latimes--2020-10-28--Dodgers' World Series win gives L.A. a joyous night in a year of such misery

In a city reeling from the medical and economic devastation of the coronavirus pandemic , forced to restrict its celebrated freewheeling lifestyle and even robbed of the sacred ritual of a summer at Chavez Ravine , the Dodgers ’ World Series victory felt like a vaccine — if only temporary — for 2020 ’ s many miseries .
Dodger fans took to the streets and provided Los Angeles with a hearty fireworks show as the team won its first World Series since 1988 .
On Sunset Boulevard down the hill from Dodger Stadium , drivers formed an impromptu parade , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ordered people to leave the area and were attempting to push hundreds of people off the street .
Although the celebration was largely peaceful , some objects were thrown at police , and officers fired rubber bullets .
Fans set off fireworks amid the canyon of towers along downtown L.A. 's main streets as people converged in the city center by car , foot , bike and even skateboard .
Police were also trying to control crowds there .
Amid reports of people breaking into stores and stealing , police declared an unlawful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a.m. Wednesday , closing off several blocks from 8th Street to Pico Boulevard and Figueroa Street to Broadway .
Huge crowds also converged on Whittier Boulevard , expressing their joy in what has been such a tough year .
Los Angeles County Sheriff ’ s deputies were moving through the area trying to clear the streets .
Hundreds crowded streets in Pacoima , with cars doing doughnuts in intersections .
Caesar Maldonado , 44 , has lived in Echo Park since 1982 .
He watched the cars doing burnouts , the people climbing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Dodgers last won the World Series .
That year he and his friends went to downtown Los Angeles to celebrate .
It was far rowdier .
“ There was no COVID , ” he said .
“ There were far more people out .
It was a whole lot of fun.
” He couldn ’ t contain his excitement about the win , holding up his phone to show his friend what was happening on FaceTime as people crowded into the street screaming , “ Let ’ s go Dodgers.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won , ” he said .
Just 4 years old when the Dodgers last won a championship , Fernando Hernandez Jr. stood outside his mother ’ s home in Boyle Heights in a delirium of happiness , clutching a half-empty bottle of Champagne .
“ Pandemic champions , baby !
” he shouted over the honks of cars rushing past on Soto Street .
Queen ’ s “ We Are the Champions ” belted from a loudspeaker .
Hernandez , an office services coordinator for a law firm , marveled at the Dodgers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , despite a pandemic that threw the league into disarray .
“ There ’ s no asterisk to this championship at all , bro , ” he said .
“ That was straight gutsy baseball.
” “ This is the best we ’ ve felt in a long time , ” said Ismael Servin , 21 , standing on the corner of Hubbard street and Belsen Avenue in East Los Angeles , smoke boiling up from the tires of a pickup revving its engine in the intersection .
“ In 2020 , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to avoid crowds and practice social distancing when celebrating .
L.A. County health authorities have blamed gatherings related to the Lakers ’ and Dodgers ’ championship season for spreading COVID-19 and preventing the county from reopening more quickly .
“ Gatherings in large crowds to watch games indoors , people aren ’ t wearing their face coverings , people are yelling a lot — that ’ s just not sensible , ” Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said recently .
Los Angeles police are also hoping to avoid a repeat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the Lakers victory .
The celebrations turned rowdy , and more than 70 people were arrested .
Police had closed off the main entrance to Dodger Stadium as well as Whittier Boulevard in East Los Angeles .
“ They are safer at home .
This COVID-19 virus is real , ” he said .
“ There will be no tolerance for violence .
There is no room in Los Angeles for people to commit vandalism.
” After 11 p.m. , the LAPD urged the public to go home .
“ We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unruly crowds , taking over intersections in various parts of the city.We urge all Angelenos to stay home if possible.If you must be out , please exercise caution .
Should you encounter a large crowd , do not attempt to drive through it , ” the department said on Twitter .
There were no immediate reports of arrests .
Some vandalism was seen in downtown Los Angeles and Echo Park .
As the final pitches were being delivered 1,400 miles away , fans who parked in Dodger Stadium ’ s parking lot stepped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jubilation .
They pulled out flags , banners , hopped up and down and then celebrated with screams and tears , in some cases , as the Dodgers won their first World Series in 32 years .
People from nearby cars hugged , others ran around high-fiving the crowd of fans — most where masked , but others pulled down their facial coverings to scream .
Eventually , Los Angeles police in riot cleared the intersection of Vin Scully and Sunset .
“ The only people we want to see in blue are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Parties along Whittier Boulevard in East Los Angeles were also broken up by police , who asked fans to disperse .
Every year , Oscar Marquez saves his pocket change on the chance the Dodgers make the World Series .
“ Pennies , nickels , dimes — anything.
” It all goes in a big plastic jar , only to be shelled out on a ticket to watch his team vie for a championship at Dodger Stadium .
The last time the Dodgers won it all , Marquez was 12 , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Heights .
For the next three decades , he would watch each season end in varying degrees of disappointment .
This year , Marquez set aside $ 500 in his jar .
But with a pandemic shifting the series to a neutral site , there were no hometown stadium tickets to buy .
Instead , he put down his World Series fund on a bet .
He ’ s in line to collect about $ 1,500 , he said , standing on the corner of Whittier Boulevard and Lorena Street , surrounded by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of an orange Camaro doing doughnuts in the intersection .
Health restrictions may have pushed some revelers outdoors who in ordinary times might have celebrated in a bar , but Johnny Aguilar , a Boyle Heights native , insisted that “ whether there ’ s a pandemic or not , we ’ d be here .
We ’ d be right here on this corner .
This is a family.
” Felipe Herrera , who also grew up in Boyle Heights , described the neighborhood as “ die hard.
” “ East L.A. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And after season after season of “ trying , trying , trying , ” he added , “ we finally got it.
” Mask on , Victor Argueta wore a special black Dodgers jersey he recently bought on EBay for $ 40 .
Number 8 on the front and 24 on the back .
The name on the back was Bryant .
This year was marked by loss for the 30-year-old .
First Kobe Bryant , who was his favorite player growing up in Echo Park .
Then his mother who had cancer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ She was beating the cancer and doing better but then went into the hospital , ” he said fighting back tears .
“ I didn ’ t get to see her again.
” When Mookie Betts hit his homer to extend the Dodgers lead in the eighth inning , Argueta left his house and headed for Vin Scully Way .
As he adjusted the mask on his face , a fresh tattoo of his mother , an immigrant from Mexico who worked at the Beverly Hills courthouse and loved her adopted city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would ’ ve loved to see this , ” the house painter said .
“ She loved the Lakers and Dodgers so much .
”

Benjamin Oreskes, Matthew Ormseth, Andrew J. Campa, Kevin Rector

In a city reeling from the medical and economic devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic, forced to restrict its celebrated freewheeling lifestyle and even robbed of the sacred ritual of a summer at Chavez Ravine, the Dodgers’ World Series victory felt like a vaccine — if only temporary — for 2020’s many miseries.
Dodger fans took to the streets and provided Los Angeles with a hearty fireworks show as the team won its first World Series since 1988.
For the record: A previous version of this article reported Ismael Servin’s age as 21. He is 29.
On Sunset Boulevard down the hill from Dodger Stadium, drivers formed an impromptu parade, honking and cheering. Los Angeles police ordered people to leave the area and were attempting to push hundreds of people off the street. Although the celebration was largely peaceful, some objects were thrown at police, and officers fired rubber bullets.
Jeff Gomez celebrates with other Dodger fans as Mookie Betts scores the go-ahead run in the sixth inning in Game 6 of the World Series, which they were watching in the parking lot of Club Bahia near Dodger Stadium on Tuesday night. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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Fans set off fireworks amid the canyon of towers along downtown L.A.’s main streets as people converged in the city center by car, foot, bike and even skateboard. Police were also trying to control crowds there.
Amid reports of people breaking into stores and stealing, police declared an unlawful assembly in downtown L.A. shortly before 1 a.m. Wednesday, closing off several blocks from 8th Street to Pico Boulevard and Figueroa Street to Broadway.
Huge crowds also converged on Whittier Boulevard, expressing their joy in what has been such a tough year. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies were moving through the area trying to clear the streets. Hundreds crowded streets in Pacoima, with cars doing doughnuts in intersections.
Fans watch a car doing burnouts as they celebrate the Dodgers’ World Series victory.
(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
Caesar Maldonado, 44, has lived in Echo Park since 1982.
He watched the cars doing burnouts, the people climbing streetlights, and remembered when he was 12 and the Dodgers last won the World Series. That year he and his friends went to downtown Los Angeles to celebrate. It was far rowdier.
“There was no COVID,” he said. “There were far more people out. It was a whole lot of fun.”
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He couldn’t contain his excitement about the win, holding up his phone to show his friend what was happening on FaceTime as people crowded into the street screaming, “Let’s go Dodgers.”
“I can’t believe they won,” he said.
Just 4 years old when the Dodgers last won a championship, Fernando Hernandez Jr. stood outside his mother’s home in Boyle Heights in a delirium of happiness, clutching a half-empty bottle of Champagne.
“Pandemic champions, baby!” he shouted over the honks of cars rushing past on Soto Street. Queen’s “We Are the Champions” belted from a loudspeaker.
Hernandez, an office services coordinator for a law firm, marveled at the Dodgers’ ability to gut out the season, despite a pandemic that threw the league into disarray.
“There’s no asterisk to this championship at all, bro,” he said. “That was straight gutsy baseball.”
Dodgers fans light fireworks behind a car doing burnouts at the intersection of Sunset and Figueroa. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
“This is the best we’ve felt in a long time,” said Ismael Servin, 29, standing on the corner of Hubbard Street and Belsen Avenue in East Los Angeles, smoke boiling up from the tires of a pickup revving its engine in the intersection. “In 2020, we needed this.”
Officials urged Dodger fans to avoid crowds and practice social distancing when celebrating. L.A. County health authorities have blamed gatherings related to the Lakers’ and Dodgers’ championship season for spreading COVID-19 and preventing the county from reopening more quickly.
“Gatherings in large crowds to watch games indoors, people aren’t wearing their face coverings, people are yelling a lot — that’s just not sensible,” Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said recently.
Los Angeles police are also hoping to avoid a repeat of the problems that occurred in downtown after the Lakers victory. The celebrations turned rowdy, and more than 70 people were arrested. Police had closed off the main entrance to Dodger Stadium as well as Whittier Boulevard in East Los Angeles.
Police have blocked car access on Whittier Boulevard pic.twitter.com/8RK4JFnoA7 — Steve Saldivar (@stevesaldivar) October 28, 2020
Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore urged people Tuesday to celebrate a Dodgers win at home.
“They are safer at home. This COVID-19 virus is real,” he said. “There will be no tolerance for violence. There is no room in Los Angeles for people to commit vandalism.”
After 11 p.m., the LAPD urged the public to go home.
“We’re seeing some large, at times unruly crowds, taking over intersections in various parts of the city. We urge all Angelenos to stay home if possible. If you must be out, please exercise caution. Should you encounter a large crowd, do not attempt to drive through it,” the department said on Twitter.
There were no immediate reports of arrests. Some vandalism was seen in downtown Los Angeles and Echo Park.
As the final pitches were being delivered 1,400 miles away, fans who parked in Dodger Stadium’s parking lot stepped out of their cars in anticipation of jubilation.
They pulled out flags, banners, hopped up and down and then celebrated with screams and tears, in some cases, as the Dodgers won their first World Series in 32 years.
People from nearby cars hugged, others ran around high-fiving the crowd of fans — most were masked, but others pulled down their facial coverings to scream.
Eventually, Los Angeles police in riot gear cleared the intersection of Vin Scully and Sunset. “The only people we want to see in blue are the Dodgers,” one woman steamed.
Parties along Whittier Boulevard in East Los Angeles were also broken up by police, who asked fans to disperse.
Every year, Oscar Marquez saves his pocket change on the chance the Dodgers make the World Series. “Pennies, nickels, dimes — anything.”
It all goes in a big plastic jar, only to be shelled out on a ticket to watch his team vie for a championship at Dodger Stadium. The last time the Dodgers won it all, Marquez was 12, a student at Euclid Avenue Elementary in Boyle Heights.
For the next three decades, he would watch each season end in varying degrees of disappointment. This year, Marquez set aside $500 in his jar. But with a pandemic shifting the series to a neutral site, there were no hometown stadium tickets to buy. Instead, he put down his World Series fund on a bet.
He’s in line to collect about $1,500, he said, standing on the corner of Whittier Boulevard and Lorena Street, surrounded by screaming fans and shouting above the screech of an orange Camaro doing doughnuts in the intersection.
Health restrictions may have pushed some revelers outdoors who in ordinary times might have celebrated in a bar, but Johnny Aguilar, a Boyle Heights native, insisted that “whether there’s a pandemic or not, we’d be here. We’d be right here on this corner. This is a family.”
Felipe Herrera, who also grew up in Boyle Heights, described the neighborhood as “die hard.”
“East L.A. bleeds blue,” Herrera said. And after season after season of “trying, trying, trying,” he added, “we finally got it.”
Mask on, Victor Argueta wore a special black Dodgers jersey he recently bought on EBay for $40.
Number 8 on the front and 24 on the back. The name on the back was Bryant. This year was marked by loss for the 30-year-old. First Kobe Bryant, who was his favorite player growing up in Echo Park. Then his mother who had cancer but died in August from coronavirus.
“She was beating the cancer and doing better but then went into the hospital,” he said fighting back tears. “I didn’t get to see her again.”
When Mookie Betts hit his homer to extend the Dodgers’ lead in the eighth inning, Argueta left his house and headed for Vin Scully Way. As he adjusted the mask on his face, a fresh tattoo of his mother, an immigrant from Mexico who worked at the Beverly Hills courthouse and loved her adopted city, was visible.
“My mom would’ve loved to see this,” the house painter said. “She loved the Lakers and Dodgers so much.”


latimes--2020-10-28--Santa Ana Zoo opens its doors for animals evacuated from Orange County Zoo

Help came in the form of an open door and some extra space as the Santa Ana Zoo welcomed 150 evacuated animals from the Orange County Zoo on Tuesday afternoon .
The Orange County Zoo in Irvine Regional Park moved its residents because of concerns over the encroaching Silverado fire and the growing Blue Ridge fire .
As of Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. , the Silverado fire , which began in the hills outside Irvine on Monday , had grown to 12,600 acres and was 5 % contained .
The larger Blue Ridge fire , which also began Monday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 0 % contained near Yorba Linda .
“ This is something that takes a lot of coordination and planning , but we were happy to help out , ” said Santa Ana Zoo Manager Ethan Fisher , who has been with the park since 2001 and has been in his position for three years .
“ This is something that we have contingency plans for.
” The exodus of beasts took place throughout the day as black bears , porcupines , mountain lions and several birds of prey from the Orange County Zoo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Southwestern plants and animals , were transported to Santa Ana .
Fisher said the roughly 20-acre Santa Ana Zoo had excess space , building and housing areas for the fleeing critters , which would remain in the care of Orange County Zoo handlers .
“ Our animals are separate , and their staff is in charge of their animals , ” Fisher said .
“ Their zookeepers know their animals ’ medications and diets , but we help with supplies , if need be.
” Fisher said this was not the first time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , noting the Santa Ana Zoo also offered temporary accommodations in 2017 due again to wildfires .
The Santa Ana Zoo has 120 species and about 350 exotic animals from all over the world , including monkeys , camels and poison dart frogs .
It has been closed Mondays and Tuesdays since mid-March because of the pandemic but is expected open Wednesday for regular business .
That could change , however , if the air quality was to worsen .
He added that nearly all the animals at the Santa Ana Zoo have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We ’ re not forcing any animals or any staff to work outside , ” Fisher said .
“ The personal safety of the animals and people here are our top priority.
” Orange County Zoo officials did not immediately respond to a call for comment .

Zookeepers and staff members spent most of Tuesday relocating animals from the Orange County Zoo to the Santa Ana Zoo because of the growing area fires.
Help came in the form of an open door and some extra space as the Santa Ana Zoo welcomed 150 evacuated animals from the Orange County Zoo on Tuesday afternoon.
The Orange County Zoo in Irvine Regional Park moved its residents because of concerns over the encroaching Silverado fire and the growing Blue Ridge fire.
As of Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., the Silverado fire, which began in the hills outside Irvine on Monday, had grown to 12,600 acres and was 5% contained. The larger Blue Ridge fire, which also began Monday, had increased to 15,200 acres and was 0% contained near Yorba Linda.
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“This is something that takes a lot of coordination and planning, but we were happy to help out,” said Santa Ana Zoo Manager Ethan Fisher, who has been with the park since 2001 and has been in his position for three years. “This is something that we have contingency plans for.”
The exodus of beasts took place throughout the day as black bears, porcupines, mountain lions and several birds of prey from the Orange County Zoo’s collection, which focuses on Southwestern plants and animals, were transported to Santa Ana.
Fisher said the roughly 20-acre Santa Ana Zoo had excess space, building and housing areas for the fleeing critters, which would remain in the care of Orange County Zoo handlers.
“Our animals are separate, and their staff is in charge of their animals,” Fisher said. “Their zookeepers know their animals’ medications and diets, but we help with supplies, if need be.”
The Santa Ana Zoo is providing shelter for about 150 animals from Orange County Zoo in Irvine Regional Park that were evacuated on Oct. 26 because of the Silverado and Blue Ridge wildfires. #CityofSantaAna @SantaAnaZoo @SantaAnaParks #silveradocanyonfire #BlueRidgeFire pic.twitter.com/qb0ZDQ83ck — City of Santa Ana (@CityofSantaAna) October 27, 2020
Fisher said this was not the first time the zoos worked together during a crisis, noting the Santa Ana Zoo also offered temporary accommodations in 2017 due again to wildfires.
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The Santa Ana Zoo has 120 species and about 350 exotic animals from all over the world, including monkeys, camels and poison dart frogs. It has been closed Mondays and Tuesdays since mid-March because of the pandemic but is expected open Wednesday for regular business.
That could change, however, if the air quality was to worsen.
“We’re closely monitoring the situation,” Fisher said.
He added that nearly all the animals at the Santa Ana Zoo have indoor enclaves attached to their outdoor spaces.
“We’re not forcing any animals or any staff to work outside,” Fisher said. “The personal safety of the animals and people here are our top priority.”
Orange County Zoo officials did not immediately respond to a call for comment.


latimes--2020-10-27--L.A. City Council set to consider new ban on homeless camping

The Los Angeles City Council is moving with unusual speed to a Wednesday vote on revisions to the city ’ s anti-camping law that would allow authorities to remove homeless camps anywhere in the city if they first offer shelter as an alternative to living on the street .
Los Angeles City Atty .
Mike Feuer delivered the proposed amendments to the council on Monday , less than a week after several council members introduced a motion requesting tweaks to the anti-camping law , which had been sidelined on constitutional grounds .
Backers had said they expected to consider the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meeting Wednesday to vote directly on the amendments , bypassing the usual committee process .
The proposed change in the law would effectively prohibit anyone from camping in public anywhere in the city if authorities offer shelter as an alternative .
When he first saw the language that Feuer ’ s office had crafted , Councilman Bob Blumenfield , who had requested the change , thought it was far too broad .
He said he spoke with Feuer on Tuesday and planned to amend the citywide ban so that it would only go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to track shelter beds and an agreement over what constitutes acceptable shelter .
“ Those are very big hills to climb , ” he said .
“ We have to be at a place where we actually can track all of our real-time beds and where we have a series of protocols that we ’ ve all approved and that the shelter beds are real , ” Blumenfield said .
“ I don ’ t know if we ’ ll ever get there ... but it ’ s a nice North Star to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ who has been offered shelter ” in the amendments is intended to address a 2018 ruling of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in the case Martin vs. City of Boise that found the arrest of homeless people unconstitutional if no alternate housing or shelter is available .
The case withstood appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court .
A letter opposing the changes , signed by more than 40 homeless services providers and advocacy groups , was emailed to all 15 council members Tuesday afternoon .
The haste with which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from homeless advocates who phoned into Tuesday ’ s regular council meeting , which was held remotely .
“ What breaks my heart is seeing you pull out all the tactical and legislative stops to quickly pass something so cruel to our most vulnerable Angelenos when we ’ ve never seen this kind of urgency for a motion that might actually help us , ” said Sophie Strauss , one of a string of speakers who castigated the council , several with expletive-laden diatribes .
Release of the proposed amendments led to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for All , a grassroots group that advocates for the interests of the homeless , faced off with several police officers outside Feuer ’ s home .
Feuer , who briefly stood in his front yard to address the group , issued a statement saying he supports the right to protest and accepted the incident as something that “ comes with the territory.
” He said the purpose of the amendments is to help the city open new shelters and to relocate and shelter more people .
Feuer ’ s office is recommending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group to develop protocols to ensure that enforcement of the revised ordinance will be sensitive to the needs and circumstances of people experiencing homelessness .
This proposal resembled a similar effort last year from members of the council and Feuer to bar people from sitting or sleeping on streets and sidewalks near schools , parks and day care centers , and in a range of other prohibited areas — and that drew the ire of homeless advocates at the time .
“ It feels like a Groundhog Day , ” said Councilman Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s as if the city every six months tries to put cart before the horse when it comes to homelessness .
The city ’ s historical approach is always to do the enforcement with promise of alternatives .
We ’ re doing that again here.
” Councilman David Ryu , who is facing a stout challenge in next week ’ s election from a candidate who has relentlessly criticized his response to homelessness , said he would vote no on the proposal .
In an emailed statement , he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supported the effort were rushing a “ piece of legislation without consulting with our public health and homeless housing experts.
” “ These amendments will not solve homelessness , get people off the street , or make our neighborhoods cleaner and safer , ” he said .
The restoration of a citywide camping ban overshadowed other sections of the proposed amendments that would ban camping in specific locations .
If adopted , they would allow the city to remove homeless camps within 500 feet of freeway underpasses and homeless shelters .
In those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apply .
Those restrictions are specifically aimed at enabling the city to respond to pressure from U.S. District Judge David O. Carter , who is presiding over a lawsuit alleging that the city and county have failed to alleviate homelessness .
At Carter ’ s direction , city and county officials have committed to providing shelter for about 6,700 people estimated to be living under overpasses .
To make that happen , council members across the city are identifying sites in their districts where new homeless facilities — including safe parking , traditional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ built .
Several have expressed concern that they can only be successful in bringing these plans to fruition if they can demonstrate to nearby residents that the new housing won ’ t become a magnet for new homeless camps .
After two weeks of intense outreach , Tuesday was the deadline for people living under overpasses of the 101 Freeway in Blumenfield ’ s district to move as part of an effort spearheaded by Carter .
A spokesman for the councilman said 60 people had been moved to either hotels or shelters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be part of an effort to give the city a firmer legal standing to do similar outreach and relocation projects in other locations in the future .
Earlier , notices on official city letterhead citing the lawsuit and telling people they needed to move were posted .
Yet it was unclear on whose authority the notices were issued because Carter ’ s order to clear the areas near freeways had been vacated in the spring .

Alena, 45, cleans herself along Main Street where she lives in a tent with many other homeless above the 101 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles. “I’m new to this unexpected homelessness,” she said. She was laid off from her job as an administrative assistant this year.
The Los Angeles City Council is moving with unusual speed to a Wednesday vote on revisions to the city’s anti-camping law that would allow authorities to remove homeless camps anywhere in the city if they first offer shelter as an alternative to living on the street.
Los Angeles City Atty. Mike Feuer delivered the proposed amendments to the council on Monday, less than a week after several council members introduced a motion requesting tweaks to the anti-camping law, which had been sidelined on constitutional grounds.
Backers had said they expected to consider the motion Tuesday but instead scheduled a special meeting Wednesday to vote directly on the amendments, bypassing the usual committee process.
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The proposed change in the law would effectively prohibit anyone from camping in public anywhere in the city if authorities offer shelter as an alternative.
When he first saw the language that Feuer’s office had crafted, Councilman Bob Blumenfield, who had requested the change, thought it was far too broad. He said he spoke with Feuer on Tuesday and planned to amend the citywide ban so that it would only go into effect once there is a system to track shelter beds and an agreement over what constitutes acceptable shelter.
“Those are very big hills to climb,” he said.
“We have to be at a place where we actually can track all of our real-time beds and where we have a series of protocols that we’ve all approved and that the shelter beds are real,” Blumenfield said. “I don’t know if we’ll ever get there ... but it’s a nice North Star to have.”
The addition of the words, “who has been offered shelter” in the amendments is intended to address a 2018 ruling of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in the case Martin vs. City of Boise that found the arrest of homeless people unconstitutional if no alternate housing or shelter is available. The case withstood appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
A letter opposing the changes, signed by more than 40 homeless services providers and advocacy groups, was emailed to all 15 council members Tuesday afternoon.
The haste with which the proposal has moved forward provoked outrage from homeless advocates who phoned into Tuesday’s regular council meeting, which was held remotely.
Advertisement
“What breaks my heart is seeing you pull out all the tactical and legislative stops to quickly pass something so cruel to our most vulnerable Angelenos when we’ve never seen this kind of urgency for a motion that might actually help us,” said Sophie Strauss, one of a string of speakers who castigated the council, several with expletive-laden diatribes.
Release of the proposed amendments led to a confrontation Monday night as members of KTown for All,
a grassroots group that advocates for the interests of the homeless, faced off with several police officers outside Feuer’s home.
Feuer, who briefly stood in his front yard to address the group, issued a statement saying he supports the right to protest and accepted the incident as something that “comes with the territory.”
He said the purpose of the amendments is to help the city open new shelters and to relocate and shelter more people.
Feuer’s office is recommending that the city set up a working group to develop protocols to ensure that enforcement of the revised ordinance will be sensitive to the needs and circumstances of people experiencing homelessness.
This proposal resembled a similar effort last year from members of the council and Feuer to bar people from sitting or sleeping on streets and sidewalks near schools, parks and day care centers, and in a range of other prohibited areas — and that drew the ire of homeless advocates at the time.
It never passed.
“It feels like a Groundhog Day,” said Councilman Mike Bonin, who opposes the effort. “It’s as if the city every six months tries to put cart before the horse when it comes to homelessness. The city’s historical approach is always to do the enforcement with promise of alternatives. We’re doing that again here.”
Councilman David Ryu, who is facing a stout challenge in next week’s election from a candidate who has relentlessly criticized his response to homelessness, said he would vote no on the proposal. In an emailed statement, he said that Feuer and his council colleagues who supported the effort were rushing a “piece of legislation without consulting with our public health and homeless housing experts.”
“These amendments will not solve homelessness, get people off the street, or make our neighborhoods cleaner and safer,” he said.
The restoration of a citywide camping ban overshadowed other sections of the proposed amendments that would ban camping in specific locations. If adopted, they would allow the city to remove homeless camps within 500 feet of freeway underpasses and homeless shelters. In those areas the offer of housing would not apply.
Those restrictions are specifically aimed at enabling the city to respond to pressure from U.S. District Judge David O. Carter, who is presiding over a lawsuit alleging that the city and county have failed to alleviate homelessness. At Carter’s direction, city and county officials have committed to providing shelter for about 6,700 people estimated to be living under overpasses.
To make that happen, council members across the city are identifying sites in their districts where new homeless facilities — including safe parking, traditional shelters and tiny-home villages — can be built.
Several have expressed concern that they can only be successful in bringing these plans to fruition if they can demonstrate to nearby residents that the new housing won’t become a magnet for new homeless camps.
After two weeks of intense outreach, Tuesday was the deadline for people living under overpasses of the 101 Freeway in Blumenfield’s district to move as part of an effort spearheaded by Carter. A spokesman for the councilman said 60 people had been moved to either hotels or shelters.
This effort to update the ordinances appeared to be part of an effort to give the city a firmer legal standing to do similar outreach and relocation projects in other locations in the future.
Earlier, notices on official city letterhead citing the lawsuit and telling people they needed to move were posted. Yet it was unclear on whose authority the notices were issued because Carter’s order to clear the areas near freeways had been vacated in the spring.


latimes--2020-10-27--Some O.C. ballot boxes shuttered by blazes, officials say

Four ballot drop boxes in Orange County were closed Tuesday morning due to a pair of fires threatening the areas where they ’ re located and making them unsafe for voters to visit .
All the ballots in the affected boxes “ are safe , ” O.C .
Registrar of Voters Neal Kelley said , adding : “ They ’ re unharmed.
” The ballots were retrieved by the registrar under escort by the Sheriff ’ s Department , according to the office headed by Kelley .
So far , the number of ballots rescued have not been counted , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still open across the county .
The wind-driven Silverado and Blue Ridge fires , both burning into their second day , have led to the evacuation of more than 100,000 residents in Irvine , Yorba Linda , Chino Hills and other communities .
The shuttered boxes were in those mandatory evacuation areas , where officials said voters would not be able to safely access them .
Orange County officials installed fire-suppressive ballot boxes to protect from fires .
If triggered , a device sprays fire-retardant material inside the box .
Los Angeles County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the suppressant spray could destroy ballots or make them harder to recover , explaining why L.A. County has not installed them .
According to Kelley , they ’ ve been tested and appear to serve their protective function .
The spray “ doesn ’ t do a lot of damage to the ballots — and it certainly does a lot less damage than a fire , ” he said .
Just over a week ago , a ballot box in Los Angeles County was burned in what authorities say may have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Baldwin Hills drop box was recovered and transferred to the Los Angeles County registrar to see what could be salvaged , officials said .
Voters seeking an alternative way to cast their ballot can visit the registrar of voters office .
The office is open for voting from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located at 1300 South Grand Ave. , Building C , in Santa Ana .

Four ballot drop boxes in Orange County were closed Tuesday morning due to a pair of fires threatening the areas where they’re located and making them unsafe for voters to visit.
All the ballots in the affected boxes “are safe,” O.C. Registrar of Voters Neal Kelley said, adding: “They’re unharmed.”
The ballots were retrieved by the registrar under escort by the Sheriff’s Department, according to the office headed by Kelley. So far, the number of ballots rescued have not been counted, he said.
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There are 112 boxes still open across the county.
Four ballot drop boxes are now closed to Silverado and Blue Ridge Fires - all ballots in the affected drop boxes have been retrieved and secured. 112 ballot drop boxes remain open. For more info, please visit https://t.co/BRs0CkDrbw #ocvote2020 #ocvotecenters2020 #protect2020 pic.twitter.com/ivRYftH5sa — OC Registrar (@OCRegistrar) October 27, 2020
The wind-driven Silverado and Blue Ridge fires, both burning into their second day, have led to the evacuation of more than 100,000 residents in Irvine, Yorba Linda, Chino Hills and other communities.
The shuttered boxes were in those mandatory evacuation areas, where officials said voters would not be able to safely access them.
Orange County officials installed fire-suppressive ballot boxes to protect from fires. If triggered, a device sprays fire-retardant material inside the box.
Los Angeles County Clerk Dean C. Logan said last week that the suppressant spray could destroy ballots or make them harder to recover, explaining why L.A. County has not installed them.
According to Kelley, they’ve been tested and appear to serve their protective function.
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The spray “doesn’t do a lot of damage to the ballots — and it certainly does a lot less damage than a fire,” he said.
Just over a week ago, a ballot box in Los Angeles County was burned in what authorities say may have been arson. Some “material” from the Baldwin Hills drop box was recovered and transferred to the Los Angeles County registrar to see what could be salvaged, officials said.
Closed ballot drop boxes in Orange County are:
Ballot Drop Box No. 76
24705 Paseo De Toronto, Yorba Linda
Ballot Drop Box No. 28
5701 Trabuco Road, Irvine
Ballot Drop Box No. 29
1300 Sanctuary, Irvine
Ballot Drop Box No. 83
18931 Saddleback Ranch Road, Trabuco Canyon
Voters seeking an alternative way to cast their ballot can visit the registrar of voters office. The office is open for voting from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located at 1300 South Grand Ave., Building C, in Santa Ana.


latimes--2020-10-28--Homeless camps will remain for now as City Council delays vote on ban

A divided Los Angeles City Council backed off Wednesday from voting on a proposal that would have allowed the removal of homeless encampments anywhere in the city — if shelter is first offered to those living in them .
Facing intense opposition from the public and some of their colleagues , the seven council members who pressed for the amendments to the city ’ s anti-camping ordinance were unable to muster a majority to move it to a quick adoption .
After a four-hour hearing , when it was clear the council planned to refer the proposal to a committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote to Nov. 24 before the whole council .
She said the issue was too important to be shunted to a committee .
The proposed ordinance , prepared by City Attorney Mike Feuer in less than a week after several council members requested it , would also allow the city to remove homeless camps under freeway underpasses and near homeless shelters without the condition of offering shelter .
The proposal divided public speakers between those who opposed a ban , with more than one comparing it to Nazi Germany , and those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their homes .
Even though the meeting was held remotely , about 40 opponents gathered outside City Hall to protest .
“ Where will we go ?
” asked Ayman Ahmed , who said he is homeless in Echo Park .
“ The math doesn ’ t even add up to go into shelters .
There aren ’ t enough .
This lacks common sense.
” Other opponents participated in the council meeting remotely .
“ Nurses want to send a very clear message .
In middle of a global pandemic and possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs to be to protect public health and housing first , ” said Pilar Schiavo , who called in as a representative of the California Nursing Association .
Members had two primary concerns with the legislation .
Several council members said they supported the spirit of the proposal but wanted more clarity on how the law would be enforced and what protocols would be followed in offering shelter .
Acknowledging that , Councilman Bob Blumenfield had introduced a motion to strike the broadest clause within the amended ordinance .
It would effectively prohibit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city if authorities offer shelter as an alternative .
That would have left intact the two other sections dealing with shelters and freeway underpasses .
For Councilman Mike Bonin , that wasn ’ t enough .
He argued that the city needed to have sufficient shelter available before it tried to ban camping .
“ My problem with the ordinances before us ... [ is ] they assume the existence of the alternative resources , ” he said .
“ They ’ re frankly not there yet.
” Blumenfield said that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the freeway underpasses in his district , which have been cleared at the urging of U.S. District Judge David Carter , don ’ t refill with homeless people .
Over the last two weeks , outreach workers have gotten 60 people from the underpasses into shelter .

Outside L.A. City Hall, activists Ayman Ahmed, from left, Davon Brown and Pete White protest a proposal to remove homeless encampments in the city.
A divided Los Angeles City Council backed off Wednesday from voting on a proposal that would have allowed the removal of homeless encampments anywhere in the city — if shelter is first offered to those living in them.
Facing intense opposition from the public and some of their colleagues, the seven council members who pressed for the amendments to the city’s anti-camping ordinance were unable to muster a majority to move it to a quick adoption.
After a four-hour hearing, when it was clear the council planned to refer the proposal to a committee, Council President Nury Martinez continued the vote to Nov. 24 before the whole council. She said the issue was too important to be shunted to a committee.
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A man who goes by the name of General Dogon protests a plan to remove homeless encampments in L.A. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
The proposed ordinance, prepared by City Attorney Mike Feuer in less than a week after several council members requested it, would also allow the city to remove homeless camps under freeway underpasses and near homeless shelters without the condition of offering shelter.
The proposal divided public speakers between those who opposed a ban, with more than one comparing it to Nazi Germany, and those who pleaded for relief from homeless camps near their homes.
Even though the meeting was held remotely, about 40 opponents gathered outside City Hall to protest.
“Where will we go?” asked Ayman Ahmed, who said he is homeless in Echo Park. “The math doesn’t even add up to go into shelters. There aren’t enough. This lacks common sense.”
Other opponents participated in the council meeting remotely.
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Activists outside L.A. City Hall protest a plan to remove homeless encampments. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
“Nurses want to send a very clear message. In middle of a global pandemic and possible eviction of 365,000 people, the priority needs to be to protect public health and housing first,” said Pilar Schiavo, who called in as a representative of the California Nursing Association.
Members had two primary concerns with the legislation.
Several council members said they supported the spirit of the proposal but wanted more clarity on how the law would be enforced and what protocols would be followed in offering shelter.
Acknowledging that, Councilman Bob Blumenfield had introduced a motion to strike the broadest clause within the amended ordinance. It would effectively prohibit anyone from camping in public anywhere in the city if authorities offer shelter as an alternative.
That would have left intact the two other sections dealing with shelters and freeway underpasses.
For Councilman Mike Bonin, that wasn’t enough. He argued that the city needed to have sufficient shelter available before it tried to ban camping.
“My problem with the ordinances before us... [is] they assume the existence of the alternative resources,” he said. “They’re frankly not there yet.”
Blumenfield said that it was essential to update the ordinances so that the freeway underpasses in his district, which have been cleared at the urging of U.S. District Judge David Carter, don’t refill with homeless people. Over the last two weeks, outreach workers have gotten 60 people from the underpasses into shelter.


latimes--2020-10-28--Unhappy with rules for reopening, Riverside County looks to pressure Sacramento

Frustrated with the state ’ s process for allowing businesses , schools and other facilities to reopen during the coronavirus pandemic , leaders in Riverside County are looking to join forces with officials in other Southern California counties to press Sacramento for changes to its strategy .
The Riverside County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a report that called on the county “ to work in a collaborative fashion with our colleagues in other Southern California counties to engage the state in a truly meaningful conversation of the devastating impacts that the state tier system , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counties.
” Supervisor Karen Spiegel , who introduced the motion , and others on the board criticized California ’ s four-tier , color-coded system for deciding how far each of the state ’ s 58 counties can go toward reopening as overly broad and unequally applied .
“ I ’ ve always said there ’ s power in numbers , ” Spiegel said .
“ Our voice is louder than just one county.
” Under the state ’ s approach , a county is put in one of four tiers depending on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percentage of tests that are positive for the virus .
As a county gets better control over the virus ’ spread , it moves up the tiers and can increasingly reopen .
If it backtracks , it must clamp down on what types of business are allowed to operate .
The system , the Riverside report said , is applied statewide “ without recognition of the tremendous diversity of California ’ s geography , demographic density , or other factors.
” Among the sectors the state should review or rethink , supervisors said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurants and hotel meeting spaces .
“ Reexamination , I think , is a great thing .
Having a dialogue with the state of California , I think , is a great thing , ” said Supervisor V. Manuel Perez .
He added , though , that “ it ’ s important that we stick to the science , and it ’ s important that we stick to the public health concerns like the social distancing and the facial coverings , obviously washing our hands ... because I think that ’ s also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in reopening.
” The agitation in Riverside is the latest example of discontent among county officials around the state , many of whom have lobbied the state to change its COVID-19 restrictions throughout the pandemic .
Riverside officials previously have voiced concern , saying they wanted more local control over reopening guidelines .
Generally , counties are allowed to adopt rules that are stricter , but not more lenient , than the state ’ s — though officials in Sacramento “ work collaboratively and closely ” with health officers and elected officials at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newsom said Tuesday .
Some Riverside County supervisors , though , accused the state of having an uneven hand when it comes to categorizing counties within the tier framework .
“ I do recognize that there is the potential that certain counties are getting preferential treatment , ” said Supervisor Kevin Jeffries .
“ Generally , if you ’ re Bay Area , you ’ re treated in much higher regard , much more respect .
And the inland counties , you ’ re basically poorer counties and , ‘ good luck you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , this week ’ s move comes as state and health officials have expressed some concern with recent increases in coronavirus infections .
With much of the nation grappling with significant spikes in new cases , some warn California could face a similar fate unless the state collectively takes the steps necessary to ward off a surge .
“ We are seeing increased disease in the community , ” Riverside County Public Health Director Kim Saruwatari told the Board of Supervisors Tuesday .
“ This is consistent with what other areas of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are fortunate that we ’ re not seeing it to the level that many others are.
” Riverside County is currently in the purple tier , the most restrictive in the state ’ s system .
They are considered to have widespread risk of community coronavirus transmission and many businesses and public facilities are either barred from operating indoors or only allowed to do so with strict limits on capacity .
Counties are placed in the purple tier if the average number of new infections for every 100,000 people is seven or more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detect the virus is 8 % or greater .
Of the nine counties currently in that category , four are in Southern California — Riverside , Los Angeles , San Bernardino and Imperial .
Overall , there have been more than 66,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Riverside County throughout the course of the pandemic , as well as roughly 1,300 deaths .
L.A. County has seen a recent uptick in coronavirus infections , from an average of about 940 new cases a day in early October to almost 1,200 as of last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ferrer .
However , COVID-19 hospitalizations have remained relatively flat for some time — “ we ’ ve been below 1,000 people hospitalized each day for most of September through October , ” she said Wednesday — and the average daily number of deaths has fallen from a peak of about 44 in late July to roughly 13 last week .
“ This continued decrease in deaths is promising , ” Ferrer said during a briefing .
“ At the same time , we know that an increase in cases can and usually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths several weeks later .
This is why it ’ s so important that we remain vigilant.
” She announced 1,351 new cases Wednesday , pushing the county ’ s cumulative total past 303,000 .
More than 7,000 Angelenos have died from COVID-19 .
The tier system was designed to have a “ slow and stringent approach , ” that forces counties to show consistent success in stemming coronavirus transmission before moving ahead with wider reopening , said California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly .
Many counties have managed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were placed in the purple tier , while only two were in the least restrictive yellow category , according to Ghaly .
Those numbers are now nine and 10 , respectively .
It remains to be seen whether other counties in Southern California will join Riverside to pressure state officials for more flexibility in reopening .
Some officials in neighboring counties have also been critical of the state ’ s COVID-19 strategy .
Last week , Michelle Steel , chairwoman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors , who is running for Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to mitigating COVID-19 from Sacramento is not working.
” “ Orange County has not been the only county to express concern about this model , ” she said during a news conference .
“ We want to work with the state on containing and eventually eliminating this virus , but this top-down approach with little communication isn ’ t productive .
Each local government has different issues affecting the spread of COVID-19 .
”

Frustrated with the state’s process for allowing businesses, schools and other facilities to reopen during the coronavirus pandemic, leaders in Riverside County are looking to join forces with officials in other Southern California counties to press Sacramento for changes to its strategy.
The Riverside County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a report that called on the county “to work in a collaborative fashion with our colleagues in other Southern California counties to engage the state in a truly meaningful conversation of the devastating impacts that the state tier system, as currently configured, is having on our counties.”
Supervisor Karen Spiegel, who introduced the motion, and others on the board criticized California’s four-tier, color-coded system for deciding how far each of the state’s 58 counties can go toward reopening as overly broad and unequally applied.
“I’ve always said there’s power in numbers,” Spiegel said. “Our voice is louder than just one county.”
Under the state’s approach, a county is put in one of four tiers depending on the number of infections it records and the percentage of tests that are positive for the virus. As a county gets better control over the virus’ spread, it moves up the tiers and can increasingly reopen. If it backtracks, it must clamp down on what types of business are allowed to operate.
The system, the Riverside report said, is applied statewide “without recognition of the tremendous diversity of California’s geography, demographic density, or other factors.”
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Among the sectors the state should review or rethink, supervisors said during their discussion, are gyms, restaurants and hotel meeting spaces.
“Reexamination, I think, is a great thing. Having a dialogue with the state of California, I think, is a great thing,” said Supervisor V. Manuel Perez.
He added, though, that “it’s important that we stick to the science, and it’s important that we stick to the public health concerns like the social distancing and the facial coverings, obviously washing our hands ... because I think that’s also equally as important in moving us forward in reopening.”
California Southern California counties see surge in new coronavirus cases The average numbers of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents in four counties — Imperial, San Bernardino, Riverside and Los Angeles — are currently among the highest in the state.
The agitation in Riverside is the latest example of discontent among county officials around the state, many of whom have lobbied the state to change its COVID-19 restrictions throughout the pandemic. Riverside officials previously have voiced concern, saying they wanted more local control over reopening guidelines.
Generally, counties are allowed to adopt rules that are stricter, but not more lenient, than the state’s — though officials in Sacramento “work collaboratively and closely” with health officers and elected officials at the local level, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday.
Some Riverside County supervisors, though, accused the state of having an uneven hand when it comes to categorizing counties within the tier framework.
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“I do recognize that there is the potential that certain counties are getting preferential treatment,” said Supervisor Kevin Jeffries. “Generally, if you’re Bay Area, you’re treated in much higher regard, much more respect. And the inland counties, you’re basically poorer counties and, ‘good luck you’re on your own.’”
However, this week’s move comes as state and health officials have expressed some concern with recent increases in coronavirus infections. With much of the nation grappling with significant spikes in new cases, some warn California could face a similar fate unless the state collectively takes the steps necessary to ward off a surge.
“We are seeing increased disease in the community,” Riverside County Public Health Director Kim Saruwatari told the Board of Supervisors Tuesday. “This is consistent with what other areas of the country are seeing, and we are fortunate that we’re not seeing it to the level that many others are.”
Riverside County is currently in the purple tier, the most restrictive in the state’s system. They are considered to have widespread risk of community coronavirus transmission and many businesses and public facilities are either barred from operating indoors or only allowed to do so with strict limits on capacity.
Counties are placed in the purple tier if the average number of new infections for every 100,000 people is seven or more, or the percentage of tests that detect the virus is 8% or greater.
Of the nine counties currently in that category, four are in Southern California — Riverside, Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Imperial.
Overall, there have been more than 66,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Riverside County throughout the course of the pandemic, as well as roughly 1,300 deaths.
L.A. County has seen a recent uptick in coronavirus infections, from an average of about 940 new cases a day in early October to almost 1,200 as of last week, according to Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer.
However, COVID-19 hospitalizations have remained relatively flat for some time — “we’ve been below 1,000 people hospitalized each day for most of September through October,” she said Wednesday — and the average daily number of deaths has fallen from a peak of about 44 in late July to roughly 13 last week.
“This continued decrease in deaths is promising,” Ferrer said during a briefing. “At the same time, we know that an increase in cases can and usually does result in increases in hospitalizations and deaths several weeks later. This is why it’s so important that we remain vigilant.”
She announced 1,351 new cases Wednesday, pushing the county’s cumulative total past 303,000. More than 7,000 Angelenos have died from COVID-19.
The tier system was designed to have a “slow and stringent approach,” that forces counties to show consistent success in stemming coronavirus transmission before moving ahead with wider reopening, said California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly.
Many counties have managed to do so. Initially, 38 counties were placed in the purple tier, while only two were in the least restrictive yellow category, according to Ghaly. Those numbers are now nine and 10, respectively.
It remains to be seen whether other counties in Southern California will join Riverside to pressure state officials for more flexibility in reopening. Some officials in neighboring counties have also been critical of the state’s COVID-19 strategy.
Last week, Michelle Steel, chairwoman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, who is running for Congress, said that “the top-down approach to mitigating COVID-19 from Sacramento is not working.”
“Orange County has not been the only county to express concern about this model,” she said during a news conference. “We want to work with the state on containing and eventually eliminating this virus, but this top-down approach with little communication isn’t productive. Each local government has different issues affecting the spread of COVID-19.”


latimes--2020-10-28--Los Angeles County D.A. files seven more sexual assault counts against Ron Jeremy

Los Angeles County prosecutors filed additional sexual assault charges Wednesday against disgraced adult film star Ron Jeremy , with some of the new allegations stretching as far back as 1996 .
Jeremy , who was arrested in June and charged with assaulting four women on the Sunset Strip , has now been charged with attacking 23 women over a quarter-century and faces 34 criminal counts including rape , sexual battery and forcible oral copulation , authorities said .
Jeremy has denied all wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to the seven new charges — which involve six additional accusers — in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due back in court in mid-December .
The new charges include an allegation that Jeremy raped a 19-year-old woman during a photo shoot in the San Fernando Valley in 1996 and that he assaulted a 17-year-old girl at a Woodland Hills home in 2008 .
News that some of Jeremy ’ s accusers were in their teens comes after prosecutors filed a raft of new allegations against him in August , including a charge of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in Santa Clarita .
Dozens of women have come forward to accuse Jeremy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , from groping to violent rape , since his arrest in June .
Within three days , prosecutors said , they had received an additional 25 allegations of misconduct against Jeremy .
From June to August , the Sheriff ’ s Department interviewed 50 additional women who said they had been victimized by Jeremy .
Six women also came forward to The Times in August to make their allegations of rape against Jeremy public for the first time .
Jeremy ’ s defense attorney , Stu Goldfarb , said he believes the initial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so now prosecutors are trying to paint his client as a monster through the sheer number of accusations .
“ The first four charges that they filed were very defensible , ” Goldfarb said , dismissing them as “ he said , she said ” cases .
Not all the allegations that have surfaced since June can be charged — the district attorney ’ s office said Wednesday it declined to prosecute 14 additional cases because the statute of limitations had expired — but older claims against Jeremy could still be used against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier this year , prosecutors indicated they might call so-called prior bad acts witnesses who can testify to similar , but uncharged , criminal behavior involving Jeremy .
A similar strategy played a key role in movie producer Harvey Weinstein ’ s conviction on rape charges in Manhattan , N.Y. , this year .

Adult film star Ron Jeremy talks with his attorney Stuart Goldfarb during his arraignment on rape and sexual assault charges in June 2020. Jeremy has pleaded not guilty to 34 sexual assault charges involving 23 victims.
Los Angeles County prosecutors filed additional sexual assault charges Wednesday against disgraced adult film star Ron Jeremy, with some of the new allegations stretching as far back as 1996.
Jeremy, who was arrested in June and charged with assaulting four women on the Sunset Strip, has now been charged with attacking 23 women over a quarter-century and faces 34 criminal counts including rape, sexual battery and forcible oral copulation, authorities said.
Jeremy has denied all wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to the seven new charges — which involve six additional accusers — in a downtown courtroom Wednesday. He is due back in court in mid-December.
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The new charges include an allegation that Jeremy raped a 19-year-old woman during a photo shoot in the San Fernando Valley in 1996 and that he assaulted a 17-year-old girl at a Woodland Hills home in 2008. News that some of Jeremy’s accusers were in their teens comes after prosecutors filed a raft of new allegations against him in August, including a charge of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in Santa Clarita.
Dozens of women have come forward to accuse Jeremy of a wide array of sexual misconduct, from groping to violent rape, since his arrest in June. Within three days, prosecutors said, they had received an additional 25 allegations of misconduct against Jeremy. From June to August, the Sheriff’s Department interviewed 50 additional women who said they had been victimized by Jeremy. Six women also came forward to The Times in August to make their allegations of rape against Jeremy public for the first time.
Jeremy’s defense attorney, Stu Goldfarb, said he believes the initial charges brought in June were weak, so now prosecutors are trying to paint his client as a monster through the sheer number of accusations.
“The first four charges that they filed were very defensible,” Goldfarb said, dismissing them as “he said, she said” cases.
Not all the allegations that have surfaced since June can be charged — the district attorney’s office said Wednesday it declined to prosecute 14 additional cases because the statute of limitations had expired — but older claims against Jeremy could still be used against him at trial.
In court filings earlier this year, prosecutors indicated they might call so-called prior bad acts witnesses who can testify to similar, but uncharged, criminal behavior involving Jeremy. A similar strategy played a key role in movie producer Harvey Weinstein’s conviction on rape charges in Manhattan, N.Y., this year.


latimes--2020-10-28--O.C. man jailed in Vietnam for 27 months returns home, thanks community of people fighting for his r

O.C. man jailed in Vietnam for 27 months returns home, thanks community of people fighting for his release

An Orange County man wrongly jailed for 27 months in Vietnam for alleged actions to overthrow the government is home and , in his first public remarks Wednesday , thanked the community of residents and legislators who fought for his safe return .
Michael Nguyen , 57 , a native of Vietnam , appeared at a virtual news conference , with his wife , Helen , by his side and in front of the American flag , to read from a long statement .
Nguyen , who landed on U.S. soil Sunday , said that what he endured “ was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from God , through so many of you.
” In July 2018 , Nguyen was visiting relatives and traveling in Da Nang when strangers in civilian clothes pulled him off a tour bus , blindfolded him and took him away without offering a reason .
Months later , Vietnamese authorities told U.S. Embassy officials they were investigating him on allegations of violating Article 109 of the criminal code , citing his activities and “ violent measures ” against the communist government .
Nguyen was reluctant to offer more details on his imprisonment and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. State Department that warned family members not to “ compromise his case.
” Desperate and bewildered after her husband was seized , Helen Nguyen , a surgical nurse , jumped into action aided by Mark Roberts , her brother-in-law .
The two mounted a bilingual campaign to call attention to the prisoner ’ s plight and to keep his name in the headlines .
They tapped Rep. Katie Porter ( D-Irvine ) , who led a bipartisan effort to push for Nguyen ’ s freedom and who described the father of four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world and wants to do something about it.
” “ It is overwhelming that so many people worked so hard and for so long to reunite me with my family , ” Nguyen said .
His wife and four daughters had no communication with the print shop owner during his first two months of imprisonment .
After that , he received pre-screened letters from the family about once every five weeks , he recalled .
For 11 months , he lacked access to lawyers , and after almost a year behind bars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court , assigning him a public defender just 24 hours beforehand .
“ But he could not possibly defend me because one day before the ‘ trial , ’ one day before , ” Nguyen said , “ he was given a stack of papers more than 12 inches tall , with charges against me and so-called evidence , with no time to possibly review , to question their so-called evidence , to have any sort of due process or justice under the law.
” Nguyen said that officials had issued a document @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public defender ’ s main job was to get me to sign a statement of words that were not even my own.
” They accused him and two Vietnamese men arrested with him — Tran Long Phi and Huynh Duc Thanh Binh , both in their 20s — of hatching a plan “ to incite 100 people to join a protest accompanied by a staged traffic jam , to buy weapons to resist government agencies , and to prepare food and shelters for their long-term fights , ” according to an indictment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In the courtroom , “ they told me I could explain myself , but when I started to speak , they stopped me , ” Nguyen said .
“ They silenced me.
” In June 2019 , Nguyen , looking haggard in a photo , received a sentence of 12 years for “ attempting to overthrow the state.
” His family learned of his punishment via social media .
Meanwhile , members of Orange County ’ s prominent Vietnamese American community continued to plead for help .
Porter had invited Helen Nguyen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s State of the Union speech in 2019 , hoping to shine the spotlight on her husband ’ s arrest .
Porter reached out to fellow California Democrats .
Rep. Alan Lowenthal of Long Beach hosted a town hall with Dan Kritenbrink , the U.S. ambassador to Vietnam , and introduced Nguyen ’ s family to him .
Reps. Lou Correa of Santa Ana , Harley Rouda of Laguna Beach and Brad Sherman of Northridge sent letters to demand that the Vietnamese government free Nguyen along with other prisoners of conscience .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican Rep. Ted Yoho , the ranking member on the Asia subcommittee of the House Foreign Relations Committee , kept up the pressure — with Roberts , the brother-in-law , coordinating and spreading their messages .
Nguyen can ’ t forget the countless prisoners , including foreigners , who remain at the Thu Duc prison .
“ Many of them did not have people back home fighting for them .
Many of these people suffered even more than I did .
I want to respect their cases , ” he said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their wife , and their governments might not fight for them like my government fought for me .
”

An Orange County man wrongly jailed for 27 months in Vietnam for alleged actions to overthrow the government is home and, in his first public remarks Wednesday, thanked the community of residents and legislators who fought for his safe return.
Michael Nguyen, 57, a native of Vietnam, appeared at a virtual news conference, with his wife, Helen, by his side and in front of the American flag, to read from a long statement. Nguyen, who landed on U.S. soil Sunday, said that what he endured “was nothing compared to the grace I received from God, through so many of you.”
In July 2018, Nguyen was visiting relatives and traveling in Da Nang when strangers in civilian clothes pulled him off a tour bus, blindfolded him and took him away without offering a reason. Months later, Vietnamese authorities told U.S. Embassy officials they were investigating him on allegations of violating Article 109 of the criminal code, citing his activities and “violent measures” against the communist government.
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Nguyen was reluctant to offer more details on his imprisonment and release, citing earlier instructions from the U.S. State Department that warned family members not to “compromise his case.”
Desperate and bewildered after her husband was seized, Helen Nguyen, a surgical nurse, jumped into action aided by Mark Roberts, her brother-in-law. The two mounted a bilingual campaign to call attention to the prisoner’s plight and to keep his name in the headlines.
They tapped Rep. Katie Porter (D-Irvine), who led a bipartisan effort to push for Nguyen’s freedom and who described the father of four as someone “who sees injustice in the world and wants to do something about it.”
State Department officials called Nguyen’s case an unacceptable violation of human rights.
“It is overwhelming that so many people worked so hard and for so long to reunite me with my family,” Nguyen said. His wife and four daughters had no communication with the print shop owner during his first two months of imprisonment.
Michael Nguyen sits with his family after spending 27 months wrongly jailed in Vietnam for alleged actions to overthrow the government.
After that, he received pre-screened letters from the family about once every five weeks, he recalled. For 11 months, he lacked access to lawyers, and after almost a year behind bars, officials forced Nguyen to go to court, assigning him a public defender just 24 hours beforehand.
“But he could not possibly defend me because one day before the ‘trial,’ one day before,” Nguyen said, “he was given a stack of papers more than 12 inches tall, with charges against me and so-called evidence, with no time to possibly review, to question their so-called evidence, to have any sort of due process or justice under the law.”
Nguyen said that officials had issued a document for him to sign and that “the public defender’s main job was to get me to sign a statement of words that were not even my own.”
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They accused him and two Vietnamese men arrested with him — Tran Long Phi and Huynh Duc Thanh Binh, both in their 20s — of hatching a plan “to incite 100 people to join a protest accompanied by a staged traffic jam, to buy weapons to resist government agencies, and to prepare food and shelters for their long-term fights,” according to an indictment detailed in the government-controlled Tuoi Tre newspaper.
In the courtroom, “they told me I could explain myself, but when I started to speak, they stopped me,” Nguyen said. “They silenced me.”
In June 2019, Nguyen, looking haggard in a photo, received a sentence of 12 years for “attempting to overthrow the state.”
His family learned of his punishment via social media. Meanwhile, members of Orange County’s prominent Vietnamese American community continued to plead for help.
Porter had invited Helen Nguyen to be her guest at President Trump’s State of the Union speech in 2019, hoping to shine the spotlight on her husband’s arrest.
Porter reached out to fellow California Democrats. Rep. Alan Lowenthal of Long Beach hosted a town hall with Dan Kritenbrink, the U.S. ambassador to Vietnam, and introduced Nguyen’s family to him. Reps. Lou Correa of Santa Ana, Harley Rouda of Laguna Beach and Brad Sherman of Northridge sent letters to demand that the Vietnamese government free Nguyen along with other prisoners of conscience. Texas Democratic Rep. Al Green and Florida Republican Rep. Ted Yoho, the ranking member on the Asia subcommittee of the House Foreign Relations Committee, kept up the pressure — with Roberts, the brother-in-law, coordinating and spreading their messages.
Nguyen can’t forget the countless prisoners, including foreigners, who remain at the Thu Duc prison.
“Many of them did not have people back home fighting for them. Many of these people suffered even more than I did. I want to respect their cases,” he said. “They don’t have Helen as their wife, and their governments might not fight for them like my government fought for me.”


latimes--2020-10-28--Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk to reopen amusement park

Santa Cruz ’ s flagship amusement park will soon be filled again with the sounds of shrieks and laughter , albeit muted by masks and with thinner crowds than usual .
Santa Cruz County ’ s declining coronavirus numbers placed it in the less restrictive orange tier of the state ’ s reopening guidelines Tuesday , meaning the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk can reopen for up to 500 people .
Spokesman Kris Reyes said that there is no opening date yet but that park staffers are excited to get back to work .
“ We are currently reviewing the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to understand how and when the Boardwalk can reopen rides and other attractions , ” Reyes said in a statement .
“ The safety of our employees and guests will remain our top priority whenever we reopen.
” It is unclear how many rides will be up and running again , but Reyes said “ it certainly will not be all of them.
” The state last week , allowing small theme parks to reopen outdoors only , with visitors restricted to county residents .
The parks must offer a reservation system , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1907 , the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is California ’ s oldest amusement park and is poised to make history again as one of the first to reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic .
Parks in other orange-tier counties are also eligible for reopening .
The new guidelines apply to parks with a capacity of 15,000 or fewer , so major venues such as Disneyland and Universal Studios still have to wait .
Theme parks of all sizes can reopen at 25 % capacity once a county has reached the yellow tier of “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threshold for places like Orange County .
The guidelines immediately drew ire last week from theme park executives and the local governments that rely on the parks ’ tourist dollars .
“ These state guidelines will keep us shuttered for the foreseeable future , forcing thousands more people out of work , leading to the inevitable closure of small family-owned businesses , and irreparably devastating the Anaheim/Southern California community , ” Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock said in a statement .
Official opening day for the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk ’ s rides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced on its website and social media channels , Reyes said .
The boardwalk is open already for limited dining and shopping , and the nearby bowling alley allows visitors at 25 % capacity , he said .

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is poised to become one of the first amusement parks to reopen since the COVID-1`9 pandemic forced its closure.
Santa Cruz’s flagship amusement park will soon be filled again with the sounds of shrieks and laughter, albeit muted by masks and with thinner crowds than usual.
Santa Cruz County’s declining coronavirus numbers placed it in the less restrictive orange tier of the state’s reopening guidelines Tuesday, meaning the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk can reopen for up to 500 people.
Spokesman Kris Reyes said that there is no opening date yet but that park staffers are excited to get back to work.
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“We are currently reviewing the state’s reopening guidelines for amusement parks to understand how and when the Boardwalk can reopen rides and other attractions,” Reyes said in a statement. “The safety of our employees and guests will remain our top priority whenever we reopen.”
It is unclear how many rides will be up and running again, but Reyes said “it certainly will not be all of them.”
The state released new guidelines last week, allowing small theme parks to reopen outdoors only, with visitors restricted to county residents. The parks must offer a reservation system, and masks are mandatory.
Built in 1907, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is California’s oldest amusement park and is poised to make history again as one of the first to reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parks in other orange-tier counties are also eligible for reopening.
The new guidelines apply to parks with a capacity of 15,000 or fewer, so major venues such as Disneyland and Universal Studios still have to wait. Theme parks of all sizes can reopen at 25% capacity once a county has reached the yellow tier of “minimal risk level” — a far-off threshold for places like Orange County.
The guidelines immediately drew ire last week from theme park executives and the local governments that rely on the parks’ tourist dollars.
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“These state guidelines will keep us shuttered for the foreseeable future, forcing thousands more people out of work, leading to the inevitable closure of small family-owned businesses, and irreparably devastating the Anaheim/Southern California community,” Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock said in a statement.
Official opening day for the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk’s rides, arcades and miniature golf will be announced on its website and social media channels, Reyes said. The boardwalk is open already for limited dining and shopping, and the nearby bowling alley allows visitors at 25% capacity, he said.


latimes--2020-10-28--Police investigating swastika and 'Trump' painted on Bay Area home as possible hate crime

Investigators are trying to determine who spray-painted a swastika and the word “ Trump ” on a Bay Area garage door .
The Lafayette Police Department received reports of the vandalism near Lafayette Circle on Tuesday .
“ There is no place for hate in Lafayette , ” Mayor Mike Anderson said in a written statement .
“ This is an inclusive and diverse city where everyone is welcome , ” Anderson wrote .
“ The spray-painting of a swastika , a symbol of oppression , genocide and xenophobia , on an individual ’ s home will not be tolerated.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a possible hate crime and have contacted the FBI , Anderson said , adding that the perpetrators will be “ vigorously prosecuted.
” In a Facebook post , the homeowner shared an image of the graffiti and expressed hope that the “ horrendous ” event would unite people against hate , oppression and racism .
“ Regardless of the zip code they reside in , they are obviously not of my community , ” she wrote of the perpetrators .
“ Community is so much more [ than ] that .
Community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She did not immediately respond to requests for comment .
Lafayette spokesman Jeff Heyman said similar graffiti was found on an overpass in nearby Orinda within the last couple of days , although he would not go so far as to call it a pattern .
Contra Costa County , where Orinda and Lafayette are both located , has leaned blue in recent years .
According to the California secretary of state , 52 % of the county ’ s roughly 675,000 registered voters are Democrats and 19 % are Republicans .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of hate and violence underscore the importance of how we all show up in this moment , ” the homeowner wrote .
“ We have 6 days until the next election .
...
Please help spread a call to action in the name of love and acceptance.
” Officials are asking anyone with more information to contact detectives at ( 925 ) 383-3680 .

Investigators are trying to determine who spray-painted a swastika and the word “Trump” on a Bay Area garage door.
The Lafayette Police Department received reports of the vandalism near Lafayette Circle on Tuesday.
“There is no place for hate in Lafayette,” Mayor Mike Anderson said in a written statement.
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“This is an inclusive and diverse city where everyone is welcome,” Anderson wrote. “The spray-painting of a swastika, a symbol of oppression, genocide and xenophobia, on an individual’s home will not be tolerated.”
Lafayette police are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime and have contacted the FBI, Anderson said, adding that the perpetrators will be “vigorously prosecuted.”
In a Facebook post, the homeowner shared an image of the graffiti and expressed hope that the “horrendous” event would unite people against hate, oppression and racism.
“Regardless of the zip code they reside in, they are obviously not of my community,” she wrote of the perpetrators. “Community is so much more [than] that. Community is in your head and heart.”
She did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Lafayette spokesman Jeff Heyman said similar graffiti was found on an overpass in nearby Orinda within the last couple of days, although he would not go so far as to call it a pattern.
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Contra Costa County, where Orinda and Lafayette are both located, has leaned blue in recent years. According to the California secretary of state, 52% of the county’s roughly 675,000 registered voters are Democrats and 19% are Republicans.
“We beg you to let this message of hate and violence underscore the importance of how we all show up in this moment,” the homeowner wrote. “We have 6 days until the next election. ... Please help spread a call to action in the name of love and acceptance.”
Officials are asking anyone with more information to contact detectives at (925) 383-3680.


latimes--2020-10-28--Law enforcement deals with 'unruly' crowds after Dodgers' World Series victory

Los Angeles police made at least eight arrests and declared unlawful assemblies in downtown L.A. and Echo Park to clear out people who had blocked streets and set off fireworks after the Dodgers won the World Series on Tuesday night .
At least 10 arrests were made by L.A. County sheriff ’ s deputies amid separate celebrations in East Los Angeles .
Crowds gathered across the city to celebrate , mostly peacefully .
But in some places , the situation got tense .
In Echo Park , people threw objects at police , who responded by shooting hard-foam projectiles .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ blocking a big-rig truck and taking merchandise from it .
Several businesses were also reported vandalized .
LAPD Chief Michel Moore , in a Wednesday interview on ABC7 , denounced the events as mayhem that were driven by a few people who wanted to “ wreak havoc ” but facilitated by many others who were “ assisting or at least standing by and cheering on this lawlessness.
” “ Right now we are embarrassing ourselves , in a sports celebration , across the world , ” Moore said .
“ The story is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story is the vandalism , the looting and how the celebration was taken over by thugs.
” Officer Lizeth Lomeli , an L.A. Police Department spokeswoman , said Wednesday morning that police had arrested one person on suspicion of assaulting an officer , four on suspicion of looting — a charge related to burglary or theft during an emergency — and three on suspicion of reckless driving .
Lomeli said three officers suffered minor injuries .
She said she was not aware of any serious injuries to people in the crowds .
Police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the problems that after the Lakers ’ victory earlier this month , when celebrations turned rowdy and more than 75 people were arrested , the vast majority of them on suspicion of failing to disperse after police declared the gathering unlawful .
Several people were badly injured , including by police projectiles , as officers cleared the Lakers celebration .
Preparing for a possible Dodgers victory , police had closed off the main entrance to Dodger Stadium , as well as Whittier Boulevard in East Los Angeles .
Crowds hit the streets in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ World Series win since 1988 .
Much of it was in good fun , with some parents bringing their children to enjoy the historic moment .
“ This is the best we ’ ve felt in a long time , ” said Ismael Servin , 29 , standing on Hubbard Street and Belden Avenue in East Los Angeles as smoke billowed from the tires of a pickup revving its engine in the intersection .
“ In 2020 , we needed this.
” Just 4 years old when the Dodgers last won a championship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mother ’ s home in Boyle Heights in a delirium of happiness , clutching a half-empty bottle of Champagne .
“ Pandemic champions , baby !
” he shouted over the honks of cars rushing past on Soto Street .
Queen ’ s “ We Are the Champions ” belted from a loudspeaker .
Shortly after 11 p.m. , the LAPD said it was dealing with scattered problems .
“ We ’ re seeing some large , at times unruly crowds , taking over intersections in various parts of the city .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible .
If you must be out , please exercise caution .
Should you encounter a large crowd , do not attempt to drive through it , ” the department said on Twitter .
Videos showed police clashing with others on the streets of downtown as officers tried to clear the area after midnight .
Amid reports of people breaking into stores and stealing , police declared an unlawful assembly in downtown shortly before 1 a.m. Wednesday , closing off several blocks from West 8th Street to Pico Boulevard and Figueroa Street to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journalist reporting forL.A .
Taco , said he was near West 8th and Flower streets when officers suddenly rushed forward and pinned him against a car .
Ray feared he would be dragged underneath the car , which was slowly creeping forward , if the driver sped off .
The officers forced him to the ground , then released him , as he screamed that he was a member of the press and filmed the altercation .
Some of the officers should have known who he was , because he had introduced himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Ray , a Black man and a freelancer , said there has been a “ different tone ” to how the LAPD has dealt with crowds and treated journalists lately — especially journalists of color who aren ’ t affiliated with major news outlets .
Last month , KPCC radio reporter Josie Huang was slammed to the ground and arrested by L.A. County sheriff ’ s deputies while covering a protest , despite wearing a press badge and stating her media affiliation .
“ It ’ s really difficult to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Across town , the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’ s Department also clashed with crowds and shot projectiles to disperse people .
Deputy Trina Schrader , a department spokeswoman , said Wednesday that at least 10 people were arrested — two on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and eight on suspicion of failing to disperse .
The arrests came after “ unruly crowds began to flood every major intersection ” along Whittier and Olympic boulevards , Schrader said .
After deputies gave a dispersal order around 9:30 p.m. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began throwing rocks at the deputies , Schrader said .
Deputies responded at about 10:47 p.m. with “ less lethal ” projectile weapons , she said .
The East L.A. crowds dispersed by about 1 a.m. , Schrader said .
Crowds also gathered elsewhere , including near the sheriff ’ s Century station in Lynwood .
In Huntington Park , several hundred pedestrians and many cars converged at Pacific Boulevard and Florence Avenue , lighting fireworks and celebrating in the street , the Sheriff ’ s Department said .
That crowd dispersed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sheriff Alex Villanueva said Tuesday night ’ s events were “ not bad , ” despite the 10 arrests .
The department closed down Whittier Boulevard and other areas , which helped prevent large crowds from gathering .
“ The majority of people went and they behaved and they celebrated peacefully , and that ’ s all we want , ” Villanueva said .
He said there was no reported property damage in areas patrolled by his agency .

Matthew Ormseth, Benjamin Oreskes, Kevin Rector, Hayley Smith

Los Angeles police made at least eight arrests and declared unlawful assemblies in downtown L.A. and Echo Park to clear out people who had blocked streets and set off fireworks after the Dodgers won the World Series on Tuesday night.
At least 10 arrests were made by L.A. County sheriff’s deputies amid separate celebrations in East Los Angeles.
For the record: An earlier version of this article indicated Ismael Servin was 21. He is 29.
Crowds gathered across the city to celebrate, mostly peacefully. But in some places, the situation got tense.
In Echo Park, people threw objects at police, who responded by shooting hard-foam projectiles.
Fans celebrate after the Dodgers defeat the Tampa Bay Rays to win their first World Series since 1988. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
In downtown, video showed a crowd blocking a big-rig truck and taking merchandise from it. Several businesses were also reported vandalized.
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LAPD Chief Michel Moore, in a Wednesday interview on ABC7, denounced the events as mayhem that were driven by a few people who wanted to “wreak havoc” but facilitated by many others who were “assisting or at least standing by and cheering on this lawlessness.”
“Right now we are embarrassing ourselves, in a sports celebration, across the world,” Moore said. “The story is not that the Dodgers won. The story is the vandalism, the looting and how the celebration was taken over by thugs.”
Officer Lizeth Lomeli, an L.A. Police Department spokeswoman, said Wednesday morning that police had arrested one person on suspicion of assaulting an officer, four on suspicion of looting — a charge related to burglary or theft during an emergency — and three on suspicion of reckless driving.
Lomeli said three officers suffered minor injuries. She said she was not aware of any serious injuries to people in the crowds.
Police had hoped to avoid a repeat of the problems that occurred in downtown after the Lakers’ victory earlier this month, when celebrations turned rowdy and more than 75 people were arrested, the vast majority of them on suspicion of failing to disperse after police declared the gathering unlawful.
Several people were badly injured, including by police projectiles, as officers cleared the Lakers celebration.
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Preparing for a possible Dodgers victory, police had closed off the main entrance to Dodger Stadium, as well as Whittier Boulevard in East Los Angeles.
Crowds hit the streets in several locations after the Dodgers’ first World Series win since 1988. Much of it was in good fun, with some parents bringing their children to enjoy the historic moment.
Fans gather in downtown Los Angeles to celebrate the Dodgers’ victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 6 to win the World Series. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
“This is the best we’ve felt in a long time,” said Ismael Servin, 29, standing on Hubbard Street and Belden Avenue in East Los Angeles as smoke billowed from the tires of a pickup revving its engine in the intersection. “In 2020, we needed this.”
Just 4 years old when the Dodgers last won a championship, Fernando Hernandez Jr. stood outside his mother’s home in Boyle Heights in a delirium of happiness, clutching a half-empty bottle of Champagne.
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“Pandemic champions, baby!” he shouted over the honks of cars rushing past on Soto Street. Queen’s “We Are the Champions” belted from a loudspeaker.
LAPD officers on horseback move in to disperse the crowds in downtown Los Angeles after the World Series win. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
Shortly after 11 p.m., the LAPD said it was dealing with scattered problems.
“We’re seeing some large, at times unruly crowds, taking over intersections in various parts of the city. We urge all Angelenos to stay home if possible. If you must be out, please exercise caution. Should you encounter a large crowd, do not attempt to drive through it,” the department said on Twitter.
Police disperse crowds in downtown Los Angeles celebrating the Dodgers winning the World Series. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
Videos showed police clashing with others on the streets of downtown as officers tried to clear the area after midnight.
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Amid reports of people breaking into stores and stealing, police declared an unlawful assembly in downtown shortly before 1 a.m. Wednesday, closing off several blocks from West 8th Street to Pico Boulevard and Figueroa Street to Broadway.
Lexis-Olivier Ray, a multimedia journalist reporting forL.A. Taco, said he was near West 8th and Flower streets when officers suddenly rushed forward and pinned him against a car.
Ray feared he would be dragged underneath the car, which was slowly creeping forward, if the driver sped off.
The officers forced him to the ground, then released him, as he screamed that he was a member of the press and filmed the altercation. Some of the officers should have known who he was, because he had introduced himself to a supervisor moments before, he said.
Ray, a Black man and a freelancer, said there has been a “different tone” to how the LAPD has dealt with crowds and treated journalists lately — especially journalists of color who aren’t affiliated with major news outlets.
Last month, KPCC radio reporter Josie Huang was slammed to the ground and arrested by L.A. County sheriff’s deputies while covering a protest, despite wearing a press badge and stating her media affiliation.
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“It’s really difficult to be a reporter right now,” Ray said.
Across town, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department also clashed with crowds and shot projectiles to disperse people.
Deputy Trina Schrader, a department spokeswoman, said Wednesday that at least 10 people were arrested — two on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and eight on suspicion of failing to disperse.
The arrests came after “unruly crowds began to flood every major intersection” along Whittier and Olympic boulevards, Schrader said.
After deputies gave a dispersal order around 9:30 p.m., people at Whittier Boulevard and Amalia Avenue began throwing rocks at the deputies, Schrader said. Deputies responded at about 10:47 p.m. with “less lethal” projectile weapons, she said.
The East L.A. crowds dispersed by about 1 a.m., Schrader said.
Crowds also gathered elsewhere, including near the sheriff’s Century station in Lynwood.
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In Huntington Park, several hundred pedestrians and many cars converged at Pacific Boulevard and Florence Avenue, lighting fireworks and celebrating in the street, the Sheriff’s Department said.
That crowd dispersed by midnight, and no arrests were made.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva said Tuesday night’s events were “not bad,” despite the 10 arrests.
The department closed down Whittier Boulevard and other areas, which helped prevent large crowds from gathering.
“The majority of people went and they behaved and they celebrated peacefully, and that’s all we want,” Villanueva said.
He said there was no reported property damage in areas patrolled by his agency.
Fans wave Dodgers flags from the back of a pickup as they travel along Sunset Boulevard on Tuesday night. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodger fans in Los Angeles light fireworks behind a car doing doughnuts after the World Series. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
People block the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Figueroa Street as a car spinning its tires creates a wall of smoke. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)