources to assist impacted employees
Information on safe operations

Consideration of short-term expense mitigation (incl. commercial space rental obligations, taxes and fees)

"A plan for the future"

Yvette Bowden, director of community vitality, is taking the helm on this.

I might have tweeted this already but here are city resources for businesses: bouldercolorado.gov/coronavirus-bu…

"Many, many businesses are making difficult decisions right now," Bowden says.

My q to commercial landlords is, why would you evict someone right now? Could you really fill that space when biz aren't even allowed to be open?

That goes for residential landlords, too. Who TF is trying to move right now? Won't those units just sit empty anyway?

Reminder: You can still order takeout and delivery (including booze!) from #Boulder restaurants.

I don't have that much cash but I do intend to order some to-go margs soon. Drink at home alone for your country! It's the patriotic thing to do.

Bowden: City is going to dig deeper into impacts very soon to see the impacts of closures, etc. An April 28 council meeting will dive into budget stuff.

Wallach: Could we move that meeting up earlier?

Bowden: We could. But this was going to be a larger conversation about budget approach in general. Our central finance team may need time to update latest tax receipt info.

Brautigam: April 28 is prob the first meeting we'd have sales and use tax info for March.

It's going to be tight as-is, she says. But we'll do what we can to put it together. I'm sorry.
Wallach: You sold me.

Lots of praise from Nagle on resources for biz the city has put together and its response overall.

Young: We received an "eloquent email" from a restauranteur in town today. (Doesn't say who.) But suggests we need to step up resources for non-English speakers, an issue she has raised with almost every speaker tonight.

We're on it, Bowden says.

Moving onto any changes to Boulder's stay-at-home order: Council might not discuss those tonight bc they want to match what the county does tomorrow.

Brautigam: What we're wanting to do is tomorrow see their order and I'll pass an amended order to mirror it.

There will be a call line to refer qs to.

Swetlik: What makes construciton workers essential? We don't have building inspections right now, what's the point?
Brautigam: We mirrored Denver's order.

City working on a "few" virtual inspections and maybe hiring third party inspections, Brautigam says. "But we certainly don't want to put them in harm's way."

Friend: What about limits to public transit? That has equity concerns.
Brautigam: I don't think there will be ppl at RTD checking where you're going. If that's your only way to get someplace, I think that would be fine.

Carr: Order doesn't allow ppl to drive to trailheads, either.
We'll be working with county to see what's necessary in Boulder.

Friend: That would mean you'd have to live close to trailheads to use them, which is an equity concern.

Wallach: What about exemptions for churches? No social distancing or crowd size requirements.

Carr: There are First Amendment concerns with gov't ordering ppl not to worship.

Brockett: Can we use virtual inspections for things like certification of occupancy, so we can get ppl into homes?
Brautigam: We're looking at that for affordable units.

BUT, fire dept has to do final inspection. We're trying to keep them as protected as possible. Even if ppl aren't living in units, they will be at more risk of running into someone when they're going from unit to unit.

Young: Are building permits being issued?

Chris Meschuk, planning director: We have essentially worked to convert planning dept into online service center. Staff can process all applications electronically.

We are continuing to be able to operate and review and process permits. We did 34 reviews just today.

Young asks: What's the Dif between shelter-in-place and stay-at-home?

I tackled this yesterday, quite well I think.

Brautigam: Shelter-in-place language "feels very harsh."
Stay-at-home "seems clearer to ppl, what they're supposed to do."

"The view is, it's the same thing."

"It's very much the same thing."

So maybe I didn't do all that great, bc to me it seemed like there were more subtle differences.

Brautigam: "I think ppl using common sense would be very good."

Joseph asks about real estate: How can we make sure agents aren't coming into places they rent, trying to sell it?

Says this is in response to concerns from community members.

Brautigam: We allow real estate professionals to be doing their job. My understanding that most of them have protocols for entering ppl's homes: putting on gloves and booties. But they're not going to have masks, so that's the issue.

That could be addressed in county order, Brautigam says.

Weaver (who has been surprisingly quiet thus far): Biz are concerned about taking on debt to get by. They might never be able to get out from under it.

Raising the idea of a rent holiday.

"We need our state and federal reps to understand we're going to feel this pain quicker than they are. These are our neighbors and friends."

"We also don't want small landlords" to be hurt, Weaver says.

"So I don't know what the answer is, but it's important we ask the questions."

His connection is shit on sound for some reason.

"Can ppl hear me or not?" Weaver asks.
Nah, brah.

Young: I think you're absolutely right in that we need to consider both sides. You've got the renter and the landlord and all the different ppl within the biz from the ppl working in kitchens to ppl that own the restaurants to ppl lending to the ppl who own restaurants.

If we can put "incentive" behind encourage, discourage, refrain suggestions, I would be "very willing" to look at ways to do that, Young says.

Wallach: We need to better understand impact of state/fed help before we do a rent holiday.
Additionally, I'm concerned we don't have authority or power. My understanding is we don't have power to alter private contracts.

How do we make sure we're not providing assistance to ppl who don't need it? Wallach says.

"I don't think we know enough to go down that road."

Carr weighs in: There are certainly challenges. There's no case that says absolutely you can't do it. Provision that precludes taking by gov't.

"But these are extraordinary times. You can do what you need to do and we'll defend it. There are certainly risks."

Chamber has corralled largest landlords in town, who have committed to not doing evictions, Wallach says.

On commercial side, it's "simple." No landlord who throws someone out is going to make $$ by doing so.

Friend: "I largely echo" Wallach.

I didn't see that coming. But she is an attorney, so....

"I think that maybe carrots are better than sticks in this situation," she says.

Swetlik: My only pushback is speed has a lot to do with what happens here. If we nitpick too much and it takes too long ... we may lose a lot of the ppl we're trying to protect in the first place.

Nagle: I in general would agree with Wallach and Friend.

"Use of carrots would be preferable," especially since landlords seem to be on board.

Yates: Evictions are prohibited until at least May 31.

Where did that come from?!? Someone help me out here.

Must be the courts. They've stopped taking cases for the moment but idk over what time.

Forgot this, but Chamber's efforts included landlords who own 1,200 units.

Pretty sure there are like 20,000 rental units in Boulder. I seem to remember ~40,000 units overall, and a bit more than half of ppl are renters.... ?

This is something I should know. Apologies; I'll try and find it.

Yates: Feds seem to be willing to throw "trillions of dollars" at these problems. Let's not rush to a solution. "We should have better visibility in the next week or so."

Brockett: Our affordable housing providers are working with all of tenants, setting up payment plans, not evicting. But they do count on rent in order to stay financially solvent.

City does have some "substantial" funds for rental assistance, Brockett says. "Hopefully stimulus bill is going to provide some real serious assistance."

But we should be ready to step in.

Young: Are apartment building owners on board? If not, how do we get them to the table?

Weaver: "This is not something I'm proposing we move quickly on."

"Ultimate response," he says, "is printing money."

It's something feds do every 30-40 years, and this is one such time.

My internet is getting slower and slower.

I think that's the end of the COVID-related business for tonight, so I'mma start a new thread for whatever else they do. @threadreaderapp please unroll. Thanks!