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The California Employment Development Department’s latest report on joblessness said the state’s unemployment rate was 16.3 percent in May, a slight decrease of 0.1 percent from the previous month as the state’s employers added 141,600 jobs.
This comes after rapidly-evolving data prompted a statistical revision to a larger than initially estimated April job loss of 2,415,000 and an upward-revised unemployment rate for California of 16.4 percent, the Employment Development Department said.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics said the nationwide unemployment rate for May was 13.3 percent, down from 14.7 percent in April.
Lake County’s unemployment rate in May was 15.4 percent; the May 2019 rate was 4.2 percent.
The Employment Development Department originally had reported Lake County’s jobless rate for April as 15.2 percent, but as was the case for the state, Lake County’s April rate was revised upward, to 16.7 percent.
April’s 16.7 percent is Lake County’s highest unemployment rate since the 17.5 percent rate recorded in December 2009, during the Great Recession.
December 2009’s 17.5 percent, November 2009’s 16.8 percent and April’s 16.7 percent are the three months with the highest jobless numbers reported for Lake County in an Employment Development Department data series that goes back to 1990.
Lake County’s labor force had 25,420 people in May, down from 25,960 in April. The county’s unemployed in May totaled 3,910, compared to 4,340 in April, based on Employment Development Department data.
The total farm job category in Lake County was up by 16 percent in May over April, but down by 30.4 percent compared to May 2019.
The total nonfarm category was up by 0.2 percent in May as compared to April, while the year-over comparison to May 2019 showed job totals were down this spring by 22.9 percent.
Based on the newest numbers, Lake County’s 15.4-percent jobless rate ranked it No. 39 of California’s 58 counties.
Neighboring county jobless rates and ranks for May are Colusa, 21.1 percent, No. 55; Glenn, 13.7 percent, No. 26; Mendocino, 13.2 percent, No. 20; Napa, 14.4 percent, No. 31; Sonoma, 12.7 percent, No. 15; and Yolo, 10.5 percent, No. 3.
The impacts from the pandemic have caused many rural Northern California counties to climb into the ranks of those with the highest employment, displacing Bay Area counties that have historically had lower jobless rates.
The county with the lowest unemployment rate for May was Lassen, with 10 percent, followed by Marin, 10.3 percent; Yolo, 10.5 percent; Trinity, 10.7 percent; with Santa Clara rounding out the top five at 11 percent.
The bottom five were Los Angeles, 20.6 percent; Colusa, 21.1 percent; Alpine, 22.2 percent; Imperial, 27.8 percent; with Mono, at 28.9 percent, having the highest unemployment statewide.
A looks at the state employment picture
April’s revised loss of 2.4 million jobs in California since March is the biggest month-over job loss in state history, far eclipsing the Great Recession’s then record-setting, month-over loss of 132,800 jobs between December 2008 and January 2009, the Employment Development Department said.
April’s revisions reflect unprecedented job losses never before seen in California’s history in a current data series that dates back to 1976 that are a direct result of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the latest report.
While the state’s unemployment rate of 16.31 percent is slightly lower than the record high set in April 2020, it is still far higher than the 12.3 percent it was at during the height of the Great Recession – March, October and November of 2010.
The number of unemployed Californians was 3,018,000 in May, a decrease of 25,000 over the month, but up by 2,225,000 compared with May of last year. May’s number is nearly 300 percent higher than February 2020, up by 759,300.
The report said that California payroll jobs totaled 15,120,600 in May 2020, up 242,600 from April 2020 and down 2,267,100 from May of last year.
The number of Californians holding jobs in May was 15,479,000, a decrease of 60,000 from April and down 3,066,000 from the employment total in May of last year, the report said.
Nine of California’s 11 industry sectors gained jobs in May. Construction posted the largest job gain – more than 75,000 – thanks to strength in specialty trade contractors and ongoing construction projects, while leisure and hospitality had the second-largest job gain, adding more than 64,800 due to growth in accommodation and food services.
The government sector had the largest drop, -95,800, with state and local government jobs both experiencing large decreases over the month.
The number of jobs in the agriculture industry decreased by 18,000 jobs from April to 325,600. The agricultural industry has lost 94,500 farm jobs since May 2019.
Total nonfarm jobs decreased by 2,267,100 jobs – a 13-percent decrease – from May 2019 to May 2020 compared to the U.S. annual loss of 17,665,000 jobs, an 11.7-percent decrease.
In other news, the Employment Development Department said there were 2,154,692 people certifying for Unemployment Insurance benefits during the May 2020 sample week. This is a sample week that includes the 19th of each month. That compares to 1,889,250 people in April 2020 and 321,372 people in May 2019.
Concurrently, 203,588 initial claims were processed in the May 2020 sample week, which was a month-over decrease of 121,928 claims from April 2020, but a year-over increase of 165,192 claims from May 2019, the Employment Development Department said.
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The board will meet virtually beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 23, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8, online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and on the county’s Facebook page. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
To participate in real time, please join the Zoom Meeting, by clicking this link at 9 a.m. The meeting ID is 944 1613 9176, password 960977.
Because the meeting will be held virtually, members of the public are asked to submit comments on items to
In an untimed item, the board will get a report from the County Space Use Committee regarding the use of the county juvenile hall facility for a temporary support shelter targeting Lake County’s chronically homeless population.
County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson’s report to the board explained that at its meeting last week, the board approved the release of a request for proposals for daily operations and fiscal management of a temporary support shelter targeting Lake County’s chronically homeless population.
She said the discussion made reference to the potential use of the county’s juvenile hall facility, which closed as a detention facility on Oct. 15, 2015.
Huchingson said the board also discussed using juvenile hall as a “housing navigational hub” during its May 19, meeting, at which time the board approved the use of staff time to research the cost and needs.
“Given that the RFP had to be issued on an urgent basis, on June 18, 2020, the Space Use Committee met to discuss use of the Juvenile Hall for a temporary support shelter as described above,” Huchingson wrote.
Huchingson said the committee is supportive of using the former juvenile hall facility on a temporary basis for continued compliance with the governor’s COVID-19 bed requirements and recommends a duration of 6 months, with further consideration during that time as to long-term uses of the facility.
In other untimed items, the board will consider a resolution amending Resolution No. 2018-118, which established temporary alternative office hours for county offices located in and surrounding the Lake County Courthouse or give alternative direction to staff, and get a demonstration of a virtual/in-person hybrid approach to Board of Supervisors meetings.
In an item timed for 1 p.m., the board will hold a workshop on infrastructure with department heads.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Adopt resolution approving unanticipated revenue to fund Aquatic Weed Control Program.
5.2: Adopt resolution approving Amendment A02 to the standard agreement for the multi-year contract between the county of Lake and Department of Health Care Services for Substance Abuse Block Grant funds for the contract period between July 1, 2017, and June 30, 2020, and Authorizing the Behavioral Health administrator to sign the amendment.
5.3: Adopt resolution to authorize Lake County Behavioral Health Services director to sign the standard agreement between the county of Lake and the Department of Health Care Services for the period between July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2021.
5.4: Approve minutes of the Board of Supervisors meetings on May 4, 18 and 26.
5.5: Approve contract between the county of Lake Health Services and Trina Maia for physical therapy services in support of the California Children’s Services Program and the Medical Therapy Program for a term starting July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021, and a maximum amount of $135,408.00; and authorize the board chair to sign.
5.6: Sitting as the Lake County Watershed Protection District Board of Directors, approve Amendment No.1 to the agreement between the Lake County Watershed Protection District and Davis Environmental for environmental site assessments for the Middle Creek Flood Damage Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration Project and authorize the chair of the board of directors to sign the agreement.
5.7: a) Sitting as the Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors, authorize Special Districts administrator to sign zero cost agreements with Tesla Energy for power pack systems at critical infrastructure locations for the Lake County Sanitation District; and b) authorize Special Districts administrator to sign zero cost agreements with Tesla Energy for power pack systems at critical infrastructure locations for Lake County Special Districts.
5.8: Approve Budget Transfer in Budget Unit 7011 from Object Code 18.00 Maintenance to Object Code 63.13, Park Improvements for $7,100.
5.9: Approve late travel claims in the amount of $250 to Joshua Morris for meal reimbursement while attending STC approved training.
5.10: Approve Amendment No. 1 for agreement between county of Lake on behalf of CSA-20, Soda Bay and PACE Engineering dated August 28, 2018.
TIMED ITEMS
6.1, 9:01 a.m.: Public input.
6.2, 9:02 a.m.: Consideration of update on COVID-19.
6.3, 9:30 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of resolution approving resolutions and capital fire facility and equipment plans submitted by lake county fire agencies and updating the Lake County Capital Fire Facility and Equipment Plan.
6.4, 1 p.m.: Board of Supervisors workshop with department heads.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of a resolution amending Resolution No. 2018-118 establishing temporary alternative office hours for county offices located in and surrounding the Lake County Courthouse or alternative direction to staff.
7.3: Demonstration of virtual/in-person hybrid approach to Board of Supervisors meetings.
7.4: Report from the County Space Use Committee Regarding the use of the county juvenile hall facility for a temporary support shelter targeting Lake County’s chronically homeless population.
7.5: Consideration of (a) waiving the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approval of the agreement between the county of Lake and Crestwood Behavioral Health for adult residential support and specialty mental health services for Fiscal Year 2020-21 for a contract maximum of $1,200,000 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9 (d)(1) – FERC Project No. 77, Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project.
8.2: Conference with legal counsel: Decision whether to initiate litigation pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9(d)(4): One potential case.
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The following cats at the shelter have been cleared for adoption.
Call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278 or visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm for information on visiting or adopting.
Domestic short hair cat
This young female domestic short hair cat has gold eyes and a black coat.
She is in cat room kennel No. 15c, ID No. 13733.
‘Foozy Ball’
“Foozy Ball” is a female domestic long hair cat with a calico coat and gold eyes.
She has been spayed.
She is in cat room kennel No. 108, ID No. 13729.
‘Buffy’
“Buffy” is a female domestic short hair with gold eyes and a black coat.
She is in cat room kennel No. 111, ID No. 13730.
Domestic short hair cat
This male domestic short hair cat has a brown tabby coat.
He has been neutered.
He is in kennel No. 138, ID No. 13701.
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The primary purpose of CALEA is to improve the delivery of public safety services by maintaining a comprehensive body of law enforcement standards, establishing and administering an accreditation process, and recognizing professional excellence.
The CHP, which has been accredited since 2010, is the largest state law enforcement agency in the United States to be accredited.
The CHP Academy and Communications Centers also are accredited.
As a part of this assessment, members of the public are invited to comment by calling 916-843-4398 on Tuesday, June 30, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Additionally, the public is invited to participate in a virtual public hearing on Tuesday, June 30, beginning at 1 p.m.
The virtual public hearing, which will be conducted via Webex, will give members of the public an opportunity to interact with CALEA assessors, to provide commentary about the CHP, or ask questions about the accreditation process.
To participate in the virtual public hearing, please e-mail
The public’s input is one component of a three-day virtual visit in June by a team of assessors from CALEA.
During their visit, the CALEA assessors will verify the CHP’s overall compliance with a set of standards designed to ensure the Department’s policies and procedures are consistent with law enforcement industry best practices.
The assessors will remotely examine CHP Headquarters, the CHP Academy in West Sacramento, and various administrative and field commands to examine all aspects of the department’s policies, procedures, administration, operations and support services.
“We welcome the accreditation process,” said CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley, who has led the Department since 2017. “The input we receive from the public and the assessment team gives the CHP direction and helps us continuously improve. The CALEA assessment is a valuable resource for the department.”
The CALEA accreditation process is an additional avenue in which the CHP ensures it is upholding its mission of providing the highest level of safety, service and security to the people of California.
The latest case brings Lake County’s case total to 35. Of those, two are active and 33 are recovered, and there are no current hospitalizations, according to the county’s COVID-19 dashboard.
There were no details made available on Saturday about the case.
This is the third positive case reported over the past week.
Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace reported that the 33rd and 34th cases, identified last Sunday and Monday, respectively, were not related but were tied to out-of-county cases.
The 34th case had recently attended some social gatherings, and investigations and contact tracing are ongoing, but there are presently no signs of concern regarding community transmission, Pace said.
The 31st and 32nd cases, identified week before last, were members of the same household, Pace reported.
As of Saturday, Public Health said 3,898 of Lake County’s more than 64,000 residents have been tested, with 211 test results still pending.
Public Health departments statewide reported more than 174,000 COVID-19 cases and nearly 5,500 deaths as of Saturday night.
Case totals for neighboring counties are Colusa, seven; Glenn, 42; Mendocino, 54; Napa, 224; Sonoma, 835; and Yolo, 321.
For information on how to get tested, visit the Lake County Public Health testing page.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
If you had to choose, which would you rather have: a healthy father or a good father?
Studies suggest men often choose being a good father over being healthy.
Becoming a father is a major milestone in the life of a man, often shifting the way he thinks from being “me focused” to “we focused.” But fatherhood can also shift how men perceive their health. Our research has found that fathers can view health not in terms of going to the doctor or eating vegetables but how they hold a job, provide for their family, protect and teach their children, and belong to a community or social network.
As founder and director of the Center for Research on Men’s Health at Vanderbilt University and as a postdoctoral fellow from Meharry Medical College, we study why men live shorter lives than women, male attitudes about fatherhood, how to help men engage in healthier behavior – as well as what can be done to reduce men’s risk of Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Work, sex and health
Working with men to try to get them to be more physically active, eat healthier and maintain a healthy weight, we found that for many, their own physical and mental health is not high on their list of priorities. Men, we found, treat their bodies as tools to do a job. Health is not always important or something they pay much attention to until poor health gets in the way of their ability to go to work, have sex or do something else important to them. These roles and responsibilities are often the ways they define themselves as men and how others in their lives define their worth.
While many aspects of gender roles have changed, we have found that many men still recognize they are often defined as good or successful if they have paid employment that is enough to take care of their children and other responsibilities. Fathers generally aspire to be able to look after their children, spouse, partner or other loved ones. That may mean less sleep, longer hours at work and less free time for hobbies and exercise.
Wanting to be a great dad can motivate men to push themselves to work longer and harder than they may have thought possible, but these choices can come at a cost, particularly if they also are not making time to take care of themselves.
We have seen evidence of despair, such as depressive symptoms, having thoughts of suicide, heavy drinking and marijuana use, among adults in their 20s and 30s. These behaviors tend to be higher in men during the time when they tend to become fathers for the first time. Consistent with this pattern, unintentional injuries and suicide are leading causes of death for men across racial and ethnic groups in their 20s and 30s. This is not the case for women.
By age 45, heart disease and cancer are the leading causes of death for all groups of men. These chronic diseases can be prevented, to some degree, by not smoking, eating healthier foods and drinking less alcohol. Also, improving sleep, sitting less and moving more are important behaviors for good health.
Rather than trying to restart these behaviors after taking a break from them for a number of years, studies have found that it is important to help men keep healthy behaviors a part of their lives as they age.
As men age, they may not make deliberate choices to engage in less healthy behavior, but they may just do so because their lives and environments make unhealthy choices easier than healthy ones. Policymakers have to think about how to make it easier to make healthy choices in men’s daily lives and to incorporate health into the time fathers spend with children and family or at work. Men don’t have equal access to healthy foods or the same opportunities to go to the doctor, be physically active or earn a living wage, and yet, if asked, they all want to be healthy and have a positive influence on their children and families.
Where does making time for their own mental and physical health fit into dads’ busy, stressful lives? We have found that it will be different for every father, but loved ones have to help them find a way. Based on our research, we believe that families, particularly women in men’s lives, can play an important role in encouraging fathers to eat healthier and take better care of their health.
Wives in particular often provide emotional support, offer advice, facilitate men going to the doctor and promote healthy behavior. Wives, daughters and other women in fathers’ lives are important sources of information about men’s health, and they often play a key role in helping fathers and other men better understand and cope with stress.
As we celebrate fathers, it is important to recognize that fathers, generally speaking, may not place health at the top of their priorities. Many fathers gladly sacrifice to see their children happy, safe and successful. The problem is that if fathers think only about these goals, their own health can often suffer.
Derek M. Griffith, Professor of Medicine, Health & Society and Founder and Director of the Center for Research on Men's Health, Vanderbilt University and Elizabeth C. Stewart, Postdoctoral Fellow, Vanderbilt University
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.