latimes--2020-05-24--Role of extremist groups at California lockdown protests raises alarms

On Saturday afternoon , Pastor John DeBow watched with pride as his daughter defied social distancing edicts at the state Capitol by giving free haircuts to some of the people from across California who had gathered again to protest remaining restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus .
He was unaware that , a few yards away , a contingent of Proud Boys , an alt-right organization , had set up a tent attached to the stage .
Some members were walking through the crowd in camouflage tactical vests and their trademark black-and-yellow Fred Perry polo shirts .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken to online preaching and plans to continue to honor the state ’ s ban on in-person church services , said he was unbothered by their presence , though they have been deemed an extremist group .
“ You are always going to have some radical people in any group whatsoever , ” DeBow said .
“ But because you have a few crazies , you don ’ t have to get rid of the whole barrel of apples.
” In California and across the country , lockdown protests have drawn a melting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as the DeBows and militias such as the Boogaloo Boys , who have credos that call for civil war , said Brian Levin , professor of criminal justice and director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at Cal State San Bernardino .
It ’ s unclear how large a role extremist groups are playing in protests .
The demonstrations have drawn people with a wide array of concerns , including those who feel it ’ s wrong for the stay-at-home orders to cover religious institutions and libertarians who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At many events , there have been numerous signs supporting President Trump .
Some people who oppose vaccines have also taken up the cause .
It ’ s uncertain to what extent extremist groups are trying to recruit at the events .
Saturday ’ s Sacramento gathering , estimated by city police to be the largest yet , with 2,000 in attendance , resembled a family carnival , with an organic-gelato vendor , and music performances sprinkled among political speeches .
Still , Levin said he found the intermingling of hate groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Different people are showing up with different goals , but when they collect together , they influence each other , ” he said , creating a “ petri dish for conspiracy theories and bad information , as well as aggressiveness.
” That mishmash , Levin said , could make make the events a “ recruiting rabbit hole ” for groups that struggle to find inroads with mainstream audiences .
Devin Burghart , a researcher with the nonprofit Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights , has been monitoring reopening groups online and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gaining traction in thousands of internet postings that have sprung up in recent weeks .
“ These groups , while initially established around reopening , are pivoting to a larger , far-right political project , ” Burghart said .
He said the number of people joining such groups and the speed with which they had grown was “ unprecedented ” in American social movements .
In California , he has found more than 70 such Facebook groups with about 300,000 members , and more than 2 million participants nationwide .
Maria Tchijov of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her group believed social media presence was “ an engine ” for on-the-ground action , including a growing push to defy mask requirements — which has emerged as a cultural flashpoint of political affiliation .
UltraViolet staged a counterprotest last week at the Michigan Capitol in Lansing , driving a billboard truck around the building with a sign that criticized Facebook for what the group said was a failure to regulate false information in group forums on reopening , including posts that discount the severity of the coronavirus .
Facebook , which did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has in recent weeks removed some postings .
Burghart said he had already seen a shift in talking points that he thought would move the focus of some groups from lockdowns to the upcoming election , and said many of those now online had both money and experience in organizing .
“ You can see a continuing growth of that , ” he said , “ even as the governor has decided to relax some restrictions around the state .
Those numbers are continuing to go up.
” Burghart said that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tracked a resurgence of closer-to-mainstream political activist groups such as the Tea Party movement , along with militias and conspiracy theorists such as QAnon and some anti-vaccine activists .
Conspiracy theories about the virus are rampant in reopen forums and at rallies .
Those that have gained traction include the belief that a coronavirus vaccine will carry a microchip that allows the government to track citizens , or that the virus is a political hoax perpetrated by the Democratic Party to promote voter fraud with mail-in ballots .
On Saturday , a young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ice at the rally explained to a fellow protester that the virus was less deadly than the flu , while a few feet away , a group of men tried to convince a female passerby that California ’ s rural counties needed to secede to end the exploitation of workers .
Nearby , a sign on a pole advertised an upcoming event with Judy Mikovits , the virologist featured in a widely debunked documentary on the novel coronavirus , and protesters waved signs warning of threats posed by Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of such views , Levin said , has already led to some extreme reactions .
Levin pointed to armed protesters in Michigan and elsewhere , and the recent arrest of a Colorado protester for having a pipe bomb .
In Fresno , shutdown protesters followed a City Council member home , leading to a scuffle that ended with misdemeanor charges against the politician .
Levin and Burghart said they believed there would be more such incidents .
Hate crimes have increased since the pandemic began , Levin said .
“ You see these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gaining new followers , ” Burghart said .
“ I worry about acts of violence.
” Levin said that as the “ initial grievance ” of the stay-at-home order faded from view , he expected the groups to grow online and on the ground and to refocus on new shared concerns .
Levin said many groups shared strong support of Trump , and the president ’ s backing of the notion of personal freedom amid the pandemic has resonated with them .
“ Shortly after the president talked about liberating various states , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s when we saw this really take off , and we went from seeing a few dozens to hundreds of these nationally.
” Burghart said that although many of the rallies began as grassroots movements , they had quickly been overtaken by groups with funding and organizing savvy and were transitioning from the single issue of lockdowns to broader political causes .
Multiple candidates for state and national office spoke at the Sacramento event on Saturday , appealing to potential voters to curb what they see as too much government intervention .
Tim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ active in shutdown protests , said last week he remained unhappy with the current situation in California , even though Riverside County , where his church is located , had rescinded most rules .
His church is holding in-person services .
“ It amazes me how many people are so quick to let the government have so much authority over us , ” Thompson said .
“ I think we continue to see a massive government overreach , specifically with the church , but in general.
” He believes the shutdown protestation “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alt-right ; it should be associated with freedom.
” DeBow agrees .
Though he noted that he was at risk for the coronavirus due to health conditions — he is currently on chemotherapy and describes himself as overweight — he thinks the shutdowns are unwarranted and create more harm than they prevent .
He said his community had seen at least two suicides that he believed were related to restrictions .
“ I can tell you these people have a lot of heart , ” he said , gesturing at the crowd .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cure is worse than the disease .
”

On Saturday afternoon, Pastor John DeBow watched with pride as his daughter defied social distancing edicts at the state Capitol by giving free haircuts to some of the people from across California who had gathered again to protest remaining restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus.
He was unaware that, a few yards away, a contingent of Proud Boys, an alt-right organization, had set up a tent attached to the stage. Some members were walking through the crowd in camouflage tactical vests and their trademark black-and-yellow Fred Perry polo shirts.
But the Napa religious leader, who has taken to online preaching and plans to continue to honor the state’s ban on in-person church services, said he was unbothered by their presence, though they have been deemed an extremist group.
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“You are always going to have some radical people in any group whatsoever,” DeBow said. “But because you have a few crazies, you don’t have to get rid of the whole barrel of apples.”
Pastor John DeBow, left, watches with his wife, Ruth, as daughter Sheri gives free haircuts at an anti-lockdown rally in Sacramento. (Anita Chabria)
In California and across the country, lockdown protests have drawn a melting pot of participants, including peaceful activists such as the DeBows and militias such as the Boogaloo Boys, who have credos that call for civil war, said Brian Levin, professor of criminal justice and director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at Cal State San Bernardino.
It’s unclear how large a role extremist groups are playing in protests. The demonstrations have drawn people with a wide array of concerns, including those who feel it’s wrong for the stay-at-home orders to cover religious institutions and libertarians who fear the rules are destroying the economy. At many events, there have been numerous signs supporting President Trump. Some people who oppose vaccines have also taken up the cause.
It’s uncertain to what extent extremist groups are trying to recruit at the events. Saturday’s Sacramento gathering, estimated by city police to be the largest yet, with 2,000 in attendance, resembled a family carnival, with an organic-gelato vendor, and music performances sprinkled among political speeches.
Still, Levin said he found the intermingling of hate groups with others to be concerning.
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A person playing President Trump joins “Liberty Fest,” hosted by the Freedom Angels outside California’s closed state Capitol. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
“Different people are showing up with different goals, but when they collect together, they influence each other,” he said, creating a “petri dish for conspiracy theories and bad information, as well as aggressiveness.”
That mishmash, Levin said, could make make the events a “recruiting rabbit hole” for groups that struggle to find inroads with mainstream audiences.
Devin Burghart, a researcher with the nonprofit Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights, has been monitoring reopening groups online and says he sees extremism and conspiracy theories gaining traction in thousands of internet postings that have sprung up in recent weeks.
Sacramento police stand guard as people gather for Saturday’s rally. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
“These groups, while initially established around reopening, are pivoting to a larger, far-right political project,” Burghart said.
He said the number of people joining such groups and the speed with which they had grown was “unprecedented” in American social movements. In California, he has found more than 70 such Facebook groups with about 300,000 members, and more than 2 million participants nationwide.
Maria Tchijov of women’s rights organization UltraViolet said her group believed social media presence was “an engine” for on-the-ground action, including a growing push to defy mask requirements — which has emerged as a cultural flashpoint of political affiliation.
UltraViolet staged a counterprotest last week at the Michigan Capitol in Lansing, driving a billboard truck around the building with a sign that criticized Facebook for what the group said was a failure to regulate false information in group forums on reopening, including posts that discount the severity of the coronavirus.
Facebook, which did not immediately return a request for comment, has in recent weeks removed some postings.
Burghart said he had already seen a shift in talking points that he thought would move the focus of some groups from lockdowns to the upcoming election, and said many of those now online had both money and experience in organizing.
“You can see a continuing growth of that,” he said, “even as the governor has decided to relax some restrictions around the state. Those numbers are continuing to go up.”
Burghart said that, in the online forums, he had tracked a resurgence of closer-to-mainstream political activist groups such as the Tea Party movement, along with militias and conspiracy theorists such as QAnon and some anti-vaccine activists.
Conspiracy theories about the virus are rampant in reopen forums and at rallies. Those that have gained traction include the belief that a coronavirus vaccine will carry a microchip that allows the government to track citizens, or that the virus is a political hoax perpetrated by the Democratic Party to promote voter fraud with mail-in ballots.
On Saturday, a young boy waiting in line for a shaved ice at the rally explained to a fellow protester that the virus was less deadly than the flu, while a few feet away, a group of men tried to convince a female passerby that California’s rural counties needed to secede to end the exploitation of workers. Nearby, a sign on a pole advertised an upcoming event with Judy Mikovits, the virologist featured in a widely debunked documentary on the novel coronavirus, and protesters waved signs warning of threats posed by Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates and gun control advocates.
The spread of such views, Levin said, has already led to some extreme reactions.
Levin pointed to armed protesters in Michigan and elsewhere, and the recent arrest of a Colorado protester for having a pipe bomb. In Fresno, shutdown protesters followed a City Council member home, leading to a scuffle that ended with misdemeanor charges against the politician.
Levin and Burghart said they believed there would be more such incidents. Hate crimes have increased since the pandemic began, Levin said.
“You see these different political strains gaining steam and also gaining new followers,” Burghart said. “I worry about acts of violence.”
Levin said that as the “initial grievance” of the stay-at-home order faded from view, he expected the groups to grow online and on the ground and to refocus on new shared concerns. Levin said many groups shared strong support of Trump, and the president’s backing of the notion of personal freedom amid the pandemic has resonated with them.
“Shortly after the president talked about liberating various states,” Levin said, “that’s when we saw this really take off, and we went from seeing a few dozens to hundreds of these nationally.”
Burghart said that although many of the rallies began as grassroots movements, they had quickly been overtaken by groups with funding and organizing savvy and were transitioning from the single issue of lockdowns to broader political causes.
Multiple candidates for state and national office spoke at the Sacramento event on Saturday, appealing to potential voters to curb what they see as too much government intervention.
Tim Thompson, a pastor who has been active in shutdown protests, said last week he remained unhappy with the current situation in California, even though Riverside County, where his church is located, had rescinded most rules. His church is holding in-person services.
Saturday’s crowd outside the state Capitol building included peaceful protesters as well as extremist group members. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
“It amazes me how many people are so quick to let the government have so much authority over us,” Thompson said. “I think we continue to see a massive government overreach, specifically with the church, but in general.”
He believes the shutdown protestation “shouldn’t be associated with the alt-right; it should be associated with freedom.”
DeBow agrees. Though he noted that he was at risk for the coronavirus due to health conditions — he is currently on chemotherapy and describes himself as overweight — he thinks the shutdowns are unwarranted and create more harm than they prevent. He said his community had seen at least two suicides that he believed were related to restrictions.
“I can tell you these people have a lot of heart,” he said, gesturing at the crowd. “It’s our conviction that the cure is worse than the disease.”


latimes--2020-05-23--Coronavirus outbreak hits Farmer John plant in Vernon that makes Dodger Dogs

More than 100 workers at the Farmer John plant in Vernon have contracted the coronavirus in an outbreak plaguing the facility that produces the Dodger Dog .
Thus far , 116 workers at the Smithfield-owned meat-processing plant have tested positive , according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health .
“ Our Smithfield Family members are crucial to our nation ’ s response to COVID-19 , ” Smithfield Foods said in a statement .
“ We thank them for keeping food on America ’ s tables , and have implemented aggressive measures to protect their health and safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ series of strict guidelines and protocols that follow or exceed guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration , the company said .
The company said it has boosted its supply of masks and face shields , installed plexiglass barriers on the production floor and in break areas , and implemented mass temperature scanning systems to screen workers .
Employees are offered free coronavirus testing and paid quarantine time and are told not to report to work if they are sick , the company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its attendance policies , eliminated co-pays for coronavirus-related treatment and extended a paid leave benefit to employees deemed medically at risk , it said .
“ During this pandemic , our entire industry is faced with an impossible choice : continue to operate to sustain our nation ’ s food supply or shutter in an attempt to entirely insulate our employees from risk , ” the company said in a statement issued in early May .
“ It ’ s an awful choice ; it ’ s not one we wish on anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on tables across America if our nation ’ s meat plants are not running.
” The outbreak at Smithfield ’ s Vernon plant is the largest listed by the county ’ s Public Health Department at a nonresidential setting .

More than 100 workers at the Farmer John plant in Vernon have contracted the coronavirus in an outbreak plaguing the facility that produces the Dodger Dog.
Thus far, 116 workers at the Smithfield-owned meat-processing plant have tested positive, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
“Our Smithfield Family members are crucial to our nation’s response to COVID-19,” Smithfield Foods said in a statement. “We thank them for keeping food on America’s tables, and have implemented aggressive measures to protect their health and safety during this pandemic.”
These include a series of strict guidelines and protocols that follow or exceed guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the company said. The company said it has boosted its supply of masks and face shields, installed plexiglass barriers on the production floor and in break areas, and implemented mass temperature scanning systems to screen workers.
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Employees are offered free coronavirus testing and paid quarantine time and are told not to report to work if they are sick, the company said. The company has also relaxed its attendance policies, eliminated co-pays for coronavirus-related treatment and extended a paid leave benefit to employees deemed medically at risk, it said.
“During this pandemic, our entire industry is faced with an impossible choice: continue to operate to sustain our nation’s food supply or shutter in an attempt to entirely insulate our employees from risk,” the company said in a statement issued in early May. “It’s an awful choice; it’s not one we wish on anyone. It is impossible to keep protein on tables across America if our nation’s meat plants are not running.”
The outbreak at Smithfield’s Vernon plant is the largest listed by the county’s Public Health Department at a nonresidential setting.


latimes--2020-05-23--California elections officials suggest schools as voting sites to ensure social distancing

Elections officials across California , seeking a way to offer in-person voting in November with strict coronavirus protections , are urging lawmakers to close schools in the days leading up to and including election day and allow campus gyms and auditoriums to be used .
The proposal was made this week in a letter to legislative leaders and comes as county officials face tight timelines to begin preparing for the Nov. 3 election .
That process has been overshadowed by Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s order earlier this month to mail a ballot to every California voter — a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impact , would not keep voters from choosing to participate in person instead .
“ We wanted to provide a solution ” for safe voting sites , said Joe Holland , registrar of voters in Santa Barbara County and president of the California Assn .
of Clerks and Elected Officials .
“ Schools have facilities that are big enough to accommodate in-person voting with the COVID-19 environment that we have to deal with.
” Elections officials say the four weekdays in question — Oct. 30 , a Friday , through Nov. 4 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as “ in-service ” days , during which teachers and personnel are on campus but students are not .
Holland said public health requirements , especially regarding size and social distancing , would make most traditional polling places unworkable .
Schools also would have more consistent access for disabled voters , he said , and would be found easily by voters seeking to cast their ballots .
Several prominent education groups had not heard about the proposal when contacted Friday .
State Sen. Tom Umberg ( D-Santa Ana ) , chairman of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the best path forward would be , first , to see what could be agreed to without a mandate from Sacramento .
“ It does seem that schools are a community asset that is accessible , ” Umberg said .
“ That ’ s a conversation to be had between local school officials and local election officials.
” Secretary of State Alex Padilla suggested Friday that the idea had merit .
“ Schools and colleges alone will not provide all the voting locations we will need this November , but they have historically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and we will need them again this fall , ” he said .
“ The COVID-19 pandemic has presented an enormous challenge for county elections officials to adjust their operations.
” Any decision would come later than Newsom envisioned .
His executive order requiring counties to mail ballots to the state ’ s roughly 21 million voters called for clear guidelines by the end of May on how counties would provide traditional in-person voting .
At best , a decision is now unlikely before mid-June .
There were more than 2.7 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March presidential primary — more ballots than those cast in most states ’ elections .
But far more California voters , 72 % of those who participated , chose to fill out a ballot sent to them in the mail .
A survey released Thursday by a team of researchers from USC , UC San Diego and UC Riverside came to a similar conclusion , finding almost 72 % of eligible voters prefer either to put their ballot in the mail in November or drop them off at a location in their community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more often found in communities of color or are voters with physical disabilities .
Wilma Franco , executive director of the Southeast Los Angeles Collaborative , told those attending an election webinar this week that changing those voter habits would be hard .
“ It ’ s really going to take new ways of reaching our community , ” she said during the event sponsored by the nonprofit Future of California Elections .
Exactly how many in-person voting centers will be required remains a point of contention .
Fifteen California counties , choosing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law that moves away from traditional polling places , provide one location for every 10,000 voters in the final four days of an election — sites that offer a variety of voter services .
But 43 other counties have chosen not to opt into that system and may find that formula difficult .
In its letter to the Legislature , the association of elections officials suggested one location for every 15,000 voters .
Holland said even that standard would be challenging in some communities , especially given that the most reliable elections workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — are also those considered to be most at risk during the pandemic .
“ Can I , in good conscience , even ask them to be a poll worker in November ?
” Holland said .
Newsom ’ s push for mailing every voter a ballot faces its own challenges .
On Thursday , former Republican Rep. Darrell Issa filed a challenge to the executive order in federal court , insisting only the Legislature could make such a sweeping change .
The governor on Friday dismissed the criticism .
“ I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do to encourage people to vote and have an alternative to waiting in line , ” he said of voting by mail , “ especially going back into the fall and experiencing a second wave that could put that election at risk.
” For those who choose to vote in person in November , ideally bringing their mailed ballots with them , a number of changes are expected .
Dean Logan , the registrar of voters in Los Angeles County , said Thursday during the election webinar that face coverings and gloves would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting centers in the fall .
L.A. County experienced a number of problems with in-person voting in March , but Logan told election advocates during Thursday ’ s event that his staff believed the opportunity was essential and could be improved upon in November .
“ We have to build a capacity for that , ” Logan said about in-person voting .
“ We need to be more direct and more emphatic in informing voters that we ’ re open and available.
” Using schools for a four-day voting experience could hinge on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November election rules can ’ t be implemented without additional state dollars , and schools may be hesitant to change their schedules without some sort of compensation .
Funding for K-12 schools depends , in part , on daily attendance numbers .
Holland acknowledged the challenges but said the coronavirus crisis could be remembered as creating a partnership that could be used in future elections too .
“ It would be a huge achievement for democracy in California , ” he said .
“ We would be partners , and the voters and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
”

Elections officials from across California say most traditional voting locations are too small for physical distancing in November’s election for voters who choose not to vote by mail.
Elections officials across California, seeking a way to offer in-person voting in November with strict coronavirus protections, are urging lawmakers to close schools in the days leading up to and including election day and allow campus gyms and auditoriums to be used.
The proposal comes as county officials face tight timelines to begin preparing for the Nov. 3 election and as the process has been overshadowed by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order earlier this month to mail a ballot to every California voter.
Newsom’s effort is now mired in a legal battle with Republicans, who insist only the Legislature has the power to change election rules. Lawsuits from the Republican National Committee and former Vista Rep. Darrell Issa are challenging the May 8 executive order and President Trump has continued to insist, without proof, that voting by mail is a process rife with fraud.
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The effort by local elections officials seeks to find rules for those who will vote in person, a process they argue cannot be done without a plan that allows voters several days to participate and venues that are much larger than those used in the past.
“We wanted to provide a solution” for safe voting sites, said Joe Holland, registrar of voters in Santa Barbara County and president of the California Assn. of Clerks and Elected Officials. “Schools have facilities that are big enough to accommodate in-person voting with the COVID-19 environment that we have to deal with.”
Elections officials say the four weekdays in question — Oct. 30, a Friday, through Nov. 4, a Wednesday — could easily be designated as “in-service” days, during which teachers and personnel are on campus but students are not.
Holland said public health requirements, especially regarding size and social distancing, would make most traditional polling places unworkable. Schools also would have more consistent access for disabled voters, he said, and would be found easily by voters seeking to cast their ballots.
Several prominent education groups had not heard about the proposal when contacted Friday.
State Sen. Tom Umberg (D-Santa Ana), chairman of the Senate’s elections committee, said the best path forward would be, first, to see what could be agreed to without a mandate from Sacramento.
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“It does seem that schools are a community asset that is accessible,” Umberg said. “That’s a conversation to be had between local school officials and local election officials.”
Secretary of State Alex Padilla suggested Friday that the idea had merit.
“Schools and colleges alone will not provide all the voting locations we will need this November, but they have historically been a major source of voting locations, and we will need them again this fall,” he said. “The COVID-19 pandemic has presented an enormous challenge for county elections officials to adjust their operations.”
Any decision would come later than Newsom envisioned. His executive order requiring counties to mail ballots to the state’s roughly 21 million voters called for clear guidelines by the end of May on how counties would provide traditional in-person voting. At best, a decision is now unlikely before mid-June.
There were more than 2.7 million Californians who voted in person for the March presidential primary — more ballots than those cast in most states’ elections. But far more California voters, 72% of those who participated, chose to fill out a ballot sent to them in the mail.
A survey released Thursday by a team of researchers from USC, UC San Diego and UC Riverside came to a similar conclusion, finding almost 72% of eligible voters prefer either to put their ballot in the mail in November or drop them off at a location in their community. Those who don’t are more often found in communities of color or are voters with physical disabilities.
Wilma Franco, executive director of the Southeast Los Angeles Collaborative, told those attending an election webinar last week that changing those voter habits would be hard.
“It’s really going to take new ways of reaching our community,” she said during the event sponsored by the nonprofit Future of California Elections.
Exactly how many in-person voting centers will be required remains a point of contention. Fifteen California counties, choosing to embrace an optional 2016 state election law that moves away from traditional polling places, provide one location for every 10,000 voters in the final four days of an election — sites that offer a variety of voter services. But 43 other counties have chosen not to opt into that system and may find that formula difficult.
In its letter to the Legislature, the association of elections officials suggested one location for every 15,000 voters. Holland said even that standard would be challenging in some communities, especially given that the most reliable elections workers — Californians in their 60s and 70s — are also those considered to be most at risk during the pandemic.
“Can I, in good conscience, even ask them to be a poll worker in November?” Holland said.
For those who choose to vote in person in November, ideally bringing their mailed ballots with them, a number of changes are expected. Dean Logan, the registrar of voters in Los Angeles County, said Thursday during the election webinar that face coverings and gloves would be offered to Angelenos who used local voting centers in the fall.
L.A. County experienced a number of problems with in-person voting in March, but Logan told election advocates during Thursday’s event that his staff believed the voting experience could be improved upon in November.
“We have to build a capacity for that,” Logan said about in-person voting. “We need to be more direct and more emphatic in informing voters that we’re open and available.”
Using schools for a four-day voting experience could hinge on money. Elections officials are already insisting November election rules can’t be implemented without additional state dollars, and schools may be hesitant to change their schedules without some sort of compensation. Funding for K-12 schools depends, in part, on daily attendance numbers.
Holland acknowledged the challenges but said the coronavirus crisis could be remembered as creating a partnership that could be used in future elections too.
“It would be a huge achievement for democracy in California,” he said. “We would be partners, and the voters and the citizens of California would greatly benefit.”
Republicans, meanwhile, continue to take aim at mail balloting. Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel announced the national party’s lawsuit on Sunday through Twitter.
“His radical plan is a recipe for disaster that would create more opportunities for fraud & destroy the confidence Californians deserve to have in their elections,” McDaniel said.
The lawsuit accuses Newsom of a “brazen power grab” that would “violate eligible citizens’ right to vote.”
Responding to the lawsuit late Sunday, Padilla said on Twitter that expanding voting by mail is not a “partisan issue.”
This lawsuit is just another part of Trump’s political smear campaign against voting by mail. We will not let this virus be exploited for voter suppression,” he wrote.
Times staff writer Laura Newberry contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-05-22--L.A. County reopens bike paths and beach parking lots, allows curbside service at malls

Ahead of the Memorial Day holiday weekend , Los Angeles County officials announced that beach bike paths and some beach parking lots would reopen and curbside service at indoor malls would be permitted .
The county reopened its beaches a week ago but kept beach parking lots , bike paths , piers and boardwalks .
Officials said Friday that parking lots at Dockweiler State Beach , Will Rogers State Beach , Zuma Beach and Surfrider Beach would open at partial capacity .
Santa Monica lots and most beachside public parking spots in coastal communities remain closed .
Beachgoers are still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or lounge in the sand .
The shoreline is open for active recreation , including surfing , swimming , running and walking .
Visitors also must continue to wear face coverings when visiting the beach .
County officials also gave car parades and other drive-through celebrations the green light on Friday .
A week ago , public health officials warned against marking milestones like birthdays and graduations with car parades .
Now , as in-person gatherings remain off-limits , county officials will permit celebrations by vehicle .
However , bicycles , motorcycles , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doors , such as golf carts , are not allowed to participate .
Vehicle occupants must wear face coverings if the windows are down .
Those who wish to host a car parade must comply with requirements set by the state ’ s stay-at-home order , which include security measures and social and physical distancing .

People walk along Ocean Front Walk in Santa Monica in advance of L.A. County’s reopening beaches last week. Bike paths and beach parking lots are being reopened this weekend.
Ahead of the Memorial Day holiday weekend, Los Angeles County officials announced that beach bike paths and some beach parking lots would reopen and curbside service at indoor malls would be permitted.
The county reopened its beaches a week ago but kept beach parking lots, bike paths, piers and boardwalks closed .
Officials said Friday that parking lots at Dockweiler State Beach, Will Rogers State Beach, Zuma Beach and Surfrider Beach would open at partial capacity. Santa Monica lots and most beachside public parking spots in coastal communities remain closed.
Beachgoers are still not allowed to sunbathe, grill, or lounge in the sand. The shoreline is open for active recreation, including surfing, swimming, running and walking.
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Visitors also must continue to wear face coverings when visiting the beach.
County officials also gave car parades and other drive-through celebrations the green light on Friday.
A week ago, public health officials warned against marking milestones like birthdays and graduations with car parades.
Now, as in-person gatherings remain off-limits, county officials will permit celebrations by vehicle. However, bicycles, motorcycles, convertibles with open tops and vehicles without doors, such as golf carts, are not allowed to participate. Vehicle occupants must wear face coverings if the windows are down.
Those who wish to host a car parade must comply with requirements set by the state’s stay-at-home order, which include security measures and social and physical distancing.


latimes--2020-05-25--Column: California gives too many unchecked tax breaks. It's time to shine a light on them

California ’ s state government is dishing out $ 73 billion in tax breaks annually to millions of people and hundreds of interests .
But there ’ s no evidence that this generosity is good or bad for the state .
Does it create jobs ?
Attract businesses to California ?
Help companies expand ?
You ’ d think Gov .
Gavin Newsom and the Legislature would want to know whether the levy largess has been beneficial for California or just a giveaway .
That ’ s especially true now as state politicians face a projected $ 54-billion budget deficit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spread of the coronavirus .
Tax receipts are projected to plummet by $ 41 billion through June 2021 .
“ We don ’ t have a clue ” about the effectiveness of tax breaks , says state Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson ( D-Santa Barbara ) .
“ You can argue about things after you get the facts .
But we don ’ t have the facts .
The [ breaks ] have never been subject to any kind of review.
” Jackson is pushing a bill , SB 956 , which would authorize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thoroughly examine certain major tax breaks — credits , exemptions and exclusions .
Or “ loopholes ” if you ’ re using common language ; “ tax expenditures ” if talking in government-speak .
They ’ re tagged as “ tax expenditures ” because they cost the state treasury money it would otherwise collect .
“ We ’ re needing money , ” Jackson says .
“ We ’ re looking at $ 10 billion to $ 18 billion being cut from education .
We ’ ve also got these wildfires .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there ’ s a pandemic.
” Newsom vetoed a similar Jackson bill last year , asserting the loophole study would be duplicative .
He was wrong .
In a veto message , the governor noted that his Department of Finance already is required to publish an annual report on so-called tax expenditures .
But the department publishes only a laundry list of tax breaks and what they cost the state , not an assessment of whether they ’ re beneficial or a bust .
Last year ’ s bill would have required the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the comprehensive study .
But the analyst ’ s office argued it didn ’ t have the staff or money for the job .
So this year Jackson turned to UC Berkeley , which agreed to do the work for $ 200,000 — a dirt-cheap price .
“ This is the kind of stuff UC does , ” Jackson says .
“ It ’ s right up their alley .
We have one of the finest research institutions in the world offering to do it for a minimum cost.
” UC would send @ @ @ @ @ @ @ review board consisting of the state controller , legislative analyst , state auditor , finance director and head of the Government Operations Agency .
The board would then recommend to the Legislature whether the loopholes should be kept as is , closed or expanded .
Jackson says she ’ s confident Newsom would sign her new bill .
She has been negotiating with his staff , and two of his appointees would be on the five-member board .
Last week , the bill cleared its first committee hurdle — Senate Governance and Finance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats voted “ yes , ” Republicans “ no.
” “ Many have been on the books for decades without any scrutiny or data to demonstrate they are achieving their public policy goals , ” she says .
In truth , most are politically untouchable — thankfully — because they ’ re widely used deductions or credits involving the state personal income tax .
For example , unlike the federal government , the state doesn ’ t tax Social Security payments .
That ’ s a $ 4.3-billion hit this fiscal year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ deduction is costing the state $ 4 billion .
The tax deduction for charitable donations is a $ 3-billion state loss .
Jackson isn ’ t targeting any of those .
She ’ s singling out eight business tax breaks that don ’ t have sunsetting clauses and have each cost the state at least $ 1 billion over 10 years .
One is the “ water ’ s edge ” loophole that allows multinational corporations to choose their method of taxation .
It ’ s a $ 2.4-billion drain on the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ credit for research and development — worth $ 1.8 billion .
“ Companies claim doing all this R & D , but what successful company in California can get away with not doing R & D ?
” asks Lenny Goldberg , consultant to the California Tax Reform Assn.
, a backer of the bill .
“ What happens is companies just throw a bunch of spending into a bucket and call it ‘ research and development.
’ ” But during the committee hearing , Sen. Jim Beall ( D-San Jose ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strong defense of the R & D tax credit .
He asserted it has “ benefited California far beyond what we can see through the narrow viewpoint ” of lost tax revenue .
Jackson replied : “ I suspect that ’ s exactly what this study will show.
” Another tax break she wants studied is a state sales tax exemption on animals used for human food and on the feed for that livestock .
The tax break also covers edible plants and their fertilizers .
It ’ s costing $ 661 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the sales tax exemption for farm equipment — $ 98 million .
“ These aren ’ t tax giveaways .
They ’ re tax investments , ” Dennis Albiani of the Family Business Assn .
testified , referring to loopholes generally .
This bill has many more opponents than supporters .
No one wants their current tax break closely examined .
“ If they ’ re afraid they ’ ll have their tax credits taken away , maybe they know something we don ’ t , ” Jackson says .
Yes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tax benefits from public scrutiny , it ’ s a clear sign that a hard look is needed .

State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) is pushing a bill that would enlist a team from UC Berkeley to examine “tax expenditures” or tax breaks.
California’s state government is dishing out $73 billion in tax breaks annually to millions of people and hundreds of interests. But there’s no evidence that this generosity is good or bad for the state.
Does it create jobs? Attract businesses to California? Help companies expand?
You’d think Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature would want to know whether the levy largess has been beneficial for California or just a giveaway.
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That’s especially true now as state politicians face a projected $54-billion budget deficit because the economy was straitjacketed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Tax receipts are projected to plummet by $41 billion through June 2021.
“We don’t have a clue” about the effectiveness of tax breaks, says state Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara). “You can argue about things after you get the facts. But we don’t have the facts. The [breaks] have never been subject to any kind of review.”
Jackson is pushing a bill, SB 956, which would authorize an economic team at UC Berkeley to thoroughly examine certain major tax breaks — credits, exemptions and exclusions. Or “loopholes” if you’re using common language; “tax expenditures” if talking in government-speak.
They’re tagged as “tax expenditures” because they cost the state treasury money it would otherwise collect.
“We’re needing money,” Jackson says. “We’re looking at $10 billion to $18 billion being cut from education. We’ve also got these wildfires. They’re not going away just because there’s a pandemic.”
Newsom vetoed a similar Jackson bill last year, asserting the loophole study would be duplicative. He was wrong.
In a veto message, the governor noted that his Department of Finance already is required to publish an annual report on so-called tax expenditures.
Advertisement
But the department publishes only a laundry list of tax breaks and what they cost the state, not an assessment of whether they’re beneficial or a bust.
Last year’s bill would have required the Legislative Analyst’s Office to conduct the comprehensive study. But the analyst’s office argued it didn’t have the staff or money for the job.
So this year Jackson turned to UC Berkeley, which agreed to do the work for $200,000 — a dirt-cheap price.
“This is the kind of stuff UC does,” Jackson says. “It’s right up their alley. We have one of the finest research institutions in the world offering to do it for a minimum cost.”
UC would send its analyses to a newly created tax review board consisting of the state controller, legislative analyst, state auditor, finance director and head of the Government Operations Agency. The board would then recommend to the Legislature whether the loopholes should be kept as is, closed or expanded.
Jackson says she’s confident Newsom would sign her new bill. She has been negotiating with his staff, and two of his appointees would be on the five-member board.
Last week, the bill cleared its first committee hurdle — Senate Governance and Finance — on a 4-2 party-line vote. Democrats voted “yes,” Republicans “no.”
Jackson counts about 80 tax breaks.
“Many have been on the books for decades without any scrutiny or data to demonstrate they are achieving their public policy goals,” she says.
In truth, most are politically untouchable — thankfully — because they’re widely used deductions or credits involving the state personal income tax.
For example, unlike the federal government, the state doesn’t tax Social Security payments. That’s a $4.3-billion hit this fiscal year.
Another biggie: The home mortgage interest deduction is costing the state $4 billion.
The tax deduction for charitable donations is a $3-billion state loss.
California Coronavirus forces sharp cuts to schools, healthcare in California, Newsom says California faces a $9.7-billion drop in tax revenues for the fiscal year that ends in June, with a total projected deficit of $54.3 billion through the early summer of 2021.
Jackson isn’t targeting any of those. She’s singling out eight business tax breaks that don’t have sunsetting clauses and have each cost the state at least $1 billion over 10 years.
One is the “water’s edge” loophole that allows multinational corporations to choose their method of taxation. It’s a $2.4-billion drain on the state treasury.
Another target is the tax credit for research and development — worth $1.8 billion.
“Companies claim doing all this R&D, but what successful company in California can get away with not doing R&D?” asks Lenny Goldberg, consultant to the California Tax Reform Assn., a backer of the bill.
“What happens is companies just throw a bunch of spending into a bucket and call it ‘research and development.’”
But during the committee hearing, Sen. Jim Beall (D-San Jose), who represents Silicon Valley, voiced a strong defense of the R&D tax credit. He asserted it has “benefited California far beyond what we can see through the narrow viewpoint” of lost tax revenue.
Jackson replied: “I suspect that’s exactly what this study will show.”
Another tax break she wants studied is a state sales tax exemption on animals used for human food and on the feed for that livestock. The tax break also covers edible plants and their fertilizers. It’s costing $661 million this year.
Also on her list is the sales tax exemption for farm equipment — $98 million.
“These aren’t tax giveaways. They’re tax investments,” Dennis Albiani of the Family Business Assn. testified, referring to loopholes generally.
This bill has many more opponents than supporters. No one wants their current tax break closely examined.
“If they’re afraid they’ll have their tax credits taken away, maybe they know something we don’t,” Jackson says.
Yes, when private interests try to hide their tax benefits from public scrutiny, it’s a clear sign that a hard look is needed.


latimes--2020-05-25--Republicans sue Newsom over vote-by-mail order for November election

Three Republican groups have sued Gov .
Gavin Newsom over his executive order to send mail-in ballots to California ’ s 20.6 million voters in November .
The suit was brought by the Republican National Committee , the National Republican Congressional Committee and the California Republican Party .
Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel announced the lawsuit on Sunday through Twitter .
“ His radical plan is a recipe for disaster that would create more opportunities for fraud & destroy the confidence Californians deserve to have in their elections , ” McDaniel said .
Newsom issued the order on May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the nation to temporarily shift to all-mail voting as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic .
The lawsuit accuses Newsom of a “ brazen power grab ” that would “ violate eligible citizens ’ right to vote.
” The complaint echoes those made by President Trump , who has criticized mail-in ballots as “ dangerous ” and fraudulent and threatened to withhold federal funding from some states that have sought to expand mail voting .
In making the decision , California officials cited public health concerns of millions of people showing up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of infection is still likely to be present .
Responding to the lawsuit late Sunday , California Secretary of State Alex Padilla said via Twitter : “ Expanding vote-by-mail during a pandemic is not a partisan issue — it ’ s a moral imperative to protect voting rights and public safety .
Vote-by-mail has been used safely and effectively in red , blue , and purple states for years .
This lawsuit is just another part of Trump ’ s political smear campaign against voting by mail .
We will not let this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ”

Three Republican groups have sued Gov. Gavin Newsom over his executive order to send mail-in ballots to California’s 20.6 million voters in November.
The suit was brought by the Republican National Committee, the National Republican Congressional Committee and the California Republican Party.
Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel announced the lawsuit on Sunday through Twitter.
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“His radical plan is a recipe for disaster that would create more opportunities for fraud & destroy the confidence Californians deserve to have in their elections,” McDaniel said.
Newsom issued the order on May 8, making California the first state in the nation to temporarily shift to all-mail voting as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The lawsuit accuses Newsom of a “brazen power grab” that would “violate eligible citizens’ right to vote.”
The complaint echoes those made by President Trump, who has criticized mail-in ballots as “dangerous” and fraudulent and threatened to withhold federal funding from some states that have sought to expand mail voting.
In making the decision, California officials cited public health concerns of millions of people showing up to cast a ballot when the threat of infection is still likely to be present.
Responding to the lawsuit late Sunday, California Secretary of State Alex Padilla said via Twitter: “Expanding vote-by-mail during a pandemic is not a partisan issue — it’s a moral imperative to protect voting rights and public safety. Vote-by-mail has been used safely and effectively in red, blue, and purple states for years. This lawsuit is just another part of Trump’s political smear campaign against voting by mail. We will not let this virus be exploited for voter suppression.”


latimes--2020-05-25--L.A. County COVID-19 cases top 46,000 on Memorial Day

Los Angeles County reported 1,047 new COVID-19 cases and 12 more deaths on Monday , bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 46,018 and fatalities to 2,116 .
The additional cases and deaths come during a holiday weekend that county health officials are watching closely as a test of whether they can keep the virus in check while slowly easing restrictions .
“ On this Memorial Day , as we join with those mourning the loss of their loved ones to COVID-19 , including the families of the 1,100 veterans who recently passed away from COVID-19 , we want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members of the armed forces who courageously gave of themselves to protect our country , ” L.A. County Department of Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in a statement .
“ We take to heart the lessons of courage and caring that mark this day of remembrance.
” In recent days , L.A. County beach bike paths and parking lots have reopened , and stores at indoor malls can now operate with curbside service .
But ocean piers remain closed , dining at restaurants is still prohibited , and gatherings of any size @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Statewide , California has reported 95,372 COVID-19 cases and 3,760 deaths , though the true number of people infected is unknown and likely much higher than official figures .
California ’ s stay-at-home orders are credited with slowing the spread of the virus , but state and county officials have been under pressure to loosen those orders to reduce damage to the economy and upheaval in people ’ s lives .
Though L.A. County remains the epicenter of the outbreak in California , there are some encouraging signs .
The county ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients has declined 15 % , while its seven-day average of deaths per day is down 3 % , according to the latest figures from the Public Health Department ’ s dashboard of reopening metrics .
“ As we prepare to reopen many places and spaces that are still closed , it will require an extraordinary effort by all of us to prevent outbreaks among workers and residents , ” Ferrer said in a statement Monday .
“ Please take care of each other by wearing a face covering , keeping your distance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , avoiding crowds , washing your hands often and isolating when you are positive for COVID-19 or a close contact of someone who is positive .
Let us move forward with the awareness that our actions save lives.
” In statewide guidelines released Monday , the California Department of Public Health announced that all counties can reopen in-store retail shopping under previously issued guidelines that include physical distancing , use of face coverings by employees and customers and frequent hand-washing .
The reopening of in-store shopping is subject to approval by county public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Retail does not include personal services such as hair salons , nail salons and barbershops .
In a separate guidance issued Monday , California officials said that churches , mosques , temples and other houses of worship must limit their attendance to 25 % of a building ’ s capacity and take other precautions if they are to resume in-person services .

Children place flowers at the graves of fallen soldiers to pay their respects during Memorial Day observances Monday at the Los Angeles National Cemetery.
Los Angeles County reported 1,047 new COVID-19 cases and 12 more deaths on Monday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 46,018 and fatalities to 2,116.
The additional cases and deaths come during a holiday weekend that county health officials are watching closely as a test of whether they can keep the virus in check while slowly easing restrictions.
“On this Memorial Day, as we join with those mourning the loss of their loved ones to COVID-19, including the families of the 1,100 veterans who recently passed away from COVID-19, we want to honor the memory of all the members of the armed forces who courageously gave of themselves to protect our country,” L.A. County Department of Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in a statement. “We take to heart the lessons of courage and caring that mark this day of remembrance.”
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In recent days, L.A. County beach bike paths and parking lots have reopened, and stores at indoor malls can now operate with curbside service. But ocean piers remain closed, dining at restaurants is still prohibited, and gatherings of any size outside of the household unit are banned.
Statewide, California has reported 95,372 COVID-19 cases and 3,760 deaths, though the true number of people infected is unknown and likely much higher than official figures.
California’s stay-at-home orders are credited with slowing the spread of the virus, but state and county officials have been under pressure to loosen those orders to reduce damage to the economy and upheaval in people’s lives.
Though L.A. County remains the epicenter of the outbreak in California, there are some encouraging signs. The county’s three-day average number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients has declined 15%, while its seven-day average of deaths per day is down 3%, according to the latest figures from the Public Health Department’s dashboard of reopening metrics.
“As we prepare to reopen many places and spaces that are still closed, it will require an extraordinary effort by all of us to prevent outbreaks among workers and residents,” Ferrer said in a statement Monday. “Please take care of each other by wearing a face covering, keeping your distance when around others not in your household, avoiding crowds, washing your hands often and isolating when you are positive for COVID-19 or a close contact of someone who is positive. Let us move forward with the awareness that our actions save lives.”
In statewide guidelines released Monday, the California Department of Public Health announced that all counties can reopen in-store retail shopping under previously issued guidelines that include physical distancing, use of face coverings by employees and customers and frequent hand-washing.
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The reopening of in-store shopping is subject to approval by county public health departments, according to the state. Retail does not include personal services such as hair salons, nail salons and barbershops.
In a separate guidance issued Monday, California officials said that churches, mosques, temples and other houses of worship must limit their attendance to 25% of a building’s capacity and take other precautions if they are to resume in-person services.


latimes--2020-05-25--On Memorial Day, Southern California honors fallen service members and those on the front line of co

On Memorial Day, Southern California honors fallen service members and those on the front line of coronavirus pandemic

On a day typically marked by parades , solemn ceremonies and barbecues , communities across Southern California this year donned face masks and turned instead to TV screens and computer monitors to honor those who lost their lives in service to our nation .
On a livestream that began at dawn , police , veterans and active duty military men and women took turns reading the names of their fallen peers .
At Forest Lawn Memorial Park , bagpipes played to empty grounds and an audience online .
More than a dozen vintage warplanes took to the sky , soaring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numerous hospitals and memorials across Los Angeles and Orange counties .
Before a mural of the resurrected Christ , in a chapel adorned with gold and blue butterflies , Archbishop José H. Gómez offered prayers for the fallen — as well as a tribute to the almost 100,000 who have passed during the pandemic .
At the Los Angeles National Cemetery in Westwood , where local leaders and families traditionally gather before 90,000 graves for one of the region ’ s largest ceremonies , a handful of speakers and performers gathered in different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and cameras operated by KABC-TV Channel 7 stitched together an event that was broadcast live to living rooms and cellphones .
Viewers were reminded that Los Angeles County is home to more veterans than any other county in our nation .
U.S. Army Brig .
Gen. Michael Leeney spoke about the many healthcare workers today risking their lives to save others .
He also called upon memories of first responders during 9/11 who ran into burning buildings as others ran out .
“ These heroes have much in common with the people that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the cameras .
“ On this Memorial Day , as we continue to honor those who fell in combat for our country , let us also pause to remember all those who have sacrificed themselves while in the service of others .
There could be no more noble gesture than that.
” The coronavirus loomed over the weekend as Californians searched for meaning in such a physically distanced world .
Los Angeles County reported 1,047 new COVID-19 cases and 12 additional deaths Monday , bringing the total confirmed cases to 46,081 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 94,361 people have tested positive , and more than 3,770 have died .
While veterans and families went to great lengths to remember their loved ones , others sought to celebrate the unofficial start of summer and sought comfort along recently reopened trails and beaches .
Although crowds for the most part were mindful of keeping their distance , officials had to shut down popular hiking trails such as Eaton Canyon in Altadena , after too many people showed up Sunday and failed to follow public health guidelines .
Thousands of beachgoers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which cautiously reopened its beaches to walking , jogging and swimming .
Officials estimated more than 800,000 people went to the beach last weekend when the ban was first lifted — a number that dwarfed crowds for previous Memorial Day weekends .
“ I think a lot of people are feeling cooped up , ” said Nicole Mooradian , public information officer for the county ’ s Beaches and Harbors Department .
“ It ’ s somewhere to go versus just walking around the neighborhood.
” At popular areas such as Venice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be following the rules of no sunbathing , no umbrellas and no plopping down on the sand with coolers and large groups of friends .
The crowds have been under control , according to the Pacific Division of the Los Angeles Police Department , but officers urged folks to wear face masks when not in the water .
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti also reminded residents on Monday that fighting the coronavirus “ demands the strength and sacrifice of not just our service members , but every single one of us.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ceremony at the Los Angeles National Cemetery , Garcetti donned his U.S. Navy cap and stood before a small gathering in Boyle Heights , where a humble memorial honors the many Mexican Americans who have served this country .
For more than 70 years , residents and community leaders have gathered on Memorial Day at this bustling five-point intersection known as Los Cinco Puntos .
Built in the years after World War II , this towering concrete pillar has long been a symbol of pride for the Eastside community .
More than 500,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 350,000 Mexican Americans , who have the highest percentage of Medal of Honor winners of any minority in the United States .
The annual observance usually includes an overnight vigil during which various community groups stand guard for 24 hours — a tribute and reminder of this large but sometimes overlooked military community on this side of town .
This year , the vigil was three hours , and a handful of local leaders gathered to pay their respects .
Juju Sands , whose father , Ruben Amaro , served in Vietnam , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back this year ’ s ceremony but she thinks of the three World War II veterans , all in their 90s , who attended last year with dozens of others in the community , and knew it was in everyone ’ s best interest to take precautions .
She was thrilled when she heard Garcetti would make a personal appearance , and she wasn ’ t surprised that many people from the neighborhood still came by that morning .
Hugs were replaced by distant hellos , and smiles and greetings remained behind face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the decorated wreaths and their community still remembered on this day .
“ We can ’ t hold each other .
We can ’ t be as close to each other , ” Garcetti said .
“ I just ask this of all Angelenos : Call a family ... that you know .
Reach out .
Maybe drive over , and from your car , let them know how much you love them and how every single day — yes , this is not a happy Memorial Day , it is a solemn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we remember those who have served.
” Back in Westwood , officials from the Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System also mourned eight hospitalized veterans who died of COVID-19 .
Nearly 5,000 veterans and employees have been tested so far to help contain the disease , “ and we ’ ve sent teams of nurses into L.A. County to help nursing homes in need , ” the medical center ’ s director , Dr. Steven Braverman , said in his remarks .
Leeney , deputy commanding general of the 40th Infantry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the many doctors , medics and nurses who sacrificed their lives while treating others on the battlefield .
He told the story of Jack Williams , a U.S. Navy pharmacist ’ s mate who was only 20 when he landed in Iwo Jima 75 years ago .
On March 3 , 1945 , under intense enemy fire , Williams dragged a Marine , who had been hit by a grenade , to a shallow depression to treat his wounds .
“ Williams used his own body as a shield and was shot four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide care , ” Leeney said .
“ After he treated that Marine , Williams dressed his own wounds and then proceeded to treat another wounded Marine , despite his own immense pain.
” Later that morning , as he was treating more of his unit , Williams was hit by a sniper ’ s bullet and killed .
In addition to Williams and other heroes who have died in combat , Leeney reminded his virtual audience that enemy fire is not the only killer .
“ It is little known , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 16,000 U.S. soldiers in France during World War I .
Another 30,000 American service members died later in stateside hospital camps from that disease , ” he said .
“ These men and women could ’ ve very well isolated themselves safely in their homes during that pandemic , but they knew they had an important job to do , a mission to accomplish , and we remember that they were intent to serve their country.
” He bowed his head .
Taps echoed across the mostly empty cemetery .
The color guard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Southern California , “ Amazing Grace ” could be heard on computer and TV screens by all who were listening .

Veterans including Karla Gonzalez, second from right, who served 12 years in the U.S. Army, salute during a Memorial Day ceremony at Los Cinco Puntos/Five Points Memorial in East Los Angeles on Monday. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Allan Valladares, a member of the 562nd Air National Guard Band of the West Coast, prepares to play the trumpet at a Memorial Day ceremony at Los Cinco Puntos/Five Points Memorial in East Los Angeles on Monday. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
Michael Gentile waves a flag as warbirds fly over the Queen Mary in Long Beach on Memorial Day. The 18-plane formation flew over Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
Michael Gentile waves a flag as historic warbirds fly over the Queen Mary on Monday in Long Beach. The Memorial Day flyover was part of a salute to veterans and healthcare workers fighting the coronavirus outbreak. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
Ruben and Emily Valencia visit the gravesite of Raul Guerra at Rose Hills Memorial Park on Monday in Whittier. In 1967, Guerra’s plane was shot down in Vietnam over a guard tower known as Monkey Mountain. Ruben Valencia spent 12 years trying to bring home Guerra’s remains for a proper burial. Since Guerra was buried in 2019, Valencia visits the gravesite often. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
Ruben and Emily Valencia visit the gravesite of Raul Guerra at Rose Hills Memorial Park on Monday in Whittier. Friends since fifth grade, Ruben Valencia and Guerra fought in the Vietnam War. Guerra was killed in Vietnam 1967. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden wears a face mask after placing a wreath at the Delaware Memorial Bridge Veterans Memorial Park on Monday in New Castle, Del. (Patrick Semansky / Associated Press)
Retired U.S. Navy Yeoman 1st Class Mark Stallins consoles a woman after he played taps at the gravesite of her relative Monday at Ft. Logan National Cemetery in Sheridan, Colo. (David Zalubowski / Associated Press)
Children place a flowers at the graves of fallen soldiers Monday at the Los Angeles National Cemetery to honor fallen soldiers and healthcare workers in Los Angeles. The general public was not able to attend the annual Memorial Day cemetery commemoration due to the coronavirus outbreak. (Richard Vogel / Associated Press)
President Trump, center, with Vice President Mike Pence, left, and First Lady Melania Trump, on the stairs in white, salutes after placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery in honor of Memorial Day on Monday in Arlington, Va. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press)
President Trump salutes after placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery to honor Memorial Day in Arlington, Va. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press)
On a day typically marked by parades, solemn ceremonies and barbecues, communities across Southern California this year donned face masks and turned instead to TV screens and computer monitors to honor those who lost their lives in service to our nation.
On a livestream that began at dawn, police, veterans and active duty military men and women took turns reading the names of their fallen peers. At Forest Lawn Memorial Park, bagpipes played to empty grounds and an audience online. More than a dozen vintage warplanes took to the sky, soaring in formation over Riverside National Cemetery and numerous hospitals and memorials across Los Angeles and Orange counties.
Before a mural of the resurrected Christ, in a chapel adorned with gold and blue butterflies, Archbishop José H. Gómez offered prayers for the fallen — as well as a tribute to the almost 100,000 who have died during the pandemic.
At the Los Angeles National Cemetery in Westwood, where local leaders and families traditionally gather before 90,000 graves for one of the region’s largest ceremonies, a handful of speakers and performers gathered in different corners of the sprawling grounds. Drones and cameras operated by KABC-TV Channel 7 stitched together an event that was broadcast live to living rooms and cellphones. Viewers were reminded that Los Angeles County is home to more veterans than any other county in our nation.
Advertisement
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Michael Leeney spoke about the many healthcare workers today risking their lives to save others. He also called upon memories of first responders during 9/11 who ran into burning buildings as others ran out.
“These heroes have much in common with the people that we honor today,” Leeney said to the cameras. “On this Memorial Day, as we continue to honor those who fell in combat for our country, let us also pause to remember all those who have sacrificed themselves while in the service of others. There could be no more noble gesture than that.”
The coronavirus loomed over the weekend as Californians searched for meaning in such a physically distanced world. Los Angeles County reported 1,047 new COVID-19 cases and 12 additional deaths Monday, bringing the total confirmed cases to 46,081 and fatalities to 2,116. Across the state, 94,361 people have tested positive, and more than 3,770 have died.
While veterans and families went to great lengths to remember their loved ones, others sought to celebrate the unofficial start of summer and sought comfort along recently reopened trails and beaches. Although crowds for the most part were mindful of keeping their distance, officials had to shut down popular hiking trails such as Eaton Canyon in Altadena, after too many people showed up Sunday and failed to follow public health guidelines.
Thousands of beachgoers also hit the sand across L.A. County, which cautiously reopened its beaches to walking, jogging and swimming. Officials estimated more than 800,000 people went to the beach last weekend when the ban was first lifted — a number that dwarfed crowds for previous Memorial Day weekends.
“I think a lot of people are feeling cooped up,” said Nicole Mooradian, public information officer for the county’s Beaches and Harbors Department. “It’s somewhere to go versus just walking around the neighborhood.”
At popular areas such as Venice Beach, authorities said most people seemed to be following the rules of no sunbathing, no umbrellas and no plopping down on the sand with coolers and large groups of friends. The crowds have been under control, according to the Pacific Division of the Los Angeles Police Department, but officers urged folks to wear face masks when not in the water.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti also reminded residents on Monday that fighting the coronavirus “demands the strength and sacrifice of not just our service members, but every single one of us.”
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On Memorial Day, we honor the brave Americans who paid the ultimate price to defend our freedom and offer our gratitude to everyone who has fought for us. Their courage inspires us in the battle against COVID-19 — their sacrifice is a reminder of our duty to serve one another. pic.twitter.com/JUVSGZGiEU — MayorOfLA (@MayorOfLA) May 25, 2020
As his pre-recorded address played during the ceremony at the Los Angeles National Cemetery, Garcetti donned his U.S. Navy cap and stood before a small gathering in Boyle Heights, where a humble memorial honors the many Mexican Americans who have served this country.
For more than 70 years, residents and community leaders have gathered on Memorial Day at this bustling five-point intersection known as Los Cinco Puntos. Built in the years after World War II, this towering concrete pillar has long been a symbol of pride for the Eastside community. More than 500,000 Latinos fought in the war, including 350,000 Mexican Americans, who have the highest percentage of Medal of Honor winners of any minority in the United States.
The annual observance usually includes an overnight vigil during which various community groups stand guard for 24 hours — a tribute and reminder of this large but sometimes overlooked military community on this side of town. This year, the vigil was three hours, and a handful of local leaders gathered to pay their respects.
Juju Sands, whose father, Ruben Amaro, served in Vietnam, said that it was tough to scale back this year’s ceremony but she thinks of the three World War II veterans, all in their 90s, who attended last year with dozens of others in the community, and knew it was in everyone’s best interest to take precautions.
She was thrilled when she heard Garcetti would make a personal appearance, and she wasn’t surprised that many people from the neighborhood still came by that morning. Hugs were replaced by distant hellos, and smiles and greetings remained behind face masks. All were grateful to see the decorated wreaths and their community still remembered on this day.
“We can’t hold each other. We can’t be as close to each other,” Garcetti said. “I just ask this of all Angelenos: Call a family ... that you know. Reach out. Maybe drive over, and from your car, let them know how much you love them and how every single day — yes, this is not a happy Memorial Day, it is a solemn Memorial Day — it is with pride that we remember those who have served.”
Back in Westwood, officials from the Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System also mourned eight hospitalized veterans who died of COVID-19. Nearly 5,000 veterans and employees have been tested so far to help contain the disease, “and we’ve sent teams of nurses into L.A. County to help nursing homes in need,” the medical center’s director, Dr. Steven Braverman, said in his remarks.
Leeney, deputy commanding general of the 40th Infantry Division, closed his comments by recalling the many doctors, medics and nurses who sacrificed their lives while treating others on the battlefield.
He told the story of Jack Williams, a U.S. Navy pharmacist’s mate who was only 20 when he landed in Iwo Jima 75 years ago. On March 3, 1945, under intense enemy fire, Williams dragged a Marine, who had been hit by a grenade, to a shallow depression to treat his wounds.
“Williams used his own body as a shield and was shot four times himself, yet he continued to provide care,” Leeney said. “After he treated that Marine, Williams dressed his own wounds and then proceeded to treat another wounded Marine, despite his own immense pain.”
Later that morning, as he was treating more of his unit, Williams was hit by a sniper’s bullet and killed.
In addition to Williams and other heroes who have died in combat, Leeney reminded his virtual audience that enemy fire is not the only killer.
“It is little known, for example, that influenza would kill nearly 16,000 U.S. soldiers in France during World War I. Another 30,000 American service members died later in stateside hospital camps from that disease,” he said. “These men and women could’ve very well isolated themselves safely in their homes during that pandemic, but they knew they had an important job to do, a mission to accomplish, and we remember that they were intent to serve their country.”
He bowed his head. Taps echoed across the mostly empty cemetery. The color guard performed from a safe distance. Across Southern California, “Amazing Grace” could be heard on computer and TV screens by all who were listening.


latimes--2020-05-25--Farmer John meatpackers demand closing of Vernon plant struck by COVID-19 outbreak

The union that represents workers at a Vernon meatpacking plant where at least 153 have come down with COVID-19 called Monday for the immediate closure of the facility , saying there was no evidence measures taken to control the coronavirus were working .
The outbreak at the Farmer John plant , a division of Smithfield Foods that produces Dodger Dogs and other pork products , is by far the largest in Los Angeles County to occur outside of a nursing home , prison or other residential setting , according to data from the county ’ s Public Health Department .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ plant ’ s 1,800 employees alleges that the company delayed rolling out protective measures until workers were sick and has not been transparent about what it knows about how and to whom the virus is spreading within the facility .
“ Smithfield has not provided full information about what is really going on inside the Vernon plant , ” said John Grant , president of UFCW Local 770 .
“ Without information we can not make an informed decision about workers ’ health and safety.
” The union wants Smithfield to continue paying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for cleaning and an investigation into whether it is in compliance with state regulators and the county health department .
A Smithfield spokeswoman did not immediately respond to questions .
The Virginia-based company has previously said its entire industry faces “ an impossible choice : continue to operate to sustain our nation ’ s food supply or shutter in an attempt to entirely insulate our employees from risk.
” At Farmer John , the company has taken measures it says equal or exceed guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Those include providing personal protective gear , placing Plexiglas barriers on the production floor and in break rooms and screening for temperatures .
The company has offered free testing , eliminated co-pays for virus-related treatments and paid workers while they are quarantined .
The outbreak is part of a national wave of infections at meatpacking plants , where employees work long hours in tight quarters conducive to the spread of the coronavirus .
Thousands have come down with COVID-19 at plants , including about one-fifth of the meatpacking workforce in Iowa and South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At Farmer John , there was an initial outbreak in the ham-boning department last month , but it appeared to be under control until recently , union representatives said , when the number of cases reported to local health officials began skyrocketing .
The ballooning cases occurred as the company made voluntary testing available to all employees .
A spokesman for the county Public Health Department , which has been assisting the city of Vernon in responding to the outbreak , said it was unclear whether the rise in cases was due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amongst workers.
” Pedro Albarran , an El Monte resident who has worked at Farmer John for 25 years , said the company did not begin providing masks and face shields until his colleagues got sick and a delegation of workers went repeatedly to management .
“ We kept asking and asking , and finally we got it , ” he said .
While some cutting lines now have plastic glass barriers between workers , not all do , Albarran said .
On his line , where pork shoulder is sliced , cutters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shoulders as they handle the meat , he said .
“ It ’ s all day of that , ” he said .
Vernon , an industrial city south of downtown L.A. , has seen outbreaks at eight other food preparation plants , including meatpacking plants , a coffee company , a firm that produces frozen pizza , a packager of green tea and a bakery .
Many who work in Vernon live in southeast L.A. communities with high density , including Bell , Bell Gardens , Maywood and South Gate .
Public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about factory workers bringing the virus home to relatives and neighbors .

At least 153 workers at the Farmer John plant in Vernon have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
The union that represents workers at a Vernon meatpacking plant where at least 153 have come down with COVID-19 called Monday for the immediate closure of the facility, saying there was no evidence measures taken to control the coronavirus were working.
The outbreak at the Farmer John plant, a division of Smithfield Foods that produces Dodger Dogs and other pork products, is by far the largest in Los Angeles County to occur outside of a nursing home, prison or other residential setting, according to data from the county’s Public Health Department.
The union that represents most of the plant’s 1,800 employees alleges that the company delayed rolling out protective measures until workers were sick and has not been transparent about what it knows about how and to whom the virus is spreading within the facility.
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“Smithfield has not provided full information about what is really going on inside the Vernon plant,” said John Grant, president of UFCW Local 770. “Without information we cannot make an informed decision about workers’ health and safety.”
The union wants Smithfield to continue paying workers while the company shutters the plant for cleaning and an investigation into whether it is in compliance with state regulators and the county health department.
In a statement Monday, Smithfield said its employees “are crucial to our nation’s response to COVID-19. We thank them for keeping food on America’s tables and have implemented aggressive measures to protect their health and safety during this pandemic.”
At Farmer John, the company has taken measures it says follow or exceed guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Those include providing personal protective gear, placing Plexiglas barriers on the production floor and in break rooms and screening for temperatures. The company has offered free testing, eliminated co-pays for virus-related treatments and paid workers while they are quarantined.
“We are doing everything we can, as fast as we can,” the company’s statement said.
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The outbreak is part of a national wave of infections at meatpacking plants, where employees work long hours in tight quarters conducive to the spread of the coronavirus. Thousands have come down with COVID-19 at plants, including about one-fifth of the meatpacking workforce in Iowa and South Dakota, according to a CDC study.
At Farmer John, there was an initial outbreak in the ham-boning department last month, but it appeared to be under control until recently, union representatives said, when the number of cases reported to local health officials began skyrocketing.
The ballooning cases occurred as the company made voluntary testing available to all employees. A spokesman for the county Public Health Department, which has been assisting the city of Vernon in responding to the outbreak, said it was unclear whether the rise in cases was due to additional testing “or to spread amongst workers.”
Pedro Albarran, an El Monte resident who has worked at Farmer John for 25 years, said the company did not begin providing masks and face shields until his colleagues got sick and a delegation of workers went repeatedly to management.
“We kept asking and asking, and finally we got it,” he said.
While some cutting lines now have Plexiglas barriers between workers, not all do, Albarran said. On his line, where pork shoulder is sliced, cutters still stand so close that they bump shoulders as they handle the meat, he said.
“It’s all day of that,” he said.
Smithfield Foods said workers outside the healthcare industry were not advised to wear face coverings until the CDC revised its guidelines on April 3. Overnight, the company faced the challenge of procuring masks and face shields at a time when supply chains were “stressed to the max.”
“We could not make these items materialize out of thin air. If we could, we certainly would,” the company’s statement said. “The suggestion that we were slow to react is simply not true and completely overlooks an inconvenient truth — supplies were not readily available.”
Vernon, an industrial city south of downtown L.A., has seen outbreaks at eight other food preparation plants, including meatpacking plants, a coffee company, a firm that produces frozen pizza, a packager of green tea and a bakery.
Many who work in Vernon live in southeast L.A. communities with high density, including Bell, Bell Gardens, Maywood and South Gate. Public health officials have said they are concerned about factory workers bringing the virus home to relatives and neighbors.


latimes--2020-05-25--California limits church capacity to 25% for reopening, adds other restrictions

The state of California released new coronavirus health guidance for religious services on Monday , saying houses of worship must limit total attendance to 25 % of a building ’ s capacity and stop passing around offering plates , in addition to taking other precautions .
The 13-page document , released by the California Department of Public Health and Cal/OSHA , does not obligate churches , mosques , temples and other houses of worship to resume in-person activity , officials said .
In fact , state health authorities strongly recommend that places of worship “ continue to facilitate remote services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are vulnerable to COVID19 including older adults and those with co-morbidities.
” California ’ s stay-at-home order , which is credited with slowing the spread of the coronavirus , has upended the economy and changed the lives of millions .
But it also has caused special pain for people of faith , who no longer can worship in person as churches and other religious institutions have been closed .
The religious aspect of the shutdown has been much debated , though the vast majority of houses of worship have willingly complied with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Still , some churches have filed lawsuits , and a few The state guidance not only covers religious services , but also the day-to-day operations of religious organizations that employ workers or enlist the service of volunteers .
The effect of the recommendations , however , will be most noticeable during religious ceremonies .
Among other things , congregants must be screened for fever or other symptoms of illness and are asked to use hand sanitizer and wear face coverings .
Overall attendance will be limited to just 25 % of building capacity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Also , the state has barred parishioners from passing offering plates or other items .
Houses of worship also have been told to discourage the sharing of items including prayer books , cushions and rugs .
Similarly , staff , visitors and congregants are discouraged from singing , holding potluck meals and shaking hands and hugging .
High-traffic areas , such as chapels and libraries , must be thoroughly cleaned , while common surfaces such as pulpits , pews , altars and donation boxes must be disinfected frequently .
The occupancy limit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first 21 days after a county health department has approved the resumption of religious services and cultural ceremonies within their jurisdiction , the guidance says .
After 21 days , the California Department of Public Health , in consultation with county health officials , will review and assess the effect of the imposed limits and provide further direction as part of a phased-in restoration of activities in places of worship .
Workers and volunteers for religious organizations must also wear masks “ at all facilities , in offices , when making home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or in a vehicle during work-related travel with others , ” the guidance said .
In a separate guidance released Monday , the state says that , subject to approval by county public health departments , all retail stores can reopen for in-store shopping under previously issued guidelines .
The existing guidance for retailers , which previously applied just to those counties approved for wider reopening , now applies statewide .
Retail can open for in-store shopping throughout California .
Retail does not include personal services such as hair salons , nail salons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came amid growing pressure on Gov .
Newsom to address their reopening .
On Friday , President Trump made an unexpected appearance in the White House briefing room to declare that he was designating so they could immediately reopen .
Trump previously said he would leave decisions about easing public health guidance to states but often criticized decisions by individual governors .
The president has now threatened that he will “ override ” states that don ’ t heed his directive .
It was not clear what authority he was referring to .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court of Appeals had on in-person church services .
The South Bay United Pentecostal Church in San Diego could not reopen immediately , the two judges in the majority wrote in their order , because in this case “ constitutional standards that would normally govern our review of a Free Exercise claim should not be applied.
” “ We ’ re dealing here with a highly contagious and often fatal disease for which there presently is no known cure .
In the words of Justice Robert Jackson , if a ' [ c @ @ @ @ @ @ @ logic with a little practical wisdom , it will convert the constitutional Bill of Rights into a suicide pact , ’ ” they wrote .
The decision came the same week more than in-person services on May 31 , Pentecost Sunday .
Nine cases of COVID-19 , the infection caused by the coronavirus , are now linked to held by the Assembly of God in the Mendocino County city of Redwood Valley .
The service was livestreamed to congregants and included singing , county public health officials said Friday .
In Butte County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be linked to a May 10 church service that was and drew more than 180 attendees , officials said .

Clergy celebrate Good Friday in a nearly empty Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in April.
The state of California released new coronavirus health guidance for religious services on Monday, saying houses of worship must limit total attendance to 25% of a building’s capacity and stop passing around offering plates, in addition to taking other precautions.
The 13-page document, released by the California Department of Public Health and Cal/OSHA, does not obligate churches, mosques, temples and other houses of worship to resume in-person activity, officials said.
For the record: This article incorrectly attributes a portion of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling. The article says the two judges in the majority wrote that the South Bay United Pentecostal Church in San Diego could not reopen immediately because in this case “constitutional standards that would normally govern our review of a Free Exercise claim should not be applied.” In fact, the passage was from a dissent by Judge Daniel Collins in which he quoted the state’s argument, then went on to say he disagreed with it.
In fact, state health authorities strongly recommend that places of worship “continue to facilitate remote services and other related activities for those who are vulnerable to COVID19 including older adults and those with co-morbidities.”
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California’s stay-at-home order, which is credited with slowing the spread of the coronavirus, has upended the economy and changed the lives of millions. But it also has caused special pain for people of faith, who no longer can worship in person as churches and other religious institutions have been closed.
The religious aspect of the shutdown has been much debated , though the vast majority of houses of worship have willingly complied with the rules to keep their members safe. Still, some churches have filed lawsuits, and a few have defied the order.
The state guidance not only covers religious services, but also the day-to-day operations of religious organizations that employ workers or enlist the service of volunteers. The effect of the recommendations, however, will be most noticeable during religious ceremonies.
Among other things, congregants should be screened for fever or other symptoms of illness and are asked to use hand sanitizer and wear face coverings. Overall attendance will be limited to just 25% of building capacity for the first three weeks of services. Also, the state has barred parishioners from passing offering plates or other items.
Houses of worship also have been told to discourage the sharing of items including prayer books, cushions and rugs. Similarly, staff, visitors and congregants are discouraged from singing, holding potluck meals and shaking hands and hugging.
Advertisement
High-traffic areas, such as chapels and libraries, must be thoroughly cleaned, while common surfaces such as pulpits, pews, altars and donation boxes must be disinfected frequently.
The occupancy limit for services will remain in place for the first 21 days after a county health department has approved the resumption of religious services and cultural ceremonies within their jurisdiction, the guidance says.
After 21 days, the California Department of Public Health, in consultation with county health officials, will review and assess the effect of the imposed limits and provide further direction as part of a phased-in restoration of activities in places of worship.
Workers and volunteers for religious organizations must also wear masks “at all facilities, in offices, when making home visits as part of providing services, or in a vehicle during work-related travel with others,” the guidance said.
In a separate guidance released Monday, the state says that, subject to approval by county public health departments, all retail stores can reopen for in-store shopping under previously issued guidelines.
The existing guidance for retailers, which previously applied just to those counties approved for wider reopening, now applies statewide. Retail can open for in-store shopping throughout California. Retail does not include personal services such as hair salons, nail salons and barbershops.
The rules on churches came amid growing pressure on Gov. Gavin Newsom to address their reopening.
On Friday, President Trump made an unexpected appearance in the White House briefing room to declare that he was designating churches as “essential” businesses so they could immediately reopen.
Trump previously said he would leave decisions about easing public health guidance to states but often criticized decisions by individual governors. The president has now threatened that he will “override” states that don’t heed his directive. It was not clear what authority he was referring to.
On Friday night, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals had upheld Newsom’s ban on in-person church services.
The South Bay United Pentecostal Church in San Diego could not reopen immediately, the two judges in the majority wrote in their order, because in this case “constitutional standards that would normally govern our review of a Free Exercise claim should not be applied.”
“We’re dealing here with a highly contagious and often fatal disease for which there presently is no known cure. In the words of Justice Robert Jackson, if a ‘[c]ourt does not temper its doctrinaire logic with a little practical wisdom, it will convert the constitutional Bill of Rights into a suicide pact,’” they wrote.
The decision came the same week more than 1,200 pastors vowed to hold in-person services on May 31, Pentecost Sunday.
Nine cases of COVID-19, the infection caused by the coronavirus, are now linked to the May 10 service held by the Assembly of God in the Mendocino County city of Redwood Valley. The service was livestreamed to congregants and included singing, county public health officials said Friday.
In Butte County, two coronavirus cases are now believed to be linked to a May 10 church service that was held despite county rules and drew more than 180 attendees, officials said.
Alex Wigglesworth contributed to this report.