B12 THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE SUNDAY • OCTOBER 4, 2020

STEVEN P. DINKIN A Path Forward Asupreme idea: More female justices for the high court

As Supreme Court Jus- tive rights — was Ginsburg’s People were invariably having more power in the named to the role. Gonzalez way to dismantle institu- tice Ruth Bader Ginsburg life’s work. shocked, Ginsburg said. legal field. agrees: The courts need tionalized sexism and allow was lying in state at the U.S. President Donald Yet, for decades, no one According to a 2017 McK- more women, she says, and more women to succeed and Capitol last month, so that Trump’s selection of Amy ever raised a question about insey survey, fewer than one more people of color to lead. our country could bid her Coney Barrett to succeed acourt that was comprised in five partners at law firms better reflect the constitu- After all, more than half farewell, institutionalized Ginsburg on the court will of nine men. That was al- are women (even though ency they serve. the U.S. population (50.8 sexism was on full display. preserve the 33 percent ways considered normal. they comprise 45 percent of Gonzalez credits her percent) is female. By my Ginsburg, the second ratio of female justices For all the progress we the associates), and women father, in part, for her drive calculation then, the woman to serve on the (three women, six men). have made as a country, we are 29 percent less likely to to succeed. Supreme Court is short two Supreme Court, became the This assumes that Barrett still expect men to hold reach the first level of part- Expectations were high women. first woman, ever, to be is confirmed by the Republi- positions of power. They’re nership compared with for all seven Gonzalez sib- Maybe we should limit honored in this way. can-controlled Senate, of the Supreme Court justices, men. Women earn 80 per- lings — and no different for the number of male justices, At total of 33 men have course, which seems like a the religious leaders, the cent of what their male the girls than for her until women catch up. Men lain in state at the Capitol sure bet. corporate CEOs and the counterparts earn, even brother. who are unhappy with this throughout U.S. history. It is Should we all cheer the board chairs. though the professional Throughout her career, remedy — or feel unfairly arare posthumous tribute, decision? After all, it would According to the Ameri- expectations are the same Gonzalez was mentored by sidelined — can turn to dating back to 1852 and seem to ensure that three can Bar Association, wom- —or greater. men. So, too, was Ginsburg. women for guidance. Be- usually reserved for govern- women will continue to sit en now make up more than The obstacles are even Her collection of letters in cause there’s no doubt: ment officials. Honoring a on the Supreme Court. half of the enrollment at our bigger for women of color. the Columbia Law School Women have had plenty of woman in this way seems a Idon’t feel like cheering. nation’s law schools, a trend Irma Gonzalez succeeded archives includes corre- experience being over- tad overdue. It strikes me that the high that began in 2015. As these despite the odds she faced spondence with valued looked. The irony is unmistak- court has an arbitrary glass women gain experience, we as a female, Mexican Ameri- colleagues, mentors and able: In Ginsburg’s view, ceiling of sorts: three seats would expect them to as- can law school graduate in friends — mostly male. Dinkin is president of the National men and women deserved reserved for women, but no cend to more leadership the 1970s. Barrett was mentored by Conflict Resolution Center, a San equal treatment under the more. Why not more? positions — in the judiciary, She is a retired federal the late Supreme Court Diego-based group working to create law and equal opportunities Ginsburg herself was at law schools and in private judge, appointed to the U.S. Justice Antonin Scalia. solutions to challenging issues, in society. The fight against often asked when there will law firms. District Court for the It seems “men’s work” is including intolerance and incivility. sexism — in our most funda- be enough women on the Yet, an increase in the Southern District of Cali- to champion women: to To learn about NCRC’s mental matters, such as Supreme Court. She would number of women attending fornia in 1992 — and buoy their growth and de- programming, visit ncrconline.com education, workplace dis- respond matter-of-factly: law schools doesn’t neces- proudly, the first Mexican velopment, and offer wis- crimination and reproduc- “When there are nine.” sarily translate to women American woman to be dom and support. It’s one

VISITS COVID-19 at county skilled nursing facilities U-T SEEKING SAN DIEGANS PARTICIPATING Top10facilitiesbycumulativecoronaviruscases among residents as of Sept.30. IN ANY COUNTY COVID-19 VACCINE TRIALS FROM B1 has required hospitaliza- Health care The U-T is looking for San Please contact U-T tion) to memory loss and Residents workers Diegans of all walks of life biotech reporter Jonathan emotional decline. FacilityBeds CasesDeaths CasesDeaths who are participating in any Wosen at jona- “We’veheardthatin some of the county’s COVID-19 than.wosen@sduniontri- Reo Vista Healthcare Center 18 41 0 cases dementia has grown 162 118 vaccine trials. We’d like to bune.com by no later than more severe, with increased Avocado Post Acute 256 104 16 53 0 know why you signed up for Thursday, Oct. 8. confusion and agitation,” the trials, as well as any Country Hills Post Acute 305 87 <11 31 0 Grant said. hopes and concerns you have jonathan.wosen On Sept. 17, the Centers The Springs at Pacific Regent 59 70 <11 <11 0 about the push for a vaccine. @sduniontribune.com for Medicare & Medicaid Windsor Gardens Convalescent 98 68 17 26 <11 Services sent a letter to nurs- Center of San Diego ing centers stating that “fa- sentially starting the proc- cilities should accommodate Magnolia Post Acute Care 99 58 11 30 0 MEDICAL ess over again. and support indoor visita- Brighton Place San Diego 99 56 <11 12 0 “Now I have to wait more tion, including visits for rea- FROM B1 time,” Mendoza said in sons beyond compassionate Community Care Center 119 54 <11 25 0 day transition period, accord- Spanish. “I tell them I have a care situations.” Per this let- ing to ICE and CoreCivic. tumor, and it doesn’t seem Country Manor La Mesa 99 53 <11 16 0 ter, nursing homes must Healthcare Center CoreCivic received medi- important to them.” have no new COVID-19 cases cal summaries from ICE and Jose Hernandez had a for two weeks, and the length Villa Rancho Bernardo 299 49 <11 35 0 has a way to request addi- similar experience. He’d Care Center of visitations and total num- tional records on an as- been injured while being ber of visitors in the facility at Thestate doesnot disclose case numbersiftheyare under 11. needed basis, Gilchrist said. transferred on a bus be- any given time should reflect But detainees tell a differ- tween ICE facilities, he said, the size of the building and Source:California DepartmentofPublic Health MICHELLE GILCHRIST U-T ent story. because he was handcuffed space. “They didn’t know none and in the bathroom when This week, the California was transported via ambu- that can resume indoor visi- visiting residents’ home en- of our doses, none of our the bus stopped suddenly. Department of Public lance on Sept. 5 and 6. tations, some are currently vironments, Moore said she medications, what we actu- He’dbeen seeing aspecial- Health listed 62 nursing Carmel Mountain Reha- working on plans to do so believesit is important not to ally needed, what was pre- ist in orthopedics at an ICE homes of San DiegoCounty’s biliation has had 26 resi- safely in the near future. forget the risks. scribed to us,” Alvarez Men- facility in Alabama for the 86 total facilities that can re- dents and 18 healthcare “There is still a lot of risk doza said. “They would ask shoulder injury, but when he sume indoor visits. workers test positive for the Policy and procedures involved with our fragile pa- us, ‘What are you supposed was sent to Otay Mesa, he But caregivers through- novel coronavirus as of Sept. This includes Poway tients,” Moore said. “We are to take right now?’ ” had to push for a year before out the county are still wait- 30, according to the state Healthcare Center, which is doingourbestto createabal- After several days of not he was taken to a specialist. ing to find out when they can database. Administrator developing an operational ance that keeps them safe receiving any of the medica- Now that CoreCivic is in once again see their parents, Matt Rutter declined to com- policy and procedures to ex- and happy.” San Diego tions he was supposed to charge of medical care, he’s partners, children, friends ment on Svensen’s allega- pand visitation, Administra- County reported Wednesday get, Alvarez Mendoza said, had to start the process over and other relatives. tions via email, citing HIPAA tor Thomas Daynes said via there have been 1,103 cases medical staff showed up asecond time, he said. These months-long sepa- and California confidentiali- email. among skilled nursing resi- with some of his meds. Oth- He had hoped medical rations can be challenging ty of medical information “In the meantime, we will dents, and 717 cases among ers, particularly his pre- care might get better with for any family, but for Shan- laws. continue to assist family healthcare workers, up from scribed pain medications, the change, he said. non Svensenand her 81-year- Shannon, who is a middle members wanting to con- 1,037 and 671, respectively, on were missing. In protest, he “But it’s not,” Hernandez old mother, Modena school teacher, said that not nect with their loved ones by Sept. 23. No new deaths were refused to take what had said. “It’s worse.” Svensen, the time apart has being able to be with or com- scheduling window and vir- reported among nursing been brought. Jose Antonio Espinoza been particularly difficult. fort her mother in recent tual visits,” Daynes wrote. home residents or staff for ICE maintained that Al- said that it took the facility The two women lived to- months has been painful. “We know doing so is impor- the second week in a row, so varez Mendoza had access five days to see him after he gether in Chula Vista until “It has been emotionally tant to our residents as well the total remains at 168. to his medications through- signed up for sick call be- Modena fell and broke her and physically draining be- as those who care for them. Three new outbreaks in out the transition and said cause he had pus coming out hip in late August. cause it’s like another full- We will make every possible skilled nursing homes were that he had refused his of his ear. After a partial hip re- time job,” Shannon said. “It’s accommodation, but not wa- reported by the county this medications eight times. He’s also on a blood-pres- placement, Modena was like two full-time jobs trying ver from our commitment to week, bringing the totalto 83, Alvarez Mendoza, who sure medication, which he’s transferred to Carmel Moun- to be her advocate and get keep everyone in our facility but there are only 21 active had a green card, was trans- supposed to take right be- tain Rehabilitation & her the medical care that she safe.” outbreaks this week com- ferred to ICE custody from fore dinner, he said. Some- Healthcare Center to re- needs. Plus not being able to Meanwhile other facili- pared with 22 reported the state prison after serving a times medical staff bring the cover. Once there, Shannon seeher in person andbe reas- ties on the list arenot yettak- week before. couple of decades for a car- medication at 3 a.m., other said her mother tested pos- sured in person — we know ing steps toward resuming Those looking for infor- jacking conviction, according times at 9 p.m. itive for COVID-19 and ex- this from school that the dig- indoor visits. mation about a specific to ICE. He’s waiting on an ap- “They said it’s because perienced a cardiovascular ital just doesn’t cut it emo- Salma Moore, chief exe- skilled nursing facility can peal of his immigration case. there’s no staff,” Espinoza event on Sept. 4, the symp- tionally.” cutive officer of Arroyo Vista visit the online version of this “The time that I’ve spent said. toms of which Modena told Having family members Nursing Center in City story at https:// in ICE custody is weighing a Jose Manzo Alvarez said her daughter about the next in facilities helping with their Heights, said that the facil- bit.ly/3cRgu8K to search the lot more than the time I did he stopped receiving his day. loved ones’ care has been a ity, which has had zero full dataset. in prison,” Alvarez Mendoza blood-pressure medication “She called me and said positive contribution to the COVID cases so far accord- The San Diego Union- said. “I’d rather be back in after the transition hap- that she had a band of pain nursing care industry, which ing to the state data, has not Tribune is interested in state. That’s how sorry and pened. Staff told him they across her chest, difficulty has long been plagued by moved forward with a broad- speaking to family care- pitiful they treat you.” had ordered more by mail breathing, low blood pres- staffing shortages, accord- based return to indoor visits. givers enduring the months- Several detainees in an- but that it hadn’t arrived yet, sure and just nauseous, ing to Michael Connors, a She said that the center long separations from their other housing unit had simi- he said. dizzy, queasy—alltheclassic senior health advocate for has continued to accommo- loved ones living in senior lar complaints. “I’m a very patient per- heart attack signs,” Shan- the California Advocates for date window visits and out- nursing facilities. If you’d like Hever Mendoza said that son, but I figured it’s time to non said. Nursing Home Reform. door visits in a covered space to share your story, please he’d been diagnosed with a let somebody know,” Manzo Shannon alleges that she “Being with those we care set aside for that purpose. email lau- tumor in his testicle about a Alvarez said. called the facility to find out about us is a fundamental There does not seem to be, ren.mapp@sduniontri- month ago. He was then sup- ICE said it could not com- what was going on with her human need,” Connors said, Moore added, much demand bune.com. posed to see another special- ment on these additional in- mom, who previously had via email. “Visitors give for bringing visitors back ist to address the issue. dividual allegations without heart issues, but ended up much needed companion- into residents’ rooms. Staff writers Paul Sisson, Gary But when the changeover having identification num- calling 911 to have her ship, comfort, emotional “So far, nobody has re- Warth, Lindsay Winkley and happened, the medical staff bers for each detainee. Core- brought to the hospital. support and love to people quested indoor visits,” Jonathan Wosen contributed to no longer had records of this, Civic deferred to ICE on indi- Medical bills reviewed by who live in nursing homes.” Moore said. this report. he said. And now he’s being vidual cases. The San Diego Union-Trib- Of the nursing homes on Although there are clear given the same diagnostic une confirm that Modena the state’s list of facilities benefits of family members [email protected] tests that he already had, es- [email protected] SMOLENS • Whatever progress, there’s a sense of living on brink

FROM B1 with Trump rallies and a positivefor the virus. Other Pitney, a political scientist having to roll back some on an era when the world Baseball’s postseason — in live, in-person debate before White House aides have at Claremont McKenna openings because the num- seemed lurching toward a front of the typical small an actual (small) audience. tested positive before Hicks. College and a former Re- ber of infections has hov- disaster of a very different crowd of cardboard cutouts But all that has become Trump’s diagnosis was publican who once worked ered near a threshold set by kind — a global military at Petco Park. problematic, and not just certainly a bombshell, but in as a research director for the the state. conflict triggered by the Efforts to bring back because of the unhinged retrospect, it may not be so National Republican Party. The U.S. economy also Cold War between the U.S. normal activities have in- nature of the debate — a surprising that Trump All levels of governments appears to be on the edge of and the former Soviet cluded necessary precau- tone set by Trump’s fulmi- became infected, given what are struggling to stop the an abyss, and stark conse- Union. tions that remind us how nations. has surrounded him. spread of coronavirus quences loom. There was perhaps no different the world is. Some Two days after the de- Well wishes and hopes among the public at large “Millions of Americans greater symbol of those city libraries at last are bate it was revealed that for a speedy recovery have and within their own ranks. risk losing water and power tensions than the Berlin reopening, but will operate Trump, the first lady and poured in, including from The San Diego City Council as massive, unpaid bills pile Wall, separating what was very differently than before presidential aide Hope adversaries such as House has established strict social- up,” said a Washington Post then East and West Ger- and at limited capacity, not Hicks had tested positive Speaker Nancy Pelosi and distancing protocols, yet a headline on Friday. many. The Cold War has unlike commercial enter- for COVID-19. The rallies former Vice President Joe staff member tested pos- “A President’s Positive long since ended, and 30 prises that reopened weeks were staged with a lack of Biden, Trump’s November itivefor COVID-19 after Test and the Year That years after reunification, the and months ago. social distancing and mask opponent who announced attending Tuesday’s meet- Won’t Let Up,” read a head- 870-mile stretch of that Local political cam- wearing. on Friday that he and his ing where some council line in The New York Times once-heavily militarized paigns are off and running, So far, major outbreaks wife, Jill, had tested nega- members were present. the same day. zone will become anature and if you only paid atten- have not been definitively tive for coronavirus. As society moves ahead On a lighter note, but in preserve. tion to political mailers, traced to the events, though Trump’s diagnosis did in the COVID era, it does so keeping with the theme, the television ads and social health officials in Tulsa, not keep critics from point- uneasily amid an ongoing Times linked to a video by Tweet of the Week media activity, it seems like Okla., noted asurge in cases ing out that he has flouted debate about whether econ- comedian Weird Al Yan- Goes to Jason Gay (@ja- nothing has changed. But occurred three weeks after coronavirus safeguards. omies are reopening too kovic, a send-up of the de- songay), sports columnist virtual debates and fund- an indoor Trump rally there “Let’s hope Trump gets quickly or not fast enough. bate titled “America Is at The Wall Street Journal raisers, along with mask- in June. However, aspects of better. But let’s also note Trump’s predicament is Doomed, the Musical.” while watching Tuesday’s wearing, social-distancing the local economy had been that he seldom wore a mask unlikely to change that. Agood laugh can help in presidential debate. precinct walkers, are clear reopening in the previous and mocked those who did. Whatever progress may times like these. “my drink just asked for reminders that they have. weeks. How many people did he be realized, there’s also a So can taking the long adrink” The presidential cam- Six members of the personally infect? How sense of living on the brink. view that things may not paign almost seemed to be Trump campaign advance much damage did his bad San Diego County for weeks always be so grim. Yet an- michael.smolens@ returning to a familiar pace, team for the event tested example do?” said Jack has teetered on the verge of other Times story reflected sduniontribune.com