LAKE COUNTY
Second virtual town hall meeting for Lake County business owners scheduled for Monday
On Thursday, April 9, thousands County residents and otherwise interested people gathered online for District 5 Supervisor, Rob Brown’s, first Virtual COVID-19 Town Hall for Business Owners. According to county officials, social media posts and other web-based engagement, including video of this event, reached approximately 10,000 people, including 4,400+ views of the English language video and 1,700+ views of the Spanish language simulcast on Facebook. Video and resources from that meeting can be accessed at: http://www.lakecountyca.gov/townhall/.
Programs for business owners and employees at the State and Federal level continue to evolve, and Lake County residents need the most up-to-date information. Multiple County residents submitted questions regarding unemployment-related matters that officials hope to answer with greater precision during Monday’s meeting. The public is invited to join in Monday, April 20, from 3 to 4 p.m. for the second virtual town hall meeting for Lake County business owners.
The town hall will be broadcast live on Lake County PEG TV (Mediacom Channel 8), and will stream online:
- http://www.facebook.com/lakecountycagov/ (English and Spanish live streams)
- https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx (English language, available once the meeting starts – refresh your browser until you see, “In progress”)
Please send your questions to vision@lakecountyca.gov, no later than Sunday, April 19, at 5 p.m. Include, “Business Town Hall,” in the Subject line.
Supervisor Brown will moderate the meeting, in collaboration with Jeff and Andy Lucas of Community Development Services (CDS) of Kelseyville. CDS is a partner of Lake County Economic Development Corporation (LCEDC), a collaborative effort of the County, Cities of Lakeport and Clearlake and other community organizations, and is a NorCal Small Business Development Center Affiliate. They have been providing a variety of supports to local businesses for decades, including facilitating access to State and Federal funding opportunities; CDS can be reached at 707-279-1540.
Melissa Fulton, Chief Executive Officer of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce will additionally present the results of a survey, documents impacts to local businesses of COVID-19.
Scott Rogalski, Director of Partnerships for Northern California Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Networks, who contributed to the first Town Hall, has again agreed to participate. The slides from his valuable April 9 presentation are posted at http://www.lakecountyca.gov/.
Representatives from the State’s Employment Development Department (EDD) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) are also expected to participate.
“Businesses are the engine of our economy,” notes Brown. “I want to connect people with the information they need, so local businesses can endure these challenging circumstances and continue to invest in Lake County communities.”
If you are in need of a disability-related modification or accommodation to participate, please reach out by 5 p.m. Friday, April 17, either at 707-263-2580 or vision@lakecountyca.gov.
—Submitted
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Chairmen Thompson, Lewis demand answers from Treasury Secretary regarding reports about delayed rebate checks
Today Ways and Means Select Revenue Measures Subcommittee Chairman Mike Thompson (CA-05) and Oversight Subcommittee Chairman John Lewis (GA-05) wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin asking for an immediate explanation regarding news reports that the President’s name was being added to the economic impact payments at the last minute and potentially delaying the delivery of this badly needed economic relief. The Chairmen demanded an immediate answer and a timeline by which these checks would be sent. An excerpt of the letter follows:
Dear Secretary Mnuchin,
We write as Members of the Committee on Ways and Means regarding alarming reports that stimulus payments authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act may be delayed so that the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) can print the President’s name on paper checks mailed to Americans.
As you know, Congress passed the CARES Act to help Americans navigate the unprecedented crisis that they are now facing. A record number of Americans are applying for unemployment benefits, and millions more are facing job insecurity and financial distress.
Last night, it was reported that Treasury made the unprecedented decision ordering the President’s name be printed on stimulus checks. As a result, Treasury staff reportedly is “racing” to implement this last-minute change, and senior officials at the Internal Revenue Service worry that it will lead to a delay in issuing the first batch of checks to Americans most in need. This is unacceptable.
The stimulus payments that Congress authorized are meant to provide urgently needed assistance to those who need it the most. It has always been Congress’ priority that Americans – especially low-income taxpayers and families who do not have access to electronic payments — receive these funds as promptly as possible.
In light of the struggles confronting families nationwide, the Administration must ensure that time is not wasted playing politics. For families, this is time and effort that should be spent making sure they receive their payments as fast as possible. Millions are waiting. It is alarming to think the Administration is further wasting time on vanity modifications to the checks going to many of the nation’s most vulnerable – this is not the time for political games.
—Submitted
