California inks nearly $1B deal to buy 200 million masks each month

[RandySF]

OAKLAND — Saying “enough is enough” with states competing for critical medical equipment in the coronavirus crisis, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday that he has inked deals with a consortium of nonprofits and acquired technology that will provide 200 million medical masks a month for his state and possibly others in the U.S.

“We've been competing against other states, against other nations, against our own federal government for PPE — coveralls, masks, shields, N95 masks — and we're not waiting around any longer,’’ Newsom told MSNBC host Rachel Maddow on Tuesday night.

“We decided enough is enough: let's use the power of the purchasing power of the state of California as a nation-state," he added.

The state plans to spend $990 million in state funds on protective gear, according to a letter Newsom's Department of Finance sent to lawmakers late Tuesday. California must make a down payment of half that amount — $495 million — within the next 48 hours, Finance Director Keely Martin Bosler wrote.




https://www.politico.com/states/california/story/2020/04/08/california-inks-nearly-1b-deal-to-buy-200-million-masks-each-month-1273702

[DrToast]

1. Great news

[scarletwoman]

2. That's great! As long as they can keep the Feds from grabbing it.

Have you seen this?

Hospitals say feds are seizing masks and other coronavirus supplies without a word

[Hekate]

8. +10000

[C Moon]

10. Yes. Sneaky thieving bastards.

[sakabatou]

15. Agreed

[intrepidity]

3. Bold move, gov!

That's what real leadership looks like!

[BigmanPigman]

4. The new governor is doing a good job so far.

He knows how to be a leader. I feel safer living in CA than I would anywhere else in the US at this time. I haven't felt safe (in general) since Jan 2017.

[Cha]

5. Hallelujah!!

[roamer65]

6. He also needs to call out the CA National Guard to receive the shipments.

If Customs or anyone else tries to seize them, then put them in their place.

[msongs]

7. 5th largest economy on earth, gotta use that weight for good nt

[Hekate]

9. Thank you, Gov. Now... Can you get the Calif State Nat'l Guard to, you know, guard the stuff?

We live in very weird times.

[C Moon]

11. Soon: "Give me that PPE, or I take my Mercy boat and go home." Trump.

It's crazy how early on Trump was saying that it's up to each state to get their own PPE.
Now he's saying he needs it all so he can pass it out fairly.
Fairly? Yeah right you mafia-owned bastard!

He wants the blue states to look bad come election time, and the red states to be basking in healthy glory.

[roamer65]

12. If the shipments are seized, then CA, OR and WA need to block all shipments heading east.

Yep, all of it.

Nothing goes East.

[ancianita]

13. When a governor himself orders supplies, the FEMA task force can't touch them. It's the

governor's property.

FEMA can only seize shipments to local buyers, like hospitals or medical organizations.

Governors east can receive shipments from any other governors. That's out of the legal jurisdiction of Trump's FEMA task force.

[roamer65]

14. ..

[Yavin4]

16. Thank you temporary President Newsom!

As president, you, and your fellow temporary presidents (state Governors), are doing a great job.

[BrightKnight]

17. How difficult would it to manufacture them?

There are public power plants. Why not a public ppe plant?

[Beaverhausen]

18. Didn't Trump take credit for this at today's presser?

Our governor is great! He's keeping California safe.