From the Readers

Impact of COVID-19 on AAPI Immigrants

I want to reach out and offer the National Asian Pacifi c American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF) as a resource should you be covering a topic on how the coronavirus/ COVID-19 is impacting Asian Americans and Pacifi c Islanders through the lens of health care access or on the racism and scapegoating of Asians and Asian Americans.

I added some key points from NAPAWF below and happy to answer any questions or offer Executive Director Sung Yeon Choimorrow up for an interview as requested.

HEALTH CARE

The spread of the coronavirus has laid bare the many ways our country has failed our most vulnerable communities and, in turn, endangered every person living in the U.S. with its limited capacity to respond to a public health crisis.

U.S. policies limit access to critical health care:

Immigrants must wait five years before they can enroll in Medicaid or CHIP and undocumented immigrants are completely barred from these programs as well as from purchasing insurance from the Marketplace.

The “public charge” rule could deter millions of immigrants from using programs like Medicaid, WIC and SNAP or from seeking medical care of any kind, out of fear of endangering their immigration status.

If quarantines become routine, tens of millions of low-wage workers, many of whom don’t have health insurance or paid sick leave, will not be able to stock up and stay home.

AAPI women are overrepresented in the most poorly paid jobs in the nation, and are likely to lack equal pay, paid sick leave, paid family leave, robust benefits, and more.

Everyone deserves to have the peace of mind that good health brings. Access to health care should not depend on immigration status.

RACISM AND SCAPEGOATING ASIANS AND ASIAN AMERICANS

AAPI people are “perpetual foreigners” in this country, unable to be seen as full members of American society and now they are being used as scapegoats for the coronavirus on the basis of their appearance.

As the coronavirus has spread from China to other countries, anti- Asian discrimination has tracked closely, manifesting in plummeting sales at Chinese restaurants, near-deserted Chinatown districts, and assault and bullying of people perceived to be Chinese. let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Best, VIET TRAN

 

Illinois Bar and Restaurant Shut Down

There are thousands of artists, musicians, DJs, and other entertainment acts in Illinois that are directly impacted by the mandatory bar and restaurant shut down that took place on March 16th, 2020. We are in a problematic situation where many of us rely heavily on work through these venues and as our sole income. We understand that these venues were mandated to shut down for everyone’s safety. As an industry, we agree with this and appreciate the city and state’s efforts in minimizing the risk for everyone.

However, many of these entertainers, including myself, are left without income or benefi ts during this two week shut down. We are aware of the stimulus package from the federal government but we are focusing on the state and its abrupt shutdown of bars and restaurants. The entertainment sector which includes DJs, musicians, dancers, audio and light technicians, photographers, event planners, and more – were never mentioned in any of this from a city or state level. We are urgently in need of your help in asking Governor J.B. Pritzker to include us in his second phase of relief that he has extended to the hospitality industry. We have not heard back from the city or state since the start of this. As it stands today, we are being considered collateral damage and are looking for the state’s help in providing resources for those who have been directly impacted by this mandate. We simply do not want to fall through the cracks.

Until we find answers, we created a petition, website, and Facebook group for this group that has been impacted by the mandate and who might need additional resources. On this site, they can fi nd information as discounted food from restaurants at a nearby area or information on fi – nancial relief among other resources. Also, a survey is underway to measure the damage from a sample of individuals who have been affected by this. If you need this information please let me know.

Are you able to assist in urgently getting our voices heard before it is too late? You can call, text, or email me through the contact information in my signature below.

Thank you, Kice Akkawi, CEO Treblemonsters