Message from Prescott Indivisible President, Rosemary Dixon
Wow! What a turn of events! Imagine this; unless you were around in 1918, you have not experienced a massive spread of disease as we are now. How often has the entire world population been faced with the same threat? It’s scary for many, and the outcomes at this point are unpredictable. We, as a group, abhor this administration’s misleading non-response to Covid-19, and it is incumbent upon us as a community to take care of one another.
If you need help, please post what you need on our Facebook page and we will do what we can to assist, or to help you find assistance. Alternatively, if you can be a helper, please post that also. This virus, while frightening and economically devastating for many of us, is also an opportunity to reflect on what our nation has become. As we care for each other, we must care for ourselves. I am sincerely hoping this translates to a kinder world when this is all over.
Be well.
~Rosemary
COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSISTANCE
Many of us have friends and neighbors with whom we can share our concerns, but others are not so fortunate.
Gail Cook, member of Democratic Women of Prescott Area (DWPA), is collecting donations of toilet paper, hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes and non-perishable food to give to those who can’t afford to stock up and/or don’t have transportation. Anything will help: 2-4 rolls of toilet paper, one large bottle of hand sanitizer or disinfectant wipes we can break up into smaller packets. She is working with the Quad-City Interfaith Council who is also affiliated with the Coalition for Compassion and Justice and the Salvation Army and U.S. Vets. Please let her know what you can donate or if you are willing to help.
Gail Cook, 928-899-2407, gacooklotus56@hotmail.com
The AZ Poison and Drug Information Center is now taking COVID-19 calls from Arizona providers and the general public: 1-844-542-8201
Do you have other meetings planned? Check the website of the organization or call to make sure it has not been cancelled.
What: Next Prescott Indivisible General Meeting (if not postponed) When: Thursday, April 2, 6-7:30p Where: Granite Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation
882 Sunset Ave., Prescott
INDEFINITELY SUSPENDED What: Tuesday, 1:00pm Protests
Where: Gurley and Montezuma, Prescott Courthouse Plaza
Why: Due to the current health threat to our community
PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE ELECTION
(You must be registered Democrat to Vote)
TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020
Polls Open 6am – 7pm
Vote in Person You must go to the Polling Center you are assigned to. here to find your Polling Center.At the Polling Center, you will need a valid form of ID which can be any one of these:
– Arizona drivers license
– U.S. federal, state, or local government-issued ID, issued with printed name and address
– Arizona ID card
– Tribal enrollment card (or other form of tribal ID)
Click here for more information about valid IDs. In addition to a valid ID, you might want to bring your Voter Education Guide, sample ballot and any other materials you have that will help you in casting your ballot.
Early Ballot — Didn’t get your ballot in the mail in time?
Drop your Early Ballot in an Official Ballot Drop Box before 7:00pm on March 17.
Drop Box Locations in Yavapai County
- Prescott County Admin Building – 1015 Fair St
- Prescott Valley Town Hall – 7501 E. Civic Circle
- Camp Verde Town Hall – 473 S. Main St.
- Camp Verde Yavapai-Apache Nation – 3462 Smith Ave.
- Clarkdale Town Hall – 38 N. 9th St.
- Cottonwood County Admin Bldg – 10 S. 6th St.
- Jerome Town Hall – 600 Clark St.
- Paulden Public Library – 16 Big Chino Rd
- Sedona City Hall -102 Roadrunner Dr.
- Skull Valley U.S. Post Office – 3085 S. Iron Springs Rd.
- Spring Valley Public Library – 17320 E. Mule Deer Rd.
Stop by any polling center in Yavapai county before 7:00pm on Tuesday, March 17, and drop your ballot in the ballot box. Early Ballot Voters are not required to sign in or wait in line. The Poll Center Marshal will direct you to the ballot box where you may cast your ballot.
Polling Centers in Yavapai County:
- VC 01 – Yavapai County Administration Building, Prescott
- VC 02 – Trinity Presbyterian Church, Prescott
- VC 03 – Central Yavapai Fire Station #57, Prescott
- VC 04 – Yavapai College, Community Room, Prescott
- VC 05 – Prescott Community Center, Prescott
- VC 06 – Grace Baptist Church, Chino Valley
- VC 07 – First Southern Baptist Church, Chino Valley
- VC 08 – Prescott Elks Lodge #330, Prescott Valley
- VC 09 – Humboldt USD – Bradshaw East Campus, Prescott Valley
- VC 10 – Gateway Baptist Church, Dewey-Humboldt
- VC 11 – Sedona Elks Lodge #2291, Sedona
- VC 12 – VOCA Community Center, Sedona
- VC 13 – Clark Memorial Clubhouse, Clarkdale
- VC 14 – Yavapai County Cottonwood Annex, Cottonwood
- VC 15 – Cottonwood Bible Church, Cottonwood
- VC 16 – Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Cottonwood
- VC 17 – Camp Verde Library, Camp Verde
- VC 18 – Ash Fork Public Library, Ash Fork
- VC 19 – Bagdad Event Center, Bagdad
- VC 20 – Beaver Creek Adult Center, Lake Montezuma
- VC 21 – Pioneer Masonic Lodge #82, Black Canyon City
- VC 22 – Grace Bible Chapel, Congress
- VC 23 – Generations Church, Cordes Lakes
- VC 24 – Seligman Library, Seligman
- VC 25 – Yarnell Presbyterian Church, Yarnell
You have the right to vote. If anyone tries to stop you, call the Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-687-8683
Sign Up for an Early Ballot for the General Election!!
VERDE VALLEY VIRTUAL CANVASSING
What: “Canvass From Your Couch”
When: March 21/22
Flipping LD6 helps to flip the state legislature and turn Arizona blue! Please help by signing up to participate in this event. Register here. After you register, you will be advised of available training opportunities.
Questions? Contact Jay Ruby, District Field Organizer Verde Valley jruby@azdemorg
OVER 60 PAID FIELD REPRESENTATIVE OPENINGS
The Progressive Turnout Project is hiring for the 2020 election. They will be opening three field offices in Phoenix and one in Tucson — employing over 60 field representatives. This job is full-time and will offer excellent pay, paid time off, tuition reimbursement and full medical benefits (including dental and vision).
Click the links below to learn more and apply for Phoenix and Tucson positions!Phoenix: https://tinyurl.com/wzee2ka
Tucson:https://tinyurl.com/r9lf2oc
If you have questions, please contact: Carol Hozian cozian@cox.net
POLL WORKERS NEEDED
BE A PART OF DEMOCRACY IN ACTION!
Sign up to be a poll worker here:Yavapai County Poll Worker Application
or Call: Laura Bluel – 928-442-5190 or Email:Laura Bluel
The Upcoming Election Season
- Primary – August 4, 2020
(Online training begins in July.
In person training is projected for the week of July 20th.) - General – November 3, 2020
(Online training begins in October.
In person training is projected for the week of October 19th.)
RUNNING FOR SCHOOL BOARD IN YAVAPAI COUNTY?
Last Call to Register for Governing Board Elections Training:https://ycesa.com/election-services/governing-board-training/
All districts have one or two seats up for election in November. Attend one of these meetings to pick up your paperwork, get your application notarized and get your questions answered by Yavapai County Superintendent of Schools, Tim Carter. Mon., 3.16.20 6 pm Kirkland SchoolTue., 3.17.20 6 pm YCESA, PrescottWed., 3.18.20 6 pm Cottonwood Oak Creek School District, Cottonwood
These no cost events replicate each other, and allow prospective Governing Board Members to review the Candidate Elections Handbook with the County Superintendent and Election Coordinator. Candidates will be able to review the election calendar, review the number of signatures needed, review the number and length of all open seats, file their documents, receive petition forms, and be provided a serial number to begin their campaign. All questions are welcome.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR
PRESCOTT EARTH DAY CELEBRATION
When: Saturday, April 18 (if not postponed)Where: Downtown Prescott
Contact: Jim Stein jastein@cableone.net or (928) 710-5002
Prescott Indivisible’s Environmental Team is looking for volunteers to help teach recycling Do’s and Don’ts at the Prescott Earth Day celebration. This is a “zero waste” event. Volunteer “Recycling Ambassadors” are needed to help folks understand the City of Prescott’s recycling program. Training will be conducted by the City Director, Solid Waste Department.
Earth Week Events –
- Friday April 17: 5:30pm
Rally at the Square and march to Mile High Middle School for Climate Change Film Festival (6:30-8pm).
- Saturday April 18: 9am – 3pm
Earth Day Celebration downtown Prescott on Cortez and Goodwin Streets.
- Wednesday April 22: 5-6pm
50th Anniversary of Earth Day-Youth Climate Strike March. Prescott Courthouse Plaza, followed by the film “Earth Day” at 7pm at the The Elks Theatre.
Look for the special pull-out section in the April issue of Five Senses for all the Earth Week Events!
Northern Arizona 2020 Volunteer Summit
When:April 11, 9:30am – 4:00pm (if not postponed)Where:Lone Tree Campus of Coconino Community College
Are you READY TO WIN in 2020?! Commit to honing your skills to Flip LD 6 and Flip Arizona Blue! We’re entering a new phase of the 2020 Campaign — it’s time to ramp up! Please help them tailor this conference to your needs and interests by clicking the link and filling out the form: Northern Arizona 2020 Volunteer Summit
54th Legislature – Second Regular Session
Week of: March 15, 2020
NOT BUSINESS AS USUAL. Due to the Public Health Emergency, the Legislature has closed committee meetings to the public, making RTS and calls to legislators all the more important. The public can no longer attend hearings and floor votes at the Capitol.
Legislative leadership will meet Monday (today, March 16) to decide whether to pause the Session for some period. Assume, until we hear otherwise, that they will continue business as usual but with less public engagement. A couple of Republican Senators say they will not attend, giving the Senate a 15-15 tie.
But it will be a very busy week with ongoing attacks on voting, citizens’ initiative, recall rights and clean elections. Here’s a link to the PDF. . .stay connected everyone!
CORONAVIRUS and COVID-19
What is the difference between Coronavirus and COVID-19?
- Coronaviruses are a type of virus. There are many kinds, and some cause disease. A newly identified type of coronavirus has caused a recent outbreak of respiratory illness now called COVID-19.
What you need to know about COVID-19:
- COVID-19 is the disease caused by the new coronavirus that emerged in China in December 2019.
- COVID-19 symptoms include cough, fever and shortness of breath. COVID-19 can be severe, and some cases have caused death.
- The new coronavirus can be spread from person to person. It is diagnosed with a laboratory test.
- There is no coronavirus vaccine yet. Prevention involves frequent hand-washing, coughing into the bend of your elbow and staying home when you are sick.
Lauren M. Sauer, M.S., the director of operations with the Johns Hopkins Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response and director of research with the Johns Hopkins Biocontainment Unit, What is Coronavirus? Retrieved from hopkinsmedicine.org
U.S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PASSES SWEEPING COVID-19 EMERGENCY RELIEF BILL
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201) was passed late Friday night, March 13, in the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 363-40.
Arizona Delegation Vote:
For: Ruben Gallego, D; Tom O’ Halleran, D; Greg Stanton, D and David Schweikert, R
Against: Debbie Lesko, R and Andy Biggs, R
No Vote: Paul Gosar, R (under quarantine); Anne Kirkpatrick, D (not available for personal reasons); and Raul Grijalva, D
Grijalva posted on Twitter that he supported the measure:
“Keeping health care workers safe and keeping working families financially secure are some of the best ways that we can keep our communities safe from (coronavirus). The economic relief and safeguards in this bill for families, seniors, and children will do just that.”
What the bill does:
The bill that goes to the Senate waives some limits on meals for children in school, boosts spending on food programs for the elderly and suspends work requirements for those on food stamps.
According to a summary of the bill, it also provides:
- A federal emergency paid leave benefits program to provide payments to employees taking unpaid leave due to the coronavirus outbreak.
- Expanded unemployment benefits and grants to states for processing and paying claims.
- Employer-required paid sick leave to employees.
- Requirements for providing coronavirus diagnostic testing free to consumers.
- Coverage for personal respiratory protective devices that are eligible for certain liability protections.
- Temporarily increases the federal share of Medicaid expenses by states.
Ronald J. Hansen, March 14, 2020, 10:37am, Reps. Andy Biggs, Debbie Lesko vote against coronavirus aid bill backed by Trump, Pelosi. Retrieved from AZCentral.com
ARIZONA LEGISLATURE RESPONSE
TO COVID-19 EMERGENCY
SB 1028 Allows the Governor to issue an enhanced surveillance advisory and revises the powers of the Governor to respond to imminent threat of disease outbreak in a state of emergency. Pending.
SB 1051 Relates to the Department of Health Services; appropriates $50 million to the public health emergencies fund to pay the expenses of public health emergency responses following a state of emergency declaration by the Governor related to COVID-19. Enacted.
Click to read the articles:
- Arizona legislative leaders to decide whether to take hiatus during COVID-19 outbreak ~~ tucson.com
- Tax cut still in play as COVID-19 affects economy, Ducey says ~~ azcapitoltimes.com
- Arizona governor takes less-aggressive approach to coronavirus than many other governors ~~ azcentral.com
CORONAVIRUS TESTING IN FLAGSTAFF
Coronavirus testing is being made available by Translational Genomic(TGen) Research Institute in Flagstaff due to the restrictions that were lifted by the government. They are coordinating with Arizona state. Read the information and view the video.
COVID TRACKING PROJECT — BY STATE
The COVID Tracking Project provides ongoing details on the Coronavirus testing being done by each state. It’s a great resource with the CDC offering limited information.
The COVID Tracking Project reports:
– Total tests conducted
– Cases test positive, negative
– Pending cases
– Number of deaths
– Comments
– When the information was last updated
– A link to the State web site
– State twitter handle for more information
– What information each state provides
A mobile app Coronavirus Atlas and an interactive map COVID Tracking Project Map are provided to make it easier to search the project’s findings along with related information.
The Three Phases of Covid-19
and how we can make it manageable
(flatten the curve)
Dr. Siouxsie Wiles, infectious diseases expert (2020, March 9), The three phases of Covid-19 — and how we can make it manageable. Retrieved from The SPINOFF.Dr. Wiles walks us through the epidemic curve:
Phase One – ContainmentThis is the start of the curve where cases pop up sporadically as people who have contracted the virus in one country travel to other countries.
Phase Two – Community Transmission
This will happen when people who don’t realize they have contracted Covid-19 go about their daily lives rather than stay isolated.
Flattening the Curve
The aim is to keep phase two of the epidemic curve as flat as possible, keeping the number of cases reported each day as low as possible. If that can be achieved, it will mean that everyone who needs treating, will be treated. We can all help with this by washing our hands regularly, avoiding touching our mouth, nose, and eyes, and staying away from other people when we are sick. This also means calling ahead if you feel sick and want to go to the doctor or hospital. The last thing we need is loads of our healthcare workers in isolation because they’ve been exposed to Covid-19. Another thing we all to need to start doing soon is minimising or avoiding contact with other people. This is called social distancing. If you are greeting people, don’t hug, shake hands, hongi, or kiss. Bump elbows or feet instead. Work from home if you can. Social distancing also means avoiding public transport (get on your bicycle!). Similarly, it means avoiding gyms, churches, cinemas, concerts, and other events and places where people congregate. At the community level we may need to close schools, universities, museums, and workplaces, limit public transportation, and cancel public events. This is what China did so effectively and what Italy is currently implementing in some regions.
Phase Three – Stop the Spread This is when he outbreak is either brought under control or everyone has been infected and there are no more susceptible people left to infect.
CALENDARS
Persist & Resist Calendar Link
Prescott Indivisible Calendar Link
Contact Your Members of Congress
KYRSTEN SINEMA
825 B&C Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-4521
contact@sinema.senate.gov
MARTHA MCSALLY
B40D Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
202-224-2235
contact@mcsally.senate.gov
PAUL GOSAR
2057 Rayburn HOB, Washington, DC 20515 202-225-2315
6499 S. Kings Ranch Rd. #4, Gold Canyon, AZ 85118 480-882-2697
220 N. 4th St., Kingman, AZ (by appt. only)
122 N. Cortez St., Suite 104, Prescott, AZ 86301 928-445-1683
http://paulgosar.house.gov/contact/
Arizona
Governor, Doug Ducey
State Capitol, 1700 West Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85007 602.542.4331
http://azgovernor.gov/governor/form/contact-governor-ducey
Legislature http://www.azleg.gov/
Senator Karen Fann kfann@azleg.gov 602-926-5874
Rep. Noel Campbell ncampbell@azleg.gov 602-926-3124
Rep. Steve Pierce spierce@azleg.gov 602-926-5584
Prescott
Mayor Greg Mengarelli
201 S. Cortez St. Prescott 928.777.1248
