B12 THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE SUNDAY • SEPTEMBER 20, 2020

APATH FORWARD: Steven P. Dinkin Cheering for national unity with launch of COVID-19 vaccine

Idon’t think of myself as Dr. Fauci’s prognosis the 1800s. A group of Ameri- confidence in government What a stark contrast to In 1979, the United acheerleader. But when it calls into question the time- cans actually formed their agencies like the Centers for the collective good will of States was declared polio- comes to Operation Warp line for nationwide vaccine very own Anti Vaccination Disease Control and Pre- the 1950s, when our country free. Speed, I’m enthusiastically distribution. He prescribes Society in 1879. vention and the Food and came together to fight polio. You see, as Americans, rooting for our government. this dose of reality: “People Last September, in a Drug Administration is The disease struck in the we’ve come together before. The goal of the initiative is are not always doing what New York Times article, Jan declining because they’re warm summer months, We’ve linked arms to fight a to produce and deliver 300 they should do to control Hoffman described anti- viewed as too political. with epidemics popping up public health crisis and find million doses of COVID-19 the spread of the virus, even vaccine sentiment as “a Today, according to a every few years. Most of the acure for diseases that once vaccines next year, with now. It was stunning to me byproduct of an internet recent Harris poll, 78 per- victims were children under seemed insurmountable. initial doses available as ... that in some states and humming with rumor and cent of Americans worry the age of 5 who recovered Division is not in our early as January. cities and counties, you misinformation; the back- that the eventual approval quickly. However, some national DNA. Quite the As long as science pre- would see television clips of lash against Big Pharma; of a coronavirus vaccine will suffered temporary or per- opposite. We’ve shown our vails — and standards for people crowded indoors at and an infatuation with be driven by politics. Skep- manent paralysis or even ability to cast aside politics safety and efficacy are bars, which is a super- celebrities that gives special ticism is bipartisan. The death. In 1954, 1.3 million and achieve single-minded- strictly adhered to — our spreading event if you ever credence to their anti- left-leaning Children’s U.S. children participated ness for the benefit of our country can only benefit as saw it.” immunization statements.” Health Defense, led by in a polio vaccine trial — an country. vaccines become widely He’s right. Maybe the Many so-called “anti- Robert F. Kennedy Jr., unimaginable number Now, in the simulta- available. And who among people who care about the vaxxers” have acted in attacks Dr. Fauci for rush- today. By August 1955, 4 neous battles against us isn’t champing at the bit well-being of others should response to a 1998 study by ing risky and uncertain million polio shots had been COVID-19 and societal for a return to pre-COVID go to the head of the vacci- Dr. Andrew Wakefield that COVID-19 vaccines into given. polarization, we can do it normal? I know I am. nation queue. And the linked the MMR (measles, development as part of a President Franklin D. again. It’s certainly worth a Now for the reality selfish ones could go to the mumps and rubella) vac- “sweetheart deal” with drug Roosevelt contracted polio shot. And something to check. Dr. Anthony Fauci, back of the line. cine with autism. While the companies. Meanwhile, at at the late age of 39, requir- cheer for. the director of the National Vaccines bring contro- study was later discredited, the other end of the politi- ing the use of a wheelchair. Institute of Allergy and versy. Emotions and deep- it set off a decline in MMR cal spectrum, many anti- That chair became a power- Dinkin is president of the National Infectious Diseases, said rooted beliefs — philoso- vaccination rates among vaccine conservatives op- ful symbol of patriotism for Conflict Resolution Center, a San recently that it’s going to be phical, religious and politi- kindergartners — to a point pose immunization require- American parents, who Diego-based group working to well into 2021 — maybe even cal — underlie vaccine that’s below the threshold ments because they dis- sought to vaccinate their create solutions to challenging toward the end of the year opposition, a phenomenon required for herd immunity. trust big government, advo- children to help eradicate issues, including intolerance and —before our cherished “old that dates back to the first Science has lost its au- cating instead for medical polio here and around the incivility. To learn about NCRC’s normal” makes a comeback. smallpox inoculations in thoritative voice. Public freedom. world. programming, visit ncrconline.com

SCHOOLS TODAY IN Some deliver HISTORY paper packets To day is Sunday, Sept. 20, the 264th day of 2020. There are 102 days left in the year. FROM B1 allotted $2 million to the Today’s highlight county education office to pay for Internet access for On Sept. 20, 2017, Hurricane low-income families. The Maria, the strongest hurricane San Diego Foundation also to hit Puerto Rico in more than donated $1 million. 80 years, struck the island, Internet hotspots alone, wiping out as much as 75 though, won’t solve connec- tivity problems for all of ru- percent of the power distribu- ral East County, where data tion lines and causing an coverage is insufficient in island-wide blackout. areas containing valleys, mountains and deserts. On this date So the county education office is working with two In 1519, Portuguese explorer providers to provide satel- Ferdinand Magellan and his lite Internet access to stu- crew set out from Spain on dents in those areas. One of five ships to find a western the providers, Viasat, could passage to the Spice Islands. be deployed within the next (Magellan was killed en route, month or two; the other, but one of his ships eventually Starlink by SpaceX, won’t circled the world.) be available until 2021, Lof- tus said. In 1873, panic swept the floor “We’re trying to find solu- K.C. ALFRED U-T FILE PHOTO of the New York Stock Ex- tions that meet the need as Austin Correia hands a Chromebook to a parent waiting in a car at Morse High School in San Diego in April. change in the wake of railroad quickly as possible,” Loftus Due to high demand, some San Diego County school districts are still waiting for deliveries of Chromebooks. bond defaults and bank fail- said. ures. In the meantime, for stu- “Zoom meetings are im- received them this week, Internet is by satellite. ternet is either not available dents who don’t have Inter- portant, obviously, but Keeley said. “We have to do our ex- or it’s super expensive for In 1881, Chester A. Arthur was net access, districts have we’ve got to work with each The district has been ploring of this problem per- people. sworn in as the 21st president been distributing paper student where they’re at in- working to provide Internet son by person, student by “I had my IT guys litera- of the United States, succeed- packets and materials at dividually,” Keeley said. “It’s for about 150 families, or student, and family by fam- lly driving through our com- ing the assassinated James A. school meal distribution certainly not perfect, and roughly 10 percent of Moun- ily,” Keeley said. munity, trying to figure out Garfield. sites and delivering them to we’re certainly looking for- tain Empire Unified’s stu- At Jamul-Dulzura Union where those hotspots would students’ homes. ward to going back to some dents, who lack Internet ac- School District in East work and where they In 1958, Martin Luther King Jr. Alpine Union, where in-person instruction very cess. That’s not including County, 131 families asked wouldn’t.” was seriously wounded during roughly 10 percent of stu- soon.” families who may have insuf- for hotspots. But another 17 The district ordered 90 a book signing at a New York dents lacked Internet, has Mountain Empire Uni- ficient Internet speed or families live in outer valleys hotspots at the start of the City department store when he offered free Wi-Fi at all of its fied committed to distance data. where hotspots won’t work, pandemic, and it took was stabbed in the chest by schools and offered “learn- learning through Oct. 9. It The district bought 170 said Superintendent Liz months for them to be deliv- Izola Curry. (Curry was later ing pods” on campus for stu- can’t open sooner, partly be- hotspots using money from Bystedt. The district has 559 ered, Bystedt said. dents to learn together. cause, as a small district of the federal CARES Act but students. In the meantime, the dis- found mentally incompetent; Alpine and Mountain 1,700 students, it has taken a is still waiting for 20 of them. “Through the entire pan- trict opened its learning she died at a Queens, N.Y. , Empire also offer a home while for supplies to arrive. The hotspots won’t help all demic, it’s been difficult,” center and allows families to nursing home in 2015 at age school option for families For example, the district or- of the district’s families, Bystedt siad. “If you’ve ever use the guest Wi-Fi there. 98.) where live online classes are dered touchless hand sani- though; for some families, been out to Jamul, we’re In 1962, James Meredith, a not needed. tizers in early May and just the only way they could get very rural. ... High-speed In- [email protected] Black student, was blocked from enrolling at the University an defense lawyer, said that backlog of cases and be at- Attorney’s Office that what “Our Office takes these of Mississippi by Democratic APPEALS Goldstein was up front tuned to the effect the fines Goldstein had done was not crimes seriously,” she wrote. Gov. Ross R. Barnett. (Mere- about what he was doing. could have on individuals in allowed under the law and “Victims of drunk and drug- dith was later admitted.) Fines could “The judge made it clear at atime of unemployment the cases would be ap- impaired driving are also liv- the beginning of the pro- and economic distress. pealed. ing under COVID, and these In 1973, singer-songwriter Jim ceedings he would be doing “He’s as good a judge as Patton said the notice he penalties help them recover Croce died in a plane crash be reinstated this,” said Patton. “No one there is in the entire county,” got saying the case was to be from the financial, emo- near Natchitoches, La.; he was objected.” Corbett said. “He’s not pro- appealed cited a section of tional, and physical harm 30. FROM B1 Complicating matters is prosecution or pro-defense. state law that says the done to them and their fam- been told their client’s cases that in misdemeanor cases He’s just fair. He gave people grounds for appeal would be ilies. That’s why the Legisla- In 1995, AT&T Corporation are being appealed, Gold- acourt reporter is not used; alittle bit of a break, be- the imposition of an unlaw- ture made the penalties announced it was splitting into stein stayed about two- instead, the proceedings are cause a lot of people are out ful sentence — specifically mandatory and not subject three companies. thirds of the total fines as- recorded. All the hearings of jobs or out of work.” Goldstein’s staying portion to judicial discretion.” sessed in misdemeanor DUI were being done using Another lawyer said that of fines that under the law Goldstein did not waive Today’s birthdays cases. The fine is usually Microsoft Teams remote vi- at the start of the hearings are mandatory and can’t be any restitution — payment Sophia Loren is 86. Hockey $2,133, but in these cases deo because of the pan- Goldstein said on the video modified. to a victim — that may have Goldstein stayed $1,599. demic, but for some reason feed what he would do, and Goldstein declined to been called for. Hall of Famer Guy LaFleur is Staying the fine does not the audio recordings of the told lawyers to note that comment on the contro- Appeals of misdemeanor 69. Actor Debbi Morgan is 69. mean it was wiped out. It re- proceedings that week mal- there would be a benefit to versy because the cases are cases are heard by a panel of Actor Gary Cole is 64. TV news mains in effect for the term functioned, so there is no ex- other defendants who try to still active and judicial rules Superior Court judges. It is correspondent Deborah Rob- of probation, usually three act record. resolve their case early on in prohibit judges from com- possible some of the cases erts is 60. Country-rock musi- years, that is imposed as Bradley Corbett, a lawyer the process. menting on ongoing cases. that prosecutors may settle cian Joseph Shreve (Flynnville part of the sentence. The who had two clients whose But a couple of weeks af- Hilary Nemchik, director of short of an appeal, with de- Train) is 59. Rock singers fine could be reinstated if cases are now targeted for ter Goldstein’s work, law- communications for the San fendants simply agreeing to Gunnar and Matthew Nelson the person commits another appeal, said Goldstein was yers who had represented Diego City Attorney Mara pay the whole fine. are 53. crime. making a good faith effort to people began getting con- Elliott, said in a statement Bradley Patton, a veter- both get at the looming tacted by the San Diego City that the fines are necessary. [email protected] ASSOCIATED PRESS

bonds authorized by the into the general fund if the The Measure C campaign The Howard Jarvis Tax- that elected officials acting SMOLENS initiative, which would be hotel tax falls short, which was largely financed by San payers Association chal- as private citizens might be paid off by the hotel tax. may mean a two-thirds vote Diego’s tourism industry, lenged that decision in able to put forth such initia- Alot more Voter approval of bonds is required regardless of any which has fallen on hard court, but lost, and the state tives. He further noted that generally requires two- changes in the law governing times during the co- Supreme Court declined to when initiatives qualify for thirds votes, which is spelled citizens initiatives. ronavirus pandemic. hear an appeal. the ballot, local governing court days out in the San Diego City Andrea Guerrero, execu- In a sense, this all started While the high court let bodies have the choice of Charter. There are excep- tive director of Alliance San decades ago with state the appellate ruling stand, a calling an election or simply FROM B1 tions for lower approval Diego, said the more impor- Propositions 13 and 218, debate ensued about enacting the measure — increase is uncertain and threshold, such as for school tant issue is that city voters which require, among other whether an affirmative bypassing a public vote complicated. district bonds. were told, including in offi- things, special taxes to be ruling from the Supreme entirely. The San Diego City At- Attorneys providing cial ballot pamphlets, that a approved by a two-thirds Court will be needed to Such a move would seem torney’s Office is analyzing counsel for the coalition of supermajority was needed. vote. The state Supreme finally settle the matter. open to a referendum re- the Supreme Court ruling business interests, labor She added that the San Court in the so-called Up- Other cases on the tax vote pealing the action, however. and how it may apply to and homeless advocates Francisco measurethat land case regarding mari- threshold are still pending, That’s a lot of specu- Measure C. The City Council that backed Measure C said triggered the Supreme juana dispensaries a few including one out of Fresno lation. One thing that seems could decide to declare the the two-thirds doesn’t apply Court action stated from the years ago ruled that Pro- where the judge ruled certain is a lot more days in measure had passed, or here, according to Keith start a simple majority was position 218 applied to gov- against simple-majority court are ahead. leave it be. Maddox, executive-treas- required. ernment, not citizens initia- approval. Regardless of what hap- urer of the San Diego & “What were voters told tives. Should the simple-ma- Tweet of the Week pens, litigation is expected Imperial Counties Labor the threshold would be? That opened the door for jority threshold become the Goes to Rachel Laing to follow. When all this would Council. Two-thirds. That’s what the lower approval thresh- unquestioned law of the (@RachelLaing), San Diego be resolved is anybody’s Maddox, one of the lead- voters relied on,” said Guer- old. state, a lot of things could communications consult- guess. It could come down to ers of the coalition, said the rero, who opposed Measure The more recent court happen. Citizens initiatives ant. another state Supreme initiative “authorizes the C. action on this pertained to a could be launched for taxes “God I love it when some- Court ruling. use of bonds, but it does not If the city leaves Measure 2018 San Francisco initia- desired by a local govern- one thinks they’re muted on If the city decides, yes, in require it,” and emphasized Cin defeat, Maddox said the tive, Proposition C. The ment to avoid the more aZoom and we get to hear light of the recent Supreme that’s an important distinc- coalition would consider measure, which sought to difficult two-thirds vote, them yelling at their kids. Court ruling, Measure C tion. He maintained a two- filing a lawsuit to reverse raise taxes on large compa- which essentially was the “God I hate being that passed, the tax plan could thirds vote would apply to a that. That would also draw nies for homeless services, strategy behind Measure C. person.” be challenged in court on a straight-up bond proposal, opponents into the legal received a simple majority Jon Coupal, president of number of fronts. One of not a tax like Measure C. fray, resulting in an expen- and was deemed approved the Howard Jarvis Taxpay- michael.smolens@ them may be regarding the But the city could dip sive, yearslong legal battle. by local authorities. ers Association, suggested sduniontribune.com