latimes--2020-03-23--Column: 'It's just too much': Asian Americans confront xenophobia, economic devastation and the coro

Column: 'It's just too much': Asian Americans confront xenophobia, economic devastation and the coronavirus

It ’ s been a long week for all of us , so forgive me if I don ’ t have the energy to participate in a debate about whether President Trump calling the virus “ Chinese ” is racist .
Of course it is .
And it ’ s something we ’ ve all seen before , when Vincent Chin was murdered in 1982 during a recession that politicians blamed on Japan ; when Muslim Americans were targeted after 9/11 ; when the AIDS crisis was blamed on gay men ; when Japanese Americans were sent to incarceration camps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country faces an existential threat , fear looks for a target .
I ’ m weary of this debate because the harm to Asian Americans is already done , and what a pundit says will never change that .
Nor will yelling at Trump do any good — he has repeatedly shown throughout his presidency that he values his ego over the safety of the American people .
What we need to be talking about is how to protect people and neighborhoods from more economic and physical harm .
This epidemic threatens and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are all still trying to understand , but what ’ s increasingly clear is that the most permanent , drastic effects will be on the most vulnerable among us .
Asian American communities whose support systems have already been eroded by gentrification are fighting to protect their most vulnerable residents .
And for months , they ’ ve been suffering an economic slowdown fueled by misplaced xenophobic fear .
On Monday , I called community leaders in Chinatown .
Many Asian enclaves , like Chinatown , house large , low-income senior populations who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vulnerable to COVID-19 but least equipped to weather it .
In Chinatown , which houses more than 2,000 seniors in various living facilities , a longtime activist , King Cheung , says volunteers with the Chinatown Community for Equitable Development are trying to organize shopping runs for seniors .
Many of them lack internet access and speak dialects for which official information has not been translated , so volunteers have been knocking on doors and trying to get the word out .
Don Toy , another community leader , has been setting up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Manor , a senior living facility on Broadway .
He gets the news to seniors by making announcements over the building ’ s PA system .
It ’ s been tough persuading the seniors to stay at home because many define themselves by their routines .
Autonomy is something they ’ ve worked hard for , and some of them don ’ t have their families around to help , Toy said .
On Tuesday , I reached out to Kristin Fukushima , managing director of the Little Tokyo Community Council .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widespread move to working remotely has eliminated the weekday lunch crowd that many businesses rely on .
The council is trying to organize donations and deliveries of food , toilet paper and other materials to seniors in Little Tokyo Towers , Miyako Gardens and several other facilities .
Other volunteers are translating emergency information into Japanese and Korean and compiling a list of resources for small businesses as well as ways for people to support them .
When I see Fukushima and others working around the clock , leading Zoom calls with dozens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a.m. , I ’ m reminded that ethnic communities in Los Angeles have always relied on a human safety net made of people like Fukushima , Toy and Cheung .
That human safety net needs your support more than ever right now .
On Wednesday , a few hours after President Trump insisted on labeling the virus a Chinese virus in a news conference , I spoke with Jack Lee , whose son attends the fourth grade at a mostly white elementary school in Orange County .
During a basketball game , two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus .
Lee ’ s son said a curse word in response , and of the three children , he was punished by school authorities most harshly .
Lee was angry .
He wrote a long letter to the principal .
He made sure to tell his son that it was OK to defend himself .
He ’ s never had to talk with his son about race before .
His own parents , immigrants from Taiwan , never had to talk to him about it either .
But now he ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ I think there are some deeper conversations we ’ re going to need to have , ” Lee said .
On Thursday , I spoke with Andy Lam , part-owner of Alice ’ s Kitchen , a popular Hong Kong restaurant in Monterey Park .
Asian neighborhoods like those in the San Gabriel Valley have been experiencing slowdowns for several weeks already because media reports and public comments about the virus have repeatedly associated the coronavirus with Asian culture , food and identity .
Now , “ closed temporarily ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lease ” signs .
Lam , who worked for years in the restaurant supply business , said he knew of more than a dozen Chinese restaurants that had already closed .
He had to send most of his employees home , and he and two other co-owners of the restaurant are working the kitchen themselves to field the rare takeout order .
His friends are asking one another whether they should buy a gun .
The most stressful part is not knowing what the government will do next , Lam said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there ’ s nothing we can do , ” Lam said .
“ I can ’ t even tell you how long we will last.
” At the end of the day , I called my mother , who works at a hospital in Northern California .
I asked her to stay home , but her boss told her if she didn ’ t show up , she would lose her job .
At work , patients sometimes refuse to be seen by her , because suddenly an Asian woman in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday , I talked to Khinn Muy Ung , 52 , who worked as a dealer at Hollywood Park Casino until March 14 , when widespread quarantine measures were announced and she lost her job .
She ’ s not sure if she ’ ll have work when the restrictions lift .
On top of that , she lives in a building in Chinatown where for the last year landlords have been trying to evict a population of low-income seniors , mostly of Southeast Asian descent .
Volunteers from the Chinatown Community for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the landlord ’ s multimillion-dollar home in Brentwood last October .
The landlord sold the property , but the new landlord was no different .
And so in February , as officials announced the first confirmed cases of coronavirus in California , she received another 60-day notice to move out .
Ung said she had no place else to go .
Her family lives far away , and she can ’ t afford market rent for a one-bedroom apartment , especially now that she has no money coming in .
Her rice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ store , Ai Hoa , closed .
And she ’ s scared .
A few weeks ago , she was jogging in the park and a man followed her , shouting that she was Chinese and blaming her for bringing the virus to America .
“ I just pray to God .
Just let us live , ” Ung said .
“ Let us have peace .
I don ’ t understand what ’ s going on.
” Ung is a survivor who has dealt with fear and helplessness before , as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the 1970s .
She survived the long walk through the countryside to refugee camps in Thailand .
She ’ s dodged bullets and land mines and endured beatings and starvation .
But she doesn ’ t know how she ’ ll survive this .
A war you can run from , but eviction , layoffs , racism and a lethal new virus ?
“ It ’ s too much , Frank , ” Ung said .
“ It ’ s just too much.
” She ’ s crying now , and all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too , stuck here in my apartment , where I ’ ve been for two weeks , one self-quarantining man with a keyboard , working on an article that will either add to the noise or be drowned out by it .
I tell her I agree , it is too much , it ’ s not fair .
But there ’ s nothing else to say , so I don ’ t say anything , and for a minute , we ’ re just on the phone , crying together .

It’s been a long week for all of us, so forgive me if I don’t have the energy to participate in a debate about whether President Trump calling the virus “Chinese” is racist.
Of course it is. And it’s something we’ve all seen before, when Vincent Chin was murdered in 1982 during a recession that politicians blamed on Japan; when Muslim Americans were targeted after 9/11; when the AIDS crisis was blamed on gay men; when Japanese Americans were sent to incarceration camps during World War II. When this country faces an existential threat, fear looks for a target.
Advertisement
I’m weary of this debate because the harm to Asian Americans is already done, and what a pundit says will never change that. Nor will yelling at Trump do any good — he has repeatedly shown throughout his presidency that he values his ego over the safety of the American people.
What we need to be talking about is how to protect people and neighborhoods from more economic and physical harm. This epidemic threatens and affects all of us in ways we are all still trying to understand, but what’s increasingly clear is that the most permanent, drastic effects will be on the most vulnerable among us.
Asian American communities whose support systems have already been eroded by gentrification are fighting to protect their most vulnerable residents. And for months, they’ve been suffering an economic slowdown fueled by misplaced xenophobic fear.
On Monday, I called community leaders in Chinatown. Many Asian enclaves, like Chinatown, house large, low-income senior populations who are language-isolated — people who are most vulnerable to COVID-19 but least equipped to weather it.
Introducing our new podcast: Asian Enough “Asian Enough” is a podcast about being Asian American — with guests like John Cho, Lulu Wang, Mina Kimes, Margaret Cho and Padma Lakshmi.
In Chinatown, which houses more than 2,000 seniors in various living facilities, a longtime activist, King Cheung, says volunteers with the Chinatown Community for Equitable Development are trying to organize shopping runs for seniors. Many of them lack internet access and speak dialects for which official information has not been translated, so volunteers have been knocking on doors and trying to get the word out.
Advertisement
Don Toy, another community leader, has been setting up lunch orders for the residents of Cathay Manor, a senior living facility on Broadway. He gets the news to seniors by making announcements over the building’s PA system. It’s been tough persuading the seniors to stay at home because many define themselves by their routines. Autonomy is something they’ve worked hard for, and some of them don’t have their families around to help, Toy said.
On Tuesday, I reached out to Kristin Fukushima, managing director of the Little Tokyo Community Council.
In Little Tokyo, she said, the widespread move to working remotely has eliminated the weekday lunch crowd that many businesses rely on. The council is trying to organize donations and deliveries of food, toilet paper and other materials to seniors in Little Tokyo Towers, Miyako Gardens and several other facilities. Other volunteers are translating emergency information into Japanese and Korean and compiling a list of resources for small businesses as well as ways for people to support them.
When I see Fukushima and others working around the clock, leading Zoom calls with dozens of volunteers and sending emails at 3 a.m., I’m reminded that ethnic communities in Los Angeles have always relied on a human safety net made of people like Fukushima, Toy and Cheung. That human safety net needs your support more than ever right now.
On Wednesday, a few hours after President Trump insisted on labeling the virus a Chinese virus in a news conference, I spoke with Jack Lee, whose son attends the fourth grade at a mostly white elementary school in Orange County.
During a basketball game, two classmates accused his son of having the coronavirus. Lee’s son said a curse word in response, and of the three children, he was punished by school authorities most harshly.
Lee was angry. He wrote a long letter to the principal. He made sure to tell his son that it was OK to defend himself. He’s never had to talk with his son about race before. His own parents, immigrants from Taiwan, never had to talk to him about it either. But now he’s looking for the right words, Lee said.
“I think there are some deeper conversations we’re going to need to have,” Lee said.
On Thursday, I spoke with Andy Lam, part-owner of Alice’s Kitchen, a popular Hong Kong restaurant in Monterey Park. Asian neighborhoods like those in the San Gabriel Valley have been experiencing slowdowns for several weeks already because media reports and public comments about the virus have repeatedly associated the coronavirus with Asian culture, food and identity.
Now, “closed temporarily” signs are being replaced by “for lease” signs. Lam, who worked for years in the restaurant supply business, said he knew of more than a dozen Chinese restaurants that had already closed. He had to send most of his employees home, and he and two other co-owners of the restaurant are working the kitchen themselves to field the rare takeout order. His friends are asking one another whether they should buy a gun.
The most stressful part is not knowing what the government will do next, Lam said.
“If they order us to shut down, there’s nothing we can do,” Lam said. “I can’t even tell you how long we will last.”
At the end of the day, I called my mother, who works at a hospital in Northern California. I asked her to stay home, but her boss told her if she didn’t show up, she would lose her job. At work, patients sometimes refuse to be seen by her, because suddenly an Asian woman in a face mask is a threat.
On Friday, I talked to Khinn Muy Ung, 52, who worked as a dealer at Hollywood Park Casino until March 14, when widespread quarantine measures were announced and she lost her job. She’s not sure if she’ll have work when the restrictions lift.
On top of that, she lives in a building in Chinatown where for the last year landlords have been trying to evict a population of low-income seniors, mostly of Southeast Asian descent.
Volunteers from the Chinatown Community for Equitable Development organized the tenants to protest at the landlord’s multimillion-dollar home in Brentwood last October. The landlord sold the property, but the new landlord was no different.
And so in February, as officials announced the first confirmed cases of coronavirus in California, she received another 60-day notice to move out.
Ung said she had no place else to go. Her family lives far away, and she can’t afford market rent for a one-bedroom apartment, especially now that she has no money coming in. Her rice costs have doubled since her Chinatown grocery store, Ai Hoa, closed. And she’s scared. A few weeks ago, she was jogging in the park and a man followed her, shouting that she was Chinese and blaming her for bringing the virus to America.
“I just pray to God. Just let us live,” Ung said. “Let us have peace. I don’t understand what’s going on.”
Ung is a survivor who has dealt with fear and helplessness before, as a young girl in Cambodia during the genocide of the 1970s. She survived the long walk through the countryside to refugee camps in Thailand. She’s dodged bullets and land mines and endured beatings and starvation.
But she doesn’t know how she’ll survive this. A war you can run from, but eviction, layoffs, racism and a lethal new virus?
“It’s too much, Frank,” Ung said. “It’s just too much.”
She’s crying now, and all of a sudden I’m crying too, stuck here in my apartment, where I’ve been for two weeks, one self-quarantining man with a keyboard, working on an article that will either add to the noise or be drowned out by it.
I tell her I agree, it is too much, it’s not fair. But there’s nothing else to say, so I don’t say anything, and for a minute, we’re just on the phone, crying together.


latimes--2020-03-23--'This is serious.' Garcetti scolds L.A. for not staying home as coronavirus spreads

Mayor Eric Garcetti on Sunday admonished Angelenos who haven ’ t taken orders to practice social distancing seriously , announcing the closure of the city ’ s golf courses , parking lots at Venice Beach and organized group sports at city parks as they have continued to attract throngs of people .
“ This weekend we saw too many images of too many people crowding beaches or canyons beyond their capacity .
Too many people , too close together , too often , ” Garcetti said during his daily briefing on the impact of the novel coronavirus .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people will get sick , and the more people will die .
There ’ s no way to sugarcoat that.
” Starting Monday , parking lots near Venice Beach and the boardwalk will be closed , he said .
In Santa Monica , the city also decided to close its beach parking lots .
The measures build on Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s sweeping order , issued Thursday , urging Californians to stay home — with a few exceptions — and put distance between themselves and others to slow the spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which have closed most businesses in the city .
The Los Angeles County health officer Saturday night issued orders largely matching Garcetti ’ s , and in a press release said that golf courses were ordered shut .
The city of Los Angeles , which operates half a dozen golf courses , posted on Facebook at 6 a.m. Sunday announcing the closure of its golf courses .
“ It doesn ’ t mean it ’ s time to find another place to get together .
This is serious , ” Garcetti said on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There are no exceptions to that rule unless you are a first responder or a critical worker .
None.
” Also on Sunday , the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority said that it was closing all of its parks and trails , which include the parkland owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy .
Access roads and parking lots also will be closed .
Many were packed over the weekend , as people — eager to get out of the house and into the warm weather after days of rain — flocked to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have yet to close , Garcetti said that he will continue to work with the mayors of beach communities and county officials to assess whether they should stay open .
Asked by a reporter whether the city would hold residents accountable for breaking quarantine orders , Garcetti said that law enforcement officers will “ not be shy ” when it comes to approaching those who are seen doing so .
“ It is a misdemeanor , ” he said .
“ It is something we can enforce.
” Garcetti also announced an online @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to launch this week .
There will be an initial rollout of tests for “ the most vulnerable Angelenos , ” including those who are 65 or older and those with underlying health conditions , he said .
Residents who meet these criteria and also have experienced symptoms of COVID-19 will be directed to a local testing center , Garcetti said .
He did not specify how many tests will be available .
“ We ask for everybody ’ s patience as we ramp this up , ” he said .
“ Once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this [ testing ] capacity every single day as much as we can.
” To help cities in California beef up their response to the pandemic , President Trump on Sunday approved a request from Newsom to declare a major disaster and for the federal government to provide “ mass care , ” emergency aid , unemployment assistance and disaster legal services .
The president said the Federal Emergency Management Agency would ship mobile hospital units to California within the next 48 hours .
The state is in line to get eight of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2,000 beds .
The Navy hospital ship the USNS Mercy , which is based in San Diego , will be deployed to Los Angeles .
The ship can be stationed in the city in “ a week or less , ” FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor said .
Though its facilities will not be used to treat COVID-19 patients , it will accept patients with other medical issues in an attempt to relieve the burden on hospitals , Gaynor said .
Meanwhile , Garcetti urged L.A. residents with disposable income to donate to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which will help pay for child care for medical workers , grants for families and individuals who need financial assistance and meals for seniors .
Los Angeles County health officials on Sunday confirmed one more coronavirus death , bringing the total to five .
They also reported 71 new cases in the county , with the total now 409 .
There were 132 new cases reported over the weekend .
The number of coronavirus deaths statewide stands at 30 .
Nevertheless , many L.A. County residents on Sunday behaved as if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic or subject to strict quarantine measures .
At Long Beach ’ s sun-drenched San Junipero Beach , groups of basketball players used all three hoops .
Men did pull-ups on the outdoor exercise machines and women exercised on the grass while bikers , joggers and in-line skaters flitted past .
A family of three , all wearing masks , took a walk along the shore .
A lone fisherman waded knee-deep in the water with his family nearby .
When he felt a tug , he called two children nearby to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the family , gathered to see the spectacle up close .
Besides the occasional mask and glove-wearer , it seemed to be a normal Sunday , despite numerous countywide and citywide orders to stay indoors .
Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia expressed frustration at his fellow residents for not following his guidance .
“ Seriously people , you need to practice social distancing , ” he tweeted on Friday .
“ I am seeing tons of people out there acting like there ’ s no crisis , ” He wrote on his personal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Garcia announced the closure of Long Beach ’ s public basketball , tennis and volleyball courts , as well as its dog parks , playgrounds and skate parks .
Earlier in the weekend , many insisted that they needed time outdoors in order to maintain their sanity .
Clifford Aquino and Ryan Castro , both 28 , couldn ’ t go to their gyms in Cerritos , as they had closed under government orders .
So they decided to go to Long Beach instead , where there are plenty of outdoor gyms and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only Day Two , ” Castro said .
“ It sucks.
” “ It does suck , but you have to find different ways to stay active , ” Aquino replied .
Aquino said he feels safe using the machines because he ’ s able to keep a safe distance from others .
If one area is too busy , he finds another , he said .
He wipes down each machine with a Lysol wipe before using it .
At the Home Depot in Paramount on Sunday , there was no shortage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The lot was packed with shoppers eager to take on home renovation projects while they stay indoors .
Day laborers stood around , hoping to land a job .
Some approached shoppers , asking if they wanted help .
Under Newsom ’ s orders , Californians are still permitted to visit hardware stores , which are considered essential businesses along with grocery stores and cannabis dispensaries .
Shoppers picked up and examined vegetable plants and fruit trees in the garden center .
They stood in narrow lines just inches apart from one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , nearly every aisle was bustling .
Elvis Smith , 44 , was in search of a wall heater to install at his South L.A. home .
He wore a paint respirator and black latex gloves .
Smith said he was surprised to see so many people at the store , many of whom were not practicing social distancing .
“ This is why I ’ m wearing this , ” he said of his respirator .
“ I don ’ t want to be standing next to someone who sneezes and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beach , worshipers gathered by a white statue of the Virgin Mary outside the Sagely Monastery on Ocean Boulevard .
Donald Armstrong , 72 , wore a surgical mask as he sat in a folding chair away from the mass of people .
He didn ’ t touch or even stand near the statue for fear of contracting the virus .
He knew of the state and local orders to remain indoors , but he wanted to come and see the Virgin Mary , which he has done occasionally for seven years .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ remove face masks to kiss the statue .
He knows that they ’ re doing so because they believe it will protect them , but he doesn ’ t think it ’ s a good time for such rituals .
“ It ’ s great to have a strong faith like that , ” Armstrong said .
“ But I still believe God has given people common sense .
These people are taking a risk.
” Times staff writers Patrick McGreevy and David Lauter contributed to this report .

Alejandra Reyes-Velarde, Ruben Vives, Laura Newberry

Golfers wait to start at the first hole at Roosevelt Golf Course in Griffith Park. Mayor Garcetti on Sunday admonished Angelenos who haven’t taken orders to practice social distancing seriously, announcing the closure of the city’s golf courses, parking lots at Venice Beach and organized group sports at city parks.
Mayor Eric Garcetti on Sunday admonished Angelenos who haven’t taken orders to practice social distancing seriously, announcing the closure of the city’s golf courses, parking lots at Venice Beach and organized group sports at city parks as they have continued to attract throngs of people.
“This weekend we saw too many images of too many people crowding beaches or canyons beyond their capacity. Too many people, too close together, too often,” Garcetti said during his daily briefing on the impact of the novel coronavirus. “The longer we do that, the more people will get sick, and the more people will die. There’s no way to sugarcoat that.”
Starting Monday, parking lots near Venice Beach and the boardwalk will be closed, he said. In Santa Monica, the city also decided to close its beach parking lots.
The measures build on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s sweeping order, issued Thursday, urging Californians to stay home — with a few exceptions — and put distance between themselves and others to slow the spread of COVID-19. Garcetti issued similar orders, which have closed most businesses in the city.
Advertisement
The Los Angeles County health officer Saturday night issued orders largely matching Garcetti’s, and in a press release said that golf courses were ordered shut. The city of Los Angeles, which operates half a dozen golf courses, posted on Facebook at 6 a.m. Sunday announcing the closure of its golf courses.
“It doesn’t mean it’s time to find another place to get together. This is serious,” Garcetti said on Sunday. “Six feet matters. There are no exceptions to that rule unless you are a first responder or a critical worker. None.”
Also on Sunday, the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority said that it was closing all of its parks and trails, which include the parkland owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. Access roads and parking lots also will be closed. Many were packed over the weekend, as people — eager to get out of the house and into the warm weather after days of rain — flocked to the outdoor destinations.
While L.A. beaches have yet to close, Garcetti said that he will continue to work with the mayors of beach communities and county officials to assess whether they should stay open.
Asked by a reporter whether the city would hold residents accountable for breaking quarantine orders, Garcetti said that law enforcement officers will “not be shy” when it comes to approaching those who are seen doing so.
Advertisement
“It is a misdemeanor,” he said. “It is something we can enforce.”
Garcetti also announced an online portal for COVID-19 testing that is set to launch this week. There will be an initial rollout of tests for “the most vulnerable Angelenos,” including those who are 65 or older and those with underlying health conditions, he said.
Residents who meet these criteria and also have experienced symptoms of COVID-19 will be directed to a local testing center, Garcetti said. He did not specify how many tests will be available.
“We ask for everybody’s patience as we ramp this up,” he said. “Once we do, I hope to expand this [testing] capacity every single day as much as we can.”
To help cities in California beef up their response to the pandemic, President Trump on Sunday approved a request from Newsom to declare a major disaster and for the federal government to provide “mass care,” emergency aid, unemployment assistance and disaster legal services.
The president said the Federal Emergency Management Agency would ship mobile hospital units to California within the next 48 hours. The state is in line to get eight of these units, for a total of 2,000 beds.
The Navy hospital ship the USNS Mercy, which is based in San Diego, will be deployed to Los Angeles. The ship can be stationed in the city in “a week or less,” FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor said. Though its facilities will not be used to treat COVID-19 patients, it will accept patients with other medical issues in an attempt to relieve the burden on hospitals, Gaynor said.
Meanwhile, Garcetti urged L.A. residents with disposable income to donate to the city’s emergency crisis response fund, which will help pay for child care for medical workers, grants for families and individuals who need financial assistance and meals for seniors.
Los Angeles County health officials on Sunday confirmed one more coronavirus death, bringing the total to five. They also reported 71 new cases in the county, with the total now 409. There were 132 new cases reported over the weekend.
The number of coronavirus deaths statewide stands at 30.
Nevertheless, many L.A. County residents on Sunday behaved as if they weren’t living amid a global pandemic or subject to strict quarantine measures.
At Long Beach’s sun-drenched San Junipero Beach, groups of basketball players used all three hoops. Men did pull-ups on the outdoor exercise machines and women exercised on the grass while bikers, joggers and in-line skaters flitted past.
A family of three, all wearing masks, took a walk along the shore. A lone fisherman waded knee-deep in the water with his family nearby. When he felt a tug, he called two children nearby to help pull the line. Strangers, including the family, gathered to see the spectacle up close.
Besides the occasional mask and glove-wearer, it seemed to be a normal Sunday, despite numerous countywide and citywide orders to stay indoors.
Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia expressed frustration at his fellow residents for not following his guidance.
“Seriously people, you need to practice social distancing,” he tweeted on Friday. “I am seeing tons of people out there acting like there’s no crisis,” He wrote on his personal Twitter page.
On Sunday night, Garcia announced the closure of Long Beach’s public basketball, tennis and volleyball courts, as well as its dog parks, playgrounds and skate parks.
Earlier in the weekend, many insisted that they needed time outdoors in order to maintain their sanity.
Clifford Aquino and Ryan Castro, both 28, couldn’t go to their gyms in Cerritos, as they had closed under government orders. So they decided to go to Long Beach instead, where there are plenty of outdoor gyms and paths for running.
“This is only Day Two,” Castro said. “It sucks.”
“It does suck, but you have to find different ways to stay active,” Aquino replied.
Aquino said he feels safe using the machines because he’s able to keep a safe distance from others. If one area is too busy, he finds another, he said. He wipes down each machine with a Lysol wipe before using it.
At the Home Depot in Paramount on Sunday, there was no shortage of hardware items — just parking spaces.
The lot was packed with shoppers eager to take on home renovation projects while they stay indoors. Day laborers stood around, hoping to land a job. Some approached shoppers, asking if they wanted help.
Under Newsom’s orders, Californians are still permitted to visit hardware stores, which are considered essential businesses along with grocery stores and cannabis dispensaries.
Shoppers picked up and examined vegetable plants and fruit trees in the garden center. They stood in narrow lines just inches apart from one another, waiting to pay. Inside, nearly every aisle was bustling.
Elvis Smith, 44, was in search of a wall heater to install at his South L.A. home. He wore a paint respirator and black latex gloves.
Smith said he was surprised to see so many people at the store, many of whom were not practicing social distancing.
“This is why I’m wearing this,” he said of his respirator. “I don’t want to be standing next to someone who sneezes and I may get it.”
Back in Long Beach, worshipers gathered by a white statue of the Virgin Mary outside the Sagely Monastery on Ocean Boulevard.
Donald Armstrong, 72, wore a surgical mask as he sat in a folding chair away from the mass of people. He didn’t touch or even stand near the statue for fear of contracting the virus.
He knew of the state and local orders to remain indoors, but he wanted to come and see the Virgin Mary, which he has done occasionally for seven years.
Armstrong said he has watched some people remove face masks to kiss the statue. He knows that they’re doing so because they believe it will protect them, but he doesn’t think it’s a good time for such rituals.
“It’s great to have a strong faith like that,” Armstrong said. “But I still believe God has given people common sense. These people are taking a risk.”
Times staff writers Patrick McGreevy and David Lauter contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-03-23--Column: Biden is right to pick a woman for vice president. Now he has to make the right choice

Joe Biden made a smart move by promising to choose a woman as his running mate .
Next he needs to be smart again and choose the right woman .
Pledging to select a female vice president was smart because it ’ s the right thing to do .
America , supposedly the land of equal opportunity , should have elected a woman president long ago .
The veep spot is just one step away .
The right thing isn ’ t always the smart thing politically .
But in this case it was for the Democratic front-runner .
Assuming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominee , the right female running mate should help the ticket appeal to swing-vote suburban women in battleground states he must carry to oust President Trump in November .
Moreover , by promising unequivocally to select a woman , the former vice president will avoid a heap of pressure to do just that leading up to the party ’ s nominating convention in July .
With the issue off the board , it won ’ t distract him from his main message of anti-Trump , steady-handed , moderate pragmatism .
But it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a running mate who isn ’ t a campaign liability or distraction .
He needs someone who will help the ticket attract voters , or at least not drive them away .
For more than a year , California Sen. Kamala Harris , 55 , has been on the short list of speculators ’ VP contenders .
But selecting her might not be the smartest play .
Biden commented after Harris gave up her own presidential bid in December that he would consider the senator for “ anything she was interested in , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a woman of color could excite the Democratic base — something Biden , 77 , doesn ’ t do .
He has all but clinched the nomination because Democrats consider him the most likely candidate to beat Trump , the quality they deem most important , polls show .
Harris , who is black , would be the first woman of color ever nominated for vice president by a major political party .
A Biden-Harris ticket would reflect the growing diversity of Democratic voters .
Those are the upsides .
They ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harris ’ selection by Biden would look too cynical , too blatantly political to many voters .
Moreover , a running mate should be able to deliver her home state for the ticket .
Harris isn ’ t needed for that .
California ’ s 55 electoral votes — roughly 20 % of the total required to win the presidency — are in the bag for any Democrat .
Anyway , she didn ’ t exhibit much lasting appeal as a presidential candidate , even among voters of color in her own state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the Public Policy Institute of California found Harris was the first choice for only 9 % of home state Latinos and 9 % of other ethnicities , mostly black and Asian voters .
Biden was supported by 27 % of Latinos and 20 % of other non-white voters .
Biden doesn ’ t need a running mate ’ s help to win over black voters .
They have been his strength .
Harris also didn ’ t exactly compile a stellar record as state attorney general .
She was risk-averse — for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballot propositions to abolish capital punishment and one to speed up executions , despite her professed career-long opposition to the death penalty .
The two abolition measures failed and the proposal to expedite executions passed .
Her risk-averse trait carried over onto the presidential campaign trail where she often stumbled , most notably in wavering awkwardly on universal healthcare .
This was despite aggressive , prosecutorial rhetoric .
But if Biden did choose Harris and they were elected , it would significantly alter California ’ s political landscape .
Harris would automatically become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gavin Newsom ’ s long-range White House ambitions .
But in the short term , Newsom would reap a political bonanza .
The governor would choose Harris ’ Senate successor .
Whom would he reward ?
There ’ s a long list of quality Democratic options : State Atty .
Gen. Xavier Becerra , a former congressman from Los Angeles ; U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff of Burbank , who led the House impeachment of Trump ; Secretary of State Alex Padilla ; Lt. Gov .
Eleni Kounalakis ... Or Newsom could grab the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appointed by the new governor , Kounalakis .
It ’ s doubtful he would do that .
If Newsom named a statewide official , he could also choose that person ’ s replacement and control a game of musical chairs .
But we ’ re getting way ahead of ourselves .
Biden has other women of color he could consider , including two Western Latinas : Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto , 55 , has a résumé similar to Harris ’ — she is a former state attorney general and first-term senator .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 60 , is a former U.S. House member .
Stacey Abrams , 46 , who is black , narrowly lost a 2018 race for Georgia governor and is frequently mentioned as a potential VP .
Get serious .
Maybe someday , but so far the highest office she has won is state legislator .
Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer , 48 , is impressive .
And she could deliver a vital state that Hillary Clinton lost to Trump four years ago .
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren , 70 ?
Too far left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Amy Klobuchar , 59 , could have broad appeal in the Midwest and assure victory in her home state , which supported Clinton only narrowly in 2016 .
Her presidential race never gained traction , but she ’ s smart , experienced , articulate , upbeat and her moderate ideology would be acceptable in battleground states .
She ’ s in sync with Biden politically .
Right now , Biden ’ s smartest choice seems to be Klobuchar .

California Sen. Kamala Harris, left, speaks as New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, right, and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer listen during a Joe Biden campaign rally at Renaissance High School in Detroit. Harris and Whitmer have been floated as potential vice presidential picks for Biden.
Joe Biden made a smart move by promising to choose a woman as his running mate. Next he needs to be smart again and choose the right woman.
Pledging to select a female vice president was smart because it’s the right thing to do. America, supposedly the land of equal opportunity, should have elected a woman president long ago. The veep spot is just one step away.
The right thing isn’t always the smart thing politically. But in this case it was for the Democratic front-runner. Assuming Biden becomes the party’s presidential nominee, the right female running mate should help the ticket appeal to swing-vote suburban women in battleground states he must carry to oust President Trump in November.
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Moreover, by promising unequivocally to select a woman, the former vice president will avoid a heap of pressure to do just that leading up to the party’s nominating convention in July. With the issue off the board, it won’t distract him from his main message of anti-Trump, steady-handed, moderate pragmatism.
But it’s vital for Biden that he select a running mate who isn’t a campaign liability or distraction. He needs someone who will help the ticket attract voters, or at least not drive them away.
For more than a year, California Sen. Kamala Harris, 55, has been on the short list of speculators’ VP contenders. But selecting her might not be the smartest play.
Biden commented after Harris gave up her own presidential bid in December that he would consider the senator for “anything she was interested in,” including the vice presidency.
Selecting a woman of color could excite the Democratic base — something Biden, 77, doesn’t do. He has all but clinched the nomination because Democrats consider him the most likely candidate to beat Trump, the quality they deem most important, polls show.
Harris, who is black, would be the first woman of color ever nominated for vice president by a major political party. A Biden-Harris ticket would reflect the growing diversity of Democratic voters.
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Those are the upsides. They’re outweighed by downsides.
For starters, Harris’ selection by Biden would look too cynical, too blatantly political to many voters.
Moreover, a running mate should be able to deliver her home state for the ticket. Harris isn’t needed for that. California’s 55 electoral votes — roughly 20% of the total required to win the presidency — are in the bag for any Democrat.
Anyway, she didn’t exhibit much lasting appeal as a presidential candidate, even among voters of color in her own state.
A November poll of likely voters by the Public Policy Institute of California found Harris was the first choice for only 9% of home state Latinos and 9% of other ethnicities, mostly black and Asian voters. Biden was supported by 27% of Latinos and 20% of other non-white voters.
Biden doesn’t need a running mate’s help to win over black voters. They have been his strength.
Harris also didn’t exactly compile a stellar record as state attorney general. She was risk-averse — for example, not taking positions on two ballot propositions to abolish capital punishment and one to speed up executions, despite her professed career-long opposition to the death penalty. The two abolition measures failed and the proposal to expedite executions passed.
Her risk-averse trait carried over onto the presidential campaign trail where she often stumbled, most notably in wavering awkwardly on universal healthcare. This was despite aggressive, prosecutorial rhetoric.
But if Biden did choose Harris and they were elected, it would significantly alter California’s political landscape.
Harris would automatically become a potential president, stymieing Gov. Gavin Newsom’s long-range White House ambitions. But in the short term, Newsom would reap a political bonanza. The governor would choose Harris’ Senate successor.
Whom would he reward? There’s a long list of quality Democratic options: State Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra, a former congressman from Los Angeles; U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff of Burbank, who led the House impeachment of Trump; Secretary of State Alex Padilla; Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis ...
Or Newsom could grab the Senate seat himself by resigning and being appointed by the new governor, Kounalakis. It’s doubtful he would do that.
If Newsom named a statewide official, he could also choose that person’s replacement and control a game of musical chairs.
But we’re getting way ahead of ourselves.
Biden has other women of color he could consider, including two Western Latinas: Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, 55, has a résumé similar to Harris’ — she is a former state attorney general and first-term senator. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, 60, is a former U.S. House member.
Stacey Abrams, 46, who is black, narrowly lost a 2018 race for Georgia governor and is frequently mentioned as a potential VP. Get serious. Maybe someday, but so far the highest office she has won is state legislator.
Some other women:
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, 48, is impressive. And she could deliver a vital state that Hillary Clinton lost to Trump four years ago.
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, 70? Too far left. Not a good fit.
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, 59, could have broad appeal in the Midwest and assure victory in her home state, which supported Clinton only narrowly in 2016. Her presidential race never gained traction, but she’s smart, experienced, articulate, upbeat and her moderate ideology would be acceptable in battleground states. She’s in sync with Biden politically.
Right now, Biden’s smartest choice seems to be Klobuchar.


latimes--2020-03-24--Health or a paycheck? Coronavirus forces some L.A. workers to choose

Teresa Trejo has spent the last two decades shuttling between jobs at the L.A. Convention Center and Dodger Stadium .
Her work as a barista and a bartender serves as the main source of income for her family , which includes her 7-year-old son , whose fears around the coronavirus have steadily grown .
For Trejo , 46 , the effects of the outbreak hit swiftly two weeks ago , when both her workplaces shuttered and her hours were cut indefinitely , forcing her to file for unemployment .
Like other Americans who don ’ t have the luxury of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the virus will disproportionately affect those whose livelihoods depend on daily human interaction .
“ This is the first time in my life that I literally have no work , and I don ’ t know when I ’ m going back , ” she said .
Trejo ’ s family has some money in savings , but she doesn ’ t know how long that will last .
She ’ s hopeful that her union can assist .
Trejo , a lifelong Angeleno , and her family live in Inglewood , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County ’ s implementation of a retroactive moratorium on no-fault evictions for residential and commercial buildings .
The measure is one of many meant to help alleviate the financial burden that the effects of the coronavirus outbreak will cause .
But for the immediate future , anxiety reigns .
Shows that were planned months in advance at downtown L.A. 's Convention Center have been canceled or suspended — a decision that creates a ripple effect on organizers , participants , vendors and workers like Trejo .
And with Major League Baseball delaying the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least two weeks , it ’ s unclear when Dodger Stadium will reopen .
“ I don ’ t feel secure .
I don ’ t know for how long I ’ ll be able to survive.
” While workers like Trejo are losing jobs and hours , others face a different , dire challenge : Show up to work , but risk your health .
Laura Pozos , 58 , has worked at a McDonald ’ s in East Los Angeles for four years , her only source of income to provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she ’ s also tasked with cleaning the restrooms .
Although she has been told to wash her hands after returning to the kitchen , gloves are not always provided , she said .
The restaurant directed questions to corporate McDonald ’ s , which was not immediately available for comment .
Last week , President Trump referred to fast-food employees as essential workers , as more Americans turn to at-home food delivery and fast-food options .
But a number of McDonald ’ s workers across the country , including Pozos , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect employees as fears over the virus grow .
Cooks and cashiers at two corporate McDonald ’ s stores in San Jose and Los Angeles went on strike last week after hours were cut and demands for health and safety protections , like supplying gloves and sanitizers , allegedly went ignored , the Fight for 15 group advocating for workers ’ protections said in a statement .
In a statement Friday , McDonald ’ s USA President Joe Erlinger said the company was working with franchisees to implement “ additional precautionary measures to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crew and communities.
” That includes an increase of surface cleaning and sanitizing throughout the restaurant , Erlinger said .
In addition to the potential of lost wages , Pozos said her biggest fear is coming into contact with someone who may have the virus , contracting it herself and then passing it onto her family .
“ What would happen to the rest of us ?
” Many who fear for their health on the job must rely on their own judgment to protect themselves .
Linda Valdivia , a driver for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Los Angeles International Airport — a hotbed for potential risk .
As fears over the coronavirus have escalated in recent weeks , Valdivia hasn ’ t considered stopping work ; her ride fares are the sole source of her income , which often requires her to put in long hours .
She ’ s focused on how to protect herself , and her passengers , by purchasing disinfectant creams , wipes and sprays to clean her backseat .
The purchases come out of her own pocket , and aren ’ t reimbursed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ d rather spend money than put herself in danger .
“ We ’ re taking extreme precautions every time we give a ride to a passenger , ” she said , as Lyft and Uber drivers throughout the country continue to demand better protections .
“ It ’ s not a secret we ’ re at a higher risk.
” Labor analysts say that , by straining the economy , the virus is exposing how vulnerable many workers are , and not only those who live paycheck to paycheck .
“ It really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and how close to the bone everything is for people up and down the line , ” said Toby Higbie , a professor of labor studies at UCLA .
“ That work is not equally distributed across races and gender , ” Higbie added , stressing that it is often women and people of color who are most likely to bear the burden .
Three weeks before the president advised Americans to stay home as the coronavirus spread throughout the nation , and before Californians were explicitly instructed to do so , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a question to the public for the first time : What would it be like if you couldn ’ t go to work or school ?
How would you prepare for a life interrupted ?
But those questions hinged on people ’ s ability to telecommute in order to keep working and to carry on with life .
In the days before a new reality set in , workers who could not afford to stay home were seemingly exempt from the conversation and directives from on high .
A conducted March 13 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 18 % of adults surveyed already had been laid off or seen a reduction in work hours .
Among households earning less than $ 50,000 , 25 % saw hours cut or a job loss .
In California , Gov .
Gavin Newsom said the number of individuals filing for unemployment insurance had reached 80,000 in one day last week , an exponential increase from the previous daily average of roughly 2,000 .
Higbie points to the Great Depression of the 1930s and the Great Recession of 2008 as examples of major social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later by those who live “ closer to the edge.
” “ The only way out is solidarity , ” he said .
Workers throughout the county have launched GoFundMe pages to raise funds for fellow employees as hours dwindle and wages subside .
Before L.A. County ’ s directives to close all nonessential businesses , local bookstore workers in Pasadena , Silver Lake and West Hollywood banded together to raise funds while employees took part in a sick-out , refraining from work in order to protect their health .
David Thomas , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he can rely on his parents for support if the company won ’ t give him sick leave .
But he worries for others .
“ Other people have to pay rent , they have bills .
We ’ re hoping that the store continues to support us if it does close down , ” he said .
In other instances , families are shouldering the totality of the burden together .
Yamilech Trujillo , 21 , works at the front desk of a hotel in downtown Los Angeles .
Her mom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a bartender at a restaurant .
Her entire household is facing a total loss in wages .
Trujillo says that the occupancy rate at the hotel has gone down considerably , and she and her coworkers ’ hours have been cut significantly .
Still , she ’ s trying to stay positive , and has been bolstered by the efforts of her union , Unite Here Local 11 , which has coordinated workshops to educate those who are facing unemployment .
“ It ’ s a lot to take in , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Teresa Trejo filed for unemployment for the first time in her life after she lost hours from the L.A. Convention Center and Dodger Stadium.
Teresa Trejo has spent the last two decades shuttling between jobs at the L.A. Convention Center and Dodger Stadium. Her work as a barista and a bartender serves as the main source of income for her family, which includes her 7-year-old son, whose fears around the coronavirus have steadily grown.
For Trejo, 46, the effects of the outbreak hit swiftly two weeks ago, when both her workplaces shuttered and her hours were cut indefinitely, forcing her to file for unemployment. Like other Americans who don’t have the luxury of a work-from-home option, Trejo is finding that the virus will disproportionately affect those whose livelihoods depend on daily human interaction.
“This is the first time in my life that I literally have no work, and I don’t know when I’m going back,” she said. Trejo’s family has some money in savings, but she doesn’t know how long that will last. She’s hopeful that her union can assist.
Trejo, a lifelong Angeleno, and her family live in Inglewood, a city that falls under Los Angeles County’s implementation of a retroactive moratorium on no-fault evictions for residential and commercial buildings. The measure is one of many meant to help alleviate the financial burden that the effects of the coronavirus outbreak will cause.
“I don’t feel secure. I don’t know for how long I’ll be able to survive.” — Teresa Trejo
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But for the immediate future, anxiety reigns. Shows that were planned months in advance at downtown L.A.’s Convention Center have been canceled or suspended — a decision that creates a ripple effect on organizers, participants, vendors and workers like Trejo. And with Major League Baseball delaying the start of the 2020 season for at least two weeks, it’s unclear when Dodger Stadium will reopen.
“I don’t feel secure. I don’t know for how long I’ll be able to survive.”
Tracking the coronavirus in California The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in California.
While workers like Trejo are losing jobs and hours, others face a different, dire challenge: Show up to work, but risk your health.
Laura Pozos, 58, has worked at a McDonald’s in East Los Angeles for four years, her only source of income to provide for her two children.
At times, she’s also tasked with cleaning the restrooms. Although she has been told to wash her hands after returning to the kitchen, gloves are not always provided, she said. The restaurant directed questions to corporate McDonald’s, which was not immediately available for comment.
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Last week, President Trump referred to fast-food employees as essential workers, as more Americans turn to at-home food delivery and fast-food options.
But a number of McDonald’s workers across the country, including Pozos, believe the company has done little to protect employees as fears over the virus grow.
Cooks and cashiers at two corporate McDonald’s stores in San Jose and Los Angeles went on strike last week after hours were cut and demands for health and safety protections, like supplying gloves and sanitizers, allegedly went ignored, the Fight for 15 group advocating for workers’ protections said in a statement.
In a statement Friday, McDonald’s USA President Joe Erlinger said the company was working with franchisees to implement “additional precautionary measures to safeguard the well-being of our customers, crew and communities.”
That includes an increase of surface cleaning and sanitizing throughout the restaurant, Erlinger said.
In addition to the potential of lost wages, Pozos said her biggest fear is coming into contact with someone who may have the virus, contracting it herself and then passing it onto her family.
“What would happen to the rest of us?”
Many who fear for their health on the job must rely on their own judgment to protect themselves.
Linda Valdivia, a driver for Uber, often provides rides to and from Los Angeles International Airport — a hotbed for potential risk.
As fears over the coronavirus have escalated in recent weeks, Valdivia hasn’t considered stopping work; her ride fares are the sole source of her income, which often requires her to put in long hours. She’s focused on how to protect herself, and her passengers, by purchasing disinfectant creams, wipes and sprays to clean her backseat.
The purchases come out of her own pocket, and aren’t reimbursed by the company. But she’d rather spend money than put herself in danger.
“We’re taking extreme precautions every time we give a ride to a passenger,” she said, as Lyft and Uber drivers throughout the country continue to demand better protections. “It’s not a secret we’re at a higher risk.”
A worker stocks items at Northgate Gonzalez Market in Los Angeles on March 19. (Getty Images)
Labor analysts say that, by straining the economy, the virus is exposing how vulnerable many workers are, and not only those who live paycheck to paycheck.
“It really shows how little social safety net exists and how close to the bone everything is for people up and down the line,” said Toby Higbie, a professor of labor studies at UCLA.
“That work is not equally distributed across races and gender,” Higbie added, stressing that it is often women and people of color who are most likely to bear the burden.
Three weeks before the president advised Americans to stay home as the coronavirus spread throughout the nation, and before Californians were explicitly instructed to do so, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posed a question to the public for the first time: What would it be like if you couldn’t go to work or school? How would you prepare for a life interrupted?
But those questions hinged on people’s ability to telecommute in order to keep working and to carry on with life. In the days before a new reality set in, workers who could not afford to stay home were seemingly exempt from the conversation and directives from on high.
A Marist poll conducted March 13 and 14 for NPR and PBS found that 18% of adults surveyed already had been laid off or seen a reduction in work hours. Among households earning less than $50,000, 25% saw hours cut or a job loss.
In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom said the number of individuals filing for unemployment insurance had reached 80,000 in one day last week, an exponential increase from the previous daily average of roughly 2,000.
“The only way out is solidarity.” — Toby Higbie, labor studies professor at UCLA
Higbie points to the Great Depression of the 1930s and the Great Recession of 2008 as examples of major social disruptions that continued to be felt years later by those who live “closer to the edge.”
“The only way out is solidarity,” he said.
Workers throughout the county have launched GoFundMe pages to raise funds for fellow employees as hours dwindle and wages subside. Before L.A. County’s directives to close all nonessential businesses, local bookstore workers in Pasadena, Silver Lake and West Hollywood banded together to raise funds while employees took part in a sick-out, refraining from work in order to protect their health.
David Thomas, one of those bookstore employees, said that he can rely on his parents for support if the company won’t give him sick leave. But he worries for others.
“Other people have to pay rent, they have bills. We’re hoping that the store continues to support us if it does close down,” he said.
In other instances, families are shouldering the totality of the burden together.
Yamilech Trujillo, 21, works at the front desk of a hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Her mom is a housekeeper there and her stepfather is a bartender at a restaurant. Her entire household is facing a total loss in wages.
Trujillo says that the occupancy rate at the hotel has gone down considerably, and she and her coworkers’ hours have been cut significantly. Still, she’s trying to stay positive, and has been bolstered by the efforts of her union, Unite Here Local 11, which has coordinated workshops to educate those who are facing unemployment.
“It’s a lot to take in, but we have to not panic.”


latimes--2020-03-23--Coronavirus: All California trials delayed; L.A. County courts close to the public

Criminal and civil trials were discontinued in California for at least two months after a sweeping order was issued late Monday by the state ’ s chief justice that aims to sharply cut down public traffic in state courthouses during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye said in her order that court facilities were “ ill-equipped to effectively allow the social distancing and other public health requirements ” that have been imposed across California to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus .
“ Even if court facilities could allow for sufficient social distancing , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employees , litigants , witnesses , and potential jurors can not leave their homes to attend court proceedings because they must stay home to supervise their children , ” Cantil-Sakauye said in the order .
The 60-day delay — which puts the courts in California ’ s 58 counties on a uniform trial delay schedule — came the same day that the presiding judge of Los Angeles Superior Court , Kevin C. Brazile , blocked public access to county courthouses except for attorneys , staff , defendants and “ authorized persons , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The clerk ’ s office will still be available to accept filings and assist people by phone or electronically .
Brazile also indefinitely closed courthouses in Beverly Hills , Catalina Island , and the civil courthouse on Spring Street in downtown Los Angeles .
And his order sought to sharply reduce the number of cases that require defendants and their attorneys to appear for incremental developments .
All progress reports and status reports for pending criminal matters , for example , were pushed back an additional 90 days , and misdemeanor cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were also delayed 90 days .
Brazile also said it was a priority for judges to hold bail hearings for those awaiting trial in county jail .
Brazile ’ s updated order was issued after unions representing a wide range of courthouse staff , including public defenders , deputy district attorneys and interpreters , pleaded with him to implement measures to reduce the spread of the virus in their workplace .
The unions sent a scathing letter on March 19 that asked for people entering the county ’ s courthouses to be screened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The unions also asked for improved social distancing protocols and a reduction in the types of court proceedings allowed to take place during the pandemic .
When the courts reopened Friday after a three-day shutdown , many attorneys shared photos of long lines to enter the Metropolitan Courthouse , which handles a large swath of misdemeanor cases , and complained of cramped conditions and a lack of available hand sanitizer .
Michele Hanisee , the president of the union representing Los Angeles County deputy district attorneys , had said Friday that judicial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county and state employees as well as the public at risk.
” In a reply sent earlier Monday , the court said it had conferred with the county Department of Public Health , which recommended against screening people entering the courts because “ thermometers used to scan the public are not deemed reliable.
” The Sylmar Courthouse , which has two courtrooms that handle juvenile cases , was also closed Monday for three days after an attorney in the L.A. County public defender ’ s office tested positive last week for COVID-19 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ who also tested positive , according to a statement issued by Los Angeles Superior Court .
The courthouse is expected to reopen Thursday .

Criminal and civil trials were discontinued in California for at least two months after a sweeping order was issued late Monday by the state’s chief justice that aims to sharply cut down public traffic in state courthouses during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye said in her order that court facilities were “ill-equipped to effectively allow the social distancing and other public health requirements” that have been imposed across California to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.
“Even if court facilities could allow for sufficient social distancing, the closure of schools means that many court employees, litigants, witnesses, and potential jurors cannot leave their homes to attend court proceedings because they must stay home to supervise their children,” Cantil-Sakauye said in the order.
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The 60-day delay — which puts the courts in California’s 58 counties on a uniform trial delay schedule — came the same day that the presiding judge of Los Angeles Superior Court, Kevin C. Brazile, blocked public access to county courthouses except for attorneys, staff, defendants and “authorized persons,” a vague category that includes news reporters. The clerk’s office will still be available to accept filings and assist people by phone or electronically.
Brazile also indefinitely closed courthouses in Beverly Hills, Catalina Island, and the civil courthouse on Spring Street in downtown Los Angeles.
And his order sought to sharply reduce the number of cases that require defendants and their attorneys to appear for incremental developments. All progress reports and status reports for pending criminal matters, for example, were pushed back an additional 90 days, and misdemeanor cases where a defendant is not in jail were also delayed 90 days. Brazile also said it was a priority for judges to hold bail hearings for those awaiting trial in county jail.
Brazile’s updated order was issued after unions representing a wide range of courthouse staff, including public defenders, deputy district attorneys and interpreters, pleaded with him to implement measures to reduce the spread of the virus in their workplace. The unions sent a scathing letter on March 19 that asked for people entering the county’s courthouses to be screened and those showing symptoms to be barred. The unions also asked for improved social distancing protocols and a reduction in the types of court proceedings allowed to take place during the pandemic.
When the courts reopened Friday after a three-day shutdown, many attorneys shared photos of long lines to enter the Metropolitan Courthouse, which handles a large swath of misdemeanor cases, and complained of cramped conditions and a lack of available hand sanitizer.
Michele Hanisee, the president of the union representing Los Angeles County deputy district attorneys, had said Friday that judicial officers were “placing dedicated city, county and state employees as well as the public at risk.”
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In a reply sent earlier Monday, the court said it had conferred with the county Department of Public Health, which recommended against screening people entering the courts because “thermometers used to scan the public are not deemed reliable.”
The Sylmar Courthouse, which has two courtrooms that handle juvenile cases, was also closed Monday for three days after an attorney in the L.A. County public defender’s office tested positive last week for COVID-19. The lawyer was caring for a relative who also tested positive, according to a statement issued by Los Angeles Superior Court. The courthouse is expected to reopen Thursday.


latimes--2020-03-23--Coronavirus cases in California pass 2,000. Here is what you need to know

California hit another milestone with coronavirus : more than 2,000 cases confirmed .
Officials expect that number to rise significantly amid aggressive new pushes to get more people tested .
The death toll now stands at 43 , with two new deaths reported in Los Angeles County .
Both state and local numbers show it ’ s not just the old getting sick .
Of those who have tested positive in Los Angeles County , for example , 80 % are people ages 18 to 65 , and 42 % are in the 18-40 age group .
“ This virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Dr. Barbara Ferrer , director of the L.A. County Public Health Department , said Monday .
Here are the basics : MORE CLOSURES : Gov .
Gavin Newsom said Monday that he is closing parking lots at California ’ s state parks in order to deter people from congregating and unintentionally spreading the novel coronavirus .
It comes after many cities and agencies closed down beach parking lots , parks , hiking trails and recreation areas .
NATIONAL GUARD : on Monday provided details about how personnel would be deployed across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used purely for humanitarian purposes , such as distributing food and medical supplies as well as helping at food banks and working with officials on the Grand Princess cruise ship , which docked in California after an outbreak of the virus on board .
SAN FRANCISCO WARNING : San Francisco officials warned that a surge in coronavirus is expected to come within a week or two , and voiced dismay over images of the public crowding at beaches and parks across California .
“ The worst is yet to come , ” San @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Colfax said at a news conference Monday .
REAL ID : With the COVID-19 pandemic further stifling the efforts of California and other states to issue Real ID licenses , President Trump on Monday said he will extend the Oct. 1 deadline for people to apply for the identification cards to board domestic flights in the United States .
HELP SAILING TO L.A. : The Navy hospital ship Mercy , based in San Diego , has been deployed to Los Angeles and should be here within days .
The Federal Emergency Management Agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to California within the next 48 hours .
The state is in line to get eight of these units , for a total of 2,000 beds .
SCHOOLS : remain closed until May 1 in response to the coronavirus outbreak as Supt .
Austin Beutner announced Monday that Verizon would provide free internet access for all students who did not currently have it so learning can continue .
Beutner said he had authorized $ 100 million in spending on technology to help students as the district struggled to provide online learning for about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internet access at home .
The district is working on a plan to distribute more computers to students and instructions for accessing the Verizon program .

Colleen Shalby, Rong-Gong Lin II, Hannah Fry

California hit another milestone with coronavirus: more than 2,000 cases confirmed.
Officials expect that number to rise significantly amid aggressive new pushes to get more people tested.
The death toll now stands at 43, with two new deaths reported in Los Angeles County. Both state and local numbers show it’s not just the old getting sick. Of those who have tested positive in Los Angeles County, for example, 80% are people ages 18 to 65, and 42% are in the 18-40 age group.
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“This virus can infect people from across the board,” Dr. Barbara Ferrer, director of the L.A. County Public Health Department, said Monday.
Here are the basics:
MORE CLOSURES: Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday that he is closing parking lots at California’s state parks in order to deter people from congregating and unintentionally spreading the novel coronavirus. It comes after many cities and agencies closed down beach parking lots, parks, hiking trails and recreation areas.
NATIONAL GUARD: The California National Guard on Monday provided details about how personnel would be deployed across the state to assist in coronavirus aid. Officials said the Guard is being used purely for humanitarian purposes, such as distributing food and medical supplies as well as helping at food banks and working with officials on the Grand Princess cruise ship, which docked in California after an outbreak of the virus on board.
SAN FRANCISCO WARNING: San Francisco officials warned that a surge in coronavirus is expected to come within a week or two, and voiced dismay over images of the public crowding at beaches and parks across California. “The worst is yet to come,” San Francisco Director of Public Health Dr. Grant Colfax said at a news conference Monday.
REAL ID: With the COVID-19 pandemic further stifling the efforts of California and other states to issue Real ID licenses, President Trump on Monday said he will extend the Oct. 1 deadline for people to apply for the identification cards to board domestic flights in the United States.
HELP SAILING TO L.A.: The Navy hospital ship Mercy, based in San Diego, has been deployed to Los Angeles and should be here within days. The Federal Emergency Management Agency was set to ship mobile hospital units to California within the next 48 hours. The state is in line to get eight of these units, for a total of 2,000 beds.


latimes--2020-03-23--Kevin de León declares victory in race for Eastside L.A. City Council seat

Former state Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León on Monday claimed victory in the March 3 election to replace outgoing Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar .
De León was one of five candidates who sought the seat , which covers downtown Los Angeles , including skid row , Boyle Heights , El Sereno and Eagle Rock .
The Los Angeles County Registrar/Recorder ’ s latest round of results on Friday showed that De León had 24,823 votes , or about 53 % of the vote .
Candidate Cyndi Otteson was in second place , with 9,221 votes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ León , said that as of Monday , about 400 votes were left to count in the council district race , making it statistically impossible for another candidate to win .
Elections officials are expected to certify the results on March 27 .
If de León ’ s win is confirmed , he will avoid a run-off and take office in December .
De León had numerous advantages in the race .
He is well-known in some Eastside neighborhoods that he represented in the state Legislature .
He also raised more than $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and benefited from $ 540,000 in outside spending by labor and other groups .
Underland said de León has been staying in Highland Park amid the shutdown over the coronavirus pandemic .
“ He ’ s checking in with friends , family and constituents by phone to see what their needs are , and following up however he can , while maintaining safe social distancing guidelines , ” Underland said .
De León said in a statement : “ Though the future may feel uncertain , as a veteran public servant I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our communities unite as they have to achieve our common goals .
”

Former state Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León on Monday claimed victory in the March 3 election to replace outgoing Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar.
De León was one of five candidates who sought the seat, which covers downtown Los Angeles, including skid row, Boyle Heights, El Sereno and Eagle Rock.
The Los Angeles County Registrar/Recorder’s latest round of results on Friday showed that De León had 24,823 votes, or about 53% of the vote. Candidate Cyndi Otteson was in second place, with 9,221 votes.
Jonathan Underland, a spokesman for De León, said that as of Monday, about 400 votes were left to count in the council district race, making it statistically impossible for another candidate to win.
Elections officials are expected to certify the results on March 27.
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If de León’s win is confirmed, he will avoid a run-off and take office in December.
De León had numerous advantages in the race. He is well-known in some Eastside neighborhoods that he represented in the state Legislature. He also raised more than $800,000, significantly more than his competitors, and benefited from $540,000 in outside spending by labor and other groups.
Underland said de León has been staying in Highland Park amid the shutdown over the coronavirus pandemic.
“He’s checking in with friends, family and constituents by phone to see what their needs are, and following up however he can, while maintaining safe social distancing guidelines,” Underland said.
De León said in a statement: “Though the future may feel uncertain, as a veteran public servant I know that we can overcome anything when our communities unite as they have to achieve our common goals.”


latimes--2020-03-23--Coronavirus testing sales by 'concierge' doctors under review by medical board

The Medical Board of California is looking into physicians selling COVID-19 tests while sick people around the country can ’ t get tested because of a nationwide shortage , a board spokesman said Monday morning .
The inquiry comes after The Times reported that “ concierge ” doctors who cater to rich people and celebrities have been selling testing to patients and their families , in some cases even if they have no symptoms or any other reason to be tested .
Dr. Jay Gordon , a Santa Monica pediatrician , told clients who purchased the tests for $ 250 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a cheek-swab and then sent to a lab to process results — to save the tests until they ’ re feeling sick .
Gordon said in an earlier interview with The Times that he ’ s looking out for the best interests of his patients , but acknowledged that his offer represents profound inequality in the American healthcare system .
Gordon said he didn ’ t believe the medical board would find anything wrong .
“ They won ’ t find anything .
There ’ s nothing to be found , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were asking for tests .
They were available nowhere else .
They remain very much in short supply.
” Another physician , Dr. David Nazarian in Beverly Hills , said last week he was planning to open a drive-through for rapid blood tests , shipped from China .
He said he would charge patients who use the service about $ 500 or $ 600 , which would also include a consultation and follow-up as well as help pay for the cost of labor and protective equipment to administer the test .
Nazarian has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for patients of his concierge practice , including “ influential people , A-list celebrities , and CEOs , ” if they meet the criteria set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
“ We have had a lot of new patients contact us who money wasn ’ t a factor for ; they were willing to pay whatever was needed , ” he told The Times last week .
“ But we ’ re not looking at this time in regards to ‘ How can we make more money doing testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charge more to do a test.
’ It ’ s actually really trying to take care of the patients we already have and then figuring out how we can increase testing and do things for the good of the community.
” Nazarian told The Times on Monday that he plans to offer the rapid tests only if they are approved by the Food and Drug Administration .
It ’ s unclear how many doctors are offering such testing or what specifically the medical board is scrutinizing .
The spokesman declined to go into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking into any particular doctor , saying only that the agency was aware of The Times ’ story and had decided to “ look into the matter.
” But state Sen. Richard Pan ( D-Sacramento ) denounced selling the tests at high prices to whomever can afford them , saying it was unprofessional conduct that the medical board should investigate .
The medical board is charged with investigating complaints against physicians , and can sanction doctors or revoke their licenses for negligent or unethical behavior .
Some have also questioned whether the tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The FDA on Friday publicly warned that it has not authorized any at-home tests for COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus .
Federal legislation passed this month would expand access to free COVID-19 testing to the public .
Sion Roy , president of the Los Angeles County Medical Assn.
, said health professionals should use only federally approved tests and testing should be “ equally accessible to all Angelenos.
” He said his organization would support any measures taken by the state medical board against doctors who sell unapproved tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preferentially test one group of people over another , the testing strategy won ’ t work .
Inequitable access to care is not something our association stands for , ” Roy said .
Gordon , who said he charges a concierge fee that averages more than $ 300 a month , said his business will not be turning a profit on selling the tests and instead will donate all excess funds to the Save the Children charity .
After The Times story published , he texted a reporter a donation receipt for $ @ @

A box of coronavirus testing kits. Some private doctors and “concierge” physicians are offering testing services to patients who can pay for them.
The Medical Board of California is looking into physicians selling COVID-19 tests while sick people around the country can’t get tested because of a nationwide shortage, a board spokesman said Monday morning.
The inquiry comes after The Times reported that “concierge” doctors who cater to rich people and celebrities have been selling testing to patients and their families, in some cases even if they have no symptoms or any other reason to be tested.
Dr. Jay Gordon, a Santa Monica pediatrician, told clients who purchased the tests for $250 each — to be taken at home with a cheek-swab and then sent to a lab to process results — to save the tests until they’re feeling sick.
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Gordon said in an earlier interview with The Times that he’s looking out for the best interests of his patients, but acknowledged that his offer represents profound inequality in the American healthcare system.
Gordon said he didn’t believe the medical board would find anything wrong.
“They won’t find anything. There’s nothing to be found,” Gordon said. “[Patients] were asking for tests. They were available nowhere else. They remain very much in short supply.”
Another physician, Dr. David Nazarian in Beverly Hills, said last week he was planning to open a drive-through for rapid blood tests, shipped from China. He said he would charge patients who use the service about $500 or $600, which would also include a consultation and follow-up as well as help pay for the cost of labor and protective equipment to administer the test.
Nazarian has so far been conducting nasal-swab tests only for patients of his concierge practice, including “influential people, A-list celebrities, and CEOs,” if they meet the criteria set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“We have had a lot of new patients contact us who money wasn’t a factor for; they were willing to pay whatever was needed,” he told The Times last week. “But we’re not looking at this time in regards to ‘How can we make more money doing testing?’ or ‘Who we can charge more to do a test.’ It’s actually really trying to take care of the patients we already have and then figuring out how we can increase testing and do things for the good of the community.”
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Nazarian told The Times on Monday that he plans to offer the rapid tests only if they are approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
It’s unclear how many doctors are offering such testing or what specifically the medical board is scrutinizing. The spokesman declined to go into detail or say whether the board was looking into any particular doctor, saying only that the agency was aware of The Times’ story and had decided to “look into the matter.”
But state Sen. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento) denounced selling the tests at high prices to whomever can afford them, saying it was unprofessional conduct that the medical board should investigate.
The medical board is charged with investigating complaints against physicians, and can sanction doctors or revoke their licenses for negligent or unethical behavior.
Some have also questioned whether the tests being sold are legitimate or effective. The FDA on Friday publicly warned that it has not authorized any at-home tests for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
Federal legislation passed this month would expand access to free COVID-19 testing to the public.
Sion Roy, president of the Los Angeles County Medical Assn., said health professionals should use only federally approved tests and testing should be “equally accessible to all Angelenos.” He said his organization would support any measures taken by the state medical board against doctors who sell unapproved tests for exorbitant prices.
“If you preferentially test one group of people over another, the testing strategy won’t work. Inequitable access to care is not something our association stands for,” Roy said.
Gordon, who said he charges a concierge fee that averages more than $300 a month, said his business will not be turning a profit on selling the tests and instead will donate all excess funds to the Save the Children charity.
After The Times story published, he texted a reporter a donation receipt for $10,220.


latimes--2020-03-23--Newsom says California needs 30,000 more hospital beds than anticipated for coronavirus patients

Gov .
Gavin Newsom announced new action on Monday to encourage social-distancing measures , including closing parking lots at state parks , and warned that California will need more than twice as many hospital beds for coronavirus patients than previously anticipated .
The governor said he was closing parking lots in an effort to prevent people from congregating at California ’ s outdoor recreational areas and unintentionally spreading the virus .
His announcement came four days after he ordered all residents to remain in their homes , making California the first state in the nation to place such restrictions on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Monday , 40 people have died and 2065 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the state .
“ We ’ re looking at bending the curve .
We ’ re looking at interventions that work , ” Newsom said .
“ As a consequence of updating our models , we are looking to significantly increase our procurement of assets , specifically beds , throughout our healthcare delivery system.
” Newsom said he believes California will need 50,000 hospital beds for coronavirus patients , a significant increase from the 20,000 beds his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic governor said the state ’ s 416 hospitals were doubling so-called “ surge plans ” to 40 % of their capacity , which includes providing 30,000 new beds across the system .
At the same time , the state is securing an additional 20,000 beds outside the state hospital system .
Newsom said his administration had identified 3,000 new beds through mobile hospital units sent from the Federal Emergency Management Agency , an agreement to lease an empty hospital near downtown Los Angeles , and other plans , but still needs another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay-at-home executive order announced last Thursday , Californians are allowed to venture outside for necessities and for recreational purposes , but are required to stay at least six feet away from one another .
Despite millions of residents heeding the call , reports of noncompliance prompted local officials to admonish people and take additional action over the weekend .
A thick crowd of shoppers at a farmers ’ market in Sacramento on Saturday made it nearly impossible for people to stay a safe distance from one another .
Laguna Beach officials closed beaches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parks in response to growing alarm about people amassing on the city ’ s pristine coastline .
While anyone who defies Newsom ’ s order could be punished with a misdemeanor , the first-term Democrat has repeatedly said that he doesn ’ t believe law enforcement intervention is necessary .
Newsom said his administration is conducting a public awareness campaign and he believes that “ social pressure ” will encourage people to remain at home .
President Trump granted Newsom ’ s request on Sunday to declare a major disaster in California to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic with emergency medical aid and unemployment assistance .
Newsom declared his own state of emergency in California on March 4 to help the state prepare for the spread of the coronavirus .
At the time , the California Department of Public Health reported that 53 people had tested positive and one had died from the virus .

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced new action on Monday to encourage social-distancing measures, including closing parking lots at state parks, and warned that California will need more than twice as many hospital beds for coronavirus patients than previously anticipated.
The governor said he was closing parking lots in an effort to prevent people from congregating at California’s outdoor recreational areas and unintentionally spreading the virus.
His announcement came four days after he ordered all residents to remain in their homes, making California the first state in the nation to place such restrictions on the movement of its residents.
As of Monday, 40 people have died and 2065 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the state.
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“We’re looking at bending the curve. We’re looking at interventions that work,” Newsom said. “As a consequence of updating our models, we are looking to significantly increase our procurement of assets, specifically beds, throughout our healthcare delivery system.”
Newsom said he believes California will need 50,000 hospital beds for coronavirus patients, a significant increase from the 20,000 beds his administration had forecast last week. The Democratic governor said the state’s 416 hospitals were doubling so-called “surge plans” to 40% of their capacity, which includes providing 30,000 new beds across the system.
At the same time, the state is securing an additional 20,000 beds outside the state hospital system. Newsom said his administration had identified 3,000 new beds through mobile hospital units sent from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, an agreement to lease an empty hospital near downtown Los Angeles, and other plans, but still needs another 17,000 beds.
Under Newsom’s stay-at-home executive order announced last Thursday, Californians are allowed to venture outside for necessities and for recreational purposes, but are required to stay at least six feet away from one another.
Despite millions of residents heeding the call, reports of noncompliance prompted local officials to admonish people and take additional action over the weekend.
A thick crowd of shoppers at a farmers’ market in Sacramento on Saturday made it nearly impossible for people to stay a safe distance from one another. Laguna Beach officials closed beaches and blocked trail access to county wilderness parks in response to growing alarm about people amassing on the city’s pristine coastline.
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While anyone who defies Newsom’s order could be punished with a misdemeanor, the first-term Democrat has repeatedly said that he doesn’t believe law enforcement intervention is necessary. Newsom said his administration is conducting a public awareness campaign and he believes that “social pressure” will encourage people to remain at home.
President Trump granted Newsom’s request on Sunday to declare a major disaster in California to help the state respond to the COVID-19 pandemic with emergency medical aid and unemployment assistance.
Newsom declared his own state of emergency in California on March 4 to help the state prepare for the spread of the coronavirus. At the time, the California Department of Public Health reported that 53 people had tested positive and one had died from the virus.


latimes--2020-03-23--Californians to get extra time on Real ID as Trump says he will delay deadline due to coronavirus

With the COVID-19 pandemic further stifling the efforts of California and other states to issue Real ID licenses , President Trump on Monday said he will extend the Oct. 1 deadline for people to apply for the identification cards to board domestic flights in the United States .
Trump made the announcement during a news briefing on the nation ’ s response to the virus , as the number of confirmed cases across the U.S. now stands at more than 33,000 .
The resulting public health anxiety has left many Californians reluctant or unwilling to visit local branches of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of being infected .
“ I ’ m also announcing that we ’ re postponing the deadline with Real ID requirements , ” Trump said during the White House event .
“ We will be announcing the new deadline very soon.
” The president , who offered no additional details , seemed to acknowledge the challenge with asking people to visit their local DMV “ at a time that we ’ re asking Americans to maintain social distancing.
” Steven Gordon , director of the California DMV , said the announcement is welcome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrict visits to field offices for many people seeking driver ’ s licenses and vehicle registrations .
“ The California DMV is encouraged by the President ’ s remarks indicating that the federal government will extend the enforcement date for REAL ID , ” Gordon said in a written statement .
“ This would relieve the urgency for people to visit local DMV offices and bolster the state ’ s efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 .
We look forward to learning more about the President ’ s direction and sharing that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been under pressure to postpone the Oct. 1 deadline from state officials across the country .
The National Governors Assn.
, which includes Gov .
Gavin Newsom , recently asked the Department of Homeland Security to extend the deadline by at least one year .
“ We believe an extension will allow all of us to focus our efforts on combating the spread and severity of COVID-19 , ” the governors said in a March 17 letter to acting Department Secretary Chad Wolf .
“ More time will also give Congress the ability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2005 REAL ID Act and bring it up to speed with today ’ s technology.
” A representative for Newsom declined to comment on the extension request .
California lawmakers had already called for a delay in the Real ID deadline based on bureaucratic problems identified before COVID-19 was labeled a global pandemic .
Assemblymen Jim Frazier ( D-Fairfield ) and Vince Fong ( R-Bakersfield ) , the chair and vice-chairman of the Assembly Transportation Committee , respectively , introduced a resolution asking for a delay .
“ Over 7 million Californians have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Motor Vehicles estimates that 16 million Californians will need one by October 1st of this year , ” Frazier said .
“ That means more than twice as many people need to come into a DMV field office between now and October , than in the entire previous two years combined .
”

With the COVID-19 pandemic further stifling the efforts of California and other states to issue Real ID licenses, federal officials said Thursday they will grant a one-year extension, til Oct. 1, 2021, on the deadline for people to obtain the identification cards in order to board domestic flights in the United States.
President Trump originally announced a delay Monday during a news briefing on the nation’s response to the virus. The number of confirmed cases across the U.S. now stands at nearly 70,000. The resulting public health anxiety has left many Californians reluctant or unwilling to visit local branches of the Department of Motor Vehicles for fear of being infected.
“I’m also announcing that we’re postponing the deadline with Real ID requirements,” Trump said during the White House event. “We will be announcing the new deadline very soon.”
The president seemed to acknowledge the challenge with asking people to visit their local DMV “at a time that we’re asking Americans to maintain social distancing.”
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On Thursday, acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said the postponement would be for one year.
“The federal, state and local response to the spread of coronavirus here in the United States necessitates a delay in the deadline,” Wolf said in a statement, adding, “We want to remove any impediment to response and recovery efforts.”
Steven Gordon, director of the California DMV, said the announcement is welcome news because the agency has had to restrict visits to field offices for many people seeking driver’s licenses and vehicle registrations.
“The California DMV is encouraged by the President’s remarks indicating that the federal government will extend the enforcement date for REAL ID,” Gordon said in a written statement. “This would relieve the urgency for people to visit local DMV offices and bolster the state’s efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We look forward to learning more about the President’s direction and sharing that information with the public.”
Trump has been under pressure to postpone the Oct. 1 deadline from state officials across the country. The National Governors Assn., which includes Gov. Gavin Newsom, recently asked the Department of Homeland Security to extend the deadline by at least one year.
“We believe an extension will allow all of us to focus our efforts on combating the spread and severity of COVID-19,” the governors said in a March 17 letter to Wolf. “More time will also give Congress the ability to pass legislation that will update the 2005 REAL ID Act and bring it up to speed with today’s technology.”
A representative for Newsom declined to comment on the extension request.
California lawmakers had already called for a delay in the Real ID deadline based on bureaucratic problems identified before COVID-19 was labeled a global pandemic.
Assemblymen Jim Frazier (D-Fairfield) and Vince Fong (R-Bakersfield), the chair and vice-chairman of the Assembly Transportation Committee, respectively, introduced a resolution asking for a delay.
“Over 7 million Californians have a Real ID and the Department of Motor Vehicles estimates that 16 million Californians will need one by October 1st of this year,” Frazier said. “That means more than twice as many people need to come into a DMV field office between now and October, than in the entire previous two years combined.”