Disney announces furloughs amid pandemic, but employees keep healthcare
Days after Disney announced top executives would take salary cuts to save money, the entertainment giant notified employees that many of them "whose jobs aren't necessary at this time" will be furloughed. "All impacted workers will remain Disney employees," the company said Thursday, meaning they will continue receiving healthcare benefits as paychecks are cut. Disney has 223,000 workers and is L.A.'s biggest employer. It is expected many of the cuts would come from the company's theme parks that have been closed, and it was not known how many employees would lose their job from the studio and other businesses.
Patrick Soon-Shiong wants to buy shuttered hospital, convert to COVID-19 command center
Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, one of L.A.'s richest men, wants to use his family foundation to buy shuttered St. Vincent Medical Center near downtown and convert it into a hospital to treat COVID-19 patients and conduct coronavirus research. The story was first reported by The Los Angeles Times, which Soon-Shiong owns.
The Chan Soon-Shiong Family Foundation has offered to purchase the medical campus out of bankruptcy for $135 million. Terms of the bid were not disclosed. St. Vincent has been closed since January as the sprawling medical facility fell into bankruptcy. All bids for the hospital must be submitted to a judge by Friday. A final hearing on the sale is scheduled later next week.
L.A. County records 78 deaths, cases top 4,000
Another 13 people died of the novel coronavirus in Los Angeles County and officials logged 534 new cases on Thursday, pushing the total number of people that tested positive past 4,000.
So far, 78 people have died in the county. Of the most recent deaths, 12 were over the age of 65, while one was between 41 and 65. With the exception of one individual over 65, all had underlying health conditions.
The daily count of COVID-19-positive individuals increased by 1,000 in the past 48 hours, bringing to the total to 4,045.
The increasing number has put strain on hospitals. Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said that about 22% of positive cases in L.A. have required hospitalization at some point. As of Thursday, 241 individuals were in hospital beds — about two thirds of them had no underlying health conditions, Ferrer said. She said there are five COVID-19 patients now in intensive care that are under 35 and a couple have no underlying health conditions.
Statewide, the death toll rose past 200 and on Wednesday. In a sign of just how concerned officials are, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti urged the city's 4 million residents on Wednesday to wear protective face covering to stem the spread of the fast-moving virus. To punctate his point, he donned a black mask, saying "I know it will look surreal. We're going to have to get used to seeing each other like this."
The news comes as new cases have emerged among the homeless and jailed population — both groups officials have been closely monitoring. There have been nine cases among homeless. At the county jail, seven individuals have tested positive, including one inmate. At the Lancaster State Prison, six inmates have the virus. Two homeless shelters have also reported Covid-19 cases.
Gov. Newsom to small biz: "Let's get ahead of the queue"
California Governor Gavin Newsom spoke directly to state business owners in his daily coronavirus address on Thursday, briefing them on several new statewide programs, and imploring them to begin the process of registering for federal help. Since March 12, 1.9 million Californians have applied for unemployment insurance, he said.
Newsom introduced two actions he says will help make it easier for small businesses in California to get back on their feet. The first is an interest-free, no-penalty deferral of taxes for up to $50,000 for one year. The governor called that a "bridge loan" to help businesses recover.
The second is a $50M program to provide loans for California businesses who, for one reason or another, don't qualify for federal assistance.
Newsom also strongly encouraged businesses to sign up for the federal programs that will provide grants and loans to struggling businesses. Registration for those programs open tomorrow.
Newsom stressed it's "profoundly important" people fill out their forms as soon as possible, in particular for the "paycheck protection program," a grant program that allows businesses who keep paying at least 75% of their employees to be reimbursed by the federal government.
"Let's get ahead of the queue," he said.
Newsom also touted an effort led by Fresno-based jobs site Bitwise to match unemployed Californians with jobs in high demand called OnwardCa.org. The site, he said, is prioritizing four industries in particular: healthcare, agriculture, logistics, and grocers.
USC Shows (and Ranks) L.A. 'Hoods With COVID-19 Cases
Tami AbdollahLos Angeles locals have always known it is a city of neighborhoods, but this novel coronavirus has made that especially clear. The official lines on where neighborhoods begin and end, and where cases are to be found, have never seemed so murky.
On Thursday, the USC Viterbi School of Engineering released two new COVID-19 data visualizations that aim to make at least where COVID-19 cases are being found, more clear. Read more >>
Amazon Warehouse Worker in L.A. Tests Positive, As Company Struggles with Covid-19
Monica Nickelsburg, GeekWireAt least 30 of the fulfillment centers that power Amazon's e-commerce business have outbreaks of COVID-19, according to news reports and employee accounts. The most recent case in Los Angeles was reported Wednesday, when Amazon confirmed to City News Service that an employee at their warehouse in Atwater Village has tested positive for COVID-19. The mounting cases are sparking walkouts, frustration, and an unprecedented challenge for a tech company that finds itself at the center of the coronavirus pandemic. Read more >>
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It will be priced between $36,000 and $46,000 when it goes into production as early as 2023. With the current $7,500 federal tax credit for EVs, as well as the current $1,500 California Clean Fuel Reward, an Alpha Wolf would not only be one of the least-expensive new pickups, but also cost a fraction of what large electric trucks from General Motors and Amazon-backed Rivian Automotive are expected to sell for.
"If priced right, I feel pretty confident and excited about both," said Robby DeGraff, an auto industry analyst for Tustin-based AutoPacific.
DeGraff said both Alpha and Canoo's offerings are unlikely to sway traditional truck buyers away from brands like Chevrolet and Ford, though. But the Alpha Wolf's styling — which runs against the traditional macho image of full-size pickups — might make it attractive to outdoor enthusiasts who currently drive brands like Subaru. The Alpha Wolf would also appeal to buyers looking for vehicles in the upper-$20,000 to upper-$30,000 range, an area underserved by current pickup offerings.
"The vast majority of the hype I've been hearing or seeing about the Canoo and Alpha Wolf EV pickups is coming from friends and colleagues who partake in active outdoor recreation," DeGraff said. "They want to take the Canoo electric pickup camping deep into the woods. They want to throw a pair of mountain bikes in the back of the retro-looking Alpha Wolf and depart ASAP to Moab."
With a 65-inch-long bed, the Wolf would be short on cargo-hauling compared to the midsize pickups currently on sale. But Alpha will be able to tow up to 3,000 pounds and get from zero to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds, about a second faster than a V6-powered Toyota Tacoma. Other features promoted by Alpha were multiple charging ports inside the Wolf's interior, along with a minimalist design for the dashboard and two large digital displays, and multiple outlets for charging electronic devices.
The Alpha Wolf is the latest in Alpha's spree of product announcements, the first of which was the Icon Electric Utility Vehicle unveiled in December. Designed for both consumer and commercial use, Alpha says the Icon is meant to be adapted as an SUV, van or truck thanks to its "skateboard-like chassis."
Earlier this year, the company announced The Jax Crossover Utility Vehicle and shares the Wolf's battery components but is styled to look more like an SUV rival and is estimated to cost between $38,000 and $48,000. The Ace Coupe was announced earlier this year with two levels of performance, available all-wheel drive and a projected $32,000 starting price. Reservations for the Ace, Jax and Wolf are open on Alpha's website, but unlike other EV startups, they aren't taking deposits.
Alpha joins a growing group of both legacy and startup automakers trying to establish the electric pickup truck market, even though none of the models have yet to reach customers.
Canoo Inc. revealed its radically shaped compact pickup truck concept last week, packed with innovative storage solutions, about 200 miles of range and a projected 2023 on-sale date. Rivian expects first deliveries of its $75,000 R1T pickup truck and related R1S SUV as early as June, and plans to open a showroom in Laguna Beach later this year.
Ford Motor Company, also a Rivian investor, is expected to unveil an all-electric version of its full-size F-150 as soon as this year, along with a small pickup truck with an internal combustion engine. Archrival GM's GMC Hummer EV, announced last October, is expected to reach customers this fall with as much as 1,000 horsepower and an initial price of at least $112,000. Elon Musk said in January production of the Tesla Cybertruck, previewed in 2019, could start by the end of this year, but volume sales will likely begin in early 2022.
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