The Problem is the Problem

Trust the Process and the Results Will Come

The Problem is the Problem

It’s hard to trust a single source of information since we are bombarded with headline after headline (mostly click-batey) to get us to engage with content. Our brains are tuned to look for bad news and outrage and that only fuels the flames of Fake News. No one is immune to this and that’s why it’s important to get out of the bubble and see what’s going on. In the end, results will matter more than spin since the realities on the ground are far different from the 24-second news cycle. The problem is always the problem, not a person, group, or organization. The only judgment should be progress towards solving the problem.

If you missed any of the previous updates, this page has a list of them all.

Full details on the Economic Recovery Task Force can be found here.

Summary

What is interesting about Fake News is that it can use the same statistics (or rather parts of them) to tell different stories. This is why there always seems to be some truth even in lies and conspiracy theories. It also allows for the slippery slope of blame and would of, could of, or should of. 

That’s fine do to when you have time and distance from a problem but when you’re walking through the valley of sorrow, trying to keep it together, it’s not helpful.

As we open up SF (and the world), there are going to be a lot of Monday Morning Quarterbacking how this crisis was handled. There will be tons and tons and tons of lies, damm lies, and statistics that will bolster both sides of the aisle (or shades within the aisle). It will take a lot of courage and self-control to fight the urge to blame others or organizations or pick your favorite boogie man.

That’s why it’s critical to have a plan and process to smoothly reopen the economy that’s both bottom-up and top-down. It’s only when you engage with people on the ground that a true a real sense of the challenges, struggles, and triumphs reveal themselves. It’s this care and consideration for all that will be the ultimate arbiter of our response to these trying times. We can’t lose sight of the fact that this will be a long process and as such, can’t let up on the drumbeat of progress towards goals, stories of real people, and a sense of service above self.

The problem is the problem. Trust the process and results will come.

Jobs and Business Support

• Coronavirus may make it an imperative for employers to child care: Millions of parents have spent the duration of the coronavirus pandemic attempting to work from home while also caring for kids, with varying levels of success. But experts say employers are actually well-positioned to help parents tackle child-care challenges. And it may be in their best interest to do so.
• 14 CEOs on how to reopen businesses in the coronavirus economy: We asked Fortune 500 chief executives in an array of industries to share how they are thinking about the next steps.

Vulnerable Populations/Population Health

• Reopening schools in Denmark did not worsen outbreak, data shows: Sending children back to schools and daycare centers in Denmark, the first country in Europe to do so, did not lead to an increase in coronavirus infections, according to official data, confirming similar findings from Finland on Thursday.
• From Camping To Dining Out: Here’s How Experts Rate The Risks Of 14 Summer Activities: It has been around two months of quarantine for many of us. The urge to get out and enjoy the summer is real. But what’s safe? We asked a panel of infectious disease and public health experts to rate the risk of summer activities, from backyard gatherings to a day at the pool to sharing a vacation house with another household.

Economic Development

• Don’t Expect A Quick Recovery. Our Survey Of Economists Says It Will Likely Take Years: All across the country, the gears of the economy are grinding slowly and creakily into motion. Retail stores are newly open for in-person shopping in California. It’s possible to get a much-needed haircut in Alabama. And in Alaska, bartenders are even slinging drinks again — albeit with strict capacity and spacing limits.

Things to Ponder or Give a Try

• Internet Dad: This Dad Created a Youtube Channel to Help Young Adults Without Fathers Fix Household Problems. Pretty darn cool and clearly needed.
• Pirate radio station helps older adults deal with loneliness: However, the Radio Recliner may be one of the most unique projects out there. It’s a pirate radio station run strictly by retirees.
• The New Normal: A cafe in northeast Germany implemented a quirky new policy to encourage physical distancing as they re-open.  Cafe & Konditorei Rothe is asking customers to put on colorful hats made out of swimming pool noodles that stick out several feet in all directions. Check out the image, it’s pretty awesome.
• Speaking of Pirate’s (and Radio), the movie Pirate Radio is actually really good if you like British actors, with British humor.

Interesting Chart(s)

Want to Learn More or Help?

Go over to the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Task Force (ERTF) page for more information. If you have not already done so, please take this survey to tell the task force your thoughts on how we can recover from this.

The Task Force is charged with guiding the City’s efforts through the COVID-19 recovery to sustain and revive local businesses and employment, mitigate the economic hardships already affecting the most vulnerable San Franciscans, and build a resilient and equitable future.