latimes--2020-01-17--Thousands expected at Women's March in Los Angeles

Marking the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment acknowledging women ’ s right to vote , tens of thousands of women will gather in Los Angeles and other cities across the country Saturday to advocate for equal rights and other issues as part of the fourth annual Women ’ s March .
Since the first worldwide demonstration in 2017 , coming the day after President Trump ’ s inauguration , organizers of the march have struggled with their own leadership issues .
Three of the four original founders – Bob Bland , Tamika Mallory and Linda Sarsour – stepped down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , money mismanagement and controversy over their attendance at events hosted by Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan , who had made anti-Semitic remarks .
The outrage led several groups to withdraw their support , including the Democratic National Committee and EMILY ’ s List , and prompted organizers at sister marches throughout the country , including Los Angeles , to define their separation from the national organization .
“ We have been our own separate entity from Day One – our own nonprofit , our own board .
We are self-funded , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Women ’ s March Foundation .
But the group in Los Angeles now has an “ open line of communication ” with Women ’ s March Inc. and will work together when necessary .
“ There ’ s no time for infighting .
Women ’ s rights are under attack.
” Despite the controversy , large crowds are expected to turn out for demonstrations across the country this weekend .
In Los Angeles , thousands are expected to gather downtown , congregating at Pershing Square before marching to City Hall for a two-hour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maxine Waters and Karen Bass of Los Angeles , Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti , attorney Gloria Allred and activists Caitlyn Jenner and Ta ’ Rhonda Jones , among others .
There will also be performances by Adrienne Bailon , Ray Chew , Jennifer Lewis , Seal and Jordin Sparks .
“ We ’ re expecting about half a million people to show up to downtown Los Angeles .
We are expecting a nice day of female empowerment , ” Guereca said .
“ We do expect a lot of people to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critical we do raise our voices for 2020.
” Walk for Life , an antiabortion demonstration , is also scheduled Saturday in downtown Los Angeles .
The noontime march , sponsored by OneLife L.A. , will run from Olvera Street to Los Angeles State Park .
Cyntoia Brown-Long , a survivor of teenage sex trafficking and an advocate for criminal justice reform , will be the keynote speaker .
The day ’ s activities will conclude with the 25th annual Respect Life Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels beginning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filmmaker and board member for the National Women ’ s History Alliance who helped oversee the 2020 Rose Parade float celebrating passage of the 19th Amendment , plans to attend this year ’ s Women ’ s March in suffrage-inspired attire .
The same way marches for the 19th Amendment brought women out of their kitchens and basements in the early 1900s , she said today ’ s demonstrations also provide a platform for their political activism .
The first marches in January 2017 were organized in direct response to Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his sexist rhetoric and behavior toward women , including audio from the “ Access Hollywood ” recording in which he can be heard making lewd comments .
Born out of a Facebook group in support of Hillary Clinton , the marches were among the largest demonstrations in U.S. history , drawing hundreds of thousands of protesters in Washington , Los Angeles and other cities .
Since the first marches in 2017 , Guereca said she has never expected the same massive outpouring , as women continue to find new ways to make their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that each year 60 % of our marchers are new marchers , ” she said .
While the Los Angeles march is nonpartisan , Democratic women make up the bulk of its base .
Jean Sinzdak , associate director for the nonpartisan and nonprofit Center for American Women and Politics , said the first Women ’ s March offered many women a starting point for their activism .
Over the years , she said , many participants have gotten involved in local and state politics .
“ The first Women ’ s March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said .
“ What ’ s happened in the evolution is that women have gone back into their communities and figured out what their next steps should be.
” The 2020 march comes at a time when three women are running for president on the Democratic ticket and on the same week that Virginia became the 38th state to pass the Equal Rights Amendment .
It also comes on the eve of Harvey Weinstein ’ s sexual assault trial - the allegations against him gave rise to the # MeToo movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
During the midterm elections in 2018 , a record number of women ran for Congress – and won .
In California , one woman was elected to the U.S. Senate and four women were elected to the House of Representatives .
Sinzdak said that it ’ s possible that the number of women who will run for Congress in 2020 will surpass those in 2018 .
While the majority of the 103 women who won congressional seats were Democrats , this time around , the number of Republican women who are potential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is moving forward , ” Sinzdak said .
Saturday ’ s events will start at 9 a.m .
Participants will congregate in Pershing Square before making their way to L.A. City Hall .
Streets will be closed starting at 12:01 a.m. Saturday along Spring Street , Broadway and Hill Street between 1st & Temple streets .
At 7:30 a.m. , the full route closure takes effect on Spring , Broadway , Hill , and Olive , from Temple to 6th Street as well as east-west cross streets along the route .
At 11:30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ creating closures on Cesar Chavez Boulevard , Broadway , Alpine Street and Alameda Street in Chinatown .
Closures will be lifted at 4 p.m .

Marking the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment acknowledging women’s right to vote, tens of thousands of women will gather in Los Angeles and other cities across the country Saturday to advocate for equal rights and other issues as part of the fourth annual Women’s March.
Since the first worldwide demonstration in 2017, coming the day after President Trump’s inauguration, organizers of the march have struggled with their own leadership issues.
Three of the four original founders – Bob Bland, Tamika Mallory and Linda Sarsour – stepped down in September, following reports of infighting, money mismanagement and controversy over their attendance at events hosted by Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, who had made anti-Semitic remarks.
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The outrage led several groups to withdraw their support, including the Democratic National Committee and EMILY’s List, and prompted organizers at sister marches throughout the country, including Los Angeles, to define their separation from the national organization.
“We have been our own separate entity from Day One – our own nonprofit, our own board. We are self-funded,” said Emiliana Guereca, president of Women’s March Foundation. But the group in Los Angeles now has an “open line of communication” with Women’s March Inc. and will work together when necessary. “There’s no time for infighting. Women’s rights are under attack.”
Despite the controversy, large crowds are expected to turn out for demonstrations across the country this weekend. In Los Angeles, thousands are expected to gather downtown, congregating at Pershing Square before marching to City Hall for a two-hour program featuring speakers that include Democratic Reps. Maxine Waters and Karen Bass of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, attorney Gloria Allred and activists Caitlyn Jenner and Ta’Rhonda Jones, among others. There will also be performances by Adrienne Bailon, Ray Chew, Jennifer Lewis, Seal and Jordin Sparks.
“We’re expecting about half a million people to show up to downtown Los Angeles. We are expecting a nice day of female empowerment,” Guereca said. “We do expect a lot of people to take to the streets because it’s critical we do raise our voices for 2020.”
Road closures during the Women’s March start at 12:01 a.m. Saturday until 4:30 p.m. (Los Angeles Times)
Walk for Life, an antiabortion demonstration, is also scheduled Saturday in downtown Los Angeles. The noontime march, sponsored by OneLife L.A., will run from Olvera Street to Los Angeles State Park. Cyntoia Brown-Long, a survivor of teenage sex trafficking and an advocate for criminal justice reform, will be the keynote speaker. The day’s activities will conclude with the 25th annual Respect Life Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels beginning at 5 p.m.
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Martha Wheelock, a filmmaker and board member for the National Women’s History Alliance who helped oversee the 2020 Rose Parade float celebrating passage of the 19th Amendment, plans to attend this year’s Women’s March in suffrage-inspired attire. The same way marches for the 19th Amendment brought women out of their kitchens and basements in the early 1900s, she said today’s demonstrations also provide a platform for their political activism.
“It pulls women together,” said Wheelock, 78.
The first marches in January 2017 were organized in direct response to Trump’s election amid a campaign season marred by his sexist rhetoric and behavior toward women, including audio from the “Access Hollywood” recording in which he can be heard making lewd comments. Born out of a Facebook group in support of Hillary Clinton, the marches were among the largest demonstrations in U.S. history, drawing hundreds of thousands of protesters in Washington, Los Angeles and other cities.
Since the first marches in 2017, Guereca said she has never expected the same massive outpouring, as women continue to find new ways to make their voices heard.
“Our data shows that each year 60% of our marchers are new marchers,” she said.
While the Los Angeles march is nonpartisan, Democratic women make up the bulk of its base. Jean Sinzdak, associate director for the nonpartisan and nonprofit Center for American Women and Politics, said the first Women’s March offered many women a starting point for their activism. Over the years, she said, many participants have gotten involved in local and state politics.
“The first Women’s March was really about making voices heard,” she said. “What’s happened in the evolution is that women have gone back into their communities and figured out what their next steps should be.”
The 2020 march comes at a time when three women are running for president on the Democratic ticket and on the same week that Virginia became the 38th state to pass the Equal Rights Amendment. It also comes on the eve of Harvey Weinstein’s sexual assault trial - the allegations against him gave rise to the #MeToo movement and spurred more activism and political involvement.
During the midterm elections in 2018, a record number of women ran for Congress – and won. In California, one woman was elected to the U.S. Senate and four women were elected to the House of Representatives.
Sinzdak said that it’s possible that the number of women who will run for Congress in 2020 will surpass those in 2018. While the majority of the 103 women who won congressional seats were Democrats, this time around, the number of Republican women who are potential candidates is surging.
The “ball is moving forward,” Sinzdak said.
Saturday’s events will start at 9 a.m. Participants will congregate in Pershing Square before making their way to L.A. City Hall. Streets will be closed starting at 12:01 a.m. Saturday along Spring Street, Broadway and Hill Street between 1st & Temple streets. At 7:30 a.m., the full route closure takes effect on Spring, Broadway, Hill, and Olive, from Temple to 6th Street as well as east-west cross streets along the route. At 11:30 a.m. the One Life March begins, creating closures on Cesar Chavez Boulevard, Broadway, Alpine Street and Alameda Street in Chinatown. Closures will be lifted at 4 p.m.


latimes--2020-01-17--Adorable owl injured on 101 Freeway recovers in time for mating season

“ Owl ” it needed was some tender love and care .
An injured barn owl struck on the 101 Freeway in Santa Barbara last month has made a full recovery and will be released next week , animal rescuers say .
The California Highway Patrol received multiple calls from motorists in December about a “ dazed ” owl on the northbound 101 Highway at Milpas Street in Santa Barbara , the agency said on its Facebook page at the time .
Two officers found the injured bird along the center divider of the freeway and guarded the animal until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatment .
“ We are so happy the owl made it safely off the freeway , ” the CHP wrote .
X-rays showed the animal — dubbed the “ 101 bird ” by the center — suffered serious injuries after a car struck it , leaving the owl with internal bleeding , trauma to her face , eye and nasal cavity , and a broken scapula .
“ It wasn ’ t able to fly , so we knew something was wrong , ” said Kim Stroud , executive director of the Ojai @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when it showed the scapula broken and it needed to be wrapped.
” The scapula , located in the bird ’ s chest area , required a lengthy time to heal , according to the wildlife rescue center .
After 4 1/2 weeks resting in a body wrap , she was recently placed in a flight pen to help rebuild her wing ’ s muscles .
Now , the center is preparing to release the barn owl near where she was injured in hopes that she ’ ll find her partner in time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of catch-and-release experience , Stroud said it ’ s “ still an amazing feeling to see a bird fly off .
”

“Owl” it needed was some tender love and care.
An injured barn owl struck on the 101 Freeway in Santa Barbara last month has made a full recovery and will be released next week, animal rescuers say.
The California Highway Patrol received multiple calls from motorists in December about a “dazed” owl on the northbound 101 Highway at Milpas Street in Santa Barbara, the agency said on its Facebook page at the time. Two officers found the injured bird along the center divider of the freeway and guarded the animal until it could be captured and transported for treatment.
“We are so happy the owl made it safely off the freeway,” the CHP wrote.
X-rays showed the animal — dubbed the “101 bird” by the center — suffered serious injuries after a car struck it, leaving the owl with internal bleeding, trauma to her face, eye and nasal cavity, and a broken scapula.
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“It wasn’t able to fly, so we knew something was wrong,” said Kim Stroud, executive director of the Ojai Raptor Center. “That’s when it showed the scapula broken and it needed to be wrapped.”
The scapula, located in the bird’s chest area, required a lengthy time to heal, according to the wildlife rescue center.
After 4 1/2 weeks resting in a body wrap, she was recently placed in a flight pen to help rebuild her wing’s muscles.
Now, the center is preparing to release the barn owl near where she was injured in hopes that she’ll find her partner in time for mating season.
With 25 years of catch-and-release experience, Stroud said it’s “still an amazing feeling to see a bird fly off.”


latimes--2020-01-17--1 killed, another injured in avalanche near Lake Tahoe, officials say

A skier was killed and another seriously injured when an avalanche sent snow barreling down the mountain at Alpine Meadows Ski Resort just west of Lake Tahoe on Friday morning , authorities said .
Placer County sheriff ’ s deputies responded to the resort , above the Subway ski run , about 10:30 a.m. after they received a report of an avalanche , Sgt .
Mike Powers said .
Cole Comstock , 34 , was killed in the avalanche , the Placer County sheriff wrote on Twitter .
Comstock lived in Blairsden , about 90 miles east of Chico .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ his lower body and was taken by ambulance to a hospital , according to authorities and a statement from the ski resort .
Search and rescue crews and avalanche dogs scoured the mountain for more than an hour .
They were called off around 1 p.m. after confirming there were no additional victims , according to the Placer County sheriff .
“ This is an area of the resort that ’ s an advanced ski area , and at this point , there ’ s no reason to believe that any other areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in jeopardy , ” Powers said .
The cause of the avalanche was unclear as of Friday afternoon , the resort said .
“ The entire Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows team , including all of the first responders , extend their deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the deceased .
We are working closely with the families of all the affected individuals to ensure their continued care , ” the resort wrote in a statement .
The Sierra Avalanche Center rated avalanche conditions Friday as “ considerable ” for all elevations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ layer of snow from Thursday ’ s storm brought a high degree of uncertainty to snowpack stability .
Edan Weishahn , a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Reno , said a foot to 2 feet of snow has fallen in the Sierra Nevada near the resort over the past day .
It is not clear what caused the avalanche , but the avalanche center reported “ significant drifting of new snow ” near and above the treeline Friday .
Deadly avalanches are not unprecedented at Alpine Meadows .
In March 1982 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chairlift Terminal building , the main ski lodge , several small buildings and two chairlifts , and buried the resort ’ s parking lot under at least 10 feet of snow .
Seven people were killed .

A skier was killed and another seriously injured Friday morning when an avalanche sent snow barreling down the mountain at Alpine Meadows Ski Resort just west of Lake Tahoe, authorities said.
Placer County sheriff’s deputies responded to the resort, above the Subway ski run, about 10:30 a.m. after they received a report of an avalanche, Sgt. Mike Powers said.
Cole Comstock, 34, was killed, the Placer County sheriff wrote on Twitter. Comstock lived in Blairsden, about 90 miles east of Chico. A second man suffered severe injuries to his lower body and was taken by ambulance to a hospital, according to authorities and a statement from the ski resort.
Search and rescue crews and avalanche dogs scoured the mountain for more than an hour. They were called off about 1 p.m. after confirming there were no additional victims, the Placer County sheriff said.
“This is an area of the resort that’s an advanced ski area, and at this point, there’s no reason to believe that any other areas of the resort or Alpine Meadows is in jeopardy,” Powers said. The cause of the avalanche was unclear as of Friday afternoon, the resort said.
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UPDATE [12:50p.m.]: Search has been called off. After a thorough search, SAR volunteers and avalanche dogs confirmed no further victims. — Placer Sheriff (@PlacerSheriff) January 17, 2020
“The entire Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows team, including all of the first responders, extend their deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the deceased. We are working closely with the families of all the affected individuals to ensure their continued care,” the resort wrote in a statement.
The Sierra Avalanche Center rated avalanche conditions Friday as “considerable” for all elevations. The center noted that a new layer of snow from Thursday’s storm brought a high degree of uncertainty to snowpack stability.
Edan Weishahn, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Reno, said up to 2 feet of snow had fallen in the Sierra Nevada near the resort over the past day. It is not clear what caused the avalanche, but the avalanche center reported “significant drifting of new snow” near and above the tree line Friday.
Deadly avalanches are not unprecedented at Alpine Meadows. In March 1982, a massive avalanche hit the Summit Chairlift Terminal building, the main ski lodge, several small buildings and two chairlifts, and buried the resort’s parking lot under at least 10 feet of snow. Seven people were killed.
Ethan Greene, director of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, said the most dangerous avalanche is a “slab avalanche,” when a large, cohesive piece of snow breaks off and slides into a valley. “That snow is much denser, much harder than most people think,” he said. “It sort of freezes you in place. You can’t move at all, and that’s what’s so dangerous about it.”
When a person is buried in an avalanche, with his or her airway blocked entirely, “you have four to six minutes before you start sustaining permanent damage,” Greene said. In North America, 25% of people killed in avalanches die from trauma and nearly 75% from asphyxiation, he said. “If you can’t get our exhalation away from you, you’re breathing in your carbon dioxide,” he said. “It’s like breathing with a paper bag over your head.” A small percentage of people die from hypothermia, he said.
Greene emphasized that if skiers pay attention to closures, follow the ski area’s rules and stick to open areas, which are patrolled and closely monitored for avalanches, a deadly avalanche is a rare occurrence. As a precaution, however, skiers can make themselves “searchable,” he said, by wearing Recco reflectors on their clothing and carrying avalanche transceivers, which help search and rescue teams find people buried in snow.


latimes--2020-01-17--Coronavirus screenings to begin at LAX, two other U.S. airports amid outbreak in China

Federal authorities will begin screening airline travelers arriving from Wuhan , China , for signs that they may be infected with a new coronavirus that is spreading in Asia , officials announced Friday .
Passengers flying into Los Angeles International Airport , San Francisco International Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York will be examined for the virus ’ pneumonia-like symptoms , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said .
About 100 additional CDC workers will be deployed to join existing public health staff at the three airports .
The newly evolved virus , known as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people and killed two since December .
Health authorities in Thailand and Japan have each identified infected patients as well .
In at least two of those three cases , the patients had recently traveled to Wuhan , the epicenter of the outbreak .
The likelihood that the virus will spread within the United States is still considered low .
However , public health officials are concerned that the virus could spread more widely as travel picks up in advance of the Chinese New Year .
“ Investigations into this novel coronavirus are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to this evolving situation , ” Martin Cetron , the head of the CDC ’ s Division of Global Migration and Quarantine , said in a statement Friday .
According to Chinese health officials , most patients infected with the virus in Wuhan were exposed to live animals in a large seafood market , which suggests that the virus jumped from another host species into humans .
But at least two patients said they had not visited the market , which has since closed — a concerning sign that the virus has taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to spread more widely .
“ It ’ s encouraging that this virus doesn ’ t appear to be easily transmitted between humans , if it all .
But you worry that , over time , it could , ” said Dr. Robert J. Kim-Farley , an epidemiology professor at UCLA who formerly led infectious disease control at the LA County Department of Public Health .
The airports in San Francisco and New York receive direct flights from Wuhan .
LAX does not , but the CDC surveillance there will focus on passengers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokeswoman said .
Health workers will scan passengers ’ foreheads for fevers and will collect questionnaires that ask whether the travelers have visited markets in Wuhan or experienced other symptoms of the virus , such as difficulty with breathing .
Screenings will begin on Friday night in New York and on Saturday at the two California airports .
Based on travel projections , authorities expect some 5,000 passengers to be screened at the three airports in the coming weeks .
Border screenings can be controversial because they are expensive and only partially effective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health policy expert at Georgetown University ’ s Center for Global Health Science and Security .
Since some disease can be transmitted without showing symptoms , “ symptom-based screening alone will be insufficient , ” she added .
Still , federal officials said they are operating out of an abundance of precaution .
“ When you have an emerging infectious disease , you want to be able to detect cases as early as you possibly can , ” said Nancy Cox , who led the influenza division at the CDC during the 2009 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ do this at airports because , if the risk increases , you already have the precautions in place , experienced people doing the screenings , and an increased level of awareness generally.
” Some coronaviruses cause mild respiratory infections , like the common cold .
But others lead to far more severe symptoms .
MERS , for example — another respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus — has had a fatality rate of up to 40 % in Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries , where it has been circulating over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome , a coronavirus known as SARS , was believed to have originated through animal-to-human transmission in a marketplace , much like the scenario in the Wuhan outbreak .
The virus ultimately killed about 800 people worldwide , including 44 in Canada .
( There were no SARS deaths in the United States . )
Health experts say that open communication between Chinese officials and foreign health leaders will be vital to squelching the Wuhan outbreak .
In 2003 , the Chinese government admitted it had drastically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ causing a widespread public backlash and dismissals of the country ’ s health minister and mayor of Beijing .
In 2005 , Beijing officials obfuscated the scale of an H5N1 influenza outbreak that began when the virus jumped from chickens to humans , even in the face of contradictory evidence from Hong Kong .
And again , in 2018 , the Chinese government withheld lab samples of a rapidly evolving H7N9 bird flu virus from foreign governments that hoped to prepare for it .
Some experts believe the secrecy is motivated in party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s poultry industry .
Still , transparency and proactive steps — like the airport screenings — could make all the difference in containing the new coronavirus while the outbreak is still in its early stages , experts said .
“ This virus is of the same classification as SARS and MERS — it has the potential to be a serious organism .
And because it ’ s new , we don ’ t know much about it yet , ” Kim-Farley said .
“ Put this on the list of diseases that you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the bud , ” he added .

Federal authorities will begin screening airline travelers arriving from Wuhan, China, for signs that they may be infected with a new coronavirus that is spreading in Asia, officials announced Friday.
Passengers flying into Los Angeles International Airport, San Francisco International Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York will be examined for the virus’ pneumonia-like symptoms, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
About 100 additional CDC workers will be deployed to join existing public health staff at the three airports.
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The newly evolved virus, known as 2019-nCoV, has sickened at least 41 people and killed two since December. Health authorities in Thailand and Japan have each identified infected patients as well. In at least two of those three cases, the patients had recently traveled to Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak.
The likelihood that the virus will spread within the United States is still considered low. However, public health officials are concerned that the virus could spread more widely as travel picks up in advance of the Chinese New Year.
“Investigations into this novel coronavirus are ongoing and we are monitoring and responding to this evolving situation,” Martin Cetron, the head of the CDC’s Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, said in a statement Friday.
According to Chinese health officials, most patients infected with the virus in Wuhan were exposed to live animals in a large seafood market, which suggests that the virus jumped from another host species into humans.
But at least two patients said they had not visited the market, which has since closed — a concerning sign that the virus has taken hold in humans and could be poised to spread more widely.
“It’s encouraging that this virus doesn’t appear to be easily transmitted between humans, if it all. But you worry that, over time, it could,” said Dr. Robert J. Kim-Farley, an epidemiology professor at UCLA who formerly led infectious disease control at the LA County Department of Public Health.
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The airports in San Francisco and New York receive direct flights from Wuhan. LAX does not, but the CDC surveillance there will focus on passengers arriving through connecting flights, an airport spokeswoman said.
Health workers will scan passengers’ foreheads for fevers and will collect questionnaires that ask whether the travelers have visited markets in Wuhan or experienced other symptoms of the virus, such as difficulty with breathing.
Screenings will begin on Friday night in New York and on Saturday at the two California airports. Based on travel projections, authorities expect some 5,000 passengers to be screened at the three airports in the coming weeks.
Border screenings can be controversial because they are expensive and only partially effective, according to Alexandra Phelan, a health policy expert at Georgetown University’s Center for Global Health Science and Security. Since some disease can be transmitted without showing symptoms, “symptom-based screening alone will be insufficient,” she added.
Still, federal officials said they are operating out of an abundance of precaution.
“When you have an emerging infectious disease, you want to be able to detect cases as early as you possibly can,” said Nancy Cox, who led the influenza division at the CDC during the 2009 swine flu pandemic. Public health officials “do this at airports because, if the risk increases, you already have the precautions in place, experienced people doing the screenings, and an increased level of awareness generally.”
Some coronaviruses cause mild respiratory infections, like the common cold. But others lead to far more severe symptoms. MERS, for example — another respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus — has had a fatality rate of up to 40% in Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries, where it has been circulating over the last decade.
China’s 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, a coronavirus known as SARS, was believed to have originated through animal-to-human transmission in a marketplace, much like the scenario in the Wuhan outbreak. The virus ultimately killed about 800 people worldwide, including 44 in Canada. (There were no SARS deaths in the United States.)
Health experts say that open communication between Chinese officials and foreign health leaders will be vital to squelching the Wuhan outbreak. In 2003, the Chinese government admitted it had drastically underreported the number of SARS cases, causing a widespread public backlash and dismissals of the country’s health minister and mayor of Beijing.
In 2005, Beijing officials obfuscated the scale of an H5N1 influenza outbreak that began when the virus jumped from chickens to humans, even in the face of contradictory evidence from Hong Kong. And again, in 2018, the Chinese government withheld lab samples of a rapidly evolving H7N9 bird flu virus from foreign governments that hoped to prepare for it.
Some experts believe the secrecy is motivated in part by a desire to protect China’s poultry industry. Still, transparency and proactive steps — like the airport screenings — could make all the difference in containing the new coronavirus while the outbreak is still in its early stages, experts said.
“This virus is of the same classification as SARS and MERS — it has the potential to be a serious organism. And because it’s new, we don’t know much about it yet,” Kim-Farley said.
“Put this on the list of diseases that you really, really want to nip right in the bud,” he added.


latimes--2020-01-17--First non-Jew to lead Bet Tzedek has devoted career to working with legal aid groups

In 1974 , a group of Jewish lawyers , law students and others banded together to offer free legal services out of a storefront in Los Angeles ’ Fairfax district .
Calling themselves Bet Tzedek , Hebrew for ‘ House of Justice , ’ they spent much of their time protecting the neighborhood ’ s elderly Jewish residents from unscrupulous landlords .
Four decades later , the group has grown into one of the city ’ s leading legal aid organizations with dozens of staff attorneys and volunteers assisting thousands of undocumented immigrants , low-wage workers , homeless families and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bet Tzedek announced it has selected Diego Cartagena , a lawyer who currently oversees its legal programs , as its new chief executive officer .
Born in El Salvador , Cartagena , 42 , immigrated legally to the U.S. with this family when he was a young child .
He is the first non-Jew to lead the organization .
You ’ ve dedicated your whole career to working with legal aid groups .
Why did you go down this path ?
After college , I taught at a small , low-income elementary school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were children of migrant workers .
That was the first time as an adult that I witnessed firsthand the impact of the legal issues these families faced .
They were facing eviction , parents weren ’ t getting paid what they were owed , there was domestic violence .
I would hear about it directly from the children ... and realized that if I was going to have the impact on their lives that I wanted to , then I needed to go down a different path .
So I applied to law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to law school with similar intentions , but they get wooed by the big salaries private firms offer .
The summer after my first year of law school , I interned at the Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice in its family law unit .
I chose it because I was thinking back to my students at that elementary school ... Something about family law just clicked for me ; it all made sense , and I saw the impact I could have on my clients ’ lives .
I went on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few years .
The aspect of the job I enjoyed the most was teaching and coaching attorneys from law firms on how to help in cases .
I loved the multiplier effect it had .
At any given time , I could be working on 30 cases .
But what if I had this army of attorneys working alongside me ?
All of a sudden , we ’ re doing so much more for the community .
The model of volunteers is interesting .
We ’ re in a city that has no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 1,000 an hour for the services of their attorneys and no shortage of people struggling with homelessness , immigration issues and other serious problems .
As someone who has made a career of bridging those extremes , I wonder what you make of it ?
It ’ s about harnessing their talent and harnessing their desire to use their talents to the benefit of communities that they see all around them .
Everyone has a story .
One lawyer will say , for example , ‘ I volunteer for your conservator clinic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I know what my parents went through to take care of her.
’ Others tell us that we are the way they stay connected to their dream of working at a nonprofit as they pay off the loans they took out for law school .
I always keep in mind what my good friend David Lash , who used to run Bet Tzedek , says : We are one of the few professions that has this mandate to turn around and do good on behalf of the community .
You ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Is that significant ?
It ’ s a huge honor .
This is a unique place .
There are a lot of agencies out there that are dedicated to justice and equal access , but Bet Tzedek has something beyond that .
It is founded on these principles , these guideposts that are from the Jewish community .
I learned , for example , the idea that you do not turn away a stranger who comes from a strange land .
Being an immigrant , I was overwhelmed by that ... And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this organization .
Years ago , our board had a tough decision to make : Do we pursue legal services funding from the federal government ?
One of the restrictions on that funding is you can not serve undocumented immigrants .
It was an incredible amount of money that would have offered some stability .
But it would have meant compromising this value that we hold dear .
The board made a choice that it wasn ’ t for us and instead said , ‘ We will work harder to raise the funds.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ gratitude and inspiration for me .
In your role as vice president of legal programs , you formed a unit that helps small business owners and people looking to start a business .
That seems like an unusual area for a legal aid group such as Bet Tzedek .
So often , our clients are on the defensive .
They are on the receiving end of a lawsuit and we are there to help defend them .
This felt like a chance to help empower people to reach economic stability and growth not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The funding for it came from settlements in the cases the state brought in the housing foreclosure crisis .
So much of the that crisis impacted low-income communities , communities of color and here was an opportunity to take that and make something good out of it — to focus our energies on working with entrepreneurs from low income areas and help them build up wealth in their communities .
It ’ s been wildly successful .
We were hoping for 20 or so clients and each year we ’ ve had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a few years ago we had a team of volunteer attorneys work with a little grocery store owner .
His lease was up and the landlord was trying to raise his rent dramatically .
They came in and negotiated on his behalf .
What are you hoping to accomplish as CEO ?
[ Outgoing CEO Jessie Kornberg ] , building on the shoulders of past CEOs , has put us in this incredible position where we are very stable and our reputation in the community has grown .
My focus will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so that Bet Tzedek is top of mind when community partners and leaders are trying to address our most pressing issues .
The next time that California ’ s governor is putting together the master plan on aging — how California will protect our aging population — I want him or her to think of Bet Tzedek and call our elder law team to be at the table .
We are and always will be a direct services agency .
But I want to think more about ways we can help to fix @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and so do our brilliant staff .
When they come in to my office and say , ‘ Hey , I have this idea , ’ I want to make sure we are able to support them .
You ’ re not a black sheep in your family .
No .
My brother is also a nonprofit attorney , my wife too and my sister-in-law .
Our parents like to joke , ‘ Four lawyers and not one of you can support us in our retirement .
’

Diego Cartagena, an attorney who immigrated to the U.S. from El Salvador with his family as a child, is the new leader of Bet Tzedek.
In 1974, a group of Jewish lawyers, law students and others banded together to offer free legal services out of a storefront in Los Angeles’ Fairfax district. Calling themselves Bet Tzedek, Hebrew for “House of Justice,” they spent much of their time protecting the neighborhood’s elderly Jewish residents from unscrupulous landlords.
Four decades later, the group has grown into one of the city’s leading legal aid organizations with dozens of staff attorneys and volunteers assisting thousands of undocumented immigrants, low-wage workers, homeless families and others each year.
On Friday, Bet Tzedek announced it has selected Diego Cartagena, a lawyer who oversees its legal programs, as its new chief executive. Born in El Salvador, Cartagena, 42, immigrated legally to the U.S. with his family when he was a young child. He is the first non-Jew to lead the organization.
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You’ve dedicated your whole career to working with legal aid groups. Why did you go down this path?
After college, I taught at a small, low-income elementary school in Riverside. Most of the kids were children of migrant workers. That was the first time as an adult that I witnessed firsthand the impact of the legal issues these families faced. They were facing eviction, parents weren’t getting paid what they were owed, there was domestic violence. I would hear about it directly from the children ... and realized that if I was going to have the impact on their lives that I wanted to, then I needed to go down a different path. So I applied to law school.
Plenty of people go in to law school with similar intentions, but they get wooed by the big salaries private firms offer.
The summer after my first year of law school, I interned at the Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice in its family law unit. I chose it because I was thinking back to my students at that elementary school ... Something about family law just clicked for me; it all made sense, and I saw the impact I could have on my clients’ lives.
I went on to work at the center for a few years. The aspect of the job I enjoyed the most was teaching and coaching attorneys from law firms on how to help in cases. I loved the multiplier effect it had. At any given time, I could be working on 30 cases. But what if I had this army of attorneys working alongside me? All of a sudden, we’re doing so much more for the community.
The model of volunteers is interesting. We’re in a city that has no shortage of white-collar firms billing clients $1,000 an hour for the services of their attorneys and no shortage of people struggling with homelessness, immigration issues and other serious problems. As someone who has made a career of bridging those extremes, I wonder what you make of it?
It’s about harnessing their talent and harnessing their desire to use their talents to the benefit of communities that they see all around them. Everyone has a story. One lawyer will say, for example, “I volunteer for your conservator clinic because my older sister has Down syndrome and I know what my parents went through to take care of her.” Others tell us that we are the way they stay connected to their dream of working at a nonprofit as they pay off the loans they took out for law school.
I always keep in mind what my good friend David Lash, who used to run Bet Tzedek, says: We are one of the few professions that has this mandate to turn around and do good on behalf of the community.
You’re the first non-Jew to run Bet Tzedek. Is that significant?
It’s a huge honor. This is a unique place. There are a lot of agencies out there that are dedicated to justice and equal access, but Bet Tzedek has something beyond that. It is founded on these principles, these guideposts that are from the Jewish community. I learned, for example, the idea that you do not turn away a stranger who comes from a strange land. Being an immigrant, I was overwhelmed by that ... And you can see how those ideas impact this organization. Years ago, our board had a tough decision to make: Do we pursue legal services funding from the federal government? One of the restrictions on that funding is you cannot serve undocumented immigrants. It was an incredible amount of money that would have offered some stability. But it would have meant compromising this value that we hold dear. The board made a choice that it wasn’t for us and instead said, ‘We will work harder to raise the funds.’ That carries a profound sense of gratitude and inspiration for me.
Advertisement
In your role as vice president of legal programs, you formed a unit that helps small business owners and people looking to start a business. That seems like an unusual area for a legal aid group such as Bet Tzedek.
So often, our clients are on the defensive. They are on the receiving end of a lawsuit and we are there to help defend them. This felt like a chance to help empower people to reach economic stability and growth not just for themselves but also their community. The funding for it came from settlements in the cases the state brought in the housing foreclosure crisis. So much of that crisis impacted low-income communities, communities of color and here was an opportunity to take that and make something good out of it — to focus our energies on working with entrepreneurs from low-income areas and help them build up wealth in their communities.
It’s been wildly successful. We were hoping for 20 or so clients and each year we’ve had well over 100 ... As an example, a few years ago we had a team of volunteer attorneys work with a little grocery store owner. His lease was up and the landlord was trying to raise his rent dramatically. They came in and negotiated on his behalf.
What are you hoping to accomplish as CEO?
[Outgoing CEO Jessie Kornberg], building on the shoulders of past CEOs, has put us in this incredible position where we are very stable and our reputation in the community has grown. My focus will be on continuing to build up our programs so that Bet Tzedek is top of mind when community partners and leaders are trying to address our most pressing issues. The next time that California’s governor is putting together the master plan on aging — how California will protect our aging population — I want him or her to think of Bet Tzedek and call our elder law team to be at the table.
We are and always will be a direct services agency. But I want to think more about ways we can help to fix problems globally. The community needs that and so do our brilliant staff. When they come into my office and say, “Hey, I have this idea,” I want to make sure we are able to support them.
You’re not a black sheep in your family.
No. My brother is also a nonprofit attorney, my wife too and my sister-in-law. Our parents like to joke, “Four lawyers and not one of you can support us in our retirement.”


latimes--2020-01-17--Big rig hauling live chickens ruffles feathers with road closure in Chino Hills

An overturned semi-truck carrying live chickens caused a major road closure in Chino Hills early Friday morning , authorities said @ @ @ @ @ onto its side while exiting the southbound 71 Freeway at Grand Avenue , closing the @ @ @ @ @ Chino Hills police said in an alert issued at 7:15 a.m .
Eastbound motorists were @ @ @ @ @ .
More than half of the 6,000 chickens on board will be euthanized , according @ @ @ @ @ Channel 4 , which was at the scene .
The Inland Valley Humane Society and @ @ @ @ @ of Cruelty to Animals rescued some of the animals .
The crash is the second @ @ @ @ @ a chicken truck overturned in California .
In east Sacramento County , a semi-truck hauling @ @ @ @ @ its side Jan. 8 .
The driver suffered minor injuries , according to an incident @ @ @ @ @ Patrol , while a large number of the chickens were killed .

A big rig toppled onto its side while exiting the southbound 71 Freeway at Grand Avenue, closing the off-ramp and eastbound lanes, Chino Hills police said.
An overturned semi-truck carrying live chickens caused a major road closure in Chino Hills early Friday morning, authorities said.
The big rig toppled onto its side while exiting the southbound 71 Freeway at Grand Avenue, closing the off-ramp and eastbound lanes, Chino Hills police said in an alert issued at 7:15 a.m. Eastbound motorists were detoured onto the southbound 71.
More than half of the 6,000 chickens on board will be euthanized, according to a tweet from KNBC-TC Channel 4, which was at the scene. The Inland Valley Humane Society and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals rescued some of the animals.
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#Breaking semi truck on its side in #ChinoHills. Hundreds of chickens trapped/ injured. Animal Humane on scene. Location: Grand Ave under the 71. Avoid the area. Heavy traffic. #NBCLA pic.twitter.com/BoprZNylbv — Alexvnews (@alexvnews) January 17, 2020
The crash is the second in a week in which a chicken truck overturned in California. In east Sacramento County, a semi-truck hauling a double trailer flipped onto its side Jan. 8. The driver suffered minor injuries, according to an incident log from the California Highway Patrol, while a large number of the chickens were killed.


latimes--2020-01-17--To stop Trump fracking plans, California is going to court

California took legal action Friday to block the Trump administration ’ s plans to open federal lands in California to oil and gas drilling , including the controversial practice of hydraulic fracturing .
The federal lawsuit announced by state Atty .
Gen. Xavier Becerra comes after President Trump ’ s administration announced details of its plan to open more than a million acres of public and private land in California to fracking , ending a five-year moratorium on leasing federal land in California to oil and gas developers .
“ We are suing the Trump administration , once again , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the law , ” Becerra said during a news conference at his Sacramento office Friday morning .
“ Much of the federal oil and gas activity in the state happens near some of our most vulnerable communities , communities [ that ] are already disproportionately exposed to pollution and its health effects .
Adding more fracking to the equation would only make things worse.
” The lawsuit alleges that the federal Bureau of Land Management ’ s final environmental impact statement , approved in December , violates the National Environmental Policy Act and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to consider the danger posed to people who might live near the oil and gas wells and underestimated the number of fracking wells that could become active on the federal land .
“ They shortchanged the people , they shortchanged the law , they shortchanged the science , when it came to their analysis , ” Becerra said .
Officials at the BLM ’ s California office were not available for comment .
Along with the attorney general , the plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the Trump administration include Gov .
Gavin Newsom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the California Department of Water Resources .
Environmental groups filed a similar lawsuit in a Los Angeles federal court earlier this week , citing the threat to public health and potential damage to recreational areas caused by fracking .
“ Californians won ’ t allow the oil industry to pollute our air and water and cripple our efforts to fight climate change , ” Clare Lakewood , legal director at the Center for Biological Diversity , said in a statement released Friday .
The organization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier lawsuit .
Catherine Reheis-Boyd , president of the Western States Petroleum Assn.
, said the BLM ’ s review process followed federal law and the scientific studies involved took place under the Obama and Trump administrations .
“ While these legal actions play out , we are focused on how the people of our industry are working and innovating to provide reliable , safe and affordable fuels and energy to our state , ” Reheis-Boyd said .
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy , whose Bakersfield district is in the heart of California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ stunt ” that will adversely affect people with well-paying oilfield jobs in the Central Valley and across the state .
“ The oil and gas industry annually contributes over 350,000 jobs to California ’ s economy , many of which come from the Central Valley and Kern County .
Our citizens already pay exorbitant amounts at the pump , and today ’ s announcement will block responsible energy development , making California an even more expensive place to live , ” McCarthy said in a statement .
In an attempt to undercut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the state Legislature put in place a new law last year prohibiting oil pipelines or other essential infrastructure from crossing state lands .
Trump ’ s plan targets public and private land spread across eight counties in Central California : eastern Fresno , western Kern , Kings , Madera , San Luis Obispo , Santa Barbara , Tulare and Ventura .
Some of the parcels outlined in the plan are next to Los Padres National Forest , Carrizo Plain National Monument and the Wind Wolves Preserve .
In November , Newsom stopped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state until the permits for those projects can be reviewed by an independent panel of scientists .
The Democrat also imposed a moratorium on new permits for steam-injected oil drilling , another extraction method opposed by environmentalists that was linked to a massive petroleum spill in Kern County over the summer .
Hydraulic fracturing involves shooting a high-pressure mix of water , sand and chemicals deep underground to extract oil and natural gas .
Cyclic steam injection pumps superheated vapor into wells to loosen and liquefy viscous crude oil .
Newsom ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservation groups that have been urging the governor to ban new oil and gas drilling and completely phase out fossil fuel extraction in California , one of the nation ’ s top petroleum-producing states .
The petroleum industry criticized Newsom ’ s action , saying California already has some of the most strict regulations and environmental protections in the world and that curtailing oil production in the state will have serious economic consequences .
California has filed more than 65 lawsuits over Trump administration actions on a variety of issues , including more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , the U.S. Department of the Interior and other federal agencies responsible for setting energy and fuel-efficiency standards .

Oil pumps and drilling equipment in an oilfield in Kern County, where the majority of California’s oil and gas production is centered.
California took legal action Friday to block the Trump administration’s plans to open federal lands in California to oil and gas drilling, including the controversial practice of hydraulic fracturing.
The federal lawsuit announced by state Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra comes after President Trump’s administration announced details of its plan to open more than a million acres of public and private land in California to fracking, ending a five-year moratorium on leasing federal land in California to oil and gas developers.
“We are suing the Trump administration, once again, for acting as if they are above the law,” Becerra said during a news conference at his Sacramento office Friday morning. “Much of the federal oil and gas activity in the state happens near some of our most vulnerable communities, communities [that] are already disproportionately exposed to pollution and its health effects. Adding more fracking to the equation would only make things worse.”
The lawsuit alleges that the federal Bureau of Land Management’s final environmental impact statement, approved in December, violates the National Environmental Policy Act and the Administrative Procedure Act because it fails to consider the danger posed to people who might live near the oil and gas wells and underestimated the number of fracking wells that could become active on the federal land.
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“They shortchanged the people, they shortchanged the law, they shortchanged the science, when it came to their analysis,” Becerra said.
Officials at the BLM’s California office were not available for comment.
Along with the attorney general, the plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the Trump administration include Gov. Gavin Newsom, the California Air Resources Board, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the California Department of Water Resources.
Environmental groups filed a similar lawsuit in a Los Angeles federal court earlier this week, citing the threat to public health and potential damage to recreational areas caused by fracking.
“Californians won’t allow the oil industry to pollute our air and water and cripple our efforts to fight climate change,” Clare Lakewood, legal director at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement released Friday. The organization was among the plaintiffs that filed the earlier lawsuit.
Catherine Reheis-Boyd, president of the Western States Petroleum Assn., said the BLM’s review process followed federal law and the scientific studies involved took place under the Obama and Trump administrations.
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“While these legal actions play out, we are focused on how the people of our industry are working and innovating to provide reliable, safe and affordable fuels and energy to our state,” Reheis-Boyd said.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, whose Bakersfield district is in the heart of California oil country, called the lawsuit a “stunt” that will adversely affect people with well-paying oilfield jobs in the Central Valley and across the state.
“The oil and gas industry annually contributes over 350,000 jobs to California’s economy, many of which come from the Central Valley and Kern County. Our citizens already pay exorbitant amounts at the pump, and today’s announcement will block responsible energy development, making California an even more expensive place to live,” McCarthy said in a statement.
In an attempt to undercut the president’s plan, Newsom and the state Legislature put in place a new law last year prohibiting oil pipelines or other essential infrastructure from crossing state lands.
Trump’s plan targets public and private land spread across eight counties in Central California: eastern Fresno, western Kern, Kings, Madera, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare and Ventura. Some of the parcels outlined in the plan are next to Los Padres National Forest, Carrizo Plain National Monument and the Wind Wolves Preserve.
In November, Newsom stopped the approval of new hydraulic fracturing in the state until the permits for those projects can be reviewed by an independent panel of scientists. The Democrat also imposed a moratorium on new permits for steam-injected oil drilling, another extraction method opposed by environmentalists that was linked to a massive petroleum spill in Kern County over the summer.
Hydraulic fracturing involves shooting a high-pressure mix of water, sand and chemicals deep underground to extract oil and natural gas. Cyclic steam injection pumps superheated vapor into wells to loosen and liquefy viscous crude oil.
Newsom’s announcement was hailed by environmental and conservation groups that have been urging the governor to ban new oil and gas drilling and completely phase out fossil fuel extraction in California, one of the nation’s top petroleum-producing states.
The petroleum industry criticized Newsom’s action, saying California already has some of the most strict regulations and environmental protections in the world and that curtailing oil production in the state will have serious economic consequences.
California has filed more than 65 lawsuits over Trump administration actions on a variety of issues, including more than two dozen challenges to policies proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of the Interior and other federal agencies responsible for setting energy and fuel-efficiency standards.


latimes--2020-01-17--The flu season is hitting young people particularly hard. And it's not over

The emergence of an unlikely strain of influenza has sickened and killed an unusually high number of young people in California this flu season , according to doctors and public health experts .
Most people hospitalized with the flu in Los Angeles County this season have been under 45 , said Dr. Jeffrey Gunzenhauser , the county public health department ’ s chief medical officer .
That age group has also made up an unexpectedly large portion of the county ’ s flu deaths , he said .
“ It ’ s very unusual , ” Gunzenhauser said in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people are sick , it ’ s mostly affecting young people ... .
It looks like older people are protected.
” Influenza B , the most common strain of flu this season , tends to make more young people sick than influenza A , the virus typically circulating this time of year , experts say .
In the United States , it has been nearly 30 years since influenza B was the most prevalent flu virus .
The silver lining , experts say , is that this year ’ s flu season may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to cause a less severe illness than influenza A , and young people tend to fare better with the flu than older people .
Overall , the flu remains most deadly for the elderly .
In California , 105 people have died of the flu so far this season , and more than half were over 65 , according to state data released Friday .
Across the state , flu activity jumped in December and has stayed high into January , according to state data .
Staff at Southern California hospitals say their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holidays with patients complaining of fever , headaches , sore throats and other flu symptoms .
Hospitals trying to manage overcrowding have asked patients not to come to the emergency room unless absolutely necessary and instead go to urgent care centers .
At Loma Linda Medical Center in San Bernardino , staff erected a massive tent in the parking lot to triage the influx of flu patients .
Torrance Memorial Medical Center increased emergency room staffing levels and opened extra treatment areas to deal with the high volume of people needing treatment for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Dr. Eric Nakkim , co-medical director of the hospital ’ s ER .
“ We ’ ve already seen more flu patients this season than we did all of last season , ” Nakkim said .
At UCLA ’ s emergency rooms , patients of all ages are testing positive for the flu , said ER physician Dr. Lisa Dabby .
But people under 24 are showing up much more often than other age groups , suggesting the wide spread of the less common virus , according to a university memo .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Dabby said .
It ’ s unclear why influenza B is more likely to make younger people sick .
Some experts believe that since influenza B doesn ’ t mutate as much as other flu strains , older people may have some immunity to it because they have probably caught it before .
Though doctors are reporting large numbers of people testing positive for the flu , the illness doesn ’ t appear to be escalating into a life-threatening menace as it has in past years , Gunzenhauser said .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hospitalizations are lower than in recent flu seasons , so there ’ s hope for a milder season overall , he said .
Still , doctors warn that parents should be mindful of serious flu complications in children .
In September , a 4-year-old girl in Riverside County died of the flu .
A school-age child in Placer County died of the flu last month .
At Children ’ s Hospital Los Angeles , doctors have been treating not just routine flu cases , but dangerous problems linked to the flu , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Pia Pannaraj , pediatric infectious diseases specialist .
These patients who need to be admitted to the hospital often have influenza B , she said .
“ We ’ ve definitely seen quite a rise in children presenting with flu , ” Pannaraj said .
In total , five children in California have died of the flu this season , according to state data .
Nationwide , 39 children have died of the flu , according to federal data released Friday .
Officials recommend the flu shot for anyone over 6 months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better on children , so it ’ s particularly vital during this flu season disproportionately affecting youth , experts say .
Children tend to be vectors for diseases , including the flu , because they spend time in crowded classrooms and don ’ t always wash their hands , experts say .
Even if the flu shot doesn ’ t protect against a virus completely , it typically makes the illness less severe , experts say .
“ Because children are the ones that are spreading influenza around the community , if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can ’ t spread it to other people , ” Pannaraj said .
Though there was an increase in flu cases around the holidays , it ’ s impossible to know whether the season has peaked .
The flu season officially runs from October through May and typically peaks in January or February .
“ Just because we are sort of deep into flu season doesn ’ t mean people can ’ t still get the flu shot , ” said Dr. Nicholas Testa , chief physician executive overseeing six Dignity Health hospitals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it peaks this week , next week or in two weeks , that doesn ’ t mean it ’ s over.
” Indeed , an influenza A strain that had been circulating alongside influenza B seems to have picked up steam in recent weeks .
The strain , known as H1N1 , began showing up more often in flu tests last week in some parts of the state , state data reveals .
People can contract multiple flu strains in the same season , public health officials warn .
H1N1 tends to cause @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , like H3N2 , which two years ago caused one of the most severe flu seasons in California in recent memory .
Like influenza B , H1N1 also tends to affect younger people more than older adults , according to Gunzenhauser .
The available flu vaccine is a very good match for the H1N1 strains that are increasingly spreading , he said .
The vaccine not only protects the person who gets it , but also prevents that person from spreading the flu to people who may not be healthy enough to recover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It should be very effective for what we ’ re likely to see the rest of the season , ” he said .
“ If people haven ’ t gotten it — they should just get their shot today .
”

Phlebotomist Stephanie Nuyda works on her patient, Gerald Morris, in the ER at Torrance Memorial Hospital in Torrance on Friday. Morris was experiencing flu symptoms.
The emergence of an unlikely strain of influenza has sickened and killed an unusually high number of young people in California this flu season, according to doctors and public health experts.
Most people hospitalized with the flu in Los Angeles County this season have been under 45, said Dr. Jeffrey Gunzenhauser, the county public health department’s chief medical officer. That age group has also made up an unexpectedly large portion of the county’s flu deaths, he said.
“It’s very unusual,” Gunzenhauser said in an interview. “While a lot of people are sick, it’s mostly affecting young people .... It looks like older people are protected.”
Advertisement
Influenza B, the most common strain of flu this season, tends to make more young people sick than influenza A, the virus typically circulating this time of year, experts say. In the United States, it has been nearly 30 years since influenza B was the most prevalent flu virus.
The silver lining, experts say, is that this year’s flu season may be milder overall. Influenza B tends to cause a less severe illness than influenza A, and young people tend to fare better with the flu than older people.
Overall, the flu remains most deadly for the elderly. In California, 105 people have died of the flu so far this season, and more than half were over 65, according to state data released Friday.
Across the state, flu activity jumped in December and has stayed high into January, according to state data. Staff at Southern California hospitals say their emergency departments have been flooded since the holidays with patients complaining of fever, headaches, sore throats and other flu symptoms.
Hospitals trying to manage overcrowding have asked patients not to come to the emergency room unless absolutely necessary and instead go to urgent care centers. At Loma Linda Medical Center in San Bernardino, staff erected a massive tent in the parking lot to triage the influx of flu patients.
Torrance Memorial Medical Center increased emergency room staffing levels and opened extra treatment areas to deal with the high volume of people needing treatment for the flu and other winter colds, said Dr. Eric Nakkim, co-medical director of the hospital’s ER.
“We’ve already seen more flu patients this season than we did all of last season,” Nakkim said.
At UCLA’s emergency rooms, patients of all ages are testing positive for the flu, said ER physician Dr. Lisa Dabby. But people under 24 are showing up much more often than other age groups, suggesting the wide spread of the less common virus, according to a university memo.
“Influenza B is predominating this season,” Dabby said.
It’s unclear why influenza B is more likely to make younger people sick. Some experts believe that since influenza B doesn’t mutate as much as other flu strains, older people may have some immunity to it because they have probably caught it before.
Though doctors are reporting large numbers of people testing positive for the flu, the illness doesn’t appear to be escalating into a life-threatening menace as it has in past years, Gunzenhauser said. In L.A. County, rates of flu deaths and hospitalizations are lower than in recent flu seasons, so there’s hope for a milder season overall, he said.
“Fingers crossed,” Gunzenhauser said.
Still, doctors warn that parents should be mindful of serious flu complications in children. In September, a 4-year-old girl in Riverside County died of the flu. A school-age child in Placer County died of the flu last month.
Advertisement
At Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, doctors have been treating not just routine flu cases, but dangerous problems linked to the flu, including pneumonia and brain swelling, said Dr. Pia Pannaraj, pediatric infectious diseases specialist. These patients who need to be admitted to the hospital often have influenza B, she said.
“We’ve definitely seen quite a rise in children presenting with flu,” Pannaraj said.
In total, five children in California have died of the flu this season, according to state data. Nationwide, 39 children have died of the flu, according to federal data released Friday.
Officials recommend the flu shot for anyone over 6 months old. The shot tends to work better on children, so it’s particularly vital during this flu season disproportionately affecting youth, experts say.
Children tend to be vectors for diseases, including the flu, because they spend time in crowded classrooms and don’t always wash their hands, experts say. Even if the flu shot doesn’t protect against a virus completely, it typically makes the illness less severe, experts say.
“Because children are the ones that are spreading influenza around the community, if they are protected against the flu, they can’t spread it to other people,” Pannaraj said.
Though there was an increase in flu cases around the holidays, it’s impossible to know whether the season has peaked. The flu season officially runs from October through May and typically peaks in January or February.
“Just because we are sort of deep into flu season doesn’t mean people can’t still get the flu shot,” said Dr. Nicholas Testa, chief physician executive overseeing six Dignity Health hospitals in Southern California. “Even if it peaks this week, next week or in two weeks, that doesn’t mean it’s over.”
Indeed, an influenza A strain that had been circulating alongside influenza B seems to have picked up steam in recent weeks. The strain, known as H1N1, began showing up more often in flu tests last week in some parts of the state, state data reveals.
People can contract multiple flu strains in the same season, public health officials warn.
H1N1 tends to cause less severe illness than other A strains, like H3N2, which two years ago caused one of the most severe flu seasons in California in recent memory. Like influenza B, H1N1 also tends to affect younger people more than older adults, according to Gunzenhauser.
The available flu vaccine is a very good match for the H1N1 strains that are increasingly spreading, he said. The vaccine not only protects the person who gets it, but also prevents that person from spreading the flu to people who may not be healthy enough to recover from the illness, he said.
“It should be very effective for what we’re likely to see the rest of the season,” he said. “If people haven’t gotten it — they should just get their shot today.”


latimes--2020-01-17--In spite of this week's storm, Northern California's seasonal precipitation remains below normal

A cold Pacific storm this week dropped heavy rain and snow on Northern California , but precipitation in the state ’ s most important watersheds continues to lag below normal , according to Jan Null of Golden Gate Weather Services .
San Francisco was pounded with heavy rain and local Bay Area peaks such as Mt .
Hamilton , Mt .
Diablo and Mt .
Umunhum in the Santa Cruz Mountains were blanketed with snow .
In the Sierra Nevada near Lake Tahoe , resorts such as Tahoe Donner received 26 inches of snow , and Squaw Valley got 25 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Service .
An avalanche Friday morning at the Alpine Meadows Ski Resort , also near Lake Tahoe , left one person dead and one injured .
Yet the Northern Sierra 8-Station Index stands at 66 % of normal for the rainfall season that began July 1 .
That ’ s down from 73 % on Dec. 30 .
The eight sites that comprise this index are in a mountainous area that includes the Sacramento , American and Feather river watersheds , as well as the state ’ s biggest dams .
It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and in particular for Southern California .
The Central Sierra 5-Station Index is at 58 % of normal for the season , down from 68 % at the end of last month , and the 6-station index for the southern Sierra , which covers the Tulare Basin , stands at 62 % of normal .
It had 73 % of normal on Dec. 30 .
Crescent City , in the far northwestern corner of the state , has received 83 % of its normal rainfall , an improvement of 10 percentage points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Francisco , at 75 % , improved from 73 % ; and Sacramento , at 70 % , slipped by 9 percentage points .
Coastal locations in Central California , such as Salinas and Paso Robles , have fared better , holding at 106 % and 122 % of their normal rainfall , respectively .
Inland , however , Fresno is at 69 % , down from 80 % on Dec. 30 .
Moving south , much of the Southland is still above normal .
Los Angeles stands at 117 % of normal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , down from 166 % and 211 % , respectively .
Santa Barbara is a bit of an outlier among Southern California coastal locations with just 76 % of normal , having dropped from 103 % at the end of 2019 .
Inland Empire spots such as Riverside , for example , fell to 87 % of normal , down from 118 % .
Northern California had a dry , windy , extended fire season in 2019 , and the rainy weather got a late start there .
Meanwhile , big storms affecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little bit of a jump on its rainy season .
The next chance for precipitation may come next Tuesday or Wednesday as a trough moves into Northern California , but after that the extended forecast models get more uncertain .

A cold Pacific storm this week dropped heavy rain and snow on Northern California, but precipitation in the state’s most important watersheds continues to lag below normal, according to Jan Null of Golden Gate Weather Services.
San Francisco was pounded with heavy rain and local Bay Area peaks such as Mt. Hamilton, Mt. Diablo and Mt. Umunhum in the Santa Cruz Mountains were blanketed with snow. In the Sierra Nevada near Lake Tahoe, resorts such as Tahoe Donner received 26 inches of snow, and Squaw Valley got 25 inches, according to the National Weather Service. An avalanche Friday morning at the Alpine Meadows Ski Resort, also near Lake Tahoe, left one person dead and one injured.
Yet as of Thursday, the Northern Sierra 8-Station Index stands at 66% of normal for the rainfall season that began July 1. That’s down from 73% on Dec. 30. The eight sites that comprise this index are in a mountainous area that includes the Sacramento, American and Feather river watersheds, as well as the state’s biggest dams. It is crucial for water customers throughout the state, and in particular for Southern California.
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(Paul Duginski / Los Angeles Times)
The Central Sierra 5-Station Index is at 58% of normal for the season, down from 68% at the end of last month, and the 6-station index for the southern Sierra, which covers the Tulare Basin, stands at 62% of normal. It had 73% of normal on Dec. 30.
Crescent City, in the far northwestern corner of the state, has received 83% of its normal rainfall, an improvement of 10 percentage points over its Dec. 30 figure; San Francisco, at 75%, improved from 73%; and Sacramento, at 70%, slipped by 9 percentage points.
Coastal locations in Central California, such as Salinas and Paso Robles, have fared better, holding at 106% and 122% of their normal rainfall, respectively. Inland, however, Fresno is at 69%, down from 80% on Dec. 30.
(Paul Duginski / Los Angeles Times)
Moving south, much of the Southland is still above normal. Los Angeles stands at 117% of normal and San Diego is at 159%, down from 166% and 211%, respectively. Santa Barbara is a bit of an outlier among Southern California coastal locations with just 76% of normal, having dropped from 103% at the end of 2019. Inland Empire spots such as Riverside, for example, fell to 87% of normal, down from 118%.
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Northern California had a dry, windy, extended fire season in 2019, and the rainy weather got a late start there. Meanwhile, big storms affecting the entire state gave Southern California a little bit of a jump on its rainy season.
The next chance for precipitation may come next Tuesday or Wednesday as a trough moves into Northern California, but after that the extended forecast models get more uncertain.


latimes--2020-01-17--Former North Hollywood teacher's aide convicted of sexually abusing half a dozen girls

A former North Hollywood teacher assistant , Lino Cabrera , pleaded no contest Friday to sexually abusing students at Oxnard Street Elementary School .
He is expected to be sentenced to eight years in state prison and register as a sex offender for life , prosecutors said .
Cabrera , 27 , was charged last year with five felony counts of lewd acts on a child under 14 and one count of continued sexual abuse — charges that carry a maximum sentence of 26 years in prison .
He was accused of sexually abusing six girls , ages 10 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 .
The charges were reduced to a felony count of continuous sexual abuse , a felony count of a lewd act upon a child under 14 and four misdemeanor counts of child molestation under Cabrera ’ s plea agreement , according to the L.A. County district attorney ’ s office .
Cabrera assisted in the school ’ s computer lab , prosecutors said .
According to Los Angeles Unified School District officials , he worked at the elementary school for almost a decade and was placed on unpaid suspension May 30 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State law requires school districts to fire people convicted of sexual abuse and bars them from working in schools .
At least two of the victims plan to pursue a lawsuit against Los Angeles Unified for negligence and “ for allowing this man to be around a classroom and around these kids , ” said attorney Michael Carrillo , who represents two of the girls .
Earlier this week , the L.A. school board agreed to pay out $ 25 million to settle lawsuits over alleged sexual misconduct .
Some cases were related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and De La Torre elementary schools , for which teachers went to jail , while others never resulted in convictions .
The largest of these recent settlements reached about $ 2 million per student .
“ The safety and well-being of our students remains our top priority , and we remain vigilant in protecting our students from those who would do them harm , ” L.A. Unified spokeswoman Gayle Pollard-Terry said in an email .
“ Although we are not at liberty to comment further on legal matters , our thoughts are with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during this difficult time.
” “ I ’ m happy but I ’ m not , ” one of the victim ’ s mothers said in a statement through Carrillo .
“ I ’ m happy she doesn ’ t have to go through testifying , but [ eight ] years isn ’ t enough for what the girls went through , what my daughter went through.
” Cabrera is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 10 .
Times staff writers Alejandra Reyes-Velarde and Howard Blume contributed to this report .

A former North Hollywood teacher assistant, Lino Cabrera, pleaded no contest Friday to sexually abusing students at Oxnard Street Elementary School. He is expected to be sentenced to eight years in state prison and register as a sex offender for life, prosecutors said.
Cabrera, 27, was charged last year with five felony counts of lewd acts on a child under 14 and one count of continued sexual abuse — charges that carry a maximum sentence of 26 years in prison. He was accused of sexually abusing six girls, ages 10 and 11, between September 2016 and May 2019.
The charges were reduced to a felony count of continuous sexual abuse, a felony count of a lewd act upon a child under 14 and four misdemeanor counts of child molestation under Cabrera’s plea agreement, according to the L.A. County district attorney’s office.
Cabrera assisted in the school’s computer lab, prosecutors said. According to Los Angeles Unified School District officials, he worked at the elementary school for almost a decade and was placed on unpaid suspension May 30, when the arrest warrant was filed. State law requires school districts to fire people convicted of sexual abuse and bars them from working in schools.
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At least two of the victims plan to pursue a lawsuit against Los Angeles Unified for negligence and “for allowing this man to be around a classroom and around these kids,” said attorney Michael Carrillo, who represents two of the girls.
Earlier this week, the L.A. school board agreed to pay out $25 million to settle lawsuits over alleged sexual misconduct. Some cases were related to well-known incidents of abuse at Telfair and De La Torre elementary schools, for which teachers went to jail, while others never resulted in convictions. The largest of these recent settlements reached about $2 million per student.
“The safety and well-being of our students remains our top priority, and we remain vigilant in protecting our students from those who would do them harm,” L.A. Unified spokeswoman Gayle Pollard-Terry said in an email. “Although we are not at liberty to comment further on legal matters, our thoughts are with the victims, families and school community during this difficult time.”
“I’m happy but I’m not,” one of the victim’s mothers said in a statement through Carrillo. “I’m happy she doesn’t have to go through testifying, but [eight] years isn’t enough for what the girls went through, what my daughter went through.”
Cabrera is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 10.
Times staff writers Alejandra Reyes-Velarde and Howard Blume contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-01-17--Column: Momentum is building to use St. Vincent's as a homeless service center. Let's not squander i

Column: Momentum is building to use St. Vincent's as a homeless service center. Let's not squander it

When reader Terry McVerry emailed me Sunday to suggest that St. Vincent Medical Center be reincarnated as a homeless housing and service center , she wasn ’ t the only one who saw the possibilities .
I floated McVerry ’ s idea in my Wednesday column and a half dozen readers told me they ’ d had the same reaction to news that a bankruptcy judge had given the current hospital owner permission to close .
Another enthusiastic response came from L.A. City Councilman Mitch O ’ Farrell .
The venerable hospital at 3rd and Alvarado — which was founded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poor for much of its history — is in his district , and O ’ Farrell told me he has been interested in the property since last summer and has met with the Daughters of Charity and made preliminary inquiries about acquiring the property to help ease the city ’ s homeless crisis .
On Thursday , O ’ Farrell and I met at the 366-bed hospital — a neighborhood anchor for more than a century and a half — to talk about the possibilities .
“ Every floor has a nurse ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kitchen , a cafeteria , offices , a parking lot .
You have everything you need , ” said O ’ Farrell .
“ We need to take a look and see what we can do to repurpose it to address the issue of the day.
” O ’ Farrell and I walked around the entire property , surveying the collection of buildings and open space , including a large vacant lot on the west side of the hospital .
When we got back onto Third Street , he told me he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explore buying , renting or leasing the property for housing , mental health care , addiction rehab and other services .
And then on Friday O ’ Farrell introduced a motion that was seconded by Councilman Paul Krekorian .
“ Repurposing the facilities could greatly reduce the cost per unit and take advantage of existing infrastructure that is time consuming and costly to build , ” said the motion .
That reference was to the fact that it has taken three years to open the first housing units since voters approved Measure HHH @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have run as high as $ 500,000 per unit or more .
The motion called for the city to begin discussions with the county on a collaboration .
L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti told me he wanted to include County Supervisor Hilda Solis on such an undertaking , so I gave her a call .
Solis , who on Friday introduced a motion similar to O ’ Farrell ’ s , told me the county had looked into buying the hospital two years ago but wasn ’ t willing to pay more than $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company that has now declared bankruptcy .
“ Obviously this again presents an opportunity for us .
But to be very frank , the county doesn ’ t have an endless pot of money .
I would say to you we ’ re interested in the property and we ’ re even prepared to propose a motion ” to explore the possibilities , Solis told me .
It ’ s not clear what the asking price would be .
USC health economics professor John Romley told me the hospital and its equipment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But the campus also includes an office building , senior housing and a Meals on Wheels headquarters , and it ’ s not clear whether some or all of that would have to be part of any deal , nor is it clear what it might cost to redesign the space for a new purpose .
Verity Health System took the hospital into bankruptcy in 2018 , soon after acquiring it as part of a chain the company bought , and when a sale fell through in the last couple of weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close the hospital .
In a statement he sent to me Tuesday , Verity CEO Rich Adcock said : “ it is our hope that a future buyer will be able to identify a use that honors the facility ’ s decades-long legacy of service to the community.
” One thing clear from my Wednesday column is that readers want to help find solutions to the raging human catastrophe .
They ’ ve got their eyes on vacant buildings all over the region they think could be put into service at a time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homeless in Southern California .
I haven ’ t had time to vet all the recommendations , but here are a few : Margery Brown wonders why the Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey , which was closed last summer , can ’ t be put to work .
Annette Mercer has been trying to get someone at City Hall to consider acquiring a former grocery store at Palms and Sepulveda Boulevards .
St. Luke Hospital in Pasadena got several nods from readers .
Another one wanted to know why the Sybil Brand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for so many years .
And another handful of readers wanted to know about the under-utilized and largely vacant building that once housed the County-USC Medical Center in Boyle Heights .
Actually , Solis told me , a couple of projects now in the works there will produce a few hundred units of bridge housing and crisis care and recuperative care beds .
There ’ s space to do more , but Solis said old buildings can have seismic safety issues , asbestos removal challenges and engineering deficiencies that make them too expensive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those complications are limited at St. Vincent , and officials need to make something happen as quickly as possible rather than take months to explain why they can ’ t .
That ’ s what leadership is , and that ’ s what an emergency calls for .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom has made homelessness a bigger priority and called for more spending , so let ’ s tap him .
Talks are under way to redirect money for such purposes from the Mental Health Services Act .
And O ’ Farrell said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state ’ s Homeless Assistance Program .
And didn ’ t the Trump administration just say it wanted to help us solve our homelessness challenge ?
Excuse me for being a little skeptical about that .
But if Trump wants to put his money where his mouth is , I don ’ t think anyone in L.A. would be inclined to tear up the check .
As long as Los Angeles is the place with the most sprawling , visible crisis , it has to be the place with the most urgent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ St. Vincent with O ’ Farrell , it occurred to me that it could be not just a service and housing facility but a teaching and research center and a laboratory of best practices , and it would also be fantastic if some of the 1,000 people working there now could be retrained and stay on the payroll .
The potential is huge .
It can ’ t be wasted .

When reader Terry McVerry emailed me Sunday to suggest that St. Vincent Medical Center be reincarnated as a homeless housing and service center, she wasn’t the only one who saw the possibilities.
I floated McVerry’s idea in my Wednesday column and a half dozen readers told me they’d had the same reaction to news that a bankruptcy judge had given the current hospital owner permission to close.
For the record: A previous version of this column referred to Councilman Mitch O’Farrell as Mike.
“McVerry has a VERRY good idea,” wrote Dan Ford of Encino.
Another enthusiastic response came from L.A. City Councilman Mitch O’Farrell. The venerable hospital at 3rd and Alvarado — which was founded by nuns and has catered to the poor for much of its history — is in his district, and O’Farrell told me he has been interested in the property since last summer and has met with the Daughters of Charity and made preliminary inquiries about acquiring the property to help ease the city’s homeless crisis.
The statue of St. Vincent stands at the front of St. Vincent Medical Center in Los Angeles. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
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On Thursday, O’Farrell and I met at the 366-bed hospital — a neighborhood anchor for more than a century and a half — to talk about the possibilities.
“Every floor has a nurse’s station, there’s a kitchen, a cafeteria, offices, a parking lot. You have everything you need,” said O’Farrell. “We need to take a look and see what we can do to repurpose it to address the issue of the day.”
O’Farrell and I walked around the entire property, surveying the collection of buildings and open space, including a large vacant lot on the west side of the hospital. When we got back onto Third Street, he told me he was going to call for a study to explore buying, renting or leasing the property for housing, mental health care, addiction rehab and other services.
And then on Friday O’Farrell introduced a motion that was seconded by Councilman Paul Krekorian.
St. Vincent Medical Center near downtown Los Angeles. A bankruptcy court has been asked to give permission for the closure of the Los Angeles hospital following the collapse of a sale. (Reed Saxon/Associated Press)
“Repurposing the facilities could greatly reduce the cost per unit and take advantage of existing infrastructure that is time consuming and costly to build,” said the motion.
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That reference was to the fact that it has taken three years to open the first housing units since voters approved Measure HHH, and estimates on some new homes have run as high as $500,000 per unit or more.
The motion called for the city to begin discussions with the county on a collaboration. L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti told me he wanted to include County Supervisor Hilda Solis on such an undertaking, so I gave her a call.
Solis, who on Friday introduced a motion similar to O’Farrell’s, told me the county had looked into buying the hospital two years ago but wasn’t willing to pay more than $120 million, and lost out to the company that has now declared bankruptcy.
Councilman Mitch O’Farrell outside St. Vincent Medical Center. (Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times)
“Obviously this again presents an opportunity for us. But to be very frank, the county doesn’t have an endless pot of money. I would say to you we’re interested in the property,” Solis told me.
It’s not clear what the asking price would be. USC health economics professor John Romley told me the hospital and its equipment have a valuation of $41 million. But the campus also includes an office building, senior housing and a Meals on Wheels headquarters, and it’s not clear whether some or all of that would have to be part of any deal, nor is it clear what it might cost to redesign the space for a new purpose.
Verity Health System took the hospital into bankruptcy in 2018, soon after acquiring it as part of a chain the company bought, and when a sale fell through in the last couple of weeks, the judge gave Verity permission to close the hospital.
In a statement he sent to me Tuesday, Verity CEO Rich Adcock said: “it is our hope that a future buyer will be able to identify a use that honors the facility’s decades-long legacy of service to the community.”
One thing clear from my Wednesday column is that readers want to help find solutions to the raging human catastrophe. They’ve got their eyes on vacant buildings all over the region they think could be put into service at a time when tens of thousands of people are homeless in Southern California.
I haven’t had time to vet all the recommendations, but here are a few:
“Fairview State Mental Facility sits empty! Repurpose now,” Gary Crane wrote regarding the Costa Mesa property.
Margery Brown wonders why the Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey, which was closed last summer, can’t be put to work. Annette Mercer has been trying to get someone at City Hall to consider acquiring a former grocery store at Palms and Sepulveda Boulevards.
St. Luke Hospital in Pasadena got several nods from readers. Another one wanted to know why the Sybil Brand jail in City Terrace has been vacant for so many years. And another handful of readers wanted to know about the under-utilized and largely vacant building that once housed the County-USC Medical Center in Boyle Heights.
Actually, Solis told me, a couple of projects now in the works there will produce a few hundred units of bridge housing and crisis care and recuperative care beds. There’s space to do more, but Solis said old buildings can have seismic safety issues, asbestos removal challenges and engineering deficiencies that make them too expensive to repurpose.
All true, but those complications are limited at St. Vincent, and officials need to make something happen as quickly as possible rather than take months to explain why they can’t.
That’s what leadership is, and that’s what an emergency calls for.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has made homelessness a bigger priority and called for more spending, so let’s tap him. Talks are under way to redirect money for such purposes from the Mental Health Services Act. And O’Farrell said there might be some money available through the state’s Homeless Assistance Program.
And didn’t the Trump administration just say it wanted to help us solve our homelessness challenge? Excuse me for being a little skeptical about that. But if Trump wants to put his money where his mouth is, I don’t think anyone in L.A. would be inclined to tear up the check.
As long as Los Angeles is the place with the most sprawling, visible crisis, it has to be the place with the most urgent, creative response.
Gazing up at St. Vincent with O’Farrell, it occurred to me that it could be not just a service and housing facility but a teaching and research center and a laboratory of best practices, and it would also be fantastic if some of the 1,000 people working there now could be retrained and stay on the payroll.
The potential is huge. It can’t be wasted.
Steve.lopez@latimes.com