For @motherjones.com, I interviewed a Covid-19 mask organizer about his experience handing out masks to keep his community safe during LA wildfires–at a time when masks have become villainized. www.motherjones.com/politics/202... - ThreadSky

metrauxjulia.bsky.social • 49 days ago

For @motherjones.com, I interviewed a Covid-19 mask organizer about his experience handing out masks to keep his community safe during LA wildfires–at a time when masks have become villainized. https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/01/california-fires-covid-mask-mutual-aid/

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metrauxjulia.bsky.social•49 days ago

In addition to wildfire smoke being bad, a lot of infectious diseases are spreading rn–including Covid, the flu and RSV. That can easily spread to people huddled at shelters.

metrauxjulia.bsky.social•49 days ago

I hope more is revealed about why the county does not appear to have stockpiled masks, considering 1) ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, 2) wildfires being a known problem in the area, and 3) potential bird flu pandemic.

metrauxjulia.bsky.social•49 days ago

Just realized Mask Bloc LA is on here, this is their handle @maskblocla.bsky.social

melodyschreiber.com•49 days ago

ASPR was talking over the summer about delivering PPE (including masks) to farms. A good question would be whether/how much they’ve restocked

metrauxjulia.bsky.social•49 days ago

Ty!

carolnorris.bsky.social•49 days ago

Norovirus too

plagueprude.bsky.social•47 days ago

so so grateful for your reporting, julia! 😷

metrauxjulia.bsky.social•47 days ago

Thanks for reading!

violetblue.bsky.social•49 days ago

Great article! PS let your editor know their name is Mask Bloc LA not Mask Block LA

metrauxjulia.bsky.social•49 days ago

First mention is fixed (second mention was right). Thanks!

violetblue.bsky.social•49 days ago

Yay! Again, great piece and a much needed bright spot 🥰

kellyjholmes.com•49 days ago

Thank you for highlighting this important work being done ❤️ Maybe this will make some folks realize mask bans are not only ridiculous but also dangerous

metrauxjulia.bsky.social•49 days ago

Thanks for reading 💗

kizzykins.bsky.social•49 days ago

I’ve never stopped wearing masks when I go to the store, because last year I was in the hospital for other conditions and they manage to expose me to a Covid patient, and I was back in the hospital very sick from just sharing a room with her. I have masks, because I’m not fooling around.

metrauxjulia.bsky.social•49 days ago

Very understandable. I wear masks in all stores, pharmacies, public transit, and any medical settings because I don't want to take risks w/ existing chronic stuff.

jaqjaqeats.bsky.social•49 days ago

Masks are definitely not villainized in LA. Food service workers, hospital employees, and more still wear them. We live here, and happily accept that ppl want to mitigate risks. I wear a mask every day- at work and the grocery stores, pharmacies, etc.

metrauxjulia.bsky.social•49 days ago

When mask bans are being passed across the country, and people are being harassed for wearing them, they are villainized. People wearing them does not mean they're not villainized (as many people are not wearing them).

jaqjaqeats.bsky.social•49 days ago

The link implies that masks are villainized here in LA- not the rest of the country, and this is one of the few regions where ppl don’t care if you wear a mask or not. Most ppl in LA are too busy doing real things to be that hateful.

jaqjaqeats.bsky.social•49 days ago

Yes but the context is that the fires are happening in LA and ppl IN LA are definitely not against masks.

metrauxjulia.bsky.social•49 days ago

LA is not a monolith.

jaqjaqeats.bsky.social•49 days ago

It is not a monolith, but in general, masking is not seen as a negative across the city and county. I am all over this county all the time, and no one has ever said anything negative to me. I once lamented forgetting my mask at the dmv, DMV workers happily went and got me one.

itsbabs.bsky.social•49 days ago

I’m so glad this is your experience, Jaq, but I’ve been harassed multiple times just in the last quarter of 2024 for wearing a mask in public. It’s not all smooth sailing alas.

jennpozner.bsky.social•48 days ago

📌

mjr1.bsky.social•49 days ago

Did James Woods & that Dilbert idiot scream at him and call him a virtue signaller?

flpublicaffairs.bsky.social•48 days ago

Not a fan of Beltran for his incessant Biden bashing and disinformation that got us more T-p, but here he was incredibly more level headed and generous with “people who didn’t even know how to put on respirators” in this crisis than we ever could have been.

Giving credit where credit is due.🫡

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