© 2025 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Californians Also Face Life Under Shelter-In-Place Order

RACHAEL MYROW, BYLINE: I'm Rachael Myrow of KQED. The Ferry Building on San Francisco's Embarcadero is normally packed, but not now. Those that do show up wear face masks, gloves and a wary expression. Grocery shopping is allowed, and most of us are a little stir-crazy from spending a week indoors.

PIPER LAGRELIUS: I vacillate between like, we can totally do this; we've got this, to, like, this is a total disaster. This is impossible.

MYROW: Piper LaGrelius (ph) is the mother of four children, ages 10, 7 and 3-year-old twins.

LAGRELIUS: I make them get dressed every day, which they're not impressed by. And I still make them take showers.

MYROW: We reached her via Zoom, where she's now a full-time camp director, as in Camp Shelter in Place. LaGrelius does get some help from the kids' teachers.

LAGRELIUS: Our PE teacher is amazing, and she sent a Wednesday workout.

AMY MATARAZZO: You're going to step out to the side, squat down and come back up to the middle.

LAGRELIUS: The ballet teachers have sent videoed lessons of an entire class.

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: We're going to take two plies - one and two and three.

LAGRELIUS: I don't know. Just take it every few minutes at a time, you know? Just do what you can.

MYROW: Life at home is a little more sedate for Kent Jue and his husband, who've been spending a lot of quality time with their two Chihuahuas, Dexter and Mercedes.

KENT JUE: She's actually the prima donna. Say hi.

MYROW: Jue's also stockpiled his favorite local ice cream brand, Humphry Slocombe, hoping to help keep them in business. He has 10 pints on hand.

JUE: Probably nine pints now.

MYROW: Sweet treats aside, Jue is actually under a great deal of stress these days. He runs the Ragazzi Boys Chorus, the largest in the Bay Area - or what's left of it now that the coronavirus pandemic has vaporized much of the work they do. Even after the crisis ends, it's not clear how many parents will be able to afford to come back.

JUE: A shutdown is not good for anyone, especially for people who are not in the position to have a monthly paycheck or, you know, dependent on part-time work.

MYROW: California's unemployment claims have spiked. For all the good humor and clever life hacks, there's a strong sense the worst is yet to come.

For NPR News, I'm Rachael Myrow in San Francisco.

(SOUNDBITE OF FOLLOWED BY GHOSTS' "BEARDS OF THE PATRIARCHS") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

Rachael Myrow

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.