Pandemic in Los Angeles: Day 25

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Even if it’s too early to think about the world post corona-virus, I can’t help but reflect that this year will be the sixth anniversary of my blog. I’ve been overtaken by an idea for the special day of the anniversary: free copies of a special, bilingual “magazine edition” of JIMBO TIMES: The L.A. Storyteller for youth and families in the East Hollywood community.

As I’ve noted previously on the blog, my mother owns a newsstand in East Hollywood on Santa Monica boulevard, which this year will actually establish nineteen years in existence. That is correct. The stand is a 2001 baby, which means it’s still just showing this blogger how it’s done. While the wooden frame of the stand itself remains a humble, albeit resilient establishment, nineteen years is a legacy; one that I prize dearly for feeding my love and passion for the written word.

I want this blog to nurture the literacy and future of my community in the same way, but with an even larger, literal “print”; that is, I want kids, along with their mothers and fathers, to huddle together around Los Cuentos, or stories by JIMBO TIMES and other local writers in and around Los Angeles, so that they can experience the richness of arts and literature like we do.

The year following, there is no reason not to make a magazine edition of this blog a quarterly publication to have in circulation around the neighborhood, and in coffee shops and libraries all over Los Angeles. In the magazine, as I do with The L.A. Storyteller online, I will make a call for more up and coming writers and storytellers, both in English and en español, to submit their work for publication in subsequent editions of the magazine.

And in three years, with the momentum, funding, and correct plan intact, I see every reason for making this blog a monthly, printed newspaper for the community to benefit from, replete with a larger editing, design, and storytelling team for all. This, in my view, is the best way to honor my mother’s legacy in the community, which since the earliest days in East Hollywood has been a passion for supporting others with the written word, information, and education.

While I don’t mean to rush, or “get ahead of myself,” I sincerely see every reason to continue pursuing these dreams permeating within my mind, and even every reason to state them out loud for the whole world to know. It all comes down to one reason, though: that life is too short for any of us not to pursue our passions with every iota of will in our power.

All for and all through Los Angeles,

J.T.

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Pandemic in Los Angeles: Day 19

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The question of how to continue educating and organizing for communities during this public health crisis is burrowed in my mind, and I am moving forward with more vision. Today, I am announcing the launch of an official website for Who Is Your Neighborhood/Quien Es Tu Vecindario in East Hollywood, Los Angeles, primarily written in Spanish, which will serve as a tool and resource guide for las familias in the neighborhood to learn about grassroots efforts to support our community during the pandemic.

The fact of the matter is that before the coronavirus swarmed over each walk of life, JIMBO TIMES was only getting started with bringing together the vecindad; two consecutive Back to School Parties and two Open Mic Nights for youth and families in East Hollywood were just the beginning. This year, before the shuttering of L.A.’s schools and libraries, there was already a 3rd Open Mic Night scheduled at local Cahuenga Public Library for this April 9th, replete with another flyer by The Think Farm. That event is of course now cancelled, and it’s a question as to whether there can be a 3rd annual Back to School Party this August 2020, but I do know this: there is no need to wait until summer to rise once again for the uplifting of our communities.

Indeed, there is already a community at work each day with or without any organization making a formal commitment to it. There are neighbors speaking with their neighbors, daughters dialing their mamas, friends texting, emailing, and face-timing each other, bloggers passing on the latest to subscribers, and more.

Even so, I know it’s not easy for many of the humble gente still carrying this wondrous city on their backs while quartered at home, whose kids rely on school meals, and whose work relies on the good will of many they’ve now lost touch with; people who don’t quite have the time to read the L.A. Times reports–even if they’re en Español–and whom also therefore still have much to learn to get through these times still better prepared for the future rather than not.

For these reasons, the new site will seek simply to build upon what their voices and manos have already taught this blogger (or is it blogero): to be honest with our intentions, graceful in our learning, and ever ambitious in our will to go the distance no matter the depth of the road.

We can do this, Los Angeles. Or is it, si se puede!

J.T.

Pandemic in Los Angeles: Day 07

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Today it dawned on me that what’s more likely about the proximity of the coronavirus to my community is not that it’s on its way, but that it’s already here, somewhere in the vicinity, albeit undetected.

When I think about that, I realize just how much I’ve got in common with millions of other Americans who’ve little to no access to basic healthcare services. In one of the last estimates, the Wall Street Journal notes that the “average” test or screening for coronavirus can run a patient up to $1,464.00 USD. According to the statistics, more than half of American households–which is to say somewhere around 165 million people–don’t even have an emergency savings account.

While Congress passed legislation to make screenings for coronavirus free of charge earlier this month, healthcare systems all across the U.S. are notorious for still billing people who can’t afford thousands of dollars in fees relating to pre-screenings or other costs that can accrue in a last-minute visit to the hospital.

In turn, even if the stock market surged earlier today in lieu of a stimulus package making its way through Congress promising $1,200 USD to Americans impacted by COVID-19, the fact of the matter is that the check is a one-time payment that’ll barely cover rent for many when it’s due next week. After that, where is our country to go?

Four years ago when the president launched his campaign, were millions of Americans who were out of work and on the verge of eviction, for which his administration would promise only a one-time payment to, as if to bid them good luck and farewell, was that his idea of making America great again?

In the meantime, at least Governor Cuomo in New York has put in place a statewide ban or eviction moratorium for New Yorkers unable to pay rent through the next 90 days due to a lack of income. Governor Newsom, on the other hand, has yet to announce any such plans for renters here in California, of which there are more than 17 million, or nearly 43 percent of the state’s total population.

In Los Angeles, the L.A. City Council canceled meetings for the rest of March a day before a scheduled vote on expansive orders halting evictions. If not for an executive order issued by Mayor Garcetti placing a temporary ban on evictions of people affected by COVID-19, L.A. tenants would have virtually no protections during this time.

I’ve thus got a feeling that more coordinated leadership from our elected officials would be much appreciated by those who’ve financially been hit the hardest by this pandemic. Those people who comprise the community this blog continues to be dedicated to.

J.T.

EPISODE 14 – CORONAVIRUS IN L.A.

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On this 14th episode, we answer 10 of your most pressing questions relating to Coronavirus in Los Angeles. Most importantly: if you’ve lost your job or had your work hours reduced because of COVID-19, you can file for unemployment benefits here at the EDD website, which you can learn more about at www.jimbotimes.com. Also, there are just nine (9) Los Cuentos hoodies left to warm up through these times with. Order yours at www.jimbotimes.com

J.T.

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