Thursday, April 16, 2020 Vol. 19 No. 2 NEWS CRIME REPORT FEATURES OBITUARIES Steps to re-open Downey crime On a mission to Local residents the economy report create masks mourned SEE PAGE 2 SEE PAGE 3 SEE PAGE 7 SEE PAGE 8 A show of appreciation to hospital workers Downey first-responders give a public thanks to frontline medical workers. By Alex Dominguez Staff Writer DOWNEY — In a sign of appreciation, Downey’s first responders took to PIH on Monday to perform a drive-by siren salute to those who are currently on the frontlines in the fight against Covid-19. The blazing sound of sirens filled the air shortly after noon, as members of Downey Fire Department and Downey Police department crossed through the PIH hospital and onto Patton Downey resident Denise Ramos works as a cannabis retailer Road in what is known as a and is required to wear a face-covering to prevent the spread of “Heroes Saluting Heroes” drive. coronavirus. “On behalf of the City of Downey and its residents, the Police and Fire Departments Downey firefighters and police officers drive past PIH Health Hospital - Downey to show appreciation to would like to express its gratitude medical workers. (Photo by Alex Dominguez) to all healthcare providers, Essential workers especially those who work in our local hospitals,” said Fire Chief confirmed cases of Covid-19 over Hospital president Richard “We are always appreciative Mark Gillaspie in a statement the weekend, recorded at 102 by Trogman thanked both of the great partnership that we released earlier that day. Monday. departments for the act of have with the City of Downey and feel the stress solidarity. its emergency personnel, and “We are grateful and Still, many of the nurses and we thank them for their efforts inspired by their dedication hospital personnel on hand to “PIH Health is honored during this pandemic beyond— and compassion as they care witness the drive-by – many of that the Downey Police and Fire it’s all teamwork in caring for the for the sick during the Covid-19 which who emerged from the Departments are recognizing community.” of pandemic Emergency department – seemed the dedication of our staff and pandemic.” to be in high spirits. physicians,” said Trogman in a statement. ‘Essential’ workers are go to work. I love my job and it’s Downey reached 100 always been something I wanted interacting directly with to be a part of. So I’m happy I the public and hoping they have the opportunity to be a part don’t carry the virus home. of it, but right now it’s something I’m not enjoying.” By Alyssa Vega Despite that cannabis Covid-19 not slowing down as Contributor dispensaries are still open, shops have enacted strict protocols DOWNEY — To slow down to ensure the safety of their the spread of the coronavirus, customers and employees. Some Los Angeles County and its city shops allow anyone 55 years old Downey reaches 111 cases officials announced plans last and older or with an autoimmune month to close nonessential retail disease to skip to the front line By Eric Pierce since the start of the pandemic. spread of Covid-19 has asked necessary. Engaging in these businesses and to ban all public during the first hour of opening. Editor everyone to do their part. The practices is making a difference, gatherings. These nonessential To date, Public Health has sacrifices made cannot be and we will get to the other side Pot dispensaries in California DOWNEY — Coronavirus businesses include museums, identified 10,496 positive cases counted: some have lost loved of this together.” have been limiting store crowds showed no signs of slowing down shopping centers, retail stores, of COVID-19 across all areas of ones, some have been ill, some by only allowing one customer this week as Downey reached an for-profit companies, and LA County, and a total of 402 have lost jobs, some have had Downey residents - and all per budtender. Despite samples unfortunate milestone: its 100th nonprofit organizations. deaths. Eighty-four percent of to temporarily close businesses, of L.A. County - are under order having been prohibited at confirmed Covid-19 case. people who died had underlying some are guiding children to shelter at home until at least While some people have cannabis stores, sales have health conditions. through remote learning, and May 15. the option to work from home, increased since the outbreak of As of Thursday morning, everyone has had to live our day- there are others who are laid the novel coronavirus. there were 111 confirmed “One of the tragic realities of The public is required to wear off; and some who are front-line coronavirus cases in Downey, this pandemic is the daily report to-day life very differently than a face covering to enter essential workers who provide essential Although some businesses far more than other local cities, of lives lost to Covid-19. The we are used to. businesses as well. Beaches, have been barely keeping up with including Whittier (56), Norwalk service during the coronavirus frequency of these reports does “Thank you for continuing to trails and trailheads and non- the high demand, some essential (88), and Pico Rivera (67). pandemic. Not everyone has the not diminish our sympathy or do what you’re doing – staying essential businesses remain option to stay at home to work businesses have reduced L.A. County health officials our resolve to restore wellness home, practicing physical closed, and all public and private and missing shifts would be a operational hours. Arlene on Wednesday announced 42 to our community,” said Barbara distancing, wearing cloth face gatherings of any number of financial hardship for many Rodriguez, a personal banker at new deaths related to Covid-19, Ferrer, Director of Public Health. coverings, and self-isolating people occurring outside the people who work in the service Wells Fargo in Downey, has been the largest increase in deaths and self-quarantining when home remain prohibited. industry. working during the coronavirus “Taking steps to slow the pandemic and her hours have Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order decreased significantly. to shut down businesses excludes essential businesses such as “This pandemic has caused a grocery stores, pharmacies, lot of stress on my life personally garbage collection, convenience because of the daily changes Garcetti stores, banks, gas stations, we’ve had to face at work,” HOMETOWN HEROES hardware stores, and cannabis Rodriguez said. “We try to help retailers. as much as possible and inform customers that we are all going embraces Downey resident Sarah Coral through this together and we is a shift manager at one of the hope everything goes back to fast-food restaurant chains in normal as soon as possible.” Twitter Downey and her work hours have decreased due to the stay-at- Rodriguez is enrolled in her home order. last semester at college and was With borders blurred, residents expecting to graduate this spring turn to L.A. mayor’s Twitter “I am serving hundreds of but her graduation ceremony is feed for updates. people each day putting myself postponed. at risk. There are precautions we are taking but you never feel safe “With it being my last By Sabrina Picou in a time like this,” Coral said. semester in college my dream Contributor “The option to take time off is of being able to graduate now has been postponed and all my there, but paying the bills isn’t LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles an option.” classes are now hosted virtually through Zoom,” Rodriguez said. Mayor Eric Garcetti has been Downey resident Denise faced with a challenge, serving Ramos is a cannabis retailer “Hopefully everyone abides L.A. during a global pandemic. who has been working during by the stay at home order and Similar to Gov. Andrew Cuomo of the coronavirus pandemic. this pandemic ends soon and I New York, Garcetti has turned to However, according to the state, know for sure that I will not take social media to inform the public legal cannabis dispensaries are things for granted anymore.” regularly. deemed as an essential business The mayor has been using under the stay-at-home-order. Twitter to post the latest updates TFCF Inc., a Santa Fe Springs-based clothing manufacturer, has pivoted to creating masks “It’s definitely scary having for the city of L.A. regarding during the current Covid-19 pandemic. to get up every morning,” Ramos Covid-19 and other news related to the coronavirus pandemic. The locally-owned company has donated to more than 30 different local governments, including said. “I don’t want to get up and the Downey Police Department. They’ve also donated to churches, schools, and community Continued page 4 service organizations. 2 | The Downey Patriot Thursday, April 16, 2020 Governor sets guidelines for re-opening There is no timetable for said Newsom. if necessary. He added that there “is no light switch here,” describing it when the economy could The indicators include: Though he acknowledged that as “an imperfect science” with re-open but plans are being many are eager to be released The ability to monitor and “no playbook.” put in place. from their homes, Newsom did protect communities through not offer a specific timetable “Look we got to this point testing, contact tracing, of when an order release might where we did not – at least at By Alex Dominguez isolating, and supporting those happen. the moment – the worst case as Staff Writer who are positive or exposed; it relates to the surge because “That decision making is The ability to prevent you all did it together,” said DOWNEY — California predicated again on our ability Newsome.