latimes--2020-11-11--Scarred by fire, California's first state park remains closed. Can Big Basin recover?

When Big Basin fell victim to California ’ s record-setting wildfires this fall , at least one conservation group mourned its scorched landscape and questioned if the state park would ever recover .
Two months later , the park remains indefinitely closed , crews are working to clear “ hazard trees ” — those that could come crashing down — and the debate continues on whether its redwood forest can rebound as it did after past fires .
Some scientists say California is entering uncharted territory with climate change , leaving coastal redwoods with conditions that are hotter and less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t know what things will look like , ” said Emily J. Francis , a forestry ecologist at the University of Texas who has studied Big Basin ’ s redwoods .
“ There are a lot of challenges , a lot of questions , and a lot of unknown.
” Big Basin is not just an expanse of redwoods where Californians have fond memories of hiking and camping .
It is California ’ s first state park , created in 1902 to help launch a statewide movement to protect the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be seen in the park ’ s Headquarters Administration Building , built in 1936 by crews from the Civilian Conservation Corps .
Now those headquarters and other structures have turned to ash .
Hundreds of old- and second-growth redwoods burned , too — the centuries-old trees charred black and gutted .
During a recent visit , dozens of forestry crews could be seen felling , culling and logging trees along Route 236 , the park ’ s major thoroughfare — roughly two months after the CZU Lightning Complex fire burned through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ separates Silicon Valley from the Pacific Ocean .
The park ’ s forest , once verdantly lush with green ferns and low-creeping brush under the canopy of the towering trees , was glaringly sunlit — brightened by the reflective light gray ash now carpeting the understory .
The park still smelled like a campfire , and small fires still burned in spots .
Savannah Rigny , a field technician for the environmental consulting firm Dudek , which has been contracted by the California Department of Transportation to assess the condition of trees along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ band taped around the base of a semi-scorched Douglas fir .
“ That means it has to be removed , ” she said , “ but there ’ s enough harvestable wood to make it useful.
” Farther down the road , a logging crew was chainsawing the marked trees , which , in the case of some of the older and bigger ones , fell with deafening , thunderous claps — momentarily silencing the fat and gleeful woodpeckers , who ’ d been pecking away at the park ’ s nearly inexhaustible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grubs and nutritious bugs .
Gabe McKenna , a state parks safety officer and ranger , said the August fire burned roughly 97 % of the park ’ s 18,224 acres .
The park contains 4,400 acres of old-growth redwood forest and 11,300 acres of secondary growth .
The rest is a mix of other forest types .
Noting that fire is a natural condition in these damp , coastal forests — and that dead trees provide an important habitat for a variety of animals , such as banana slugs , and plants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visitors and workers have to be removed .
“ The initial assessment … showed that a large amount of trees will fall across Highway 236 in the near future if not removed , ” he said .
He added that environmental scientists with the state were working with contractors to “ stress the importance ” of these trees for the environment .
As the beep-beep-beep of a Bobcat tractor echoed up the roadway , Rigny noted that many of the burned trees she was assessing weren ’ t dead .
Drawing a visitor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to clusters of green stems protruding from the trunks of massive , charbroiled redwoods near the road .
She then motioned across the forest floor ’ s expanse , where green shoots and fronds poked through the carpet of silty , dusty ash .
“ It ’ s coming back , ” she said .
“ These forests are resilient.
” Burn scars on old-growth redwoods throughout the region indicate both past fires and fire resistance .
Newspapers , archival journal entries from European and American explorers , and oral histories from Indigenous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Ohlone , also chronicle a history of the region steeped in fire .
In 1904 , a huge conflagration burned through the park , said Dustin Mulvaney , professor of environmental studies at San Jose State University .
Mulvaney has been researching the area ’ s fire history , and said the CZU Lightning Complex fire moved through the park and mountains in the path of the 1904 blaze — following the same ridges and pathways .
“ It ’ s the same places getting burned , ” he said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s fire along the park ’ s China Grade and Bonny Doon ’ s Empire Grade .
Mulvaney also referred to a Sept. 9 , 1904 , headline from the Santa Cruz Evening Sentinel , which suggested the 2-year-old park “ seems to be doomed ” after a major conflagration burned through the area , destroying park buildings and homes .
A major difference , though , was that before that 1904 fire , the area had been heavily logged — with downed lumber everywhere , and a fraction of the trees present @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
The Sempervirens Fund , one of the oldest conservation organizations dedicated to redwoods , is less than certain the forest will fully recover .
Immediately after the fires , the organization sent out a news release suggesting the park and its oldest redwoods were “ gone.
” Matt Shaffer , the organization ’ s spokesman , said the initial reports out of the park were dire .
But he is hopeful for the forest ’ s regeneration , noting there are many challenges ahead — not only for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ structures , but also for the regrowth of trees and an ecosystem that evolved in a different climate .
“ We need to do what we can , now , to shore up these forests for the long term , ” he said , adding that , despite the encouraging signs of regrowth , “ we ’ re not out of the woods , yet.
” The oldest of the old-growth redwoods in the mountains probably sprouted more than 2,000 years ago , into a forest nursery different from the one their descendants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In the Santa Cruz Mountains , temperatures are increasing , heat waves are becoming more common and prolonged , droughts are intensifying , and fog patterns are changing .
It was these very elements that turned the mountains into such a tinderbox this past summer , said Francis , the University of Texas researcher .
These trees “ grew up in a climate that was well-suited to their ranges , ” she said .
“ Meanwhile , the climate is changing in the background.
” “ I ’ m not sure the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face of a changed climate , ” she said .
“ These trees are adapted to fire , and fires that are not too severe can actually help redwoods outcompete other species like tanoaks .
But we ’ ve totally changed the playing field for them .
The fires are hotter , and the conditions under which the forests are regenerating are different than they were in the past.
” She also pointed to research showing that urbanization had raised the fog ceiling in areas , as well as a government study documenting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days .
Fog is critical for redwood survival .
If there is no fog , or if it is “ too high , the trees can ’ t access the moisture from fog drip , ” Francis said .
And that ’ s a problem if climate change disrupts precipitation patterns , making droughts more common or intense ; redwoods are drought-tolerant because they can siphon moisture from fog , she said .
The park is still closed to visitors , and McKenna said there were no immediate plans for reopening .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hazard trees , with harvestable wood being sent to a mill for processing ; the proceeds will offset the operation , said Kevin Drabinski , a spokesman for Caltrans .
Only a small number of redwoods came down , he said .
And those will stay in the park for building restoration .
“ We have a lot still to do to make sure it is safe for people to return , ” said McKenna , the park ranger , noting that winter rains could add another hazard to the now-destabilized ground cover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
“ But we ’ ll get there .
”

When Big Basin fell victim to California’s record-setting wildfires this fall, at least one conservation group mourned its scorched landscape and questioned if the state park would ever recover.
Two months later, the park remains indefinitely closed, crews are working to clear “hazard trees” — those that could come crashing down — and the debate continues on whether its redwood forest can rebound as it did after past fires. Some scientists say California is entering uncharted territory with climate change, leaving coastal redwoods with conditions that are hotter and less foggy than before.
“We just don’t know what things will look like,” said Emily J. Francis, a forestry ecologist at the University of Texas who has studied Big Basin’s redwoods. “There are a lot of challenges, a lot of questions, and a lot of unknown.”
Big Basin is not just an expanse of redwoods where Californians have fond memories of hiking and camping. It is California’s first state park, created in 1902 to help launch a statewide movement to protect the state’s ancient redwoods. Its history could be seen in the park’s Headquarters Administration Building, built in 1936 by crews from the Civilian Conservation Corps.
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Crews are cutting down many of the roadside trees in Big Basin Redwoods State Park to prevent danger to future visitors. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
Now those headquarters and other structures have turned to ash. Hundreds of old- and second-growth redwoods burned, too — the centuries-old trees charred black and gutted.
During a recent visit, dozens of forestry crews could be seen felling, culling and logging trees along Route 236, the park’s major thoroughfare — roughly two months after the CZU Lightning Complex fire burned through the vast mountain expanse of coastal redwoods that separates Silicon Valley from the Pacific Ocean.
The park’s forest, once verdantly lush with green ferns and low-creeping brush under the canopy of the towering trees, was glaringly sunlit — brightened by the reflective light gray ash now carpeting the understory.
The park still smelled like a campfire, and small fires still burned in spots.
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Savannah Rigny, a field technician for the environmental consulting firm Dudek, which has been contracted by the California Department of Transportation to assess the condition of trees along the roadway, pointed to a blue band taped around the base of a semi-scorched Douglas fir.
A row of charred vehicles in Big Basin Redwoods State Park, which was hit by a wildfire in August. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
“That means it has to be removed,” she said, “but there’s enough harvestable wood to make it useful.”
Farther down the road, a logging crew was chainsawing the marked trees, which, in the case of some of the older and bigger ones, fell with deafening, thunderous claps — momentarily silencing the fat and gleeful woodpeckers, who’d been pecking away at the park’s nearly inexhaustible supply of dead trees, capturing tasty grubs and nutritious bugs.
Gabe McKenna, a state parks public safety superintendent, said the August fire burned roughly 97% of the park’s 18,224 acres. The park contains 4,400 acres of old-growth redwood forest and 11,300 acres of secondary growth. The rest is a mix of other forest types.
Noting that fire is a natural condition in these damp, coastal forests — and that dead trees provide an important habitat for a variety of animals, such as banana slugs, and plants — those that pose a risk to visitors and workers have to be removed.
Advertisement
“The initial assessment … showed that a large amount of trees will fall across Highway 236 in the near future if not removed,” he said. He added that environmental scientists with the state were working with contractors to “stress the importance” of these trees for the environment.
As the beep-beep-beep of a Bobcat tractor echoed up the roadway, Rigny noted that many of the burned trees she was assessing weren’t dead.
The fire roughly burned 97% of Big Basin Redwoods State Park’s 18,224 acres. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
Drawing a visitor’s eyes upward, she pointed to clusters of green stems protruding from the trunks of massive, charbroiled redwoods near the road. She then motioned across the forest floor’s expanse, where green shoots and fronds poked through the carpet of silty, dusty ash.
“It’s coming back,” she said. “These forests are resilient.”
Burn scars on old-growth redwoods throughout the region indicate both past fires and fire resistance.
Newspapers, archival journal entries from European and American explorers, and oral histories from Indigenous peoples, including the Ahma Mutsun band of the Ohlone, also chronicle a history of the region steeped in fire.
Advertisement
In 1904, a huge conflagration burned through the park, said Dustin Mulvaney, professor of environmental studies at San Jose State University.
Mulvaney has been researching the area’s fire history, and said the CZU Lightning Complex fire moved through the park and mountains in the path of the 1904 blaze — following the same ridges and pathways.
“It’s the same places getting burned,” he said, noting the creep of this year’s fire along the park’s China Grade and Bonny Doon’s Empire Grade.
Gabe McKenna, a state parks public safety superintendent, said that “the initial assessment … showed that a large amount of trees will fall across Highway 236 in the near future if not removed.” (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
Mulvaney also referred to a Sept. 9, 1904, headline from the Santa Cruz Evening Sentinel, which suggested the 2-year-old park “seems to be doomed” after a major conflagration burned through the area, destroying park buildings and homes.
A major difference, though, was that before that 1904 fire, the area had been heavily logged — with downed lumber everywhere, and a fraction of the trees present today.
“But it came back,” he said.
The Sempervirens Fund, one of the oldest conservation organizations dedicated to redwoods, is less than certain the forest will fully recover. Immediately after the fires, the organization sent out a news release suggesting the park and its oldest redwoods were “gone.”
Advertisement
Matt Shaffer, the organization’s spokesman, said the initial reports out of the park were dire. But he is hopeful for the forest’s regeneration, noting there are many challenges ahead — not only for the rebuilding of the park and its structures, but also for the regrowth of trees and an ecosystem that evolved in a different climate.
“We need to do what we can, now, to shore up these forests for the long term,” he said, adding that, despite the encouraging signs of regrowth, “we’re not out of the woods, yet.”
The oldest of the old-growth redwoods in the mountains probably sprouted more than 2,000 years ago, into a forest nursery different from the one their descendants now face.
The climate is changing. In the Santa Cruz Mountains, temperatures are increasing, heat waves are becoming more common and prolonged, droughts are intensifying, and fog patterns are changing.
It was these very elements that turned the mountains into such a tinderbox this past summer, said Francis, the University of Texas researcher.
These trees “grew up in a climate that was well-suited to their ranges,” she said. “Meanwhile, the climate is changing in the background.”
Advertisement
Before the August blaze, Big Basin Redwoods State Park contained 4,400 acres of old-growth redwood forest and 11,300 acres of secondary growth. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
“I’m not sure the forest will look the same in the face of a changed climate,” she said. “These trees are adapted to fire, and fires that are not too severe can actually help redwoods outcompete other species like tanoaks. But we’ve totally changed the playing field for them. The fires are hotter, and the conditions under which the forests are regenerating are different than they were in the past.”
She also pointed to research showing that urbanization had raised the fog ceiling in areas, as well as a government study documenting a decrease in the number of foggy days. Fog is critical for redwood survival.
If there is no fog, or if it is “too high, the trees can’t access the moisture from fog drip,” Francis said.
And that’s a problem if climate change disrupts precipitation patterns, making droughts more common or intense; redwoods are drought-tolerant because they can siphon moisture from fog, she said.
The park is still closed to visitors, and McKenna said there were no immediate plans for reopening. In the meantime, crews are taking down hazard trees, with harvestable wood being sent to a mill for processing; the proceeds will offset the operation, said Kevin Drabinski, a spokesman for Caltrans.
Only a small number of redwoods came down, he said. And those will stay in the park for building restoration.
“We have a lot still to do to make sure it is safe for people to return,” said McKenna, the park ranger, noting that winter rains could add another hazard to the now-destabilized ground cover.
“It’ll take time,” he said. “But we’ll get there.”


latimes--2020-11-11--Britney Spears is 'afraid of her father,' scores small victory in conservatorship case

Pop star Britney Spears is actively fighting her father ’ s role as the conservator of her estate and has apparently taken a professional break to protest his broad control over her career and finances .
In Los Angeles County Superior Court on Tuesday , a judge upheld James “ Jamie ” Spears ’ role , but didn ’ t close the door on ousting him at a future date and — per the singer ’ s request — appointed a financial fiduciary as a co-conservator , according to court documents reviewed by The Times .
The hearing was set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delineating Britney Spears ’ expenses and her father ’ s expenditures on her behalf — as well as the appointment of conservators and the review of multiple motions .
During the hearing , attorneys for Spears and her mother , Lynne , reportedly urged the 38-year-old singer ’ s father to step down from the conservatorship , which has dictated the pop star ’ s life and career for more than a decade .
The `` ... Baby One More Time ” hit-maker is said to be afraid of her father and will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has control over her career — a role he ’ s taken on since her public unraveling in 2008 .
In January 2019 , she abruptly canceled her “ Britney : Domination ” residency in Las Vegas before it even began , then checked into a mental health facility .
She has not performed live since 2018 .
According to the Associated Press , Us Weekly and TMZ , Britney Spears ’ attorney blamed the singer ’ s professional hiatus on her father .
“ My client has informed me that she is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not perform as long as her father is in charge of her career , ” Samuel D. Ingham III said in the hearing conducted via phone and videoconference .
( Spears did not attend but her parents were present via video , according to court documents . )
Jamie Spears ’ attorney , Vivian Lee Thoreen , told the judge there she doesn ’ t believe “ there is a shred of evidence ” to support his suspension and objected to Ingham ’ s statements about the father-daughter relationship as inadmissible hearsay , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set for Dec. 16 at 9:30 a.m. Legal experts have told The Times that it is unusual for someone as young and productive as Spears to be in a probate conservatorship , typically used to protect the old , infirm and mentally disabled .
Her arrangement was expected to be temporary , as such conservatorships are usually intended for people who are not likely to get better and often remain in effect until the person dies .
Britney Spears ’ two-part conservatorship was meant to safeguard her person and her estate in 2008 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ star mounted a personal and professional comeback in the years since .
But the probate case ’ s unusually long duration has garnered interest and grown increasingly heated in the last year as the rampant , has gained traction .
Several developments occurred over the summer as Britney Spears and her team began to make more candid statements about her personal affairs in court filings — among them , repeated requests to recuse her father of his oversight duties altogether , reassigning control of her more than $ 60 million in assets to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the revelations were Spears ’ admission that and that she would no longer like to perform professionally .
( On Tuesday , Ingham referred to the mother of two as a “ high-functioning conservatee ” and said that she and her father had not spoken in a very long time . )
In an early September filing in Los Angeles Superior Court , the entertainer gave credence to the viral # FreeBritney campaign whose organizers Jamie Spears had Ingham asked the court to open to public scrutiny after it had been sealed at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Jamie Spears has argued that the family business should remain private .
Her father has stepped down from a separate role — the conservator of her person — in September 2019 after citing his own “ personal health reasons , ” but remained the conservator of her estate .
In August , the singer expressed her wishes to have him removed entirely .
She then requested that her temporary conservator of her person , Jodi Montgomery , be placed in a permanent role , and that a corporate fiduciary , Bessemer Trust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ estate .
At Tuesday ’ s hearing , Judge Brenda J. Penny denied Spears ’ request to suspend her father immediately upon the appointment of Bessemer as sole conservator of the estate .
But the decision was made without prejudice , meaning he can be suspended at a later time .
Earlier this month , Spears ’ younger sister , actress Jamie Lynn Spears , withdrew her petition to serve as a trustee to the singer ’ s SJB Trust .
She had been selected as trustee of the pop superstar ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ singer ’ s business manager , Lou M. Taylor , and her company , Tri Star Sports & Entertainment , also resigned .
The singer ’ s attorney also said that Jamie Spears appointed a new business manager , but didn ’ t inform the star .
In his own filings , Jamie Spears argued that he has done his job well and turned his daughter ’ s estate — once debt ridden and facing millions of dollars in lawsuits — into one worth more than $ 60 million .
The # FreeBritney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available developments in the case and has called for an investigation of the conservatorship .
Some fans associated with the campaign have long claimed that the pop star has been using social media to send coded cries for help ( for example , a follower previously urged her to wear a specific color outfit in her next Instagram post ; when she did , it was interpreted as a sign that she was requesting aid ) — but her camp has not publicly commented on those theories .
Organizers from the campaign told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subscribing to the # FreeBritney movement have studied the court documents available to the public , leading them to believe that the entertainer ’ s constitutional rights have been implicated and that some of her human rights are being violated .
On Tuesday , # FreeBritney organizers , who during hearings about the conservatorship usually protest outside the Stanley Mosk Courthouse , attended the public hearing and said that the appointment of Bessemer as a co-conservator was a “ big win for Britney.
” “ Ingham did a fantastic job fighting for Britney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vigneaux said .
“ We support Britney ’ s decision of not working while James Spears remains involved in and in control of her life .
”

Pop star Britney Spears is actively fighting her father’s role as the conservator of her estate and has apparently taken a professional break to protest his broad control over her career and finances.
In Los Angeles County Superior Court on Tuesday, a judge upheld James “Jamie” Spears’ role, but didn’t close the door on ousting him at a future date and — per the singer’s request — appointed a financial fiduciary as a co-conservator, according to court documents reviewed by The Times. The hearing was set to review accounting — an annual report delineating Britney Spears’ expenses and her father’s expenditures on her behalf — as well as the appointment of conservators and the review of multiple motions.
During the hearing, attorneys for Spears and her mother, Lynne, reportedly urged the 38-year-old singer’s father to step down from the conservatorship, which has dictated the pop star’s life and career for more than a decade.
The “... Baby One More Time” hit-maker is said to be afraid of her father and will reportedly not perform until he no longer has control over her career — a role he’s taken on since her public unraveling in 2008.
In January 2019, she abruptly canceled her “Britney: Domination” residency in Las Vegas before it even began, then checked into a mental health facility. She has not performed live since 2018. According to the Associated Press, Us Weekly and TMZ, Britney Spears’ attorney blamed the singer’s professional hiatus on her father.
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“My client has informed me that she is afraid of her father. She will not perform as long as her father is in charge of her career,” Samuel D. Ingham III said in the hearing conducted via phone and videoconference. (Spears did not attend but her parents were present via video, according to court documents.)
Jamie Spears’ attorney, Vivian Lee Thoreen, told the judge there she doesn’t believe “there is a shred of evidence” to support his suspension and objected to Ingham’s statements about the father-daughter relationship as inadmissible hearsay, AP reported.
Another hearing has been set for Dec. 16 at 9:30 a.m.
Legal experts have told The Times that it is unusual for someone as young and productive as Spears to be in a probate conservatorship, typically used to protect the old, infirm and mentally disabled. Her arrangement was expected to be temporary, as such conservatorships are usually intended for people who are not likely to get better and often remain in effect until the person dies.
Britney Spears’ two-part conservatorship was meant to safeguard her person and her estate in 2008, and has done so as the star mounted a personal and professional comeback in the years since. But the probate case’s unusually long duration has garnered interest and grown increasingly heated in the last year as the rampant, fan-fueled #FreeBritney movement has gained traction. Several developments occurred over the summer as Britney Spears and her team began to make more candid statements about her personal affairs in court filings — among them, repeated requests to recuse her father of his oversight duties altogether, reassigning control of her more than $60 million in assets to other conservators of her choosing.
Britney Spears’ father, James “Jamie” Spears. (Nick Ut / Associated Press)
Among the revelations were Spears’ admission that the conservatorship is “voluntary” and that she would no longer like to perform professionally. (On Tuesday, Ingham referred to the mother of two as a “high-functioning conservatee” and said that she and her father had not spoken in a very long time.)
In an early September filing in Los Angeles Superior Court, the entertainer gave credence to the viral #FreeBritney campaign whose organizers Jamie Spears had dismissed as “conspiracy theorists.” Ingham asked the court to open Britney Spears’ protracted conservatorship to public scrutiny after it had been sealed at her father’s behest for years. Jamie Spears has argued that the family business should remain private.
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Her father has stepped down from a separate role — the conservator of her person — in September 2019 after citing his own “personal health reasons,” but remained the conservator of her estate. In August, the singer expressed her wishes to have him removed entirely.
She then requested that her temporary conservator of her person, Jodi Montgomery, be placed in a permanent role, and that a corporate fiduciary, Bessemer Trust Co., be appointed to manage her estate.
At Tuesday’s hearing, Judge Brenda J. Penny denied Spears’ request to suspend her father immediately upon the appointment of Bessemer as sole conservator of the estate. But the decision was made without prejudice, meaning he can be suspended at a later time.
Earlier this month, Spears’ younger sister, actress Jamie Lynn Spears, withdrew her petition to serve as a trustee to the singer’s SJB Trust. She had been selected as trustee of the pop superstar’s multimillion-dollar estate two years ago.
The singer’s business manager, Lou M. Taylor, and her company, Tri Star Sports & Entertainment, also resigned. The singer’s attorney also said that Jamie Spears appointed a new business manager, but didn’t inform the star.
In his own filings, Jamie Spears argued that he has done his job well and turned his daughter’s estate — once debt ridden and facing millions of dollars in lawsuits — into one worth more than $60 million.
The #FreeBritney movement has closely followed the few publicly available developments in the case and has called for an investigation of the conservatorship. Some fans associated with the campaign have long claimed that the pop star has been using social media to send coded cries for help (for example, a follower previously urged her to wear a specific color outfit in her next Instagram post; when she did, it was interpreted as a sign that she was requesting aid) — but her camp has not publicly commented on those theories.
California Free Britney: Britney Spears’ conservatorship explained After more than a decade, why is Britney Spears still under a court-approved conservatorship, which leaves decisions involving her estate and everyday life to others?
Organizers from the campaign told The Times in August that many people subscribing to the #FreeBritney movement have studied the court documents available to the public, leading them to believe that the entertainer’s constitutional rights have been implicated and that some of her human rights are being violated.
On Tuesday, #FreeBritney organizers, who during hearings about the conservatorship usually protest outside the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, attended the public hearing and said that the appointment of Bessemer as a co-conservator was a “big win for Britney.”
“Ingham did a fantastic job fighting for Britney’s interests,” spokesperson Pilar Vigneaux said. “We support Britney’s decision of not working while James Spears remains involved in and in control of her life.”


latimes--2020-11-10--Prop. 15, which would have loosened California's business property tax rules, is defeated

California voters have rejected Proposition 15 , a ballot measure that sought to force large businesses to pay higher property taxes but likely fell victim to concerns about its economic impact on employers and consumers amid the pandemic-sparked recession .
The defeat , projected by the Associated Press on Tuesday , came with unofficial results showing almost 52 % of votes were cast against the measure — a level of opposition that remained consistent through the early counting of ballots on Nov. 3 and the week that followed .
While returns won ’ t be certified until early next month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are unlikely to be enough ballots remaining to change the outcome .
“ California voters understood the very real threat Proposition 15 presented to small businesses , farmers and consumers , ” Allan Zaremberg , president of the California Chamber of Commerce , said in a written statement .
“ Voters in California smartly recognized that enacting the largest tax hike in California history would have been devastating to jobs , our economy and California ’ s future competitiveness.
” Since its inception , Proposition 15 was a fight about a different ballot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ landmark initiative that created a tight cap on property values and tax rates .
The new proposal ’ s supporters spent years crafting their plan to strip high-value business properties from the protections provided by Proposition 13 , arguing that it had allowed powerful corporations to avoid paying property taxes they could easily afford .
The November ballot measure could have generated as much as $ 11.5 billion a year for public schools and local government services once fully implemented .
Where Proposition 13 sets the value of a property by its purchase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 % of the value , Proposition 15 would have generated new tax revenue by allowing more frequent valuations of commercial and industrial property holdings worth $ 3 million or more .
Some lower-valued properties would have also been swept into the system because their owners have large portfolios of property across California .
Proposition 15 was explicit in its protection of residential property tax rules , though some of its opponents ominously warned that it was the first step toward a complete overhaul , or outright repeal , of Proposition 13 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 made history by taking on the status quo to ensure California becomes a more prosperous and equitable state for everyone , ” Alex Stack , a Yes on 15 spokesperson , said in a written statement .
Supporters prevailed in Los Angeles , the Bay Area and a handful of California ’ s other coastal counties , according to unofficial returns .
But Proposition 15 ran into strong opposition just about everywhere else , resoundingly rejected in the Central Valley , Inland Empire and Orange and San Diego counties .
The final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as that found in a poll last month by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies , in which 49 % of likely voters said they would vote for Proposition 15 .
The business-funded campaign opposed to Proposition 15 said its own private polling found that voters who were undecided toward the end broke sharply against the measure .
Voters were not swayed by the promise of new , substantial tax revenue .
Approximately 40 % of the revenue would have been sent to K-12 schools and community colleges , while the remaining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cities and special districts for services such as law enforcement and fire suppression .
The Berkeley poll found that less than a majority of middle-aged voters and those who described themselves as moderates or conservatives believed the new tax revenue was needed .
While the homeowner tax protections of Proposition 13 have remained strongly popular over the last four decades , liberal interest groups and labor unions believed few voters realized that the low-tax rules also applied to multimillion-dollar corporations .
Numerous studies revealed that many of these companies , many headquartered in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operate in facilities where land values have changed very little since the 1970s — even as new businesses and homeowners alike pay taxes on property assessed more closely to market value .
Business groups that funded the opposition effort — contributing to a campaign with combined donations of more than $ 125 million — sought to divert attention away from large corporations and focus on Proposition 15 ’ s potential impact on small businesses .
Their advertising campaign hammered away at the fact that business owners who lease their location are often required @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the building owner ’ s property taxes .
It is unlikely that the defeat of Proposition 15 will be the end of the discussion for Proposition 13 critics .
The proposal had the support of Gov .
Gavin Newsom , who has also suggested broader reviews of California ’ s tax structure in an effort to limit some of the lingering effects of Proposition 13 — most notably , how the cut in property taxes made government services more dependent on income and sales taxes , both susceptible to rapid up-and-down changes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be contested by business groups , who argue that California is already one of the most expensive states in the country for entrepreneurs and corporate operations .

A four-decade quest to downsize Proposition 13, California’s famed limit on property taxes, has come up short after supporters failed to convince a new generation of voters that businesses should pay more to help fund schools and local services.
Defenders of the landmark 1978 tax-cutting initiative say that the defeat of this year’s proposal, Proposition 15, should serve as a warning to liberal activists and labor unions.
“Like it or not, Prop. 13 has almost mythical powers against those who would assail it,” Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn., wrote last week.
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On Tuesday, the Associated Press projected Proposition 15 had been defeated with 48% of votes in support and 52% opposed — more than 15 million votes have been tallied so far. Final results aren’t expected until the end of the month.
More than $139 million was spent by supporters and opponents combined on the Proposition 15 campaign. Its backers spent years crafting their plan to strip high-value business properties from the protections provided by Proposition 13, arguing that the long-standing law has allowed powerful corporations to avoid paying property taxes they can easily afford. Had they prevailed, independent analysts said, the higher business property taxes could have brought in as much as $11.5 billion a year in new funds for public schools and local governments.
The California Teachers Assn., one of the state’s most politically powerful labor unions, contributed more than $20 million to the campaign in favor of Proposition 15.
“We came very close, but we demonstrated the power of democracy in action. We demonstrated the difference we can make for ourselves and the next generation. That alone is a victory,” E. Toby Boyd, the union’s president, said in a statement.
Supporters prevailed in Los Angeles, the Bay Area and a handful of other coastal counties, according to unofficial returns. But Proposition 15 ran into strong opposition just about everywhere else, resoundingly rejected in the Central Valley, Inland Empire and Orange and San Diego counties.
The tally of support was close to that found in a poll last month by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies, in which 49% of likely voters said they would vote for Proposition 15. The business-funded campaign opposed to Proposition 15 said its own private polling found that voters who were undecided toward the end broke sharply against the measure.
Where Proposition 13 sets the value of a property by its purchase price and caps the annual tax at 1% of the value, Proposition 15 would have generated new tax revenue by allowing more frequent valuations of commercial and industrial property holdings worth $3 million or more. Some lower-valued properties would have also been swept into the system because their owners have large portfolios of property across California.
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“California voters understood the very real threat Proposition 15 presented to small businesses, farmers and consumers,” Allan Zaremberg, president of the California Chamber of Commerce, said in a written statement. “Voters in California smartly recognized that enacting the largest tax hike in California history would have been devastating to jobs, our economy and California’s future competitiveness.”
While the homeowner tax protections of Proposition 13 have remained popular over the last four decades, liberal interest groups and labor unions believed few voters realized that the low-tax rules also applied to multimillion-dollar corporations. Numerous studies revealed that many of these companies, many headquartered in Southern California and the Bay Area, operate in facilities where land values have changed very little since the 1970s — even as new businesses and homeowners alike pay taxes on property assessed more closely to market value.
Larry Grisolano, a Democratic campaign consultant to the effort supporting Proposition 15, said the big business donors to the opposition campaign — which spent some $72 million to defeat the initiative — were never mentioned in the advertising blitz.
“There was not one element of the ‘no’ campaign that said we should keep helping these big corporations,” he said. “That ought to tell you something.”
Instead, business groups focused on Proposition 15’s potential impact on small businesses. Their advertising campaign hammered away at the fact that business owners who lease their locations are often required to pay some, or all, of the building owner’s property taxes.
And while Proposition 15 was explicit in its protection of residential property tax rules, some of its opponents ominously warned that it was the first step toward a complete overhaul or outright repeal of Proposition 13.
Too few voters were swayed by the promise of new, substantial tax revenue. About 40% of the revenue would have been sent to K-12 schools and community colleges, while the remaining 60% would go to counties, cities and special districts for services such as law enforcement and fire suppression. The Berkeley poll found that less than a majority of middle-aged voters and those who described themselves as moderates or conservatives believed the new tax revenue was needed.
Though other tax increases have been approved by California voters in recent years, the uncertainty of the current economy may have presented too strong a head wind for Proposition 15 supporters. The pandemic, Grisolano said, created “cross-pressures” for voters who are worried about schools and public health but fearful of a staggering economy.
“People have a very strong sense of uncertainty,” he said. “Those insecurities make it very difficult for them to take a risk on a change.”
California Proposition 13 treats all California property taxes the same. Voters could change that in 2020 Voters will likely consider a proposal in 2020 to limit Proposition 13’s tax limits to homeowners, boosting assessments on commercial properties and using much of the money on K-12 schools.
Supporters of changing the rules for corporate property taxes are unlikely to see the relatively narrow defeat of Proposition 15 as the end of the effort. The proposal had the support of Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has also suggested broader reviews of California’s tax structure in an effort to limit some of the lingering effects of Proposition 13 — most notably, how the cut in property taxes made government services more dependent on income and sales taxes, both susceptible to rapid up-and-down changes.
Boyd, whose union of more than 300,000 educators has led a number of efforts to increase K-12 school funding, said the pandemic-induced recession has only amplified the needs of students.
“The fight for much-needed funding for equitable resources continues as our schools and communities face billions in devastating budget cuts,” he said in a statement.
Any new effort would likely again be contested by business groups, who argue that California is already one of the most expensive states in the country for entrepreneurs and corporate operations.
Whether any future effort would more directly tackle the legacy of Proposition 13 is unclear. Neither side in the Proposition 15 campaign chose to invoke the well-known proposition, and public polling suggests voters generally think of it in positive terms.
Similar polls have also found support for rethinking the tax law’s benefits to business — an embrace of an idea that the election results suggest may be hard to turn into reality.


latimes--2020-11-10--L.A. County reports 2,318 more coronavirus cases, 25 additional deaths

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti warned residents Tuesday that the next two weeks will be crucial in determining whether the current surge in coronavirus cases will be temporary or push into the holiday season .
There were 25 more deaths and 2,318 additional coronavirus cases recorded Tuesday , according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health .
The surge in cases means that Los Angeles is one of 11 counties in California that have fallen backward in reopening plans .
Five of the six indicators — including seven-day positivity rate , hospitalizations and acute care bed capacity — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are headed in the wrong direction , Garcetti said .
Hospitalizations have also increased to almost 900 , with 28 % of those patients being treated in the intensive care unit , according to county public health officials .
For the first time , Los Angeles residents received an emergency text alert from the city Tuesday evening warning them that cases are increasing .
Garcetti said the text alert is a reminder that testing is available .
“ It ’ s going to go to everybody , ” he said of the alert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you have symptoms .
It ’ s a reminder that if you do have symptoms or know somebody , please make sure you get tested.
” He added that the warning and increasing numbers of cases “ should be a bright flashing light to all of us to control our behavior.
” Based on information gathered through contact tracing , 10 % of those who tested positive in the last week had been to a gathering with more than 10 people , Garcetti said .
“ I want to be very clear , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re hosting gatherings at your house ... you may be spreading the virus.
” Garcetti said Pfizer ’ s estimate that its COVID-19 vaccine candidate is 90 % effective is promising , and the county will continue to watch closely as the vaccine is reviewed by federal regulators .
If the vaccine is approved , only a small fraction of Angelenos will have access to it , he said .
Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer echoed Garcetti ’ s optimism , but pleaded with residents in a statement Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is promising to hear the news of COVID-19 vaccine possibilities in the near future , ” she said .
“ However , we can not wait for a vaccine to slow the spread of COVID-19 in L.A. County .
Every person needs to make personal decisions each day to use the tools we know work.
” In the meantime , Garcetti said testing centers across Los Angeles will have extended hours and the city will be able to test 32,400 people a day .
Several testing sites will be open from 8 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stadium will open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m .

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti warned residents Tuesday that the next two weeks will be crucial in determining whether the current surge in coronavirus cases will be temporary or push into the holiday season.
There were 25 more deaths and 2,318 additional coronavirus cases recorded Tuesday, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. The surge in cases ensures that Los Angeles will remain in the most restrictive tier of the state’s reopening system.
Five of the six indicators — including seven-day positivity rate, hospitalizations and acute care bed capacity — that health officials track for reopening plans are headed in the wrong direction, Garcetti said. Hospitalizations have also increased to almost 900, with 28% of those patients being treated in the intensive care unit, according to county public health officials.
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For the first time, Los Angeles residents received an emergency text alert from the city Tuesday evening warning them that cases are increasing. Garcetti said the text alert is a reminder that testing is available.
“It’s going to go to everybody,” he said of the alert. “It doesn’t mean you have symptoms. It’s a reminder that if you do have symptoms or know somebody, please make sure you get tested.”
This is a pandemic first: A citywide public safety alert was just issued in LA warning about the rise in coronavirus cases pic.twitter.com/l6KjArHT2f — Colleen Shalby (@CShalby) November 11, 2020
He added that the warning and increasing numbers of cases “should be a bright flashing light to all of us to control our behavior.”
Based on information gathered through contact tracing, 10% of those who tested positive in the last week had been to a gathering with more than 10 people, Garcetti said.
“I want to be very clear,” he said. “If you’re hosting gatherings at your house ... you may be spreading the virus.”
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Garcetti said Pfizer’s estimate that its COVID-19 vaccine candidate is 90% effective is promising, and the county will continue to watch closely as the vaccine is reviewed by federal regulators. If the vaccine is approved, only a small fraction of Angelenos will have access to it, he said.
Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer echoed Garcetti’s optimism, but pleaded with residents in a statement Tuesday to “stay the course.”
“It is promising to hear the news of COVID-19 vaccine possibilities in the near future,” she said. “However, we cannot wait for a vaccine to slow the spread of COVID-19 in L.A. County. Every person needs to make personal decisions each day to use the tools we know work.”
In the meantime, Garcetti said testing centers across Los Angeles will have extended hours and the city will be able to test 32,400 people a day. Several testing sites will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Dodger Stadium will open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.


latimes--2020-11-10--L.A.'s $300-million voting system gets high marks as votes trickle in across California

Los Angeles County ’ s $ 300-million election system is receiving high marks for performing without any serious problems during the recent election , a sharp turnaround from the March primary , when the newly unveiled infrastructure created long lines and significant delays at the polls .
Speaking to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday , Registrar-Recorder Dean Logan , the county ’ s top elections official , pronounced the new system a “ success ” and earned praise from the same panel that grilled him in March about the problems during the primary .
Logan told the supervisors that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problems since conducting a review of the technology breakdowns in the primary .
He said voter behavior also helped , with many voters opting to vote by mail or vote early at the polls , which relieved the strain on new electronic poll books that caused major delays in March .
“ Our long-term investment and hard work in L.A. County was worth it , ” he said .
“ The execution of this election was successful.
” Meanwhile across the state , mail ballots are still trickling in as election officials in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This has delayed a final nationwide popular vote tally in the presidential contest and delayed the results in two key Southern California congressional races .
The latest count , released Tuesday evening by the California secretary of state , showed that roughly 1.5 million ballots — including 1.1 million cast by mail — remain uncounted by counties , which tally and report their results at varying paces to the state .
The final tally isn ’ t expected until Dec. 3 .
Voters in L.A. County heeded warnings about in-person voting complications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and they decided to cast the majority of their ballots by mail — a first for Los Angeles County .
While ballots are still trickling in and the tallying continues , about 3.4 million voters in Los Angeles County — roughly 80 % — cast vote-by-mail ballots either through the postal service of drop boxes .
That ’ s more than double the rate of the 2016 presidential election .
Perhaps just as important , more than half of the 850,000 voters who did cast their ballots at voting centers did so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at about 72 % as of Tuesday evening , with at least 142,000 ballots left to count .
Supervisor Janice Hahn , who was a vocal critic in March and urged Logan to review issues that sparked long lines and anger from voters , said she agreed with his assessment .
She said voters had a “ good experience ” this time .
“ I ’ m hopeful that March was just a hiccup and that our elections going forward will be as smooth as this one , ” she said .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voter behavior this year .
It prompted officials to mail ballots to all the state ’ s registered voters , not just those who requested them .
And ballots received by Nov. 20 can still be counted so long as they were postmarked by election day .
Officials are also allowing voters extra time to fix any deficiencies in their mail ballots , such as mismatched or missing signatures .
In addition , voters were allowed to register on election day , leading to hundreds of thousands of conditional votes statewide .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clouded the results in three closely watched and undecided congressional elections in California , including two in Southern California .
Still , the vast majority of votes — precisely how many is unknown — have most likely already been cast , experts say .
“ I would be very surprised if many more ballots come in at this point , ” said Mindy Romero , who directs the Center for Inclusive Democracy at USC whose team has studied the L.A. County vote closely .
“ We ’ ve got a lot of ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though , that the picture will become clearer in the next couple of days.
” In the race for the 39th Congressional District in Orange County , Young Kim , the Republican , over the incumbent , U.S. Rep. Gil Cisneros , a Democrat .
And Democratic Assemblywoman Christie Smith in the race for the 25th Congressional District , in northern Los Angeles County , over the incumbent , U.S. Rep. Mike Garcia , a Republican .
Election experts said the county ’ s voting system in Los Angeles appears to have met @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long-held routines and habits developed around election night .
“ The big thing is , you don ’ t really know how a new electoral system is going to play until you test in practice , ” said Kevin Wallsten , professor of political science at Cal State Long Beach .
“ It seems like L.A. County , in particular , performed pretty well .
”

Los Angeles County’s $300-million election system is receiving high marks for performing without any serious problems during the recent election, a sharp turnaround from the March primary, when the newly unveiled infrastructure created long lines and significant delays at the polls.
Speaking to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, Registrar-Recorder Dean Logan, the county’s top elections official, pronounced the new system a “success” and earned praise from the same panel that grilled him in March about the problems during the primary.
Logan told the supervisors that his office had worked diligently to fix problems since conducting a review of the technology breakdowns in the primary. He said voter behavior also helped, with many voters opting to vote by mail or vote early at the polls, which relieved the strain on new electronic poll books that caused major delays in March.
“Our long-term investment and hard work in L.A. County was worth it,” he said. “The execution of this election was successful.”
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Meanwhile across the state, mail ballots are still trickling in as election officials in other counties continue counting millions of votes. This has delayed a final nationwide popular vote tally in the presidential contest and delayed the results in two key Southern California congressional races.
The latest count, released Tuesday evening by the California secretary of state, showed that roughly 1.5 million ballots — including 1.1 million cast by mail — remain uncounted by counties, which tally and report their results at varying paces to the state. The final tally isn’t expected until Dec. 3.
Voters in L.A. County heeded warnings about in-person voting complications and delays that they experienced in March, and they decided to cast the majority of their ballots by mail — a first for Los Angeles County.
While ballots are still trickling in and the tallying continues, about 3.4 million voters in Los Angeles County — roughly 80% — cast vote-by-mail ballots either through the postal service of drop boxes. That’s more than double the rate of the 2016 presidential election.
Perhaps just as important, more than half of the 850,000 voters who did cast their ballots at voting centers did so early. The final turnout figure stood at about 72% as of Tuesday evening, with at least 142,000 ballots left to count.
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Supervisor Janice Hahn, who was a vocal critic in March and urged Logan to review issues that sparked long lines and anger from voters, said she agreed with his assessment. She said voters had a “good experience” this time.
“I’m hopeful that March was just a hiccup and that our elections going forward will be as smooth as this one,” she said.
The pandemic was a major factor in changing voter behavior this year.
It prompted officials to mail ballots to all the state’s registered voters, not just those who requested them. And ballots received by Nov. 20 can still be counted so long as they were postmarked by election day. Officials are also allowing voters extra time to fix any deficiencies in their mail ballots, such as mismatched or missing signatures.
In addition, voters were allowed to register on election day, leading to hundreds of thousands of conditional votes statewide.
The extra time to count the votes has clouded the results in three closely watched and undecided congressional elections in California, including two in Southern California. Still, the vast majority of votes — precisely how many is unknown — have most likely already been cast, experts say.
“I would be very surprised if many more ballots come in at this point,” said Mindy Romero, who directs the Center for Inclusive Democracy at USC whose team has studied the L.A. County vote closely. “We’ve got a lot of ballots still out there. I think, though, that the picture will become clearer in the next couple of days.”
In the race for the 39th Congressional District in Orange County, Young Kim, the Republican, held a narrow lead over the incumbent, U.S. Rep. Gil Cisneros, a Democrat. And Democratic Assemblywoman Christie Smith maintained a narrow advantage in the race for the 25th Congressional District, in northern Los Angeles County, over the incumbent, U.S. Rep. Mike Garcia, a Republican.
Election experts said the county’s voting system in Los Angeles appears to have met its high expectations, even while changing long-held routines and habits developed around election night.
“The big thing is, you don’t really know how a new electoral system is going to play until you test in practice,” said Kevin Wallsten, professor of political science at Cal State Long Beach. “It seems like L.A. County, in particular, performed pretty well.”


latimes--2020-11-10--Fresno mayor-elect tests positive for coronavirus

Fresno Mayor-elect Jerry Dyer announced Tuesday that he has tested positive for the coronavirus .
Dyer said he was exposed to the virus while attending a “ small dinner gathering ” on election night with Fresno County Supervisor Steve Brandau , according to a report by the Fresno Bee .
Brandau tested positive for the virus last week .
Dyer said that a previous rapid PCR test came back negative for COVID-19 , but that he developed a “ very light cough ” Monday morning .
“ Out of an abundance of caution , I took a second test yesterday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement to the Bee .
“ Last night I had a headache , body aches and chills .
I also had a mild fever.
” Dyer received his positive result just before noon Tuesday .
Acting Mayor Lee Brand was also reportedly in attendance at the election night gathering , but said in a news release that he remains in good health .
“ After hearing concerns about possible COVID-19 exposure , I was tested over the weekend and the results came back negative , ” Brand said in a news release Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home , as I have done with limited exceptions since the start of the pandemic.
” But Brandau , who has downplayed the seriousness of the virus in the past , could be heard coughing and clearing his throat several times during a Board of Supervisors meeting held the same day as the dinner .
Neither he nor any of the other supervisors were wearing a mask during the meeting , video shows .
In May , Brandau was a vocal opponent of language drafted by Fresno County health officer Dr. Rais Vohra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the county .
He was instrumental in getting the language changed to make masks voluntary instead .
“ In times of crisis , like what we ’ re facing , the government has a way of reaching into our personal liberties , ” Brandau said in a about his opposition to a mask mandate .
“ By the time you ’ ve gone through a couple of these crises , you ’ ve lost your personal liberties , and you have no way of getting them back.
” Fresno is in the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ color-coded reopening system , which indicates substantial risk of infection .
As of Tuesday , the county had reported 32,755 cases of COVID-19 and 454 deaths , according to state data .
Stricter face mask guidelines were put in place in July .
Dyer ’ s approach to the coronavirus remains largely untested .
He was voted into the office in March , just as Fresno issued its stay-at-home orders , but does not take office until January .
He previously spent 18 years as Fresno ’ s police chief .
Attempts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his statement , Dyer said he will remain in quarantine as directed by the Fresno County health department , and noted that he was already starting to feel better .
“ I would equate my symptoms , at least at this point , to a severe cold or mild flu , ” he said .
“ I consider myself very fortunate as I know others experience severe sickness and , unfortunately , death .
”

Police Chief Jerry Dyer hugs Antonio Villaraigosa after a news conference at the Fresno Police Department in 2018. Dyer will take over as the mayor of Fresno in January 2021.
Fresno Mayor-elect Jerry Dyer announced Tuesday that he has tested positive for the coronavirus.
Dyer said he was exposed to the virus while attending a “small dinner gathering” on election night with Fresno County Supervisor Steve Brandau, according to a report by the Fresno Bee.
Brandau tested positive for the virus last week.
Dyer said that a previous rapid PCR test came back negative for COVID-19, but that he developed a “very light cough” Monday morning.
“Out of an abundance of caution, I took a second test yesterday afternoon,” he said in a statement to the Bee. “Last night I had a headache, body aches and chills. I also had a mild fever.”
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Dyer received his positive result just before noon Tuesday.
Acting Mayor Lee Brand was also reportedly in attendance at the election night gathering, but said in a news release that he remains in good health.
“After hearing concerns about possible COVID-19 exposure, I was tested over the weekend and the results came back negative,” Brand said in a news release Tuesday. “I continue to work from home, as I have done with limited exceptions since the start of the pandemic.”
But Brandau, who has downplayed the seriousness of the virus in the past, could be heard coughing and clearing his throat several times during a Board of Supervisors meeting held the same day as the dinner. Neither he nor any of the other supervisors were wearing a mask during the meeting, video shows.
In May, Brandau was a vocal opponent of language drafted by Fresno County health officer Dr. Rais Vohra that would have mandated face coverings in the county. He was instrumental in getting the language changed to make masks voluntary instead.
“In times of crisis, like what we’re facing, the government has a way of reaching into our personal liberties,” Brandau said in a Facebook video about his opposition to a mask mandate. “By the time you’ve gone through a couple of these crises, you’ve lost your personal liberties, and you have no way of getting them back.”
Fresno is in the “red” tier of California’s color-coded reopening system, which indicates substantial risk of infection. As of Tuesday, the county had reported 32,755 cases of COVID-19 and 454 deaths, according to state data. Stricter face mask guidelines were put in place in July.
Dyer’s approach to the coronavirus remains largely untested. He was voted into the office in March, just as Fresno issued its stay-at-home orders, but does not take office until January.
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He previously spent 18 years as Fresno’s police chief. Attempts to contact him Tuesday were unsuccessful.
In his statement, Dyer said he will remain in quarantine as directed by the Fresno County health department, and noted that he was already starting to feel better.
“I would equate my symptoms, at least at this point, to a severe cold or mild flu,” he said. “I consider myself very fortunate as I know others experience severe sickness and, unfortunately, death.”
Times staff writer Faith Pinho contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-11-10--In 'a panic situation,' L.A. may turn the convention center into a homeless shelter

Several members of the Los Angeles City Council have asked the city to study the feasibility of using the Los Angeles Convention Center , which has gone dark during the COVID-19 pandemic , to shelter homeless people .
This move is a reflection of the increasingly desperate situation thousands of homeless people face living on the streets .
As coronavirus cases rise again in Los Angeles , the move is also a reflection of the increasingly slim chances of large-scale events at the convention center in the near future .
Councilman Curren Price , who introduced the motion , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exacerbated conditions on the streets and that it was incumbent on elected officials to act more decisively during extraordinary times .
“ We ’ re in a panic situation along with a pandemic situation .
Folks on the streets are just suffering , ” he said .
“ Getting people off the street is important , ” added Price , whose downtown district includes the convention center along Figueroa Street .
“ My sidewalk areas are just unpassable .
It ’ s unfair for the neighbors — for those who are in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down the sidewalk ... .
We have to do a better job of housing individuals who are homeless.
” All City Council members are under pressure from U.S. District Judge David O. Carter to shelter homeless people in their districts .
Carter , who is overseeing a lawsuit alleging that the city and county have not done enough to get people off the street , has said he ’ d like each council member to set a target for the number of new beds they would create .
Price ’ s 9th District @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to a 2020 count , second-highest in the city .
Nearly half of those were sheltered , a rate well above the city average , but there were still nearly 2,700 people on the streets .
Carter has focused as well on areas near freeways , and Price ’ s district has one of the largest populations of people living beside a freeway .
He said the convention center would help him shelter this group .
During the civil unrest in the aftermath of George Floyd ’ s death in Minnesota , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a staging area for troops to sleep .
When the pandemic began to rage , the National Guard set up a field hospital in the center in anticipation that local hospitals might be overwhelmed by coronavirus cases .
That never came to pass .
Since then , the center has mostly sat empty , with state health rules prohibiting large-scale events such as Los Angeles Comic Con .
Price says he doesn ’ t see convention business returning for years .
Others worry that , once hundreds of people are sheltered in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supportive housing could strand them there long after the pandemic has passed .
Mayor Eric Garcetti said he was open to the idea of using the convention center as a shelter but didn ’ t want anything to come at the expense of using hotel and motel rooms , which he said have been a more effective way to move people off the street .
“ I think it merits studying , ” he said .
“ I ’ d like that report to be turned around quickly.
” Jessica Lall , president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Assn .
of Los Angeles , said that her organization supported homeless housing of all types but that she hoped the feasibility study would take into consideration downtown residents and examine whether “ this is the highest and best use of the convention center and analyze the nexus of the convention center as an asset for generating revenue.
” Doane Liu , executive director of the city ’ s Department of Convention and Tourism Development , said he would follow the council ’ s direction but wanted to be sure it had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effects on the city ’ s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ We have to be realistic about what the costs are , ” Liu said .
“ Specifically , our convention center does not have enough bathrooms , does not have any showers .
When the building is empty , electricity and utilities are not on .
Those are costs that are going to need to be borne by somebody.
” When the National Guard stayed there in May , the costs for furniture , portable bathrooms , showers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 million for six days , Liu said .
There ’ s also a potential conflict with use of the convention center for events such as the L.A. Auto Show .
“ We have legally binding contracts for the convention center practically every day for the next five years , ” Liu said .
“ Across the board , every one of our clients wants to have our event the minute the state allows it.
” Newly elected Councilman Kevin de León , who seconded Price ’ s motion , said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a safe refuge for unhoused Angelenos “ now facing the long winter months with virtually no access to a warm place to sleep at night .
Responding to this humanitarian crisis of biblical proportions requires us to be nimble and creative , doing everything in our power to move people off the street and indoors.
” Los Angeles wouldn ’ t be the first city to shelter homeless people in a convention center .
At the beginning of the pandemic in late March , San Diego moved homeless people into its convention center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people were bedding down for the night in the cavernous facility .
By the end of the year , when the center is expected to return to its original use , about $ 40 million will have been spent to run it as a shelter .
“ This wasn ’ t a long-term financially sound solution .
It ’ s not inexpensive , ” said Ashley Bailey , spokeswoman for San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer .

California National Guard members set up cots for a field hospital at the L.A. Convention Center in March as part of the city’s COVID-19 response.
Several members of the Los Angeles City Council have asked the city to study the feasibility of using the Los Angeles Convention Center, which has gone dark during the COVID-19 pandemic, to shelter homeless people.
This move is a reflection of the increasingly desperate situation thousands of homeless people face living on the streets. As coronavirus cases rise again in Los Angeles, the move is also a reflection of the increasingly slim chances of large-scale events at the convention center in the near future.
Councilman Curren Price, who introduced the motion, said in an interview that the pandemic had exacerbated conditions on the streets and that it was incumbent on elected officials to act more decisively during extraordinary times.
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“We’re in a panic situation along with a pandemic situation. Folks on the streets are just suffering,” he said.
“Getting people off the street is important,” added Price, whose downtown district includes the convention center along Figueroa Street. “My sidewalk areas are just unpassable. It’s unfair for the neighbors — for those who are in the community — who can’t go down the sidewalk.... We have to do a better job of housing individuals who are homeless.”
All City Council members are under pressure from U.S. District Judge David O. Carter to shelter homeless people in their districts. Carter, who is overseeing a lawsuit alleging that the city and county have not done enough to get people off the street, has said he’d like each council member to set a target for the number of new beds they would create.
Price’s 9th District has more than 4,800 homeless residents, according to a 2020 count, second-highest in the city. Nearly half of those were sheltered, a rate well above the city average, but there were still nearly 2,700 people on the streets.
Carter has focused as well on areas near freeways, and Price’s district has one of the largest populations of people living beside a freeway. He said the convention center would help him shelter this group.
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During the civil unrest in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death in Minnesota, the California National Guard used the center as a staging area for troops to sleep. When the pandemic began to rage, the National Guard set up a field hospital in the center in anticipation that local hospitals might be overwhelmed by coronavirus cases.
That never came to pass. Since then, the center has mostly sat empty, with state health rules prohibiting large-scale events such as Los Angeles Comic Con.
Housing & Homelessness A judge commandeers L.A.’s City Hall in his campaign to curb homelessness Judge David O. Carter, who has ruled that local agencies must clear homeless people from encampments alongside freeways, holds a hearing at City Hall — a reflection of how a legal case has made its presence felt in L.A. politics.
Price says he doesn’t see convention business returning for years. Others worry that, once hundreds of people are sheltered in the center, the lack of adequate supportive housing could strand them there long after the pandemic has passed.
Mayor Eric Garcetti said he was open to the idea of using the convention center as a shelter but didn’t want anything to come at the expense of using hotel and motel rooms, which he said have been a more effective way to move people off the street.
“I think it merits studying,” he said. “I’d like that report to be turned around quickly.”
Jessica Lall, president and chief executive of the Central City Assn. of Los Angeles, said that her organization supported homeless housing of all types but that she hoped the feasibility study would take into consideration downtown residents and examine whether “this is the highest and best use of the convention center and analyze the nexus of the convention center as an asset for generating revenue.”
Doane Liu, executive director of the city’s Department of Convention and Tourism Development, said he would follow the council’s direction but wanted to be sure it had a complete understanding of the cost and potential effects on the city’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have to be realistic about what the costs are,” Liu said. “Specifically, our convention center does not have enough bathrooms, does not have any showers. When the building is empty, electricity and utilities are not on. Those are costs that are going to need to be borne by somebody.”
When the National Guard stayed there in May, the costs for furniture, portable bathrooms, showers, cleaning and meals added up to $1 million for six days, Liu said.
There’s also a potential conflict with use of the convention center for events such as the L.A. Auto Show.
“We have legally binding contracts for the convention center practically every day for the next five years,” Liu said. “Across the board, every one of our clients wants to have our event the minute the state allows it.”
Newly elected Councilman Kevin de León, who seconded Price’s motion, said in a statement that the convention center could be a safe refuge for unhoused Angelenos “now facing the long winter months with virtually no access to a warm place to sleep at night. Responding to this humanitarian crisis of biblical proportions requires us to be nimble and creative, doing everything in our power to move people off the street and indoors.”
Los Angeles wouldn’t be the first city to shelter homeless people in a convention center. At the beginning of the pandemic in late March, San Diego moved homeless people into its convention center.
By the summer, about 1,300 people were bedding down for the night in the cavernous facility. By the end of the year, when the center is expected to return to its original use, about $40 million will have been spent to run it as a shelter.
“This wasn’t a long-term financially sound solution. It’s not inexpensive,” said Ashley Bailey, spokeswoman for San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer.


latimes--2020-11-11--Prosecutors urge $10-million fine, up to 13 years in prison for L.A. Trump donor

Federal prosecutors want a Los Angeles venture capitalist to spend years in prison and pay millions in fines for an array of crimes , including obstructing an investigation into President Trump ’ s inaugural committee and concealing work he did lobbying for foreign groups .
In a filing this week in U.S. District Court , prosecutors asked a judge to sentence Imaad Zuberi , 50 , to between 10 and nearly 13 years in prison .
They also are seeking a $ 10-million fine and more than $ 15 million in unpaid taxes .
Zuberi , who lives in Arcadia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the inquiry into contributions to the committee that put on the president ’ s 2017 inauguration .
And last year , he pleaded guilty to separate charges of tax evasion , as well as federal lobbying and campaign finance violations .
He is scheduled to be sentenced for all the crimes on Nov. 30 .
“ Mr .
Zuberi is extremely remorseful for his conduct and demonstrated that by quickly pleading guilty , paying millions toward his tax debt , and refocusing on his many charitable works , ” O ’ Brien wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are disappointed with the government ’ s recommendation , but in the end we have faith that the judge will impose a just sentence that will take into account many positive factors ignored by the government.
” The obstruction charge stemmed from a $ 900,000 donation Zuberi made through his investment company in December 2016 to Trump ’ s inaugural committee .
Zuberi and his company were named in a subpoena that investigators served on the committee , which raised more than $ 100 million and was dogged by questions over whether foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president .
The investigation led to no criminal charges .
At least $ 50,000 of Zuberi ’ s donation was money given to him by another campaign donor , who Zuberi failed to disclose , documents said .
When the donor asked for a refund after investigators began looking into the committee ’ s funding , Zuberi “ back-dated the refund check ” to make it appear that he had returned the money before he learned of the investigation , prosecutors said .
He also deleted emails with other individuals who provided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including emails with an unnamed foreign national who transferred approximately $ 5.8 million into the bank account Zuberi used to make his committee contributions , according to court documents .
In the earlier case , Zuberi pleaded guilty , among other crimes , to falsifying records in an effort to conceal work he did to lobby U.S. government officials on behalf of foreign entities — a violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act , or FARA .
His FARA offenses are “ among the most wide-ranging ever prosecuted , ” prosecutors said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sri Lankan government was part of the case against the investor .
In 2014 , Sri Lankan officials hired Zuberi to improve the country ’ s image in the United States , which had been damaged badly by the government ’ s brutal military campaign against the minority Tamil population .
Zuberi hid his efforts from U.S. officials and lined his pockets with $ 5.6 million of the $ 6.5 million Sri Lanka paid him , according to the court records .
And prosecutors cited work Zuberi did for the governments of Turkey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the sentencing memo filed this week , they wrote he “ was able to defeat proposed legislation and change U.S. foreign policy to meet his clients ’ needs , ” but did not provide details .
Zuberi ’ s allegiance was more to power than political party .
Before President Trump ’ s election in 2016 , Zuberi and his wife , Willa Rao , made substantial donations to democratic politicians such as Rep. Eliot Engel of New York , Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton .
In a with the Washington Post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that political contributions can provide access to influence .
“ I ’ m not coming from a political family like the Kennedys or the Kerry family , where just my name will open doors , ” he said .
“ I have to give donations.
” In a sentencing memorandum filed in May , Zuberi ’ s attorneys did not specify the punishment they want U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips to impose , but claimed the government had exaggerated the extent of Zuberi ’ s criminal behavior , overstated the size of various @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not relevant to the cases against Zuberi .
And by seeking a harsh sentence , they said prosecutors unfairly were trying to make an example of Zuberi .
“ The government is whispering , and sometimes yelling , in the Court ’ s ear that Mr. Zuberi is Paul Manafort , Bernie Madoff , and Leona Helmsley all wrapped into one mendacious package , ” they wrote in the filing , emphasizing that Zuberi should be credited for accepting responsibility for his crimes .
In the filing , Zuberi ’ s lawyers pointed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , calling it “ lengthy ” but suggesting it was more in line with what he deserves .
But prosecutors said the severity and breadth of Zuberi ’ s crimes call for a prison sentence of between 121 and 151 months .
“ Clandestine foreign efforts to subvert U.S. democratic processes in recent years have caused a significant portion of the body politic to lose faith in our public institutions , ” they wrote .
“ It is of crucial importance to restore such faith so that our government can function in accordance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also recommending that the judge impose a $ 10-million fine , order a $ 15.7-million restitution to the IRS for unpaid taxes , and order a payment of $ 250,000 for prosecution costs .
Zuberi is currently free on $ 3-million bond , although prosecutors have asked the judge to significantly increase the size of the bond to deter Zuberi from fleeing .

Federal prosecutors want a Los Angeles venture capitalist to spend years in prison and pay millions in fines for an array of crimes, including obstructing an investigation into President Trump’s inaugural committee and concealing work he did lobbying for foreign groups.
In a filing this week in U.S. District Court, prosecutors asked a judge to sentence Imaad Zuberi, 50, to between 10 and nearly 13 years in prison. They also are seeking a $10-million fine and more than $15 million in unpaid taxes.
Zuberi, who lives in Arcadia, pleaded guilty in June to obstructing the inquiry into contributions to the committee that put on the president’s 2017 inauguration. And last year, he pleaded guilty to separate charges of tax evasion, as well as federal lobbying and campaign finance violations. He is scheduled to be sentenced for all the crimes on Nov. 30.
Zuberi’s attorney, Thomas P. O’Brien, expressed surprise at the government’s sentencing recommendation.
“Mr. Zuberi is extremely remorseful for his conduct and demonstrated that by quickly pleading guilty, paying millions toward his tax debt, and refocusing on his many charitable works,” O’Brien wrote in an email Wednesday. “We are disappointed with the government’s recommendation, but in the end we have faith that the judge will impose a just sentence that will take into account many positive factors ignored by the government.”
The obstruction charge stemmed from a $900,000 donation Zuberi made through his investment company in December 2016 to Trump’s inaugural committee.
Zuberi and his company were named in a subpoena that investigators served on the committee, which raised more than $100 million and was dogged by questions over whether foreign donors used contributions to buy influence with the president. The investigation led to no criminal charges.
At least $50,000 of Zuberi’s donation was money given to him by another campaign donor, who Zuberi failed to disclose, documents said. When the donor asked for a refund after investigators began looking into the committee’s funding, Zuberi “back-dated the refund check” to make it appear that he had returned the money before he learned of the investigation, prosecutors said.
He also deleted emails with other individuals who provided money to him around that same time, including emails with an unnamed foreign national who transferred approximately $5.8 million into the bank account Zuberi used to make his committee contributions, according to court documents.
In the earlier case, Zuberi pleaded guilty, among other crimes, to falsifying records in an effort to conceal work he did to lobby U.S. government officials on behalf of foreign entities — a violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act, or FARA.
His FARA offenses are “among the most wide-ranging ever prosecuted,” prosecutors said.
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A deal Zuberi struck with the Sri Lankan government was part of the case against the investor. In 2014, Sri Lankan officials hired Zuberi to improve the country’s image in the United States, which had been damaged badly by the government’s brutal military campaign against the minority Tamil population. Zuberi hid his efforts from U.S. officials and lined his pockets with $5.6 million of the $6.5 million Sri Lanka paid him, according to the court records.
And prosecutors cited work Zuberi did for the governments of Turkey and Qatar, among other countries. In the sentencing memo filed this week, they wrote he “was able to defeat proposed legislation and change U.S. foreign policy to meet his clients’ needs,” but did not provide details.
Zuberi’s allegiance was more to power than political party. Before President Trump’s election in 2016, Zuberi and his wife, Willa Rao, made substantial donations to democratic politicians such as Rep. Eliot Engel of New York, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
In a 2019 interview with the Washington Post, he was candid about his view that political contributions can provide access to influence.
“I’m not coming from a political family like the Kennedys or the Kerry family, where just my name will open doors,” he said. “I have to give donations.”
In a sentencing memorandum filed in May, Zuberi’s attorneys did not specify the punishment they want U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips to impose, but claimed the government had exaggerated the extent of Zuberi’s criminal behavior, overstated the size of various campaign contributions and included incidents that were not relevant to the cases against Zuberi. And by seeking a harsh sentence, they said prosecutors unfairly were trying to make an example of Zuberi.
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“The government is whispering, and sometimes yelling, in the Court’s ear that Mr. Zuberi is Paul Manafort, Bernie Madoff, and Leona Helmsley all wrapped into one mendacious package,” they wrote in the filing, emphasizing that Zuberi should be credited for accepting responsibility for his crimes.
In the filing, Zuberi’s lawyers pointed to the 5-year sentence probation officials recommended, calling it “lengthy” but suggesting it was more in line with what he deserves.
But prosecutors said the severity and breadth of Zuberi’s crimes call for a prison sentence of between 121 and 151 months.
“Clandestine foreign efforts to subvert U.S. democratic processes in recent years have caused a significant portion of the body politic to lose faith in our public institutions,” they wrote. “It is of crucial importance to restore such faith so that our government can function in accordance with its founding principles.”
They are also recommending that the judge impose a $10-million fine, order a $15.7-million restitution to the IRS for unpaid taxes, and order a payment of $250,000 for prosecution costs.
Zuberi is currently free on $3-million bond, although prosecutors have asked the judge to significantly increase the size of the bond to deter Zuberi from fleeing.
City News Service contributed to this report.