November 2020 Newsletter

Dear Neighbor,

As the holidays are upon us, I encourage you continue your part in reducing the spread of the coronavirus. Unfortunately, this means we cannot celebrate in our traditional ways, such as large family gatherings. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has safer alternatives for all of us to follow.

Remember to practice public safety protocol by wearing face coverings, social distance at least six feet and wash your hands, as you do your holiday shopping.

I recognize and honor fellow veterans on Veterans Day, as each November 11, we gather as a state and country, to recognize the bravest of our citizens, the men and women who’ve served in the military, protecting our freedom.

We acknowledge their service during times of war and peace, thanking them for their courage and dedication, and recognize their families’ shared sacrifices.

I wish you all a festive Thanksgiving, as we all express gratitude for all the good things in our lives.

God bless,

Senator Bob Archuleta

Thirty-Second Senate District

The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to California small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). SBA acted under its own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act that was recently signed by the President, to declare a disaster following a request received from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s designated representative, Director Mark S. Ghilarducci of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services on March 13, 2020.

Small businesses, private non-profit organizations of any size, small agricultural cooperatives and small aquaculture enterprises that have been financially impacted as a direct result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) since Jan. 31, 2020, may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred.

Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. Individuals who are deaf or hard‑of‑hearing may call (800) 877-8339. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX  76155. The deadline to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan is Dec. 16, 2020.

As the decade known as “The Roaring Twenties” was just beginning, Marcella Kroupa McMahon was born on Dec. 10, 1920, in Minnesota.

For about half of her 100 years, McMahon has lived in the Thirty-Second Senate District.

She and her late husband, Raymond McMahon, raised their family in Downey, moved to Palos Verde for employment, and then moved to Cerritos, where she currently lives with her sons, Jim and Ken McMahon.

“(I was one many who was) born in the mid-west, came to the west coast for jobs and settled a lifetime either in Downey or the greater Los Angeles-Orange County area,” she said.

Some of her family died during the Spanish flu of 1918, and she suffered from physical ailments doctors attributed to lingering effects of the flu. Today, she is in good health, walking without assistance, takes no prescription medications, according to her son, Jim McMahon.

“My mom is very stubborn, self-reliant,” he said when asked about her longevity.

This attitude helped her when she headed to the west coast in search of a job after graduating from college, at the top of her class.

“Back then, since I was a single woman, I could not get a driver's license, purchase a car, or enter into a rental –purchase contract, so I relied on the public transportation and lived with relatives,” Marcella McMahon recalled.

She has enjoyed living in Cerritos, where her husband worked for the city, and she worked as a legal secretary.

Today, at 100, Marcella McMahon says life is good, despite the current pandemic, enjoying her time with her sons, her dog, Coco, inside her cottage garden home.

Marcella Kroupa McMahon, of Cerritos, is seen here with her dog, Coco, at her home in 2019. She will celebrate her 100th birthday on December 10, 2020. Photo courtesy of McMahon family. 

I want to honor a good friend Danny Lopez for his distinguished career as a reserve Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy. His 55 years plus of honorable service to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. His service, which has been an example of pride and commitment to the department and the men and women with whom he served. During his tenure protecting the Cities of Industry, Norwalk and Pico Rivera as a patrol deputy level one, a reserve commander for 12 years overseeing five stations and the reserve operations. I congratulate Danny Lopez on a job well done and wish him a happy retirement.

Know how it spreads

• There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
• The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.
• The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.
  • Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
  • Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks.
  • These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
  • Some recent studies have suggested that COVID-19 may be spread by people who are not showing symptoms.

Everyone Should Wash your hands often

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• It’s especially important to wash:
  • Before eating or preparing food
  • Before touching your face
  • After using the restroom
  • After leaving a public place
  • After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
  • After handling your mask
  • After changing a diaper
  • After caring for someone sick
  • After touching animals or pets
• If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid close contact

• Inside your home: Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • If possible, maintain 6 feet between the person who is sick and other household members.
• Outside your home: Put 6 feet of distance between yourself and people who don’t live in your household.
  • Remember that some people without symptoms may be able to spread virus.
  • Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from other people.
  • Keeping distance from others is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.

Protect Your Health This Flu Season

It’s likely that flu viruses and the virus that causes COVID-19 will both spread this fall and winter. Healthcare systems could be overwhelmed treating both patients with flu and patients with COVID-19. This means getting a flu vaccine during 2020-2021 is more important than ever.

While getting a flu vaccine will not protect against COVID-19 there are many important benefits, such as:

1. Flu vaccines have been shown to reduce the risk of flu illness, hospitalization, and death.
2. Getting a flu vaccine can also save healthcare resources for the care of patients with COVID-19.

Congratulations to the city of Montebello as they celebrated its 100th anniversary with a caravan-style parade that traveled throughout the city. Parade participants rode in historic vehicles and on the back of flatbed trucks as they waved to residents watching from their cars and homes.

The caravan, which took place the day after Montebello’s 100th birthday, began at the Montebello-Commerce Metrolink Station and ended at Bicknell Park. Montebello is planning on having other events throughout the 2021

Senator Bob Archuleta and Chief Brad Keller posed for a photo before the parade kicked off throughout the streets of Montebello.

I acknowledged over 40 Captains, Fire Fighter Specialists, Paramedics and Firefighters from Los Angeles County Fire Department Station 103’s 30th Anniversary of its Urban Search and Rescue Program. Station 103 in the city of Pico Rivera houses some of the largest trucks and equipment used for all rescues in Los Angeles County. After the Whittier Narrows earthquake in 1987, the Board of Supervisors reaffirmed the Department’s role as the primary search and rescue agency during disasters. Fire Chief P. Michael Freeman ordered the establishment of an urban search and rescue (USAR) committee to recommend development of a new, comprehensive system to manage such incidents. The (USAR) committee now certified California state fire marshal instructors train for various rescue operations. I congratulated numerous Fire Fighters of L.A. County Station 103 on three decades of extraordinary work of protecting and rescuing lives in our communities.

California is home to 1.8 million veterans, representing eight percent of the total U.S. veteran population. California anticipates receiving an additional 30,000 discharged members of the armed services each year for the next several years – more than any other state.

Historically, the largest demand for benefits and services for veterans occurs immediately after discharge and again as the veteran population ages and requires greater access to medical facilities and long-term care services.

With the substantial number of veterans under the age of 30 leaving the military after deployments to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, coupled with a considerably large population of Vietnam veterans who are now approaching a period in the their lives where they will need greater access to medical and long-term care, California is preparing for a sustained spike in earned services and benefits.

Please on onto https://www.calvet.ca.gov/ for services on education, housing, employment, healthcare, home loans, VA claims, and advocacy.

Californians age 70 and older with a noncommercial driver’s license are now eligible to renew online or by mail, eliminating the need to visit a California Department of Motor Vehicles office. Licenses with an expiration date between March 1, 2020, throughout the COVID-19 emergency are eligible.  

Through Executive Order, Governor Gavin Newsom has temporarily waived the California law requiring drivers age 70 and older to visit a DMV field office to renew their license for the length of California’s State of Emergency or until modified. The DMV is completing the programming necessary so customers who meet the criteria will be able to complete their renewal online beginning December 6.

Nearly all California drivers are now eligible to renew their license online or by mail – even if their renewal notice states an office visit is required.

The DMV previously provided yearlong extensions to senior drivers with noncommercial licenses expiring in March through December 2020. Those who received the extensions are eligible to renew online.

Commercial licenses, including those for drivers 70 and older, expiring between March and December are extended through December 2020, to align with federal guidelines.

The DMV previously expanded eligibility for drivers 69 and under to renew online, even if their DMV notification states they must come to an office.

Visit the on line service at https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv-online/ for various services offered by the Department of Motor Vehicles.