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Inland Empire manufacturing defies the pandemic, CSUSB report indicates
IE Business Daily
March 8, 2021

It might be time to stop speculating on how much damage COVID-19 might do to manufacturing in the Inland Empire. The answer might be no damage at all.

Despite concerns that began when the pandemic started one year ago, the region’s manufacturing appears to have withstood the storm, according to the Institute of Applied Research and Policy Analysis at Cal State San Bernardino.

February’s numbers, released last week, could not have been better. The index for the second month of 2021 was 63.9, a major jump from the 51.5 recorded in January and the sixth consecutive month that number has been above 50.

That kind of optimism bodes well for the future, even though the pandemic is far from over and there are genuine fears about a resurgence because of mutant strains of COVID-19 that are developing, said Barbara Sirotnik, director of the institute and one of the business report’s co-authors.

“The index doesn’t get above 60 very often, so maybe I was a little surprised by that,” Sirotnik said. “But I thought we would stay above 50. I agree with the purchasing mangers who say that the inland economy will continue to improve, as long as something unforeseen doesn’t happen. Right now, the only downside I’m seeing [with the economy] is some prices are going up.”

Read the complete article at “Inland Empire manufacturing defies the pandemic.”

CSUSB to host virtual ‘Route 66 Women’ event
KVCR
March 8, 2021

As part of Cal State San Bernardino’s celebration of Women's History Month, they’re hosting a program called "Route 66 Women," which will take place Tuesday, March 9, from 11:30 to 1 p.m. via Zoom. The event will celebrate women of color, San Bernardino’s history, and the infamous Route 66. KVCR’s Lillian Vasquez spoke with Marc Robinson, assistant professor of history at CSUSB, to learn more about the event.

Listen to the segment at “CSUSB to host virtual ‘Route 66 Women’ event.”

Anti-Asian hate crimes and harassment rise to historic levels during COVID-19 pandemic, CSUSB center reports
Los Angeles Times
March 5, 2021

In a survey of police departments in 16 major U.S. cities, the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, a research office at Cal State San Bernardino, found a total of 122 anti-Asian hate crimes last year — a 149% increase from the 49 in 2019. The rise in anti-Asian crimes occurred as total hate crimes against all minority groups dropped 7% — from 1,845 to 1,717.

Brian Levin, director of the center, described the growth in hatred as one of “historic significance for our nation and the Asian American community.”

“Opinion polls, derisive online activity, harassment and crime data have converged to show a vast spread and increase in aggressive behavior toward Asian Americans,” he said.

Read the complete article at “Anti-Asian hate crimes and harassment rise to historic levels during COVID-19 pandemic.”

Surge in anti-Asian hate crimes raises fears in Southern California
The Sun/Southern California News Group
March 5, 2021

Anti-Asian hate crime in the 16 largest cities in the country jumped by 149% in 2020, according to an analysis of preliminary police data by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at Cal State San Bernardino. The first spike in hate crimes occurred in March and April 2020 amid an increase in coronavirus cases and negative stereotyping of Asian people related to the pandemic, according to the report, released Tuesday, March 2.

The spike in anti-Asian crimes occurred during a year when hate crimes overall declined by 7%, the report stated. Trump’s rhetoric linking China and Asia to the pandemic is connected to the surge in anti-Asian hate crimes in 2020, said Brian Levin, director of the CSUSB center.

“What we’re seeing is the effect of a combination of a catalytic, fear-inducing event (the pandemic) along with conspiracy theories and invective from the president,” Levin said. He pointed out that on March 23, 2020, Trump spoke about being tolerant toward Asians during a news conference. On that day and at least a couple of days after that, there were no anti-Asian hate crimes in Los Angeles or New York, Levin said.

“That’s illustrative of the strong correlation between the bully pulpit and hate crimes,” he added.

Read the complete article at “Surge in anti-Asian hate crimes raises fears in Southern California.”

CSUSB study of major U.S. cities shows sharp increase in hate crimes against Asian Americans
NextShark
March 5, 2021

The Asian American news website reported that police department statistics from 2020 showed a nearly 150% increase in hate-fueled attacks on Asian Americans across major cities in the U.S. from the year before, a recent analysis revealed. 

California State University, San Bernardino’s Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism compiled data from 16 of the most populous cities in the U.S. and found 122 incidents of anti-Asian American hate crimes last year compared to the 49 recorded incidents in 2019, reports VOA. Experts believe the trend has continued this year.

Brian Levin, executive director of the hate and extremism research center, highlighted how the increase in anti-Asian attacks goes against the declining trend in overall hate crime in most cities. He told HuffPost that he predicts there will be a “century-high” number of hate crimes targeting those of Asian descent in the U.S., once the FBI releases the 2020 data in the fall.
“For our Asian American friends and neighbors, this is similar to a post 9/11 time, similar to what we saw with Muslims and Arab Americans,” Levin was quoted as saying.

Read the complete article at “Police data shows 150% increase in hate attacks on Asians Across Major Cities in 2020.”

These news clips and others may be viewed at “In the Headlines.”