Mendocino County Today: November 5, 2020

• Pleasant Day
• 5 New Cases
• Surveillance Testing
• Quilt Square
• CA Proposition Results
• Ships
• Ed Notes
• Rapey Johnson
• Bridges
• Weed Heisters
• Motorcycle Speedsters
• Yesterday's Catch
• Dollar Caste
• Log Truck
• Campagnola Novel
• Lumber Pier
• Fundraising Savant
• Rollerville Landing
• Presidential Election
• Pine Grove Brewery
• Rat Bastards
• Skunk Engine
• Armed California
• Counting Sheep
• Creaky Dems
• Incognito

A FOGGY START to the day along the coast will give way to relatively pleasant weather across Northwest California through most of today, before a strong cold front moves through tonight. Showers, accompanied by lower snow levels will start late this evening and continue into Friday. Chilly and unsettled conditions will continue through the weekend. (NWS)

FIVE MORE COVID CASES reported in Mendocino County on Wednesday, bringing the total to 1193.

(Ed note: The County only posted the Spanish version of their covid dashboard on Wednesday…)

COVID COMMUNITY SURVEILLANCE TESTING UPDATE

Miller Report for the Week of November 2^nd, 2020

by William Miller, MD – Chief of Staff at Adventist Health – Mendocino Coast Hospital

COVID surveillance testing in our community is important. This testing is for people who think that they may have been exposed or who are just curious to know. Usually, these are people without symptoms, but it could be for someone with symptoms. A doctor’s order is not required for this type of testing. Community surveillance testing is an important aspect of our health department’s efforts to monitor the spread of the infection. It is also key to helping us move from more restricted levels of our businesses to less restricted. 

For the past several months, Mendocino Coast Clinic (MCC) has offered this test free as part of a program put on by UCSF through a generous grant from the Chan-Zuckerberg Foundation. Unfortunately, UCSF canceled the program at the end of October, which was originally planned to go through the end of the year.

Dr. Andy Coren, our Mendocino County Health Officer, is working to develop a program to take its place. For starters, he was able to convince UCSF to extend the program by an additional two weeks to give us time to set up an alternative. “The UCSF testing was never guaranteed, but we were in a good place for six months,” he said, “Hopefully, the next plan will be more beefed up and even more accessible.”

One possibility that is being looked at is to expand the existing OptumServe program, which is continuing to do testing in Ukiah at the Fairgrounds. This could involve using a traveling team to bring testing to the various smaller communities in the County, thus eliminating the need for people to travel to Ukiah. “We want it to be convenient for people to get the test, it is important that it be offered near to home,” Dr. Coren added.

On August 26^th, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a $25 million contract with the Massachusetts diagnostic company PerkinElmer to build a new lab in Valencia, California, dedicated to COVID testing. Construction was completed on October 30^th and it is expected to start operations in mid-November. The projection is that by March 2021 it will be running at full capacity and performing 150,000 tests per day with a 24-48 hour turn around. The OptumServe testing is likely to be conducted through this lab.

I spoke with Lucresha Rentoria of MCC. They will continue to offer the free COVID test from UCSF through November 12^th. You can call 707-964-1251 to make an appointment to be tested on either Wednesday or Thursday. The turn around for the results is currently 2-3 days.

Free testing through OptumServe remains available in Ukiah. You can call 888-634-1123 to schedule an appointment for testing there or visit the Mendocino County website.

Both clinics, MCC and North Coast Family Health Center (recently renamed Adventist Health Medical Offices) are offering testing for symptomatic persons with a physician or provider’s order. 

CALIFORNIA PROPOSITIONS (UNOFFICIAL) RESULTS (YES PERCENTAGE)

• PROP 14 Stem Cell Research: PASSED 51.1%
• PROP 15 Property Tax Reform of Prop 13: FAILED 48.3%
• PROP 16 Affirmative Action: FAILED 43.9%
• PROP 17 Right to vote after prison: PASSED 59%
• PROP 18 17 year olds vote: FAILED 44.9%
• PROP 19 Certain Property tax rules: PASSED 51.5%
• PROP 20 Parole restrictions: FAILED 37.7%
• PROP 21 Expanded rent control: FAILED 40.2%
• PROP 22 App Based Drivers/Employee Benefits exemption: PASSED 58.4%
• PROP 23 Kidney Dialysis Regulation: FAILED 36%
• PROP 24 Consumary Privacy: PASSED 56.1%
• PROP 25 Elimination of Money Bail System: FAILED 44.6%

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ED NOTES

BOONVILLE'S KATHLEEN McKENNA reports on the Anderson Valley polling place at the Boonville Fairgrounds: 

“I was expecting a very slow day because all voters got ballots by mail and about half had already submitted their ballots by Tuesday. However, the day turned out to be typically busy. In a normal year we always have 20-30 people who got mail-in ballots, but then come in to vote without bringing their ballot. Their ballots are provisional ballots, which require more paperwork and time. This year, since everybody was a mail-in voter, we had 81 of those. Some claimed they never got a ballot, but most just didn't have it. There were 51 ballots issued to people who surrendered their mail-in ballots in exchange for a regular ballot that would be counted sooner on election night. As usual, we had lots coming in to drop off completed ballots. Also, the drop box in the fairgrounds office had 90 additional ballot envelops in it. There were a few new voter registrants and several who announced that they were first-time voters. The day went really fast. There were only a couple of times that we did not have any ‘customers’ in the room. What was different this time was the plexiglass barriers, masks, gloves, alcohol wipes, hand sanitizer, etc. that the County provided us with." 

THAT OLD SAW, "It's all over but the shootin'" hopefully doesn't apply to our high anxiety election last night, but we predicted if it was close there'd be big trouble. Sure 'nuff, here it comes with Trump challenging the results and recreational rioters and 100 percent off shoppers, under BLM cover, gearing up to challenge Trump's challenge.

THE LITERAL BLOOD SUCKERS of the dialysis business got Prop 23 passed via effective television ads. Most Americans get all their info about the great world outside from TV, and the actors who pretended they would die if the dialysis industry was reformed were quite convincing to the millions of voters who don't know that 23's advertising was funded by the two giant corporations who dominate the blood-wash business. And Uber and Lyft got voters to agree with them that their drivers, aka their funding units, not only didn't need to be protected like other employees, they absolutely loved the "flexibility" their status as "independent contractors" give them. Predictably, the state's rentier class, and its largest apartment building businesses, spent more than enough on false advertising to convince Californians, among them thousands of renters, to vote against rent control. 

BUT DEPEND on the Press Democrat for both the unintentional humor and the reminder that there's no one home in their editorial offices with this thundering statement of the obvious: "The votes are in, the next priority is counting them all."

POSTED against a Facebook purple this nice bit of false feeling from outgoing supervisor, John McCowen: "Congratulations to Mo Mulheren and Glenn McGourty," the two winning supervisors. McCowen is probably sincere in McGourty's case since both are for a continuation of wine-rigged water delivery systems, but McCowen has bad mouthed Mulheren for years, although he wussed out of running against her for supervisor. And what's with the cheapo Facebook congrats? Should be roses for the lady, exploding cigars for Glenn.

BOUNCING from channel to channel last night, as always lingering on the highly entertaining Wolf Blitzer in CNN's Situation Room, poor old Wolfie looked like he just might burst into tears as Trump's big numbers turned CNN's vote map red. As it was in 2016 with the MSM's beloved Hillary, the great Blue Wave predicted by our national sages failed to materialize.

AMONG THE TOTALLY WRONG was an ABC-Washington Post poll that had Biden ahead by 17 points in Wisconsin, a state where he ran neck and neck with Trump all night. Now, Big Media are asking, "Golly, how come these Trumpers are so darned shy? It wasn't us that got it wrong, it was them hiding from us."

OREGON has voted to decriminalize heroin and methamphetamine, and to legalize therapeutic 'shrooms. I wonder if America's tweekers and smackers will find new homes in the Beaver State? Hallucinogens as a therapeutic tool seems majorly iffy, but in a profession teeming with quacks and charlatans, the profession that put children on pharmaceutical speed and shock-treated Aunt Eleanor, magic mushrooms are a natch for their medical kit. 

DEAD MAN WINNING. David Andahl, 55, a North Dakota Trumper, died on October 5th, just months after he won the Republicans' endorsement for Congress in the June primary. Andahl went on to easily win election, tweeting from the other side, "Covid killed me but I still don't believe in it. There's lots of us up here. Go, Trump!"

MEANWHILE, ON THE BACKWOODS RAPE CIRCUIT....

In August of 2020, Mendocino County Sheriff's Office deputies were contacted by concerned family members regarding a case involving a long term sexual assault of a 17 year old female juvenile and 31 year old suspect Kevin Johnson of Weott. Based on the nature of the investigation, detectives with the Investigations Bureau took over the case. During the ensuing investigation, following interviews and search warrants, evidence was discovered which identified Kevin Johnson, 31, of Weott, as participating in repeated sexual assaults of the minor, over the course of at least a year beginning in 2019. 

These crimes included at least one act of rape by intoxication. Additionally, information was learned that harmful matter was caused to be sent by suspect Johnson to the minor during the reported time. The identified sex acts were suspected of having occurred in the Covelo area and in Humboldt County in Weott.

On October 30th, 2020, with the assistance of the Mendocino County District Attorney's Office, an arrest warrant for Kevin Johnson was issued by the Mendocino County Superior Court with a bail of $100,000 for the listed charges.

On November 4th, 2020, at about 8:00 a.m, Detectives with the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant, with the assistance of Humboldt County Sheriff's Office Deputies, at a residence located on School Road in Weott, CA. Suspect Kevin Johnson was contacted and arrested for the outstanding warrant. At the conclusion of the search warrant service suspect Johnson was transported to the Mendocino County Jail for booking and is housed in lieu of $100,000 bail. He is charged with Rape of Victim Prevented from Resisting by Any Intoxication, Distribution/Exhibition/Offers Harmful Matter to Minor, Oral Copulation of Victim Under 18 years of Age, Unlawful Sexual Intercourse with Minor more than 3 years younger than perpetrator.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office Tip-Line at 707-234-2100 or Mendocino County Dispatch Center at 707-463-4086.

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KNOCK, KNOCK. WHO'S THERE? TWEEKERS. TWEEKERS WHO? TWEEKERS HERE TO ROB YOU.

On Monday, November 2, 2020 at about 12:30 AM Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to an in progress burglary of a marijuana/cannabis farm located in the 2100 block of Highway 20 in Willits.

The caller reported there was a van at the location with several subjects in the process of stealing marijuana/cannabis.

Deputies responded to the location however the suspects had left the location prior to Deputy’s arrival. Deputies contacted and spoke with a few farm workers at the location who had been camping on the property and had witnessed the incident.

Deputies learned that a minivan and a small sedan vehicle arrived on the property at about 12:15 AM and drove to a large storage building approximately 50 to 60 yards uphill from where the farm workers were camping.

Several subjects exited the vehicles and one of the farm workers witnessed the subjects break into the storage building which contained semi processed marijuana/cannabis.

The subjects then proceeded to remove several boxes and containers of semi processed marijuana/cannabis from the storage shed and dumped the marijuana into both vehicles before driving away from the area. The farm workers who witnessed the incident telephoned the marijuana/cannabis farm operation owner who in turned called 911 to report the incident.

Deputies had concluded their preliminary investigation and were leaving the property when the two vehicles arrived at the property and Deputies followed the vehicles east on Highway 20.

When the vehicles split off in different directions, Deputies attempted to conduct an investigation stop on the van when the driver, Christopher France, 24, of Willits, sped off at a high rate of speed. Deputies initiated a vehicle pursuit that traveled from Willits and ended near Upper Lake at the intersection of Highway 20 and Highway 29 in Lake County.

With the assistance of California Highway Patrol, who took over the high-speed pursuit, a spike strip was deployed at the intersection of Highways 20 and 29 causing all four tires to deflate and bringing the vehicle to stop just south of the listed intersection on Highway 29.

France and an adult female passenger were quickly detained.

Deputies located evidence on France and in the van indicating his involvement in the burglary of marijuana/cannabis at the listed marijuana/cannabis farm. France was also found in possession of illicit drugs and drug paraphernalia.

Deputies learned Willits Police Department Officers had located three subjects in a sedan vehicle located at a mini market and gas station at the intersection of Highway 20 and Main street in Willits. The vehicle matched the other suspect vehicle observed by Deputies fleeing the marijuana/cannabis farm.

A search of the vehicle revealed evidence that two of the subjects were involved in the burglary of the marijuana/cannabis farm. Two of the subjects in the vehicle, Brandon Langenderfer, 27, of Laytonville, and Angelo Martinez, 21, of Santa Rosa, were taken into custody for the burglary.

Miranda Mullins, 26, of Willits, who was in the vehicle with Langenderfer and Mullins was arrested for unrelated drug misdemeanor charges and a felony probation violation.

Deputies learned where the suspects were residing and went to a residence located in the 1000 block of Locust St. in Willits where they found the stolen marijuana/cannabis hidden in a canvas carport.

Langenderfer and Martinez were booked into the Mendocino County Jail for Burglary and Conspiracy and were each to be held in lieu of $25,000 bail.

Langenderfer also had an additional charge of violating his Post Release Community Supervision probation.

France was arrested for Burglary, Conspiracy, Felony Reckless driving/evasion, controlled substance and paraphernalia possession. He was booked into the Mendocino County Jail where he was to be held in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Mullins was arrested for unrelated illicit drug charges and felony violation of probation. She was booked into the Mendocino County Jail and was to be held in lieu of $25,000 bail.

STEVE & MALIA’S WILD RIDE

Mendocino County Sheriff’s deputies attempted a traffic stop on a motorcycle with two riders in Ukiah at 12:38 Wednesday morning on a motorcycle with two passengers. The suspects fled at speeds upwards of 110 MPH. The California Highway Patrol intercepted the pair near Laytonville and ultimately the driver yielded to CHP and the pair was arrested. A helicopter was called into to assist in the location of the fleeing motorcycle but, ultimately did not locate the vehicle. When the motorcycle was intercepted near Laytonville, the driver was traveling between 60-100 MPH. 

Driver Steven Ramier was arrested for reckless evasion and passenger Malia Linde was arrested for possession of drugs and paraphernalia. 

CATCH OF THE DAY, November 4, 2020

ROGER ALCALA JR., Ukiah. Disorderly conduct-alcohol, controlled substance, probation revocation.

MICHAEL BEERS, Ukiah. Burglary, vandalism, probation revocation.

DANIEL CAULEY, Willits. Failure to appear.

MATTHEW FAUST, Ukiah. Disorderly conduct-alcohol.

MINDY GONZALEZ, Ukiah. Disobeying court order, failure to appear.

ANDREA KIDD, Ukiah. Disorderly conduct-alcohol, controlled substance.

WILLIAM OWENS, Ukiah. Failure to appear, probation revocation.

JERMAINE RAMSEY, Ukiah. Disorderly conduct-alcohol.

ENRIQUE TOVAR, Nice/Ukiah. DUI-alcohol&drugs, suspended license (for DUI), no license, controlled substance, paraphernalia, leaded cane/similar.

ISAAC WALDREP, Ukiah. Probation revocation.

ON LINE COMMENT OF THE DAY

Take a look around. Collapse isn’t coming, collapse is here, large areas of the USA ruined, financial carcasses of towns and cities and families and businesses littering the landscape. All it takes is open eyes and ears, the willingness to see things as they are, to remember things as they once were, things well within living memory.

America’s prosperous past, when a decent standard of living was widely available to ordinary people like my own relatives, guys with just a grade school education or even less, a time when breadwinner jobs were the rule rather than the exception, is no figment of the imagination. Those of us of a certain age remember it well. 

Optimism is easy when all is good with you. So, tell me, are things good with you? Optimism is tougher when they aren’t and it’s tougher when you can see circumstances deteriorating for large numbers of people. What we have in my own estimation and that of a lot of others, is an economic elite and their enabling clerisy inside and outside government working for their own benefit to the exclusion of any other consideration like whether anybody else’s interests matter outside their own circle, including that of the country as a whole. 

These people claim they’re about science and reason and rationality. They’re not. They claim to work for the underclass, people that are downtrodden and marginalized, whereas in fact, they work against them, doing their level best to keep them down, to create more of those same people they say they’re working for. 

What they are about mostly is dollars, their own, and those of their own caste, dollars in anybody else’s pocket a travesty of justice. To say that they’ve taken leave of their senses is understating the case, they’ve ruined the country they rely on to ensure their own survival, alienating those people they rely on to take up arms to defend them, making a mockery of common sense, and reason and rationality.

What Kunstler does is point out the obvious twice a week, a chronicle of things as they happen, telling us how things may go, how he hopes they will go, with the rest of us pitching in our two cents. As far as Trump goes, he looks to a lot of us as the lesser of two evils, the Democrats and their nominee being by far the greater. But you can see things your own way. After all you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink. 

TRUE STORY

Editor: 

A few weeks ago I saw a recommendation in the paper to read a book called “Directions to the Dumpster." It is an autobiographical novel about homelessness in Sonoma County by Edward Campagnola. Since I was homeless myself in my late teens and early 20s, I couldn’t resist.

From a technical standpoint, I think the book is a disaster, but the story he tells much more than makes up for those shortcomings. Campagnola bares his soul, holding absolutely nothing back and giving us a vivid portrait of the events leading up to his homelessness, a pretty good idea of what that life was like, and a warts and all portrait of himself.

Campagnola’s book is a brilliant and courageous humanization of our homeless population. I especially suggest it to our local city council people and county supervisors. But whoever you are, you will get an education. Warning: Rated R.

Edward Meisse

Santa Rosa

NEED MONEY? ASK MARY KATE!

Fort Bragg, CA, November 4, 2020 The Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation recently announced that its Executive Director, Mary Kate McKenna, has earned the prestigious Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) certification from CFRE International. Mary Kate joins over 7,200 professionals around the world who hold the CFRE designation, which is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Individuals granted the CFRE credential have met a series of standards set by CFRE International which include tenure in the profession, education, and demonstrated fundraising achievement. They have also passed a rigorous written examination testing the knowledge, skills, and abilities required of a fundraising executive, and have agreed to uphold Accountability Standards and the Donor Bill of Rights.

"Now more than ever, we depend on support from our donors in order to do our work. Mary Kate has a rare gift for communicating what we do and why it's important to our supporters at all levels, and for turning that support into action. Her new designation symbolizes what we already know; that she is a highly skilled and ethical fundraising professional who guides development for our organization," Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation Board President John Allison said.

Prior to joining Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation in 2020, Mary Kate served in director positions with non-profit organizations for over 20 years, while completing community Leadership cohorts and honing her fundraising skills.

About Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation's mission is to support quality healthcare and wellness services for people in the Healthcare District with a vision towards a healthy community on the Mendocino Coast. Find out more at www.mchfoundation.org.

WHAT'S AHEAD

by Robert Reich (a self-prepared FAQ)

You've been in or around politics for more than 50 years. How are you feeling about Tuesday's election?

I'm more frightened for my country than I've ever been. Another four years of Donald Trump would be devastating. Nonetheless, I suspect Biden will win.

But in 2016, the polls….

Polling is better now, and Biden's lead is larger than Hillary Clinton's was.

What about the Electoral College?

He's also leading in the so-called "swing" states that gave Trump an Electoral College victory in 2016.

Will Trump contest the election?

Yes. He'll claim fraudulent mail-in ballots in any swing state with a Republican governor or legislature. He'll tell them not to certify Biden electors until fraudulent ballots are weeded out.

What's his goal?

To deny Biden a majority of electors and throw the decision into the House of Representatives, where Republicans are likely to have a majority of state delegations.

Will it work?

No, because technically Biden only needs a majority of electors already appointed. Even if disputed ones are excluded, I expect he'll still get a majority.

What about late ballots? Trump has demanded all ballots be counted by midnight Election Day.

It's not up to him. It's up to individual state legislatures and state courts. Most will count ballots as long they're postmarked no later than Election Day.

Will these issues end up in the Supreme Court?

Some may, but the justices know they have to appear impartial. Last week they turned down a request to extend the deadline for receiving mail-in ballots in Wisconsin but allowed extensions to remain in place in Pennsylvania and North Carolina.

But the Supreme Court decided the 2000 election for George W. Bush.

The last thing Chief Justice Roberts wants is another Bush v. Gore. With 6 Republican appointees now on the court, he knows the legitimacy of the court hangs in the balance.

Trump has called for 50,000 partisans to monitor polls while people vote, naming these recruits the "Army for Trump." Do you expect violence or intimidation?

Not enough to affect the outcome.

Assume you¹re right and Biden wins. Will Trump concede?

I doubt it. He can't stand to lose. He¹ll continue to claim the election was stolen from him.

Will the Democrats retake the Senate?

Too close to call.

If not, can Biden get anything done?

Biden was a senator for 36 years and has worked with many of the current Republicans. He believes he can coax them into working with him.

Is he right?

I fear he's overly optimistic. The GOP isn't what it used to be. It's now answerable to a much more conservative, Trumpian base.

If Republicans keep the Senate, what can we expect from a Biden administration?

Reversals of Trump executive orders and regulations which will restore environmental and labor protections and strengthen the Affordable Care Act. Biden will also fill the executive branch with competent people, who will make a big difference. And he'll end Trump's isolationist, go-it-alone foreign policy.

And if Democrats retake the Senate?

Keep your expectations low. Both Clinton and Obama had Democratic congresses for their first two years yet spent all their political capital cleaning up economic messes their Republican predecessors left behind. Biden will inherit an even bigger economic mess plus a pandemic. With luck, he'll enact a big stimulus package, reverse the Trump Republican tax cuts for the wealthy, and distribute and administer a Covid vaccine. All important, but nothing earth-shattering. 

If Biden wins, he'll be the oldest man to ever be president. Will this be a problem for him in governing?

I don't see why. He's healthy. But I doubt he'll seek a second term, which will affect how he governs.

What do you mean?

He's going to be a transitional rather than a transformational president. He won't change the underlying structure of power in society. He won't lead a movement. He says he'll be a "bridge" to the next generation of leaders, by which I think he means that he'll try to stabilize the country, maybe heal some of the nation's wounds, so that he can turn the keys over to the visionaries and movement builders of the future. 

Will Trump just fade into the sunset?

Hardly. He and Fox News will continue to be the most powerful forces in the GOP, at least for the next four years.

And what happens if your whole premise is wrong and Donald Trump wins a second term?

America and the rest of the world are seriously imperiled. I prefer not to think about it.

ERNIE PARDINI: 

With the upcoming elections coming in a few days, there is an endless parade of campaign ads in the media. Candidates ranging from hopeful dogcatchers to incumbent senators buying time on television (they do still call them televisions, don't they?) Space in the newspapers or on the internet, and postors strung out along our highways. But I've realized that after watching and reading endless politicians and hopefuls, they all have one thing in commom. Rather than tell the voting public what they would do for the voters and make an effort to win them over by making them believe they were the person best equipped to work in their best interests, instead, they spend most of their ad time finding fault with their opponent and pointing it out to the public. I don't want to vote for some rat bastard that would sell out his own mother to get elected. There are no good choices these days. Our whole two party system of government has been adapted perfectly to fit the needs of the rich. It is used to keep us warring with each other and keeps us divided, each party promoting a cause that will take our attention away from the fact, while we're fighting amongst ourselves, that politicians from both parties are negotiating their next payoff with some corporate head for his vote. Behind the scenes It's business as usual. Until and when a strong third party emerges, you may as well not vote because nothing's gonna change. There, that's it for me in politics for a while. I refuse to harm friendships by debating something that isn't going to change.

CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS BUYING A LOT MORE HANDGUNS

by Phillip Reese

Handgun sales in California have risen to unprecedented levels during the COVID-19 pandemic, and experts say first-time buyers are driving the trend.

The FBI conducted 462,000 background checks related to handgun purchases in California from March through September, an increase of 209,000, or 83%, from the same period last year. That’s more than in any other seven-month period on record.

People who study gun ownership think the increase means more people are buying guns for the first time. Handguns, as opposed to rifles and shotguns, are often the first firearm purchase made by someone looking for protection.

Background checks related to long gun or other gun sales also rose statewide, by 110,000, or 54%, from March through September compared with the same period in 2019. While that increase is steep, it does not match the rise in long gun sales seen in California during periods, often following mass shootings, when state leaders have considered legislation to sharply rein in access to military-style assault rifles.

In California, background checks for handguns and long guns correlate with gun sales, federal and state data show. Other states have purchasing systems that can result in a disconnect between background checks and sales.

Even so, the national numbers are startling: The FBI conducted about 7.7 million background checks related to handgun sales from March through September, an increase of 3.9 million, or 104%, from the same period in 2019.

Gun rights activists, gun control supporters and public health experts largely agree that the increase in gun sales is driven by fear, uncertainty and longing for a greater sense of protection.

Some Californians worry about dark fallout from pervasive unemployment and a faltering economy. Others are disconcerted by the angry and sometimes destructive protests over police shootings and pandemic lockdowns. The upcoming election has added to the unease.

“Every dealer I know has a very low inventory of guns. They’re backlogged for months in filling orders because of this run on guns,” said Sam Paredes, executive director of Gun Owners of California, which advocates for fewer restrictions on gun purchases. “Every one of them, the first thing they say is, ‘Sam, you will not believe how many new gun buyers we have’.”

With about 3,000 firearm-related deaths occurring each year in California and 40,000 nationwide, gun ownership is increasingly viewed through the lens of public health. Several studies have drawn a connection between gun ownership and gun-related deaths.

Researchers at UC-Davis’ Violence Prevention Research Program said they are particularly concerned about the latest surge in sales, since many buyers appear to be introducing a gun into their home for the first time.

“There are obvious and well-documented risks associated with having no access to a firearm to having access to a firearm,” said Julia Schleimer, a data analyst with the UC-Davis program.

“That extends to all household members, not just the person who owns the gun. And that’s for suicide, homicide, unintentional injury — basically for everyone, children included.”

(Phillip Reese is a data reporting specialist and an assistant professor of journalism at California State University-Sacramento. This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.)

(Kaiser Health News)

BIDEN FOR THE OPPOSITION?

Letter to the Editor:

A lackluster performance by Democrats, despite the fact that Biden appears to have squeaked in by a whisker. Biden ran a lackluster campaign which generated little enthusiasm for him as a candidate. Sure people were motivated to get rid of Trump. But campaigns based on how terrible the other guy is don't resonate or motivate.

Schumer and Pelosi also did a terrible job. They raised hundreds of millions and have little to show for it. They had six Senate seats to flip and succeeded in flipping only two. They have a thin chance of maybe flipping GA and NC, and will probably keep MI. But even that long stretch would only get them to 50. If they lose any of those long shots, they remain in the minority.

To paraphrase country western singer John Prine: "How the hell can you spend all that dough and have nothing to show for it?"

Here's another thought.

If Senate Democrats remain in the minority, the judicial situation will be cataclysmic. McConnell will bottle up every Biden appointment. Republicans could also stymie Biden's legislative agenda and even his Cabinet appointments. It will be Obama Redux. A cheerleader president with a bully pulpit, and little more.

We'll have little chance to excise the Trump toxins from the body politic, to return to constitutional norms and the rule of law.

We'll have little chance to pass a legislative agenda to prevent a reverse the worst of Trumpism.

Here's my final thought.

Pelosi lost nearly 10 House seats in an election while her party took the presidency. How does that happen? And if you look, she lost mostly moderate Democrats. The progressives not only handily got re-elected, but they added seats.

This begs the question: How much longer can the Mandarins, and Octogenarians, and the Old White Power Elites, and Corporate Democrats, maintain their creaky grip on power?

John Sakowicz

Ukiah

PS. Post-election Coverage on Heroes and Patriots, November 5, 2020. 9 a.m. PST

THURSDAY morning morning, Heroes and Patriots returns on KMUD with post Presidential Election Commentary. Program hosts John Sakowicz and Mary Massey will speak with Jeff Cohen, RootsAction.org

And, Hedrick Smith, a journalist who has been a reporter and editor for The New York Times and executive producer with PBS’s Frontline.

Listener calls and emails are welcome! Join us at 9 a.m. PST for this one hour post-election program on KMUD Community Radio.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE: WWW.HEROESPATRIOTS.ORG 

Heroes and Patriots is a program about national security, intelligence and foreign policy. The show is streamed live the first Thursday of each month, 9-10 a.m. at KMUD.ORG