mercurynews--2020-07-14--Tesla on ‘Autopilot’ hits police vehicle which hits ambulance, driver possibly drunk: police

Police are probing possible drunk-driving in the case of a Tesla driver in Arizona who said he was using the Bay Area electric car maker ’ s controversial “ Autopilot ” system when his sedan smashed into an unoccupied police vehicle , which then hit an ambulance .
The crash occurred Tuesday on an Arizona highway , according to the state ’ s Department of Public Safety .
“ We can confirm the driver indicated to troopers the Tesla was on autopilot at the time of the collision , ” the department tweeted , adding that the 23-year-old male driver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ influence .
The police sergeant who had driven the department ’ s SUV was not in it at the time of the crash , and the ambulance occupants were not hurt , the department said .
The Tesla driver was hospitalized with serious but not life-threatening injuries , police said .
Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
After a fatal 2018 accident involving a Tesla on Autopilot in Mountain View , the Palo Alto company said that “ Autopilot can be safely used on divided and undivided roads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ready to take control , ” the National Transportation Safety Board noted in a report .
In a 2018 blog post , Tesla claimed Autopilot makes crashes “ much less likely to occur , ” arguing that “ No one knows about the accidents that didn ’ t happen , only the ones that did.
” Crashes involving Tesla ’ s Autopilot driver-assistance system have sparked multiple investigations by the federal safety board .
The agency found a Tesla driver ’ s over-reliance on the automated system was a factor in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and determined that in 2018 in Mountain View , Autopilot steered a Tesla Model X SUV into a Highway 101 barrier , a collision that caused the driver ’ s death .
After another fatal Florida crash , between a Model 3 sedan and a truck in March 2019 , the agency blamed the driver ’ s over-reliance on automation and Tesla ’ s design of the Autopilot system as well as “ the company ’ s failure to limit the use of the system to the conditions for which it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report .
The report noted that after the 2016 Florida crash , which involved a collision between a Tesla and a truck , the agency recommended that Tesla and five other car makers using automated systems develop technology to “ more effectively sense the driver ’ s level of engagement and alert the driver when engagement is lacking.
” However , while the five other companies responded with descriptions of their planned solutions , “ Tesla was the only manufacturer that did not officially respond , ” the report said .
The agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Model S slammed into the back of a fire truck on I-405 in Culver City near Los Angeles in 2018 .
The driver was also to blame in the non-injury collision , for using Autopilot in “ ways inconsistent with guidance and warnings from the manufacturer , ” the agency reported .
• NHTSA looking into 12th Tesla crash possibly linked to Autopilot • NTSB : Autopilot was engaged in fatal Tesla crash in March In December , the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had announced its 12th investigation into a Tesla @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that accident , a Model 3 rear-ended a parked police car in Connecticut .

Police are probing possible drunk-driving in the case of a Tesla driver in Arizona who said he was using the Bay Area electric car maker’s controversial “Autopilot” system when his sedan smashed into an unoccupied police vehicle, which then hit an ambulance.
The crash occurred Tuesday on an Arizona highway, according to the state’s Department of Public Safety. “We can confirm the driver indicated to troopers the Tesla was on autopilot at the time of the collision,” the department tweeted, adding that the 23-year-old male driver was being investigated for driving under the influence.
The police sergeant who had driven the department’s SUV was not in it at the time of the crash, and the ambulance occupants were not hurt, the department said. The Tesla driver was hospitalized with serious but not life-threatening injuries, police said.
Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment. After a fatal 2018 accident involving a Tesla on Autopilot in Mountain View, the Palo Alto company said that “Autopilot can be safely used on divided and undivided roads as long as the driver remains attentive and ready to take control,” the National Transportation Safety Board noted in a report. In a 2018 blog post, Tesla claimed Autopilot makes crashes “much less likely to occur,” arguing that “No one knows about the accidents that didn’t happen, only the ones that did.”
Crashes involving Tesla’s Autopilot driver-assistance system have sparked multiple investigations by the federal safety board. The agency found a Tesla driver’s over-reliance on the automated system was a factor in a 2016 fatal Model S crash in Florida, and determined that in 2018 in Mountain View, Autopilot steered a Tesla Model X SUV into a Highway 101 barrier, a collision that caused the driver’s death.
After another fatal Florida crash, between a Model 3 sedan and a truck in March 2019, the agency blamed the driver’s over-reliance on automation and Tesla’s design of the Autopilot system as well as “the company’s failure to limit the use of the system to the conditions for which it was designed,” it said in a report.
The report noted that after the 2016 Florida crash, which involved a collision between a Tesla and a truck, the agency recommended that Tesla and five other car makers using automated systems develop technology to “more effectively sense the driver’s level of engagement and alert the driver when engagement is lacking.” However, while the five other companies responded with descriptions of their planned solutions, “Tesla was the only manufacturer that did not officially respond,” the report said.
The agency also found Autopilot was a factor when a Model S slammed into the back of a fire truck on I-405 in Culver City near Los Angeles in 2018. The driver was also to blame in the non-injury collision, for using Autopilot in “ways inconsistent with guidance and warnings from the manufacturer,” the agency reported.


mercurynews--2020-07-14--United Way launches relief fund for Bay Area renters

Wells Fargo on Tuesday announced a $ 750,000 grant to the United Way Bay Area for emergency rent relief to tenants struggling through the COVID-19 pandemic .
The United Way hopes to raise an additional $ 2.5 million for the assistance fund for Bay Area renters during the next six months .
The initial grant is part of the San Francisco-based bank ’ s $ 175 million national relief pledge to housing and aid groups .
“ People are in desperate need of assistance , ” said Kevin Zwick , CEO of United Way Bay Area .
The grant “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better time.
” The grants will serve residents in eight Bay Area counties : Alameda , Contra Costa , Marin , Napa , San Francisco , San Mateo , Santa Clara and Solano .
Renters seeking assistance can apply in-person at one of the United Way ’ s 10 SparkPoint community centers .
The centers also provide financial counseling for residents .
The Bay Area has some of the highest housing costs in the country , and widespread unemployment has made it even more difficult for many low- and moderate-income tenants to pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that found roughly 3 in 4 Bay Area tenants were severely rent-burdened , paying more than half of their income in rent .
• Lafayette official calls for appeal of big housing project ’ s approval • Bay Area rents drop , but it ’ s not just the pandemic Erica Trejo , community relations senior manager at Wells Fargo , said the grants will help prevent families from falling behind on rent and slipping into homelessness .
“ Housing in the Bay Area is a big problem , ” Trejo said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ evictions.
” Amie Fishman , executive director of the Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California , said corporate donations can play a key role to help struggling renters during the pandemic .
“ It ’ s great , ” she said .
“ In fact , we need them to double down and do more .
”

Wells Fargo on Tuesday announced a $750,000 grant to the United Way Bay Area for emergency rent relief to tenants struggling through the COVID-19 pandemic.
The United Way hopes to raise an additional $2.5 million for the assistance fund for Bay Area renters during the next six months. The initial grant is part of the San Francisco-based bank’s $175 million national relief pledge to housing and aid groups.
“People are in desperate need of assistance,” said Kevin Zwick, CEO of United Way Bay Area. The grant “couldn’t have come at a better time.”
The grants will serve residents in eight Bay Area counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Solano. Renters seeking assistance can apply in-person at one of the United Way’s 10 SparkPoint community centers. The centers also provide financial counseling for residents.
The Bay Area has some of the highest housing costs in the country, and widespread unemployment has made it even more difficult for many low- and moderate-income tenants to pay rent. Zwick cited a recent survey that found roughly 3 in 4 Bay Area tenants were severely rent-burdened, paying more than half of their income in rent.
Erica Trejo, community relations senior manager at Wells Fargo, said the grants will help prevent families from falling behind on rent and slipping into homelessness. “Housing in the Bay Area is a big problem,” Trejo said. “We really are concerned about future evictions.”
Amie Fishman, executive director of the Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California, said corporate donations can play a key role to help struggling renters during the pandemic. “It’s great,” she said. “In fact, we need them to double down and do more.”


mercurynews--2020-07-15--Berkeley City Council OKs sweeping changes to ‘transform’ police

BERKELEY — In a landmark , nine-hour meeting , the Berkeley City Council approved a sweeping set of changes early Wednesday morning to “ transform ” public safety that calls for a goal of reducing the police department budget by 50 % .
In a virtual meeting that ended around 3 a.m. and was attended by more than 300 people — with public speakers overwhelmingly calling for defunding police immediately — the council members approved an omnibus bill crafted by Mayor Jesse Arreguin over a proposal by Council member Cheryl Davila .
Her proposal specifically called to defund police by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to know that we are listening to what you are saying — that we agree that we need to seize the opportunity to look at transforming public safety in Berkeley , ” Arreguin told the audience .
“ And for far too long , public safety has been equated with more police .
“ Now is the time to innovate , and we must meet the moment , ” he continued .
“ We must be both creative and imagine an alternative approach to public safety , to make clear and demonstrate a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this to work.
” Among the sweeping changes approved by the council were : • a first-in-the-nation strategy to remove traffic enforcement out of the police department and into the hands of unarmed civilians in a new city Department of Transportation ; • removing homeless outreach and services and mental health and crisis management from armed officers ; • a goal of reducing the police budget by 50 % ; • assessing and analyzing police calls and responses as well as the overall police department budget , including overtime costs .
“ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Arreguin said .
“ Taken together , these proposals initiate a restructuring and redefinition of health and safety for all Berkeleyans with the immediate , intermediate and longer term steps to transform our city into a new model that ’ s community oriented and equitable.
” The mayor ’ s proposal calls for spending $ 160,000 from the city auditor ’ s budget to assess police calls and responses , and $ 200,000 to hire outside consultants who will examine the department ’ s policies toward alternative and restorative justice models @ @ @ @ @ @ @ examined as early as the November budget process , and may be considered in April and June of 2021 , Arreguin said .
Arreguin ’ s measure also listed Vice Mayor Sophie Hahn , and Council members Ben Bartlett and Kate Harrison as co-authors .
Two weeks ago , the Berkeley City Council became the latest city to partially defund its police department — slashing $ 9.2 million from its budget .
The cuts , which amounted to a 12 % reduction in the police department budget , were used to address a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At the time , Arreguin described the 12 % cut as “ a down payment in reimagining public safety in Berkeley.
” Meanwhile , Council member Davila , who voted to abstain in approving Arreguin ’ s proposal , exhorted her council colleagues that “ this is the time to have courage … please honor this request of the people ” for her measure to defund police by 50 % .
She noted the hundreds of residents who supported her proposal at the council meeting and via hundreds of email letters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ members have repeatedly said their actions followed increasing calls by Berkeley residents to change the fundamental way of policing — as well as the police budget — following the brutal police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the Black Lives Matter movement .
Early on in the meeting , Davila ’ s call for a vote of no confidence in Berkeley police Chief Andrew Greenwood failed to gain support from her council colleagues .
Davila sought the vote following remarks Greenwood made during a June council meeting about Black Lives Matter .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was asked what officers would resort to if their lives were threatened and they didn ’ t have tear gas .
“ Firearms .
We can shoot people , ” Greenwood said .
Davila said she would call for the vote on Greenwood at a later date .
Meanwhile , Arreguin ’ s legislation included a proposal by Council member Rigel Robinson , who called for creating a new city department of transportation with a staff of unarmed employees who would write parking citations and handle traffic violation stops .
Robinson mentioned Philando @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , three Black motorists killed by police during traffic stops across the nation for minor offenses .
“ A serious discussion of the role of modern policing , and the harm it has disproportionately inflicted on Black communities , is incomplete without a focus on traffic enforcement , ” he said in a previous statement about his proposal .
• Skelton : How California should confront its ugly , racist past • Request to change Orange County ’ s John Wayne Airport name may be DOA • Letters : ‘ Native Land ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fireworks | Help out schools | ‘ Fascism ’ misused | Rushmore ’ s fate Police pull over more than 20 million motorists a year nationwide , making traffic stops the most common interaction Americans have with officers , according to Robinson ’ s office .
A 2015 U.S. Department of Justice report found Blacks were more likely to be pulled over than whites and Hispanics .
And a 2018 report by Center for Policing Equity found that Berkeley police stopped Black and brown drivers and pedestrians at even higher rates .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of drivers stopped by police were Black , even though Black residents make up only 8 % of Berkeley ’ s population .
The report also said Black drivers were 6.5 times more likely than white drivers to be stopped by Berkeley police .

BERKELEY — In a landmark decision, the Berkeley City Council has launched a series of moves that will significantly reduce interaction between its police force and residents — a response to the local and national outcry against police brutality.
Among the changes expected to take effect in the coming months, police will stop issuing traffic citations and hand those duties to unarmed city workers. Officers also will cease responding to calls involving homeless outreach or people having mental health episodes, though it’s unclear who will.
The City Council voted for the series of changes early Wednesday morning at the end of a virtual nine-hour meeting that started the evening before and saw more than 300 people call in, most of them calling for partial or full defunding of the police department.
The council also set a goal of eventually cutting the police department’s budget in half but balked at doing so outright, as proposed by council member Cheryl Davila.
“I want you to know that we are listening to what you are saying, that we agree that we need to seize the opportunity to look at transforming public safety in Berkeley,” Mayor Jesse Arreguin, who proposed the bulk of those changes, told the audience. “And for far too long, public safety has been equated with more police.”
In addition to creating a Department of Transportation to enforce traffic laws, the council agreed to assess and analyze police calls and responses to ensure racial profiling and biases don’t factor into stops and arrests and to establish a community safety coalition made up of residents.
Arreguin said in his proposal Berkeley would be the first city in the nation to remove traffic-citing duties from police. New York City has civilian employees handle its traffic enforcement, but they are part of the police department
The mayor’s proposal calls for spending $160,000 from the city auditor’s budget to assess police calls and responses and $200,000 to hire consultants to guide department policies toward alternative and restorative-justice models.
The council will review the consultant’s recommendations as early as November, Arreguin said.
Police Chief Andrew Greenwood and Berkeley Police Association president Sgt. Emily Murphy did not respond to requests for comment on the council’s actions.
Two weeks ago, Berkeley became the latest city to partially defund its police department — slashing $9.2 million, or 12%. The cuts helped offset a city budget deficit of $39 million, and Arreguin described them as “a down payment in reimagining public safety in Berkeley.”
Davila, who abstained from voting on Arreguin’s proposal Wednesday, urged her colleagues to slash 50% of the police department’s budget now, saying “this is the time to have courage … please honor this request of the people.” She was referring to the hundreds of residents who spoke at the meeting and hundreds more who wrote emails.
Arreguin, Davila and the other council members repeatedly have said their actions followed increasing calls by Berkeley residents to change the fundamental way of policing following the brutal police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the Black Lives Matter movement that arose from it.
Davila also asked the council to issue a vote of no confidence in Chief Greenwood for his remarks during a June 9 council meeting about the Black Lives Matter movement. Asked at that meeting what officers would resort to if their lives were threatened and they didn’t have tear gas, he replied, “Firearms. We can shoot people,” according to Berkeleyside. Greenwood added, “If you are being attacked with lethal force, if we don’t have less-lethal that can drive it back, then we’re absent a tool. That’s my concern. I’m not trying to be overly dramatic and I apologize.
“But when projectiles are being thrown at you, when Molotov cocktails are being thrown at you, you need to be able to do something. And I — these less-lethal tools that we have now, that we use according to our policy, those are important tools for us.”
Council member Rigel Robinson, who proposed creating a new city department of transportation to write parking citations and handle traffic violation stops, justified the move by noting that Black and Hispanic drivers are disproportionately pulled over.
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And a 2018 report by Center for Policing Equity found that Berkeley police stopped Black and brown drivers and pedestrians at even higher rates. In 2012-16, for example, 36% of drivers stopped by police were Black, even though Black residents make up only 8% of the city’s population. The report also said Black drivers were 6.5 times more likely than white drivers to be stopped by Berkeley police.


mercurynews--2020-07-15--On this date, 2010: Joe Lacob buys Warriors, says championship or bust

Well , he is not the old Warriors owner , so he has that going for him in the bloodshot eyes of arguably the NBA ’ s most desperate and loyal fan base .
He also is not Oracle czar Larry Ellison , the world ’ s sixth-richest man who lost out in the record bidding for Chris Cohan ’ s Warriors .
But Lacob is a Warriors season-ticket holder .
Fans , surely to their surprise , have shared a foxhole with him the past decade during the Cohan Cold War .
A teen-age peanut vendor at Anaheim Stadium @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capitalist , Lacob is now the Warriors ’ front man .
His ownership group splurged $ 450 million to rescue the Warriors from Cohan ’ s dreadful 16-year reign that featured only one playoff berth .
Lacob ’ s wingman is Hollywood movie mogul Peter Guber , who has a fascinating screenplay in the works thanks to this surprising snatch of the Warriors from Ellison ’ s clutches .
OK , so Lacob was not at the White House two weeks ago showing off the America ’ s Cup to President Obama .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Guy and Larry The Sailing Guy will not morph into Larry The NBA Guy .
His billions will not be spent on the Warriors .
Hey , maybe our America ’ s Cup defense just got stronger .
Ellison called it “ unusual ” that his higher bid did not win .
Tell it to the Cleveland Cavaliers , whose owner used much harsher terms when his more lucrative offer got bypassed in the LeBron James sweepstakes .
Bidding bon voyage to Ellison does not mean the Warriors got weaker , as if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed an owner who will turn them into a legitimate contender rather than just a date-night option for the fans who filled Oracle Arena during Cohan ’ s dire reign .
Even an average Joe would be an improvement .
His name might not ring as familiar as Ellison ’ s , but Joltin ’ Joe can make a loud name for himself throughout the NBA and Bay Area circles .
Lacob claims his group offers better basketball know-how than Cohan ’ s other bidders .
( Sidebar : No word if Lacob @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vessel . )
“ It is our passion to return the Warriors to greatness , ” Lacob said in a statement , “ and build nothing short of a championship organization that will make all of us in the Bay Area proud.
” Rewind to that “ all of us ” phrase .
He wants to stay in your inner circle .
In contrast , Cohan ( a seemingly nice man ) became an outcast and a recluse who could not get the Warriors out of their tailspin and even got booed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ game .
Lacob joined the NBA fray in 2006 when he bought into the NBA ’ s most decorated franchise , the Boston Celtics .
Two years later , the Celtics won their unprecedented 17th NBA title , and this past season they were runners-up to the Lakers .
Rather than bore you with Lacob ’ s exploits as a venture capitalist , let ’ s sum it up this way : He ’ s been handsomely rewarded for clocking in more than 20 years at Menlo Park-based Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ living off life-science ventures .
His connection to sports may not feature an America ’ s Cup trophy , but it is intriguing .
He got weaned on basketball by watching the Celtics dynasty as a child in suburban Boston .
The bar is set high , Warriors fans .
He sold peanuts at Angels Stadium while attending Katella High School and UC Irvine .
Got ta love guys who worked in stadium trenches ( see : George Seifert , Kezar Stadium usher ) .
He is a longtime rooter at Stanford ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likes to sit courtside .
He carries a 7.8 golf handicap and barely missed the pro-am cut at this year ’ s AT & T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am .
He lives in the ritzy Peninsula foothills and also has a house next to the 14th fairway at Pebble Beach Golf Links .
Thursday was a monumental day in Warriors history .
It was the best day Warriors fans have enjoyed since a 2007 first-round playoff upset of the Dallas Mavericks .
Here is what the best day may offer in Lacob ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A championship celebration at the White House .
Ahoy there , matey .

(This story was originally published on July 15, 2010)
New Warriors majority owner Joe Lacob is…
Well, he is not the old Warriors owner, so he has that going for him in the bloodshot eyes of arguably the NBA’s most desperate and loyal fan base.
He also is not Oracle czar Larry Ellison, the world’s sixth-richest man who lost out in the record bidding for Chris Cohan’s Warriors.
But Lacob is a Warriors season-ticket holder. Fans, surely to their surprise, have shared a foxhole with him the past decade during the Cohan Cold War.
A teen-age peanut vendor at Anaheim Stadium before striking it rich as a venture capitalist, Lacob is now the Warriors’ front man. His ownership group splurged $450 million to rescue the Warriors from Cohan’s dreadful 16-year reign that featured only one playoff berth.
Lacob’s wingman is Hollywood movie mogul Peter Guber, who has a fascinating screenplay in the works thanks to this surprising snatch of the Warriors from Ellison’s clutches.
OK, so Lacob was not at the White House two weeks ago showing off the America’s Cup to President Obama. Get over the fact Larry The Oracle Guy and Larry The Sailing Guy will not morph into Larry The NBA Guy. His billions will not be spent on the Warriors. Hey, maybe our America’s Cup defense just got stronger.
Ellison called it “unusual” that his higher bid did not win. Tell it to the Cleveland Cavaliers, whose owner used much harsher terms when his more lucrative offer got bypassed in the LeBron James sweepstakes.
Bidding bon voyage to Ellison does not mean the Warriors got weaker, as if that was possible.
The Warriors simply needed an owner who will turn them into a legitimate contender rather than just a date-night option for the fans who filled Oracle Arena during Cohan’s dire reign.
Even an average Joe would be an improvement. His name might not ring as familiar as Ellison’s, but Joltin’ Joe can make a loud name for himself throughout the NBA and Bay Area circles.
Lacob claims his group offers better basketball know-how than Cohan’s other bidders. (Sidebar: No word if Lacob knows the starboard and port sides of a vessel.)
“It is our passion to return the Warriors to greatness,” Lacob said in a statement, “and build nothing short of a championship organization that will make all of us in the Bay Area proud.”
Rewind to that “all of us” phrase. He wants to stay in your inner circle. In contrast, Cohan (a seemingly nice man) became an outcast and a recluse who could not get the Warriors out of their tailspin and even got booed on his own court at the All-Star game.
Lacob joined the NBA fray in 2006 when he bought into the NBA’s most decorated franchise, the Boston Celtics. Two years later, the Celtics won their unprecedented 17th NBA title, and this past season they were runners-up to the Lakers.
Rather than bore you with Lacob’s exploits as a venture capitalist, let’s sum it up this way: He’s been handsomely rewarded for clocking in more than 20 years at Menlo Park-based Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. He’s made a comfy living off life-science ventures.
His connection to sports may not feature an America’s Cup trophy, but it is intriguing.
He got weaned on basketball by watching the Celtics dynasty as a child in suburban Boston. The bar is set high, Warriors fans.
He sold peanuts at Angels Stadium while attending Katella High School and UC Irvine. Gotta love guys who worked in stadium trenches (see: George Seifert, Kezar Stadium usher).
He is a longtime rooter at Stanford (where he got his MBA) and likes to sit courtside.
He carries a 7.8 golf handicap and barely missed the pro-am cut at this year’s AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
He lives in the ritzy Peninsula foothills and also has a house next to the 14th fairway at Pebble Beach Golf Links.
Thursday was a monumental day in Warriors history. It was the best day Warriors fans have enjoyed since a 2007 first-round playoff upset of the Dallas Mavericks.
Here is what the best day may offer in Lacob’s future as the Warriors owner: A championship celebration at the White House. Ahoy there, matey.


mercurynews--2020-07-15--‘We want more’: Quakes’ Magnus Eriksson not satisfied ahead of match vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Magnus Eriksson agreed with the reviews that San Jose looked in fine form in a scoreless tie with defending champion Seattle in its opener in the MLS Is Back tournament .
But the attacking midfielder hardly sounded satisfied heading into the second Group B game on Wednesday night against Vancouver Whitecaps FC at ESPN ’ s Wide World of Sports complex near Orlando , Florida .
“ The feeling in the group is we want more , ” Eriksson said in a conference call with reporters .
The Quakes ( 0-1-2 ) have a chance to jump-start their season in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victory would put San Jose on the cusp of advancing to the Round of 16 in the five-week-long tournament that is scheduled to end Aug. 11 .
The Earthquakes are scheduled to finish group play Sunday night against the Chicago Fire .
Major League Soccer is one of the few American professional sports enterprises to return to competition in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic that is hitting Florida hard .
Here is a rundown of the game against Vancouver : The game kicks off at 6 p.m. and will air on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , KNBR , KZSF and TuneIn Radio .
A drive-in viewing party will be held at Earthquakes Stadium in San Jose .
Some of the talk before the tournament focused on how Quakes coach Matias Almeyda would adjust his hard-charging style for a tournament where games are played with little recovery time .
Almeyda said his players would need to spend the weekend recovering after the torrid pace for almost 100 minutes , counting extra time , in the game Friday against Seattle .
“ I believe that we are one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eriksson said .
“ We believe in what we ’ re doing , we run for each other , we fight for each other.
” The one lingering question for the Quakes is whether target striker Danny Hoesen can play .
Andy Rios took his spot Friday because Hoesen suffered from a migraine headache , according to a team spokesman .
But the Quakes official said Tuesday that all players with the team should be available tonight .
He added that left fullback Marcos Lopez is “ working his way back from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 .
Rios , a midseason acquisition last year , acknowledged he is not used to playing at the top of his team ’ s formation .
“ But I understand it is my responsibility to be up front , ” he said through a translator .
“ I do have that flexibility in dropping back and helping out .
I am looking forward to improving that position.
” The Quakes outshot Seattle 16-12 and forced Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei to make eight saves .
“ The most important thing for me is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where we have the opportunities to score , ” said Eriksson , who missed on three chances .
Keep an eye on veteran midfielder Shea Salinas , who needs one assist to tie San Jose ’ s all-time leader Ronald Cerritos ( 47 ) .
Vancouver ( 1-1-0 ) arrived in Florida without five players because of the pandemic .
Then its first game was canceled when FC Dallas had to withdraw from the tournament after 10 of its players tested positive for COVID-19 .
The Whitecaps will be playing a game for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • After seeing Kaepernick protest as ‘ silly ’ and ‘ disrespectful ’ , Quakes veteran changes his tune Forwards Lucas Cavallini , Fredy Montero and Tosaint Ricketts and defenders Andy Rose and Georges Mukumbilwa did not join the team in Florida .
Cavallini , Rickets and Rose started in the team ’ s last game while the veteran Montero entered the match as a substitute .
Vancouver Marc Dos Santos said those players will be missed “ because we ’ re a young team and the players that aren ’ t with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the team .
They ’ re the oldest guys and they brought a certain type of leadership inside the locker room .
”

Magnus Eriksson agreed with the reviews that San Jose looked in fine form in a scoreless tie with defending champion Seattle in its opener in the MLS Is Back tournament.
But the attacking midfielder hardly sounded satisfied heading into the second Group B game on Wednesday night against Vancouver Whitecaps FC at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports complex near Orlando, Florida.
“The feeling in the group is we want more,” Eriksson said in a conference call with reporters.
The Quakes (0-1-2) have a chance to jump-start their season in a big way against Vancouver. A victory would put San Jose on the cusp of advancing to the Round of 16 in the five-week-long tournament that is scheduled to end Aug. 11. The Earthquakes are scheduled to finish group play Sunday night against the Chicago Fire.
Major League Soccer is one of the few American professional sports enterprises to return to competition in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic that is hitting Florida hard.
Here is a rundown of the game against Vancouver:
How to watch
The game kicks off at 6 p.m. and will air on TUDN and Twitter (English language), KNBR, KZSF and TuneIn Radio. A drive-in viewing party will be held at Earthquakes Stadium in San Jose.
Earthquakes update
Some of the talk before the tournament focused on how Quakes coach Matias Almeyda would adjust his hard-charging style for a tournament where games are played with little recovery time. Almeyda said his players would need to spend the weekend recovering after the torrid pace for almost 100 minutes, counting extra time, in the game Friday against Seattle.
“I believe that we are one of the fittest teams in this tournament,” Eriksson said. “We believe in what we’re doing, we run for each other, we fight for each other.”
The one lingering question for the Quakes is whether target striker Danny Hoesen can play. Andy Rios took his spot Friday because Hoesen suffered from a migraine headache, according to a team spokesman.
But the Quakes official said Tuesday that all players with the team should be available tonight. He added that left fullback Marcos Lopez is “working his way back from the appendectomy” surgery he had on June 30.
Rios, a midseason acquisition last year, acknowledged he is not used to playing at the top of his team’s formation.
“But I understand it is my responsibility to be up front,” he said through a translator. “I do have that flexibility in dropping back and helping out. I am looking forward to improving that position.”
The Quakes outshot Seattle 16-12 and forced Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei to make eight saves.
“The most important thing for me is we reach these situations in the game where we have the opportunities to score,” said Eriksson, who missed on three chances.
Keep an eye on veteran midfielder Shea Salinas, who needs one assist to tie San Jose’s all-time leader Ronald Cerritos (47).
Whitecaps update
Vancouver (1-1-0) arrived in Florida without five players because of the pandemic. Then its first game was canceled when FC Dallas had to withdraw from the tournament after 10 of its players tested positive for COVID-19. The Whitecaps will be playing a game for the first time since March 7.
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Coronavirus doesn’t slow SJ Earthquakes in strong start to MLS tournament San Jose Earthquakes | After seeing Kaepernick protest as ‘silly’ and ‘disrespectful’, Quakes veteran changes his tune Forwards Lucas Cavallini, Fredy Montero and Tosaint Ricketts and defenders Andy Rose and Georges Mukumbilwa did not join the team in Florida. Cavallini, Rickets and Rose started in the team’s last game while the veteran Montero entered the match as a substitute.
Vancouver Marc Dos Santos said those players will be missed “because we’re a young team and the players that aren’t with us are the most experienced voices of the team. They’re the oldest guys and they brought a certain type of leadership inside the locker room.”


mercurynews--2020-07-15--LA County reports record single-day numbers of coronavirus cases, hospitalizations

Los Angeles County public health officials Tuesday reported 4,244 new cases of the novel coronavirus and 2,103 people currently hospitalized with the disease .
Both numbers eclipsed the county ’ s previous records for single-day reports since the pandemic began .
The deaths of an additional 73 people related to the coronavirus were also logged , making Tuesday one of the county ’ s deadliest-ever days during the outbreak .
County officials in a midday press release cautioned that daily numbers can be the result of a lag in reporting of deaths over the weekend , but it nonetheless signaled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s numbers are alarming and unfortunately are the result of many businesses and individuals not adhering to the basic public health requirements of distancing and wearing face coverings , ” said Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer .
Statewide , the state ’ s average number of new cases over a 7-day period climbed to 8,382 as of Tuesday .
The state reported the deaths of another 47 people on Tuesday , bringing the state ’ s death toll related to COVID-19 to 7,087 people .
Average daily deaths over a 14-day period statewide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s jolting Tuesday death toll will not show up in the statewide total until Wednesday . )
Tests have confirmed 336,508 cases statewide with 6,745 people currently hospitalized — more than double from a month ago and representing the most since the pandemic began .
In LA County , the total of positive cases surged to 140,307 overall , with a total of 3,894 deaths — both the highest totals among California counties .
Ferrer warned that if the spread of the coronavirus was not brought under control , the county would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ path to reopen the economy .
“ As a community , we must slow the spread of COVID-19 to prevent an overwhelming surge of COVID-19 in our hospitals and more untimely deaths , ” Ferrer said .
“ I urge you to wear a face covering , stay at home as much as possible , avoid close contact with people you don ’ t live with and wash your hands.
” Case numbers and hospitalizations were being watched especially closely this week by school district officials as the start of the school year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chose Monday , along with San Diego Unified School District — two of the nation ’ s largest — to postpone in-person instruction in favor of a distance-learning approach .
On Tuesday , Long Beach Unified School District followed suit , saying it would not open campuses until at least Oct. 5 .
“ This decision was a hard one to make , ” Jill Baker , superintendent of Long Beach Unified School District , said in a video message posted online Tuesday , July 14 .
“ But we have done so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health departments.
” Los Angeles County public health officials , along with the county ’ s top school official , kept the option open on Monday for the county ’ s 80 independent school districts to start teaching in the classroom as long as they follow renewed guidance , also issued Monday .
“ The virus currently rages on in our community , ” Ferrer said on Monday .
“ We ’ ll need to continue to do our best to protect our children , our teachers and the many important people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children.
” On Monday , Gov .
Gavin Newsom hit Los Angeles and other counties with a major rollback of economic reopening , closing down again additional indoor venues in 30 counties on the state ’ s watch list .
Among the types of places that were forced to shut down Monday were churches , fitness centers , malls , personal care services , hair salons , barber shops and non-critical office space .
A corresponding state directive required all restaurants , wineries , movie theaters , family entertainment , zoos , museums @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operations everywhere in the state .
In L.A. County , a similar order was already in place and businesses were already scurrying to adjust — or face fines and possible shutdowns .
Daily numbers in L.A. County Tuesday did not include updated numbers from Long Beach and Pasadena , which operates their own health departments .
Long Beach reported two more residents had died , bringing the total to 151 , and 233 new coronavirus cases , for a total of 5,849 .
Pasadena reported 36 new cases ( 1,580 total ) and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Los Angeles County public health officials Tuesday reported 4,244 new cases of the novel coronavirus and 2,103 people currently hospitalized with the disease. Both numbers eclipsed the county’s previous records for single-day reports since the pandemic began.
The deaths of an additional 73 people related to the coronavirus were also logged, making Tuesday one of the county’s deadliest-ever days during the outbreak. County officials in a midday press release cautioned that daily numbers can be the result of a lag in reporting of deaths over the weekend, but it nonetheless signaled an alarming trend.
“Today’s numbers are alarming and unfortunately are the result of many businesses and individuals not adhering to the basic public health requirements of distancing and wearing face coverings,” said Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer.
Statewide, the state’s average number of new cases over a 7-day period climbed to 8,382 as of Tuesday. The state reported the deaths of another 47 people on Tuesday, bringing the state’s death toll related to COVID-19 to 7,087 people. Average daily deaths over a 14-day period statewide were now 77. (LA County’s jolting Tuesday death toll will not show up in the statewide total until Wednesday.)
Tests have confirmed 336,508 cases statewide with 6,745 people currently hospitalized — more than double from a month ago and representing the most since the pandemic began.
In LA County, the total of positive cases surged to 140,307 overall, with a total of 3,894 deaths — both the highest totals among California counties.
Ferrer warned that if the spread of the coronavirus was not brought under control, the county would not be able to continue on its path to reopen the economy.
“As a community, we must slow the spread of COVID-19 to prevent an overwhelming surge of COVID-19 in our hospitals and more untimely deaths,” Ferrer said. “I urge you to wear a face covering, stay at home as much as possible, avoid close contact with people you don’t live with and wash your hands.”
Case numbers and hospitalizations were being watched especially closely this week by school district officials as the start of the school year approaches. Los Angeles Unified School District chose Monday, along with San Diego Unified School District — two of the nation’s largest — to postpone in-person instruction in favor of a distance-learning approach.
On Tuesday, Long Beach Unified School District followed suit, saying it would not open campuses until at least Oct. 5.
“This decision was a hard one to make,” Jill Baker, superintendent of Long Beach Unified School District, said in a video message posted online Tuesday, July 14. “But we have done so with input from our local and county health departments.”
Los Angeles County public health officials, along with the county’s top school official, kept the option open on Monday for the county’s 80 independent school districts to start teaching in the classroom as long as they follow renewed guidance, also issued Monday.
“The virus currently rages on in our community,” Ferrer said on Monday. “We’ll need to continue to do our best to protect our children, our teachers and the many important people who make school function and who educate our children.”
On Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom hit Los Angeles and other counties with a major rollback of economic reopening, closing down again additional indoor venues in 30 counties on the state’s watch list. Among the types of places that were forced to shut down Monday were churches, fitness centers, malls, personal care services, hair salons, barber shops and non-critical office space.
A corresponding state directive required all restaurants, wineries, movie theaters, family entertainment, zoos, museums and card rooms to shut down indoor operations everywhere in the state. In L.A. County, a similar order was already in place and businesses were already scurrying to adjust — or face fines and possible shutdowns.
Daily numbers in L.A. County Tuesday did not include updated numbers from Long Beach and Pasadena, which operates their own health departments. Long Beach reported two more residents had died, bringing the total to 151, and 233 new coronavirus cases, for a total of 5,849. Pasadena reported 36 new cases (1,580 total) and one new death (101 total).
Staff writer Ryan Carter contributed to this report.


mercurynews--2020-07-15--‘Glee’ star Naya Rivera died from drowning, autopsy rules

An autopsy issued by the Ventura County Medical Examiner ’ s Office has ruled that actress Naya Rivera died as a result of drowning .
The “ Glee ” star ’ s death was also ruled an accident .
“ The autopsy findings are consistent with a drowning and the condition of the body is consistent with the time that she was submerged .
No traumatic injuries or disease processes were identified at autopsy , ” the office said in a press release .
Rivera , 33 , vanished last week from Lake Piru in Southern California ’ s Ventura @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that afternoon and rented a pontoon boat with her 4-year-old son , according to authorities .
Her son was later found asleep alone on the boat they ’ d rented .
Her body was recovered on Monday morning .
Authorities said there is no indication that drugs or alcohol played a role in her death , but toxicology testing will be done .
Following news of her death , Rivera ’ s former co-stars and friends shared tributes on social media .
On Tuesday , the creators of Fox ’ s “ Glee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ heartbroken ” over the death of the actress , who played Santana Lopez on the program for six seasons .
In a statement , Ryan Murphy , Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan recalled how Rivera was not a series regular when she was cast on the show .
In fact , she only had a few lines .
“ But it didn ’ t take more than an episode or two for us to realize that we had lucked into finding one of the most talented , special stars we would ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” their statement said .
“ Naya could act , she could dance , and she could sing ( could she ever sing ! )
She could nail a joke as well as she could crush you with an emotional scene .
She could move between being scary tough and deeply vulnerable with ease .
She was a joy to write for , a joy to direct and a joy to be around.
” The statement also acknowledged the meaningful connection the show ’ s queer female viewers shared with Rivera ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the “ humor and humanity ” that she brought to her on-screen relationship with Heather Morris ’ s “ Brittany ” was “ her greatest ‘ Glee ’ legacy.
” “ It was one of the first times an openly lesbian , high school relationship was seen on network television and Naya understood what ‘ Brittana ’ meant to the many young women who were seeing themselves represented on television for the first time , ” the statement said .
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Naya was always moved by the girls who reached out to her to tell her how much Santana and Brittany ’ s love affected them.
” Their statement added : “ Naya @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our show — she was our friend.
” Murphy , Falchuk and Brennan said they are “ in the process ” of establishing a college fund for Rivera ’ s son .

An autopsy issued by the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office has ruled that actress Naya Rivera died as a result of drowning.
The “Glee” star’s death was also ruled an accident.
“The autopsy findings are consistent with a drowning and the condition of the body is consistent with the time that she was submerged. No traumatic injuries or disease processes were identified at autopsy,” the office said in a press release.
Rivera, 33, vanished last week from Lake Piru in Southern California’s Ventura County. She went to the lake that afternoon and rented a pontoon boat with her 4-year-old son, according to authorities.
Her son was later found asleep alone on the boat they’d rented.
Her body was recovered on Monday morning.
Authorities said there is no indication that drugs or alcohol played a role in her death, but toxicology testing will be done.
‘She was our friend’
Following news of her death, Rivera’s former co-stars and friends shared tributes on social media.
On Tuesday, the creators of Fox’s “Glee” said in a statement they were “heartbroken” over the death of the actress, who played Santana Lopez on the program for six seasons.
In a statement, Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan recalled how Rivera was not a series regular when she was cast on the show. In fact, she only had a few lines.
“But it didn’t take more than an episode or two for us to realize that we had lucked into finding one of the most talented, special stars we would ever have the pleasure of working with,” their statement said.
“Naya could act, she could dance, and she could sing (could she ever sing!) She could nail a joke as well as she could crush you with an emotional scene. She could move between being scary tough and deeply vulnerable with ease. She was a joy to write for, a joy to direct and a joy to be around.”
The statement also acknowledged the meaningful connection the show’s queer female viewers shared with Rivera’s character, who was lesbian. They said the “humor and humanity” that she brought to her on-screen relationship with Heather Morris’s “Brittany” was “her greatest ‘Glee’ legacy.”
“It was one of the first times an openly lesbian, high school relationship was seen on network television and Naya understood what ‘Brittana’ meant to the many young women who were seeing themselves represented on television for the first time,” the statement said.
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Their statement added: “Naya was more than just an actor on our show — she was our friend.”
Murphy, Falchuk and Brennan said they are “in the process” of establishing a college fund for Rivera’s son.
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mercurynews--2020-07-15--DA clears California cop of fatal shooting of 17-year-old girl

The Orange County District Attorney ’ s Office has cleared a Fullerton officer of shooting and killing a teenage girl on the 91 Freeway who was pointing what turned out to be a replica firearm .
Officer Scott Flynn ’ s actions were “ objectively necessary , reasonable and justified under the circumstances ” when he shot the 17-year-old on July 5 , 2019 , a prosecutor wrote in a public letter outlining the results of the investigation released on Tuesday .
“ Although the incident is deeply saddening , resulting in the death of a minor with mental illness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crime , ” Deputy District Attorney Avery Harrison wrote .
“ To the contrary , he carried out his duties as a peace office in a reasonable and justified manner.
” The teenager – previously identified by her family as Hannah Linn Williams but only referenced in the DA letter as “ Jane Doe ” – went missing with a rental car hours before she was killed .
Family members initially described the shooting as unjustified .
But after body-worn camera footage of the shooting was released on July 15 , 2019 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the family , said that while he couldn ’ t exonerate the officer , he also “ can ’ t condemn him.
” Merritt later filed a claim with the city alleging the officer did not follow department policy when he approached the vehicle Williams was driving .
The status of that claim was not clear .
According to the letter by the District Attorney ’ s Office , Flynn was on duty and driving an injured police dog to a veterinary clinic in Yorba Linda when he saw an SUV driven by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 mph in heavy traffic on the eastbound 91 .
The SUV slowed abruptly , forcing the officer to brake and change lanes to avoid a collision , the letter says .
The driver of the SUV then made an abrupt right turn , colliding with the front end of the black-and-white police car and leading the officer to believe he was being intentionally attacked , according to the letter .
The previously released video footage from Flynn ’ s body-worn camera begins with Flynn exiting his vehicle and walking toward the SUV @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wrong direction on a freeway on-ramp .
As Flynn , in uniform , walked around the back of the vehicle , the video shows him coming face to face with Williams holding what would later turn out to be a replica firearm – pointed at the officer .
Flynn immediately opened fire , the video shows , and Williams drops to the ground .
“ When Officer Flynn fired his weapon , he justly and reasonably believed Minor Doe ( Williams ) was going to kill him , ” the prosecutor wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the circumstances , it was necessary for Officer Flynn to react by firing his weapon in self-defense and defense of others.
” One witness , a retired police officer , told DA investigators that Williams was in a “ shooting stance , ” and said the replica firearm “ looked real from where I was standing.
” A second witness told another Fullerton officer that “ your guy … he was staring down the barrel of a gun .
He did what he needed to do.
” Williams ’ family told police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on several previous occasions , in which she “ had tried to hurt herself.
” About 90 minutes after the shooting , before the family was aware of her death , Williams ’ father called 911 to report her missing with the rental car , telling a dispatcher that he was worried because she had attempted suicide in the past .
Williams had several previous encounters with police .
In August 2018 , she was found brandishing a large hunting knife on a city street after running away from home , telling officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kill someone , ” according to the DA ’ s letter .
Later that same month , she reportedly threatened to torture and kill her mother and step-brother .
Two months before her death , Williams got into a physical struggle with an officer after running away from a mental-health treatment facility and grabbed the officer ’ s gun before he was able to wrestle it away from her , according to the report .
The report doesn ’ t say which city or cities these events took place in .

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office has cleared a Fullerton officer of shooting and killing a teenage girl on the 91 Freeway who was pointing what turned out to be a replica firearm.
Officer Scott Flynn’s actions were “objectively necessary, reasonable and justified under the circumstances” when he shot the 17-year-old on July 5, 2019, a prosecutor wrote in a public letter outlining the results of the investigation released on Tuesday.
“Although the incident is deeply saddening, resulting in the death of a minor with mental illness, Officer Flynn did not commit a crime,” Deputy District Attorney Avery Harrison wrote. “To the contrary, he carried out his duties as a peace office in a reasonable and justified manner.”
The teenager – previously identified by her family as Hannah Linn Williams but only referenced in the DA letter as “Jane Doe” – went missing with a rental car hours before she was killed.
Family members initially described the shooting as unjustified. But after body-worn camera footage of the shooting was released on July 15, 2019, S. Lee Merritt, an attorney representing the family, said that while he couldn’t exonerate the officer, he also “can’t condemn him.”
Merritt later filed a claim with the city alleging the officer did not follow department policy when he approached the vehicle Williams was driving. The status of that claim was not clear.
According to the letter by the District Attorney’s Office, Flynn was on duty and driving an injured police dog to a veterinary clinic in Yorba Linda when he saw an SUV driven by Williams speed past him at more than 100 mph in heavy traffic on the eastbound 91.
The SUV slowed abruptly, forcing the officer to brake and change lanes to avoid a collision, the letter says. The driver of the SUV then made an abrupt right turn, colliding with the front end of the black-and-white police car and leading the officer to believe he was being intentionally attacked, according to the letter.
The previously released video footage from Flynn’s body-worn camera begins with Flynn exiting his vehicle and walking toward the SUV, which by then was parked facing the wrong direction on a freeway on-ramp.
As Flynn, in uniform, walked around the back of the vehicle, the video shows him coming face to face with Williams holding what would later turn out to be a replica firearm – pointed at the officer.
Flynn immediately opened fire, the video shows, and Williams drops to the ground.
“When Officer Flynn fired his weapon, he justly and reasonably believed Minor Doe (Williams) was going to kill him,” the prosecutor wrote. “Based on the totality of all the circumstances, it was necessary for Officer Flynn to react by firing his weapon in self-defense and defense of others.”
One witness, a retired police officer, told DA investigators that Williams was in a “shooting stance,” and said the replica firearm “looked real from where I was standing.” A second witness told another Fullerton officer that “your guy … he was staring down the barrel of a gun. He did what he needed to do.”
Williams’ family told police that she had attempted to run away on several previous occasions, in which she “had tried to hurt herself.” About 90 minutes after the shooting, before the family was aware of her death, Williams’ father called 911 to report her missing with the rental car, telling a dispatcher that he was worried because she had attempted suicide in the past.
Williams had several previous encounters with police.
In August 2018, she was found brandishing a large hunting knife on a city street after running away from home, telling officers that she had a plan “to kill someone,” according to the DA’s letter. Later that same month, she reportedly threatened to torture and kill her mother and step-brother.
Two months before her death, Williams got into a physical struggle with an officer after running away from a mental-health treatment facility and grabbed the officer’s gun before he was able to wrestle it away from her, according to the report.
The report doesn’t say which city or cities these events took place in.


mercurynews--2020-07-15--Disneyland is turning 65 this week, so we look at how the Magic Kingdom came to be

The celebration at Disneyland for its 65th anniversary on July 17 , 2020 , will have to wait .
Currently , there is no set reopening date for the parks .
While the park gates are closed , we thought we ’ d look back to another time the gates were shut — during construction .
Walt Disney dreamed of building a park decades before Disneyland opened .
In 1932 , Disney considered building a park on a vacant 16-acre lot directly across the street from his studios in Burbank .
The idea was turned down by the city .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of what would later become Disneyland began to take shape .
From the first day of construction to opening day , Disneyland and its 17 attractions took just shy of 12 months to build .
Disney forms a creative team for WED Enterprises ( from the initials Walter Elias Disney ) .
It is the precursor design and development division of what is known today as Walt Disney Imagineering .
Disney commissions the Stanford Research Institute to find the ideal location for Disneyland .
SRI eliminates areas that are developed or producing oil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population trends , land prices , and easy access from Los Angeles via California ’ s growing network of freeways .
A total of 71 sites are considered , according to Sam Gennawey , a Disney historian and author of “ The Disneyland Story : The Unofficial Guide to the Evolution of Walt Disney ’ s Dream.
” Eventually , the selection is narrowed down to the following four locations : • La Mirada , 2,300 acres that contain five separate parcels of interest • “ Leo Harvey property , ” 160 acres @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Santa Ana Freeway • “ Ball Road Subdivision ” just off the Santa Ana Freeway in Anaheim Disney pays about $ 4,600 an acre for 160 acres in Anaheim .
Its proximity to a major freeway means the park is less than 30 minutes by car from downtown Los Angeles .
The funding for Disneyland would not come easy .
Disney wants to tie Disneyland to his proposed television series , but he is turned down by both NBC and CBS .
His brother Roy takes a map of the proposed park @ @ @ @ @ @ @ network in need of quality programming .
ABC agrees to lend Disney $ 500,000 and guarantee $ 4.5 million in loans in return for a one-third ownership in Disneyland and a promise of a weekly Disney television show for the network .
Disney designs the park with one entrance gate , so that people won ’ t become disoriented in the massive park .
Disney also designs the park to have a “ Main Street ” with the idea of it being the hub .
It also has “ weenies , ” Disney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ element that can be used to draw people into and around a space .
The lure of Main Street would be a castle .
Previous movie profits are not enough to cover the cost of building Disneyland .
Roy Disney makes numerous visits to Bank of America ’ s headquarters to get more funding .
The bank enlists the help of another bank , Bankers Trust Company of New York .
Plans for Disneyland Park and TV show are announced .
Disney says the TV series will begin in October 1954 and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The TV show will feature stories around the different “ lands ” of Disneyland .
Ninety days before construction begins , Disney brings in retired Navy Adm. Joe Fowler .
Fowler once ran the busy San Francisco Navy Yard and is picked to supervise construction that will continue around the clock .
The construction begins on July 21 , 1954 .
The TV series opens with “ The Disneyland Story , ” describing coming attractions of the park and TV show .
The shows are introduced by Disney himself .
Problems occur with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no experience with theme park structures .
The inspectors ’ doubts are eased through Disney ‘ s concern for safety .
Water is piped in to supply pressure for sprinklers and hydrants .
The Santa Fe and Disneyland Railroad makes its first trip around the park .
A boy stricken with leukemia sees his dream to ride on Walt Disney ’ s train come true .
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After nearly a year of rigorous construction demands and a total investment of $ 17 million ( about $ 162 million today ) , the gates of Disneyland open for the park ’ s first guests on a Sunday .
The opening is by invitation only , given to studio workers , construction workers , the press and officials of company sponsors .
Tickets to the grand opening are counterfeited , and 30,000 people wind up in the park .
Rides break down and park stands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Disney reads about all the problems the next day and refers to the opening as “ Black Sunday .
”

Building Disneyland
The celebration at Disneyland for its 65th anniversary on July 17, 2020, will have to wait. Currently, there is no set reopening date for the parks. While the park gates are closed, we thought we’d look back to another time the gates were shut — during construction.
Walt Disney dreamed of building a park decades before Disneyland opened. In 1932, Disney considered building a park on a vacant 16-acre lot directly across the street from his studios in Burbank. The idea was turned down by the city. In the late 1940s, the concept of what would later become Disneyland began to take shape. From the first day of construction to opening day, Disneyland and its 17 attractions took just shy of 12 months to build.
December 1952
Disney forms a creative team for WED Enterprises (from the initials Walter Elias Disney). It is the precursor design and development division of what is known today as Walt Disney Imagineering.
July 1953
Disney commissions the Stanford Research Institute to find the ideal location for Disneyland. SRI eliminates areas that are developed or producing oil. SRI takes into account climate, population trends, land prices, and easy access from Los Angeles via California’s growing network of freeways. A total of 71 sites are considered, according to Sam Gennawey, a Disney historian and author of “The Disneyland Story: The Unofficial Guide to the Evolution of Walt Disney’s Dream.”
Eventually, the selection is narrowed down to the following four locations:
La Mirada, 2,300 acres that contain five separate parcels of interest “Leo Harvey property,” 160 acres near intersection of Valley View Avenue and the Santa Ana Freeway Willowick Country Club, Santa Ana “Ball Road Subdivision” just off the Santa Ana Freeway in Anaheim
Disney pays about $4,600 an acre for 160 acres in Anaheim.
Its proximity to a major freeway means the park is less than 30 minutes by car from downtown Los Angeles.
The funding for Disneyland would not come easy. Disney wants to tie Disneyland to his proposed television series, but he is turned down by both NBC and CBS. His brother Roy takes a map of the proposed park to executives at ABC, a smaller network in need of quality programming.
ABC agrees to lend Disney $500,000 and guarantee $4.5 million in loans in return for a one-third ownership in Disneyland and a promise of a weekly Disney television show for the network.
Disney designs the park with one entrance gate, so that people won’t become disoriented in the massive park.
Disney also designs the park to have a “Main Street” with the idea of it being the hub. It also has “weenies,” Disney‘s playful term for a visual element that can be used to draw people into and around a space. The lure of Main Street would be a castle.
1954
Previous movie profits are not enough to cover the cost of building Disneyland. Roy Disney makes numerous visits to Bank of America’s headquarters to get more funding. The bank enlists the help of another bank, Bankers Trust Company of New York.
April 2, 1954
Plans for Disneyland Park and TV show are announced. Disney says the TV series will begin in October 1954 and the park will open in July 1955. The TV show will feature stories around the different “lands” of Disneyland.
Ninety days before construction begins, Disney brings in retired Navy Adm. Joe Fowler. Fowler once ran the busy San Francisco Navy Yard and is picked to supervise construction that will continue around the clock. The construction begins on July 21, 1954.
October 27, 1954
The TV series opens with “The Disneyland Story,” describing coming attractions of the park and TV show. The shows are introduced by Disney himself.
June 16, 1955
Problems occur with Orange County building inspectors as they have no experience with theme park structures. The inspectors’ doubts are eased through Disney‘s concern for safety. Water is piped in to supply pressure for sprinklers and hydrants.
The Santa Fe and Disneyland Railroad makes its first trip around the park. A boy stricken with leukemia sees his dream to ride on Walt Disney’s train come true.
July 17, 1955
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Disneyland security dog attacks 81-year-old grandfather, lawsuit alleges Travel | Disneyland to turn Steakhouse 55 restaurant into a bar and lounge After nearly a year of rigorous construction demands and a total investment of $17 million (about $162 million today), the gates of Disneyland open for the park’s first guests on a Sunday. The opening is by invitation only, given to studio workers, construction workers, the press and officials of company sponsors. Tickets to the grand opening are counterfeited, and 30,000 people wind up in the park. Rides break down and park stands run out of food and drink.
Disney reads about all the problems the next day and refers to the opening as “Black Sunday.”
September 8, 1955
Disneyland welcomes its 1 millionth visitor months ahead of predictions.


mercurynews--2020-07-15--Word Game: July 15, 2020

Word Game: July 15, 2020

Can you find 34 or more words in CONNIVES ?
The list will be published tomorrow .
YESTERDAY ’ S @ @ @ @ @ mite muse must mute emit etui seem semi site smite smut stem stum suet suit @ @ @ @ @ item teem time To purchase the Word Game book , visit WordGameBooks.com .
Order it @ @ @ @ @ while supplies last !
1 .
Words must be of four or more letters .
@ @ @ @ @ four letters by the addition of “ s , ” such as “ bats ” @ @ @ @ @ are not allowed .
3 .
Additional words made by adding a “ d ” @ @ @ @ @ may not be used .
For example , if “ bake ” is used , @ @ @ @ @ bakes ” are not allowed , but “ bake ” and “ baking ” are @ @ @ @ @ nouns , slang words , or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed .

TODAY’S WORD — CONNIVES (CONNIVES: kuh-NIVES: Cooperates secretly in a wrongful action; colludes.)
Average mark 23 words
Time limit 40 minutes
Can you find 34 or more words in CONNIVES? The list will be published tomorrow.
YESTERDAY’S WORD — MESQUITE meet mete mite muse must mute
emit etui seem semi site smite smut stem stum suet suit suite quest
quiet quit quite item teem time
To purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!
RULES OF THE GAME:
1. Words must be of four or more letters.
2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.
3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.
4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.
Contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe at kzsaxe@gmail.com.


mercurynews--2020-07-15--Horoscopes July 15, 2020: Forest Whitaker and Lana Parrilla share advice.

Happy Birthday : Share your emotions , discuss your intentions and clear up matters that have been plaguing you for a long time .
It ’ s up to you to take the initiative if you want to see a change take place .
It ’ s time to set a course that leads to happiness and fulfillment .
Don ’ t wallow over what ’ s gone ; embrace what ’ s ahead .
Your numbers are 3 , 12 , 19 , 23 , 28 , 33 , 45 .
ARIES ( March 21-April 19 ) : The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mull over experiences similar to something you are facing today .
Caution is in your best interest when dealing with someone who is asking for too much .
A backup plan will be necessary .
3 stars TAURUS ( April 20-May 20 ) : A slight change will make a big difference .
Don ’ t let stubbornness stand between you and what you want .
Communication will lead to solutions , and charm will seal the deal .
A positive attitude change will encourage better personal and professional relationships .
3 stars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Put more effort into the way you look and feel .
Good health is fundamental if you intend to do well throughout your life .
Check out a physical activity that interests you , join a mindfulness group online and implement a nutritious diet .
3 stars CANCER ( June 21-July 22 ) : Speak up , and positive changes will result .
Sharing emotions isn ’ t a sign of weakness ; it ’ s an indication you are passionate about something you want to pursue .
Be willing to give a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
4 stars LEO ( July 23-Aug. 22 ) : Last-minute change will disrupt your day if you don ’ t have a backup plan .
When making a decision , listen to your heart .
Be the leader , not the one taking orders .
Put more effort into bettering yourself and your position .
2 stars VIRGO ( Aug. 23-Sept. 22 ) : You ’ ll be encouraged to make a change .
Consider what ’ s entailed and how best to maneuver your way from one situation to another .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ information and emotional well-being .
Rely on facts , not hearsay .
5 stars LIBRA ( Sept. 23-Oct. 22 ) : You ’ ll shine if you put your best foot forward and market what you do best .
A little charm will help you convince others to believe in what you have to offer , but following through will lead to much higher rewards .
3 stars SCORPIO ( Oct. 23-Nov. 21 ) : Learn as you go , ask questions , formulate plans and interact with the people who can help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be given inside information if you are willing to make minor adjustments to your plans .
A window of opportunity is within reach .
3 stars SAGITTARIUS ( Nov. 22-Dec. 21 ) : An aggressive plan to improve your domestic situation will help you be more productive .
Figure out how much it will cost , and start to organize the best way to enhance your environment .
A romantic gesture will help you avoid an argument .
3 stars CAPRICORN ( Dec. 22-Jan. 19 ) : Consider the pros and cons regarding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure you are on the same page as someone you hold near and dear to your heart before taking action .
You ’ ll achieve more if your partner ’ s on board .
5 stars AQUARIUS ( Jan. 20-Feb. 18 ) : Don ’ t get trapped in someone ’ s emotional situation .
Spend more time making sure your personal life is in order and those you live with are content , and make adjustments that will bring you closer together .
Achieve the goals you set .
2 stars PISCES @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on to what ’ s trending , and you ’ ll find a way to put your skills to good use .
Speak on your behalf , and you ’ ll persuade others to take part in your plan .
An addition at home will encourage family unity .
4 stars Birthday Baby : You are considerate , diligent and passionate .
You are intense and demonstrative .

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Tristan Wilds, 31; Lana Parrilla, 43; Jason Bonham, 54; Forest Whitaker, 59.
Happy Birthday: Share your emotions, discuss your intentions and clear up matters that have been plaguing you for a long time. It’s up to you to take the initiative if you want to see a change take place. It’s time to set a course that leads to happiness and fulfillment. Don’t wallow over what’s gone; embrace what’s ahead. Your numbers are 3, 12, 19, 23, 28, 33, 45.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): The past can teach you plenty if you mull over experiences similar to something you are facing today. Caution is in your best interest when dealing with someone who is asking for too much. A backup plan will be necessary. 3 stars
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): A slight change will make a big difference. Don’t let stubbornness stand between you and what you want. Communication will lead to solutions, and charm will seal the deal. A positive attitude change will encourage better personal and professional relationships. 3 stars
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Put more effort into the way you look and feel. Good health is fundamental if you intend to do well throughout your life. Check out a physical activity that interests you, join a mindfulness group online and implement a nutritious diet. 3 stars
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Speak up, and positive changes will result. Sharing emotions isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s an indication you are passionate about something you want to pursue. Be willing to give a little if you want something in return. 4 stars
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Last-minute change will disrupt your day if you don’t have a backup plan. When making a decision, listen to your heart. Be the leader, not the one taking orders. Put more effort into bettering yourself and your position. 2 stars
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You’ll be encouraged to make a change. Consider what’s entailed and how best to maneuver your way from one situation to another. Protect your health, assets, personal information and emotional well-being. Rely on facts, not hearsay. 5 stars
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You’ll shine if you put your best foot forward and market what you do best. A little charm will help you convince others to believe in what you have to offer, but following through will lead to much higher rewards. 3 stars
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Learn as you go, ask questions, formulate plans and interact with the people who can help you get ahead. You’ll be given inside information if you are willing to make minor adjustments to your plans. A window of opportunity is within reach. 3 stars
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): An aggressive plan to improve your domestic situation will help you be more productive. Figure out how much it will cost, and start to organize the best way to enhance your environment. A romantic gesture will help you avoid an argument. 3 stars
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Consider the pros and cons regarding altering the way you live. Make sure you are on the same page as someone you hold near and dear to your heart before taking action. You’ll achieve more if your partner’s on board. 5 stars
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Don’t get trapped in someone’s emotional situation. Spend more time making sure your personal life is in order and those you live with are content, and make adjustments that will bring you closer together. Achieve the goals you set. 2 stars
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Lock on to what’s trending, and you’ll find a way to put your skills to good use. Speak on your behalf, and you’ll persuade others to take part in your plan. An addition at home will encourage family unity. 4 stars
Birthday Baby: You are considerate, diligent and passionate. You are intense and demonstrative.
Visit Eugenialast.com, or join Eugenia on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn.


Bridge: July 15, 2020

At the Mad Hatter ’ s game , the Queen of Hearts , a kibitzer , was irate if her card was part of a lost trick .
“ I ’ m the most potent card in Wonderland , ” the Queen blustered .
“ No ace or king dares capture me.
” When Alice was declarer at four spades , West , the Dormouse , led a trump .
Alice counted 10 tricks if she scored dummy ’ s ace of clubs .
She considered leading a low heart to dummy ’ s jack , but if East took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the contract might fail .
“ Apologies , your majesty , ” Alice told the Queen of Hearts after due thought , “ but this is the best play.
” And she led the queen of hearts .
The Hatter , East , was stuck .
If he won and led his last trump , the Queen of Hearts would be homicidal , and Alice would get to dummy with the jack of hearts to take the ace of clubs .
“ Better to lose an overtrick than my head , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Alice then took the ace , ruffed a heart in dummy and threw a loser on the ace of clubs .
Making five !
You hold : S A K Q J 6 5 H A Q 6 4 D A 10 4 C None .
The dealer , at your right , opens one heart .
What do you say ?
ANSWER : Sixty years ago , this promising hand might have called for a cue bid of two hearts : “ Partner , I have a game-forcing hand despite the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that type of hand occurred so rarely that modern players define a direct cue bid differently : as some type of two-suiter .
Double , planning to bid strongly later .

At the Mad Hatter’s game, the Queen of Hearts, a kibitzer, was irate if her card was part of a lost trick.
“I’m the most potent card in Wonderland,” the Queen blustered. “No ace or king dares capture me.”
When Alice was declarer at four spades, West, the Dormouse, led a trump. Alice counted 10 tricks if she scored dummy’s ace of clubs. She considered leading a low heart to dummy’s jack, but if East took the king and led another trump, the contract might fail.
“Apologies, your majesty,” Alice told the Queen of Hearts after due thought, “but this is the best play.” And she led the queen of hearts.
STUCK
The Hatter, East, was stuck. If he won and led his last trump, the Queen of Hearts would be homicidal, and Alice would get to dummy with the jack of hearts to take the ace of clubs.
“Better to lose an overtrick than my head,” the Hatter mumbled, and he played low. Alice then took the ace, ruffed a heart in dummy and threw a loser on the ace of clubs. Making five!
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S A K Q J 6 5 H A Q 6 4 D A 10 4 C None. The dealer, at your right, opens one heart. What do you say?
ANSWER: Sixty years ago, this promising hand might have called for a cue bid of two hearts: “Partner, I have a game-forcing hand despite the opponent’s opening bid.” But that type of hand occurred so rarely that modern players define a direct cue bid differently: as some type of two-suiter. Double, planning to bid strongly later.
South dealer
N-S vulnerable
NORTH
S 4 3
H J 3
D 9 7 6 2
C A J 8 7 5
WEST
S 10 9 8
H 8 5 2
D K J 5
C Q 6 3 2
EAST
S 7 2
H K 10 9 7
D Q 8 3
C K 10 9 4
SOUTH
S A K Q J 6 5
H A Q 6 4
D A 10 4
C None
South West North East
1 S Pass 1 NT Pass
3 H Pass 3 S Pass
4 S All Pass
Opening lead — S 10
(C)2020 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.


mercurynews--2020-07-16--More national retailers requiring masks on shoppers

NEW YORK — Two major retailers on Thursday joined the growing list of national chains that will require customers to wear face masks regardless of where cities or states stand on the issue .
Target ’ s mandatory face mask policy will go into effect Aug. 1 , and all CVS stores will begin requiring them on Monday .
More than 80 % of Target ’ s 1,800 stores already require customers to wear masks due to local and state regulations .
Target will hand out masks at entrances to those who need them .
The announcements come one day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Walmart , said that it would mandate face shields for all customers starting Monday .
Starbucks , Best Buy , Kohl ’ s and Kroger Co. have also announced mandatory masks nationwide .
Retailers have hesitated to make masks mandatory nationwide out of fear of angering some customers over what , even in a pandemic , has become a political issue .
They have been reluctant to put employees in the position of becoming enforcers .
Confrontations with customers and store employees have played out in multiple incidents caught on video .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ even in states that mandate face masks .
However , the recent surge of new virus cases — particularly in Florida , California , Texas and Arizona — has left them with no choice , retail experts say .
“ To be clear , we ’ re not asking our store employees to play the role of enforcer , ” said Jon Roberts , the chief operating officer at CVS .
“ What we are asking is that customers help protect themselves and those around them by listening to the experts and heeding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
”

By Anne D’Innocenzio | Associated Press
NEW YORK — Two major retailers on Thursday joined the growing list of national chains that will require customers to wear face masks regardless of where cities or states stand on the issue.
Target’s mandatory face mask policy will go into effect Aug. 1, and all CVS stores will begin requiring them on Monday.
More than 80% of Target’s 1,800 stores already require customers to wear masks due to local and state regulations. Target will hand out masks at entrances to those who need them.
[vemba-video id=”business/2020/07/16/masks-retail-economy-coronavirus-clare-sebastian-pkg.cnn”]
The announcements come one day after the nation’s largest retailer, Walmart, said that it would mandate face shields for all customers starting Monday.
Starbucks, Best Buy, Kohl’s and Kroger Co. have also announced mandatory masks nationwide.
Retailers have hesitated to make masks mandatory nationwide out of fear of angering some customers over what, even in a pandemic, has become a political issue.
They have been reluctant to put employees in the position of becoming enforcers. Confrontations with customers and store employees have played out in multiple incidents caught on video.
It was difficult to enforce such rules even in states that mandate face masks. However, the recent surge of new virus cases — particularly in Florida, California, Texas and Arizona — has left them with no choice, retail experts say.
“To be clear, we’re not asking our store employees to play the role of enforcer, ” said Jon Roberts, the chief operating officer at CVS. “What we are asking is that customers help protect themselves and those around them by listening to the experts and heeding the call to wear a face covering.”


mercurynews--2020-07-16--Hanson: Racial issues have put the NFL in deep trouble

The National Football League celebrated its 100th anniversary last year .
This should be a time of self-congratulation for the brutal sport , which has no similar counterpart outside the United States .
The NFL ’ s megaprofits dwarf those of other professional sports in the United States .
The Super Bowl , not the World Series , is America ’ s national sports event .
The league survived all sorts of crises in the past .
Yet the NFL is in deep trouble like never before .
In 2016 , San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was protesting the treatment of African Americans .
Kaepernick was an odd revolutionary .
His mother is white , his father is an African American of Ghanaian and Nigerian ancestry , and he was raised by a middle-class white couple .
Kaepernick ’ s rejection of “ The Star-Spangled Banner ” eventually spread throughout the NFL .
Then game attendance fell .
So did television viewership .
Apparently , lots of fans had no desire to spend their Sundays watching 20-something multimillionaires lecture them that the American flag was not worth honoring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ banned players from kneeling for the national anthem .
By then , Kaepernick had left football and become a megaphone for corporate sponsors .
Now the NFL is in the news amid national protests and violence following the killing of George Floyd at the hands of police .
The inspirational song “ Lift Every Voice and Sing ” — also known as the Black national anthem — will be played before every game of the first week of the season .
The league is considering letting players wear protest insignia on their helmets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apologized to players for not listening to them about racism .
Yet the NFL capitulation poses fundamental problems for the league .
It has now essentially greenlighted the sort of activism that in the last few years has been eating away its profits .
Racial issues are often virtue-signaled in the NFL but almost never in an honest way .
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees recently objected to players not honoring the flag .
But he quickly caved when a media mob damned him .
NFL owners and head coaches are almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the players are black .
Those who play the game obviously want to see more diversity in coaching and ownership .
In a culture so obsessed with identity politics , is it the players or the owners and coaches ( or both ) who do not “ look like America ” ?
Given that about 13 % of the U.S. population is Black , and given that the Black Lives Matter movement embraces concepts like proportional representation , today ’ s NFL teams hardly qualify as diverse .
Perhaps an NFL compromise could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owners are nonwhite , thus reflecting current U.S. demography .
But then , in reciprocity , the players would match such mandatory demographic diversity — leading to Native Americans , Latinos , Asians , whites and those of mixed ancestry accounting for 87 % of the player population .
The NBA might also take note .
This progressive model of proportional representation could also apply to overrepresented white athletes in hockey , tennis , golf and swimming — sports faulted by identity politics groups as being unfairly overrepresented by whites .
Obviously , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fans value meritocracy over ethnic affiliations .
Or at least they did .
If the multibillion-dollar NFL decides that multimillionaire players have no obligation to stand to honor a collective national anthem , and that there will be separate anthems and politicized uniforms , then millions of Americans will quietly shrug and change the channel .
And that silent protest will make the 2016-17 anthem protest look like child ’ s play .

The National Football League celebrated its 100th anniversary last year. This should be a time of self-congratulation for the brutal sport, which has no similar counterpart outside the United States.
The NFL’s megaprofits dwarf those of other professional sports in the United States. The Super Bowl, not the World Series, is America’s national sports event.
The league survived all sorts of crises in the past.
Yet the NFL is in deep trouble like never before.
In 2016, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the national anthem. He claimed he was protesting the treatment of African Americans.
Kaepernick was an odd revolutionary. His mother is white, his father is an African American of Ghanaian and Nigerian ancestry, and he was raised by a middle-class white couple.
Kaepernick’s rejection of “The Star-Spangled Banner” eventually spread throughout the NFL.
Then game attendance fell. So did television viewership. Apparently, lots of fans had no desire to spend their Sundays watching 20-something multimillionaires lecture them that the American flag was not worth honoring.
In 2018, the league belatedly banned players from kneeling for the national anthem. By then, Kaepernick had left football and become a megaphone for corporate sponsors.
Now the NFL is in the news amid national protests and violence following the killing of George Floyd at the hands of police.
The inspirational song “Lift Every Voice and Sing” — also known as the Black national anthem — will be played before every game of the first week of the season. The league is considering letting players wear protest insignia on their helmets or jerseys. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell apologized to players for not listening to them about racism.
Yet the NFL capitulation poses fundamental problems for the league. It has now essentially greenlighted the sort of activism that in the last few years has been eating away its profits.
Racial issues are often virtue-signaled in the NFL but almost never in an honest way. New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees recently objected to players not honoring the flag. But he quickly caved when a media mob damned him.
NFL owners and head coaches are almost all white. But nearly three-quarters of the players are black. Those who play the game obviously want to see more diversity in coaching and ownership.
In a culture so obsessed with identity politics, is it the players or the owners and coaches (or both) who do not “look like America”?
Given that about 13% of the U.S. population is Black, and given that the Black Lives Matter movement embraces concepts like proportional representation, today’s NFL teams hardly qualify as diverse.
Perhaps an NFL compromise could ensure that 30% of coaches and owners are nonwhite, thus reflecting current U.S. demography. But then, in reciprocity, the players would match such mandatory demographic diversity — leading to Native Americans, Latinos, Asians, whites and those of mixed ancestry accounting for 87% of the player population. The NBA might also take note.
This progressive model of proportional representation could also apply to overrepresented white athletes in hockey, tennis, golf and swimming — sports faulted by identity politics groups as being unfairly overrepresented by whites.
Obviously, such racial gerrymandering will not happen because fans value meritocracy over ethnic affiliations.
Or at least they did.
If the multibillion-dollar NFL decides that multimillionaire players have no obligation to stand to honor a collective national anthem, and that there will be separate anthems and politicized uniforms, then millions of Americans will quietly shrug and change the channel.
And that silent protest will make the 2016-17 anthem protest look like child’s play.
Victor Davis Hanson is a syndicated columnist. © Distributed by Tribune Content Agency.