mercurynews--2020-06-02--What happens after George Floyd? California looks to reparations

The anger and frustration that flooded more than 20 cities in recent days will likely put pressure on the state to conduct a thorough examination of historic and continued discrimination of African Americans — even as civil unrest continues .
Although racism — both institutional and cultural — is a national stain that bleeds hundreds of years deep , some suggest California should account for its share of mistreatment .
Before George Floyd in Minneapolis , there was Stephon Clark in Sacramento .
Before Eric Garner in New York , there was Oscar Grant in Oakland .
Before the Rodney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the Watts riots decades earlier .
This week as black leaders look to lead statewide dialogues , one proposed bill out of Sacramento could offer a starting point for apology — and healing .
San Diego Democratic Assemblywoman Shirley Weber ’ s AB 3121 would establish an eight-member reparations committee to educate Californians about slavery and to recommend direct and indirect state settlements to help remedy generations of inequality and discrimination .
The bill quietly advanced out of the Assembly ’ s judiciary committee before the nation erupted in protest and is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ committee Tuesday .
“ We felt that California needed to examine itself , ” said Weber , the daughter of a Southern sharecropper who rose to become one of the state ’ s leading education advocates , before the weekend ’ s violence .
“ Is there any lingering impacts of the issue of slavery in the United States on the lives and progress of Africans in this country , and in California , in particular ?
” America has offered apologies and compensation for injustices of the past , from the internment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seizing tribal lands from Native Americans .
And cities and states have approved reparations for their own wrongdoings .
But Weber acknowledges the state task force would step into a thorny national topic with lots of uncharted questions , such as : who would pay , who should get paid and how should they get paid ?
There is no formal opposition to the bill , but three Republican lawmakers — James Gallagher of Yuba City , Kevin Kiley of Granite Bay and Jay Obernolte of Hesperia — voted against Weber ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Kiley ’ s chief of staff , Joshua Hoover , one reason the assemblyman voted no is that he believes “ the federal level is a more appropriate place for this discussion to take place.
” Supporters say it ’ s another case of California leading by example .
“ If California is willing to lead on other conversations around climate , around income inequality and around things like this , there is no way to have any of these conversations without acknowledging what has been done to black people in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Western Center on Law and Poverty , a nonprofit law firm that advocates on issues affecting the poor .
Although California was admitted into the Union as a “ free state , ” slavery persisted with public auctions and a fugitive slave law decreeing that a person brought to the state as a slave would be considered a slave .
After slavery was abolished in 1865 , discrimination permeated throughout American society from Jim Crow laws and redlining to unequal access to education and police use of force that has led to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and prisons .
Proponents of the reparations committee point to these practices for disadvantaging African Americans , which has contributed to well-documented racial wealth gaps , higher unemployment rates and health disparities .
The reparations debate has been on and off nationally .
During the Democratic presidential primaries last year , reparations became a talking point for contenders .
In Congress , Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee , a Democrat from Texas , introduced a bill to establish a reparations committee , although it has yet to gain traction .
Coincidentally , California state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in support of Jackson Lee ’ s bill .
For its part , California has sought to change police practices and set a new standard , another Weber bill , for when police are permitted to use deadly force .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom spoke about how he wrestled to explain race and class to his children after his children saw videos of Floyd ’ s deadly arrest on social media and today , he suggested institutions need to change .
“ You ’ ve got to change hearts , minds .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not just laws , ” the Democratic governor said .
“ And we have to own up to some very difficult things .
The black community is not responsible for what ’ s happening to this country right now .
We are.
” Although Newsom hasn ’ t weighed in on Weber ’ s bill , he has apologized to Native Americans for the state ’ s history of violence , signaling his willingness to have a dialogue with disenfranchised communities .
And just earlier this year , California lawmakers issued a formal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ World War II .
Still , the state has yet to apologize to African Americans .
And today , the national upheaval is happening in the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic , which has been more deadly for black Californians than most other groups in places like Los Angeles .
The recession too has disproportionately hurt black and Latino communities .
“ This pandemic is exposing the flaws in our system that are often covered up by this thing that people think California is wonderful , ” Weber said .
“ It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s still some folks here who are not benefiting.
” • Protests , looting continue in Southern California as new week begins • Sacramento Kings ’ announcer Grant Napear placed on leave after ex-players call him a ‘ closet racist , ’ clown • Military police on alert at White House as Trump orders crackdown • Why have George Floyd protests turned violent in the Bay Area and beyond ?
In order to have a more just society , California must acknowledge the past and the reparations committee is one way to fix @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Center on Law and Poverty .
“ It is no longer an option to think of reparations as fringe , ” McKinney said .
The bill is silent on how the state should redress slavery .
Weber ’ s bill is crafted more as a launching point : the task force would spend a year studying the issue and return with recommendations for what reparations might look like for African Americans in California , as well as how it might be distributed to the state ’ s roughly 2.5 million black residents .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders appoint members of the task force with members who represent communities of color and have experience on racial justice reform .
“ We think it needs to have an independent voice , ” Weber said .
But even after the committee hands in its recommendations , there ’ s nothing that would require the Legislature to act .

The anger and frustration that flooded more than 20 cities in recent days will likely put pressure on the state to conduct a thorough examination of historic and continued discrimination of African Americans — even as civil unrest continues.
Although racism — both institutional and cultural — is a national stain that bleeds hundreds of years deep, some suggest California should account for its share of mistreatment. Before George Floyd in Minneapolis, there was Stephon Clark in Sacramento. Before Eric Garner in New York, there was Oscar Grant in Oakland. Before the Rodney King uprising in Los Angeles, there was the Watts riots decades earlier.
This week as black leaders look to lead statewide dialogues, one proposed bill out of Sacramento could offer a starting point for apology — and healing. San Diego Democratic Assemblywoman Shirley Weber’s AB 3121 would establish an eight-member reparations committee to educate Californians about slavery and to recommend direct and indirect state settlements to help remedy generations of inequality and discrimination. The bill quietly advanced out of the Assembly’s judiciary committee before the nation erupted in protest and is scheduled to be heard in the appropriations committee Tuesday.
“We felt that California needed to examine itself,” said Weber, the daughter of a Southern sharecropper who rose to become one of the state’s leading education advocates, before the weekend’s violence. “Is there any lingering impacts of the issue of slavery in the United States on the lives and progress of Africans in this country, and in California, in particular?”
America has offered apologies and compensation for injustices of the past, from the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II to seizing tribal lands from Native Americans. And cities and states have approved reparations for their own wrongdoings. But Weber acknowledges the state task force would step into a thorny national topic with lots of uncharted questions, such as: who would pay, who should get paid and how should they get paid?
There is no formal opposition to the bill, but three Republican lawmakers — James Gallagher of Yuba City, Kevin Kiley of Granite Bay and Jay Obernolte of Hesperia — voted against Weber’s bill in the judiciary committee. According to Kiley’s chief of staff, Joshua Hoover, one reason the assemblyman voted no is that he believes “the federal level is a more appropriate place for this discussion to take place.”
Assembly member Shirley weber gives a press conference after the passing of her bill AB 392, which would limit the use of ‘deadly force’ by police, on July 8, 2019.
Supporters say it’s another case of California leading by example.
“If California is willing to lead on other conversations around climate, around income inequality and around things like this, there is no way to have any of these conversations without acknowledging what has been done to black people in this country,” said Courtney McKinney of the Western Center on Law and Poverty, a nonprofit law firm that advocates on issues affecting the poor.
Although California was admitted into the Union as a “free state,” slavery persisted with public auctions and a fugitive slave law decreeing that a person brought to the state as a slave would be considered a slave.
After slavery was abolished in 1865, discrimination permeated throughout American society from Jim Crow laws and redlining to unequal access to education and police use of force that has led to mass incarceration of black people in jails and prisons. Proponents of the reparations committee point to these practices for disadvantaging African Americans, which has contributed to well-documented racial wealth gaps, higher unemployment rates and health disparities.
The reparations debate has been on and off nationally. During the Democratic presidential primaries last year, reparations became a talking point for contenders. In Congress, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, a Democrat from Texas, introduced a bill to establish a reparations committee, although it has yet to gain traction. Coincidentally, California state lawmakers put forth Assembly Joint Resolution 21 in support of Jackson Lee’s bill.
For its part, California has sought to change police practices and set a new standard, another Weber bill, for when police are permitted to use deadly force. Gov. Gavin Newsom spoke about how he wrestled to explain race and class to his children after his children saw videos of Floyd’s deadly arrest on social media and today, he suggested institutions need to change.
“You’ve got to change hearts, minds. You’ve got to change culture, not just laws,” the Democratic governor said. “And we have to own up to some very difficult things. The black community is not responsible for what’s happening to this country right now. We are.”
Although Newsom hasn’t weighed in on Weber’s bill, he has apologized to Native Americans for the state’s history of violence, signaling his willingness to have a dialogue with disenfranchised communities. And just earlier this year, California lawmakers issued a formal apology for discriminating against Japanese Americans during World War II.
Still, the state has yet to apologize to African Americans. And today, the national upheaval is happening in the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, which has been more deadly for black Californians than most other groups in places like Los Angeles. The recession too has disproportionately hurt black and Latino communities.
“This pandemic is exposing the flaws in our system that are often covered up by this thing that people think California is wonderful,” Weber said. “It is a wonderful state. But there’s still some folks here who are not benefiting.”
Related Articles California News | Officer gets 4+ years for role in George Floyd killing
Officer gets 4+ years for role in George Floyd killing California News | San Jose: Federal excessive force lawsuit from George Floyd protests is greenlit for trial In order to have a more just society, California must acknowledge the past and the reparations committee is one way to fix it, said McKinney of the Western Center on Law and Poverty.
“It is no longer an option to think of reparations as fringe,” McKinney said.
The bill is silent on how the state should redress slavery. Weber’s bill is crafted more as a launching point: the task force would spend a year studying the issue and return with recommendations for what reparations might look like for African Americans in California, as well as how it might be distributed to the state’s roughly 2.5 million black residents.
Weber is proposing the governor and legislative leaders appoint members of the task force with members who represent communities of color and have experience on racial justice reform.
“We think it needs to have an independent voice,” Weber said.
But even after the committee hands in its recommendations, there’s nothing that would require the Legislature to act.


mercurynews--2020-06-02--Image of Santa Cruz police chief, mayor kneeling packs a punch

SANTA CRUZ — Justin Cummings and Andy Mills , two masked men among hundreds of people , kneeled side-by-side on the sidewalk at the corner of Water Street and Pacific Avenue at 9:25 a.m. on Saturday morning during a community-organized demonstration .
The symbolism of the moment , captured by Sentinel photographer Shmuel Thaler during an “ action of mourning , ” however , has touched a nerve — mostly positive — as it quickly spread over the weekend via thousands of social media shares .
Fellow media agencies included the photo with compilations of similar images nationwide as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ destruction elsewhere in the fallout over the police killing of Minnesota ’ s George Floyd .
Cummings , a black man , has served as Santa Cruz ’ s mayor since December , first elected as a Santa Cruz City Councilman a year before .
Mills , a white man , was hired as the city police chief in July 2017 .
“ It wasn ’ t planned , it just kind of ended up happening the way it did , ” Cummings said Monday of his kneeling beside Mills after the two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who said he was a victim of police racial profiling while growing up in Chicago , said public reactions to the photograph directed at him have been mostly positive , while the negative online reactions such as “ yuck ” and “ sell-out ” do not bother him .
“ I think the fact that the police chief was outspoken from the beginning about the actions of the officers in Minnesota being unacceptable and then , taking a knee , I think the fact really does speak volumes to the fact that ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ OK and that they ’ re willing to join the community in mourning the loss of this person , ” Cummings said .
As communities across the country and world struggled to voice frustrations , fears and sadness about Floyd ’ s May 25 killing by a Minneapolis police officer , Mills voiced concerns via social media .
Four days after Floyd ’ s death , Mills tweeted , “ No excuses .
No equivocating .
Policing must do better .
# GeorgeLloyd # YouSeeItYouOwnIt.
” In a personal Facebook post later the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Floyd ’ s killing “ disturbs me to my core.
” Two days later , officer Derek Chauvin , who had been fired along with three other involved officers , was arrested and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for Floyd ’ s death .
“ This is not the profession I joined , ” Mills wrote on Facebook .
“ We have to get policing back on track and that will take a concerted effort of cops w/ integrity , humility and a sense of justice .
Actions like this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watching it happen must go for justice to prevail .
If you see it you own it.
” Mills also wrote a longer guest commentary for the Sentinel , published Sunday .
He , along with the rest of the law enforcement agencies , responded to a mutual aid request from the Oakland Police Department for its weekend large-scale protests , leaving one Santa Cruz officer with a nonlife-threatening injury and vandalism to one department vehicle and one Santa Cruz County Sheriff ’ s Office vehicle , Mills said .
The response , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporting a community and preventing another community from spiraling down into looting and violence due to the actions of a few .
Asked Monday how he came to be kneeling Saturday , Mills said that he discussed with his wife that , when the time came , he would kneel in solidarity with the community and as a message to his own officers .
“ We are part of this community , ” Mills said .
“ By de-escalating things and understanding that the police have had a role in creating this environment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we can either be a hope for change or we can continue to be part of the problem .
I think that message was received.
” Santa Cruz-raised resident Alwa Gordon , in an email to the Sentinel and a personal Facebook post , raised a concern about the widespread sharing of the Santa Cruz kneeling photo , saying that he feared it “ allows a lot of people to excuse and kick under the rug a lot of the racism that is here in Santa Cruz.
” • Ex-California county attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ denies she had proof he committed fraud • Protests , looting continue in Southern California as new week begins “ I was watching and starting to see the picture spread around and a lot of people who truly , I believe , don ’ t want change to happen , sharing the picture , saying , ‘ Hey , this is not my city and look at us .
We ’ ve never had to deal with racism and we have our police chief kneeling with the mayor so we can all high-five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but we ’ re still going to continue behind closed doors , following the same patterns and behaviors that kind of got us in this space , ’ ” Gordon said .
Gordon shared experiences with what he called Santa Cruz ’ s “ polite ” racism that he said is often accompanied by protests that “ it ’ s not because you ’ re black ” or “ it wasn ’ t because they ’ re Mexican.
” On the day of President Donald Trump ’ s election in 2016 , Gordon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yelling out of their car “ white power ” ; he said he is regularly asked about returning “ home ” or visiting his “ relatives ” in Africa based on people ’ s assumption about his first name .
“ If you could just take the time and listen to how someone ’ s feeling about a situation without wanting to interject or without feeling defensive , without saying , ‘ Well , not me .
I would never do that.
’ Or , ‘ I ’ ve learned and I know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I think if everyone could just listen and be heard , because I think that ’ s a lot of what you ’ re seeing a lot of people angry about.
” In an attempt to step in that direction later this week , Cummings and Mills will co-host a community forum featuring updates on police department efforts to address systemic bias and local lawmakers ’ push to limit use of racially charged technology .
Though both efforts were underway prior to the coronavirus pandemic and shelter-in-place orders , the latest national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the two to agree to offer a public outlet for questions and concerns , Cummings said .

SANTA CRUZ — Justin Cummings and Andy Mills, two masked men among hundreds of people, kneeled side-by-side on the sidewalk at the corner of Water Street and Pacific Avenue at 9:25 a.m. on Saturday morning during a community-organized demonstration.
The symbolism of the moment, captured by Sentinel photographer Shmuel Thaler during an “action of mourning,” however, has touched a nerve — mostly positive — as it quickly spread over the weekend via thousands of social media shares. Fellow media agencies included the photo with compilations of similar images nationwide as a contrast to prevailing imagery of riot and destruction elsewhere in the fallout over the police killing of Minnesota’s George Floyd.
Cummings, a black man, has served as Santa Cruz’s mayor since December, first elected as a Santa Cruz City Councilman a year before. Mills, a white man, was hired as the city police chief in July 2017.
“It wasn’t planned, it just kind of ended up happening the way it did,” Cummings said Monday of his kneeling beside Mills after the two briefly converged to chat.
Cummings, who said he was a victim of police racial profiling while growing up in Chicago, said public reactions to the photograph directed at him have been mostly positive, while the negative online reactions such as “yuck” and “sell-out” do not bother him.
“I think the fact that the police chief was outspoken from the beginning about the actions of the officers in Minnesota being unacceptable and then, taking a knee, I think the fact really does speak volumes to the fact that (Mills) acknowledges what happened was not OK and that they’re willing to join the community in mourning the loss of this person,” Cummings said.
TAKING A STAND
As communities across the country and world struggled to voice frustrations, fears and sadness about Floyd’s May 25 killing by a Minneapolis police officer, Mills voiced concerns via social media. Four days after Floyd’s death, Mills tweeted, “No excuses. No equivocating. Policing must do better. #GeorgeLloyd #YouSeeItYouOwnIt.” In a personal Facebook post later the same day, Mills wrote in part that Floyd’s killing “disturbs me to my core.” Two days later, officer Derek Chauvin, who had been fired along with three other involved officers, was arrested and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for Floyd’s death.
“This is not the profession I joined,” Mills wrote on Facebook. “We have to get policing back on track and that will take a concerted effort of cops w/ integrity, humility and a sense of justice. Actions like this, and those cops standing by and watching it happen must go for justice to prevail. If you see it you own it.”
Mills also wrote a longer guest commentary for the Sentinel, published Sunday. He, along with the rest of the law enforcement agencies, responded to a mutual aid request from the Oakland Police Department for its weekend large-scale protests, leaving one Santa Cruz officer with a nonlife-threatening injury and vandalism to one department vehicle and one Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office vehicle, Mills said. The response, Mills said, was a balance between supporting a community and preventing another community from spiraling down into looting and violence due to the actions of a few.
Asked Monday how he came to be kneeling Saturday, Mills said that he discussed with his wife that, when the time came, he would kneel in solidarity with the community and as a message to his own officers.
“We are part of this community,” Mills said. “By de-escalating things and understanding that the police have had a role in creating this environment, historically as well as recent history, we can either be a hope for change or we can continue to be part of the problem. I think that message was received.”
‘JUST LISTEN’
Santa Cruz-raised resident Alwa Gordon, in an email to the Sentinel and a personal Facebook post, raised a concern about the widespread sharing of the Santa Cruz kneeling photo, saying that he feared it “allows a lot of people to excuse and kick under the rug a lot of the racism that is here in Santa Cruz.” Related Articles Crime and Public Safety | Man shot, killed by Colorado cop was holding a marker, not a weapon
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“I was watching and starting to see the picture spread around and a lot of people who truly, I believe, don’t want change to happen, sharing the picture, saying, ‘Hey, this is not my city and look at us. We’ve never had to deal with racism and we have our police chief kneeling with the mayor so we can all high-five and then we can go home, but we’re still going to continue behind closed doors, following the same patterns and behaviors that kind of got us in this space,’” Gordon said.
Gordon shared experiences with what he called Santa Cruz’s “polite” racism that he said is often accompanied by protests that “it’s not because you’re black” or “it wasn’t because they’re Mexican.” On the day of President Donald Trump’s election in 2016, Gordon said someone drove down his street, yelling out of their car “white power”; he said he is regularly asked about returning “home” or visiting his “relatives” in Africa based on people’s assumption about his first name.
“If you could just take the time and listen to how someone’s feeling about a situation without wanting to interject or without feeling defensive, without saying, ‘Well, not me. I would never do that.’ Or, ‘I’ve learned and I know better,’” Gordon said. “I think if everyone could just listen and be heard, because I think that’s a lot of what you’re seeing a lot of people angry about.”
In an attempt to step in that direction later this week, Cummings and Mills will co-host a community forum featuring updates on police department efforts to address systemic bias and local lawmakers’ push to limit use of racially charged technology. Though both efforts were underway prior to the coronavirus pandemic and shelter-in-place orders, the latest national unrest over Floyd’s killing prompted the two to agree to offer a public outlet for questions and concerns, Cummings said.


mercurynews--2020-06-02--Report: MLB owners considering 50-game season as counter to players’ latest proposal

How many games does a baseball team have to play to make the regular season “ regular ” ?
According to a report by ESPN Monday , the answer is somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 games , under terms being discussed by Major League Baseball in response to the latest offer from the MLB Players ’ Association .
In the players ’ proposal , issued Sunday , teams would play 114 regular season games between June 30 and Oct. 31 .
Playing half the season they envisioned is just one detail of many for the players to consider , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received .
Chief among them is the issue of pay .
The players ’ association has insisted repeatedly that team owners already agreed to pro rata compensation – paying players their agreed-upon 2020 salaries in proportion to the length of the regular season – and that this point is no longer ground for collective bargaining .
The owners ’ latest proposal would provide pro rata compensation .
Still , other financial issues remain .
The players requested a total of $ 100 million in advance of their second , abbreviated spring training .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to a second wave of the novel coronavirus , the players requested a total of $ 100 million in salary to be deferred with interest .
Players also proposed allowing anyone to opt out of playing , given the risk of contracting Covid-19 .
Can a major league player with an underlying medical condition opt out and still receive his pro rata salary and service time ?
These details have yet to be finalized .
Monday ’ s report offers hope that the two sides can move forward with the pro rata @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been a major sticking point among players who used their social media to comment on the league ’ s series of proposals .
There is no hard deadline for the two sides to reach agreement .
However , if the June 30 start date is a sticking point among the players ’ union , any hypothetical spring training would need to begin soon .
A 114-game season would pay players 70.4 percent of their 2020 salaries .
A 50-game season would pay 30.9 percent .
The smaller sample of games could produce wildly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winning percentages than fans are accustomed to .
More than the sanctity of baseball statistics , the proposed reduction in player pay will determine how long of a season is acceptable .

How many games does a baseball team have to play to make the regular season “regular”?
According to a report by ESPN Monday, the answer is somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 games, under terms being discussed by Major League Baseball in response to the latest offer from the MLB Players’ Association.
In the players’ proposal, issued Sunday, teams would play 114 regular season games between June 30 and Oct. 31. Playing half the season they envisioned is just one detail of many for the players to consider, if and when a formal counterproposal is received.
Chief among them is the issue of pay. The players’ association has insisted repeatedly that team owners already agreed to pro rata compensation – paying players their agreed-upon 2020 salaries in proportion to the length of the regular season – and that this point is no longer ground for collective bargaining. The owners’ latest proposal would provide pro rata compensation.
Still, other financial issues remain. The players requested a total of $100 million in advance of their second, abbreviated spring training. If the postseason were to be cancelled due to a second wave of the novel coronavirus, the players requested a total of $100 million in salary to be deferred with interest.
Players also proposed allowing anyone to opt out of playing, given the risk of contracting Covid-19. Can a major league player with an underlying medical condition opt out and still receive his pro rata salary and service time? These details have yet to be finalized.
Monday’s report offers hope that the two sides can move forward with the pro rata salary issue behind them. That had been a major sticking point among players who used their social media to comment on the league’s series of proposals.
There is no hard deadline for the two sides to reach agreement. However, if the June 30 start date is a sticking point among the players’ union, any hypothetical spring training would need to begin soon.
A 114-game season would pay players 70.4 percent of their 2020 salaries. A 50-game season would pay 30.9 percent. The smaller sample of games could produce wildly unexpected standings, batting averages, and winning percentages than fans are accustomed to. More than the sanctity of baseball statistics, the proposed reduction in player pay will determine how long of a season is acceptable.


mercurynews--2020-06-02--2,100-plus arrested so far in Los Angeles County while protests rage

At least 2,100 people were arrested in three L.A. County cities over the weekend that saw peaceful protests but also vandalism and looting .
Most of the arrests were in Los Angeles , with Officer Rosario Cervantes , a Police Department spokeswoman , saying her agency arrested an estimated 700 people during the civil unrest alone on Sunday .
In the two days prior , officers arrested 931 .
The arrests were for a variety of allegations , including burglary , looting , battery on a police officer , failure to disperse and violating curfew .
Some were arrested on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrested on suspicion of attempted murder .
The protests turned violent Saturday and Sunday , hitting hard the Fairfax District , downtown Los Angeles and the cities of Long Beach and Santa Monica .
City leaders spoke during a Monday press conference about shop owners coming back to burned out buildings in tears .
Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore , who apologized to business owners in the city affected by looting and rioting , said 88 buildings on Melrose Avenue were lost .
Some 2,000 National Guard troops , he said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday , June 2 .
On Sunday , L.A. County ordered people to go home starting at 6 p.m. , though they only gave residents about two hours to do so when the countywide curfew was issued .
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said those who rioted en masse did so during the COVID-19 pandemic , which could spike the number of coronavirus cases in the next few weeks in the county .
He said sheriff deputies , LAPD officers and the National Guard troops will allow non-violent marches but at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents safe .
The county has established a state of emergency and has called for another curfew Monday evening .
“ The rule of law is present throughout Los Angeles County , ” the sheriff said .
“ We will assure everyone can assembly peacefully and businesses can be open again , and those business owners can put food on the table.
” Around 400 people were arrested duiring civil arrest in Santa Monica alone Sunday – a big number compared against the Police Department ’ s number of sworn officers , 233 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Southern California as new week begins • Sacramento Kings ’ announcer Grant Napear placed on leave after ex-players call him a ‘ closet racist , ’ clown • Military police on alert at White House as Trump orders crackdown • Why have George Floyd protests turned violent in the Bay Area and beyond ?
The city had requested aid from nearby police agencies before a peaceful march along the city ’ s iconic Ocean Avenue .
And then , nearby , dozens of looters smashed windows and fled with handfuls of shoes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police scattered protesters with tear gas and rubber bullets .
In Long Beach , the mayor said 73 people were arrested on Sunday for crimes such as vandalism , looting , and curfew violations .
Police said the protest there , attended by thousands , was largely peaceful .
But there were outbreaks in crime , with some protesters telling the suspects to stop .

At least 2,100 people were arrested in three L.A. County cities over the weekend that saw peaceful protests but also vandalism and looting.
Most of the arrests were in Los Angeles, with Officer Rosario Cervantes, a Police Department spokeswoman, saying her agency arrested an estimated 700 people during the civil unrest alone on Sunday. In the two days prior, officers arrested 931.
The arrests were for a variety of allegations, including burglary, looting, battery on a police officer, failure to disperse and violating curfew. Some were arrested on probation violations.
At least one was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
The protests turned violent Saturday and Sunday, hitting hard the Fairfax District, downtown Los Angeles and the cities of Long Beach and Santa Monica. City leaders spoke during a Monday press conference about shop owners coming back to burned out buildings in tears.
Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore, who apologized to business owners in the city affected by looting and rioting, said 88 buildings on Melrose Avenue were lost.
Some 2,000 National Guard troops, he said, would be deployed to the city by Tuesday, June 2.
On Sunday, L.A. County ordered people to go home starting at 6 p.m., though they only gave residents about two hours to do so when the countywide curfew was issued.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said those who rioted en masse did so during the COVID-19 pandemic, which could spike the number of coronavirus cases in the next few weeks in the county.
He said sheriff deputies, LAPD officers and the National Guard troops will allow non-violent marches but at the same time they are working to keep residents safe. The county has established a state of emergency and has called for another curfew Monday evening.
“The rule of law is present throughout Los Angeles County,” the sheriff said. “We will assure everyone can assembly peacefully and businesses can be open again, and those business owners can put food on the table.”
Around 400 people were arrested duiring civil arrest in Santa Monica alone Sunday – a big number compared against the Police Department’s number of sworn officers, 233.
Related Articles Crime and Public Safety | Officer gets 4+ years for role in George Floyd killing
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And then, nearby, dozens of looters smashed windows and fled with handfuls of shoes, jewelry, surfboards and liquor bottles. Police scattered protesters with tear gas and rubber bullets.
In Long Beach, the mayor said 73 people were arrested on Sunday for crimes such as vandalism, looting, and curfew violations.
Police said the protest there, attended by thousands, was largely peaceful. But there were outbreaks in crime, with some protesters telling the suspects to stop.


mercurynews--2020-06-02--Ex-California county attorney accused of killing wife on cruise ship denies she had proof he committ

Ex-California county attorney accused of killing wife on cruise ship denies she had proof he committed fraud

An ex-Orange County attorney accused of killing an ex-wife on an Italian cruise ship denied that the woman had discovered evidence of his committing fraud , as his testimony continued Monday , June 1 , in his ongoing murder trial .
Lonnie Kocontes has testified to waking up to find his second wife , Micki Kanesaki , missing while the two were on the Island Escape cruise ship on the Mediterranean Sea in May 2006 , denying allegations by prosecutors that he strangled Kanesaki and threw her body overboard .
He has also denied telling his third wife prior to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kanesaki killed on the ship , or threatening to “ take matters into his own hands.
” “ I don ’ t know if my ex-wife was killed , ” Kocontes said on Monday .
“ I don ’ t know what happened to my ex-wife , Micki.
” Kocontes earlier in the testimony described Kanesaki as often-depressed and at-times violent when she drank .
Despite their break-up and Koconte ’ s subsequent marriage to and divorce from another woman , Koconte ’ s said he had reconciled with Kanesaki and they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remained financially intertwined through a Ladera Ranch home that she didn ’ t want to sell .
“ She wasn ’ t giving you what you wanted , ” Assistant District Attorney Susan Price said .
Kocontes acknowledged that several months before the cruise he wrote new wills for he and Kanesaki , which left their assets to each other .
But he denied allegations that Kanesaki had “ proof ” that he had defrauded and embezzled a substantial amount of money from a client .
“ While she had that information , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her will , ” Price said .
“ I reconciled with Micki because she agreed to go to counseling , so that is absolutely incorrect what you just said , ” Kocontes said .
Kocontes ’ third wife , Amy Nguyen , previously testified that Kocontes told her prior to the cruise that Kocontes ’ friend Bill Price , a former police officer and private investigator , was going to find someone to kill Kanesaki on the ship .
Prosecutors do not believe Price was actually involved in the death , and he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the prosecutor , Kocontes acknolwedged that at one point after Kanesaki ’ s death he “ speculated ” to Nguyen that Price “ could have ” caused Kanesaki to be killed or thrown off the ship .
The potential motivation he acknowledged in that “ hypothetical ” was Price expecting that he would make money when Kocontes hired him to investigate the death .
“ I did say that in response to a question she asked me , that it could have happened that way , ” Kocontes said .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is what I said to her.
” “ How does him killing Micki Kanesaki equate to him making money from you ?
” Price asked .
“ Obviously I would have to be the one who was a suspect for that to occur , ” Kocontes responded .
The crew of an oceanography research vessel spotted Kanesaki ’ s body and pulled it out of the ocean nearly two days after her disappearance .
“ You never thought her body would wash up , did you ?
” Price asked .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would be a miracle if they found her , ” Kocontes said .
Kocontes ’ attorney has contended that Kanesaki could have died from an accidental fall into the ocean , rather than foul play .
The courtroom has been closed to the public , and the testimony live-streamed , in order to give jurors room to socially-distance .
Kocontes is scheduled to take the stand again on Tuesday .

An ex-Orange County attorney accused of killing an ex-wife on an Italian cruise ship denied that the woman had discovered evidence of his committing fraud, as his testimony continued Monday, June 1, in his ongoing murder trial.
Lonnie Kocontes has testified to waking up to find his second wife, Micki Kanesaki, missing while the two were on the Island Escape cruise ship on the Mediterranean Sea in May 2006, denying allegations by prosecutors that he strangled Kanesaki and threw her body overboard. He has also denied telling his third wife prior to the cruise that he wanted to have Kanesaki killed on the ship, or threatening to “take matters into his own hands.”
“I don’t know if my ex-wife was killed,” Kocontes said on Monday. “I don’t know what happened to my ex-wife, Micki.”
Kocontes earlier in the testimony described Kanesaki as often-depressed and at-times violent when she drank. Despite their break-up and Koconte’s subsequent marriage to and divorce from another woman, Koconte’s said he had reconciled with Kanesaki and they were planning on re-marrying.
The couple had remained financially intertwined through a Ladera Ranch home that she didn’t want to sell.
“She wasn’t giving you what you wanted,” Assistant District Attorney Susan Price said.
“She wasn’t being reasonable,” Kocontes responded.
Kocontes acknowledged that several months before the cruise he wrote new wills for he and Kanesaki, which left their assets to each other. But he denied allegations that Kanesaki had “proof” that he had defrauded and embezzled a substantial amount of money from a client.
“While she had that information, you reconciled with her and you rewrote her will,” Price said.
“I reconciled with Micki because she agreed to go to counseling, so that is absolutely incorrect what you just said,” Kocontes said.
Kocontes’ third wife, Amy Nguyen, previously testified that Kocontes told her prior to the cruise that Kocontes’ friend Bill Price, a former police officer and private investigator, was going to find someone to kill Kanesaki on the ship. Prosecutors do not believe Price was actually involved in the death, and he has testified against Kocontes.
During questioning by the prosecutor, Kocontes acknolwedged that at one point after Kanesaki’s death he “speculated” to Nguyen that Price “could have” caused Kanesaki to be killed or thrown off the ship. The potential motivation he acknowledged in that “hypothetical” was Price expecting that he would make money when Kocontes hired him to investigate the death.
“I did say that in response to a question she asked me, that it could have happened that way,” Kocontes said. “I believed he was capable of that, is what I said to her.”
“How does him killing Micki Kanesaki equate to him making money from you?” Price asked.
“Obviously I would have to be the one who was a suspect for that to occur,” Kocontes responded.
The crew of an oceanography research vessel spotted Kanesaki’s body and pulled it out of the ocean nearly two days after her disappearance.
“You never thought her body would wash up, did you?” Price asked.
“I was told by the American consulate that it would be a miracle if they found her,” Kocontes said.
Kocontes’ attorney has contended that Kanesaki could have died from an accidental fall into the ocean, rather than foul play.
The courtroom has been closed to the public, and the testimony live-streamed, in order to give jurors room to socially-distance. Kocontes is scheduled to take the stand again on Tuesday.


mercurynews--2020-06-02--Kitchen pros say these are the tools and tips you need at home

If you ’ ve settled in at home with plenty of groceries and a plan to cook more often amid the novel coronavirus pandemic , you ’ re not alone — pop on Instagram and you ’ ll see plenty of photos of home cooked meals , snacks and fresh baked bread .
But what if you ’ re not the most experienced of cooks ?
If you ’ re wondering what tools you need most , or even just where to start , we ’ ve rounded up some advice from some Southern California kitchen store owners and employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cooking tools are ; how you should prepare in advance ; and why it might be important to get your kids involved in the process .
Gavin said an 8-inch chef ’ s knife is a pretty standard fit for most cooks and it ’ s good for cutting meats , veggies and fruit .
She recommends cutting those things on a lightweight cutting board that ’ s dishwasher safe .
Skip the heavy duty chopping block .
“ A lot of people like to get the big fancy chopping blocks but those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ I know they look beautiful and they ’ re very cool , but they ’ re heavy , you don ’ t really know where to store them and they ’ re usually not necessary .
They ’ re also glued together so bacteria and gross stuff can kind of seep in between the pieces that are glued.
” She also recommends dutch ovens , which serve a variety of functions — you can cook in them , braise in them and throw them in the oven .
Some high-end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even become family heirlooms .
Pro tip : Want a nonstick pan ?
Gavin said all that ’ s needed to make a stainless steel sauce pan nonstick is to get it good and hot and add a touch of oil .
Also , make sure not to turn whatever you ’ re cooking too often .
For meat and eggs , she said , let those things get a nice edge before turning them .
Rodriguez said that with the recent stay-at-home efforts he ’ s seen a surge of people making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goods .
The proofing basket is used to get bread dough ready before putting into a bread pan .
For other baked goods , such as dinner rolls , cooks can use one of the shallow sheet pans and place the Silpat pad — a nonstick cooking mat — inside it .
Pro tips : Rodriguez said something that ’ s important to remember when cooking is mise en place , or the idea of having ingredients in place and ready to go ahead of cooking .
“ Whenever you ’ re making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or just a simple little stew or something like that , you want to have all of your stuff prepped and ready to go , ” he said , adding that if you need to run out to the store to buy a particular item you don ’ t want to do it when you already have a pot of water boiling on the stove .
Rodriguez ’ s other recommendation ?
Consider cooking with your kids , especially now that they ’ re home from school .
“ Kids , they call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immature palate , ” he said .
“ You don ’ t know what it is , so you won ’ t eat it , but if the kids participate in the cooking of the meal , they will eat it .
You can have them cook salmon and they will eat the salmon they cook.
” Pourat recommends a 5.5-6 inch utility knife that can be used for cutting and peeling ingredients during cooking prep .
Pourat said that for fry pans one of her recommendations is a Lodge cast iron pan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pan helps make food taste better and the only drawback is that they ’ re kind of heavy .
Tongs , she said , are an important tool to have for turning over things that you ’ re cooking .
They serve the same purpose as a spatula , but they often give you more mobility , especially if you ’ re cooking multiple pieces or portions of something .
Pro tips : “ Enjoy the process , ” Pourat said .
“ Honestly , don ’ t try to be so perfect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get better at it , but it doesn ’ t have to be perfect.
” However , Pourat noted that baking is a little different because it requires the precise measurements of ingredients such as flour .
“ That ’ s really going to throw you off in your recipe and your cake , or whatever you are baking , is not going to turn out correct , ” she said .
“ But , if you ’ re making rice , a little bit up or down in the serving , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difference at the end .
”

If you’ve settled in at home with plenty of groceries and a plan to cook more often amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, you’re not alone — pop on Instagram and you’ll see plenty of photos of home cooked meals, snacks and fresh baked bread.
But what if you’re not the most experienced of cooks? If you’re wondering what tools you need most, or even just where to start, we’ve rounded up some advice from some Southern California kitchen store owners and employees.
They shared what the most important cooking tools are; how you should prepare in advance; and why it might be important to get your kids involved in the process.
Sydney Gavin, owner of PREP Kitchen Essentials in Seal Beach
Top recommended items: A chef’s knife, a cutting board, a cast iron skillet, a dutch oven and a stainless steel saucepan.
Gavin said an 8-inch chef’s knife is a pretty standard fit for most cooks and it’s good for cutting meats, veggies and fruit.
She recommends cutting those things on a lightweight cutting board that’s dishwasher safe. Skip the heavy duty chopping block.
“A lot of people like to get the big fancy chopping blocks but those are a little unrealistic,” she said. “I know they look beautiful and they’re very cool, but they’re heavy, you don’t really know where to store them and they’re usually not necessary. They’re also glued together so bacteria and gross stuff can kind of seep in between the pieces that are glued.”
She also recommends dutch ovens, which serve a variety of functions — you can cook in them, braise in them and throw them in the oven. Some high-end brands can last for many years and even become family heirlooms.
Pro tip: Want a nonstick pan? Gavin said all that’s needed to make a stainless steel sauce pan nonstick is to get it good and hot and add a touch of oil. Also, make sure not to turn whatever you’re cooking too often. For meat and eggs, she said, let those things get a nice edge before turning them.
Ernie Rodriguez, owner of Kitchen Fantasy in Temecula
Top recommended items: Bread pan, sheet pan, Silpat pad, banneton proofing basket
Rodriguez said that with the recent stay-at-home efforts he’s seen a surge of people making their own homemade bread and other baked goods.
The proofing basket is used to get bread dough ready before putting into a bread pan. For other baked goods, such as dinner rolls, cooks can use one of the shallow sheet pans and place the Silpat pad — a nonstick cooking mat — inside it.
Pro tips: Rodriguez said something that’s important to remember when cooking is mise en place, or the idea of having ingredients in place and ready to go ahead of cooking.
“Whenever you’re making something, whether it’s gumbo or just a simple little stew or something like that, you want to have all of your stuff prepped and ready to go,” he said, adding that if you need to run out to the store to buy a particular item you don’t want to do it when you already have a pot of water boiling on the stove.
Rodriguez’s other recommendation? Consider cooking with your kids, especially now that they’re home from school.
“Kids, they call them picky and I call that an immature palate,” he said. “You don’t know what it is, so you won’t eat it, but if the kids participate in the cooking of the meal, they will eat it. You can have them cook salmon and they will eat the salmon they cook.”
Sheida Pourat, owner of Bargain Fair in Los Angeles
Top recommended items: Knife, cutting board, fry pans and pots, colander, tongs
Pourat recommends a 5.5-6 inch utility knife that can be used for cutting and peeling ingredients during cooking prep.
Pourat said that for fry pans one of her recommendations is a Lodge cast iron pan. She said the iron on the pan helps make food taste better and the only drawback is that they’re kind of heavy.
Tongs, she said, are an important tool to have for turning over things that you’re cooking. They serve the same purpose as a spatula, but they often give you more mobility, especially if you’re cooking multiple pieces or portions of something.
Pro tips: “Enjoy the process,” Pourat said. “Honestly, don’t try to be so perfect; I think with practice, you get better at it, but it doesn’t have to be perfect.”
However, Pourat noted that baking is a little different because it requires the precise measurements of ingredients such as flour.
“That’s really going to throw you off in your recipe and your cake, or whatever you are baking, is not going to turn out correct,” she said. “But, if you’re making rice, a little bit up or down in the serving, that’s not going to make a difference at the end.”


mercurynews--2020-06-02--Protests, looting continue in Southern California as new week begins

Protests for racial equality , woven between bouts of looting and vandalism by opportunists , continued Monday as Southern California residents started to pick up the pieces from a destructive weekend .
Monday marked the sixth day of nationwide unrest over the death of 46-year-old George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody .
Floyd , who was accused of passing a counterfeit $ 20 bill at a corner convenience store , was killed when fired Officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes .
Early in the day , .an autopsy carried out by independent experts hired by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died from “ asphyxiation from sustained pressure ” caused by the knee on his neck , putting the results at odds with that of the Hennepin County Medical Examiner ’ s Office , according to CNN .
Cities and counties across Southern California set curfews in some areas as early as 1 p.m. Monday as the National Guard and police departments attempted to avoid the looting and destruction experienced over the weekend .
Indeed , even before nightfall , some looters in Hollywood and Van Nuys were met with LAPD police officers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Upland for allegedly brandishing a firearm during a demonstration , officials said .
President Donald Trump threatened to deploy military to the streets of American cities in response , saying he would send “ thousands and thousands ” of soldiers if governors did not shut down the protests .
Trump called governors “ weak ” for not arresting people during a video conference call with state leaders , according to the Associated Press .
Sunday saw the largest number of arrests so far in Los Angeles County , including 700 in Los @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 400 in Santa Monica .
Vandalism and looting in Long Beach and Santa Monica left businesses destroyed in the three cities , including iconic destinations such as Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica and Pine Avenue and The Pike in Long Beach .
Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore apologized to business owners , saying his officers were overwhelmed by the “ forces of those that wish to exact violence in the community.
” The department tempered its response initially to avoid intimidating the peaceful protests , he said .
Eighty-eight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to Moore .
Moore , along with other county law enforcement officials , pledged to scale up their presence with assistance from from the National Guard .
Some 2,000 troops will have deployed in the city by Tuesday , June 2 , Moore said .
The police chiefs urged protesters to work with law enforcement and to call out anyone who uses the protests as an opportunity to loot and vandalize .
“ We need that communication , because in the absence of it , we have to overwhelm , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bring in resources that will appear to stifle the message.
” Residents and business owners started their week cleaning up broken glass and pillaged storefronts in Long Beach , Los Angeles , Santa Monica , San Bernardino and Hemet .
Police chiefs in Santa Monica and Long Beach , in particular , took flak from residents who believed their departments did not do enough to protect property .
Jack Sarkissian , owner of Jack ’ s Jewelers in Santa Monica , said looters spent two hours in his store despite his calls to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t do anything , ” he said , adding that the looters had “ all the time they needed to get anything they needed.
” A petition calling for the removal of Santa Monica Police Chief Cynthia Renauld garnered more than 3,000 signatures as of Monday afternoon .
Renauld at a press conference warned her department would catch those responsible for the coordinated looting at Santa Monica shops .
“ We have been going through the city collecting that evidence .
We have had our residents sending us videos and license plates , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll work through this one day at a time to ensure that we protect justice , civility and safety in the community , while still ensuring that right for people to talk to us through peaceful protest and the expression of what they ’ re feeling.
” Renauld said about 95 percent of those arrested in Santa Monica did not live in the city .
The protests in Southern California before nightfall Monday were largely peaceful , with small pockets of looting in some areas .
The movement spilled into the San Fernando @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hundreds of peaceful protesters converging in Van Nuys at what was supposed to be a canceled event .
Looters used the cover of the growing protest to hit businesses along Van Nuys Boulevard , reportedly raiding a Boost Mobile store , a dispensary and a pharmacy .
At one point , some members of the crowd threw water bottles at officers guarding boarded up shops near the Civic Center .
Looters hit a jewelry store and CVS in Encino while protesters occupied police in other areas of the city .
Elsewhere , thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Angeles , where some at City Hall yelled for National Guardsmen to “ go home.
” Police fired rubbers bullets to try to disperse roughly 200 demonstrators blocking lanes on the 405 Freeway near UCLA in Westwood .
The crowd left the freeway and splintered after being given a five-minute warning to leave the area .
The initial event was organized by the Student Activist Project at UCLA , which had actually tried to call off the event .
Others marched along Hollywood Boulevard carrying a sign that read “ Say their names @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the hands of police .
The National Guard set up with Humvees in the area to try to contain the marchers , but there were no clashes as of Monday evening .
Police arrested looters in Van Nuys and at a Rite Aid in Hollywood later in the night .
Officers in Glendora kneeled alongside protesters for an eight-minute moment of silence as a sign of solidarity .
In Orange County , hundreds gathered in Anaheim ’ s La Palma Park in the first of three protests expected Monday .
The protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speakers describing how police brutality had affected their lives .
“ There ’ s a lot of people hoping you are going to lose your sanity and attack our city and we are here to prove them wrong , ” a speaker said to the crowd , drawing loud cheers .
The protesters later merged with another group in front of Anaheim City Hall , but left as police enforced a 6 p.m. curfew .
In Riverside , more than 4,000 people protested peacefully against police violence .
Many refused to leave once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They clapped rhythmically as officers surrounded them and ordered them to disperse nearly an hour later .
Throughout Southern California , communities braced for another long night with businesses and civic buildings setting up barricades and police staging around potential targets for looters .
In response to the looting over the weekend , Target announced it was temporarily shutting down stores across the nation , including 20 in Southern California .
The retailer pledged to continue to pay workers ’ salaries and benefits while the stores are closed .
Protesters laid on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t Breathe ” in West Covina near the 10 Freeway .
Police closed off the entrances to the Eastland Center mall in advance .
Torrance ’ s Del Amo Fashion Center shut down early Monday and police officers blocked off the entrances using city buses .
San Bernardino County closed its offices and coronavirus testing sites early in the day to allow police to focus elsewhere .
Staff writers Nick Green , Ryan Carter , Pierce Singgih , David Rosenfield , Ruby Gonzales , Josh Cain , David Downey , Beau Yarbrough , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Smith , Hunter Lee , Olga Grigoryants , Ariella Plachta , Scott Schwebke , Jeong Park and Sean Emery contributed to this report .

Protests for racial equality, woven between bouts of looting and vandalism by opportunists, continued Monday as Southern California residents started to pick up the pieces from a destructive weekend.
Monday marked the sixth day of nationwide unrest over the death of 46-year-old George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody. Floyd, who was accused of passing a counterfeit $20 bill at a corner convenience store, was killed when fired Officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes.
Early in the day,.an autopsy carried out by independent experts hired by the man’s family declared Floyd died from “asphyxiation from sustained pressure” caused by the knee on his neck, putting the results at odds with that of the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office, according to CNN.
Cities and counties across Southern California set curfews in some areas as early as 1 p.m. Monday as the National Guard and police departments attempted to avoid the looting and destruction experienced over the weekend.
Indeed, even before nightfall, some looters in Hollywood and Van Nuys were met with LAPD police officers and handcuffs. Police also arrested a man in Upland for allegedly brandishing a firearm during a demonstration, officials said.
President Donald Trump threatened to deploy military to the streets of American cities in response, saying he would send “thousands and thousands” of soldiers if governors did not shut down the protests. Trump called governors “weak” for not arresting people during a video conference call with state leaders, according to the Associated Press.
Sunday saw the largest number of arrests so far in Los Angeles County, including 700 in Los Angeles, 73 in Long Beach and more than 400 in Santa Monica. Vandalism and looting in Long Beach and Santa Monica left businesses destroyed in the three cities, including iconic destinations such as Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica and Pine Avenue and The Pike in Long Beach.
Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore apologized to business owners, saying his officers were overwhelmed by the “forces of those that wish to exact violence in the community.” The department tempered its response initially to avoid intimidating the peaceful protests, he said. Eighty-eight buildings on Melrose Avenue alone were destroyed, according to Moore.
Moore, along with other county law enforcement officials, pledged to scale up their presence with assistance from from the National Guard. Some 2,000 troops will have deployed in the city by Tuesday, June 2, Moore said. The police chiefs urged protesters to work with law enforcement and to call out anyone who uses the protests as an opportunity to loot and vandalize.
“We need that communication, because in the absence of it, we have to overwhelm,” Moore said. “We have to bring in resources that will appear to stifle the message.”
Residents and business owners started their week cleaning up broken glass and pillaged storefronts in Long Beach, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, San Bernardino and Hemet. Police chiefs in Santa Monica and Long Beach, in particular, took flak from residents who believed their departments did not do enough to protect property.
Jack Sarkissian, owner of Jack’s Jewelers in Santa Monica, said looters spent two hours in his store despite his calls to police.
“They just didn’t do anything,” he said, adding that the looters had “all the time they needed to get anything they needed.”
A petition calling for the removal of Santa Monica Police Chief Cynthia Renauld garnered more than 3,000 signatures as of Monday afternoon. Renauld at a press conference warned her department would catch those responsible for the coordinated looting at Santa Monica shops.
“We have been going through the city collecting that evidence. We have had our residents sending us videos and license plates,” Renauld said. “We’ll work through this one day at a time to ensure that we protect justice, civility and safety in the community, while still ensuring that right for people to talk to us through peaceful protest and the expression of what they’re feeling.”
Renauld said about 95 percent of those arrested in Santa Monica did not live in the city.
The protests in Southern California before nightfall Monday were largely peaceful, with small pockets of looting in some areas.
The movement spilled into the San Fernando Valley for the first time Monday with hundreds of peaceful protesters converging in Van Nuys at what was supposed to be a canceled event. Looters used the cover of the growing protest to hit businesses along Van Nuys Boulevard, reportedly raiding a Boost Mobile store, a dispensary and a pharmacy. At one point, some members of the crowd threw water bottles at officers guarding boarded up shops near the Civic Center.
Looters hit a jewelry store and CVS in Encino while protesters occupied police in other areas of the city.
Elsewhere, thousands of protesters gathered again in downtown Los Angeles, where some at City Hall yelled for National Guardsmen to “go home.”
Police fired rubbers bullets to try to disperse roughly 200 demonstrators blocking lanes on the 405 Freeway near UCLA in Westwood. The crowd left the freeway and splintered after being given a five-minute warning to leave the area.
The initial event was organized by the Student Activist Project at UCLA, which had actually tried to call off the event.
Others marched along Hollywood Boulevard carrying a sign that read “Say their names” and listing those who have died at the hands of police. The National Guard set up with Humvees in the area to try to contain the marchers, but there were no clashes as of Monday evening.
Police arrested looters in Van Nuys and at a Rite Aid in Hollywood later in the night.
Officers in Glendora kneeled alongside protesters for an eight-minute moment of silence as a sign of solidarity.
In Orange County, hundreds gathered in Anaheim’s La Palma Park in the first of three protests expected Monday. The protesters gathered in the grass and listened to speakers describing how police brutality had affected their lives.
“There’s a lot of people hoping you are going to lose your sanity and attack our city and we are here to prove them wrong,” a speaker said to the crowd, drawing loud cheers.
The protesters later merged with another group in front of Anaheim City Hall, but left as police enforced a 6 p.m. curfew.
In Riverside, more than 4,000 people protested peacefully against police violence. Many refused to leave once the 6 p.m. curfew rolled around. They clapped rhythmically as officers surrounded them and ordered them to disperse nearly an hour later.
Throughout Southern California, communities braced for another long night with businesses and civic buildings setting up barricades and police staging around potential targets for looters. In response to the looting over the weekend, Target announced it was temporarily shutting down stores across the nation, including 20 in Southern California. The retailer pledged to continue to pay workers’ salaries and benefits while the stores are closed.
Protesters laid on the ground and chanted “I Can’t Breathe” in West Covina near the 10 Freeway. Police closed off the entrances to the Eastland Center mall in advance.
Torrance’s Del Amo Fashion Center shut down early Monday and police officers blocked off the entrances using city buses.
San Bernardino County closed its offices and coronavirus testing sites early in the day to allow police to focus elsewhere.
Staff writers Nick Green, Ryan Carter, Pierce Singgih, David Rosenfield, Ruby Gonzales, Josh Cain, David Downey, Beau Yarbrough, Brian Whitehead, Jennifer Iyer, Kevin Smith, Hunter Lee, Olga Grigoryants, Ariella Plachta, Scott Schwebke, Jeong Park and Sean Emery contributed to this report.


mercurynews--2020-06-02--Disneyland surveys passholders about masks, temperature checks and health questionnaires

Disneyland has begun surveying annual passholders about their feelings and opinions on potential COVID-19 health and safety protocols as the Anaheim theme park prepares to reopen following an extended coronavirus closure .
Disneyland passholders were asked a series of survey questions about face masks , temperature checks at park entrances and pre-arrival health questionnaires , according to MiceChat .
Disney ’ s two Anaheim theme parks , three hotels and outdoor shopping mall remain closed until further notice amid the COVID-19 pandemic .
Disneyland and other California theme parks can reopen during Stage 3 of Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s economy .
A firm date has not been established for when California theme parks can reopen .
Walt Disney World conducted similar visitor surveys before announcing plans to begin reopening its four Florida theme parks on July 11 .
Disney is expected to deploy health and safety protocols at the Disney World and Disneyland theme parks that are similar to those used with the reopenings of the Shanghai Disneyland theme park and Disney World ’ s Disney Springs outdoor shopping mall .
The Disneyland survey asked for feedback on how likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parks if certain health and safety measures were implemented .
One series of questions focused on three potential reopening options with regards to masks , temperature checks and health questionnaires .
In all three scenarios , Disneyland planned to make operational changes that are expected to soon become familiar as part of the “ new normal ” at theme parks in the coronavirus era : Reduced attendance , social distancing , enhanced cleaning protocols and COVID-19 employee training .
• Disneyland and other California theme parks can reopen in Stage 3 , state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what Shanghai Disneyland looks like after the coronavirus • Shanghai Disneyland reopens , serving as blueprint for Disney ’ s California and Florida parks • How Disneyland helps show the difference between fiction and fake Option 1 presented a scenario in which visitors were encouraged but not required to wear face masks .
Option 2 required masks for visitors ages 3 years and over as well as temperature screenings before entering the park .
Option 3 was identical to the second option , except the mask age was boosted to 10 years and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 health questionnaires for visitors .
MiceChat , a Disney fan website , recreated several of Disneyland ’ s COVID-19 survey questions and polled 6,200 readers on their responses .
MiceChat readers were in favor of requiring masks and temperature checks with 56.4 % voting for either option 2 or 3 .

Disneyland has begun surveying annual passholders about their feelings and opinions on potential COVID-19 health and safety protocols as the Anaheim theme park prepares to reopen following an extended coronavirus closure.
Disneyland passholders were asked a series of survey questions about face masks, temperature checks at park entrances and pre-arrival health questionnaires, according to MiceChat.
Disney’s two Anaheim theme parks, three hotels and outdoor shopping mall remain closed until further notice amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Disneyland and other California theme parks can reopen during Stage 3 of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s four-stage roadmap for reopening the state’s economy. A firm date has not been established for when California theme parks can reopen.
Walt Disney World conducted similar visitor surveys before announcing plans to begin reopening its four Florida theme parks on July 11. Disney is expected to deploy health and safety protocols at the Disney World and Disneyland theme parks that are similar to those used with the reopenings of the Shanghai Disneyland theme park and Disney World’s Disney Springs outdoor shopping mall.
The Disneyland survey asked for feedback on how likely passholders would be to visit the Anaheim parks if certain health and safety measures were implemented. One series of questions focused on three potential reopening options with regards to masks, temperature checks and health questionnaires.
In all three scenarios, Disneyland planned to make operational changes that are expected to soon become familiar as part of the “new normal” at theme parks in the coronavirus era: Reduced attendance, social distancing, enhanced cleaning protocols and COVID-19 employee training.
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MiceChat, a Disney fan website, recreated several of Disneyland’s COVID-19 survey questions and polled 6,200 readers on their responses.
MiceChat readers were in favor of requiring masks and temperature checks with 56.4% voting for either option 2 or 3.


mercurynews--2020-06-02--Letter: California to cut billions from schools but is adding standards

It ’ s no secret that being a teacher , at any level , is one of the hardest , most debilitating professions .
It isn ’ t for the faint of heart .
However , teaching is a calling and if you ’ re meant to do it , you ’ ll find yourself in this field , one way or another .
Not only is this profession overwhelming at times , it is also underappreciated , underpaid and undervalued .
Fast forward to March 2020 , when educators from across America were forced to convert a traditional classroom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few resources and without an increase in compensation .
Then we find out that California will be cutting the budget for education , in the billions , yet will require districts to decrease class sizes and follow new safety regulations .
• Letter : Twitter needs to apply rules to other leaders • Letter : As the poorest go hungry , greed still drives Trump • Letter : On wildfire safety , PG & E is at or ahead of schedule If we are requiring our schools and teachers to do more , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stable budget to educate and protect students , as well as teachers .
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It’s no secret that being a teacher, at any level, is one of the hardest, most debilitating professions. It isn’t for the faint of heart.
However, teaching is a calling and if you’re meant to do it, you’ll find yourself in this field, one way or another.
Not only is this profession overwhelming at times, it is also underappreciated, underpaid and undervalued. Fast forward to March 2020, when educators from across America were forced to convert a traditional classroom setting into a virtual one with very few resources and without an increase in compensation. Then we find out that California will be cutting the budget for education, in the billions, yet will require districts to decrease class sizes and follow new safety regulations.
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Letters: Insulate wires | CDE was wrong | Functional Chromebooks | Trump’s ego | Healthy debate | A new path Letters to the Editor | Letters: Local solar | Titan resources | Activism helps If we are requiring our schools and teachers to do more, then they must have a strong, stable budget to educate and protect students, as well as teachers.
Veronica Sanchez
Hayward
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mercurynews--2020-06-02--Letter: Twitter needs to apply rules to other leaders

It ’ s about time Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey flag tweets that are suspected to be untrue or that incite @ @ @ @ @ of which were applied to President Donald Trump ’ s tweet barrage .
This application @ @ @ @ @ and did not violate the First Amendment .
It simply flagged the tweet as worthy @ @ @ @ @ ’ s what the First Amendment is about !
Now Twitter needs to start applying @ @ @ @ @ leaders .
A good place to start would be Iran ’ s Ali Khamenei .
@ @ @ @ @ and destruction of Israel should be flagged .
• Letter : As the poorest go @ @ @ @ @ Trump • Letter : On wildfire safety , PG & E is at or ahead @ @ @ @ @ it , Mr. Dorsey ?
Submit your letter to the editor via this form Read @ @ @ @ @

It’s about time Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey flag tweets that are suspected to be untrue or that incite or glorify violence — both of which were applied to President Donald Trump’s tweet barrage.
This application of rules is not censorship and did not violate the First Amendment. It simply flagged the tweet as worthy of further investigation. That’s what the First Amendment is about!
Now Twitter needs to start applying these rules to other world leaders. A good place to start would be Iran’s Ali Khamenei. His constant calls for violence and destruction of Israel should be flagged.
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David E. Cohen
Retired, former Publisher/owner
Silicon Valley Community Newspapers
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mercurynews--2020-06-03--Mother of George Floyd’s daughter says she wants justice

MINNEAPOLIS – The grieving mother of George Floyd ’ s daughter on Tuesday demanded justice for him , saying he was a good father who did not deserve to die face down on the pavement , pinned under the weight of three police officers .
With her 6-year-old daughter Gianna clinging to her , Roxie Washington told reporters she wants all four officers involved in Floyd ’ s death to pay for the killing , which has sparked protests across the U.S. and the world .
“ At the end of the day , they get to go home and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ Gianna doesn ’ t have a father .
He will never see her grow up , graduate .
He will never walk her down the aisle.
” As Washington made her remarks during a brief news conference inside Minneapolis City Hall , Gianna , dressed in a white shirt , tennis shoes and light blue jeans clung to her mother , at times with a frown on her face .
“ He loved her , he loved her so much , ” Washington said of Floyd ’ s feelings for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here for my baby .
I ’ m here for George because I want justice for him , and I want justice for him because he was good .
No matter what anybody thinks , he was good.
” Washington was flanked by family lawyers and close family friend Stephen Jackson , a former National Basketball Association player , who carried Gianna into the building .
“ Why do we have to see her pain ?
I am here to get justice for my brother … and somehow , god dammit , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jackson said , his voice echoing through the marble and stone rotunda .
“ It has to stop .
”

[vemba-video id=”us/2020/06/02/george-floyd-daughter-gianna-mom-vpx.cnn”]
By Brendan O’Brien | Reuters
MINNEAPOLIS – The grieving mother of George Floyd’s daughter on Tuesday demanded justice for him, saying he was a good father who did not deserve to die face down on the pavement, pinned under the weight of three police officers.
With her 6-year-old daughter Gianna clinging to her, Roxie Washington told reporters she wants all four officers involved in Floyd’s death to pay for the killing, which has sparked protests across the U.S. and the world.
“At the end of the day, they get to go home and be with their families,” Washington said. “Gianna doesn’t have a father. He will never see her grow up, graduate. He will never walk her down the aisle.”
As Washington made her remarks during a brief news conference inside Minneapolis City Hall, Gianna, dressed in a white shirt, tennis shoes and light blue jeans clung to her mother, at times with a frown on her face.
“He loved her, he loved her so much,” Washington said of Floyd’s feelings for their daughter. “I’m here for my baby. I’m here for George because I want justice for him, and I want justice for him because he was good. No matter what anybody thinks, he was good.”
Washington was flanked by family lawyers and close family friend Stephen Jackson, a former National Basketball Association player, who carried Gianna into the building.
“Why do we have to see her pain? I am here to get justice for my brother … and somehow, god dammit, we are going to get it,” Jackson said, his voice echoing through the marble and stone rotunda. “It has to stop.”