CDC’s Federal Eviction Moratorium Struck Down By Federal Judge
U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich ruled that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lacks the legal authority to impose a nationwide ban on evictions for renters. The Biden administration plans to appeal and Friedrich placed a temporary hold on her decision.
The Washington Post:
Federal Judge Vacates CDC’s Nationwide Eviction Moratorium
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday ruled that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention overstepped its legal authority by issuing a nationwide eviction moratorium, a ruling that could affect millions of struggling Americans. In a 20-page order, U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich vacated the CDC order, first put in place during the coronavirus pandemic under the Trump administration and now set to expire June 30. (Swenson, 5/5)
Reuters:
Judge Puts Hold On Ruling Voiding U.S. Moratorium On Evicting Renters
U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich said that although there was "no doubt" Congress intended to empower the CDC to combat COVID-19 through a range of measures such as quarantines, a moratorium on residential evictions was not among them. The ruling was a setback for millions of Americans who have fallen behind on rent payments during the pandemic. The Justice Department sought an emergency order to put Friedrichs's decision on hold, arguing "evictions exacerbate the spread of COVID-19, which has already killed more than half a million Americans, and the harm to the public that would result from unchecked evictions cannot be undone." (Stempel and Shepardson, 5/5)
The New York Times:
N.Y.C. Board Votes To Consider Extending Rent Freeze
The panel that sets rents for more than two million New York City residents signaled on Wednesday that it may again freeze rents for some of them, a move that would be a boon to tenants but a blow to landlords as both camps scrape by amid the coronavirus pandemic. The panel, the Rent Guidelines Board, voted 5 to 4 to consider keeping rents on one-year leases as is or letting property owners raise them up to 2 percent. Doing so would essentially extend a rent freeze the board approved last summer. Rents on two-year leases could rise 1 to 3 percent. (Haag, 5/5)
In other news about covid's economic toll —
AP:
Google Says 20% Of Workers Will Be Remote, Many More Hybrid
Google says it expects about 20% of its workforce to still work remotely after its offices reopen this fall, while some 60% will work a hybrid schedule that includes about three days in the office and two days “wherever they work best.” The remaining 20% can change their location to a different Google office. The policy announced Wednesday relaxes the company’s stricter earlier stance. (5/6)
The Hill:
Trader Joe's Cuts Employee 'Thank You' Bonus After Three Months
Just months after Trader Joe's increased its special COVID-19 bonus pay for employees, the grocery chain is now looking to slash it by half, SF Gate reports. In February, Trader Joe's upped its "thank you" wages, giving employees an additional $4 an hour. The pay bump came months after the initial hazard pay was introduced at the start of the pandemic. (Polus, 5/5)
AP:
Republicans Promote Pandemic Relief They Voted Against
Every Republican in Congress voted against the sweeping pandemic relief bill that President Joe Biden signed into law three months ago. But since the early spring votes, Republicans from New York and Indiana to Texas and Washington state have promoted elements of the legislation they fought to defeat. The Republicans’ favorite provisions represent a tiny sliver of the massive law, which sent $1,400 checks to millions of Americans, extended unemployment benefits until September, increased the child tax credit, offered housing assistance for millions of low-income Americans and expanded health care coverage. (Peoples, 5/6)
