Harbor Area

The Post-COVID Future of Work

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated job displacement and unemployment trends — precipitated by advancements in technology and automation. CalMatters and the Milken Institute are hosting a discussion to reimagine approaches to traditional economic development that prioritize diversity and inclusion while also identifying new ways to fund and structure advancements in workforce and infrastructure development.

Time: 12 to 1:30 p.m. May 11

Details: web.cvent.com/event/post-covid-futureof-work

Get Ready for Tax Day

With tax day less than a month away, Los Angeles City Controller Ron Galperin seeks to reduce the stress of meeting the May 17 filing deadline by offering low- to moderate-income Angelenos a new, interactive map of free tax preparation service providers throughout the area. The map lists 55 tax prep assistance locations that include local community-based organizations and resource centers.

Galperin created the free tax preparation map specifically to aid individuals and households who earn less than $57,000 annually and qualify for state and federal Earned Income Tax Credits. Taxpayers who have disabilities, are elderly or with limited English skills are encouraged to check eligibility for these free services. All service locations on the map are staffed with IRS-certified volunteers who provide basic tax prep services, in addition to enrollment specialists who can help people sign up for public benefits like the CalFresh food assistance program.

Details: https://lacontroller.org/data-stories-andmaps/free-tax-prep

New LA County Worker Protections

More businesses are now able to open as The County of Los Angeles enters the orange tier. As those businesses open, they must always follow proper public health protocols.

Thanks to a new Los Angeles County law, if you work at a business that is violating health protocols, you can report it without fear of retaliation. Your employer cannot retaliate or discriminate against you (e.g. fire or threaten to fire you, cut your hours, demote, suspend, or discipline you) because you complain about workplace violations of public health laws, rules and regulations. Details: 800-593-8222; noretaliation@dcba. lacounty.gov.

Neighborhood Purpose Grants Available

The Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council has announced that $8,000 in unused funds from the election budget have become available for Neighborhood Purpose Grants to nonprofit 501c3s and to public schools. Applications are being accepted now and will be reviewed at the finance committee meeting to be held at 6:30 p.m. May 10. It will be decided at that time which applications will be recommended to the full board at 6:30 p.m. May 18. Plan to attend the May 10 meeting to support your application. Submit completed application no later than 5 p.m. May 7. Details: https://centralsanpedronc.org/neighborhood-purpose-grants; centralsanpedronc@gmail. com

Website Centralizes Services for LA County’s Immigrants

The Los Angeles County Office of Immigrant Affairs has launched a newly redesigned website to help the county’s 3.6 million immigrants access information about critical wraparound services available to them and their families.

Details: https://oia.lacounty.gov.

COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments Available

All LA County residents are eligible for the free COVID-19 vaccine. As restrictions begin to loosen, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health urges businesses, entities and residents to continue exercising caution even as they become more active. Vaccine appointments are available. Details: publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/coronavirus/vaccine

LBPL Launches Chromebook and Wi-Fi Hotspot Lending Service

The Long Beach Public Library has launched Tech To-Go, a new Chromebook computer and Mifi hotspot lending service to support school students.

Tech To-Go devices are equipped with automatic web filters, including Google SafeSearch for all Chromebook sessions and high school-level filters on the Mifi hotspots. The Mifi filters are geared toward students, but the devices can be used by non-students for activities including: job searching, career development, research projects and skill-building.

Full-access library cardholders 18-years and older can schedule requests for devices online or by calling the library directly. Staff assistance is available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Reservations must be made at least one day in advance. Devices may be loaned for two weeks at a time. Parents or guardians must use their library cards to borrow the devices for those who are younger than 18 years old.

Tech To-Go service is available at all LBPL To-Go locations: Bret Harte, Billie Jean King Main Library, Bay Shore, El Dorado, Los Altos, Mark Twain and Michelle Obama Library.

Details: www.longbeach.gov/library

Drive-Thru Household Waste Roundup

The County of Los Angeles is holding a drivethru household hazardous waste/electronic waste roundup event May 1, in the city yard at Rancho Palos Verdes City Hall. This event is open to all LA County residents.

For a list of do’s and don’ts, visit: bit. ly/3x9iumt.

Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m May 1

Details: lacsd.org/hhw or call 800-238-0173.

Venue: Rancho Palos Verdes City Hall, 30940 Hawthorne Blvd.