Every which way you turn, everyone in every industry has COVID-19 on the brain – and rightfully so. States, cities, and companies are issuing statements about how they are handling everyday needs during the Coronavirus outbreak.
As a proud member of the real estate industry, First Team is here to help homeowners, real estate agents, and those in the industry stay informed about the best way to navigate these unprecedented times. Real estate has been deemed an essential business by the state of California, and below are the tools necessary to overcome the obstacles that COVID-19 may have put in your path.
We’ll be updating this list, so continue to check back. And if you have information to share with the community, email us at marketing@firstteam.com.
Mortgage Relief Available for Homeowners:
Homeowners who have a mortgage backed by the federal government have a variety of relief available in the event of financial hardship.
Borrowers of “federally-backed mortgage loans” experiencing financial hardship due, directly or indirectly, to the COVID-19 emergency can request a loan forbearance on their payments (regardless of loan status and without penalties, fees, or interest) for at least 180 days (with a potential additional 180-day extension).
Wondering if your home loan is owned by federal government agency Freddie Mac? Use this tool to find out: ww3.freddiemac.com/loanlookup
Multi-family borrowers with a loan that was current as of February 1, 2020, may request a similar forbearance for up to 30 days, with two additional 30-day extensions.
During the forbearance period, no fees, penalties or interest may accrue on the borrower’s account, beyond the amounts scheduled or calculated as if the borrower made all contractual payments on time and in full under the terms of the mortgage contract. Application for the forbearance is made by submitting a request to the borrower’s servicer and affirming financial hardship due to COVID-19.
If you are facing difficulties in making your payments but your loan is not federally backed, call your mortgage servicer to find out if they are providing any aid at this time. If you are unsure of who to call, look at the last statement you received and call the customer service number listed on that document.
Agent, Contractor, and Other Small Business Resources:
There are forgivable SBA loans available for independent contractors, and unemployment insurance that will now be extended to independent contractors. Important information and updates are available from the state and California Association of REALTORS for how these resources affect real estate agents and others in the industry specifically.
CAR has created a COVID-19 disclosure that is available for anyone involved in a home purchase or sale. The disclosure protects the best interests of all parties under the new operating procedures during the epidemic. First Team Real Estate agents have a company version to provide to buyers and sellers as well.
The federal government is providing significant relief for small businesses – including real estate agents – suffering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more about eligibility specifically as a real estate agent: www.carcovidupdates.org/relief-faq-for-agents.
For more information on Disaster Loan Assistance from SBA, for businesses, private non-profits, homeowners, and renters visit covid19relief.sba.gov.
Independent Contractors will be able to apply for Unemployment the EDD is working on implementation procedures. Check here for the California Unemployment Insurance Program for general information about the program: edd.ca.gov/Unemployment
For more resources on buying and selling your home during the COVID-19 epidemic in California, reach out to a local First Team Real Estate agent.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Grace KeisterGrace Keister is the Digital Engagement Strategist and website content manager for First Team Real Estate. Graduating from the University of California, Irvine with a degree in English and Sociology, Grace is a native Southern Californian. In her 6 years with the company, her role has grown from blog creation to social media management, digital agent support, and more.
All of a sudden, Houseparty is everywhere. The video-chatting app, which makes it easy for as many as eight people to share a virtual hang, has been around since 2016, but for obvious reasons, it has surged in popularity this month: Today, Houseparty is the iOS Store’s fifth most downloaded free app in the United States. (It has already hit #1 in the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain.) If you don’t have it already, chances are good that someone you know will invite you to join it soon.
So what’s the appeal of Houseparty, and what are the potential downsides? As its name suggests, the app is basically a virtual version of a massive get-together. If your friends are “in the house,” you can chat them up one on one—or you can gather a group in a room to talk or play games, either locking that room’s door or leaving it open for new people to walk in and join you. Here is what you need to know.
1. Instant video chat with friends
The benefit: Houseparty draws on your personal contact lists (from your phone as well as from Facebook and Snapchat) to help you create a network of friends on the app. The app then tells you who is using it and who has used it recently. If one of your friends is on at the same time as you, hit the “join” button next to their name to be connected to them right away. The drawback: Because friends can start conversations without any notice, make sure you’re ready to be seen when you’re using the app: You could be zapped into a conversation at any time. If you have a lot of contacts, you may want to be selective about which ones you put on your friend list; you could limit it, for example, to people you really wouldn’t mind seeing anytime. (Also, allowing any app to access your contacts raises privacy concerns—but Forbes’s cybersecurity reporter finds no major red flags, and offers some tips on how to minimize your risk.)
2. Spontaneous group hangouts
The benefit: Houseparty allows groups of up to eight people to chat at once. But compared with other apps like Zoom, it has a casual, spur-of-the-moment vibe. You don’t need to plan anything in advance or send anyone an invitation; you can instantly join any open group that contains at least one person you’re friends with. That makes it a good way to expand your social circle, like going to a real-life party with one friend you know. The drawback: You may not want people you don’t know butting into your chat time with friends. To control that, you can use the lock button at the bottom of the screen to close the group off. And if your kids are using the app—or if you’re a kid yourself—be mindful of the stranger danger that can come with meeting a bunch of new folks online.
3. Notifications when friends are on
The benefit: If a friend you want to talk to isn’t using the app at the moment, you can hit the hand-wave icon next to their name to let them know you’re around; they’ll get a notification on their phone and have the option to join you or not. The app also sends you notifications by itself to let you know when contacts of yours have joined the app or when friends of yours are using it. The drawback: If you have a lot of friends and/or contacts, you’ll be getting a lot of notifications about them. To manage this, hit the smiley-face icon on the upper left of the main screen. That will give you the option to turn off notifications completely or to mute them for individual friends. And if you’re not necessarily in the mood to chat but just want to see who’s around, you can use the app without anyone knowing by pressing the app’s icon on your phone a little longer than usual and hitting the “Sneak Into the House” option.
4. Games with friends
The benefit: One of the Houseparty features that users enjoy most is the availability of simple games to play during chat sessions. When you click on the dice on the upper right if your screen, you there are four options: a trivia challenge and games that are essentially versions of Pictionary, Heads Up! and Apples to Apples. (The Pictionary one is the most fun.) If you’re looking to pass a little time with your buddies, these can be a major plus. The drawback: The games themselves are not as well developed as they could be; after a few rounds, you’ll be getting an annoyingly large number of repeat questions and clues. Given the app’s new popularity, we hope that its developers will expand on this aspect of the experience soon, since it is one of the app’s major draws. (In the Heads Up! game, at least, you can add fresh categories for 99 cents a pop.)
5. Easy recording
The benefit: If someone you want to chat with doesn’t happen to be around, Houseparty makes it simple to record and send them a brief video message—and get a notification when they read it. Also, the app makes it easy to record your chat sessions by hitting the ellipsis on the bottom left of the screen. The drawback: Houseparty doesn’t tell you if someone else is recording your conversation, so be careful if you’re chatting with someone you don’t trust—which is good advice under any circumstances, really.
To take full advantage of Houseparty, you’ll need to use a phone or tablet. A desktop version exists, but it lacks most of the features that make the app worthwhile.
These local restaurants offer discounts on takeout orders and gift card promotions. Here’s your chance to support O.C. businesses while switching up the menu at home and doing your part to help stop the spread of the coronavirus that causes the respiratory disease COVID-19.
DISCOUNTS
➜ Greenleaf Costa Mesa What: Get a free skinny margarita with the purchase of a family meal, which includes a protein, salad, brown rice, and your choice of side ($40) How: Pick-up or free delivery within a 5 mile radius Order: 949-200-3950
➜ Crawfish Cave Fullerton What: Family pack deal with two pounds of shrimp, corn, potato, chicken tenders, rice, and drinks ($48.25) and 20 percent off three pounds of shrimp, corn, and rice, and $1 oysters How: Pick-up or delivery through Ubereats, Postmates, or Grubhub Order: 714-879-2073
➜ Old Brea Chop House Brea What: “Dine at Home” three-course meal with starter, entree, side, and dessert for $60; 50 percent off bottles of wine, plus bonus $50 gift card with purchase of every $250 in gift cards How: Pick-up or delivery through Ubereats, Postmates, or Grubhub Order: 714-592-3122
➜The Yellow Chilli Tustin What: 20 percent discount off phone-in takeout orders How: Pick-up or delivery through Ubereats, Postmates, or Grubhub Order: 714-389-5280
➜ Andrei’s Conscious Cuisine Irvine What: 15 percent off a la carte menu and family packages that can serve as many as eight, plus 25 percent off bottles of wine How: Curbside pick-up or delivery through Postmates, Grubhub, or DoorDash Order: 949-387-8887
➜The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar Tustin What: Take-out menu that is priced 15 percent off regular menu How: Curbside pick-up or delivery through Postmates and Grubhub Order: 714-258-7600
➜Farmhouse Corona del Mar What: 10 percent discount on takeout orders. Orders must be placed by 12 p.m. to be ready for pick-up by 4 p.m. How: Curbside pick-up Order: 949-640-1415
➜Five Crowns Corona del Mar What: 20 percent discount on takeout orders How: Curbside pick-up Order: 949-760-0331
➜SideDoor Corona del Mar What: 20 percent discount, wines by the bottle are also available How: Curbside pick-up Order: 949-760-0331
➜ Sushi Roku Newport Beach What: Free delivery and 50 percent off wine and sake by the bottle How: Curbside pick-up or delivery through Postmates, UberEats, DoorDash, and GrubHub Order: 949-706-3622
➜ Mix Mix Kitchen & Bar Santa Ana What: 10 percent discount on pick-up orders How: Pick-up Order: 714-836-5158
➜Selanne Steak Tavern Laguna Beach What: 15 percent discount on pick-up orders; free delivery and a 20 percent discount for diners 65 and older within a 5-mile radius; raw meats from the butchery are also available for purchase How: Pick-up or in-house delivery only Order: 949-715-9881
➜ Harley Laguna Beach Laguna Beach What: 10 percent off takeout orders more than $100 How: Curbside pick-up or delivery through Postmates, DoorDash, and UberEats Order: 949-715-1530
➜ Vine Restaurant & Bar San Clemente What: A complimentary $25 gift card for future use with takeout orders How: Pick-up, Delivery through DoorDash Order: 949-361-2079
➜ Olea Newport Beach What: A complimentary $25 gift card for future use with takeout orders How: Pick-up, Delivery through DoorDash Order: (949) 287-6807
➜ Ironwood Laguna Hills What: A complimentary $25 gift card for future use with takeout orders How: Pick-up, Delivery through DoorDash Order: (949) 287-6807
➜ Twenty Eight Restaurant and Bar Irvine What: 10 percent discount on takeout orders How: Curbside pick-up and delivery Order: (949) 287-6807
➜ Falasophy Irvine What: 15 percent off delivery and first-time pick-up orders How: Pick-up or delivery through GrubHub, UberEats, and Postmates Order: 949-536-5008
➜ On The Hook Brea What: 15 percent off takeout orders How: Curbside pick-up Order: 714-671-5886
➜ Ten Asian Bistro Newport Beach What: 20 percent off all call-in takeout orders How: Pick-up, Delivery also available through GrubHub (without discount) Order: 949-660-1010
➜ Red O Newport Beach What: 15 percent off takeout orders How: Curbside pick-up and delivery Order: 949-718-0300
➜ 21 Oceanfront Newport Beach What: 20 percent off pick-up and takeout orders How: Curbside pick-up and takeout Order: 949-673-2100
➜ Bayside Newport Beach What: 10 percent off takeout orders, including wine How: Pick-up Order: 949-721-1222
➜ Jan’s Health Bar Multiple O.C. locations What: $10 off when your order four entrees or more How: Pick-up Order: Laguna Beach, 949-371-0023; Huntington Beach, 714-536-4856; Costa Mesa, 949-650-4856; Corona del Mar, 949-675-2520
➜ Bosscat Kitchen Newport Beach What: $20 off direct call-in takeout orders How: Curbside pick-up, Delivery also available through GrubHub, DoorDash, and UberEats Order: 949-333-0917
➜Royal Khyber Santa Ana What: 15 percent discount on pickup orders and 15 percent off e-gift cards for future visits How: Discount for carry-out only but delivery also available through Postmates, GrubHub, and UberEats Order: 714-436-1010
➜Oliver’s Osteria Laguna Beach What: 10 percent off $100 or more How: Takeout or delivery Order: 949-715-0261
➜Broken Rice TRADE Food Hall, Irvine What: One free kids meal (for kids 2 to 10 years old) with a purchase of a regular bowl How: Pick-up Order: Online at eatbrokenrice.com
➜Curry Up Now Irvine What: Use code DELIVERUPNOW for $20 off your next four delivery fees. First-time app users can receive $5 off your first order with code CURRYUP5 How: Pick-up or delivery Order: Curry Up Now app or call 949-932-0153
➜SAJJ Mediterranean Irvine What: Buy one entree and get one free through April 1; Feast For 4 deal which includes falafel, chicken shawarma, rice, hummus, tzatziki, mixed green salad, lentil soup, pita bread, and house sauces ($30) How: Pick-up and delivery Order: SAJJ Street Eats app or call 949-336-4404
➜Slater’s 50/50 Huntington Beach & Anaheim Hills What: Kids eat free with the purchase of an adult entree through March 27. How: Pick-up Order: 714-594-5730 (Huntington Beach), 714-602-8115 (Anaheim Hills), or at slaters5050.com
➜Daphne’s Irvine, Tustin, Quail Hill, and Lake Forest What: Receive $5 off the Family Feast for takeout with code FAM500 and $2 off adult entrees with code LS444 How: Curbside pick-up Order: Online at daphnes.biz
➜Mama Tieu’s Garden Grove What: 1 free order of egg rolls with a purchase of $45 or more using code word “community”; Buy 5 banh mi bites, get 1 free How: Curbside pick-up or delivery through Grubhub Order: 714-590-8478 or through Yelp
GIFT CARD AND RETAIL DEALS
➜ The Harbor Grill: Get $10 added value to a card for every $50
➜ Driftwood Kitchen: Purchase a $100 gift card for $85 or a $200 gift card for $165.
➜ The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar: $50 gift card with a purchase of a $300 gift card; $100 gift card with a purchase of a $500 gift card thewineryrestaurants.com
➜ Portola Coffee Roasters: free coffee with a purchase of a $25 gift card; $5 gift card with a purchase of a $50 gift card, a $20 gift card with a purchase of a $100 gift card portolacoffee.com
➜ High Tide Coffee: small drink with a purchase of a $30 gift card, plus 20 percent off all beans online using code: CABINFEVER hightidecoffeeco.com/roasted-coffee
4th Street MarketDowntown Santa Ana, 201 E. 4th St., Santa Ana 714.486.0700 4thstreetmarket.comCurbside pick-up available through various mobile ordering apps. A Market201 E 4th St, Santa Ana, CA 92701949.650.6515 amarketnb.comAlta Baja4th Street Market, 201 E. 4th St., Santa Ana 714.783.2252 altabajamarket.com In-store special pricing on items including freshly prepared and pre-packaged food and beverages, all available for take-out. Tue-Sun 8 am – 7 pm, Mon. 8 am – 5 pm Andrei’s Conscious Cuisine & Cocktails2607 Main St, Irvine, CA 92614 949.387.8887 andreisrestaurant.com Offering curbside pick-up and delivery options with a limited a-la-carte lunch and dinner menu and family meal packages. All family packages and a la carte menu items are available Monday – Saturday, 11am – 7:30pm. Please call to place your curbside order. AnQiSouth Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa, CA 714.557.5679 anqibistro.com “Our culinary team and staff at AnQi privelidged to be of service to our dear community during this difficult time. Despite not being able to offer our dine-in service, we now offer our pick-up & delivery service— AN the GO, available at AnQi.” Specially curated family meals available daily. Check website for more info and menu. Bosscat Kitchen & Libations4647 MacArthur Blvd, Newport Beach, CA 92660 949.333.0917 bosscatkitchen-newport.com Currently offering direct call in takeout orders and delivery via 3rd party platforms. All direct call in takeout orders will be given 20% off their bill. We will be handing out takeout orders curbside. Check website for more info and menu. Cafe Sevilla – TEMPORARILY CLOSED1870 Harbor Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 888.738.4552 cafesevilla.com At Cafe Sevilla, the well-being of our guests & team members is of utmost importance to us. In light of the COVID-19 virus in our community and recent local & national announcements, we are temporarily closing operations in all locations until further notice. In the meantime, check out our “Travel to Spain With Us” Series HERE! You might not be able to travel there by plane, but you can take a virtual tour of Spain with us! Chelas Mexican Grill29975 Alicia Parkway, Unit 10 Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 949.542.4606 chelasmexicangrill.comClay Oven Indian Cuisine15435 Jeffrey Rd., Irvine, CA 92618 949.552.2851 clayovenirvine.com Offering takeout and delivery of the entire menu, including wine and beer, plus some of the nightly specials available to go for the first time such as the Rack of Wild Boar, Wagyu Hanger Steaks, and Tandoor-Roasted Avocado! They also introduced two new Family Meal options (serves up to 4). Curbside and take out orders can be placed by phone or delivery orders through Grubhub, Postmates, and Doordash. Check website for menu. Lunch: Tues-Fri 11am – 2pm, Dinner: Mon-Sun 5pm – 9pm Dory Deli2108 W. Oceanfront, Newport Beach, CA 949.220.7886 dorydeli.comHelmsman Ale House beer is available in 16 oz. crowlers to-go at Dory Deli. Electric City Butcher4th Street Market, 201 E. 4th St., Santa Ana 714.474.9096 electriccitybutcher.com Special pricing in-store on all pre-cut and pre-packaged proteins. Buy fresh, high-quality daily-butchered meats from Electric City Butcher. Tue-Fri 11 am – 6 pm, Sat-Sun 10 am – 6 pm. Farmhouse2301 San Joaquin Hills Rd, Corona Del Mar, CA 92625949.640.1415 farmhouserg.comFive Crowns3801 East Coast Hwy, Corona Del Mar, CA 92625949.760.0331 TheFiveCrowns.comIl Dolce1902 Harbor Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 949.200.9107 – Call for takeout or delivery ildolceoc.comIssé305 N State College Blvd unit b, Fullerton, CA 92831714.519.3831 issefullerton.comThe KroftAnaheim Packing District 440 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, CA 92805 714.635.5900 The kroft.com Pick-up and delivery options available at the Long Beach location through the website or The Kroft app powered by ChowNow. Currently serving poutines and sides from 11am – 6pm. Offerings change daily. Please refer to our social platform to see current offerings. Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar13290 Jamboree Rd, Irvine, CA 92602 714.731.9700 lazydogrestaurants.com Offering free delivery through our website every day on orders of $25 or more. Curbside Pick-Up as a takeout option in almost all of the restaurants. Mozambique will be the site of a Food Truck Drive-Thru1740 S Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 949.715.7777 mozambiqueoc.com Food Truck Drive-Thru Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday 4 pm-9 pm, Saturday – Sunday 11am-9 pm Featuring: Greek Mediterranean Cuisine Truck – Nostimo, Burger Truck – Burger Monster , Mexican Food Truck – Montoya’s. Also selling beer, wine and liquor bottles TOGO at discounted prices. Drive-Thru ONLY. During our Food Truck Drive-thru hours, we will have a Gift Card Promotion available. Purchase a $100 gift card, and receive $20, purchase a $50 gift card, receive $10. Pascalpascalrestaurants.com949.673.0033 They have set up a food stand at their kitchen backdoor. Daily specials are available for pick up and delivery. Playa Mesa428 E, 17th St., Costa Mesa, CA 949.287.5292 playamesa.comThe Quiet Woman Restaurant3224 East Coast Highway, Corona del Mar, CA 92625 949.640.7440 quietwoman.comOffering a curbside pick-up and take-out menu starting today. Rusty Pelican2735 West Coast Highway, Newport Beach, CA 92663 949-642-3431 RustyPelican.com Offering all of the to-go menu items online as well as beer, and cocktails to-go. 50% off any bottle of wine with an entree purchase. Check out their amazing wine list on their website. Check website for menu. Seasons 523333 Bristol Street, Suite 2802 Costa Mesa, CA 92626 714-437-5252 seasons52.com Offering curbside takeout and free delivery within 20 minutes of the restaurant. Wine is also available with orders. Options for grocery kits also available. Hours of operation are 12:00 to 8:00pm, daily. Check menu on website. “100% fresh. 100% to go. Please call to place your order for signature favorites or our Family Style Dinner for takeout.” SideDoor3801 East Coast Hwy, Corona Del Mar, CA 92625 949.760.0331 SideDoorCdM.comSummit House Restaurant2000 E. Bastanchury Rd. Fullerton, CA 92835 714-671-4111 summithouse.com Curbside service for lunch and dinner. See menus on website. Currently taking phone orders only. Online ordering and delivery coming soon. Sundried Tomato American Bistros & CateringCall 949.661.1167sundriedtomatobistro.com20% off curbside pickup on any items ordered and available from our All Day Menu and Kid’s Menu. Noon-7pm everyday. 30% Off bottles of wine. Special family meals available. Gluten Free Penne or Angel Hair Pasta $50, ADD Grilled Chicken $15 Blackened Chicken over Bowtie $65, ADD Baby Green Salad or Caesar $15 ADD Sundried Chopped Salad $25 Creamy Sundried Tomato Soup (qt) $12 Mac ’n Cheese $15 Chicken Strips $15 Bowtie Pasta, Marinara or Butter $20 Toasted Cheddar Cheese Sandwich $20 (Curbside pickup only) Tangata RestaurantBowers Museum, 2002 N Main St, Santa Ana, CA 92706 714.567.3623 Tangatarestaurant.comCurbside pick-up and delivery. Tue-Fri 11-2pm Ten Asian Bistro4647 MacArthur Blvd, Newport Beach, CA 92660 949.660.1010 Open for curbside takeout and delivery. Also offering 20% off takeout placed directly with the restaurant. tenbistrooc.comToast Kitchen & Bakery1767 Newport Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 949.873.5057 toastkitchenbakery.comVitalyThe Camp, 2937 Bristol St B103-B100, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 714.662.5500 vitaly.netThe Winery2647 Park Avenue, Tustin, CA 714.258.7600 thewinerytustin.com Curbside Take Out in Tustin at 15% off menu pricing, Gift Card Promotion, Groceries. Check website for menu or call for more info. Wine Sale with great wines up to 50% off! To receive lists and make appointments contact: Newport Beach: Dustin@thewinerynewport.com or by calling 714-317-4237, Tustin: William 949-292-8427 Prime Rib Dinner To Go Thursday and Friday: Available Thursday and Friday only. Pick up time is between 4-6pm. $79 for 2 or $155 for 4. Pre order 24 hours in advance.
Freddie Mac Multifamily recently announced a relief program affecting more than 27,000 multifamily apartment properties and the more than 4 million renters who reside at those properties. Multifamily properties are apartment buildings or other rental properties with five or more units.
How this program affects landlords
An apartment building owner with a Freddie Mac Multifamily loan may work with their lender to obtain up to 90 days of forbearance on their Freddie Mac Multifamily loans if their property operations have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
How this program affects renters
In exchange for loan forbearance, apartment building owners must agree to not evict tenants who are themselves adversely affected by COVID-19, whether due to illness, caring for a family member, job loss, reduced hours, or temporary unpaid leave, etc. This policy will last for the 90-day duration of the forbearance period.
How will I know if my landlord is participating in the program?
The best way for a renter to know if they are eligible for relief is to ask their landlord or management company if they are participating in the Freddie Mac Multifamily COVID-19 Relief Program.
How many renters will this program help?
Just over 20% of multifamily loan volume nationwide is financed by Freddie Mac Multifamily. Currently there are more than 4 million renters nationwide who live in properties that were financed with a Freddie Mac loan.
This program does not affect every renter in the United States. It only applies to renters who live in properties that are currently financed with a Freddie Mac loan and whose owners have opted in to the COVID-19 relief program.
Note: If your landlord is not participating in the Freddie Mac forbearance program, they may be participating in a similar program through their lender.
A growing number of cities across Orange County have adopted temporary bans on evictions due to the economic fallout of the state’s stay at home order — which shut down large swaths of the economy — to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Anaheim and Costa Mesa on Tuesday temporarily banned evictions to help provide some relief to residents and businesses economically suffering from the stay home order.
Instead of forcing landlords to comply through an ordinance, Irvine adopted a resolution urging landlords to voluntarily halt evictions during the state-mandated stay home order to combat the pandemic.
Garden Grove adopted a state of emergency resolution and a portion of it mirrors Gov. Gavin Newsom’s emergency declaration that allows cities to adopt eviction bans. However, the city didn’t adopt an ordinance explicitly banning evictions stemming from virus-related economic hardship.
Tuesday’s votes by the three city councils comes on the heels of Santa Ana’s eviction moratorium last week — the first in OC.
Gov. Newsom’s indefinite stay at home order issued last week put many people out of work across the state because it closed down “non-essential” businesses like bars, nightclubs, gyms, concert venues, hotels and scores of service industry businesses.
Unemployment claims hit an average of 106,000 a day for the past week, said Newsom at a Monday news conference, according to SFGate.
Residents and businesses in Anaheim and Costa Mesa will have to provide basic documentation to their landlords showing state-mandated business closures hampered their rent payments before rent is due.
Anaheim’s Eviction Moratorium
Anaheim residents and businesses will have eviction protections until at least May 31 after a series of amendments to the original ban, including specifically adding nonprofit businesses to the list.
Despite philosophical and political differences on the Anaheim City Council, Tuesday marked a rare moment when Councilmembers unanimously adopted an emergency ordinance barring evictions, making it effective immediately.
“In my core philosophy I’m a property rights guy,” Mayor Harry Sidhu said. “But this situation we are dealing with is unprecedented … We need to stop evictions for residents who are, during the crisis, struggling to pay the rent.”
Sidhu, who brought the eviction ban to the council, extended the original repayment time from three months to four months. The ordinance also forbids penalties and fees for back rent payments.
Although the ban was originally going to expire April 30, Councilman Jose Moreno got unanimous support to extend the sunset to May 31. And he unsuccessfully tried to extend the rent repayment period from four months to six months to lessen the monthly back rent burden of residents and businesses.
“The intent here is to protect residents today, but we also want to be thinking ahead,” Moreno told his Council colleagues.
The Census Bureau considers a four-person family in poverty if the household makes just under $26,000 a year. A single person is considered in poverty if they make $13,300 or less yearly.
Councilman Trevor O’Neil raised issues about the impact to property owners, many of whom aren’t big corporations that have large financial portfolios to fall back on, but individuals who own a property or two, he said.
“I do agree that stabilizing the rental markets is critical,” O’Neil said. “I do though have concerns about the impact of breaking a link in the chain where a property owner … still has financial obligations that have to be met.”
He said those obligations include other jobs, like groundskeepers, landscapers and maintenance workers.
Deputy City Manager Greg Garcia, responding to O’Neil’s concerns, said they’ve been tracking state and federal efforts for property owner relief, but didn’t have anything solid the city can do.
“Unfortunately, I don’t have a great answer for you right now,” Garcia said.
Costa Mesa’s Eviction Ban
Costa Mesa also temporarily banned evictions for residents and businesses suffering the economic fallout from waves of business closures in the wake of Gov. Newsom’s stay home order to help stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The City Council voted 5-2 to adopt the emergency ordinance at Tuesday’s special meeting with Councilmembers Alan Mansoor and Sandra Genis dissenting.
Like Anaheim, Costa Mesa’s ordinance will be effective immediately.
“We’re not taking into consideration the landlord’s mortgage, if they’re not receiving rent, how do they pay their mortgage? Are they going to fall behind on their payments? Are they going to go into foreclosure? Not everybody is the Irvine company. There are mom and pop owners,” Mansoor said.
Genis opposed the ban because she said the ordinance could put a burden on “mom and pop landlords” who are also senior citizens.
“We’re pulling the rug out from under them,” Genis said.
Costa Mesa’s eviction ban lasts until Gov. Newsom’s state of emergency executive order is lifted and residents will have four months to pay back rent without fees or penalties.
Mayor Katrina Foley said the city must provide a lifeline for residents and small businesses during the spreading economic woes.
“We have a lot of residents in this city who do not have jobs that will allow them to be eligible for the government unemployment insurance, family paid leave, sick leave, they’re just not going to be eligible,” Foley said. “We’re in uncharted territory here and we must give a lifeline to our residents, our small business owners and people who are just literally sinking right now.”
Foley wanted to extend the four-month repayment, like Santa Ana’s six-month window to repay rent, so it would decrease the amount of back rent people would have to pay each month.
“I think we’re setting people up for not being able to pay the rent as soon as it becomes due,” Foley said.
But her idea fizzled out during Council deliberations.
The council amended the ordinance to make exceptions for landlords and tenants who have agreed on a deal in writing on how they would pay the rent because of the effects of the pandemic.
Costa Mesa has roughly 41,000 households in a city of about 114,000 residents. The city’s median household income is about $79,000 with 13 percent of its residents living in poverty, according to the US Census Bureau.
Irvine’s Eviction Resolution
Irvine Councilmembers voted 4-1 on a resolution that “strongly encouraged” landlords to not evict people, in contrast to an enforceable ordinance adopted by Anaheim, Costa Mesa and Santa Ana.
The resolution relies on a section of Gov. Newsom’s statewide declaration of emergency, which allows local governments to ban evictions. But cities have to adopt ordinances to provide any eviction protections for residents and businesses.
Councilwoman Melissa Fox dissented, and said an ordinance is needed — not a resolution — to protect residents.
“It is important that this council pass an enforceable order banning convictions and that order includes everyone,” Fox said. “This resolution has no force of law as written.”
City Attorney Jeff Melching described the resolution as “choosing cooperation over regulation.”
Fox proposed rebranding the resolution as an ordinance to make it enforceable by law but did not receive Council support.
The resolution said the city could go further but held back “based on (the city’s) long history working together with its business community.” The resolution stated “key members” of the business community indicated they were open to following the resolution.
The original draft of the memo accompanying the resolution identified them as the Irvine Company and FivePoint Holdings, the two largest developers in the city of Irvine, but a later update to the memo remove their names.
Irvine’s median household income for its roughly 95,000 households is almost $101,000, and 13 percent of its roughly 282,000 residents live in poverty according to the US Census Bureau.
Instead of discussing the item, Mayor Christina Shea and Councilwoman Farrah Khan attacked Fox for her comments on her blog about the resolution. Fox was not in the council chambers for the meeting but called in from home.
“She’s just attacking me and Farrah Khan, it’s all political, it’s just a very negative and awful attack,” Shea said. “We need to focus on (the resolution) and stop the grandstanding and politicizing of items.”
When Fox attempted to respond to the comments from Shea and Khan about her post, the council majority voted her out of order and she was told she could comment later in the meeting.
For those seeking a useful way to spend their time during social distancing—or anyone simply interested in forging a deeper connection with their homes—HB has launched Home Love, a series of daily tips and ideas to make every minute indoors more productive (and gratifying!).
Around the world, businesses are being forced to close their doors to help halt the spread of COVID-19. And yes, that includes the gym. While you might have to skip out on your favorite group fitness class (Pssst! There are a ton of studios live-streaming classes for free right now!), you should definitely keep moving—especially when you’re self-isolating instead of commuting to and from work as usual. But let us guess, you don’t have a home gym? Shayna Schmidt, co-founder of Livekick, a video service for home workouts, and personal trainer, is here to break down how to set up your very own at home.
What You Need
Not a ton, according to Schmidt! She says, “All you need is a 6 ft by 6 ft square of space. Seriously, that’s it.” That’s about the size of a small bathroom. So even if you live in a shoebox apartment (ahem, me), you shouldn’t have a problem finding space–even if it’s in the living room.
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Once you’ve found a spot to set up your home gym, you can start building your workouts. While Schmidt says that official gym equipment isn’t necessary, there are some “nice-to-have” items she recommends: If you can, get “a yoga mat and a set of dumbbells” (though, she says, “a set of wine bottles works just as well” as weights). Bonus: Reward yourself for working out by opening one of those bottles. Now that’s a workout I can get behind.
Schmidt also recommends taking advantage of items that you already own for your home gym setup. “A coffee table or ottoman works really well for tricep dips, Bulgarian split squats, and decline push-ups,” she says, and “A towel can easily replace a yoga strap.”
Got none of this stuff? No problem. “You can get some of the best workouts of your life with zero equipment,” says Schmidt, who recommends calisthenics, “a genre of fitness that utilizes gravity and your own bodyweight for resistance in order to increase strength and flexibility.” She says to think of it “like weightlifting, but instead of using external weights, you’re using what you’ve already got built in. The term calisthenics comes from the Greek words ‘Kalos,’ which means beauty, and ‘Stenos,’ which translates to strength. Strength and beauty–who doesn’t want that?!” Just search for “beginner calisthenics workout” on Youtube to get started.
What You Should Be Doing
With group fitness and gym trips out of the question, you might be wondering how to actually workout. If making up your own workout isn’t part of your social-distancing agenda, Schmidt recommends turning to fitness apps and live-streamed workouts.
Livekick
Like “a yoga retreat but without the need to leave your home,” says Schmidt, Livekick is a platform that offers “at-home yoga, fitness, meditation, and general wellness classes on live two-way streaming video, as well as private memberships.” Plus, you can do classes “with friends from all over the globe!” Fitness and remote friendships? Sounds like the perfect social distancing activity if you ask me.
While most people are familiar with ClassPass, a service that lets you try out a variety of boutique fitness classes, not as many are familiar with their app, ClassPass Go. While you’ll have to forego the in-person fitness sesh, “ClassPass Go connects you to audio-based fitness classes,” Schmidt says. Classes range from “stretching and meditation to strength training and outdoor running,” according to Schmidt. Each workout is curated by ClassPass trainers and range in duration from forty to sixty minutes.
From high-quality, raw proteins to artisan bread, keep your pantry stocked with goods from these local businesses.
➜ Selanne Steak Tavern Laguna Beach What: Pop-up mini market with items such as bacon, eggs, milk, produce, butchered-to-order prime meats, poultry, and seafood How: Curbside pick-up Order: 949-715-9881
➜ HendrixLaguna Niguel What: Pop-up market noon-6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, offering items such as portion-cut steaks, pork, lamb, and fish; rotisserie chickens; fresh produce and pantry items; batch cocktails and half-price bottles of wine; even household supplies such as paper towels, gloves, and bathroom tissue. How: In-store or curbside pick-up Order: 949-248-1912➜ GlassparDana Point What: Fresh-caught, high-quality seafood including Alaskan halibut, salmon, tuna, shrimp, clams, scallops, and more How: In-store pick-up Order: 949-240-6243➜ Alta Baja MarketSanta Ana What: Dressings, spreads, salsas, house-made soups, pozole, and pecan butter How: Curbside pick-up Order: 714-783-2252
➜ Whitestone Dana Point What: Pantry items such as eggs, milk, bread, chicken breasts, and more How: In-store pick-up Order: 949-489-8911➜ Arc Butcher & BakerNewport Beach What: Select items such as eggs, milk, sliced meats, and dry goods How: Delivery in the Lido area Order: 949-877-0190➜ Haven Craft Kitchen + BarOrange What: Select items such as cage-free eggs, bread, sustainable seafood, and raw meats How: Curbside pick-up Order: Online at toastab.com
➜ Lido Bottle Works Newport Beach What: Chef Amy’s Quarantine Kit (items change daily), $45 How: Pick-up Order: 949-529-2784
➜ The Ecology Center San Juan Capistrano What: Farm Share: Resilience Box which comes with staple items from vegetables to fruit and add-on items such as honey, bread, and olive oil (currently sold out but stay tuned for updates) How: Curbside pick-up Order: Online at shop.theecologycenter.org
➜ Selanne Steak Tavern Laguna Beach What: Butchered-to-order meats, poultry, and seafood as well as milk, eggs, and produce How: Curbside pick-up Order: 949-715-9881
➜ Old Brea Chop House Brea What: Vacuum-sealed 12-ounce bone-in filets ($36) and 22-ounce bone-in ribeye ($57) How: Curbside pick-up and delivery Order: 714-592-3122
➜ The Winery Restaurant & Wine BarTustin What: Select cuts of meat (based on availability) How: Curbside pick-up and delivery (soon through Postmates and Grubhub) Order: 714-258-7600
➜ Portola Coffee RoastersOrange, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, and Tustin What: Straus milk (half gallon) and milk alternatives (based on availability) How: Free shipping Order: Online at portolacoffee.com
➜ OC Baking CompanyOrange What: Artisan bread How: Pick-up (bring cash and your own bags), Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
➜ NormsMultiple O.C. locations What: Care package including 2.5 dozen eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns, sliced fruit, biscuits, and toilet paper ($35), as well as a salad add-on How: Pick-up
➜ Rye GoodsCosta Mesa What: Artisan bread; organic produce boxes available every Saturday How: Pick-up Order: Online at ryegoods.com by Sunday for pick-up on Tuesday; pre-order produce boxes
➜ Rialto CafeFullerton What: Eggs, bread, strawberries, tomatoes, and coffee, sourdough bread, tortillas, and more How: Pick-up Order: 714-525-5111
➜ Lazy Dog Brea, Irvine, and Orange What: Pantry home essentials package which includes items such as milk, eggs, butter, chicken, and toilet paper ($40) How: Curbside pick-up Order: Order online at lazydogrestaurants.com
➜ Golden Road Pub Huntington Beach What: Vegetables, bread, paper goods, meats and dairy/non-dairy products How: Curbside pick-up and drive-thru Order: Order online at sked.link/goldenroadpubhb
As health officials encourage social distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus), millions of Americans have unexpectedly found themselves working from home. For many, telecommuting may be unfamiliar territory—a whole new world of video conferencing and working from the couch.
It can also lead to cabin fever, or feelings of anxiety or restlessness.
Whether you’ve been working remotely for years or this is your first time, we’ve got tips to make working from home work for you.
Working remotely shouldn’t mean changing your hours. Try to maintain the same working hours as usual, including starting and ending the workday at the same time and taking a lunch break.
Some people also find it helpful to get up and get ready for work as if they’re actually going into the office—shower, get dressed, have breakfast. This can help you feel ready for work and can start the day off on a productive note.
“We have such a structured scheduled at work, it can also be helpful to actually take the time to write out a schedule at home to make it more concrete for yourself,” says Jonathan Vickburg, mental health supervisor for Cedars-Sinai Share & Care.
Tip 2: Create a workspace
One of the best things you can do for yourself is to set up a designated space where you can work. Even if you don’t have a home office or a desk, it’s helpful to create a small space where you will be during work hours.
It’s beneficial to have a separate space to work so that at the end of the day, you can shut down and disconnect from work.
“It’s easier for the separation of work and free time to become blurred at home if you don’t make a clear distinction in your space,” says Jonathan. “Once you walk out of that space, you know your home time starts and you’re less likely to bounce back and forth between work and home, especially late at night.”
It’s also important there is enough light that you’re not straining your eyes looking at a computer and a proper place to set up your computer so you don’t have to crane your neck.
When you’re working from home, it’s easy to lose your work/life balance, but it’s important not to blend work time and home or family time.
When you’re done working for the day, put your work away. Log off and stay logged off until it’s time to return to work the next day.
“If your family is home too, communicate your boundaries with them so they know when it’s work time and when it’s not,” Jonathan says.
Tip 4: Keep in contact
One of the biggest concerns people have when working remotely is social isolation. Try using chat tools to stay in touch with your co-workers and make time to call friends and family each day. You can also try calling into meetings using your webcam so you can see people and they can see you.
“In maintaining balance, you need to carve out the pieces of your pie,” says Jonathan. “We are used to seeing people in our normal workday so at home we need to reinvent that, whether it’s social friendships or work colleagues. We have many different types of social interaction and it’s important to maintain those.”
Tip 5: Get moving
Physical exercise should be part of any lifestyle, but it’s especially important when you’re working from home. Try to incorporate 20 minutes of moderate activity each day.
There are many free resources available online that offer everything from yoga classes to full body workouts you can do from your living room.
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