latimes--2020-01-29--How the pursuit of justice in the Seal Beach mass shooting forged an unlikely friendship

Paul Wilson stood at the lectern of the downtown Los Angeles hotel , pulled a speech out of his jeans , and prepared to honor the man who helped spare the life of his wife ’ s murderer .
The moment , eight years in the making , began on an October day in 2011 when Scott Dekraai walked into a Seal Beach salon .
Once inside , he unleashed the worst mass shooting in Orange County history .
Eight dead , including Christy Wilson , slumped in a hairdresser chair with two bullet wounds .
The man tasked with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loathed him .
He ripped Sanders in the press , questioning his very morality .
The physical differences between the grieving husband and the public defender only magnified his contempt .
Muscular , tattooed and sporting an impressive pompadour , Wilson seemed pulled from the mosh pit of a Social Distortion concert .
Sanders wore wire-framed glasses , had tousled hair and a splotchy , graying beard .
Wilson oozed Southern California ; after a quarter-century here , Sanders still clung to a Chicago accent .
“ I thought Scott was a scumbag @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wilson said .
“ You look at this guy , and I don ’ t know anyone in my shoes that wouldn ’ t have hated him as well.
” And yet , there was Wilson last year at the downtown hotel , heaping hosannas upon Sanders to a riveted audience .
“ I stand here saying what I once never could have predicted , ” Wilson told the Society of Professional Journalists Los Angeles chapter .
“ Scott Sanders isn ’ t just someone I ’ ve come to call my friend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his honesty and his tireless commitment to making the criminal justice system work fairly.
” How that happened is a tale of a notorious crime , the pursuit of justice — for the dead and the accused — and the ways , mostly invisible to the public , that the gears of criminal justice can work .
Or not .
Sanders and Wilson have filmed segments for an Innocence Project campaign against jailhouse informants .
They talk or text daily , and hang out with each other ’ s families .
How that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ snitch scandal.
” While representing Dekraai , Sanders uncovered a jailhouse informant network that he said Orange County sheriff ’ s deputies ran to mine admissions of guilt out of inmates before they had legal representation .
The Orange County district attorney ’ s office used them to win convictions for decades .
In the beginning , Sanders just wanted to save Dekraai from the death penalty — he had no doubt of his guilt .
But then Sanders learned that the inmate his client had talked to also figured in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The public defender asked his assistants to pull other cases he had litigated , and noticed that the same inmates kept procuring confessions like some prison prelate .
Sanders requested that Orange County prosecutors be kicked off Dekraai ’ s case .
Then-Dist .
Atty .
Tony Rackauckas dismissed Sanders ’ argument on “ 60 Minutes ” as a “ conspiracy ” and “ false narrative.
” Wilson accused Sanders in court of having “ blood on [ his ] hands ” with his tactics , which delayed the trial and , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slain wife .
In early 2014 , Sanders filed a 500-pages-plus motion supported by 15,000 pages of exhibits that argued Dekraai couldn ’ t receive a fair trial because of the longtime use of illegal jailhouse informants by Orange County prosecutors and the Sheriff ’ s Department .
That was the same year Dekraai pleaded guilty to the Seal Beach massacre .
Then a slam-dunk case stalled as Orange County Superior Court Judge Thomas Goethals held hearings to let Sanders make his case .
Early on , Sanders knew that Wilson would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to be a voice from the start , ” Sanders said .
“ He ’ s furious , and rightfully so .
And his stare was all daggers , all the time.
” Wilson gladly attacked the public defender in the press , once telling the Orange County Register that Sanders ’ motions were “ killing us in more ways than one.
” In court , Wilson accused Sanders of “ destroying us even more than we ’ ve already been destroyed.
” No moment was too small for Wilson to needle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waited outside a Santa Ana courtroom , Sanders looked more harried than usual .
“ I told him , ‘ Hey , you might want to tuck in your shirt to look more presentable , ’ ” Wilson said .
“ And he gave me this look like , ‘ You got ta stop beating me up.
’ ” But as weeks of delays turned into months , then years , Wilson got suspicious .
He noticed that Goethals , whom he praised as a “ compassionate , brilliant man , ” kept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He listened closely as Sanders questioned sheriff ’ s deputies and prosecutors ; the answers sounded to Wilson more like nervous equivocation and blame-shifting than the confident statements of the past .
He wondered : Had Sanders been right ?
Eventually , Wilson pivoted to criticizing Rackauckas and the Sheriff ’ s Department .
His relationship with prosecutors , once warm , turned chilly .
In 2015 , Wilson appeared on Al Jazeera America and declared that Sanders was “ doing his job above and beyond.
” Goethals removed Rackauckas ’ entire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it to the California attorney general ’ s office .
Wilson increased his public praise of Sanders , but the two still wouldn ’ t acknowledge each other in court beyond a silent nod from time to time .
“ The people who said to hang on to our hate [ of Sanders ] turned out to be as heartbreakingly inept as you can imagine the criminal justice system to be .
Paul eventually saw that , ” said Bethany Webb , who sued the Orange County sheriff and district attorney ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Her sister , Laura Webb Elody , died in the Seal Beach massacre ; their mother , Hattie Stretz , survived .
It wasn ’ t until 2017 that Dekraai was sentenced for the killings .
Goethals gave him eight consecutive life terms .
A few days later , Wilson idled in rush-hour traffic .
In the years since the shooting , he had met with parents of Sandy Hook Elementary School victims and visited Washington and Sacramento to lobby for gun control .
Now , Wilson called the general line for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , expecting to leave a voicemail .
The line rang once before he heard a familiar voice .
“ Hey , Paul , how are you ?
” Sanders told him .
“ I kinda had a feeling this talk would happen.
” Longtime Sheriff Sandra Hutchens retired instead of facing reelection .
Rackauckas , a seemingly indomitable political figure in the county , lost his attempt for a sixth term as district attorney in 2018 .
Todd Spitzer , Orange County ’ s current top prosecutor , said the controversy was “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bottom of the ocean.
” Job applications to the office declined , and the U.S. Justice Department began interviewing prosecutors as part of an investigation .
Spitzer launched his own internal probe in April .
A state inquiry started by then-Atty .
Gen. Kamala Harris and inherited by the current one , Xavier Becerra , went nowhere .
Wilson , meanwhile , had become Dr. Watson to Sanders ’ Sherlock Holmes .
During the day , the 54-year-old apparel executive sits in on court cases multiple times a week to take notes that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s notes help Sanders , 51 , argue in court motions that wrongdoing continues in Orange County law enforcement .
At night , the two make joint appearances before college classes , community groups and legal conferences from Irvine to Utah and beyond .
“ There is a spate of reform all over the country in which legislators are taking a closer look at jailhouse informants , inspired by the O.C .
debacle , ” said Alexandra Natapoff , author of the 2009 book “ Snitching : Criminal Informants and the Erosion of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Irvine ’ s Center in Law , Society and Culture .
“ They are integral to this.
” Charlotte Samuels , a Fullerton College political science professor , asked Sanders and Wilson to address a packed lecture hall last spring .
“ I wanted my students to be aware that you can still be in public service and be noble , ” Samuels said .
“ They remind me of ‘ Mr .
Smith Goes to Washington.
’ I know it ’ s idealistic , but it ’ s there.
” Goethals , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Appeals judge , said the relationship between the two men is unusual .
“ I have never before seen a circumstance where a surviving spouse in a murder case reached the kind of relationship that Mr. Wilson did with Mr. Sanders , ” Goethals said .
“ It really is unique.
” That ’ s not to say they always agree .
Wilson campaigned for Spitzer against Rackauckas despite Sanders ’ misgivings .
After taking office , Spitzer promoted the lead prosecutor in the Dekraai case , who later resigned in the aftermath @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , along with others , caused Wilson and Sanders to criticize Spitzer .
The prosecutor pushed back against Sanders ’ critique , saying he was “ overreaching ” in some of his motions .
But Spitzer resisted criticizing Wilson , saying : “ As much as I want to be upset and angry with him , I won ’ t allow myself to be.
” Spitzer called Wilson a “ reasonable , honest man who got really screwed by the system.
” Over taco salads at a restaurant in downtown Santa Ana during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recounted their saga like old pals chuckling over a camping trip .
Their latest dig uncovered a previously unreleased internal audit by the Orange County ’ s Sheriff Department that found deputies regularly failed to book evidence on time .
Spitzer ’ s office is looking into the matter .
“ Paul isn ’ t a law clerk , but he ’ s better in some ways , ” Sanders said .
“ He ’ s a regular citizen who ’ s listening on another level , because of what he ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understand , ” Wilson interrupted .
“ I ’ d never been in court before what happened to Christy .
So for the first time to be in it , to see the justice system break down the way it did , it ’ s appalling .
That ’ s why I ’ m now here .
”

Scott Sanders, left, Orange County assistant public defender, and Paul Wilson, whose wife, Christy, was among the eight people killed in the 2011 Seal Beach salon shooting.
Paul Wilson stood at the lectern of the downtown Los Angeles hotel, pulled a speech out of his jeans, and prepared to honor the man who helped spare the life of his wife’s murderer.
The moment, eight years in the making, began on an October day in 2011 when Scott Dekraai walked into a Seal Beach salon. Once inside, he unleashed the worst mass shooting in Orange County history.
Eight dead, including Christy Wilson, slumped in a hairdresser chair with two bullet wounds.
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The man tasked with representing Dekraai was Scott Sanders.
Wilson loathed him. He ripped Sanders in the press, questioning his very morality. The physical differences between the grieving husband and the public defender only magnified his contempt.
“I thought Scott was a scumbag, a weaselly little guy,” Paul Wilson said of his original impression of defense attorney Sanders. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Muscular, tattooed and sporting an impressive pompadour, Wilson seemed pulled from the mosh pit of a Social Distortion concert. Sanders wore wire-framed glasses, had tousled hair and a splotchy, graying beard. Wilson oozed Southern California; after a quarter-century here, Sanders still clung to a Chicago accent.
“I thought Scott was a scumbag, a weaselly little guy,” Wilson said. “You look at this guy, and I don’t know anyone in my shoes that wouldn’t have hated him as well.”
And yet, there was Wilson last year at the downtown hotel, heaping hosannas upon Sanders to a riveted audience.
“I stand here saying what I once never could have predicted,” Wilson told the Society of Professional Journalists Los Angeles chapter. “Scott Sanders isn’t just someone I’ve come to call my friend. I respect his work ethic, his honesty and his tireless commitment to making the criminal justice system work fairly.”
How that happened is a tale of a notorious crime, the pursuit of justice — for the dead and the accused — and the ways, mostly invisible to the public, that the gears of criminal justice can work. Or not.
Eight people were killed in the 2011 shooting at a Seal Beach salon. Among the dead was Christy Wilson, Paul Wilson’s wife. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)
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Sanders and Wilson have filmed segments for an Innocence Project campaign against jailhouse informants. They talk or text daily, and hang out with each other’s families.
How that happened involves a years-long imbroglio known as the “snitch scandal.”
While representing Dekraai, Sanders uncovered a jailhouse informant network that he said Orange County sheriff’s deputies ran to mine admissions of guilt out of inmates before they had legal representation. The Orange County district attorney’s office used them to win convictions for decades.
In the beginning, Sanders just wanted to save Dekraai from the death penalty — he had no doubt of his guilt. But then Sanders learned that the inmate his client had talked to also figured in another high-profile murder case he was working. The public defender asked his assistants to pull other cases he had litigated, and noticed that the same inmates kept procuring confessions like some prison prelate.
Sanders requested that Orange County prosecutors be kicked off Dekraai’s case. Then-Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas dismissed Sanders’ argument on “60 Minutes” as a “conspiracy” and “false narrative.”
Former Orange County Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)
Wilson accused Sanders in court of having “blood on [his] hands” with his tactics, which delayed the trial and, in his eyes, justice for his slain wife.
In early 2014, Sanders filed a 500-pages-plus motion supported by 15,000 pages of exhibits that argued Dekraai couldn’t receive a fair trial because of the longtime use of illegal jailhouse informants by Orange County prosecutors and the Sheriff’s Department. That was the same year Dekraai pleaded guilty to the Seal Beach massacre. Then a slam-dunk case stalled as Orange County Superior Court Judge Thomas Goethals held hearings to let Sanders make his case.
Early on, Sanders knew that Wilson would be outspoken.
“I realized Paul was going to be a voice from the start,” Sanders said. “He’s furious, and rightfully so. And his stare was all daggers, all the time.”
Column One A showcase for compelling storytelling from the Los Angeles Times. Read more stories
Wilson gladly attacked the public defender in the press, once telling the Orange County Register that Sanders’ motions were “killing us in more ways than one.” In court, Wilson accused Sanders of “destroying us even more than we’ve already been destroyed.”
No moment was too small for Wilson to needle the lawyer. Once, as they waited outside a Santa Ana courtroom, Sanders looked more harried than usual.
“I told him, ‘Hey, you might want to tuck in your shirt to look more presentable,’” Wilson said. “And he gave me this look like, ‘You gotta stop beating me up.’”
But as weeks of delays turned into months, then years, Wilson got suspicious.
He noticed that Goethals, whom he praised as a “compassionate, brilliant man,” kept asking harder and harsher questions of prosecutors. He listened closely as Sanders questioned sheriff’s deputies and prosecutors; the answers sounded to Wilson more like nervous equivocation and blame-shifting than the confident statements of the past. He wondered: Had Sanders been right?
Orange County Superior Court Judge Thomas Goethals. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
Eventually, Wilson pivoted to criticizing Rackauckas and the Sheriff’s Department. His relationship with prosecutors, once warm, turned chilly. In 2015, Wilson appeared on Al Jazeera America and declared that Sanders was “doing his job above and beyond.”
“I nearly fell over,” Sanders said.
Goethals removed Rackauckas’ entire office from the Dekraai case and sent it to the California attorney general’s office. Wilson increased his public praise of Sanders, but the two still wouldn’t acknowledge each other in court beyond a silent nod from time to time.
“The people who said to hang on to our hate [of Sanders] turned out to be as heartbreakingly inept as you can imagine the criminal justice system to be. Paul eventually saw that,” said Bethany Webb, who sued the Orange County sheriff and district attorney’s office in 2018 over the scandal. Her sister, Laura Webb Elody, died in the Seal Beach massacre; their mother, Hattie Stretz, survived.
It wasn’t until 2017 that Dekraai was sentenced for the killings. Goethals gave him eight consecutive life terms.
Scott Dekraai was sentenced to eight consecutive life terms for the Seal Beach murders. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
A few days later, Wilson idled in rush-hour traffic. In the years since the shooting, he had met with parents of Sandy Hook Elementary School victims and visited Washington and Sacramento to lobby for gun control.
Now, Wilson called the general line for the Orange County public defender’s office, expecting to leave a voicemail. The line rang once before he heard a familiar voice.
“Hey, Paul, how are you?” Sanders told him. “I kinda had a feeling this talk would happen.”
The snitch scandal upended Orange County politics.
Longtime Sheriff Sandra Hutchens retired instead of facing reelection. Rackauckas, a seemingly indomitable political figure in the county, lost his attempt for a sixth term as district attorney in 2018.
Longtime Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens retired instead of facing reelection. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Todd Spitzer, Orange County’s current top prosecutor, said the controversy was “like an anchor pulling us to the bottom of the ocean.” Job applications to the office declined, and the U.S. Justice Department began interviewing prosecutors as part of an investigation.
Spitzer launched his own internal probe in April. A state inquiry started by then-Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris and inherited by the current one, Xavier Becerra, went nowhere.
Wilson, meanwhile, had become Dr. Watson to Sanders’ Sherlock Holmes.
During the day, the 54-year-old apparel executive sits in on court cases multiple times a week to take notes that he shares with Sanders. Wilson’s notes help Sanders, 51, argue in court motions that wrongdoing continues in Orange County law enforcement.
At night, the two make joint appearances before college classes, community groups and legal conferences from Irvine to Utah and beyond.
“There is a spate of reform all over the country in which legislators are taking a closer look at jailhouse informants, inspired by the O.C. debacle,” said Alexandra Natapoff, author of the 2009 book “Snitching: Criminal Informants and the Erosion of American Justice” and co-director of UC Irvine’s Center in Law, Society and Culture. “They are integral to this.”
‘I have never before seen a circumstance where a surviving spouse in a murder case reached the kind of relationship that Mr. Wilson did with Mr. Sanders. It really is unique.’ — — Judge Thomas Goethals
Charlotte Samuels, a Fullerton College political science professor, asked Sanders and Wilson to address a packed lecture hall last spring.
“I wanted my students to be aware that you can still be in public service and be noble,” Samuels said. “They remind me of ‘Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.’ I know it’s idealistic, but it’s there.”
Goethals, who is now a California Court of Appeals judge, said the relationship between the two men is unusual.
“I have never before seen a circumstance where a surviving spouse in a murder case reached the kind of relationship that Mr. Wilson did with Mr. Sanders,” Goethals said. “It really is unique.”
That’s not to say they always agree. Wilson campaigned for Spitzer against Rackauckas despite Sanders’ misgivings.
After taking office, Spitzer promoted the lead prosecutor in the Dekraai case, who later resigned in the aftermath of the federal investigation. The move, along with others, caused Wilson and Sanders to criticize Spitzer. The prosecutor pushed back against Sanders’ critique, saying he was “overreaching” in some of his motions.
But Spitzer resisted criticizing Wilson, saying: “As much as I want to be upset and angry with him, I won’t allow myself to be.” Spitzer called Wilson a “reasonable, honest man who got really screwed by the system.”
Over taco salads at a restaurant in downtown Santa Ana during a courtroom recess, Sanders and Wilson recounted their saga like old pals chuckling over a camping trip.
Their latest dig uncovered a previously unreleased internal audit by the Orange County’s Sheriff Department that found deputies regularly failed to book evidence on time. Spitzer’s office is looking into the matter.
“Paul isn’t a law clerk, but he’s better in some ways,” Sanders said. “He’s a regular citizen who’s listening on another level, because of what he’s been through.”
“You have to understand,” Wilson interrupted. “I’d never been in court before what happened to Christy. So for the first time to be in it, to see the justice system break down the way it did, it’s appalling. That’s why I’m now here.”


latimes--2020-01-29--Kobe Bryant's helicopter was missing a warning system that could have alerted pilot to hillside

The helicopter that crashed Sunday in Calabasas , killing nine people including Kobe Bryant , was not equipped with a terrain alarm system that could have warned the pilot he was approaching a hillside , National Transportation Safety Board officials said Tuesday .
The findings came as investigators were trying to determine why the helicopter crashed into a hillside amid foggy conditions .
NTSB investigator Jennifer Homendy said at Tuesday ’ s news conference that the helicopter was at 2,300 feet when it lost communication with air traffic controllers .
The helicopter was descending at more than 2,000 feet per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ So we know that this was a high-energy impact crash , and the helicopter was in a descending left bank , ” Homendy said .
The chopper hit the hillside at an elevation of 1,085 feet , about 20 to 30 feet below an outcropping of the hill .
But even if the pilot had been able to fly above the hilltop , he would have faced new hazards ahead .
“ There are actually other higher hills surrounding it , ” said Bill English , a lead investigator .
A reconstruction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the helicopter ’ s path starting at a crucial moment near the end when the pilot left the San Fernando Valley above the 101 Freeway .
Homendy said her agency had recommended that the Federal Aviation Administration 16 years ago require that all choppers carrying six or more passengers be equipped with a terrain awareness and warning system , adding that the FAA has “ failed to act ” on the proposal .
Because the FAA didn ’ t follow the recommendation , the chopper that crashed Sunday was not legally required to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday news conference , an FAA spokesman disputed that assessment , noting that the FAA requires the terrain alarm systems for helicopter air ambulance operations .
It remained unclear what the pilot knew about the terrain surrounding him or if he had become disoriented .
Bryant regularly used the helicopter , owned by the charter service Island Express .
Kurt Deetz , a former pilot for Island Express who said he flew Bryant from 2014 to 2016 , previously told The Times that he thought the aircraft was outfitted with a terrain warning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he acknowledged that he might have been mistaken .
“ The NTSB knows way more than I do , ” Deetz said .
Deetz said it was unlikely such a system could have averted the crash , had the helicopter been equipped with it .
Authorities investigating Sunday ’ s accident said the impact of the crash was intense , shattering the chopper and sending debris over a wide area .
The new revelations came as the bodies of Bryant , his 13-year-old daughter , Gianna , and seven others were recovered .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ crash is still in its early stages , but officials have revealed some details about the final moments of the flight , which was taking Bryant and his group from Orange County to his basketball camp in Thousand Oaks .
The retired NBA player was scheduled to coach a game in which Gianna was scheduled to play .
Accompanying the Bryants were John Altobelli , 56 , longtime baseball coach at Orange Coast College ; his wife , Keri , 46 ; their daughter Alyssa , 13 ; Christina Mauser , 38 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sports Academy ; Sarah Chester , 45 ; Chester ’ s daughter Payton , 13 ; and the pilot , 50-year-old Ara Zobayan .
Just before crashing into the hillside , the pilot rapidly ascended to avoid a cloud layer , according to the NTSB .
The helicopter — a Sikorsky S-76 chopper built in 1991 — departed John Wayne Airport in Orange County at 9:06 a.m. Sunday , according to publicly available flight records .
The aircraft passed over Boyle Heights , near Dodger Stadium , and circled over Glendale during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prior incidents or accidents for the midsize helicopter .
Homendy said Zobayan requested special visual flight rules ( VFR ) , which allow pilots to fly visually in controlled airspace when ceilings are less than 1,000 feet or when visibility is less than 3 miles , during the trip to Ventura County because weather conditions had deteriorated .
At some point during the flight , the pilot requested “ flight following , ” a process in which controllers are in regular contact with an aircraft and can help them navigate , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tower and the aircraft .
Before the conversation ends , the tower is heard telling the pilot the helicopter is too low for flight following .
Radar data indicate Zobayan , who had been a licensed commercial helicopter pilot for 19 years , guided the copter to 2,300 feet and then began a left turn .
The helicopter then began rapidly descending .
A visual-flight-rules flight “ is based on the principle of see and avoid.
” When operation of an aircraft under visual flight rules isn ’ t safe , often because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opt to fly under instrument rules ( IFR ) .
During this type of flight , the pilot navigates only by reference to the instruments in the cockpit , according to the Federal Aviation Administration .
Pilots “ fly VFR when and if weather conditions allow , although they can choose to fly on an IFR flight plan at any time , ” said Ian Gregor , an FAA spokesman .
“ Also , it ’ s always up to the pilot to make the decision whether to fly VFR and to ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to federal aviation regulations.
” As authorities worked to recover victims ’ remains early in the week , a stream of visitors , Bryant fans and tourists came to the area , wanting to see the site for themselves .
Some had cameras .
A few had binoculars .
Basketballs , candles , balloons , photos and various tributes lined a fence near the entrance to Juan Bautista de Anza Park in Calabasas .
The NBA star ’ s death struck Westlake Village resident Chad Martinson as doubly cruel .
The 35-year-old father @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tatum , to the memorial , which he acknowledged was emotional .
“ His death as a father hits me harder than him as a player , ” Martinson said .
“ The second I heard it was Kobe in the helicopter , I knew where he was going , and the first thing that popped into my head was , I was hoping the girls wouldn ’ t be in the helicopter .
“ It was devastating to hear that his daughter was with him.
” As Tatum struggled to pull her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the playground , Martinson lifted his daughter and gave her a hug .
“ I grew up watching Kobe and saw him in Venice Beach [ in 1996 ] the day he broke his wrist in a pickup game , ” Martinson said of Bryant , who had been traded to the Lakers as a teen .
“ I ’ ll always have that memory of his toughness , and now I ’ ll have to pass that to my daughter .
”

Richard Winton, Hannah Fry, Andrew J. Campa, Jaclyn Cosgrove

People gather on Las Virgenes Road in Calabasas near the scene of Sunday’s helicopter crash.
The helicopter that crashed Sunday in Calabasas, killing nine people including Kobe Bryant, was not equipped with a terrain alarm system that could have warned the pilot he was approaching a hillside, National Transportation Safety Board officials said Tuesday.
The findings came as investigators were trying to determine why the helicopter crashed into a hillside amid foggy conditions.
NTSB investigator Jennifer Homendy said at Tuesday’s news conference that the helicopter was at 2,300 feet when it lost communication with air traffic controllers. The helicopter was descending at more than 2,000 feet per minute at the time of impact.
“So we know that this was a high-energy impact crash, and the helicopter was in a descending left bank,” Homendy said.
The chopper hit the hillside at an elevation of 1,085 feet, about 20 to 30 feet below an outcropping of the hill. But even if the pilot had been able to fly above the hilltop, he would have faced new hazards ahead.
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“There are actually other higher hills surrounding it,” said Bill English, a lead investigator.
A reconstruction of the flight by The Times tracks the helicopter’s path starting at a crucial moment near the end when the pilot left the San Fernando Valley above the 101 Freeway.
Homendy said her agency had recommended that the Federal Aviation Administration 16 years ago require that all choppers carrying six or more passengers be equipped with a terrain awareness and warning system, adding that the FAA has “failed to act” on the proposal. Because the FAA didn’t follow the recommendation, the chopper that crashed Sunday was not legally required to have the system.
Shortly after her Tuesday news conference, an FAA spokesman disputed that assessment, noting that the FAA requires the terrain alarm systems for helicopter air ambulance operations.
It remained unclear what the pilot knew about the terrain surrounding him or if he had become disoriented.
Bryant regularly used the helicopter, owned by the charter service Island Express.
Kurt Deetz, a former pilot for Island Express who said he flew Bryant from 2014 to 2016, previously told The Times that he thought the aircraft was outfitted with a terrain warning system, but when reached Tuesday, he acknowledged that he might have been mistaken.
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“The NTSB knows way more than I do,” Deetz said.
Deetz said it was unlikely such a system could have averted the crash, had the helicopter been equipped with it.
× NTSB Board Member Jennifer Homendy briefs media on the Jan. 26 helicopter crash in Calabasas, Calif.
Authorities investigating Sunday’s accident said the impact of the crash was intense, shattering the chopper and sending debris over a wide area.
The new revelations came as the bodies of Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven others were recovered.
The investigation into the cause of the crash is still in its early stages, but officials have revealed some details about the final moments of the flight, which was taking Bryant and his group from Orange County to his basketball camp in Thousand Oaks. The retired NBA player was scheduled to coach a game in which Gianna was scheduled to play.
Accompanying the Bryants were John Altobelli, 56, longtime baseball coach at Orange Coast College; his wife, Keri, 46; their daughter Alyssa, 13; Christina Mauser, 38, an assistant basketball coach at the Mamba Sports Academy; Sarah Chester, 45; Chester’s daughter Payton, 13; and the pilot, 50-year-old Ara Zobayan.
Just before crashing into the hillside, the pilot rapidly ascended to avoid a cloud layer, according to the NTSB.
The helicopter — a Sikorsky S-76 chopper built in 1991 — departed John Wayne Airport in Orange County at 9:06 a.m. Sunday, according to publicly available flight records. The aircraft passed over Boyle Heights, near Dodger Stadium, and circled over Glendale during the flight. The NTSB database shows no prior incidents or accidents for the midsize helicopter.
Homendy said Zobayan requested special visual flight rules (VFR), which allow pilots to fly visually in controlled airspace when ceilings are less than 1,000 feet or when visibility is less than 3 miles, during the trip to Ventura County because weather conditions had deteriorated.
At some point during the flight, the pilot requested “flight following,” a process in which controllers are in regular contact with an aircraft and can help them navigate, according to recordings of radio communications between the air tower and the aircraft.
Before the conversation ends, the tower is heard telling the pilot the helicopter is too low for flight following. Radar data indicate Zobayan, who had been a licensed commercial helicopter pilot for 19 years, guided the copter to 2,300 feet and then began a left turn. The helicopter then began rapidly descending.
A visual-flight-rules flight “is based on the principle of see and avoid.” When operation of an aircraft under visual flight rules isn’t safe, often because of inclement weather, a pilot can opt to fly under instrument rules (IFR). During this type of flight, the pilot navigates only by reference to the instruments in the cockpit, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Pilots “fly VFR when and if weather conditions allow, although they can choose to fly on an IFR flight plan at any time,” said Ian Gregor, an FAA spokesman. “Also, it’s always up to the pilot to make the decision whether to fly VFR and to ensure the safety of the flight and adherence to federal aviation regulations.”
Remains are covered at the site of the helicopter crash that killed former Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others in Calabasas. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
As authorities worked to recover victims’ remains early in the week, a stream of visitors, Bryant fans and tourists came to the area, wanting to see the site for themselves. Some had cameras. A few had binoculars. Basketballs, candles, balloons, photos and various tributes lined a fence near the entrance to Juan Bautista de Anza Park in Calabasas.
The NBA star’s death struck Westlake Village resident Chad Martinson as doubly cruel. The 35-year-old father of two brought his 5-year-old daughter, Tatum, to the memorial, which he acknowledged was emotional.
“His death as a father hits me harder than him as a player,” Martinson said. “The second I heard it was Kobe in the helicopter, I knew where he was going, and the first thing that popped into my head was, I was hoping the girls wouldn’t be in the helicopter.
“It was devastating to hear that his daughter was with him.”
As Tatum struggled to pull her father away from the tributes and closer to the playground, Martinson lifted his daughter and gave her a hug.
“I grew up watching Kobe and saw him in Venice Beach [in 1996] the day he broke his wrist in a pickup game,” Martinson said of Bryant, who had been traded to the Lakers as a teen. “I’ll always have that memory of his toughness, and now I’ll have to pass that to my daughter.”


latimes--2020-01-30--Kobe Bryant's helicopter didn't have terrain alert system. Could it have averted tragedy?

Should helicopters like the one in which Kobe Bryant perished be required to have warning systems that alert pilots when they are flying dangerously close to the ground ?
It ’ s a question that has divided federal regulators for years and is receiving new scrutiny in the wake of the crash that killed the NBA great and eight others in Calabasas .
Their helicopter was traveling in foggy conditions Sunday when it slammed into a hillside .
Shortly before , the pilot unsuccessfully sought navigation help from air traffic controllers because of poor visibility .
It is not clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or TAWS , would have prevented the wreck , but National Transportation Safety Board investigators probing the crash ’ s cause have drawn attention to the chopper ’ s lack of a warning system .
“ Certainly , TAWS could have helped to provide information to the pilot on what terrain the pilot was flying in , ” NTSB board member Jennifer Homendy told a press conference Tuesday .
The NTSB has argued for a decade and a half that the systems prevent crashes and should be mandatory in helicopters that can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the Sikorsky S-76 that carried Bryant , his 13-year-old daughter , Gianna , and seven others .
But its efforts have been turned aside by another government agency , the Federal Aviation Administration , which sets rules for aircraft .
The NTSB began pushing for a TAWS requirement after a 2004 helicopter crash into the Gulf of Mexico that killed 10 .
That crash involved a Sikorsky model very similar to the one in which Bryant and his co-passengers died .
According to the board , the two pilots were flying on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to recognize their descent and correct it , resulting in a “ controlled flight ” into the ocean .
During the investigation , the NTSB concluded that TAWS could have alerted the pilots to the waters below , giving them time to avoid the fatal plunge and “ save the lives of all aboard.
” A subsequent board review of 55 previous helicopter and plane crashes determined that 17 of them might have been prevented by TAWS .
In 2000 , the FAA required airplanes carrying six or more passengers to be outfitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the technology wasn ’ t workable on helicopters , but had improved enough by 2006 to be required on those aircraft as well , the NTSB said .
Some in the aviation industry balked at requiring TAWS , saying that the technology was mostly unproven .
In comments submitted to the FAA in response to one proposal , some criticized the system as a “ distraction in the cockpit ” that “ doesn ’ t give the pilot the ability to see/avoid bad weather.
” Cost was also an issue .
The systems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ losing additional revenue during the installation process .
The FAA made TAWS mandatory for air ambulances in 2014 , but the system remains voluntary in commercial helicopters .
NTSB called the decision “ unacceptable.
” The FAA said in a prepared statement that commercial helicopters operate in populated areas “ relying on a robust network of routes and landing facilities.
” The agency said safety improvements unrelated to new rules , like increased automation , have contributed to the U.S. helicopter fatality rate dropping by half over the past two decades , from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flights .
Sikorsky has voluntarily installed TAWS in its helicopters manufactured since 2005 and has offered retrofit programs .
The 1991 chopper Bryant flew in did not have the upgrade .
In flying circles this week , there was much discussion whether the system might have saved one of the world ’ s best-known athletes .
Ronald Goldman , an attorney whose firm has represented victims in helicopter crashes , said that from studying what is publicly available about the flight of Bryant ’ s chopper , he doubts TAWS would have made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ spatial disorientation ” — a phenomenon in which a pilot loses his sense of direction — “ TAWS doesn ’ t tell you up from down , ” Goldman said .
“ It doesn ’ t tell you which way the ground is.
” Greg Feith , a former senior air safety investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board , said it was hard to know at this point whether TAWS could have helped .
No matter how sophisticated the technology , he said , it is only as good as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was unclear why pilot Ara Zobayan continued to fly when the weather was deteriorating .
Was he feeling pressured by his passengers — or himself —– to get them to their destination instead of setting the helicopter down at the Van Nuys airport and putting them on a bus or a limo ?
“ If you have a pilot who is committed to accomplishing his mission , it doesn ’ t matter what device he has on the aircraft , he ’ s going to ignore it to accomplish his mission , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a longtime fixed-wing aircraft pilot , said some pilots in urban areas such as Los Angeles ended up ignoring TAWS because tall buildings set off the alarm constantly .
He said that even if Bryant ’ s chopper had the system , there might not have been enough time to maneuver away from the hillside .
“ There ’ s no way to answer this , beyond it wouldn ’ t hurt to have it , ” he said .
Times staff writers Kim Christensen and Harriet Ryan contributed to this report .

A display booth at the Helicopter Association International Heli-Expo in Anaheim shows cockpit technology designed to warn pilots when they are in danger of hitting the ground or objects such as radio towers
Should helicopters like the one in which Kobe Bryant perished be required to have warning systems that alert pilots when they are flying dangerously close to the ground?
It’s a question that has divided federal regulators for years and is receiving new scrutiny in the wake of the crash that killed the NBA great and eight others in Calabasas.
Their helicopter was traveling in foggy conditions Sunday when it slammed into a hillside. Shortly before, the pilot unsuccessfully sought navigation help from air traffic controllers because of poor visibility.
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It is not clear that a terrain awareness and warning system, or TAWS, would have prevented the wreck, but National Transportation Safety Board investigators probing the crash’s cause have drawn attention to the chopper’s lack of a warning system.
“Certainly, TAWS could have helped to provide information to the pilot on what terrain the pilot was flying in,” NTSB board member Jennifer Homendy told a press conference Tuesday.
The NTSB has argued for a decade and a half that the systems prevent crashes and should be mandatory in helicopters that can accommodate six or more passengers, such as the Sikorsky S-76 that carried Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven others.
But its efforts have been turned aside by another government agency, the Federal Aviation Administration, which sets rules for aircraft.
The NTSB began pushing for a TAWS requirement after a 2004 helicopter crash into the Gulf of Mexico that killed 10.
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That crash involved a Sikorsky model very similar to the one in which Bryant and his co-passengers died. According to the board, the two pilots were flying on a “dark night” and failed to recognize their descent and correct it, resulting in a “controlled flight” into the ocean. During the investigation, the NTSB concluded that TAWS could have alerted the pilots to the waters below, giving them time to avoid the fatal plunge and “save the lives of all aboard.”
A subsequent board review of 55 previous helicopter and plane crashes determined that 17 of them might have been prevented by TAWS.
In 2000, the FAA required airplanes carrying six or more passengers to be outfitted with TAWS. At the time, the technology wasn’t workable on helicopters, but had improved enough by 2006 to be required on those aircraft as well, the NTSB said.
Some in the aviation industry balked at requiring TAWS, saying that the technology was mostly unproven.
In comments submitted to the FAA in response to one proposal, some criticized the system as a “distraction in the cockpit” that “doesn’t give the pilot the ability to see/avoid bad weather.” Cost was also an issue. The systems can run $35,000, with operators losing additional revenue during the installation process.
California Kobe Bryant flew in thick fog that had grounded law enforcement helicopters Federal investigators on Monday began an intense investigation into the cause of the Calabasas helicopter crash that killed all nine on board including Kobe Bryant.
The FAA made TAWS mandatory for air ambulances in 2014, but the system remains voluntary in commercial helicopters. NTSB called the decision “unacceptable.”
The FAA said in a prepared statement that commercial helicopters operate in populated areas “relying on a robust network of routes and landing facilities.” The agency said safety improvements unrelated to new rules, like increased automation, have contributed to the U.S. helicopter fatality rate dropping by half over the past two decades, from 1.27 to 0.63 fatal accidents per 100,000 flights.
Sikorsky has voluntarily installed TAWS in its helicopters manufactured since 2005 and has offered retrofit programs. The 1991 chopper Bryant flew in did not have the upgrade.
In flying circles this week, there was much discussion whether the system might have saved one of the world’s best-known athletes.
Ronald Goldman, an attorney whose firm has represented victims in helicopter crashes, said that from studying what is publicly available about the flight of Bryant’s chopper, he doubts TAWS would have made a difference.
If the cause was “spatial disorientation” — a phenomenon in which a pilot loses his sense of direction — “TAWS doesn’t tell you up from down,” Goldman said. “It doesn’t tell you which way the ground is.”
Greg Feith, a former senior air safety investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board, said it was hard to know at this point whether TAWS could have helped.
No matter how sophisticated the technology, he said, it is only as good as the pilot relying on it. He said it was unclear why pilot Ara Zobayan continued to fly when the weather was deteriorating.
Was he feeling pressured by his passengers — or himself — to get them to their destination instead of setting the helicopter down at the Van Nuys airport and putting them on a bus or a limo? “If you have a pilot who is committed to accomplishing his mission, it doesn’t matter what device he has on the aircraft, he’s going to ignore it to accomplish his mission,” Feith said.
Brian Beker, a longtime fixed-wing aircraft pilot, said some pilots in urban areas such as Los Angeles ended up ignoring TAWS because tall buildings set off the alarm constantly. He said that even if Bryant’s chopper had the system, there might not have been enough time to maneuver away from the hillside.
“There’s no way to answer this, beyond it wouldn’t hurt to have it,” he said.
Times staff writers Kim Christensen and Harriet Ryan contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-01-30--Candidates for L.A. County district attorney trade punches in lively debate

Jackie Lacey , seeking a third term as Los Angeles County ’ s district attorney , sparred with her challengers Wednesday night in a debate characterized by biting exchanges between the candidates and raucous protests from the audience — emotion that underscored the stakes of a race that will decide the direction of the nation ’ s largest prosecutor ’ s office .
Lacey , in her eighth year as the county ’ s top prosecutor , is fending off challenges from Rachel Rossi , a former public defender hoping to take control of the office she once opposed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former Los Angeles police official who most recently served as San Francisco ’ s district attorney .
The 90-minute debate , held in downtown Los Angeles , encompassed some of the most pressing and divisive issues in criminal justice , including how lawbreaking is prosecuted and punished , how to address crimes committed by homeless people and the mentally ill , racial disparities in the county jails , peace officers who kill civilians in the line of duty , cash bail , sentence enhancements for gang members and the death penalty .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test of whether a wave of victories for reform candidates , who unseated the top prosecutors in such major cities such as Chicago and Philadelphia , will extend to Los Angeles — which , despite its left-leaning electorate , has historically embraced a more conservative view of law and order .
Lacey said she was among the first district attorneys in the country to champion a diversion program that routes certain offenders to mental health treatment rather than criminal prosecution .
Gascón disputed her willingness to treat , rather than prosecute , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her office “ are telling me they want to divert cases and are being told they can not .
” Lacey said Gascón was speaking “ from a position of ignorance , ” adding that the diversion program he oversaw as San Francisco ’ s top prosecutor merely shunted people out of the court system and into a vacuum of social services .
Many of them ended up on the street , she said .
Rossi said that as district attorney , she would “ stand up ” to law enforcement agencies that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and challenge them to show who they are labeling as gang members and which communities are most affected by the prosecution of certain crimes .
“ The district attorney is the gatekeeper , ” she said .
“ The district attorney can say , ‘ I ’ m not filing this case.
’ ” In San Francisco , Gascón said , his office initiated a program that hid the race of a defendant until he or she was charged , to guard against bias when deciding whether to file charges .
Gascón @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seek the death penalty in certain cases , even after Gov .
Gavin Newsom issued a statewide a moratorium on executions .
Lacey said she seeks the death penalty only in egregious cases , pointing to 8-year-old Palmdale boy Gabriel Fernandez , whose mother was sentenced to life in prison and her boyfriend to death in his torture murder , as an example .
She called herself a “ constitutional officer ” who follows the laws of the state , not the words of the governor .
Lacey caught heat from her challengers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failing to prosecute several peace officers who fatally shot civilians in the line of duty .
Gascón said there was “ clear evidence ” her office could have filed charges against LAPD Officer Clifford Proctor , who fatally shot Brandon Glenn near the Venice boardwalk in 2016 .
Lacey defended her choice , saying despite an “ extraordinary move ” by former LAPD Chief Charlie Beck — who she said leaked to the press a letter recommending the officer ’ s prosecution — she reviewed the evidence and witness statements before coming to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to use force.
” Lacey vowed to prosecute peace officers “ for the right reasons ” rather than bowing to political pressure .
Rossi said she would support appointing independent prosecutors in cases involving deadly use of force , arguing that a conflict of interest exists when prosecutors are asked to charge peace officers they depend on to build cases .
Rossi and Gascón promised to forgo gang enhancements , which can increase defendants ’ sentences if a jury finds they committed a crime as a member , or to the benefit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said such enhancements “ ratchet up the penalties for black and brown people.
” Gascón called them “ the product of discriminatory police work , ” pointing to a recent controversy in the LAPD over the alleged falsification of field interview cards law enforcement officials use to identify gang members and associates .
Lacey said she couldn ’ t discuss whether LAPD officers falsely labeled people as gang members , because the matter is being reviewed by her office .
She did , however , say gang affiliations are “ tested vigorously ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a serious gang problem , she said , and doing away with stiffer sentences for gang members would send the wrong message to communities they terrorize .
Lacey and Gascón branded each other as political chameleons and profiteers , saying their election-season views are belied by their records in office .
Lacey formed a sex-crimes task force , focused on the entertainment industry , only after she “ felt the heat , ” Gascón said .
Gascón said he has spoken with accusers of Harvey Weinstein , the film producer charged with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well as Ed Buck , a Democratic donor in whose West Hollywood home two men died of drug overdoses , allegedly administered by Buck and James Heaps , a former UCLA gynecologist charged with sex crimes .
“ You know what they all have in common ?
” he asked .
“ This office has not only ignored them — it ’ s treated them with no respect.
” Gascón blasted Lacey for using body attachments — court orders that allow prosecutors to detain uncooperative witnesses — to jail victims of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abusers .
“ That rarely happens , ” Lacey said , defending the court orders as a tool used mostly to prosecute domestic abusers who terrify their victims .
Lacey pointed to a number of reforms Gascón has championed — doing away with cash bail , eschewing sentencing enhancements for gang members — and the fact he didn ’ t implement them in San Francisco .
Gascón , for his part , offered this : “ Being a human being is evolving and learning from one another.
” Lacey , who joined the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said her opponents seemed less concerned about the victims of crimes than the people incarcerated for committing them .
She questioned why Rossi was running to become district attorney when she has never worked as a line prosecutor .
Gascón , she said , “ has never been in a courtroom in his entire life.
” “ This is a job for a real lawyer , ” she said .
Lacey has the backing of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and four members of the county ’ s Board of Supervisors , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ district attorneys and rank and file Los Angeles police officers and Los Angeles County sheriff ’ s deputies .
The mayor of San Francisco , London Breed , has also supported Lacey over her city ’ s former top prosecutor .
Gascón , who resigned his San Francisco post in October and moved back to Los Angeles , won the endorsement of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party .
He also has the support of activists from Black Lives Matter and other progressive groups who have blasted Lacey for her reluctance to prosecute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previously worked on criminal justice issues in Washington in both the House and Senate .

Jackie Lacey, seeking a third term as Los Angeles County’s district attorney, sparred with her challengers Wednesday night in a debate characterized by biting exchanges between the candidates and raucous protests from the audience — emotion that underscored the stakes of a race that will decide the direction of the nation’s largest prosecutor’s office.
Lacey, in her eighth year as the county’s top prosecutor, is fending off challenges from Rachel Rossi, a former public defender hoping to take control of the office she once opposed in court, and George Gascón, a former Los Angeles police official who most recently served as San Francisco’s district attorney.
The 90-minute debate, held in downtown Los Angeles, encompassed some of the most pressing and divisive issues in criminal justice, including how lawbreaking is prosecuted and punished, how to address crimes committed by homeless people and those with mental illness, racial disparities in the county jails, peace officers who kill civilians in the line of duty, cash bail, sentence enhancements for gang members and the death penalty.
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The election is seen by many as a test of whether a wave of victories for reform candidates, who unseated the top prosecutors in major cities such as Chicago and Philadelphia, will extend to Los Angeles — which, despite its left-leaning electorate, has historically embraced a more conservative view of law and order.
From the moment she took the microphone, Lacey was shouted down by members of the audience, some of whom said they were relatives of people killed by local law enforcement officers. Security guards hauled out about half a dozen protesters. In one particularly tense moment, a man rushed toward the stage, shouting at Lacey, before being restrained and removed from the building.
Onstage, the candidates wasted no time throwing jabs. Gascón was a political flip-flop who wouldn’t know his way around a courtroom and Rossi seemed to be more interested in being a “spokesperson” than prosecutor, Lacey said. Gascón countered that Lacey presides over an office in disarray, hamstrung by a “rampant” leadership crisis and her aversion “to every single reform that has come to her desk.” Rossi said the incumbent has spent so many years in the district attorney’s office — 34 — that racial disparities in how the county prosecutes and jails lawbreakers seem normal to her.
Lacey, 62, said she was among the first district attorneys in the country to champion a diversion program that routes certain offenders to mental health treatment rather than criminal prosecution. Gascón, 65, disputed her willingness to treat, rather than prosecute, mentally ill people, claiming several attorneys within her office “are telling me they want to divert cases and are being told they cannot.”
Lacey said Gascón was speaking “from a position of ignorance,” adding that the diversion program he oversaw as San Francisco’s top prosecutor merely shunted people out of the court system and into a vacuum of social services. Many of them ended up on the street, she said.
Rossi, 37, said that as district attorney, she would “stand up” to law enforcement agencies that prosecutors rely on to build their cases, and challenge them to show who they are labeling as gang members and which communities are most affected by the prosecution of certain crimes.
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“The district attorney is the gatekeeper,” she said. “The district attorney can say, ‘I’m not filing this case.’ ”
In San Francisco, Gascón said, his office initiated a program that hid the race of a defendant until he or she was charged, to guard against bias when deciding whether to file charges.
Gascón and Rossi assailed Lacey for continuing to seek the death penalty in certain cases, even after Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a statewide moratorium on executions.
Lacey said she seeks the death penalty only in egregious cases, pointing to 8-year-old Palmdale boy Gabriel Fernandez, whose mother was sentenced to life in prison and her boyfriend to death in his torture murder, as an example. She called herself a “constitutional officer” who follows the laws of the state, not the words of the governor.
Jerome Kitchen, who is against DA Jackie Lacey being reelected, interrupts the L.A. District Attorney Candidates Debate at the Aratani Theatre. Kitchen’s brother was Gemmel Moore who was found dead in Ed Buck’s apartment in 2017. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times)
Lacey caught heat from her challengers onstage and members of the audience for failing to prosecute several peace officers who fatally shot civilians in the line of duty. Gascón said there was “clear evidence” her office could have filed charges against LAPD Officer Clifford Proctor, who fatally shot Brendon Glenn near the Venice boardwalk in 2016. Lacey defended her choice, saying that despite an “extraordinary move” by former LAPD Chief Charlie Beck — who she said leaked to the press a letter recommending the officer’s prosecution — she reviewed the evidence and witness statements before coming to “a reasonable belief that the officer had to use force.”
Lacey vowed to prosecute peace officers “for the right reasons” rather than bowing to political pressure. Rossi said she would support appointing independent prosecutors in cases involving deadly use of force, arguing that a conflict of interest exists when prosecutors are asked to charge peace officers they depend on to build cases.
Rossi and Gascón promised to forgo gang enhancements, which can increase defendants’ sentences if a jury finds they committed a crime as a member, or to the benefit of, a street gang.
Rossi said such enhancements “ratchet up the penalties for black and brown people.” Gascón called them “the product of discriminatory police work,” pointing to a recent conroversy in the Los Angeles Police Department over the alleged falsification of field interview cards that law enforcement officials use to identify gang members and associates.
Lacey said she couldn’t discuss whether LAPD officers falsely labeled people as gang members, because the matter is being reviewed by her office. She did, however, say gang affiliations are “tested vigorously” in court. Los Angeles still faces a serious gang problem, she said, and doing away with stiffer sentences for gang members would send the wrong message to communities they terrorize.
Lacey and Gascón branded each other as political chameleons and profiteers, saying their election-season views are belied by their records in office. Lacey formed a sex-crimes task force, focused on the entertainment industry, only after she “felt the heat,” Gascón said.
Gascón said he has spoken with accusers of Harvey Weinstein, the film producer charged with a host of sex crimes on both coasts, as well as Ed Buck, a Democratic donor accused of administering the drugs that led to the fatal overdoses of two men in his West Hollywood home, and James Heaps, a former UCLA gynecologist charged with sex crimes.
“You know what they all have in common?” he asked. “This office has not only ignored them — it’s treated them with no respect.”
Gascón blasted Lacey for using body attachments — court orders that allow prosecutors to detain uncooperative witnesses — to jail victims of sexual assault unwilling to testify against their abusers.
“That rarely happens,” Lacey said, defending the court orders as a tool used mostly to prosecute domestic abusers who terrify their victims.
Lacey pointed to a number of reforms Gascón has championed — doing away with cash bail, eschewing sentencing enhancements for gang members — and the fact he didn’t implement them in San Francisco.
Gascón, for his part, offered this: “Being a human being is evolving and learning from one another.”
Lacey, who joined the district attorney’s office in 1986, said her opponents seemed less concerned about the victims of crimes than the people incarcerated for committing them. She questioned why Rossi was running to become district attorney when she has never worked as a line prosecutor. Gascón, she said, “has never been in a courtroom in his entire life.”
“This is a job for a real lawyer,” she said.
Lacey has the backing of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and four members of the county’s Board of Supervisors, along with the unions that represent deputy district attorneys and rank-and-file Los Angeles police officers and Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies. The mayor of San Francisco, London Breed, has also supported Lacey over her city’s former top prosecutor.
Gascón, who resigned his San Francisco post in October and moved back to Los Angeles, won the endorsement of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party. He also has the support of activists from Black Lives Matter and other progressive groups who have blasted Lacey for her reluctance to prosecute peace officers who shoot civilians.
Rossi previously worked on criminal justice issues in Washington in both the House and Senate.


latimes--2020-01-30--Fire again hits Westside high-rise, prompting new call to close sprinkler loophole

For a terrifying few minutes , the man clung to the side of the 25-story high-rise as flames consumed an apartment unit just a few feet away .
He contemplated jumping , authorities said , but was persuaded to hang on until a firefighter atop a tall ladder collected him safely .
The scene played out Wednesday morning above Wilshire Boulevard at Barrington Plaza , a sprawling Westside apartment complex where a fire in the same tower in 2013 caused serious injuries .
With hundreds of firefighters battling the flames Wednesday , at least 15 tenants who raced to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helicopters , while others described crawling on their bellies to escape smoke-filled hallways .
The fire left 13 people injured , one of them gravely , and renewed calls for Los Angeles elected officials to require sprinklers in all high-rise residential buildings .
Barrington Plaza had none , authorities said — one of 55 residential high-rises built between 1943 and 1974 that are exempt from the city ’ s sprinkler requirements .
Liz Bowers , a Barrington Plaza resident , awoke to sirens and smoke Wednesday morning and recalled thinking , “ Surely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But when she looked out her window , flames confirmed her fears .
“ They should have put sprinklers in after the [ 2013 ] fire , ” she said .
The City Council has repeatedly considered expanding the sprinkler requirement but has backed away because of objections from building owners who said the fixes would be too expensive and would drive up rents .
Councilman Mike Bonin said he would introduce a proposal Friday to “ mandate the damn sprinklers.
” The blaze engulfed the sixth and seventh floors of the A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11700 block of Wilshire Boulevard .
The fire was reported just after 8:30 a.m. by fire crews who were tending a nearby blaze .
As many as 400 firefighters responded .
Eleven residents were injured ; seven were sent to a hospital for treatment , including a 3-month-old baby , and four were treated at the scene .
Most suffered smoke inhalation .
Two firefighters suffered minor burns .
A 30-year-old man required CPR and was listed in grave condition Wednesday , while another 30-year-old man was in critical condition , L.A. Fire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ men were believed to be tenants of the apartment unit where the fire broke out , Scott said .
The complex is owned by the Santa Monica-based real estate giant Douglas Emmett Inc .
The company describes Barrington Plaza — comprising three towers — as a “ resort-style ” complex with ocean views , an Olympic-size pool and luxury amenities .
But tenants complained Wednesday that despite rents of up to $ 3,500 , one elevator was broken , requests for other repairs went unheeded and management had made no apparent safety improvements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blamed the problems on short-term renters from Airbnb , who they said filled some of the 712 units in the three towers .
“ A lot of people Airbnb here , ” said resident John Tavakoli .
“ They party all night — they ’ re up until 2 a.m. on a Tuesday.
” He said that while safety issues go unaddressed , “ our rent goes up , utilities go up , but one elevator ’ s always broken.
” Douglas Emmett representatives issued a statement Wednesday evening saying : “ Our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been impacted by today ’ s fire .
Our priority is the safety and well-being of our residents .
We will continue to work with the Los Angeles Fire Department and all local authorities.
” The company said it had reserved hotel rooms for residents who were displaced .
Fire officials initially reported that some people had jumped from the building to escape the flames .
They later clarified to say that the man who clung to the side of the building and a second person had contemplated jumping before both were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in battling the flames , hosing the building from the outside in an effort to cool the units before tackling the flames inside .
The bulk of the fire was on the sixth floor .
Three other floors were damaged by smoke , authorities said .
“ This could have been much worse , ” said Scott , the Fire Department captain .
“ These firefighters were literally driven to their bellies halfway through that hallway , before they even got to that fire.
” Deputy Police Chief Justin Eisenberg said the Los @ @ @ @ @ @ @ studying the blaze to determine whether it was criminal or accidental .
No one has been arrested , he said .
The fire that started earlier in the morning about three blocks away also is part of the investigation .
During the 2013 fire at Barrington Plaza , many residents described not hearing fire alarms or getting inadequate notice from the building management .
Eight tenants who sued Douglas Emmett alleging negligence reached settlements with the company , according to their lawyer , Shawn McCann .
They complained not only about the lack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s stairwells were not pressurized .
The lack of pressurized stairwells meant that escape routes instead became traps where residents suffered severe smoke inhalation during the fire , McCann said .
McCann said several victims of the 2013 fire called him when they heard about Wednesday ’ s blaze .
“ There were all these people put into a building without adequate fire protections , protections we assume most buildings have .
So it was an accident waiting to happen , ” McCann said of the 2013 fire .
“ And now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and settlements , it was an accident waiting to be repeated.
” An attorney representing Douglas Emmett did not respond to a request for comment .
Previous fires have prompted city officials to make some safety improvements .
A 1982 blaze at the Dorothy Mae apartments near downtown , which killed 25 people , led to a law requiring sprinklers on apartment buildings built before 1943 .
In 1988 , one person died and 40 were injured when a fire broke out downtown in what is now Aon Center , then called First @ @ @ @ @ @ @ building .
The city again moved to expand fire sprinkler protections — this time extending them to high-rise offices that hadn ’ t previously been covered .
But the city still did not require sprinklers on high-rise apartments built after 1943 and before 1974 .
Barrington Plaza was completed in 1963 .
At the time , it was touted as the largest residential apartment complex in the West .
The city took up the matter again after the 2013 Barrington Plaza fire , and as late as January 2019 it had considered an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high-rises built in those gap years .
Councilman Mitch O ’ Farrell cast the lone vote at a committee hearing to push ahead a strict sprinkler retrofit law .
“ It seemed like a no-brainer .
I remember thinking , ‘ With the people who live there and the firefighters who have to respond , they deserve these protections , ’ ” O ’ Farrell said Wednesday .
Los Angeles Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas recommended in 2017 that sprinklers be installed in all 55 buildings that still did not have them .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it would cost $ 1.6 million for a 16-story apartment building to be retrofitted , or about $ 6,000 per unit , excluding the cost of any asbestos abatement and demolition .
On Wednesday , Terrazas credited “ a herculean effort by the members of the Los Angeles Fire Department ” with putting out the fire , despite wind gusts of up to 35 mph .
Firefighters knocked down the flames shortly before 10 a.m. , a little more than an hour after the fire began .
Residents described a disorienting scene @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heard an announcement to evacuate and a few said they did not know there was a problem until they were alerted by neighbors or by the smell of smoke .
Ali Mara , 26 , was sleeping in her apartment on Stoner Avenue , across the street from Barrington Plaza , when she was woken up by sirens and the smell of smoke .
“ It ’ s just really sad , ” she said .
“ I just feel sad for those people.
” Times staff writers Luke Money , Hannah Fry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Matt Stiles , Colleen Shalby , Matthew Ormseth and Jaclyn Cosgrove contributed to this report .

Andrew J. Campa, Sonja Sharp, Alejandra Reyes-Velarde, Dakota Smith

Friends and family reunite after the Barrington Plaza fire, which was under investigation by Los Angeles fire officials. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Displaced residents reunite with friends and family at a temporary shelter after the Westside apartment complex fire. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Firefighters hoist a ladder to the man trapped on the outside of the structure. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Residents are airlifted from the roof of the Barrington Plaza apartments by Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
A man trying to escape flames walks along a ledge after fire engulfs the sixth floor of a 25-story residential building in Los Angeles. Firefighters were able to rescue the man. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
For a terrifying few minutes, the man clung to the side of the 25-story high-rise as flames consumed an apartment unit just a few feet away. He contemplated jumping, authorities said, but was persuaded to hang on until a firefighter atop a tall ladder collected him safely.
The scene played out Wednesday morning above Wilshire Boulevard at Barrington Plaza, a sprawling Westside apartment complex where a fire in the same tower in 2013 caused serious injuries.
With hundreds of firefighters battling the flames Wednesday, at least 15 tenants who raced to the rooftop were airlifted from danger by hovering helicopters, while others described crawling on their bellies to escape smoke-filled hallways.
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The fire left 13 people injured, one of them gravely, and renewed calls for Los Angeles elected officials to require sprinklers in all high-rise residential buildings. Barrington Plaza had none, authorities said — one of 55 residential high-rises built between 1943 and 1974 that are exempt from the city’s sprinkler requirements.
Liz Bowers, a Barrington Plaza resident, awoke to sirens and smoke Wednesday morning and recalled thinking, “Surely it’s not another fire.” But when she looked out her window, flames confirmed her fears. “They should have put sprinklers in after the [2013] fire,” she said.
The City Council has repeatedly considered expanding the sprinkler requirement but has backed away because of objections from building owners who said the fixes would be too expensive and would drive up rents.
Councilman Mike Bonin said he would introduce a proposal Friday to “mandate the damn sprinklers.”
The blaze engulfed the sixth and seventh floors of the A Tower at the complex, in the 11700 block of Wilshire Boulevard. The fire was reported just after 8:30 a.m. by fire crews who were tending a nearby blaze.
As many as 400 firefighters responded. Eleven residents were injured; seven were sent to a hospital for treatment, including a 3-month-old baby, and four were treated at the scene. Most suffered smoke inhalation. Two firefighters suffered minor burns.
A 30-year-old man required CPR and was listed in grave condition Wednesday, while another 30-year-old man was in critical condition, L.A. Fire Capt. Erik Scott said.
Both men were believed to be tenants of the apartment unit where the fire broke out, Scott said.
The complex is owned by the Santa Monica-based real estate giant Douglas Emmett Inc. The company describes Barrington Plaza — comprising three towers — as a “resort-style” complex with ocean views, an Olympic-size pool and luxury amenities.
But tenants complained Wednesday that despite rents of up to $3,500, one elevator was broken, requests for other repairs went unheeded and management had made no apparent safety improvements since the 2013 fire.
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Many tenants blamed the problems on short-term renters from Airbnb, who they said filled some of the 712 units in the three towers. “A lot of people Airbnb here,” said resident John Tavakoli. “They party all night — they’re up until 2 a.m. on a Tuesday.”
He said that while safety issues go unaddressed, “our rent goes up, utilities go up, but one elevator’s always broken.”
Douglas Emmett representatives issued a statement Wednesday evening saying: “Our deepest sympathies go out to all who have been impacted by today’s fire. Our priority is the safety and well-being of our residents. We will continue to work with the Los Angeles Fire Department and all local authorities.”
The company said it had reserved hotel rooms for residents who were displaced.
Fire officials initially reported that some people had jumped from the building to escape the flames. They later clarified to say that the man who clung to the side of the building and a second person had contemplated jumping before both were rescued.
Firefighters took an unconventional approach in battling the flames, hosing the building from the outside in an effort to cool the units before tackling the flames inside. The bulk of the fire was on the sixth floor. Three other floors were damaged by smoke, authorities said.
“This could have been much worse,” said Scott, the Fire Department captain. “These firefighters were literally driven to their bellies halfway through that hallway, before they even got to that fire.”
Deputy Police Chief Justin Eisenberg said the Los Angeles Police Department and arson investigators were studying the blaze to determine whether it was criminal or accidental. No one has been arrested, he said. The fire that started earlier in the morning about three blocks away also is part of the investigation.
During the 2013 fire at Barrington Plaza, many residents described not hearing fire alarms or getting inadequate notice from the building management.
Eight tenants who sued Douglas Emmett alleging negligence reached settlements with the company, according to their lawyer, Shawn McCann.
They complained not only about the lack of sprinklers but also that the building’s stairwells were not pressurized. The lack of pressurized stairwells meant that escape routes instead became traps where residents suffered severe smoke inhalation during the fire, McCann said.
McCann said several victims of the 2013 fire called him when they heard about Wednesday’s blaze.
“There were all these people put into a building without adequate fire protections, protections we assume most buildings have. So it was an accident waiting to happen,” McCann said of the 2013 fire. “And now, even after litigation and a trial and settlements, it was an accident waiting to be repeated.”
An attorney representing Douglas Emmett did not respond to a request for comment.
Previous fires have prompted city officials to make some safety improvements.
A 1982 blaze at the Dorothy Mae apartments near downtown, which killed 25 people, led to a law requiring sprinklers on apartment buildings built before 1943.
In 1988, one person died and 40 were injured when a fire broke out downtown in what is now Aon Center, then called First Interstate Tower and Los Angeles’ tallest building. The city again moved to expand fire sprinkler protections — this time extending them to high-rise offices that hadn’t previously been covered.
But the city still did not require sprinklers on high-rise apartments built after 1943 and before 1974. Barrington Plaza was completed in 1963. At the time, it was touted as the largest residential apartment complex in the West.
The city took up the matter again after the 2013 Barrington Plaza fire, and as late as January 2019 it had considered an ordinance to expand sprinkler protections to the high-rises built in those gap years.
Councilman Mitch O’Farrell cast the lone vote at a committee hearing to push ahead a strict sprinkler retrofit law.
“It seemed like a no-brainer. I remember thinking, ‘With the people who live there and the firefighters who have to respond, they deserve these protections,’” O’Farrell said Wednesday.
Los Angeles Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas recommended in 2017 that sprinklers be installed in all 55 buildings that still did not have them. The department’s Fire Prevention Bureau estimated that it would cost $1.6 million for a 16-story apartment building to be retrofitted, or about $6,000 per unit, excluding the cost of any asbestos abatement and demolition.
On Wednesday, Terrazas credited “a herculean effort by the members of the Los Angeles Fire Department” with putting out the fire, despite wind gusts of up to 35 mph. Firefighters knocked down the flames shortly before 10 a.m., a little more than an hour after the fire began.
Residents described a disorienting scene in which some heard alarms, others heard an announcement to evacuate and a few said they did not know there was a problem until they were alerted by neighbors or by the smell of smoke.
Ali Mara, 26, was sleeping in her apartment on Stoner Avenue, across the street from Barrington Plaza, when she was woken up by sirens and the smell of smoke.
“It’s just really sad,” she said. “I just feel sad for those people.”
Times staff writers Luke Money, Hannah Fry, Emily Alpert Reyes, James Rainey, Matt Stiles, Colleen Shalby, Matthew Ormseth and Jaclyn Cosgrove contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-01-30--Column: One way to make healthcare more affordable? Give California nurse practitioners autonomy

More Californians are acquiring medical insurance , but there are increasingly fewer primary care doctors to treat them .
There ’ s an easy partial fix , but it ’ s blocked by an old turf war .
Negotiating a truce is not easy .
In fact , it ’ s probably impossible .
So one side will probably win and the other side will lose in the Legislature this year — again .
The turf battle is between physicians , represented by the powerful California Medical Assn.
, and “ super nurses , ” or nurse practitioners .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But maybe not this time .
It ’ s looking like it ’ s finally the nurse practitioners ’ year .
Who are nurse practitioners ?
They rank somewhere between a registered nurse and a doctor .
They ’ re registered nurses who have more training than ordinary RNs and have at least a master ’ s degree and maybe a doctorate .
Unlike an RN , a nurse practitioner can diagnose , order tests , write prescriptions and manage a patient ’ s care — routine stuff , such as treating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ailments are referred to a physician .
Current law requires an NP to be supervised by a physician .
A doctor can oversee up to four NPs but doesn ’ t have to work in the same building .
The doc can practice miles away .
In many cases , the NP must pay the physician a fee .
There ’ s an annoying slowing of care because when a nurse practitioner orders a prescription or medical supplies , such as a wheelchair or oxygen , it requires a physician ’ s signature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practitioners autonomy .
They could work on their own without the need of a doc babysitter .
For the first time Monday , a nurse practitioner bill passed the state Assembly and moved to the Senate .
The vote was overwhelming : 61 to 1 .
“ This will provide more access to quality healthcare , ” the author , Assemblyman Jim Wood ( D-Healdsburg ) , asserted during the floor debate .
“ The reality is we need to take care of people who need care the most.
” Obamacare and California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s version of federal Medicaid for the poor — have increased the number of people with health insurance .
But finding medical care has become increasingly tough .
Many primary care physicians refuse to treat Medi-Cal patients because state reimbursement rates are so low .
Moreover , there are fewer and fewer primary care doctors — only one-third , roughly 20,000 , of all practicing physicians .
The rest have gone into specialized medicine .
Baby boomer docs have also been retiring .
“ Between 2008 and 2016 , there was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ physicians in California while the population grew by 2.4 million , ” Wood says .
California is projected to be short 4,100 primary care doctors by 2029 .
“ The reality is , we ’ re never going to catch up at this rate , ” says Wood , a dentist .
“ Why wouldn ’ t we want to use a tool that has been effective in 22 other states ?
” That tool is nurse practitioner autonomy like what is proposed in Wood ’ s bill .
When nurse practitioners are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seek the extra training and become NPs .
They also are more affordable for clinics to hire .
There are currently roughly 22,000 NPs practicing in California — slightly outnumbering primary care physicians .
And their billing rates presumably would be significantly lower .
California is the only Western state with major restrictions on nurse practitioners .
We ’ re right in there with Texas , Oklahoma , Georgia , Tennessee and the Carolinas , among a few other restrictive states .
Wood has tried some tactical maneuvering to coax his bill through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Board of Registered Nursing regulates all nurses , but the CMA doesn ’ t trust that board , Wood says .
The docs wanted the state medical board to regulate nurse practitioners if they ’ re cut loose from physicians .
But the medical board wasn ’ t interested .
So Wood attempted a compromise .
He amended the bill with a new state board to regulate NPs — it would be called the Advanced Practice Registered Nursing Board .
No sale .
The CMA didn ’ t budge .
But the Board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill for an understandable reason : It would suffer a $ 5.4-million loss in nurse practitioner fees that would go to the new board .
The nursing board ’ s total budget is $ 26 million .
For the same reason , the politically powerful California Nurses Assn .
— the nurses union — also suddenly opposed the bill .
So in the Senate , look for Wood to scratch the proposed new board from the bill and leave the NPs regulated by the old board .
Then the board and the union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re neutral on the bill ’ s broader policy , ” says Stephanie Roberson , lobbyist for the nurses union .
Wood has about given up trying to negotiate with the CMA .
The physicians ’ organization contends on its website that “ this bill would remove critical patient protections by allowing NPs to practice without physician supervision… .
It is a dangerous bill.
” Baloney .
There ’ s plenty of research in other states showing that patients are as safe with autonomous NPs as physicians .
“ There are no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I ’ ve asked the CMA : ‘ If you ’ ve got objections and have evidence , give them to me.
’ And I ’ ve gotten nothing.
” I ’ m thinking that doctors are leery of competition from the more affordable nurse practitioners — and want to keep pocketing those NP fees .
Patients need a wider choice in affordable care .
And nurse practitioners are one logical answer .

Nurse practitioner Sandeep Lehil examines Gael Farias, 6, while his father, Juan Farias, watches during a routine physical at T.H.E. Clinic in Lennox. State lawmakers are considering a bill to expand the autonomy of nurse practitioners.
More Californians are acquiring medical insurance, but there are increasingly fewer primary care doctors to treat them. There’s an easy partial fix, but it’s blocked by an old turf war.
Negotiating a truce is not easy. In fact, it’s probably impossible.
So one side will probably win and the other side will lose in the Legislature this year — again.
Advertisement
The turf battle is between physicians, represented by the powerful California Medical Assn., and “super nurses,” or nurse practitioners.
The CMA has always won in the past. But maybe not this time. It’s looking like it’s finally the nurse practitioners’ year.
Who are nurse practitioners? They rank somewhere between a registered nurse and a doctor. They’re registered nurses who have more training than ordinary RNs and have at least a master’s degree and maybe a doctorate.
Unlike an RN, a nurse practitioner can diagnose, order tests, write prescriptions and manage a patient’s care — routine stuff, such as treating colds or muscle cramps. More acute ailments are referred to a physician.
Current law requires an NP to be supervised by a physician. A doctor can oversee up to four NPs but doesn’t have to work in the same building. The doc can practice miles away. In many cases, the NP must pay the physician a fee.
There’s an annoying slowing of care because when a nurse practitioner orders a prescription or medical supplies, such as a wheelchair or oxygen, it requires a physician’s signature.
Advertisement
Assembly Bill 890 would give nurse practitioners autonomy. They could work on their own without the need of a doc babysitter.
For the first time Monday, a nurse practitioner bill passed the state Assembly and moved to the Senate. The vote was overwhelming: 61 to 1.
“This will provide more access to quality healthcare,” the author, Assemblyman Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg), asserted during the floor debate. “The reality is we need to take care of people who need care the most.”
Obamacare and California’s expansion of Medi-Cal — the state’s version of federal Medicaid for the poor — have increased the number of people with health insurance. But finding medical care has become increasingly tough. Many primary care physicians refuse to treat Medi-Cal patients because state reimbursement rates are so low.
Moreover, there are fewer and fewer primary care doctors — only one-third, roughly 20,000, of all practicing physicians. The rest have gone into specialized medicine. Baby boomer docs have also been retiring.
“Between 2008 and 2016, there was a 10% drop of primary care physicians in California while the population grew by 2.4 million,” Wood says.
California is projected to be short 4,100 primary care doctors by 2029.
“The reality is, we’re never going to catch up at this rate,” says Wood, a dentist. “Why wouldn’t we want to use a tool that has been effective in 22 other states?”
That tool is nurse practitioner autonomy like what is proposed in Wood’s bill.
When nurse practitioners are allowed to practice independently, many RNs seek the extra training and become NPs. They also are more affordable for clinics to hire.
There are currently roughly 22,000 NPs practicing in California — slightly outnumbering primary care physicians. And their billing rates presumably would be significantly lower.
California is the only Western state with major restrictions on nurse practitioners. We’re right in there with Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas, among a few other restrictive states.
Wood has tried some tactical maneuvering to coax his bill through the Legislature.
For example, the Board of Registered Nursing regulates all nurses, but the CMA doesn’t trust that board, Wood says. The docs wanted the state medical board to regulate nurse practitioners if they’re cut loose from physicians. But the medical board wasn’t interested.
So Wood attempted a compromise. He amended the bill with a new state board to regulate NPs — it would be called the Advanced Practice Registered Nursing Board. No sale. The CMA didn’t budge.
But the Board of Registered Nursing came out against the bill for an understandable reason: It would suffer a $5.4-million loss in nurse practitioner fees that would go to the new board. The nursing board’s total budget is $26 million.
For the same reason, the politically powerful California Nurses Assn. — the nurses union — also suddenly opposed the bill.
So in the Senate, look for Wood to scratch the proposed new board from the bill and leave the NPs regulated by the old board. Then the board and the union will drop their opposition.
“We’re neutral on the bill’s broader policy,” says Stephanie Roberson, lobbyist for the nurses union.
Wood has about given up trying to negotiate with the CMA.
The physicians’ organization contends on its website that “this bill would remove critical patient protections by allowing NPs to practice without physician supervision…. It is a dangerous bill.”
Baloney. There’s plenty of research in other states showing that patients are as safe with autonomous NPs as physicians.
“There are no perfect doctors either,” Wood says. “I’ve asked the CMA: ‘If you’ve got objections and have evidence, give them to me.’ And I’ve gotten nothing.”
I’m thinking that doctors are leery of competition from the more affordable nurse practitioners — and want to keep pocketing those NP fees.
Patients need a wider choice in affordable care. And nurse practitioners are one logical answer.


latimes--2020-01-30--Oxnard police officer killed when truck collides with his motorcycle

A 45-year-old Oxnard police officer was killed Wednesday afternoon shortly after leaving work when his motorcycle and a semi truck collided .
About 4 p.m. , officers responded to a traffic collision on Third Street near Campton Drive and soon found their colleague , Officer Nathan Martin , suffering from life-threatening injuries .
Martin , a 20-year veteran of the Oxnard Police Department , was taken to a hospital where he died as a result of his injuries .
“ It is a terrible and dark day for everyone here at the city of Oxnard and the Oxnard Police Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a news conference .
`` ... Several of the first responders on scene were close personal friends of Officer Martin and are obviously devastated.
” The California Highway Patrol is investigating the incident .
According to preliminary information , Martin was on his personal motorcycle riding eastbound on Third Street , less than a mile from the station , when the truck turned in front of him , Whitney said .
Authorities have not yet determined whether the truck driver violated traffic laws .
“ Clearly you don ’ t have the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traffic , ” Whitney said .
Whitney said he did not believe the driver was in custody .
Martin held several assignments while an officer on the force , including as a patrol officer , property crimes investigator and traffic officer .
He was most recently assigned as a school resource officer at Hueneme High School .
Martin is survived by his wife and three children .
His brother , Tom , was also an Oxnard police officer .
“ He was a good man , he worked hard for the city , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a news conference .
“ He was committed to his job .
...
The students at Hueneme High School loved him .
The faculty loved him .
We know that they ’ re going to take it hard tomorrow .
”

A 45-year-old Oxnard police officer was killed Wednesday afternoon shortly after leaving work when his motorcycle and a semi truck collided.
About 4 p.m., officers responded to a traffic collision on 3rd Street near Campton Drive and soon found their colleague, Officer Nathan Martin, suffering from life-threatening injuries.
Martin, a 20-year veteran of the Oxnard Police Department, was taken to a hospital, where he died as a result of his injuries.
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“It is a terrible and dark day for everyone here at the city of Oxnard and the Oxnard Police Department,” Police Chief Scott Whitney said at a news conference. “Several of the first responders on scene were close personal friends of Officer Martin and are obviously devastated.”
The California Highway Patrol is investigating the incident.
According to preliminary information, Martin was on his personal motorcycle riding eastbound on 3rd Street, less than a mile from the station, when the truck turned in front of him, Whitney said. Authorities have not yet determined whether the truck driver violated traffic laws.
“Clearly you don’t have the right to turn in front of oncoming traffic,” Whitney said.
Whitney said he did not believe the driver was in custody.
Martin held several assignments while an officer on the force, including as a patrol officer, property crimes investigator and traffic officer. He was most recently assigned as a school resource officer at Hueneme High School.
Martin is survived by his wife and three children. His brother, Tom, was also an Oxnard police officer.
“He was a good man, he worked hard for the city,” Whitney said. “He was committed to his job. ... The students at Hueneme High School loved him. The faculty loved him. We know that they’re going to take it hard tomorrow.”