latimes--2020-01-27--24 grieving fans talk about losing their hero: 'This is a Kobe town'

Makeshift memorials continue to pop up , from Thousand Oaks to Newport Beach .
Fans converged on Staples Center , the Lakers training center in El Segundo , on Melrose Avenue and in Calabasas , where Kobe Bryant , his 13-year-old daughter Gianna , and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash Sunday .
Bryant ’ s jersey number — 24 — already had special meaning , commemorating his 20 seasons with the Lakers .
Many teams now say no one else will ever wear that number .
Here is what 24 Angelenos had to say about No .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ re like , ‘ It ’ s not true , ’ ” he said .
“ Now that it ’ s real , it sucks .
He was a legend in this city .
He taught us that , with hard work , you can be the best at anything .
All those videos showing him in the gym , late nights , it was empowering , it was inspiring.
” “ I was at my apartment by myself , and I broke down crying .
I looked for my Kobe jersey and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down there .
I ’ m too restless .
I have to pay my respects.
’ “ Growing up in L.A. , it ’ s such a big , diverse , spread-out city , ” said Apfel , who lives in Redondo Beach and played high school basketball .
“ One of the things that I realized growing up here that brought us together was the Lakers and Kobe .
I think part of that was because of the way he approached the game .
I think a lot of people grew up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s not just about basketball .
It ’ s been about how you approach life in general .
A lot of people from L.A. take that to heart .
Even after he retired , this is a Kobe town.
” Growing up , Pech said he wanted to be as tall as Bryant but stopped an inch short at 6-foot-5 .
He used to shoot 100 baskets a day at his house , hoping to play like Bryant , who he said distinguished himself with his work ethic .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and players sitting out ” games , the Baldwin Park resident noted , whereas Bryant went out and played with a fractured hand .
“ It don ’ t seem real , ” Benjamin said .
“ That ’ s our Michael Jordan .
There ’ s many memories of him in my living room and his jersey on my body .
He was the hero of L.A. “ Michael Jordan made it a business .
Kobe made it a passion , ” the Inglewood resident said .
Benjamin said his 21-year-old son @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a puddle.
” Malave said his friend texted him about the crash on Sunday .
His heart pounded , and he told himself it couldn ’ t be true .
The timing felt surreal , Malave said .
He was born in Glendale but moved to Kentucky as a baby , and this was his first trip back to Southern California since he had moved .
“ I have to show homage , ” he said , pointing at the jersey he ’ d borrowed from his sister .
“ To mourn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crying .
This is a day I ’ ll never forget .
...
It ’ s bigger than basketball , ” said Krutonog , of Studio City .
“ I called my grandpa .
My grandpa is 82 and just had two heart attacks , and he was crying on the phone .
It ’ s just so terrible .
“ I just remember , if Kobe was on the TV , I ’ m turning the TV on , no matter what.
” Flores recalls his friends talking about how Bryant reminds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They had multiple jobs and worked like crazy , but they never made excuses , ” the Anaheim resident said .
“ That was Kobe .
He ’ d play with broken fingers and torn ligaments and would never say a thing .
He set that example , and so we had to do the same .
“ We see that mentality in our culture — eres el más chingón [ you ’ re the biggest badass ] , ” Flores added .
“ That was Kobe every night , every day.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our city , our community and our county .
He did so many things more than play great basketball , ” the Northridge resident said .
“ I would have never thought of something like this happening .
This guy won an Oscar .
He had so much more to offer.
” “ Damn , I ’ ve been messed up all day….
” Kuzma wrote on Instagram .
“ I grew up trying to be like you .
I would watch YouTube highlights as a kid trying to mimic you ( and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go to the gym as a kid and shoot fade-aways for hours acting as if every shot I took was at the buzzer just like you .
Then 3 years ago I became a Laker .
You became family & a mentor to me.
” After hearing the news in the morning , the resident of Newport Beach — where Bryant had a home — said he walked over to a poster hanging in his house .
It ’ s one of Bryant , emblazoned with the word “ invincible.
” “ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I thought , well , he is invincible because of what he did for us by his drive and his motivation and his inspiration and who he was as a person , ” Leith said .
“ Kobe was like a brother or a cousin , someone that you would invite to a family get-together , ” the Orange resident said .
“ You didn ’ t even have to like basketball , and you still liked that he respected and loved Mexican culture.
” Agan keeps in her safe a carry-out tray @ @ @ @ @ @ @ autographed for her in 2000 when she was a cashier at the AMC 30 theater in Orange .
“ I saw him just about every weekend at my first job , and he was always extremely kind and considerate , ” she said .
“ The death of Kobe Bryant feels exactly like losing a childhood friend .
There will never be another.
” “ He ’ s one of these athletes that transcend race and nationality — I ’ ve been following him since he graduated from high school and went straight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The fact that the team participated in outreach to our community only made them more popular .
It showed that they and the business decision-makers really support fans from all cultures.
” Kim said multiple friends texted him news of the crash , which sent him rushing to social media .
“ This is like the day Michael Jackson , the king of pop , was all of a sudden gone , since [ Bryant ] is the king of basketball .
Man , just wow , just shocked.
” Alford @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Starbucks in Newport Beach .
“ He wasn ’ t anybody special in his mind when he was walking in the store , and it was just really , really refreshing , ” said Alford , who is not the former UCLA men ’ s basketball coach with the same name .
“ And I think he felt very comfortable here in Newport Coast , and everybody treated him with respect.
” The Newport Beach woman ’ s 23-year-old son is also named Kobe — a coincidence as he was born before Bryant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was at Starbucks at the same time as Bryant , and they both went to the pickup counter when their name was called .
This delighted Kobe Yank-Jacobs , and afterward when he visited the coffee shop he hoped to re-create the comical moment .
Another time , Bryant helped carry Yank ’ s mother ’ s groceries to their car .
For 15 minutes , they talked about their shared hometown of Philadelphia .
“ We all know him as just Kobe , a person , ” Yank said .
At a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bouquet of flowers , black-and-gold Nike shoes and a gathering of people wearing Bryant jerseys and growing emotional .
Vaskerville added a single red rose and three candles .
“ He described in depth what it meant to be a champion , ” said the Los Angeles resident .
“ The rock just dropped on everybody , ” Bettencourt said .
“ Then , when you thought that was bad , as a father hearing that his daughter was on the helicopter as well , it brings it closer to home than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good guy who did what he could for the people , ” his daughter Jazmyn said .
“ Knowing that there was someone like him who did a lot of stuff for others , when there ’ s other people who have enough but won ’ t do anything , it ’ s nice to see that.
” “ I remember Kobe bringing his daughters to the “ Wrinkle in Time ” premiere and talking about its meaning for him as a father .
He loved his girls so .
L.A. weeps today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Goodbye , Kobe and Gianna .
Our memories of you will live on and on.
” “ I was part of the era when he started playing .
There at a lot of memories watching him on television celebrating at the parades , ” she said .
“ I didn ’ t think you could feel that sad about someone you never met.
” She was in church when a friend texted that Bryant had died , and she thought it was “ fake news.
” Now , she is devastated .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ watching golf Sunday morning and switched channels to check for the latest on President Trump ’ s impeachment trial when he saw news of Bryant ’ s death .
The retired FedEx worker often stands at the corner of Grant Avenue and Aviation Boulevard , exercising his freedom of speech by holding up political signs .
After hearing news of Bryant ’ s death , he covered up his political sign with a Kobe sign and rushed to his usual corner .
Beck , who like Bryant is originally from Philadelphia , initially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basketball phenom play , thinking he was a ball hog .
It took him a few years to realize that was part of Bryant ’ s brilliance on the court .
“ Fly , Kobe , fly , ” he said , wiping his eyes .
Mejia placed her hand over her mouth , her face flushed and eyes teary .
She was thinking of Bryant ’ s family .
They had lost a father and a sister .
“ That hits home — I have a daughter , ” the L.A. resident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her friend , Marcela Vasquez , 33 , when she noticed a series of missed calls .
There were messages : Are you OK ?
Her sister called .
She picked up and learned what the rest of the world already knew : Bryant had died in a helicopter crash , and one of his daughters was on board .
“ I was shocked , ” Mejia said .
“ I still don ’ t know how to react.
” “ Kobe represented the Southland and brought such positivity to us , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a couple of months as a security guard at Bryant ’ s gated community in Newport Coast in 2007 .
“ He ’ d see we were sad or bored , so Kobe would usually bring us Jack-in-the-Box tacos , or leave us big tips .
He was just so nice.
” “ Kobe Bryant was a giant who inspired , amazed and thrilled people everywhere with his incomparable skill on the court — and awed us with his intellect and humility as a father , husband , creative genius and ambassador @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will live forever in the heart of Los Angeles and will be remembered through the ages as one of our greatest heroes .
This is a moment that leaves us struggling to find words that express the magnitude of shock and sorrow we are all feeling right now , and I am keeping Kobe ’ s entire family in my prayers at this time of unimaginable grief .
”

Ruben Vives, Gale Holland, Hailey Branson-Potts, Brittny Mejia, Gustavo Arellano

Fans gather at Las Virgenes Road and Willow Glen Street in Calabasas, near the site of the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant, daughter Gianna and seven others.
Los Angeles is a city in mourning.
Makeshift memorials continue to pop up, from Thousand Oaks to Newport Beach.
Fans converged on Staples Center, the Lakers training center in El Segundo, on Melrose Avenue and in Calabasas, where Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash Sunday.
Bryant’s jersey number — 24 — already had special meaning, commemorating his 20 seasons with the Lakers. Many teams now say no one else will ever wear that number.
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Here is what 24 Angelenos had to say about No. 24:
Kyle Robinson, 28
“It made me sick, absolutely sick,” said Robinson, a lifelong Lakers fan.
“Initially, you’re like, ‘It’s not true,’ ” he said. “Now that it’s real, it sucks. He was a legend in this city. He taught us that, with hard work, you can be the best at anything. All those videos showing him in the gym, late nights, it was empowering, it was inspiring.”
Ryan Apfel, USC student
“I was at my apartment by myself, and I broke down crying. I looked for my Kobe jersey and said, ‘I have to go down there. I’m too restless. I have to pay my respects.’
“Growing up in L.A., it’s such a big, diverse, spread-out city,” said Apfel, who lives in Redondo Beach and played high school basketball. “One of the things that I realized growing up here that brought us together was the Lakers and Kobe. I think part of that was because of the way he approached the game. I think a lot of people grew up with Kobe as their mentor from afar. It’s not just about basketball. It’s been about how you approach life in general. A lot of people from L.A. take that to heart. Even after he retired, this is a Kobe town.”
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Herman Pech, 26
Growing up, Pech said he wanted to be as tall as Bryant but stopped an inch short at 6-foot-5. He used to shoot 100 baskets a day at his house, hoping to play like Bryant, who he said distinguished himself with his work ethic.
“Nowadays, there’s load management and players sitting out” games, the Baldwin Park resident noted, whereas Bryant went out and played with a fractured hand.
Shon Benjamin
“It don’t seem real,” Benjamin said. “That’s our Michael Jordan. There’s many memories of him in my living room and his jersey on my body. He was the hero of L.A.
“Michael Jordan made it a business. Kobe made it a passion,” the Inglewood resident said.
Benjamin said his 21-year-old son was at home “in tears, in a puddle.”
Giancarlos Malave, 19
Malave said his friend texted him about the crash on Sunday. His heart pounded, and he told himself it couldn’t be true.
The timing felt surreal, Malave said. He was born in Glendale but moved to Kentucky as a baby, and this was his first trip back to Southern California since he had moved.
“I have to show homage,” he said, pointing at the jersey he’d borrowed from his sister. “To mourn, to represent.”
Sam Krutonog, 19
“I started crying. This is a day I’ll never forget. ... It’s bigger than basketball,” said Krutonog, of Studio City. “I called my grandpa. My grandpa is 82 and just had two heart attacks, and he was crying on the phone. It’s just so terrible.
“I just remember, if Kobe was on the TV, I’m turning the TV on, no matter what.”
Hugo Flores, 29
Flores recalls his friends talking about how Bryant reminds them of their immigrant parents.
“They had multiple jobs and worked like crazy, but they never made excuses,” the Anaheim resident said. “That was Kobe. He’d play with broken fingers and torn ligaments and would never say a thing. He set that example, and so we had to do the same.
“We see that mentality in our culture — eres el más chingón [you’re the biggest badass],” Flores added. “That was Kobe every night, every day.”
Irvin Guillermo
“Kobe has done so much for our city, our community and our county. He did so many things more than play great basketball,” the Northridge resident said.
“I would have never thought of something like this happening. This guy won an Oscar. He had so much more to offer.”
Laker Kyle Kuzma
“Damn, I’ve been messed up all day….” Kuzma wrote on Instagram. “I grew up trying to be like you. I would watch YouTube highlights as a kid trying to mimic you (and I still do). I would go to the gym as a kid and shoot fade-aways for hours acting as if every shot I took was at the buzzer just like you. Then 3 years ago I became a Laker. You became family & a mentor to me.”
Josh Leith
After hearing the news in the morning, the resident of Newport Beach — where Bryant had a home — said he walked over to a poster hanging in his house. It’s one of Bryant, emblazoned with the word “invincible.”
“I thought about it for a second and I thought, well, he is invincible because of what he did for us by his drive and his motivation and his inspiration and who he was as a person,” Leith said.
Juliana Bañuelos
“Kobe was like a brother or a cousin, someone that you would invite to a family get-together,” the Orange resident said. “You didn’t even have to like basketball, and you still liked that he respected and loved Mexican culture.”
Leslie Agan, 38
Agan keeps in her safe a carry-out tray signed “Kobe 8” that he autographed for her in 2000 when she was a cashier at the AMC 30 theater in Orange.
“I saw him just about every weekend at my first job, and he was always extremely kind and considerate,” she said. “The death of Kobe Bryant feels exactly like losing a childhood friend. There will never be another.”
Alex Kim, 47
“He’s one of these athletes that transcend race and nationality — I’ve been following him since he graduated from high school and went straight to the NBA,” Kim said. “The fact that the team participated in outreach to our community only made them more popular. It showed that they and the business decision-makers really support fans from all cultures.”
Kim said multiple friends texted him news of the crash, which sent him rushing to social media. “This is like the day Michael Jackson, the king of pop, was all of a sudden gone, since [Bryant] is the king of basketball. Man, just wow, just shocked.”
Steve Alford, 57
Alford recalled running into Bryant at a local Starbucks in Newport Beach.
“He wasn’t anybody special in his mind when he was walking in the store, and it was just really, really refreshing,” said Alford, who is not the former UCLA men’s basketball coach with the same name. “And I think he felt very comfortable here in Newport Coast, and everybody treated him with respect.”
Jill Yank
The Newport Beach woman’s 23-year-old son is also named Kobe — a coincidence as he was born before Bryant achieved fame.
Once, her Kobe was at Starbucks at the same time as Bryant, and they both went to the pickup counter when their name was called. This delighted Kobe Yank-Jacobs, and afterward when he visited the coffee shop he hoped to re-create the comical moment.
Another time, Bryant helped carry Yank’s mother’s groceries to their car. For 15 minutes, they talked about their shared hometown of Philadelphia.
“We all know him as just Kobe, a person,” Yank said.
Daryl Vaskerville
At a memorial on Melrose Avenue, there was a bouquet of flowers, black-and-gold Nike shoes and a gathering of people wearing Bryant jerseys and growing emotional. Vaskerville added a single red rose and three candles.
“He described in depth what it meant to be a champion,” said the Los Angeles resident.
Richard Bettencourt, 41, and his daughter, Jazmyn Bettencourt, 15
“The rock just dropped on everybody,” Bettencourt said. “Then, when you thought that was bad, as a father hearing that his daughter was on the helicopter as well, it brings it closer to home than you think.”
“He was a good guy who did what he could for the people,” his daughter Jazmyn said. “Knowing that there was someone like him who did a lot of stuff for others, when there’s other people who have enough but won’t do anything, it’s nice to see that.”
Filmmaker Ava DuVernay
“I remember Kobe bringing his daughters to the “Wrinkle in Time” premiere and talking about its meaning for him as a father. He loved his girls so. L.A. weeps today, as do fans around the world. Goodbye, Kobe and Gianna. Our memories of you will live on and on.”
Wendy Walker, 40
Walker grew up following Bryant.
“I was part of the era when he started playing. There at a lot of memories watching him on television celebrating at the parades,” she said.
“I didn’t think you could feel that sad about someone you never met.”
She was in church when a friend texted that Bryant had died, and she thought it was “fake news.”
Now, she is devastated.
Al Beck, 75
Beck, of Redondo Beach, was watching golf Sunday morning and switched channels to check for the latest on President Trump’s impeachment trial when he saw news of Bryant’s death.
The retired FedEx worker often stands at the corner of Grant Avenue and Aviation Boulevard, exercising his freedom of speech by holding up political signs. After hearing news of Bryant’s death, he covered up his political sign with a Kobe sign and rushed to his usual corner.
Beck, who like Bryant is originally from Philadelphia, initially didn’t like watching the young basketball phenom play, thinking he was a ball hog.
It took him a few years to realize that was part of Bryant’s brilliance on the court.
“Fly, Kobe, fly,” he said, wiping his eyes.
Giselle Mejia, 33
Mejia placed her hand over her mouth, her face flushed and eyes teary. She was thinking of Bryant’s family. They had lost a father and a sister. “That hits home — I have a daughter,” the L.A. resident said.
Mejia was having breakfast with her friend, Marcela Vasquez, 33, when she noticed a series of missed calls. There were messages: Are you OK?
Her sister called. She picked up and learned what the rest of the world already knew: Bryant had died in a helicopter crash, and one of his daughters was on board.
“I was shocked,” Mejia said. “I still don’t know how to react.”
Jesse Hiram
The news left the Santa Ana resident devastated.
“Kobe represented the Southland and brought such positivity to us,” he said.
Hiram said he worked for a couple of months as a security guard at Bryant’s gated community in Newport Coast in 2007.
“He’d see we were sad or bored, so Kobe would usually bring us Jack-in-the-Box tacos, or leave us big tips. He was just so nice.”
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti
“Kobe Bryant was a giant who inspired, amazed and thrilled people everywhere with his incomparable skill on the court — and awed us with his intellect and humility as a father, husband, creative genius and ambassador for the game he loved. He will live forever in the heart of Los Angeles and will be remembered through the ages as one of our greatest heroes. This is a moment that leaves us struggling to find words that express the magnitude of shock and sorrow we are all feeling right now, and I am keeping Kobe’s entire family in my prayers at this time of unimaginable grief.”


latimes--2020-01-27--The grim, delicate task of removing remains from the Kobe Bryant crash site; 3 bodies removed so far

On the remote Calabasas hillside where Kobe Bryant ’ s helicopter crashed , Los Angeles County sheriff ’ s deputies and other emergency personnel spent Monday morning with the delicate task of removing the remains of victims .
The rough terrain around the crash site off Las Virgenes Canyon Road has been a challenge for first responders from the beginning .
On Monday , deputies could be seen on the hillside in off-road vehicles .
The remains of three bodies were removed Sunday night , and officials said that process could continue for several days .
Los Angeles County Coroner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ removed as quickly as possible , noting the location of the crash had made access an issue .
On Monday morning , the coroner ’ s special response team could be seen on a ridge above the crash site .
A white truck was nestled on a narrow ridge line typically used by hikers .
The debris from the crash covered a football field-sized area .
Those on board the copter included Bryant , who was scheduled to coach a girls basketball game that afternoon ; parents and players from the club team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Gianna , and the pilot of the helicopter .
Seven of the victims have been identified publicly .
Two others , Orange County mother and daughter Sarah and Payton Chester , were identified by friends and family .
John Altobelli and his wife , Keri , were on board the helicopter with their daughter Alyssa , who played on the same club team as Gianna Bryant .
Altobelli was the longest-tenured baseball coach in Orange Coast College history .
He guided the Pirates to four California state community college championships and more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the school .
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash .
The FBI is also assisting in the probe , which is standard practice .
The NTSB database does not show any prior incidents or accidents for the aircraft .
The helicopter was registered to the Fillmore-based Island Express Holding Corp. , according to the California secretary of state ’ s business database .
The helicopter ’ s manufacturer , Sikorsky , said in a statement Sunday that it is cooperating with the investigation .
L.A. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flooded into the area of the crash , some going into residential neighborhoods and trying to get to the remote hillside where the helicopter went down .
He said the traffic was making it harder for investigators and emergency personnel to do their jobs .
“ It is off-limits to everybody , ” he said of the crash site , noting that the Federal Aviation Administration has a 5-mile no-fly zone around it up to altitudes of 5,000 feet .
“ People , stay away .
”

Officials remove a body from the wreckage in Calabasas on Sunday where Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were among nine dead in a helicopter crash.
On the remote Calabasas hillside where Kobe Bryant’s helicopter crashed, Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies and other emergency personnel spent Monday morning with the delicate task of removing the remains of victims.
The rough terrain around the crash site off Las Virgenes Canyon Road has been a challenge for first responders from the beginning. On Monday, deputies could be seen on the hillside in off-road vehicles. The remains of three bodies were removed Sunday night, and officials said that process could continue for several days.
Los Angeles County Coroner Jonathan Lucas said the remains will be removed as quickly as possible, noting the location of the crash had made access an issue.
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On Monday morning, the coroner’s special response team could be seen on a ridge above the crash site. A white truck was nestled on a narrow ridge line typically used by hikers. The debris from the crash covered a football field-sized area.
Those on board the copter included Bryant, who was scheduled to coach a girls basketball game that afternoon; parents and players from the club team. Among them: His 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and the pilot of the helicopter.
Sports Kobe Bryant’s death updates: Clippers to honor Kobe Bryant in first game at Staples Center Kobe Bryant, the NBA MVP who had a 20-year career with the Lakers, was killed Sunday when the helicopter he was traveling in crashed and burst into flames in the hills above Calabasas. His daughter Gianna, 13, was also on board and died along with seven others.
Seven of the victims have been identified publicly. Two others, Orange County mother and daughter Sarah and Payton Chester, were identified by friends and family.
John Altobelli and his wife, Keri, were on board the helicopter with their daughter Alyssa, who played on the same club team as Gianna Bryant.
Altobelli was the longest-tenured baseball coach in Orange Coast College history. He guided the Pirates to four California state community college championships and more than 700 victories in his 27 years at the school.
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The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash. The FBI is also assisting in the probe, which is standard practice. The NTSB database does not show any prior incidents or accidents for the aircraft. The helicopter was registered to the Fillmore-based Island Express Holding Corp., according to the California secretary of state’s business database. The helicopter’s manufacturer, Sikorsky, said in a statement Sunday that it is cooperating with the investigation.
L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said people have flooded into the area of the crash, some going into residential neighborhoods and trying to get to the remote hillside where the helicopter went down. He said the traffic was making it harder for investigators and emergency personnel to do their jobs.
“It is off-limits to everybody,” he said of the crash site, noting that the Federal Aviation Administration has a 5-mile no-fly zone around it up to altitudes of 5,000 feet. “People, stay away.”


latimes--2020-01-27--Kobe Bryant and Nipsey Hussle weren't perfect angels. That's why L.A. loved them

There ’ s this thing that happens when a person dies , especially when that person is famous and the death is unexpected .
Those who are left behind to mourn tend to gloss over the bad decisions and focus on the good deeds , the heroic traits and the uncommonly charitable gestures .
This was very much the case Sunday .
Hours after a helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant , his 13-year-old daughter , Gianna , and seven others slammed into the hills above Calabasas , killing all on board , celebrities clamored to pay tribute to him during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Legend , YG , Meek Mill , Kirk Franklin and others hastily modified their performance dedicated to Nipsey Hussle , the Grammy-winning rapper and Lakers fan who was killed last year outside his store in South L.A. , to include Kobe .
As the chords from the gospel-inspired song “ Higher ” faded , DJ Khaled , ever the hype man , shouted and pointed at a massive screen above the stage .
The larger-than-life images of Kobe and Nipsey hovered over the crowd like angels in the clouds — Kobe , looking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nipsey looking serene with his hair braided in his trademark cornrows .
The truth is neither man was an angel .
Neither was a saint .
Nipsey , who was gunned down on a sunny Sunday afternoon in March , was no stranger to gun violence or to police .
Born and raised during some of the roughest years of South L.A. , he was a Rollin ’ 60s Crip , hustling and actively gangbanging in his youth .
Kobe , who spent most of his childhood in Italy and didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Laker when he was 17 , almost ruined his career and his marriage with an act of adultery that led to an allegation of sexual assault .
Looking back at that time in 2003 , I can ’ t help but think that Kobe ’ s case would ’ ve been received very differently by the public in this # MeToo era , especially with his attorneys going after his accuser the way that he did .
We # BelieveWomen now and cancel people on Twitter — and in life — who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a little less forgiving , sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse .
Nevertheless , almost two decades later , it ’ s clear that Kobe ’ s mistakes didn ’ t define his life and they won ’ t define his legacy .
The same can be said for Nipsey .
A lot of black men aren ’ t that lucky .
One mistake can mean being denied employment , subsidized housing or even the right to vote .
And with systemic racism continuing to rot the criminal justice system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a gang member , even when doing nothing wrong .
I have to believe both Kobe and Nipsey understood that , through a rare combination of timing , money , fame , luck and sheer force of will , they were exceptions to the rule .
And to their credit , neither hid from that .
They worked to overcome their mistakes , and they used what they learned to motivate others .
They showed other people that no one has to be forever defined by a bad decision , that while you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , personal growth is a thing and that it is within each of us to redefine ourselves .
All it takes is focus , commitment and hard work .
For Kobe , this was the “ Mamba Mentality.
” It came about after he was charged with the sexual assault of a 19-year-old woman in Colorado .
In his 2015 documentary , “ Muse , ” he explained that he created the alter ego “ Black Mamba ” to separate the stresses of his personal life from those of his professional life .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was at the top of his game , had everything coming , to a year later , having absolutely no idea where life is going or if you are even going to be a part of life as we all know it , ” Kobe said in the film .
After the criminal charges were dismissed and the civil case was settled out of court , “ Mamba Mentality ” seemed to evolve a bit .
It was still about developing the intense focus needed to win basketball games , but it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ version of himself and working at it every single day .
“ You ’ re not worried about what people may say .
You ’ re not worried about disappointing others , ” Kobe told SB Nation in 2017 .
“ You ’ re not worried about any of that , you ’ re just focused on being in the moment .
That ’ s what Mamba mentality truly is.
” For Nipsey , that was “ The Marathon.
” After some run-ins with the law and a trip to his father ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ living by the mantra , “ Life is a marathon , not a sprint.
” He stopped actively gang-banging and taking short-term risks for minimal gains .
Instead , he devoted himself to making strategic decisions to achieve long-term goals , including establishing creative and financial control over his music and reinvesting in his neighborhood to build wealth and fight the forces of gentrification .
He pushed everyone he met and everyone who listened to his music to change their thinking in the same way , like in these lyrics from “ Bigger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me to grow I had to let go of some habits ; And it ’ s easy to say I ’ m on now cause you see it and it happens ; But before it ever did I had to believe and get it cracking .
To be human is to be imperfect .
This is especially true when you are a black human in America — even here in liberal Los Angeles — because so many of the odds in life are stacked against you .
We don ’ t need perfect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human beings who show us how to do the hard work of becoming better versions of ourselves .
Both Nipsey and Kobe spent the bulk of their adult lives doing just that .
They showed us how not to let our inevitable mistakes define who we are and how to become better people , no matter our circumstances .
Many Angelenos admire them for this very reason .
But those who think of Kobe and Nipsey as mere angels or saints are selling both men short .
It ’ s an injustice to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And to the imperfect city that they loved , the city of L.A .

At the Grammys, a tribute to Nipsey Hussle and Kobe Bryant with YG, John Legend, DJ Khaled, Meek Mill, Roddy Ricch, Kirk Franklin and others stand on stage at the awards show Sunday.
There’s this thing that happens when a person dies, especially when that person is famous and the death is unexpected.
Those who are left behind to mourn tend to gloss over the bad decisions and focus on the good deeds, the heroic traits and the uncommonly charitable gestures.
This was very much the case on Sunday. Hours after a helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven others slammed into the hills above Calabasas, killing all on board, celebrities clamored to pay tribute to him during the Grammy Awards at Staples Center.
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John Legend, YG, Meek Mill, Kirk Franklin and others hastily modified their performance dedicated to Nipsey Hussle, the Grammy-winning rapper and Lakers fan who was killed last year outside his store in South L.A., to include Kobe.
As the chords from the gospel-inspired song “Higher” faded, DJ Khaled, ever the hype man, shouted and pointed at a massive screen above the stage.
“Long live Nip! Long live Kobe!” he declared to rousing applause. “The marathon continues!”
The larger-than-life images of Kobe and Nipsey hovered over the crowd like angels in the clouds — Kobe looking confident in a Lakers uniform and Nipsey looking serene with his hair braided in his trademark cornrows.
The truth is neither man was an angel. Neither was a saint.
Nipsey, who was gunned down on a sunny Sunday afternoon in March, was no stranger to gun violence or to police. Born and raised during some of the roughest years of South L.A., he was a Rollin’ 60s Crip, hustling and actively gangbanging in his youth.
Kobe, who spent most of his childhood in Italy and didn’t move to Los Angeles until he became a Laker when he was 17, almost ruined his career and his marriage with an act of adultery that led to an allegation of sexual assault.
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Looking back at that time in 2003, I can’t help but think that Kobe’s case would’ve been received very differently by the public in this #MeToo era, especially with his attorneys going after his accuser the way that they did. We #BelieveWomen now and cancel people on Twitter — and in life — who don’t. We’re a little less forgiving, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse.
Nevertheless, almost two decades later, it’s clear that Kobe’s mistakes didn’t define his life and they won’t define his legacy. The same can be said for Nipsey.
A lot of black men aren’t that lucky. One mistake can mean being denied employment, subsidized housing or even the right to vote. And with systemic racism continuing to rot the criminal justice system, it can mean being labeled as a gang member, even when doing nothing wrong.
I have to believe both Kobe and Nipsey understood that, through a rare combination of timing, money, fame, luck and sheer force of will, they were exceptions to the rule.
And to their credit, neither hid from that.
They worked to overcome their mistakes, and they used what they learned to motivate others. They showed other people that no one has to be forever defined by a bad decision, that while you can never erase what you have done, personal growth is a thing and that it is within each of us to redefine ourselves. All it takes is focus, commitment and hard work.
For Kobe, this was the “Mamba Mentality.”
It came about after he was charged with the sexual assault of a 19-year-old woman in Colorado. In his 2015 documentary, “Muse,” he explained that he created the alter ego “Black Mamba” to separate the stresses of his personal life from those of his professional life.
“I went from a person who was at the top of his game, had everything coming, to a year later, having absolutely no idea where life is going or if you are even going to be a part of life as we all know it,” Kobe said in the film.
After the criminal charges were dismissed and the civil case was settled out of court, “Mamba Mentality” seemed to evolve a bit. It was still about developing the intense focus needed to win basketball games, but it was also about trying to be the best version of himself and working at it every single day.
“You’re not worried about what people may say. You’re not worried about disappointing others,” Kobe told SB Nation in 2017. “You’re not worried about any of that, you’re just focused on being in the moment. That’s what Mamba Mentality truly is.”
For Nipsey, that was “The Marathon.”
After some run-ins with the law and a trip to his father’s homeland of Eritrea, Nipsey started living by the mantra, “Life is a marathon, not a sprint.” He stopped actively gangbanging and taking short-term risks for minimal gains.
Instead, he devoted himself to making strategic decisions to achieve long-term goals, including establishing creative and financial control over his music and reinvesting in his neighborhood to build wealth and fight the forces of gentrification. He pushed everyone he met and everyone who listened to his music to change their thinking in the same way, like in these lyrics from “Bigger Than Life”:
In order for me to grow, I had to let go of some habits;
And it’s easy to say I’m on now cause you see it and it happens;
But before it ever did, I had to believe and get it cracking.
To be human is to be imperfect. This is especially true when you are a black human in America — even here in liberal Los Angeles — because so many of the odds in life are stacked against you.
We don’t need perfect victims to idolize. We need imperfect human beings who show us how to do the hard work of becoming better versions of ourselves.
Both Nipsey and Kobe spent the bulk of their adult lives doing just that. They showed us how not to let our inevitable mistakes define who we are and how to become better people, no matter our circumstances.
Many Angelenos admire them for this very reason. But those who think of Kobe and Nipsey as mere angels or saints are selling both men short.
It’s an injustice to who they were. To their grind. And to the imperfect city that they loved, the city of L.A.


latimes--2020-01-27--Kobe Bryant flew in thick fog that had grounded law enforcement helicopters

Did foggy weather Sunday morning play a role in the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant , his 13-year-old daughter and seven others ?
That is a key question as federal investigators on Monday begin an intense investigation into the cause of the crash .
The helicopter , a Sikorsky S-76 built in 1991 , departed John Wayne Airport at 9:06 a.m. Sunday , according to publicly available flight records .
The chopper passed over Boyle Heights , near Dodger Stadium , and circled over Glendale during the flight .
The crash occurred shortly before 10 a.m. near Las Virgenes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
How dangerous was the weather ?
The potential risks were serious enough that law enforcement choppers were grounded .
Los Angeles Police Department spokesman Josh Rubenstein said the department ’ s Air Support Division grounded its helicopters Sunday morning because of foggy conditions and didn ’ t fly until the afternoon .
“ The weather situation did not meet our minimum standards for flying , ” Rubenstein said .
The fog “ was enough that we were not flying.
” LAPD ’ s flight minimums are 2 miles of visibility and an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The department typically flies two helicopters when conditions allow : one in the San Fernando Valley and one in the L.A. Basin .
The Los Angeles County Sheriff ’ s Department made a similar assessment about the fog and had no helicopters in the air Sunday morning “ basically because of the weather , ” L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said .
Kurt Deetz , a former pilot for Island Express Helicopters who used to fly Bryant in the chopper , said weather conditions were poor in Van Nuys on Sunday morning — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crash was more likely caused by bad weather than engine or mechanical issues , he said .
“ The likelihood of a catastrophic twin engine failure on that aircraft , it just doesn ’ t happen , ” Deetz said .
Bad weather would not necessarily have prevented Bryant ’ s helicopter from flying because it should have been equipped with instruments that allow pilots to fly in inclement conditions , experts said .
But if not using the instruments , the pilot would have been operating the helicopter under visual flight rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visibility .
An audio recording of an exchange between the pilot and air traffic controllers indicates that he was flying under visual flight rules , but that could not be confirmed Sunday night .
At one point , the pilot tells a controller that he is “ in VFR at 1,500 '' feet .
Aviation consultant William Lawrence , a retired Marine Corps colonel and helicopter test pilot and instructor , said investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board , which has dispatched a team to the crash site , should have little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failure or weather-related , or both .
Even if the pilot had been flying on instruments , the helicopter could have experienced a mechanical problem .
“ And if he is in the fog and on instruments and has an emergency , it makes recovery from that emergency far , far more difficult , ” Lawrence said .
“ Any emergency is amplified when you can ’ t see your surroundings.
” Where does the investigation go now ?
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ probe , which is standard practice .
The NTSB database does not show any prior incidents or accidents for the aircraft .
The helicopter was registered to the Fillmore-based Island Express Holding Corp. , according to the California secretary of state ’ s business database .
The helicopter ’ s manufacturer , Sikorsky , said in a statement Sunday that it is cooperating with the investigation .
The NTSB was dispatching a “ go team , ” a squad of investigators that responds to major accidents across the country , said Christopher O @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leading the investigation is Jennifer Homendy , an NTSB member who oversaw the investigation of a fire aboard the dive boat Conception , which killed 34 people off Santa Cruz Island in September .

Richard Winton, Ben Poston, Matthew Ormseth, Kim Christensen

Authorities cover and remove remains from the site of the crash in Calabasas where Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were killed along with seven others Sunday.
Did foggy weather Sunday morning play a role in the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others?
That is a key question as federal investigators on Monday begin an intense investigation into the cause of the crash.
The helicopter, a Sikorsky S-76 built in 1991, departed John Wayne Airport at 9:06 a.m. Sunday, according to publicly available flight records. The chopper passed over Boyle Heights, near Dodger Stadium, and circled over Glendale during the flight. The crash occurred shortly before 10 a.m. near Las Virgenes Road and Willow Glen Street in Calabasas.
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How dangerous was the weather?
The potential risks were serious enough that law enforcement choppers were grounded.
Los Angeles Police Department spokesman Josh Rubenstein said the department’s Air Support Division grounded its helicopters Sunday morning because of foggy conditions and didn’t fly until the afternoon.
“The weather situation did not meet our minimum standards for flying,” Rubenstein said. The fog “was enough that we were not flying.”
LAPD’s flight minimums are 2 miles of visibility and an 800-foot cloud ceiling, he said. The department typically flies two helicopters when conditions allow: one in the San Fernando Valley and one in the L.A. Basin.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department made a similar assessment about the fog and had no helicopters in the air Sunday morning “basically because of the weather,” L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said.
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Kurt Deetz, a former pilot for Island Express Helicopters who used to fly Bryant in the chopper, said weather conditions were poor in Van Nuys on Sunday morning — “not good at all.”
The crash was more likely caused by bad weather than engine or mechanical issues, he said.
“The likelihood of a catastrophic twin engine failure on that aircraft, it just doesn’t happen,” Deetz said.
Could Bryant’s chopper fly?
Bad weather would not necessarily have prevented Bryant’s helicopter from flying because it should have been equipped with instruments that allow pilots to fly in inclement conditions, experts said. But if not using the instruments, the pilot would have been operating the helicopter under visual flight rules, or VFR, which require good visibility.
An audio recording of an exchange between the pilot and air traffic controllers indicates that he was flying under visual flight rules, but that could not be confirmed Sunday night. At one point, the pilot tells a controller that he is “in VFR at 1,500” feet.
Aviation consultant William Lawrence, a retired Marine Corps colonel and helicopter test pilot and instructor, said investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board, which has dispatched a team to the crash site, should have little trouble determining whether it was a mechanical failure or weather-related, or both.
Even if the pilot had been flying on instruments, the helicopter could have experienced a mechanical problem.
“And if he is in the fog and on instruments and has an emergency, it makes recovery from that emergency far, far more difficult,” Lawrence said. “Any emergency is amplified when you can’t see your surroundings.”
Where does the investigation go now?
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash. The FBI is also assisting in the probe, which is standard practice. The NTSB database does not show any prior incidents or accidents for the aircraft. The helicopter was registered to the Fillmore-based Island Express Holding Corp., according to the California secretary of state’s business database. The helicopter’s manufacturer, Sikorsky, said in a statement Sunday that it is cooperating with the investigation.
The NTSB was dispatching a “go team,” a squad of investigators that responds to major accidents across the country, said Christopher O’Neil, an agency spokesman.
Leading the investigation is Jennifer Homendy, an NTSB member who oversaw the investigation of a fire aboard the dive boat Conception, which killed 34 people off Santa Cruz Island in September.


latimes--2020-01-27--Kobe Bryant helicopter crash: Feds probing chopper maintenance records, pilot history, fog

Federal investigators on Monday began working to unravel the mystery of why a helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant , his 13-year-old daughter and seven other people slammed into the side of a hill in Calabasas .
Authorities said the investigation is now wide-ranging , including looking at the histories of the pilot , helicopter maintenance records and the foggy conditions , which pilots have said add a level of danger .
Firefighters responding to a 911 call at 9:47 a.m. Sunday found a debris field in steep terrain with a quarter-acre brush fire .
Paramedics arriving by helicopter searched the area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who lived in Newport Beach and Los Angeles , was known to keep a chartered helicopter at Orange County ’ s John Wayne Airport .
The Times is offering coverage of Kobe Bryant ’ s death for free today .
Please consider a subscription to support our journalism .
A Sikorsky S-76 chopper , built in 1991 , departed John Wayne at 9:06 a.m. Sunday , according to publicly available flight records .
The chopper passed over Boyle Heights , near Dodger Stadium , and circled over Glendale during the flight .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prior incidents or accidents for the mid-size helicopter .
Kurt Deetz , a former pilot for Island Express Helicopters , told The Times he flew Bryant from 2014 to 2016 .
Nine times out of 10 , he said , Bryant flew in “ Two Echo X-ray ” — the Sikorsky S-76B , tail No .
N72EX , that went down Sunday morning .
Bryant favored the model , which is preferred by celebrities for its comfortable interior and solid safety record , Deetz said .
When Bryant retired from the NBA in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Los Angeles in the same helicopter , wrapped in a gray-and-black paint scheme with his Mamba emblem on the side , Deetz said .
Deetz suspects the crash was most likely caused by bad weather rather than engine or mechanical issues .
“ The likelihood of a catastrophic twin-engine failure on that aircraft — it just doesn ’ t happen , ” he said .
Parts of Southern California were enveloped in thick fog as the helicopter made its way from Orange County to Los Angeles .
During the flight , the pilot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visual flight rules , ” which allows a pilot to fly in weather conditions worse than those allowed for standard visual flight rules , according to radio communications between the air tower and the aircraft .
At some point during the flight , the pilot apparently requested “ flight following , ” a process in which controllers are in regular contact with an aircraft and can help them navigate .
The tower is heard telling the pilot the chopper is too low for flight following before the conversation ends .
There did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A visual flight rules flight “ is based on the principle of see and avoid.
” When operation of an aircraft under visual flight rules isn ’ t safe , often because of inclement weather , a pilot can opt to fly under instrument flight rules .
During this type of flight , the pilot navigates only by reference to the instruments in the aircraft cockpit , according to the FAA .
`` [ Pilots ] fly VFR when and if weather conditions allow , although they can choose to fly on an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Ian Gregor , a spokesman for the FAA .
“ Also , it ’ s always up to the pilot to make the decision whether to fly VFR and to ensure the safety of the flight and adherence to federal aviation regulations.
” Bryant was scheduled to coach Sunday in a game against the Fresno Lady Heat at his Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks and was en route there when the helicopter crashed .
The tournament , called the Mamba Cup , featured boys ’ and girls ’ travel teams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s daughter Gianna , who attended Harbor Day School in Newport Beach , was scheduled to play .
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash .
The FBI is also assisting in the probe , which is standard practice .
The helicopter was registered to Fillmore-based Island Express Holding Corp. , according to the California secretary of state ’ s business database .
The helicopter ’ s manufacturer , Sikorsky , said in a statement Sunday that it was cooperating with the investigation .
The National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team , ” a squad of investigators that responds to major accidents across the country , on Sunday evening , said Christopher O ’ Neil , an agency spokesman .
Leading the investigation is Jennifer Homendy , an NTSB member who oversaw the investigation of a fire aboard the dive boat Conception that killed 34 people off Santa Cruz Island in September .
“ Our team will be looking at the history of the pilot ... whatever crew was on board .
We ’ ll be looking at maintenance records .
At records @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a number of other things as part of the investigation , ” Homendy said .
On Monday morning , the L.A. County coroner ’ s special response team was working on a ridge above the crash site , continuing to remove the remains of the nine victims with the help of search-and-rescue team members .
Investigators could be seen examining the tail rotor , while white-clad medical personnel worked around the bulk of the wreckage .
The victims ’ bodies are being taken to the Forensic Science Center of the coroner ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and possible mechanical issues will likely be at the top of the list for investigators .
The fog was severe enough Sunday morning that the Los Angeles Police Department ’ s Air Support Division grounded its helicopters and didn ’ t fly until later in the afternoon , department spokesman Josh Rubenstein said .
“ The weather situation did not meet our minimum standards for flying , ” Rubenstein said .
The fog “ was enough that we were not flying.
” LAPD ’ s flight minimums are 2 miles of visibility and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The L.A. County Sheriff ’ s Department made a similar assessment about the fog and had no helicopters in the air Sunday morning “ basically because of the weather , ” L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said .
Witnesses said they heard a roar before the chopper slammed into the hillside Sunday morning .
Jerry Kocharian , 62 , was standing outside the Church in the Canyon drinking coffee when he heard a helicopter flying unusually low and seeming to struggle .
“ It wasn ’ t sounding right , and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I saw it falling and spluttering .
But it was hard to make out as it was so foggy.
” The helicopter vanished into the sheet of fog , then there was a boom and “ a big fireball , ” he said .
Scott Daehlin , 61 , was taking a break from setting up sound for a service at Church in the Canyon , which is below the crash site , when he heard the helicopter overheard .
“ Because of its proximity to the ground , I knew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real low , like they were searching to land .
It was making a slow left turn .
It was about 9:44 a.m. , and then the impact happened .
I heard a crunch .
I don ’ t think it pancaked .
I think it hit rotors first , ” Daehlin said .
“ I immediately called 911.
” On Monday morning , Las Virgenes Creek near Lost Hills Road and Cold Springs Street turned into a spectator ’ s gallery as around 100 people gathered about a mile and a half @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , video cameras and even binoculars .
Tokyo Sophia University student Marty Ishizaka , 22 , hopped on a plane Sunday morning in Japan after word of Bryant ’ s death spread .
The onetime Los Angeles resident wanted one last memory of the NBA star .
“ I was just sad when I heard the news , and I play basketball and I ’ m a big fan of Kobe , ” said Ishizaka , a graduate of Reseda Cleveland High School .
“ He was a role model .
His work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expecting to see if I could remember his face , remember his smile by coming here.
” A little closer to the site , Calabasas native Michelle Longo was on her way home from the gym when she decided to check out what was happening .
“ I live right nearby , so I wanted to see if you could see anything , ” Longo , 40 , said .
“ Kobe is L.A.
He ’ s our legend and if you claim to be from Los Angeles , then you ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nadig was snapping wildlife photos for a community newsletter when the 78-year-old Golden State Warriors fan couldn ’ t help looking farther toward the hills .
“ The crash is right there , and you see can people walking , ” Nadig said .
“ There was a guy around here with binoculars who maybe had a better look.
” Nadig said he was moved to join the community at Las Virgenes Creek , in part , to share in the collective grief .
“ Kobe did a lot of good things .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a good guy and that ’ s why this is sad , ” he said .
“ I wanted to be out with others and experience that.
” The pilot , identified as Ara Zobayan , and eight passengers — including Bryant and his daughter — were killed .
Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli , 56 , his wife , Keri , and their daughter Alyssa , who played on the same club team as Gianna , also were killed .
Christina Mauser , who was the top assistant coach of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as a mother and daughter from Orange County , identified by family and friends as Sarah and Payton Chester , also died in the crash .
Officials say the recovery effort at the crash site is expected to take days .
The investigation has meant some Calabasas businesses have had to close shop as sheriff ’ s deputies have blocked access to Las Virgenes Road .
Many were turned away at a nearby office park that houses medical facilities and eateries .
Dentist Edmond Mgdesyan said he ’ d had three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a few other appointments looming .
“ If my patients can ’ t get through , they ’ re just going to go home , ” he said .
“ We ’ ve been told it ’ s going to be like this for a while.
” On top of the cancellations , Mgdesyan said deliveries weren ’ t arriving .
“ We ’ re waiting for packages , for equipment and medicine that we need , ” he said .
“ None of my packages have been delivered , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ These are deliveries of glasses that patients are waiting for .
“ It feels like a ghost town here , which isn ’ t usually the case .
It ’ s usually busy.
” Other businesses , such as La Paz Mexican Seafood and Symmetry Pilates and Yoga , either closed early Monday or never opened .
As officials work to find answers about what went wrong during the flight , Southern Californians continue to mourn Bryant ’ s death .
In Newport Beach , where Bryant lived with his family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in purple and gold — Lakers colors — dropped flowers off at a bench outside Harbor Day School , adding to a makeshift memorial that has sprouted over the last day .
The Bryant family was active at the private school , where two of his daughters had attended .
Two bouquets propped up under the school ’ s entrance sign were left with letters , one addressed to “ Gigi , Mr. Bryant and Mrs. Mauser , Forever in our Hearts ” and the other “ To Mr. Bryant , Gigi and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maria Paun , 81 , used her walker to deliver an assortment of pink flowers to the front of the school , depositing them on a bench .
It was years ago , she said , that she sat with Bryant on a bench at the school when he was waiting to pick up one of his daughters and she was waiting for her granddaughter .
“ He gave me a hug and he said , ‘ I like your accent , Grandma , ’ ” she said .
“ He was tall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m nobody , but he bent down to give me a hug .
And I never forget this hug.
” Paun said it was no accident that she wore a purple sweater Monday morning .
She did so because “ he liked the color.
” “ It ’ s hard for me , and it ’ s hard for everyone , ” she said , her voice cracking with emotion .
During a vigil Sunday night , Bryant ’ s fellow Newport Beach residents spoke of the athlete ’ s life outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was , first and foremost , a dedicated father whose love for his family was apparent to anyone who came across him , friends say .
He was also the type of man whose fame never got in the way of his sharing a warm greeting at Starbucks or the grocery store .
Mario Nunes , 50 , hung his Kobe Bryant jersey from one of the tables in front of the Pavilions grocery store on Newport Coast Drive , which Bryant was known to frequent , on Monday .
Nunes , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Southern California , said he used to see Bryant at the store every few weeks .
Nunes was quick to whip out his phone to show some of the pictures he ’ d taken with Bryant over the years , including one he said was from shortly after the Lakers ’ last championship in 2010 .
“ He was always cool with me , ” he said .
“ He was always friendly .
He signed a couple basketballs here and there.
” Michael Young , 40 , said he also saw Bryant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s worked as a courtesy clerk at the grocery store .
When he heard the news about Bryant ’ s death , Young said his first reaction was tears .
“ He brought a lot of good energy … a lot of positive energy , a lot of good stuff for the community , ” Nunes said .
Both Young and Nunes said the shock of seeing the superstar in the flesh never completely wore off , no matter how many times he came to the grocery store or made a run to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s like he ’ s still here , ” Young said .
“ His spirit is all around us .
”

Hannah Fry, Richard Winton, Luke Money, Ruben Vives, Matthew Ormseth, Andrew J. Campa

Officials remove a body from the wreckage of the helicopter crash Sunday in Calabasas.
Just before crashing into a Calabasas hillside, the pilot of Kobe Bryant’s helicopter rapidly ascended to avoid a cloud layer, the National Transportation Safety Board said Monday.
Jennifer Homendy, an NTSB member, said the pilot flying from Orange County to Ventura County requested special visual flight rules, which allow pilots to fly under 1,000 feet. A marine layer had settled over the region Sunday morning and some areas were shrouded in fog.
Homendy said it remained unclear why the helicopter slammed into the hillside. Debris from the crash was scattered across 600 feet, she said.
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“It was a pretty devastating accident scene,” she added. “There is an impact area on one of the hills and a piece of the tail is down the hill on the left side of the hill. The fuselage is on the other side of that hill. Then the main rotor is about hundred yards beyond that. The debris field is about 500 to 600 feet.
The Times is offering select coverage of Kobe Bryant’s death for free. Please consider a subscription to support our journalism.
She said there was no black box and it isn’t required.
Firefighters responding to a 911 call at 9:47 a.m. Sunday found a debris field in steep terrain with a quarter-acre brush fire. Paramedics arriving by helicopter searched the area but found no survivors.
Bryant, who lived in Newport Beach and Los Angeles, was known to keep a chartered helicopter at Orange County’s John Wayne Airport.
A Sikorsky S-76 chopper, built in 1991, departed John Wayne at 9:06 a.m. Sunday, according to publicly available flight records. The chopper passed over Boyle Heights, near Dodger Stadium, and circled over Glendale during the flight. The National Transportation Safety Board database shows no prior incidents or accidents for the mid-size helicopter.
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Kurt Deetz, a former pilot for Island Express Helicopters, told The Times he flew Bryant from 2014 to 2016. Nine times out of 10, he said, Bryant flew in “Two Echo X-ray” — the Sikorsky S-76B, tail No. N72EX, that went down Sunday morning. Bryant favored the model, which is preferred by celebrities for its comfortable interior and solid safety record, Deetz said.
When Bryant retired from the NBA in 2016, he flew out of downtown Los Angeles in the same helicopter, wrapped in a gray-and-black paint scheme with his Mamba emblem on the side, Deetz said.
Deetz suspects the crash was most likely caused by bad weather rather than engine or mechanical issues. “The likelihood of a catastrophic twin-engine failure on that aircraft — it just doesn’t happen,” he said.
Parts of Southern California were enveloped in thick fog as the helicopter made its way from Orange County to Los Angeles. During the flight, the pilot noted he was flying under “special visual flight rules,” which allows a pilot to fly in weather conditions worse than those allowed for standard visual flight rules, according to radio communications between the air tower and the aircraft. At some point during the flight, the pilot apparently requested “flight following,” a process in which controllers are in regular contact with an aircraft and can help them navigate.
The tower is heard telling the pilot the chopper is too low for flight following before the conversation ends. There did not appear to be a distress call.
A visual flight rules flight “is based on the principle of see and avoid.” When operation of an aircraft under visual flight rules isn’t safe, often because of inclement weather, a pilot can opt to fly under instrument flight rules. During this type of flight, the pilot navigates only by reference to the instruments in the aircraft cockpit, according to the FAA.
“[Pilots] fly VFR when and if weather conditions allow, although they can choose to fly on an IFR flight plan at any time,” said Ian Gregor, a spokesman for the FAA. “Also, it’s always up to the pilot to make the decision whether to fly VFR and to ensure the safety of the flight and adherence to federal aviation regulations.”
Bryant was scheduled to coach Sunday in a game against the Fresno Lady Heat at his Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks and was en route there when the helicopter crashed. The tournament, called the Mamba Cup, featured boys’ and girls’ travel teams from fourth through eighth grades. Bryant’s daughter Gianna, who attended Harbor Day School in Newport Beach, was scheduled to play.
(Matt Stiles & Priya Krishnakumar / Los Angeles Times)
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash. The FBI is also assisting in the probe, which is standard practice. The helicopter was registered to Fillmore-based Island Express Holding Corp., according to the California secretary of state’s business database. The helicopter’s manufacturer, Sikorsky, said in a statement Sunday that it was cooperating with the investigation.
The National Transportation Safety Board dispatched a “go team,” a squad of investigators that responds to major accidents across the country, on Sunday evening, said Christopher O’Neil, an agency spokesman. Leading the investigation is Jennifer Homendy, an NTSB member who oversaw the investigation of a fire aboard the dive boat Conception that killed 34 people off Santa Cruz Island in September.
“Our team will be looking at the history of the pilot ... whatever crew was on board. We’ll be looking at maintenance records. At records of the owner and operator. And a number of other things as part of the investigation,” Homendy said.
On Monday morning, the L.A. County coroner’s special response team was working on a ridge above the crash site, continuing to remove the remains of the nine victims with the help of search-and-rescue team members. Investigators could be seen examining the tail rotor, while white-clad medical personnel worked around the bulk of the wreckage. The victims’ bodies are being taken to the Forensic Science Center of the coroner’s office.
Experts have said weather conditions and possible mechanical issues will likely be at the top of the list for investigators.
The fog was severe enough Sunday morning that the Los Angeles Police Department’s Air Support Division grounded its helicopters and didn’t fly until later in the afternoon, department spokesman Josh Rubenstein said.
“The weather situation did not meet our minimum standards for flying,” Rubenstein said. The fog “was enough that we were not flying.” LAPD’s flight minimums are 2 miles of visibility and an 800-foot cloud ceiling, he said.
The L.A. County Sheriff’s Department made a similar assessment about the fog and had no helicopters in the air Sunday morning “basically because of the weather,” L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said.
Witnesses said they heard a roar before the chopper slammed into the hillside Sunday morning.
Jerry Kocharian, 62, was standing outside the Church in the Canyon drinking coffee when he heard a helicopter flying unusually low and seeming to struggle.
“It wasn’t sounding right, and it was real low,” Kocharian said. “I saw it falling and spluttering. But it was hard to make out as it was so foggy.”
The helicopter vanished into the sheet of fog, then there was a boom and “a big fireball,” he said.
“No one could survive that.”
Scott Daehlin, 61, was taking a break from setting up sound for a service at Church in the Canyon, which is below the crash site, when he heard the helicopter overheard.
“Because of its proximity to the ground, I knew something was wrong. It was hovering real low, like they were searching to land. It was making a slow left turn. It was about 9:44 a.m., and then the impact happened. I heard a crunch. I don’t think it pancaked. I think it hit rotors first,” Daehlin said. “I immediately called 911.”
On Monday morning, Las Virgenes Creek near Lost Hills Road and Cold Springs Street turned into a spectator’s gallery as around 100 people gathered about a mile and a half from the crash site, carrying iPhones, video cameras and even binoculars.
Tokyo Sophia University student Marty Ishizaka, 22, hopped on a plane Sunday morning in Japan after word of Bryant’s death spread. The onetime Los Angeles resident wanted one last memory of the NBA star.
“I was just sad when I heard the news, and I play basketball and I’m a big fan of Kobe,” said Ishizaka, a graduate of Reseda Cleveland High School. “He was a role model. His work ethic was great, and I was expecting to see if I could remember his face, remember his smile by coming here.”
A little closer to the site, Calabasas native Michelle Longo was on her way home from the gym when she decided to check out what was happening.
“I live right nearby, so I wanted to see if you could see anything,” Longo, 40, said. “Kobe is L.A. He’s our legend and if you claim to be from Los Angeles, then you’re a Kobe fan.”
Ventura resident Charles Nadig was snapping wildlife photos for a community newsletter when the 78-year-old Golden State Warriors fan couldn’t help looking farther toward the hills.
“The crash is right there, and you see can people walking,” Nadig said. “There was a guy around here with binoculars who maybe had a better look.”
Nadig said he was moved to join the community at Las Virgenes Creek, in part, to share in the collective grief.
“Kobe did a lot of good things. He made mistakes, but he was a good guy and that’s why this is sad,” he said. “I wanted to be out with others and experience that.”
The pilot, identified as Ara Zobayan, and eight passengers — including Bryant and his daughter — were killed. Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, 56, his wife, Keri, and their daughter Alyssa, who played on the same club team as Gianna, also were killed. Christina Mauser, who was the top assistant coach of the Mamba girls’ basketball team, as well as a mother and daughter from Orange County, identified by family and friends as Sarah and Payton Chester, also died in the crash.
Officials say the recovery effort at the crash site is expected to take days.
The investigation has meant some Calabasas businesses have had to close shop as sheriff’s deputies have blocked access to Las Virgenes Road. Many were turned away at a nearby office park that houses medical facilities and eateries.
Dentist Edmond Mgdesyan said he’d had three or four cancellations by 1 p.m., with a few other appointments looming.
“If my patients can’t get through, they’re just going to go home,” he said. “We’ve been told it’s going to be like this for a while.”
On top of the cancellations, Mgdesyan said deliveries weren’t arriving.
“We’re waiting for packages, for equipment and medicine that we need,” he said.
Two doors down, optometrist Doug Barloski sympathized.
“None of my packages have been delivered,” said Barloski, who works for Calabasas Optometry. “These are deliveries of glasses that patients are waiting for.
“It feels like a ghost town here, which isn’t usually the case. It’s usually busy.”
Other businesses, such as La Paz Mexican Seafood and Symmetry Pilates and Yoga, either closed early Monday or never opened.
As officials work to find answers about what went wrong during the flight, Southern Californians continue to mourn Bryant’s death.
In Newport Beach, where Bryant lived with his family for years, two young girls dressed in purple and gold — Lakers colors — dropped flowers off at a bench outside Harbor Day School, adding to a makeshift memorial that has sprouted over the last day. The Bryant family was active at the private school, where two of his daughters had attended.
Two bouquets propped up under the school’s entrance sign were left with letters, one addressed to “Gigi, Mr. Bryant and Mrs. Mauser, Forever in our Hearts” and the other “To Mr. Bryant, Gigi and Mrs. Mauser, Our 3 Angels.”
Maria Paun, 81, used her walker to deliver an assortment of pink flowers to the front of the school, depositing them on a bench. It was years ago, she said, that she sat with Bryant on a bench at the school when he was waiting to pick up one of his daughters and she was waiting for her granddaughter.
“He gave me a hug and he said, ‘I like your accent, Grandma,’ ” she said. “He was tall, and he was somebody and I’m nobody, but he bent down to give me a hug. And I never forget this hug.”
Paun said it was no accident that she wore a purple sweater Monday morning. She did so because “he liked the color.”
“It’s hard for me, and it’s hard for everyone,” she said, her voice cracking with emotion.
During a vigil Sunday night, Bryant’s fellow Newport Beach residents spoke of the athlete’s life outside of his storied NBA career. He was, first and foremost, a dedicated father whose love for his family was apparent to anyone who came across him, friends say. He was also the type of man whose fame never got in the way of his sharing a warm greeting at Starbucks or the grocery store.
Mario Nunes, 50, hung his Kobe Bryant jersey from one of the tables in front of the Pavilions grocery store on Newport Coast Drive, which Bryant was known to frequent, on Monday. Nunes, a job trainer with the Rehabilitation Institute of Southern California, said he used to see Bryant at the store every few weeks. Nunes was quick to whip out his phone to show some of the pictures he’d taken with Bryant over the years, including one he said was from shortly after the Lakers’ last championship in 2010.
“He was always cool with me,” he said. “He was always friendly. He signed a couple basketballs here and there.”
Michael Young, 40, said he also saw Bryant periodically during the three years he’s worked as a courtesy clerk at the grocery store. When he heard the news about Bryant’s death, Young said his first reaction was tears.
“He brought a lot of good energy … a lot of positive energy, a lot of good stuff for the community,” Nunes said.
Both Young and Nunes said the shock of seeing the superstar in the flesh never completely wore off, no matter how many times he came to the grocery store or made a run to the Starbucks in the same shopping complex.
“It’s like he’s still here,” Young said. “His spirit is all around us.”


latimes--2020-01-27--He ran as a City Hall reformer. His rivals say he's fallen short on homelessness

When David Ryu declared victory in his first bid for the Los Angeles City Council five years ago , he proclaimed , “ We are finally telling City Hall that we do not like ‘ business as usual.
’ ” Ryu had campaigned as a City Hall outsider and harnessed neighborhood anger over real estate development , vowing not to take developer donations for his campaign .
Now Ryu is trying to defend his seat from new challengers amid the homelessness crisis , which has overtaken other municipal issues to become the overwhelming focus of the March race .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his first campaign , “ no one really wanted to hear about it , ” Ryu said at a recent luncheon .
Now , “ you can not go anywhere without talking about homelessness.
” His sprawling district , which stretches from the Miracle Mile through the Hollywood Hills to Sherman Oaks , had the biggest spike in its homeless population last year — 53 % — of any council district in the city , according to the last count .
Two of his rivals , Sarah Kate Levy and Nithya Raman , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action to help people on the streets .
“ If you think it ’ s a FEMA-level crisis , behave like it ’ s a FEMA-level crisis , ” Levy said , invoking a phrase used by the councilman .
She argued that safe sites for people to sleep in their vehicles or tents could be set up immediately .
A third challenger , who is waging a write-in campaign , Sherman Oaks real estate agent Susan Collins , argues that Ryu is addressing homelessness only as a housing issue “ as opposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is.
” In reaction to his critics , Ryu has pointed to new and soon-to-be-opened housing and shelters for homeless people in his district , saying that his district is “ leading the charge.
” The councilman is also pushing to change the City Charter to give a single executive — possibly the mayor or a homelessness czar — emergency powers to decide where to put homeless housing .
He wants to make it easier to provide involuntary care to people who would face “ immediate harm or death ” without it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts , such as establishing savings accounts for L.A. schoolchildren , will help battle the broader problem of poverty .
Beyond homelessness , Ryu has touted his efforts to clamp down on developer donations , expand park access and make discretionary spending in his office more transparent .
Anthony Holland , who once ran a campaign for a candidate running against Ryu , said the councilman had shown “ real courage ” in pushing to bar donations from developers seeking to build L.A. projects .
He also pointed to Ryu urging the Southern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher goals for housing across the region .
“ He ’ s taken the things that he ran on — and he stuck to them , ” said Holland , a Mercury Public Affairs director who helped raise funds for Ryu this time around .
Ryu has raised more than four times as much in campaign contributions as any of his opponents — more than $ 900,000 — and snapped up endorsements from the county Democratic Party , unions and neighborhood leaders .
But his seat could nonetheless be in play in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as a flood of new voters coming to cast ballots in the presidential primary .
This is the first year that City Council elections are being held at the same time as national races , a shift expected to boost turnout among left-leaning voters .
Ryu has made some decisions that upset progressives : He voted with the council to reinstate restrictions on where people can live in their cars , which activists denounced as a “ de facto ban.
” Ryu spokesman Mark Pampanin said at the time that Ryu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be enforced “ when necessary — which is very rare , ” but would not want to reinstate it again now .
In August , he sat on a council committee that agreed to forward a new set of proposed restrictions on where people could sleep on sidewalks .
At the time , Ryu said he hadn ’ t had a chance to review the proposal on sidewalk sleeping , but remarked that “ it sounds good.
” When that same plan went before the council , Ryu criticized the idea , declaring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the luxury of dictating where tents can be when they ’ re growing by the thousands.
” Sherin Varghese , a co-founder of the homeless outreach and advocacy group KTown for All , said she was dismayed that Ryu had forwarded the proposal from the committee without appearing to understand it .
( Ryu deputy campaign manager Daniel Eyal later said that Ryu forwarded the plan so that it would be discussed by the full council with community involvement . )
“ This is your job — and you ’ ve got volunteer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you do , ” said Varghese , who supports Raman in the race .
“ We ’ ve seen a slight change in rhetoric , but no action to back that up.
” Raman “ brings a depth of understanding that has gotten ignored for a long time , ” Varghese said .
Raman helped start a neighborhood coalition to do homeless outreach in her Silver Lake neighborhood .
When she worked for the city administrative officer , she wrote a report that found an “ incredible gulf between the rhetoric and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the issue , ” with the bulk of city money spent on homelessness going to policing .
“ What we ’ ve created in L.A. is not a system that is designed to help people , ” said Raman , who more recently headed the women ’ s rights group Time ’ s Up Entertainment .
As a candidate , she is calling for a network of “ community access centers ” where homeless people can consult with case managers and get food , medical care and other assistance .
Raman added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to prevent people from sliding into homelessness .
She has called for rent freezes on rent-stabilized units , more financial assistance for renters at risk of eviction , and a right to legal counsel for tenants regardless of income or citizenship status .
“ Our City Council has an incredible amount of power , ” Raman said .
“ And so far they have failed to use it to push us toward a Los Angeles that protects residents.
” Levy , too , has called for more urgent action to help homeless people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where people can park and sleep and “ safe campsites ” with counseling and other services .
She called the push to hand the mayor more power over where homeless housing is built “ cowardly , ” saying it amounts to saying “ someone else should solve this problem.
” And Levy argues that Ryu and the rest of the council should ease the way for new housing and make it more affordable to build by speeding up the permitting process .
She criticized him for opposing SB 50 , a law that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lines and job centers , instead of trying to adjust it .
Levy backs the latest version of the bill .
Park La Brea resident Bob Shore said he was backing Levy because he wanted Los Angeles to be affordable enough for his 20-year-old son .
Ryu is “ much more willing to cater to NIMBY sentiment than Sarah Kate would be , ” Shore said .
Ryu said he was worried that SB 50 lacked protections for tenants and would not produce enough affordable housing .
At a recent forum , Raman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about how the bill could affect displacement and real estate speculation , which she said any revised version must address .
Rivals of the councilman also charge that the new rules on developer donations don ’ t go far enough .
And both Levy and Raman have criticized Ryu for taking donations tied to the real estate industry , some of which he later returned .
Levy has also criticized Ryu over “ behested payments ” — donations solicited by politicians for their favorite charities .
“ If you ’ re still taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve been fighting against , and if you ’ re still taking the behested payments that you say you ’ re fighting against , then what exactly have you reformed ?
” Levy asked .
Ryu said that his campaign was keeping its pledge , but that some developer donations had initially escaped its notice .
The councilman said that behested payments he solicited went to support Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebrations and that he was offended by the idea that “ we should not support arts and Asian American and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more reform is needed on campaign finance , but stressed that the latest step took years at City Hall .
“ It ’ s easy on the activist side to point fingers , ” Ryu said , but council members are responsible for “ getting the job done.
” If no candidate wins more than 50 % of the vote in March , the top two finishers will go to a runoff in November .

Los Angeles City Council candidates Sarah Kate Levy, incumbent David Ryu and Nithya Raman are running to represent a district that stretches from Sherman Oaks to the Miracle Mile.
When David Ryu declared victory in his first bid for the Los Angeles City Council five years ago, he proclaimed, “We are finally telling City Hall that we do not like ‘business as usual.’”
Ryu had campaigned as a City Hall outsider and harnessed neighborhood anger over real estate development, vowing not to take developer donations for his campaign. Now Ryu is trying to defend his seat from new challengers amid the homelessness crisis, which has overtaken other municipal issues to become the overwhelming focus of the March race.
When he tried to talk about homelessness during his first campaign, “no one really wanted to hear about it,” Ryu said at a recent luncheon. Now, “you cannot go anywhere without talking about homelessness.”
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His sprawling district, which stretches from the Miracle Mile through the Hollywood Hills to Sherman Oaks, had the biggest spike in its homeless population last year — 53% — of any council district in the city, according to the last count. Two of his rivals, Sarah Kate Levy and Nithya Raman, say Ryu has failed to take urgent action to help people on the streets.
“If you think it’s a FEMA-level crisis, behave like it’s a FEMA-level crisis,” Levy said, invoking a phrase used by the councilman. She argued that safe sites for people to sleep in their vehicles or tents could be set up immediately.
A third challenger, who is waging a write-in campaign, Sherman Oaks real estate agent Susan Collins, argues that Ryu is addressing homelessness only as a housing issue “as opposed to the mental health and addiction crisis it is.”
In reaction to his critics, Ryu has pointed to new and soon-to-be-opened housing and shelters for homeless people in his district, saying that his district is “leading the charge.”
The councilman is also pushing to change the City Charter to give a single executive — possibly the mayor or a homelessness czar — emergency powers to decide where to put homeless housing. He wants to make it easier to provide involuntary care to people who would face “immediate harm or death” without it. And he has argued that other efforts, such as establishing savings accounts for L.A. schoolchildren, will help battle the broader problem of poverty.
David Ryu speaks after being sworn in on the steps of City Hall on June 28, 2015. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Beyond homelessness, Ryu has touted his efforts to clamp down on developer donations, expand park access and make discretionary spending in his office more transparent.
Anthony Holland, who once ran a campaign for a candidate running against Ryu, said the councilman had shown “real courage” in pushing to bar donations from developers seeking to build L.A. projects. He also pointed to Ryu urging the Southern California Assn. of Governments to set higher goals for housing across the region.
“He’s taken the things that he ran on — and he stuck to them,” said Holland, a Mercury Public Affairs director who helped raise funds for Ryu this time around.
Ryu has raised more than four times as much in campaign contributions as any of his opponents — more than $900,000 — and snapped up endorsements from the county Democratic Party, unions and neighborhood leaders.
But his seat could nonetheless be in play in the face of frustration with rising homelessness — as well as a flood of new voters coming to cast ballots in the presidential primary. This is the first year that City Council elections are being held at the same time as national races, a shift expected to boost turnout among left-leaning voters.
Ryu has made some decisions that upset progressives: He voted with the council to reinstate restrictions on where people can live in their cars, which activists denounced as a “de facto ban.” Ryu spokesman Mark Pampanin said at the time that Ryu was willing to allow the law to be enforced “when necessary — which is very rare,” but would not want to reinstate it again now.
In August, he sat on a council committee that agreed to forward a new set of proposed restrictions on where people could sleep on sidewalks. At the time, Ryu said he hadn’t had a chance to review the proposal on sidewalk sleeping, but remarked that “it sounds good.” When that same plan went before the council, Ryu criticized the idea, declaring that “we don’t have the luxury of dictating where tents can be when they’re growing by the thousands.”
Nithya Raman, one of the challengers seeking to unseat Councilman David Ryu, outside her campaign headquarters on 3rd Street in Los Angeles. (Los Angeles Times)
Sherin Varghese, a co-founder of the homeless outreach and advocacy group KTown for All, said she was dismayed that Ryu had forwarded the proposal from the committee without appearing to understand it. (Ryu deputy campaign manager Daniel Eyal later said that Ryu forwarded the plan so that it would be discussed by the full council with community involvement.)
“This is your job — and you’ve got volunteer activists who understand the law better than you do,” said Varghese, who supports Raman in the race. “We’ve seen a slight change in rhetoric, but no action to back that up.”
Raman “brings a depth of understanding that has gotten ignored for a long time,” Varghese said.
Raman helped start a neighborhood coalition to do homeless outreach in her Silver Lake neighborhood. When she worked for the city administrative officer, she wrote a report that found an “incredible gulf between the rhetoric and the reality of how the city was responding to the issue,” with the bulk of city money spent on homelessness going to policing.
“What we’ve created in L.A. is not a system that is designed to help people,” said Raman, who more recently headed the women’s rights group Time’s Up Entertainment. As a candidate, she is calling for a network of “community access centers” where homeless people can consult with case managers and get food, medical care and other assistance.
Raman added that the city should be doing more to prevent people from sliding into homelessness. She has called for rent freezes on rent-stabilized units, more financial assistance for renters at risk of eviction, and a right to legal counsel for tenants regardless of income or citizenship status.
“Our City Council has an incredible amount of power,” Raman said. “And so far they have failed to use it to push us toward a Los Angeles that protects residents.”
Levy, too, has called for more urgent action to help homeless people, including “safe parking” sites where people can park and sleep and “safe campsites” with counseling and other services. She called the push to hand the mayor more power over where homeless housing is built “cowardly,” saying it amounts to saying “someone else should solve this problem.”
And Levy argues that Ryu and the rest of the council should ease the way for new housing and make it more affordable to build by speeding up the permitting process. She criticized him for opposing SB 50, a law that would allow for denser housing near rail lines and job centers, instead of trying to adjust it. Levy backs the latest version of the bill.
Park La Brea resident Bob Shore said he was backing Levy because he wanted Los Angeles to be affordable enough for his 20-year-old son. Ryu is “much more willing to cater to NIMBY sentiment than Sarah Kate would be,” Shore said.
Candidate Sarah Kate Levy at her campaign office in Sherman Oaks. (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)
Ryu said he was worried that SB 50 lacked protections for tenants and would not produce enough affordable housing. At a recent forum, Raman also said she had heard serious concerns about how the bill could affect displacement and real estate speculation, which she said any revised version must address.
Rivals of the councilman also charge that the new rules on developer donations don’t go far enough. And both Levy and Raman have criticized Ryu for taking donations tied to the real estate industry, some of which he later returned. Levy has also criticized Ryu over “behested payments” — donations solicited by politicians for their favorite charities.
“If you’re still taking the developer dollars that you say you’ve been fighting against, and if you’re still taking the behested payments that you say you’re fighting against, then what exactly have you reformed?” Levy asked.
Ryu said that his campaign was keeping its pledge, but that some developer donations had initially escaped its notice. The councilman said that behested payments he solicited went to support Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebrations and that he was offended by the idea that “we should not support arts and Asian American and Pacific Islanders.”
And he agreed that more reform is needed on campaign finance, but stressed that the latest step took years at City Hall. “It’s easy on the activist side to point fingers,” Ryu said, but council members are responsible for “getting the job done.”
If no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote in March, the top two finishers will go to a runoff in November.