latimes--2020-03-13--Panicked parents pick up kids, try to figure out future after coronavirus school closures

Crystal Ellis , 34 , stood outside Raymond Elementary School in South Los Angeles as a light drizzle came down .
She had just learned that L.A.. schools were closing because of the coronavirus .
She held a white package and an iPad that the school asked her to pick up for her 11-year-old son .
“ It ’ s a little bit scary because I don ’ t know what ’ s going to happen , ” she said .
Nearby , an occasional parent rushed inside to pick up children .
“ Some parents are panicking and coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said .
RELATED : What parents need to know Ellis said her son , a fifth-grader at the school , was already sick from a cold and is already at home .
She recently became a stay at home mom and said she wouldn ’ t be too affected by the school district ’ s decision .
But she said she doesn ’ t know what she ’ ll do if it means that her children will be out of school for a prolonged time .
For now she just grappled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ There ’ s nothing we can do , ” she said .
This was the scene playing out across L.A. and other cities as officials announced schools were closing for at least several weeks .
Parents were worried about what would unfold in the coming weeks , some unprepared to help their children continue learning , others scrambling to find daycare .
In Los Angeles alone , the district serves more than 670,000 children and adult students .
Los Angeles schools will be closed for two weeks while the situation is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Austin Beutner .
There will be 40 centers where students and families can receive services , including meals , starting Wednesday .
The family resource centers will be open weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will offer childcare and hot meals .
The district hopes to have a list of locations soon .
In addition , the Los Angeles district will offer televised and online lessons in an attempt to help families .
Adela Hernandez , 35 , watched the washer at a laundromat spin , thinking about how she and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who attends West Vernon Elementary school without an internet connection at home .
“ Maybe I ’ ll ask the neighbor if they can give us access , ” she said .
“ I ’ ll have to maybe pay her.
” Times were already a getting hard at home .
Hernandez said she ’ s bringing in less money at home because her hours at work were cut down .
“ I was working five days out of the week , now just three , ” she said .
She said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of shipments it was sending , cutting the number of workers needed .
Walking outside Augustus Hawkins High School , Nancy Ramirez , 34 , made small talk with her 18-year-old daughter .
“ I ’ m not OK with it , but if it ’ s for their safety , I ’ ll do what I have to , ” she said .
Ramirez , who also has an 11-year-old daughter attending another LAUSD school , said her family does not have home computers .
Her daughter said she would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or may be able to go to a relative ’ s house with an internet connection .
She said most students have been talking about whether or not they ’ ll be able to graduate on time .
They want to know if prom will happen ?
Grad night ?
Ramirez said she will most likely watch over her daughters in the day and go back to working nights .
“ It ’ s not easy having two kids at home , ” she said .
Ramirez intends to drive an Uber from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financially , but she fears he may lose his job because he works for a company that operates out of China .
“ We got ta go to work , ” she said .
“ We need money to pay rent and pay bills.
” Beutner provided additional information in an email to parents Friday morning that included possible help for families without computers or internet .
Students will leave school Friday with “ a plan , which they will take home with them today , and additional support will be provided to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different way of learning and teachers to a different way of teaching.
” He added that some students “ will be continuing the lesson plan and instruction they have already been working on with their classroom teacher.
” Others , he said , would rely on lessons provided on three local public television channels .
“ And for some , it will be a combination of the two , ” Beutner wrote .
Some services would continue to be provided for students with moderate to severe disabilities .
The district , Beutner wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guide that we will provide to you before Monday , to help answer your questions.
” Jenna Schwartz , 41 , of Valley Village , pulled her two children out of school Thursday , because she believed school closure was imminent and wanted to prepare .
Last year , during the LAUSD teacher ’ s strike , Schwartz started the Facebook group “ Parents Supporting Teachers , ” which has since grown to more than 23,000 members .
In recent days , it has become a sounding board for parents concerned about school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the possibility that schools might shutter , but , Schwartz said , this time is very different .
During the strike , many parents took their children to parks and museums and organized play dates , Schwartz said .
But it ’ s not the same with large gatherings canceled and people practicing social distancing .
“ This is actually being at home , ” she said .
“ I think this is going to be really challenging for people .
It ’ s going to be challenging to not sort of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TV.
’ ” As a stay-at-home mom , Schwartz said , she knows she has it easier than some parents , so she ’ s grateful that the district will provide child care centers to help parents who have to work .
Yesterday , she and her children inventoried their refrigerator , to stock up on food for the coming weeks .
And on Friday , they set up a school room at home — the kids made their own desks from folding tables , and spent part of the morning searching cookbooks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as they hunker down .
In the afternoon , Schwartz said she would be going to her children ’ s schools to pick up their assignments .
After that , she said , “ we ’ re planning , ideally , to not leave the house anymore .
”

Burroughs Middle School students Callie Cavalieri, using hand sanitizer, and, from left, Bless Patawaran, Camilo Choi, Cody Holmes and Ariana Gonzalez, all age 13, make a PSA about handwashing.
Crystal Ellis, 34, stood outside Raymond Elementary School in South Los Angeles as a light drizzle came down. She had just learned that L.A. schools were closing because of the coronavirus.
She held a white package and an iPad that the school asked her to pick up for her 11-year-old son.
“It’s a little bit scary because I don’t know what’s going to happen,” she said.
Advertisement
Nearby, an occasional parent rushed inside to pick up children.
“Some parents are panicking and coming in to pick up their kids,” she said.
RELATED: What parents need to know
Ellis said her son, a fifth-grader at the school, was already sick from a cold and is already at home. She recently became a stay-at-home mom and said she wouldn’t be too affected by the school district’s decision. But she said she doesn’t know what she’ll do if it means that her children will be out of school for a prolonged time. For now she just grappled with the news that schools were closing.
“There’s nothing we can do,” she said.
This was the scene playing out across L.A. and other cities as officials announced schools were closing for at least several weeks. Parents were worried about what would unfold in the coming weeks, some unprepared to help their children continue learning, others scrambling to find day care.
In Los Angeles alone, the district serves more than 670,000 children and adult students. Schools will be closed for two weeks while the situation is evaluated, said L.A. schools Supt. Austin Beutner. There will be 40 centers where students and families can receive services, including meals, starting Wednesday.
Advertisement
The family resource centers will be open weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will offer child care and hot meals. The district hopes to have a list of locations soon. In addition, the Los Angeles district will offer televised and online lessons in an attempt to help families.
Adela Hernandez, 35, watched the washer at a laundromat spin, thinking about how she and her husband would manage their 10-year-old son who attends West Vernon Elementary school without an internet connection at home.
“Maybe I’ll ask the neighbor if they can give us access,” she said. “I’ll have to maybe pay her.”
Times were already getting hard at home. Hernandez said she’s bringing in less money because her hours at work were cut down.
“I was working five days out of the week, now just three,” she said.
She said the clothing company based in China has reduced the number of shipments it was sending, cutting the number of workers needed.
Walking outside Augustus Hawkins High School, Nancy Ramirez, 34, made small talk with her 18-year-old daughter.
“I’m not OK with it, but if it’s for their safety, I’ll do what I have to,” she said.
Ramirez, who also has an 11-year-old daughter attending another LAUSD school, said her family does not have home computers. Her daughter said she would try and do homework on her phone or may be able to go to a relative’s house with an internet connection.
She said most students have been talking about whether they’ll be able to graduate on time. They want to know if prom will happen? Grad night?
Ramirez said she will most likely watch over her daughters in the day and go back to working nights. “It’s not easy having two kids at home,” she said.
Ramirez intends to drive an Uber from Thursday through Monday. Her ex-husband helps financially, but she fears he may lose his job because he works for a company that operates out of China.
“We gotta go to work,” she said. “We need money to pay rent and pay bills.”
Beutner provided additional information in an email to parents Friday morning that included possible help for families without computers or internet.
Students will leave school Friday with “a plan, which they will take home with them today, and additional support will be provided to assist students as they transition to a different way of learning and teachers to a different way of teaching.”
He added that some students “will be continuing the lesson plan and instruction they have already been working on with their classroom teacher.”
Others, he said, would rely on lessons provided on three local public television channels. “And for some, it will be a combination of the two,” Beutner wrote. Some services would continue to be provided for students with moderate to severe disabilities.
The district, Beutner wrote, is “developing a family resource guide that we will provide to you before Monday, to help answer your questions.”
Jenna Schwartz, 41, of Valley Village, pulled her two children out of school Thursday, because she believed school closure was imminent and wanted to prepare.
Last year, during the LAUSD teacher’s strike, Schwartz started the Facebook group “Parents Supporting Teachers,” which has since grown to more than 23,000 members. In recent days, it has become a sounding board for parents concerned about school closures. The strike helped ready parents for the possibility that schools might shutter, but, Schwartz said, this time is very different.
During the strike, many parents took their children to parks and museums and organized play dates, Schwartz said. But it’s not the same with large gatherings canceled and people practicing social distancing.
“This is actually being at home,” she said. “I think this is going to be really challenging for people. It’s going to be challenging to not sort of be like, ‘fine, watch TV.’ ”
As a stay-at-home mom, Schwartz said, she knows she has it easier than some parents, so she’s grateful that the district will provide child care centers to help parents who have to work.
Yesterday, she and her children inventoried their refrigerator, to stock up on food for the coming weeks. And on Friday, they set up a school room at home — the kids made their own desks from folding tables, and spent part of the morning searching cookbooks, picking out meals for the family as they hunker down. In the afternoon, Schwartz said she would be going to her children’s schools to pick up their assignments. After that, she said, “we’re planning, ideally, to not leave the house anymore.”
For thousands of working mothers, Friday’s school closure was foretold in a Greek chorus of group chats and social media posts, where many have scrambled to plan for what will likely be weeks of chaos.
“My mom text groups are blowing up,” said publicist Leah Goldstein, a single mother of twins. “They’re panicking.”
Thousands of preschools and home day cares are expected to follow the district’s lead, meaning the most affordable options for working parents will evaporate overnight. And while older kids may have online coursework or hobbies to keep themselves occupied as parents work from home, preschoolers, toddlers and infants need minute-to-minute attention that makes productivity nearly impossible.
“Our entire staff has been swamped with calls — it’s just been pandemonium,” said Katie Provinziano, managing director of Westside Nannies, a high-end agency serving some of L.A.’s toniest enclaves.
Provinziano said parents should plan for at least six to eight weeks of backup care — including backups for their backups if caregivers fall ill. But such care is unaffordable to many workers who need it most.
“The average rate for a nanny we’re staffing is $25 an hour. For teachers, it’s $50 or more,” Provinziano said. “Most families can’t afford that. It’s going to put families in a huge predicament, because most families cannot afford private child care.”


latimes--2020-03-13--Coronavirus closes schools: What do parents need to know?

With the Los Angeles Unified School District joining districts across the nation to announce the closure of schools due to the coronavirus , parents now face a daunting task .
They must not only find care for their kids , but also keep them educated .
They must do so as public gatherings and many libraries and museums have been canceled or closed — and while many are juggling working from home or dealing with the stress of lost jobs as the economy slows .
That means there could be limited options for getting kids out of the house .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ big questions parents are asking .
What if I don ’ t have child care ?
School closures put an incredible strain on working parents who need child care .
So far , few districts have announced plans to fill that gap .
Some , such as Long Beach Unified , said they were “ considering what , if any , childcare options we can extend to families during this unplanned closure.
” Los Angeles Unified , however , has announced that it will open 40 family resource centers to provide care for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ centers will open Wednesday and will be staffed weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. A list of locations is expected before Monday .
These centers will provide childcare , educational activities and other services .
They ’ ll also provide packaged meals .
To keep these centers safer against the virus , all visitors will have their temperature taken upon arrival and all students will be directed to wash their hands , said L.A. schools Supt .
Austin Beutner .
The centers will be staffed by district employees on a voluntary basis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The district plans to provide training for those working at the centers on Monday and Tuesday .
While the district is still finalizing a final list of locations , the centers are likely to be located at schools .
Beutner said they will be tied , when possible , to community hubs that already had been identified as part of the district ’ s effort to decentralize into regional communities of schools .
Beutner also said he hoped that local transit agencies would provide free transportation to and from these centers as needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so far .
What do I say to kids asking about coronavirus ?
The National Assn .
of School Psychologists and the National Assn .
of School Nurses put out detailed guidelines for parents in late February explaining that when it comes to talking to kids about a pandemic , it ’ s best to reassure them while also providing “ factual , age-appropriate information about the potential seriousness of disease risk and concrete instruction about how to avoid infections and spread of disease.
” For younger children , the guide says , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brief , simple information that should balance COVID-19 facts with appropriate reassurances.
” “ Give simple examples of the steps people take every day to stop germs and stay healthy , such as washing hands .
Use language such as ‘ adults are working hard to keep you safe , ’ ” the guide says .
Older children , meanwhile , are “ able to discuss the issue in a more in-depth ( adult-like ) fashion and can be referred directly to appropriate sources of COVID-19 facts .
Provide honest , accurate and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 .
Having such knowledge can help them feel a sense of control , ” the guide says .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also offered a list of guidelines for talking to kids about coronavirus .
They include : • Make yourself available to listen and to talk .
• Remember that viruses can make anyone sick , regardless of a person ’ s race or ethnicity .
• Pay attention to what children see or hear on television , radio or online .
• Consider reducing the amount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide information that is honest and accurate .
• Give children information that is truthful and appropriate for the age and developmental level of the child .
• Talk to children about how some stories on COVID-19 on the internet and social media may be based on rumors and inaccurate information .
• Teach children everyday actions to reduce the spread of germs .
What about the emotional burden on children ?
Closing schools amid a virus outbreak can be scary to children .
In some ways , it is similar to natural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Times in 2017 asked experts how to help children through traumatic events .
Here are some suggestions .
• Questions : It ’ s important to check in with kids even if they ’ re not asking questions , said Marian Pena , the behavioral health director at West County Health Centers in Sonoma County .
Some children will develop anxiety because they ’ re stressed and don ’ t have an outlet for that stress .
“ A lot of parents feel like if they don ’ t ever talk to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s out of sight , out of mind , ” she said .
But that ’ s not true .
Children are thinking about what ’ s happening around them , whether or not they ask their parents about it .
And it ’ s important for parents to provide the most accurate information , and reassure children that they are safe .
• Feelings : Kids tend to regress when they are under stress , so don ’ t panic if they ’ re not hitting all the milestones they did before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health at the Petaluma Health Center .
They might also ask questions that parents don ’ t want to answer .
But parents shouldn ’ t ignore or dismiss those questions .
“ They ’ re very smart and they ’ re very intuitive and they know when something is going on , ” MacLeamy said .
Saying everything is fine when it ’ s clearly not , she said , invalidates children ’ s feelings and can affect them negatively .
• Hope : It ’ s important to acknowledge the bad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should try to answer their children ’ s questions with some hope and to help them them find the positive .
“ If we can make that memory … a story of overcoming , rather than just — ‘ and then we were depressed and miserable for the next two months , ’ it can help shape children ’ s memories and recovery , ” MacLeamy said .
“ Kids don ’ t have a lot of agency in their lives and they really want to help .
They want to contribute in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help the neediest children ?
The challenges are going to be the hardest for students with special needs and those who rely on school for food .
The Los Angeles Unified School District serves more than 60,000 special- needs students , more than 12 % of its overall enrollment .
Officials had been avoiding calling for closing schools , citing the hardships for families , the difficulty in providing academic services and even the school meals that children depend on .
As the nation ’ s second-largest school district , LAUSD serves about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 of whom rely on free or reduced-price lunches and 18,000 of whom are homeless .
The federal government has given California a waiver to allow meal distribution to students even if school is canceled , but that could still present logistical challenges .
State funding , which accounts for most of the money that goes to California public schools , is doled out based on how many students attend school each day .
In the case of a pandemic such as this , schools can seek to recover funding if they close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so under the direction of public health agencies .
How will schools help keep my child learning ?
School districts across the country are working hard to find ways to keep students learning during closures .
Some districts have said they will tap into online learning programs , but that presents several challenges .
Many students don ’ t have computers or reliable access to Wi-Fi .
Because of that , some districts have said they will rely heavily on a more old-fashioned tool : learning packets .
And some districts are tapping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Parents should know that districts and schools are planning the best ways to deliver instruction and ensure continued learning in the event of a school closure based on their community ’ s resources and needs , ” said L.A. County Office of Education spokeswoman Margo Minecki .
“ Parents should expect that details will be provided by their school principal and teacher.
” Beutner recently announced a partnership with public broadcasting giant KCET to prepare programming that would go on air in conjunction with any school closures .
“ The content @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue , ” Beutner said in an interview Thursday morning .
“ We started with what ’ s good — what standards-based instruction looks like .
We didn ’ t start with what ’ s good TV.
” All the same , these offerings are intended to include some quality TV — including , for example , documentaries by Ken Burns that would fit into a history or government class .
The materials are being pulled from the KCET library , programs that often already include a syllabus or framework for academic study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ level programming .
KLCS — which is operated by L.A. Unified — would offer content for grades 3 through 8 .
And KOCE would manage preschool through grade 2 .
While it would be impossible to replicate a full day of instruction for every grade and academic level , the move still could prove to be the most comprehensive national effort yet to offer a school day on television .
Staff at L.A. Unified and PBS have been working intensively since Monday to ramp up planning .
“ When we sat together with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talking about goals and key objectives , ” said Andrew Russell , chief executive and president of KCET and PBS SoCal .
“ That first one was how do we serve everybody given that some students won ’ t have access to the internet ?
”

Paloma Esquivel, Howard Blume, Sonali Kohli

More than 100 school districts across the state, including Los Angeles Unified, have announced campus closures due to the coronavirus and parents now face a daunting task.
They must not only find care for their kids, but also try to continue their learning. They must do so as public gatherings have been canceled and many libraries and museums have closed — and while many are juggling working from home or dealing with the stress of lost jobs as the economy slows.
That means there could be limited options for getting kids out of the house — especially given the rainy forecast in the week ahead.
Here we dive into some of the big questions parents are asking.
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Lee esta historia en español.
What if I don’t have child care?
School closures put an incredible strain on working parents who need child care. So far, few districts have announced plans to fill that gap. Some, such as Long Beach Unified, said they were “considering what, if any, childcare options we can extend to families during this unplanned closure.”
Los Angeles Unified, however, has announced that it will open 40 family resource centers to provide care for children if families need it. The centers will open Wednesday and will be staffed weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. A list of locations is expected before Monday.
These centers will provide childcare, educational activities and other services. They’ll also provide packaged meals. To keep these centers safer against the virus, all visitors will have their temperature taken upon arrival and all students will be directed to wash their hands, said L.A. schools Supt. Austin Beutner.
The centers will be staffed by district employees on a voluntary basis, who will receive extra pay. The district plans to provide training for those working at the centers on Monday and Tuesday.
While the district is finalizing a final list of locations, the centers are likely to be located at schools. Beutner said they will be tied, when possible, to community hubs that already had been identified as part of the district’s effort to decentralize into regional communities of schools.
Advertisement
Beutner also said he hoped that local transit agencies would provide free transportation to and from these centers as needed, but nothing has been worked out so far.
What do I say to kids asking about coronavirus?
The National Assn. of School Psychologists and the National Assn. of School Nurses put out detailed guidelines for parents in late February explaining that when it comes to talking to kids about a pandemic, it’s best to reassure them while also providing “factual, age-appropriate information about the potential seriousness of disease risk and concrete instruction about how to avoid infections and spread of disease.”
For younger children, the guide says, it’s best to give “brief, simple information that should balance COVID-19 facts with appropriate reassurances.”
“Give simple examples of the steps people take every day to stop germs and stay healthy, such as washing hands. Use language such as ‘adults are working hard to keep you safe,’” the guide says.
Older children, meanwhile, are “able to discuss the issue in a more in-depth (adult-like) fashion and can be referred directly to appropriate sources of COVID-19 facts. Provide honest, accurate and factual information about the current status of COVID-19. Having such knowledge can help them feel a sense of control,” the guide says.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also offered a list of guidelines for talking to kids about coronavirus. They include:
Remain calm and reassuring.
Make yourself available to listen and to talk.
Remember that viruses can make anyone sick, regardless of a person’s race or ethnicity.
Pay attention to what children see or hear on television, radio or online.
Consider reducing the amount of screen time focused on COVID-19 and provide information that is honest and accurate.
Give children information that is truthful and appropriate for the age and developmental level of the child.
Talk to children about how some stories on COVID-19 on the internet and social media may be based on rumors and inaccurate information.
Teach children everyday actions to reduce the spread of germs.
What about the emotional burden on parents and children?
Closing schools amid a virus outbreak can be scary to children. And it can put significant stress on the adults around them.
As parents and caregivers navigate this new reality, it will help children if adults look for ways to lessen their own fears, said therapist Jonathan Vickburg, the mental health supervisor with Cedars-Sinai’s Share and Care program.
“Unfortunately, when we as adults have our anxiety on high alert, it is so easy to project that onto kids. What happens sometimes is the kids are trying to reduce that anxiety and they’re trying to take care of us, and it should not be that way,” he said. “Right now, it really is, as adults, how do we ground ourselves and resource ourselves and feel confident that we can be there for our kids?”
Vickburg said it can be helpful to think of the things that have reduced stress in the past — maybe it’s reaching out to friends, religion, therapy, or turning off the news every once in a while.
Sharing those solutions with kids can also be helpful, he said.
“You can tell them, ‘I was nervous too, and this is what I did’” Vickburg said. “It’s a way to model for our kids.”
And, Vickbug said, if kids do have questions, adults should answer them with facts that are developmentally appropriate.
“Don’t try to hide information,” he said. “Some parents feel, ‘If I give them all of that, it’s going to scare them.’ But the message that’s conveyed if parents don’t give information is that it’s too scary for even parents to talk about.”
If children are going to be home a lot more, it also helps to find ways to keep them active and make for family time.
“It can be something like, ‘We’re going to be home and maybe you kids can help me make some of the dinner,’ he said. “It’s a way of making the situation not as scary.”
And finally, it may also help to try some breathing exercises or calming exercises, like going through each of the five senses and asking questions like: What do you see? What do you hear?
“Once you slow down the body, it really helps that fight or flight response” that comes with anxiety, Vickburg said.
Are schools prepared to help the neediest children?
The challenges are going to be the hardest for students with special needs and those who rely on school for food. The Los Angeles Unified School District, for instance, serves more than 60,000 special- needs students, more than 12% of its overall enrollment.
The U.S. Department of Education this month outlined the responsibilities of schools to students with disabilities in the event of school closures.
That guidance says that if a school continues “to provide educational opportunities to the general student population during a school closure, the school must ensure that students with disabilities also have equal access to the same opportunities.”
But the details of how that may work at each district are still unclear. Officials had been avoiding calling for closing schools, citing the hardships for families, the difficulty in providing academic services and even the school meals that children depend on.
The federal government has given California a waiver to allow meal distribution to students even if school is canceled, but that could still present logistical challenges.
Several districts have said they plan to continue providing meals to children, but those details are also still being hashed out for many districts.
How will schools help keep my child learning?
School districts across the country are working hard to find ways to keep students learning during closures. Some districts have said they will tap into online learning programs, but that presents several challenges. Many students don’t have computers or reliable access to Wi-Fi. Because of that, some districts have said they will rely heavily on a more old-fashioned tool: learning packets. And some districts are tapping into public television to keep learning going.
“Parents should know that districts and schools are planning the best ways to deliver instruction and ensure continued learning in the event of a school closure based on their community’s resources and needs,” said L.A. County Office of Education spokeswoman Margo Minecki. “Parents should expect that details will be provided by their school principal and teacher.”
Beutner recently announced a partnership with public broadcasting PBS SoCal/KCET to prepare programming that would go on air in conjunction with any school closures.
“The content is deep and rich and learning will continue,” Beutner said in an interview Thursday morning. “We started with what’s good — what standards-based instruction looks like. We didn’t start with what’s good TV.”
All the same, these offerings are intended to include some quality TV — including, for example, documentaries by Ken Burns that would fit into a history or government class. The materials are being pulled from the PBS SoCal/KCET library, programs that often already include a syllabus or framework for academic study.
PBS SoCal/KCET plans to offer high school level programming. KLCS — which is operated by L.A. Unified — would offer content for grades 3 through 8. And PBS/SoCal would manage preschool through grade 2.
While it would be impossible to replicate a full day of instruction for every grade and academic level, the move still could prove to be the most comprehensive national effort yet to offer a school day on television.


latimes--2020-03-13--How will school closures over the coronavirus affect you and your family? We want to know

As school districts close over concerns about the spread of the coronavirus , how are the closures affecting you , @ @ @ @ @ ?
We want to hear from you .
Share your experiences with us below .

Schools are taking emergency precautions in districts around the country to guard against the growing coronavirus outbreak.
As school districts close over concerns about the spread of the coronavirus, how are the closures affecting you, your family and your community?
We want to hear from you. Share your experiences with us below.


latimes--2020-03-13--L.A. Archdiocese says Catholics don't need to attend Sunday Mass for next three weeks

In a dramatic response to the coronavirus outbreak , the Archdiocese of Los Angeles announced Friday it was lifting from its parishioners the obligation of attending Sunday Mass for the next three weeks .
Archbishop José H. Gomez also announced attendance at any Mass in the archdiocese should be limited to 250 people and that nonessential group meetings and retreats would be suspended .
“ I encourage those of you who can not come to Mass to stay home and read the gospels , pray with your families and to join yourself to the sacrifice of the Mass by making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gomez wrote in a letter to the archdiocese .
“ It is true that with the worldwide outbreak of the coronavirus , we are facing a global health emergency that is like nothing we have seen in our lifetimes , ” he added .
“ But our hope is in the Lord and we know that he will give us his grace and mercy in our time of need.
” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced it was canceling all large public gatherings .
At the Fo Guang Shan Hsi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are being limited .
Tours of the 15-acre hillside Buddhist monastery have also been eliminated .
To cut down on visits , the temple is offering its traditional Sunday Dharma service online along with classes that can be found on its website .
“ We will bring back the tours when we feel it ’ s safe and the danger has passed , ” spokeswoman Venerable Zhixing Shih told The Times last week .
“ We , like others , want our visitors to feel connected and safe.
” Though parishioners may think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sean Dempsey , a Jesuit priest and assistant professor of history at Loyola Marymount University , said the Catholic Church took even more dramatic steps in the past to deal with dangerous diseases .
During the 1918-19 Spanish flu pandemic , nearly 700,000 in the United States .
Dempsey said the Archdiocese of Philadelphia worked with that city ’ s health department and shut down all services and classes .
The vacant schools and churches were converted into makeshift hospitals and medical wards , while clergy aided in healthcare efforts .

In a dramatic response to the coronavirus outbreak, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles announced Friday it was lifting from its parishioners the obligation of attending Sunday Mass for the next three weeks.
Archbishop José H. Gomez also announced attendance at any Mass in the archdiocese should be limited to 250 people and that nonessential group meetings and retreats would be suspended.
“I encourage those of you who cannot come to Mass to stay home and read the gospels, pray with your families and to join yourself to the sacrifice of the Mass by making an act of spiritual communion,” Gomez wrote in a letter to the archdiocese.
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The archdiocese covers Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.
“It is true that with the worldwide outbreak of the coronavirus, we are facing a global health emergency that is like nothing we have seen in our lifetimes,” he added. “But our hope is in the Lord and we know that he will give us his grace and mercy in our time of need.”
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced it was canceling all large public gatherings.
At the Fo Guang Shan Hsi Lai Temple in Hacienda Heights, gatherings are being limited. Tours of the 15-acre hillside Buddhist monastery have also been eliminated.
To cut down on visits, the temple is offering its traditional Sunday Dharma service online along with classes that can be found on its website .
“We will bring back the tours when we feel it’s safe and the danger has passed,” spokeswoman Venerable Zhixing Shih told The Times last week. “We, like others, want our visitors to feel connected and safe.”
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Though parishioners may think some of the steps are drastic, Sean Dempsey, a Jesuit priest and assistant professor of history at Loyola Marymount University, said the Catholic Church took even more dramatic steps in the past to deal with dangerous diseases.
During the 1918-19 Spanish flu pandemic, 50 million people died worldwide, nearly 700,000 in the United States. Dempsey said the Archdiocese of Philadelphia worked with that city’s health department and shut down all services and classes.
The vacant schools and churches were converted into makeshift hospitals and medical wards, while clergy aided in healthcare efforts.


latimes--2020-03-13--Record rainfall soaks parts of Southern California — is a 'March miracle' emerging?

A slow-moving storm brought record rainfall to parts of Southern California , reigniting hopes of a “ March miracle ” following a bone-dry start to the year .
The storm , part of a system that ’ s lingered over the area for much of the week , dumped at least an inch of rain across a wide swath of the Southland , according to the National Weather Service .
More than 2 inches fell in some parts of Los Angeles County over a 24-hour period that ended early Friday morning — including Beverly Hills , Northridge , Woodland Hills @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of rain fell Thursday at Los Angeles International Airport , 1.06 inches ; Long Beach Airport , 1.23 inches ; Hollywood Burbank Airport , 1.69 inches ; Palmdale Regional Airport , 1.49 inches ; and in Lancaster , 0.94 inch .
Those rainfall amounts weren ’ t just records for the date , they were “ all like in the top 25 wettest March days since their record-keeping began , ” said Joe Sirard , a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard .
And it ’ s not over yet .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ mid-Friday morning , so there “ could be another quarter , half-inch of rain before it ’ s all said and done.
” “ It ’ s very beneficial rain , and we ’ re glad to see it here , that ’ s for sure , ” he said .
That ’ s especially true given how this year started .
California was starved for moisture during a historically dry January and February — which are typically the state ’ s wettest months .
Some particularly parched parts of the state have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Los Angeles received a total of 0.04 inch of rain last month , placing it in a tie with February 1899 for the 10th-driest February on record .
Downtown also had its fourth-driest combined January and February on record , with just 0.36 inch of rain .
From Thursday to Friday morning alone , downtown was doused with 1.41 inches of rain — almost quadruple the amount that fell during the first two months of the year .
The region still has a ways to go to make up for the January-February shortfall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not out of the question that March could significantly close that gap , especially as a persistent wet pattern is set to settle in for the foreseeable future .
Another storm is set to roll in Sunday night — bringing a strong chance of showers through Wednesday , according to Sirard .
Yet another appears to be queuing up after that .
“ I think what ’ s going to happen is we ’ re going to make up for a lot of what we missed in January and February in terms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
“ We sometimes say this could be a ‘ March miracle .
’ ”

A Disneyland employee walks through the entrance to Disneyland during a rain shower in Anaheim on Thursday.
A slow-moving storm brought record rainfall to parts of Southern California, reigniting hopes of a “March miracle” following a bone-dry start to the year.
The storm, part of a system that’s lingered over the area for much of the week, dumped at least an inch of rain across a wide swath of the Southland, according to the National Weather Service. More than 2 inches fell in some parts of Los Angeles County over a 24-hour period that ended early Friday morning — including Beverly Hills, Northridge, Woodland Hills and Van Nuys.
A record amount of rain fell Thursday at Los Angeles International Airport, 1.06 inches; Long Beach Airport, 1.23 inches; Hollywood Burbank Airport, 1.69 inches; Palmdale Regional Airport, 1.49 inches; and in Lancaster, 0.94 inch.
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Those rainfall amounts weren’t just records for the date, they were “all like in the top 25 wettest March days since their record-keeping began,” said Joe Sirard, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
And it’s not over yet. Sirard said the rain should continue through mid-Friday morning, so there “could be another quarter, half-inch of rain before it’s all said and done.”
“It’s very beneficial rain, and we’re glad to see it here, that’s for sure,” he said.
That’s especially true given how this year started. California was starved for moisture during a historically dry January and February — which are typically the state’s wettest months.
Some particularly parched parts of the state have backslid into moderate drought conditions.
The latest U.S. Drought Monitor map was released today. As a result of the dry Jan. and Feb. across the region, moderate drought (D1) is now depicted across much of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles Counties. #CAdrought #CAwater #LAweather #CAwx #SoCal pic.twitter.com/1GbKUdy7Rp — NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) March 12, 2020
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Downtown Los Angeles received a total of 0.04 inch of rain last month, placing it in a tie with February 1899 for the 10th-driest February on record. Downtown also had its fourth-driest combined January and February on record, with just 0.36 inch of rain.
From Thursday to Friday morning alone, downtown was doused with 1.41 inches of rain — almost quadruple the amount that fell during the first two months of the year.
The region still has a ways to go to make up for the January-February shortfall. However, Sirard said it’s not out of the question that March could significantly close that gap, especially as a persistent wet pattern is set to settle in for the foreseeable future.
Another storm is set to roll in Sunday night — bringing a strong chance of showers through Wednesday, according to Sirard. Yet another appears to be queuing up after that.
“I think what’s going to happen is we’re going to make up for a lot of what we missed in January and February in terms of rainfall across the region,” he said. “We sometimes say this could be a ‘March miracle.’”


latimes--2020-03-13--Sacramento County judge OKs more DNA swabs of Golden State Killer suspect

A Northern California judge on Thursday approved prosecutors ’ request to take more DNA samples from a man charged with being the infamous Golden State Killer who eluded arrest for decades .
Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Steve White also told prosecutors to informally decide who is empowered to consider defense attorneys ’ offer to have Joseph James DeAngelo plead guilty in exchange for avoiding the death penalty .
So far , prosecutors have not wavered from their intent to seek DeAngelo ’ s execution if he is convicted .
The 74-year-old former police officer is suspected of at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across California in the 1970s and 1980s .
Six counties have consolidated their cases in Sacramento County , and four of those counties are seeking the death penalty .
“ Who ’ s in charge ?
Who can make decisions ?
We want to settle the case , ” said defense attorney Alice Michel , adding later that “ I don ’ t know who I ’ m supposed to talk to.
” Defense attorneys questioned in court filings whether Sacramento County Dist .
Atty .
Anne Marie Schubert could alone negotiate a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to have agreement from prosecutors in Santa Barbara , Orange and Ventura counties .
DeAngelo also faces lesser charges from Tulare and Contra Costa counties .
That “ is something that you probably should be entitled to know , ” White said while urging the attorneys to work it out among themselves .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom has a moratorium on executions while he is governor .
But DeAngelo ’ s trial is likely several years away after what is projected to be a weeks-long preliminary hearing set to begin in May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ objections , to take four more cheek-swab DNA samples from DeAngelo as they try to link him to old crimes .
Investigators surreptitiously collected DNA from DeAngelo more than two years ago that they say proves he is the rapist who broke into couples ’ suburban homes at night , binding the man and piling dishes on his back .
The armed and masked rapist would threaten to kill both victims if he heard the plates fall while he raped the woman .
Collecting more DNA “ is a minimally invasive procedure , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our victims , ” said Cheryl Temple , a prosecutor from Ventura County who handled that portion of the hearing .
Investigators pioneered a method of building a family tree from old crime scene DNA , using a popular online DNA database to find a distant relative and eventually zero in on DeAngelo .
The new process has since been used nationwide in other cases .
DeAngelo haltingly entered a courtroom cage supported at the elbows by two deputies .
As usual , he never glanced at the crowd of spectators , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the judge and nearly a dozen video and still cameras .
He usually has stood ramrod straight during his hearings .
On Thursday he periodically slumped his gaunt head .
His defense is currently being handled only by the Sacramento County public defender ’ s office , which says it is overwhelmed by the voluminous evidence in the case .
It wants assistance from public defenders in the other counties .
White said what he called “ an imbalance of resources ” is “ not right , it ’ s not appropriate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s legitimate to coordinate these cases into one county , ” White said , though defense attorneys are separately arguing that they have not been properly consolidated .
“ It ’ s another thing , though , to say one office , the public defender of Sacramento County , takes the burden of the entire defense and all its cost .
”

Joseph James DeAngelo, 74, who authorities suspect is the so-called Golden State Killer responsible for at least a dozen murders and 50 rapes in the 1970s and ‘80s, in Sacramento County Superior Court in 2018.
A Northern California judge on Thursday approved prosecutors’ request to take more DNA samples from a man charged with being the infamous Golden State Killer who eluded arrest for decades.
Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Steve White also told prosecutors to informally decide who is empowered to consider defense attorneys’ offer to have Joseph James DeAngelo plead guilty in exchange for avoiding the death penalty. So far, prosecutors have not wavered from their intent to seek DeAngelo’s execution if he is convicted.
The 74-year-old former police officer is suspected of at least 13 murders and more than 50 rapes across California in the 1970s and 1980s. Six counties have consolidated their cases in Sacramento County, and four of those counties are seeking the death penalty.
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“Who’s in charge? Who can make decisions? We want to settle the case,” said defense attorney Alice Michel, adding later that “I don’t know who I’m supposed to talk to.”
Defense attorneys questioned in court filings whether Sacramento County Dist. Atty. Anne Marie Schubert could alone negotiate a plea deal, of if she would have to have agreement from prosecutors in Santa Barbara, Orange and Ventura counties. DeAngelo also faces lesser charges from Tulare and Contra Costa counties.
That “is something that you probably should be entitled to know,” White said while urging the attorneys to work it out among themselves.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has a moratorium on executions while he is governor. But DeAngelo’s trial is likely several years away after what is projected to be a weeks-long preliminary hearing set to begin in May.
White allowed prosecutors, over defense objections, to take four more cheek-swab DNA samples from DeAngelo as they try to link him to old crimes.
Investigators surreptitiously collected DNA from DeAngelo more than two years ago that they say proves he is the rapist who broke into couples’ suburban homes at night, binding the man and piling dishes on his back. The armed and masked rapist would threaten to kill both victims if he heard the plates fall while he raped the woman.
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Collecting more DNA “is a minimally invasive procedure, unlike the crimes committed against so many of our victims,” said Cheryl Temple, a prosecutor from Ventura County who handled that portion of the hearing.
Investigators pioneered a method of building a family tree from old crime scene DNA, using a popular online DNA database to find a distant relative and eventually zero in on DeAngelo. The new process has since been used nationwide in other cases.
DeAngelo haltingly entered a courtroom cage supported at the elbows by two deputies. As usual, he never glanced at the crowd of spectators, looking instead in the general direction of the judge and nearly a dozen video and still cameras. He usually has stood ramrod straight during his hearings. On Thursday he periodically slumped his gaunt head.
His defense is currently being handled only by the Sacramento County public defender’s office, which says it is overwhelmed by the voluminous evidence in the case. It wants assistance from public defenders in the other counties.
White said what he called “an imbalance of resources” is “not right, it’s not appropriate,” though he had no immediate solution.
“It’s legitimate to coordinate these cases into one county,” White said, though defense attorneys are separately arguing that they have not been properly consolidated. “It’s another thing, though, to say one office, the public defender of Sacramento County, takes the burden of the entire defense and all its cost.”


latimes--2020-03-13--Coronavirus spreads alarm in Bay Area: Schools close and people keep their distance

The coronavirus continued to spread across the San Francisco Bay Area this week , causing more closures and changes in everyday life .
The economic effects were being felt widely across the area , where businesses like dry cleaners , dumpling restaurants and hair stylists were reporting a loss in business , with some reducing days of operation to deal with the dramatic decline .
In San Francisco on Thursday , the normally bustling Ferry Building Marketplace was largely empty , with customers keeping their distance from food shops manned by worried employees .
“ We usually have a line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Jade Kim , manager of Namu Stonepot .
Outside , a couple strolled through the empty square as seagulls and pigeons looked on .
“ It ’ s weird .
Things are super quiet .
There was nobody on BART , ” said Altoni Cabling , 28 , of her ride on a Bay Area Rapid Transit commuter train from her home in Oakland to San Francisco .
The number of coronavirus cases in Santa Clara County jumped to 66 , with at least 16 believed to be community spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive for the coronavirus , prompting precautionary actions by the Fire Department .
“ We don ’ t know how the firefighter contracted the illness , however , he is in a hospital in another city where he resides , being treated by medical professionals , ” the San Jose Fire Department said in a statement .
Several dozen fire officials identified as at risk were placed on leave .
Schools run by the Catholic Diocese of San Jose were closed Friday for at least two weeks , and begin distance learning on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ School District and San Mateo Union High School District also announced closures beginning Monday ; both said instruction would continue with remote learning .
San Francisco announced it was closing its public schools for three weeks , beginning Monday through the end of the previously scheduled spring break April 3 .
“ We know that this virus has the greatest likelihood of harming elderly people and those with underlying health conditions and chronic illnesses , ” Dr. Grant Colfax , San Francisco ’ s director of health , said in a statement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in California and Washington state , we have chosen to move aggressively to protect residents of long-term care facilities in our community by restricting visitors who could unwittingly bring exposure to the virus into the building with them .
”

A passenger from the Grand Princess cruise ship is taken ashore after the ship docked in Oakland on Tuesday.
The coronavirus continued to spread across the San Francisco Bay Area this week, causing more closures and changes in everyday life.
The economic effects were being felt widely across the area, where businesses like dry cleaners, dumpling restaurants and hair stylists were reporting a loss in business, with some reducing days of operation to deal with the dramatic decline.
In San Francisco on Thursday, the normally bustling Ferry Building Marketplace was largely empty, with customers keeping their distance from food shops manned by worried employees.
“We usually have a line of 10 to 15 people at lunchtime,” said Jade Kim, manager of Namu Stonepot.
Outside, a couple strolled through the empty square as seagulls and pigeons looked on.
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“It’s weird. Things are super quiet. There was nobody on BART,” said Altoni Cabling, 28, of her ride on a Bay Area Rapid Transit commuter train from her home in Oakland to San Francisco.
The number of coronavirus cases in Santa Clara County jumped to 66, with at least 16 believed to be community spread.
The county health department said 33 remain hospitalized.
A San Jose firefighter has tested positive for the coronavirus, prompting precautionary actions by the Fire Department.
“We don’t know how the firefighter contracted the illness, however, he is in a hospital in another city where he resides, being treated by medical professionals,” the San Jose Fire Department said in a statement. Several dozen fire officials identified as at risk were placed on leave.
Schools run by the Catholic Diocese of San Jose were closed Friday for at least two weeks, and begin distance learning on Tuesday.
The West Contra Costa Unified School District and San Mateo Union High School District also announced closures beginning Monday; both said instruction would continue with remote learning.
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San Francisco announced it was closing its public schools for three weeks, beginning Monday through the end of the previously scheduled spring break April 3.
San Francisco’s health officer issued an order banning non-essential visitors from long-term care facilities.
“We know that this virus has the greatest likelihood of harming elderly people and those with underlying health conditions and chronic illnesses,” Dr. Grant Colfax, San Francisco’s director of health, said in a statement. “Looking at the patterns of illness in California and Washington state, we have chosen to move aggressively to protect residents of long-term care facilities in our community by restricting visitors who could unwittingly bring exposure to the virus into the building with them.”


latimes--2020-03-13--Seeking access to developers, businessman worked to 'groom' L.A. officials, prosecutors say

The businessman who allegedly plied Los Angeles City Councilman Mitchell Englander with cash , an escort and a lavish night out in Las Vegas to gain access to real estate developers also used his largess to “ groom and cultivate ” other city officials , including at least one other council member , a federal prosecutor said Thursday .
Englander , who left the council in 2018 , made his first appearance in front of U.S. District Judge John F. Walter since his Monday arrest on charges he lied to investigators and obstructed justice by telling the businessman to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Assistant U.S. Atty .
Mack Jenkins provided new details of the government ’ s case against Englander and how it is linked to a larger , ongoing investigation into corruption at City Hall .
Prosecutors have concealed the identity of the businessman , citing the ongoing investigation .
However , during the hourlong hearing , Jenkins said the man — identified in Englander ’ s indictment as “ Businessperson A ” — operated two companies , one that sold cabinetry and another that sold electronic equipment used in homes .
Businessperson A , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ products to developers .
He decided the best way to get to those developers was to pay council members and city officials , the prosecutor said .
“ When it ’ s a billion-dollar project in downtown Los Angeles , that ’ s a lot of cabinets , ” Jenkins said .
Jenkins told the judge that Englander , 49 , stated on a disclosure form that he filed with the city ’ s Ethics Commission that he had received gifts worth $ 250 from Businessperson A .
The Times obtained a copy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Englander said he had received $ 250 worth of food and beverages on June 1 , 2017 , from a man named Andrew Wang .
It is the only gift of that amount on the form , and the indictment against Englander states he traveled to Las Vegas with Businessperson A “ on or about June 1 , 2017.
” Wang did not respond to calls and messages seeking comment .
An office in Montclair that Wang listed in state records as the address for several of his businesses was locked Thursday afternoon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pressed a door buzzer and knocked .
People familiar with Wang ’ s business dealings said he sold products that match the description Jenkins gave of Businessperson A ’ s companies in court Thursday .
In a showroom on the 28th floor of an office tower in downtown Los Angeles , Wang displayed home electronics , cabinetry and other home furnishings , according to two people who visited the space in recent years .
Wang was trying to sell the products to developers who were constructing buildings downtown and in other parts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , who went to the showroom on multiple occasions .
Wang ’ s “ smart home ” electronics allowed customers to use their phones to perform such tasks as adjusting a room ’ s air conditioning , lowering window blinds and turning on lighting , said the person , who asked to remain unnamed to avoid being incorrectly linked to a criminal case .
The showroom “ was like different rooms you would see in a home .
There was a living room setup , a kitchen setup .
You could demo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would work , ” said the second person , who toured the space in 2017 .
The indictment against Englander said that at one point in 2018 , the then-councilman agreed to tour a showroom run by Businessperson A .
The document did not provide the location of the showroom .
A Times reporter went to the office tower Wednesday and was told by a security guard that NextData Automation , the company used to market the home technology products , is no longer in the building .
Englander ’ s gift @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wang ; it matches that of a political donor who appears in Englander contribution records as Andy Wang .
In turn , Wang is listed in state records as the chief executive of several companies in Montclair , including NextData Automation .
In court on Thursday , prosecutors described how Englander , one of his aides , a lobbyist , a staffer to another council member and a developer traveled to Las Vegas on a commercial flight with Businessperson A. Businessperson A provided Englander with a hotel room , perks reserved for high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the indictment .
He also paid a $ 24,000 liquor tab the group ran up while at a nightclub , the indictment says .
In a bathroom in the Las Vegas hotel , Businessperson A allegedly gave Englander an envelope with $ 10,000 in cash , according to the indictment .
The pair met again later that month in a bathroom at a casino resort near Palm Springs , where Businessperson A allegedly gave the councilman another $ 5,000 in cash , the indictment states .
A week later , Englander arranged for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ estate developer over lunch , prosecutors said .
Following the lunch , Jenkins said , Businessperson A tried to sell the developer his products .
Those discussions , however , fell apart after prosecutors began issuing subpoenas to the developer ’ s firm and other companies entangled in the broader City Hall probe , Jenkins said .
Jenkins said Thursday that Businessperson A , in his attempt to get to developers , tried to “ groom and cultivate ” other city officials besides Englander , including at least one other council member .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ agents interviewed Businessperson A several weeks after the Las Vegas trip , and he eventually agreed to cooperate with the investigation , according to the indictment .
Much of the case against Englander relies on intercepted phone calls and recordings Businessperson A secretly made of conversations with the councilman , Jenkins said Thursday .
In all , there are about eight hours of recordings involving Englander , Jenkins said .
The government also collected messages Englander and Businessperson A exchanged using a phone app that encrypts and automatically deletes messages .
To record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A took photos of them using a phone given to him by FBI agents , Jenkins said .
Jenkins also told the judge he believes Englander chose to receive the cash payments in bathrooms , likely knowing the casinos did not install cameras there .
The other unnamed city officials who accompanied Englander on the Las Vegas trip are expected to testify against the former councilman if the case goes to trial , Jenkins said .
He did not say whether the officials will also be charged .
Englander , who now lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ City Hall figure to be publicly charged in connection with a sweeping corruption probe that has delved into the worlds of L.A. politics and real estate development .
A federal search warrant filed more than a year ago indicated that agents have been seeking evidence of potential crimes including bribery , kickbacks , extortion and money laundering involving more than a dozen people , including city officials and business figures .
That warrant also sought information on Las Vegas trips .
The judge set a trial date for May 5 but said that @ @ @ @ @

Emily Alpert Reyes, David Zahniser, Joel Rubin

Former Los Angeles City Councilman Mitchell Englander leaves Los Angeles federal court with his wife, Jayne, left, and attorney Janet I. Levine on Thursday.
The businessman who allegedly plied Los Angeles City Councilman Mitchell Englander with cash, an escort and a lavish night out in Las Vegas to gain access to real estate developers also used his largess to “groom and cultivate” other city officials, including at least one other council member, a federal prosecutor said Thursday.
Englander, who left the council in 2018, made his first appearance in front of U.S. District Judge John F. Walter since his Monday arrest on charges he lied to investigators and obstructed justice by telling the businessman to do the same.
During the hearing, Assistant U.S. Atty. Mack Jenkins provided new details of the government’s case against Englander and how it is linked to a larger, ongoing investigation into corruption at City Hall.
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Prosecutors have concealed the identity of the businessman, citing the ongoing investigation. However, during the hourlong hearing, Jenkins said the man — identified in Englander’s indictment as “Businessperson A” — operated two companies, one that sold cabinetry and another that sold electronic equipment used in homes.
Businessperson A, Jenkins said, wanted to sell his products to developers. He decided the best way to get to those developers was to pay council members and city officials, the prosecutor said.
“When it’s a billion-dollar project in downtown Los Angeles, that’s a lot of cabinets,” Jenkins said.
Englander’s attorney, Janet I. Levine, declined to comment.
Jenkins told the judge that Englander, 49, stated on a disclosure form that he filed with the city’s Ethics Commission that he had received gifts worth $250 from Businessperson A.
The Times obtained a copy of that form. On it, Englander said he had received $250 worth of food and beverages on June 1, 2017, from a man named Andrew Wang. It is the only gift of that amount on the form, and the indictment against Englander states he traveled to Las Vegas with Businessperson A “on or about June 1, 2017.”
Wang did not respond to calls and messages seeking comment. An office in Montclair that Wang listed in state records as the address for several of his businesses was locked Thursday afternoon. No one answered when a reporter pressed a door buzzer and knocked.
People familiar with Wang’s business dealings said he sold products that match the description Jenkins gave of Businessperson A’s companies in court Thursday.
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In a showroom on the 28th floor of an office tower in downtown Los Angeles, Wang displayed home electronics, cabinetry and other home furnishings, according to two people who visited the space in recent years.
Wang was trying to sell the products to developers who were constructing buildings downtown and in other parts of the city, said one of the people, who went to the showroom on multiple occasions.
Wang’s “smart home” electronics allowed customers to use their phones to perform such tasks as adjusting a room’s air conditioning, lowering window blinds and turning on lighting, said the person, who asked to remain unnamed to avoid being incorrectly linked to a criminal case.
The showroom “was like different rooms you would see in a home. There was a living room setup, a kitchen setup. You could demo some of the technology, see how it would work,” said the second person, who toured the space in 2017.
The indictment against Englander said that at one point in 2018, the then-councilman agreed to tour a showroom run by Businessperson A. The document did not provide the location of the showroom.
A Times reporter went to the office tower Wednesday and was told by a security guard that NextData Automation, the company used to market the home technology products, is no longer in the building.
Englander’s gift report gives a Diamond Bar address for Wang; it matches that of a political donor who appears in Englander contribution records as Andy Wang. In turn, Wang is listed in state records as the chief executive of several companies in Montclair, including NextData Automation.
In court on Thursday, prosecutors described how Englander, one of his aides, a lobbyist, a staffer to another council member and a developer traveled to Las Vegas on a commercial flight with Businessperson A.
Businessperson A provided Englander with a hotel room, perks reserved for high rollers and an escort, according to the indictment. He also paid a $24,000 liquor tab the group ran up while at a nightclub, the indictment says.
In a bathroom in the Las Vegas hotel, Businessperson A allegedly gave Englander an envelope with $10,000 in cash, according to the indictment. The pair met again later that month in a bathroom at a casino resort near Palm Springs, where Businessperson A allegedly gave the councilman another $5,000 in cash, the indictment states.
A week later, Englander arranged for Businessperson A to meet with a real estate developer over lunch, prosecutors said.
Following the lunch, Jenkins said, Businessperson A tried to sell the developer his products. Those discussions, however, fell apart after prosecutors began issuing subpoenas to the developer’s firm and other companies entangled in the broader City Hall probe, Jenkins said.
Jenkins said Thursday that Businessperson A, in his attempt to get to developers, tried to “groom and cultivate” other city officials besides Englander, including at least one other council member. He did not identify them.
FBI agents interviewed Businessperson A several weeks after the Las Vegas trip, and he eventually agreed to cooperate with the investigation, according to the indictment.
Much of the case against Englander relies on intercepted phone calls and recordings Businessperson A secretly made of conversations with the councilman, Jenkins said Thursday. In all, there are about eight hours of recordings involving Englander, Jenkins said.
The government also collected messages Englander and Businessperson A exchanged using a phone app that encrypts and automatically deletes messages. To record the messages before they disappeared, Businessperson A took photos of them using a phone given to him by FBI agents, Jenkins said.
Jenkins also told the judge he believes Englander chose to receive the cash payments in bathrooms, likely knowing the casinos did not install cameras there.
The other unnamed city officials who accompanied Englander on the Las Vegas trip are expected to testify against the former councilman if the case goes to trial, Jenkins said. He did not say whether the officials will also be charged.
Englander, who now lives in Santa Monica, is the first City Hall figure to be publicly charged in connection with a sweeping corruption probe that has delved into the worlds of L.A. politics and real estate development.
A federal search warrant filed more than a year ago indicated that agents have been seeking evidence of potential crimes including bribery, kickbacks, extortion and money laundering involving more than a dozen people, including city officials and business figures. That warrant also sought information on Las Vegas trips.
The judge set a trial date for May 5 but said that was likely to change.


latimes--2020-03-13--Have you lost work because of the coronavirus?

As the novel coronavirus spreads , we want to hear from readers .
How has it affected your job ?
@ @ @ @ @ to COVID-19 concerns ?
Share your experiences with us by answering the questions below .

As the novel coronavirus spreads, we want to hear from readers. How has it affected your job? Have you lost work due to COVID-19 concerns? Share your experiences with us by answering the questions below.
Coronavirus live updates The Los Angeles Times will provide around-the-clock updates on COVID-19 from across Southern California and around the world.


latimes--2020-03-13--Lopez: Lighter traffic, easy restaurant reservations and other perks of the pandemic

This just in : At 11:30 a.m. , in Grand Central Market in downtown Los Angeles , I counted just seven people in line at Eggslut .
This is bigger news than the stock market crash .
I ’ ve never seen such a short line at this eatery , where millennials and others are always more than happy to queue up and wait eons for an egg sandwich .
The coronavirus may be scary , but there are upsides , it seems .
At 11:40 a.m. , only one person was in line at Eggslut .
It was me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in line .
I just wanted to ask if business had ever been slower .
“ No , ” said Eli Watson , who manned the cash register .
I don ’ t want to minimize the potential impact of the coronavirus .
We know it ’ s a killer and have no idea how much further it will spread .
We also have no idea how much our lives will be altered .
Already , people are out of work , the markets have tanked and , if panic buying gets any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of toilet paper by tomorrow morning .
But my colleagues were kibitzing in our downtown bureau the other day about how easy it is to get a restaurant reservation just about anywhere , and it ’ s tempting to get lost in the idea of a livable Los Angeles , where you can breeze from here to there in a fraction of the time and avoid crowds at even the most popular eateries .
Traffic was indeed lighter than normal as I tooled around Thursday morning , both before and after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t try to get anywhere near a supermarket .
The Harbor , Golden State and Santa Monica freeways didn ’ t offer clear sailing , but the misery quotient was lower than usual .
Lance Hill of Torrance e-mailed me to say that his daughter ’ s 30-minute commute to his house , where she drops off his grandchild before continuing to work , is now a 20-minute commute .
Hill , a retired civil engineer , knows this because he uses an app to monitor traffic as he follows his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I noticed that her freeway was lighter , and I checked to see if traffic was lighter all over L.A. , and it was , ” Hill said when I gave him a call .
He knows more than he ’ d like to about the near-daily backup at the intersection of the 91 and 710 freeways , Hill said , and there ’ s been much less congestion in recent days .
This is no surprise , as schools are closed , events canceled , and employees encouraged to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are the repeated reminders to stay away from each other , with warnings every two minutes to practice “ social distancing.
” But Hill is wondering whether some of this doesn ’ t give us hope for the long run .
Might companies now realize that telecommuting can work ?
And might that lower the volume of cars on the road even after the crisis passes ?
“ We spend billions of dollars ” on transportation projects that take years to complete , Hill said .
“ Why can ’ t we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incentivize companies and people ” to allow more telecommuting ?
“ Give an employee a computer and a tax break.
” Hill is onto something , said local transportation guru Martin Wachs , distinguished professor emeritus of urban planning at UCLA .
“ Small changes in traffic volumes can make large changes in travel times , ” said Wachs .
“ So , at peak hour , when people are moving at 10 miles an hour , if you remove 7 % of the traffic , you could be moving at 35 miles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stayed home Thursday but was able to monitor a traffic safety conference online .
One problem , he said , is that many workers , such as restaurant employees , can ’ t telecommute .
And then there are the many employers who don ’ t allow telecommuting , Wachs said , because they don ’ t trust their employees to be as efficient when working from home .
But he noted that L.A. officials are studying congestion pricing as a traffic deterrent , and if there is a stiff fee for traveling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it could lead to more telecommuting .
Don ’ t get too excited , because in a region with millions of people and vehicles , lighter traffic wouldn ’ t mean no traffic .
But at mid-morning Thursday , I arrived at the Original Farmers Market at Third and Fairfax far faster than usual , and when I got there , two-thirds of the parking lot was empty .
The only person at E.B .
's Beer & Wine was the bartender , Ryan Morrison .
It was mid-morning , but I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that hour many a time .
Morrison was watching the Players Championship golf tournament and noted that fans would not be allowed to attend the match this weekend thanks to the virus .
The thought of a barkeep with no customers , watching a golf tournament with no fans , might just get me to the beer garden this weekend .
Come on , can ’ t we be careful and safe without having to wave a white flag ?
Cathy and Bob Pringle aren ’ t staying home .
They were enjoying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the L.A. Times at a table near Coffee Corner .
They told me they weren ’ t panicking but would have liked more information from President Trump ’ s Wednesday-night address regarding what ’ s being done to make more virus testing available to people with symptoms .
Driving back downtown , I heard on the radio that Anthony Fauci , one of the nation ’ s top health officials , acknowledged in a congressional hearing that our testing efforts to date haven ’ t been up to snuff .
“ That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failing .
Let ’ s admit it , ” he said .
I tuned in to Rush Limbaugh for a different perspective .
The radio host , a recent recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom , was defending Trump to the hilt , saying the president was on top of things and that his critics were hyping hysteria as a way to bash him .
“ We ’ re talking about a virus that comes from the family of the common cold , ” Limbaugh said .
This is true .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Bernie Sanders both come from the East Coast .
Limbaugh then made fun of the calls from public health experts to refrain from hand-shaking and hugging .
Don ’ t hug anyone , he said mockingly .
“ That ’ s how Harvey Weinstein got in trouble.
” One good thing about lighter traffic is that you get to your destination faster , and off goes the radio .
My last stop was Chinatown , because I was thinking the combination of rain and the virus pandemic might mean I could finally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s without having to stand in line for three hours .
I parked , walked over in steady rain , and the dream died .
About 70 people were in line , with none of the prescribed social distancing .
We have entered a new frontier in Los Angeles , but some things never change .

Is it possible the pandemic could point the way to lighter traffic if we all learn that telecommuting works?
This just in:
At 11:30 a.m., in Grand Central Market in downtown Los Angeles, I counted just seven people in line at Eggslut.
This is bigger news than the stock market crash.
I’ve never seen such a short line at this eatery, where millennials and others are always more than happy to queue up and wait eons for an egg sandwich.
The coronavirus may be scary, but there are upsides, it seems.
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At 11:40 a.m., only one person was in line at Eggslut. It was me, and I wasn’t really in line. I just wanted to ask if business had ever been slower.
“No,” said Eli Watson, who manned the cash register.
I don’t want to minimize the potential impact of the coronavirus. We know it’s a killer and have no idea how much further it will spread. We also have no idea how much our lives will be altered. Already, people are out of work, the markets have tanked and, if panic buying gets any worse, Southern California stores will be out of toilet paper by tomorrow morning.
But my colleagues were kibitzing in our downtown bureau the other day about how easy it is to get a restaurant reservation just about anywhere, and it’s tempting to get lost in the idea of a livable Los Angeles, where you can breeze from here to there in a fraction of the time and avoid crowds at even the most popular eateries.
Traffic was indeed lighter than normal as I tooled around Thursday morning, both before and after the rains arrived, as long as I didn’t try to get anywhere near a supermarket. The Harbor, Golden State and Santa Monica freeways didn’t offer clear sailing, but the misery quotient was lower than usual.
Lance Hill of Torrance e-mailed me to say that his daughter’s 30-minute commute to his house, where she drops off his grandchild before continuing to work, is now a 20-minute commute.
Hill, a retired civil engineer, knows this because he uses an app to monitor traffic as he follows his daughter’s progress toward his home.
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“I noticed that her freeway was lighter, and I checked to see if traffic was lighter all over L.A., and it was,” Hill said when I gave him a call.
He knows more than he’d like to about the near-daily backup at the intersection of the 91 and 710 freeways, Hill said, and there’s been much less congestion in recent days.
This is no surprise, as schools are closed, events canceled, and employees encouraged to work from home if possible. And then there are the repeated reminders to stay away from each other, with warnings every two minutes to practice “social distancing.”
But Hill is wondering whether some of this doesn’t give us hope for the long run. Might companies now realize that telecommuting can work? And might that lower the volume of cars on the road even after the crisis passes?
“We spend billions of dollars” on transportation projects that take years to complete, Hill said. “Why can’t we take that money and use it to incentivize companies and people” to allow more telecommuting? “Give an employee a computer and a tax break.”
Hill is onto something, said local transportation guru Martin Wachs, distinguished professor emeritus of urban planning at UCLA.
“Small changes in traffic volumes can make large changes in travel times,” said Wachs. “So, at peak hour, when people are moving at 10 miles an hour, if you remove 7% of the traffic, you could be moving at 35 miles an hour.”
Wachs noted that he stayed home Thursday but was able to monitor a traffic safety conference online. One problem, he said, is that many workers, such as restaurant employees, can’t telecommute. And then there are the many employers who don’t allow telecommuting, Wachs said, because they don’t trust their employees to be as efficient when working from home.
But he noted that L.A. officials are studying congestion pricing as a traffic deterrent, and if there is a stiff fee for traveling in high-volume corridors at peak hours, it could lead to more telecommuting.
Don’t get too excited, because in a region with millions of people and vehicles, lighter traffic wouldn’t mean no traffic. But at mid-morning Thursday, I arrived at the Original Farmers Market at Third and Fairfax far faster than usual, and when I got there, two-thirds of the parking lot was empty.
The only person at E.B.’s Beer & Wine was the bartender, Ryan Morrison. It was mid-morning, but I’ve seen butts in seats there at that hour many a time. Morrison was watching the Players Championship golf tournament and noted that fans would not be allowed to attend the match this weekend thanks to the virus.
The thought of a barkeep with no customers, watching a golf tournament with no fans, might just get me to the beer garden this weekend. Come on, can’t we be careful and safe without having to wave a white flag?
Cathy and Bob Pringle aren’t staying home. They were enjoying a cup of Joe while sharing sections of the L.A. Times at a table near Coffee Corner. They told me they weren’t panicking but would have liked more information from President Trump’s Wednesday-night address regarding what’s being done to make more virus testing available to people with symptoms.
Driving back downtown, I heard on the radio that Anthony Fauci, one of the nation’s top health officials, acknowledged in a congressional hearing that our testing efforts to date haven’t been up to snuff. “That is a failing. It is a failing. Let’s admit it,” he said.
I tuned in to Rush Limbaugh for a different perspective. The radio host, a recent recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, was defending Trump to the hilt, saying the president was on top of things and that his critics were hyping hysteria as a way to bash him.
“We’re talking about a virus that comes from the family of the common cold,” Limbaugh said.
This is true. But it’s like saying that Trump and Bernie Sanders both come from the East Coast.
Limbaugh then made fun of the calls from public health experts to refrain from hand-shaking and hugging. Don’t hug anyone, he said mockingly. “That’s how Harvey Weinstein got in trouble.”
One good thing about lighter traffic is that you get to your destination faster, and off goes the radio.
My last stop was Chinatown, because I was thinking the combination of rain and the virus pandemic might mean I could finally get some chicken at Howlin’ Ray’s without having to stand in line for three hours.
I parked, walked over in steady rain, and the dream died.
About 70 people were in line, with none of the prescribed social distancing.
We have entered a new frontier in Los Angeles, but some things never change.
Steve.lopez@latimes.com