Photo by Roschetzky Photography
People rushed to get haircuts over the weekend after barbershops and salons were cleared to reopen on Friday. Enrique Mendez with the King’s Barber Studio tells CBS Austin people have been desperate to get a trim.
“They are constantly blowing me up on Instagram like I’ll pay you $200 to cut my hair; $250-$300!” Mendez says.
Mayor Steve Adler says allowing these places to reopen sends the wrong message to people that the threat of coronavirus has past when it has not.
Austin’s Parks Department shut down Commons Ford Ranch, Walter E. Long Park and Emma Long Park because of large Mother’s Day crowds. The city will now have to consider some changes to the number of people allowed in parks at any given time. As of this coming Thursday, day passes will be required for entry into those three parks. Registration could be done online or over the phone.
The number hospitalized in Travis County is at 91 as of this morning. No new deaths have been reported. Total deaths are still at 60. In all, 2127 cases of growing virus had been found. 713 of those cases are now classified as recoveries.
Austin Mayor Steve Adler continues to say he’s not ready to begin patronizing businesses that have reopened. He’s still pushing hard for local restaurants to keep tabs on as many customers as possible when they walk in the door.
“It’s not an invasion of privacy. Its neighbors respecting one another and the values of each other’s lives,” Adler says.
The city can’t force a restaurant to do this, but it will help with contact tracing of infected patients. He says all information would be confidential and wouldn’t be used for any law enforcement purposes.
Austin’s economy is slowing and it’s expected to get worse. By the Dallas Federal Reserve’s count, the Austin area economy grew by about 3% in March. That is less than half of the metro’s long term growth average and just as the COVID crisis began. The Fed’s Judy Tang says job numbers have fallen and the local unemployment rate has spiked to 3.4% in March, its highest level since 2017. She believes it will get worse.
“Judging by what was released for the U.S. unemployment rate of 14.7%, you will definitely see a very big increase in the unemployment rate,” Tang says.
Some in Austin believe the local unemployment rate could reach 25%.
The group that represents Austin School District teachers and employees is petitioning for a pay raise. Education Austin President Ken Zarifis tells KVUE it’s been the teachers that have been the glue holding everything together during the campus closures.
“The employees carried you through. The employees lifted you up. It’s time to recognize the employees in word and in deed,” said Zarifis.
Around 3,000 people have signed a petition as of this morning. It calls for a 3% pay increase as well as $500 bonuses for bus drivers, custodians and food workers.
Austin Community College will hold a virtual commencement in June for nearly 3000 students. It will be the highest number of graduates any single year for the district. ACC President Richard Rhodes says an in-person ceremony will be held in the fall once all stay at home orders are lifted.
Texas Senator John Cornyn continues to make the rounds meeting over the weekend with some South Central Texas Chambers of Commerce. He says Texas small businesses have been well served by the paycheck protection program
“Nearly 135,000 loans, more than any other state. These loans totaled nearly $28.5 billion. We have now replenished it with an additional $320 billion.
As the Senate comes back into session today, they’ll be considering phase four of coronavirus funding. First, he wants a detailed study of the previous relief packages that have already made their way out.
Governor Greg Abbott is watching closely after Tesla CEO Elon Musk makes the announcement over the weekend that his company is fleeing California, immediately moving Tesla headquarter operations to Nevada and Texas. As Musk points out, Tesla is the last car maker in California. Alameda County, where the California plant is located, is wanting him to stay closed until June 1st, and he doesn’t want to do that.
This news and more at News Radio KLBJ:
https://omny.fm/shows/klbjam-flash-briefing-1/am-newscast-5-11-20
