The entertainment and catering sectors were among the most severely affected by the restrictions imposed to mitigate the covid pandemic - 19 in Los Angeles, contributing to throw more than half of residents into unemployment.
That's what happened to William Francis, 44, who lost his job at the luxury restaurant where he worked two years ago when the establishment decided to close fully open because of the pandemic.
"My bosses understood what was happening and anticipated the mandatory closure, to facilitate our access to unemployment benefits," said the American, who studied theater and made a career in catering during the last two decades in LA.
According to a study released this Friday by the University of Southern California, only 45 percent of Los Angeles residents keep their jobs. Even those who were not fired in the entertainment industry, one of the great forces of the city, saw their work affected, as was the case with musician Raymond Bergstrom, 41 years.
"All concerts are gone and I have a project suspended indefinitely," he said. In the case of William Francis, the expectation is to be able to regain employment when the pandemic of covid - 19 is quelled, citing a "transparent" and constant communication from the management that dismissed it.
"We will be the first to be called when restrictions are lifted," he said. The location in Chinatown, in a place not convenient for deliveries at the door, dictated the total closure of the restaurant and the dismissal of employees.
It is a common scenario, which responds to the fact that 86 percent of Americans are now avoiding restaurants, according to data from the University of Southern California. For this reason, there is uncertainty about the future of a sector seriously affected by orders to stay at home and the emergency of public health.
"When things start to open up again, I don't think restaurants can go back to normal immediately, so I hope I can work driving on hitchhiking services," explained Francis. "I've done all kinds of jobs" In order to deal with the situation, the American was forced to contact his creditors and service providers and reported that "most offer an indulgence period" regarding payments during the state of emergency.
The landlord of the property where he resides took a similar approach, although evictions are prohibited by executive order from California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Residents who are unable to pay rent during the emergency will have 12 months to do so, but this is one of the areas of greatest risk in the aftermath immediately after lifting restrictions. In a city where monthly income is around $ 2. 257 for a three-room apartment, the accumulation of debt could become unaffordable, lawyer Shashi Hanuman said at a conference on the situation of during the pandemic.
With 60 thousand homeless in the county, the highest number in California (which has a total of 151 thousand), the covid - 19 pandemic made the situation even more serious and the public authorities are working with private partners to take thousands of people off the streets.
"This was already an urgent crisis," said Eric Ares, head of United Way of Greater Los Angeles, which organized the conference.
"Unfortunately, it took a pandemic to get all these resources." With the Roomkey Project alone, the state intends to obtain 15 thousand beds in hotels and motels to isolate the most vulnerable homeless people, either through age (from 65 years), or by health conditions that make them susceptible in case of infection with covid - 19 .
This Friday, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that California has entered a "pandemic-induced recession" and created a committee with 80 businessmen from various industries, including the Apple CEO Tim Cook and Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger, to help the economic recovery in the coming months.
Combating the effects of restrictions imposed because of the pandemic will also involve direct financial assistance to residents with the lowest income, including a prepaid card with 700 to 1. 500 dollars financed by LA Mayor Eric Garcetti's fund and a state assistance fund to help illegal immigrants with checks from 500 to 1. 000 dollars.