latimes--2020-05-23--How L.A. County became coronavirus epicenter: Slower shutdown, density, poverty among theories

In mid-March , as the specter of a society-upending pandemic grew , Los Angeles County emerged as something of a bright spot .
When Bay Area counties mandated on March 16 that all residents stay at home , officials said it didn ’ t make sense in L.A. County because far fewer cases of the coronavirus had been detected .
“ We don ’ t have the same trajectory that they have up north , ” L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said that day when asked about a stay-at-home order .
Two months later , the situation has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the highest rate of deaths from COVID-19 in the state , and the second highest infection rate .
On Friday , federal officials singled out Los Angeles because of its stubbornly high case counts of the coronavirus , despite precautions to slow the spread .
With so many factors at play , it is almost impossible to know which is the culprit , especially in the midst of an evolving outbreak , experts say .
Many epidemiologists pointed to densely packed neighborhoods with overcrowded housing , as well as high rates of poverty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be fueling poor outcomes in L.A. County .
Another factor might be when local officials shut down .
The Bay Area issued its stay-at-home order on March 16 , followed by L.A. County three days later .
Though earlier than the rest of the nation , the delay may have set the stage for L.A. County to succeed the Bay Area as California ’ s center for COVID-19 .
“ The Bay Area probably figured it out sooner , and that ’ s why the Bay Area looked like it was worse early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Timothy Brewer .
“ I think L.A. was a little bit behind S.F .
and some of the surrounding areas in the Bay Area ... and now we ’ re seeing the after effects of that.
” L.A. County officials say that while deaths remain troublingly high , there are other indicators that the region is beginning to turn the corner .
But understanding how things got so bad in the first place is going to take time .
“ The way coronavirus is playing out in some sense is unique to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the globe , ” said Amanda Daflos , chief innovation officer for the city of L.A. “ We ’ re monitoring everything very closely.
” Compared with cities nationwide , Los Angeles ’ rate of COVID-19 cases and deaths has been relatively low .
Approximately 2,000 people have died in L.A. County of COVID-19 , while in New York City , which is roughly the same population size , the death toll has crossed 20,000 .
But the region has emerged as an outlier within California .
In L.A. County , 426 out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for COVID-19 , compared with 270 in San Francisco .
In L.A. , 20 out of every 100,000 residents have died of COVID-19 , compared with 4 in San Francisco .
“ If you look at individual counties and cities , L.A. has been a hotbed , ” said UC Davis epidemiologist Bradley Pollock .
To try to make sense of these trends , data crunchers at the L.A. County Public Health Department recently ran some numbers , said chief science officer Dr. Paul Simon .
They looked into whether L.A. County ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the state ’ s .
In Italy , an older-than-average population was believed to have contributed to that country ’ s alarmingly high death rate .
But the L.A. County analysis found that its population was not older than the rest of the state , and perhaps even skewed a little younger , Simon said .
Analysts also looked into whether the county ’ s residents were more likely to have diabetes , high blood pressure or obesity compared with the rest of the state , factors that could make them more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they found no difference , he said .
“ What does that leave us with ?
” Simon said .
The answer has been a bit of a puzzle , he said .
One piece may be the delayed stay-at-home order .
Though it appeared in March that L.A. County had less coronavirus transmission than the Bay Area , experts say that it is now clear that there was likely widespread coronavirus transmission far before it was detected , especially in Los Angeles County , with its high number of incoming travelers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Area had more transmission than the rest of the state was simply an indicator of who detected it first , experts say .
And catching those cases early may have actually helped the Bay Area because it prompted quick action and shifted public sentiment , experts say .
In San Francisco , fewer people were going out to restaurants and other public spaces as early as late February , far before such a change was seen in L.A. , said UC San Francisco epidemiologist Dr. George Rutherford .
Many tech companies in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from even before those orders , something more difficult in Los Angeles County , where fewer people work in high-tech jobs , he said .
L.A. city , the largest within the county , ordered bars and restaurants to switch to take-out only on March 15 , the day before Bay Area announced its shelter-at-home order .
But the countywide stay-at-home mandate didn ’ t come until three days after the Bay Area ’ s , and the true effects were probably not felt for a few days after it was ordered , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the weekend after the announcement , Rutherford said .
“ Functionally , it was probably like six days later , which could represent as many as 1.5 extra generations of viral spread , which makes a big difference , ” he said .
But Rutherford and other epidemiologists agreed that the delay does not account for the ongoing high rates of cases and deaths .
The city of L.A. did widely expand testing , now even for asymptomatic residents , which may be why case counts are not quickly falling despite the shutdowns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why the death rates are also higher , experts say .
The most common explanation cited was density : many people living close together , creating the perfect conditions for the coronavirus to spread .
Data from other regions show the virus often transmits within households due to close , prolonged contact that facilitates its spread .
Once the virus gets into those settings , it can spread widely , experts say .
“ The county is 10 times more dense than the state as a whole , ” UCLA ’ s Brewer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where we have seen very explosive outbreaks , they ’ ve tended to occur in places like meat-packing plants , skilled nursing facilities , assisted living homes — places where people are spending a fair amount of time together in close contact in enclosed environments.
” L.A. County also has higher rates of poverty than all the Bay Area counties , as well as almost every urban county in the state .
Poorer people are more likely to be homeless , and be unable to stay home when they are sick , have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and more likely to live in polluted areas .
These factors have set the stage for outbreaks in L.A. County in the past , including typhus , hepatitis A and measles just in the last few years , said USC epidemiologist Dr. Neha Nanda .
Experts say their understanding of L.A. County ‘ s persistent outbreak will continue to develop in the coming months , though there are already some signs of hope .
Officials announced earlier this week that the transmission rate for the coronavirus had fallen lower than ever before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March , each person in L.A. County was likely infecting at least three other people .
Now , that number has fallen below 1 , a sign that the epidemic may begin to shrink .
But experts say that with infectious diseases , when a single case can turn into thousands , it is impossible to predict what will happen next .
When it comes to L.A. County ‘ s outbreak , some factors are out of its control , said UCSF ’ s Rutherford .
“ It ’ s also a matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Dusk settles as Third Street in downtown Los Angeles is empty on April 6. A strict shutdown was put in place on March 19 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In mid-March, as the specter of a society-upending pandemic grew, Los Angeles County emerged as something of a bright spot.
When Bay Area counties mandated on March 16 that all residents stay at home, officials said it didn’t make sense in L.A. County because far fewer cases of the coronavirus had been detected.
“We don’t have the same trajectory that they have up north,” L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said that day when asked about a stay-at-home order.
Two months later, the situation has shifted dramatically. L.A. County now has the highest rate of deaths from COVID-19 in the state, and the second highest infection rate. On Friday, federal officials singled out Los Angeles because of its stubbornly high case counts of the coronavirus, despite precautions to slow the spread.
With so many factors at play, it is almost impossible to know which is the culprit, especially in the midst of an evolving outbreak, experts say.
Many epidemiologists pointed to densely packed neighborhoods with overcrowded housing, as well as high rates of poverty, homelessness and even pollution that could be fueling poor outcomes in L.A. County.
California Trump administration warns Garcetti against ‘heavy-handed’ stay-at-home orders The Trump administration sent a letter to L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti saying the Department of Justice is concerned the city may pursue “an arbitrary and heavy-handed approach” to coronavirus stay-at-home orders.
Another factor might be when local officials shut down. The Bay Area issued its stay-at-home order on March 16, followed by L.A. County three days later. Though earlier than the rest of the nation, the delay may have set the stage for L.A. County to succeed the Bay Area as California’s center for COVID-19.
“The Bay Area probably figured it out sooner, and that’s why the Bay Area looked like it was worse early on,” said UCLA epidemiologist Dr. Timothy Brewer. “I think L.A. was a little bit behind S.F. and some of the surrounding areas in the Bay Area ... and now we’re seeing the after effects of that.”
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L.A. County officials say that while deaths remain troublingly high, there are other indicators that the region is beginning to turn the corner. But understanding how things got so bad in the first place is going to take time.
“The way coronavirus is playing out in some sense is unique to the different cities and the different counties around the globe,” said Amanda Daflos, chief innovation officer for the city of L.A. “We’re monitoring everything very closely.”
::
Compared with cities nationwide, Los Angeles’ rate of COVID-19 cases and deaths has been relatively low. Approximately 2,000 people have died in L.A. County of COVID-19, while in New York City, which is roughly the same population size, the death toll has crossed 20,000.
But the region has emerged as an outlier within California. In L.A. County, 426 out of every 100,000 people have tested positive for COVID-19, compared with 270 in San Francisco. In L.A., 20 out of every 100,000 residents have died of COVID-19, compared with 4 in San Francisco.
“If you look at individual counties and cities, L.A. has been a hotbed,” said UC Davis epidemiologist Bradley Pollock.
To try to make sense of these trends, data crunchers at the L.A. County Public Health Department recently ran some numbers, said chief science officer Dr. Paul Simon.
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They looked into whether L.A. County’s population was older than the rest of the state’s. In Italy, an older-than-average population was believed to have contributed to that country’s alarmingly high death rate. But the L.A. County analysis found that its population was not older than the rest of the state, and perhaps even skewed a little younger, Simon said.
Analysts also looked into whether the county’s residents were more likely to have diabetes, high blood pressure or obesity compared with the rest of the state, factors that could make them more likely to die from COVID-19. Again, they found no difference, he said.
“What does that leave us with?” Simon said. The answer has been a bit of a puzzle, he said.
One piece may be the delayed stay-at-home order.
Though it appeared in March that L.A. County had less coronavirus transmission than the Bay Area, experts say that it is now clear that there was likely widespread coronavirus transmission far before it was detected, especially in Los Angeles County, with its high number of incoming travelers.
So the idea that the Bay Area had more transmission than the rest of the state was simply an indicator of who detected it first, experts say. And catching those cases early may have actually helped the Bay Area because it prompted quick action and shifted public sentiment, experts say.
In San Francisco, fewer people were going out to restaurants and other public spaces as early as late February, far before such a change was seen in L.A., said UC San Francisco epidemiologist Dr. George Rutherford. Many tech companies in the Bay Area asked their employees to work from home even before those orders, something more difficult in Los Angeles County, where fewer people work in high-tech jobs, he said.
L.A. city, the largest within the county, ordered bars and restaurants to switch to take-out only on March 15, the day before Bay Area announced its shelter-at-home order. But the countywide stay-at-home mandate didn’t come until three days after the Bay Area’s, and the true effects were probably not felt for a few days after it was ordered, based on reports of people crowding beaches the weekend after the announcement ,Rutherford said.
“Functionally, it was probably like six days later, which could represent as many as 1.5 extra generations of viral spread, which makes a big difference,” he said.
But Rutherford and other epidemiologists agreed that the delay does not account for the ongoing high rates of cases and deaths.
The city of L.A. did widely expand testing, now even for asymptomatic residents, which may be why case counts are not quickly falling despite the shutdowns, but that doesn’t explain why the death rates are also higher, experts say.
World & Nation Trump demands churches open, despite coronavirus fears, as Memorial Day weekend begins Memorial Day weekend traditionally means family barbecues, road trips, crowded parks and carefree days spent basking by the water, but Americans venturing out after weeks of sheltering in place are being asked not to let up their guard as the coronavirus continues to spread.
The most common explanation cited was density: many people living close together, creating the perfect conditions for the coronavirus to spread. Data from other regions show the virus often transmits within households due to close, prolonged contact that facilitates its spread. Once the virus gets into those settings, it can spread widely, experts say.
“The county is 10 times more dense than the state as a whole,” UCLA’s Brewer said. “If you think about where we have seen very explosive outbreaks, they’ve tended to occur in places like meat-packing plants, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living homes — places where people are spending a fair amount of time together in close contact in enclosed environments.”
L.A. County also has higher rates of poverty than all the Bay Area counties, as well as almost every urban county in the state. Poorer people are more likely to be homeless, and be unable to stay home when they are sick, have access to healthy foods and medical care, and more likely to live in polluted areas.
These factors have set the stage for outbreaks in L.A. County in the past, including typhus, hepatitis A and measles just in the last few years, said USC epidemiologist Dr. Neha Nanda.
Experts say their understanding of L.A. County‘s persistent outbreak will continue to develop in the coming months, though there are already some signs of hope.
Officials announced earlier this week that the transmission rate for the coronavirus had fallen lower than ever before. Prior to the stay-at-home orders in March, each person in L.A. County was likely infecting at least three other people. Now, that number has fallen below 1, a sign that the epidemic may begin to shrink.
But experts say that with infectious diseases, when a single case can turn into thousands, it is impossible to predict what will happen next. When it comes to L.A. County‘s outbreak, some factors are out of its control, said UCSF’s Rutherford.
“It’s also a matter of luck,” he said.


latimes--2020-05-23--Memorial Day brings heat and warnings on outings amid coronavirus in Southern California

With a heat wave in the forecast , Memorial Day weekend is going to pose a challenge in the fight against the coronavirus .
Can Southern California residents enjoy the new freedoms as stay-at-home orders are eased , such as access to parks and beaches and in some place dining and shopping , while also maintaining social distancing so the coronavirus does not spread ?
Officials are hoping rules and public urging will keep people safe .
“ Many of our beautiful outdoor spaces are open and we can enjoy them as we practice physical distancing and wear our cloth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other people , ” Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said .
“ The virus hasn ’ t changed .
It ’ s still relatively easy to become infected , particularly if you ’ re not taking precautions.
” Many Southern California parks , beaches and trails will be open , but officials are urging people to keep their distance and not spaces .
With the lure of a three-day holiday weekend , some destinations are , while others are clamping down .
Unlike some trails that were shuttered under Ventura @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canyon and Punch Bowls Trail in Ojai Valley never closed .
But in recent weeks , crowds have been gathering in droves , filling the parking lots and leaving behind trash , said Los Padres National Forest spokesman Andrew Madsen .
In the Santa Monica Mountains , park rangers are encouraging visitors to wear face coverings and maintain social distancing on newly reopened trails .
But in the San Bernardino National Forest , officials will in the Lake Arrowhead area for roughly a year to deal with chronic overcrowding .
The creek ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Falls , have drawn crowds in past years that have created growing traffic and parking issues on the narrow roads .
Four San Francisco parks are being outfitted with painted circles to remind people to stay away from each other when they are outside during the coronavirus outbreak .
, each eight feet apart , were painted on the grass of Mission Dolores Park on Wednesday , and Little Marina Green Picnic Area and Washington Square on Thursday .
Crews were completing Jackson Playground on Friday .
Los Angeles County officials announced that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lots will reopen .
The county a week ago but kept beach parking lots , bike paths , piers and boardwalks .
Now , parking lots at Dockweiler State Beach , Will Rogers State Beach , Zuma Beach and Surfrider Beach will open at partial capacity .
Santa Monica lots and most beachside public parking spots in coastal communities will remain closed .
Beachgoers are still not allowed to sunbathe , grill or lounge in the sand .
The shoreline is open only for active recreation , including surfing , swimming , running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to wear face coverings when visiting the beach .
In many counties , , retailers and even shopping malls will be open , though not in hard-hit areas like and many parts of the Bay Area .
The vast majority of California ’ s 58 counties have now been approved to expand retail operations as their virus conditions improved , with more expected to reopen their economies in the coming days .
But officials expect the in Los Angeles County , which accounts for nearly 60 % of the state ’ s total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 90,000 confirmed infections .
Most counties have received approval to progress more quickly through Phase 2 of the state ’ s reopening road map — meaning they can open restaurant dining rooms and more retail businesses for in-store shopping .
The list of counties that can ramp up their reopening efforts now includes San Diego ( the state ’ s second-most populous ) , Kern , San Luis Obispo , Santa Barbara , Riverside and Ventura .
On the heels of a two-day spike in coronavirus-related deaths in Orange County , officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a proposal to allow more businesses to reopen .
The county submitted its final documentation Thursday night outlining hospitalization rates , testing capacity and other benchmarks that state officials say need to be met before the region can move deeper into Stage 2 of reopening .
If the state agrees , restaurant dining rooms could welcome patrons and retail businesses would be permitted to open for in-store shopping with certain modifications .
Hair and nail salons , gyms , bars and theme parks would remain closed .
Orange County leaders had expressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retailers would be able to reopen before the Memorial Day holiday .
As of Friday afternoon , the county had not yet received approval by the state to move forward .
Los Angeles County officials also gave car parades and other drive-through celebrations the green light Friday .
A week ago , against marking milestones like birthdays and graduations with car drive-ins .
Now , as in-person gatherings remain off-limits , county officials will permit car-parade celebrations .
However , bicycles , motorcycles , convertibles with open tops and vehicles without doors , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed to participate .
Vehicle occupants must wear face coverings if the windows are down .
Those who wish to host a car parade must comply with requirements set by the state ’ s , which include security measures and social and physical distancing .
Southern California ’ s third heat wave of the year is poised to bring scorching temperatures just in time for , but officials are cautioning the public to remain vigilant about social distancing when heading outside to soak up some sun .
While temperatures along the coast are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the weekend and early into next week , the mercury will rise significantly beginning Monday — into triple digits in some areas — in the San Fernando Valley , San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire , said Eric Boldt , a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard .
The heat wave is expected to peak Wednesday , but warm weather will likely linger a while , Boldt said .
“ These high temperatures are going to continue pretty much through next week , ” he said .
“ We might see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but it seems like the rest of May is going to be warm .
”

Alex Wigglesworth, Colleen Shalby, Hannah Fry, Luke Money

This was the view from Venice Beach north toward Santa Monica on the morning that L.A. County reopened its beaches after closure because of the coronavirus pandemic.
With a heat wave in the forecast, Memorial Day weekend is going to pose a challenge in the fight against the coronavirus.
Can Southern California residents enjoy the new freedoms as stay-at-home orders are eased, such as access to parks and beaches and in some place dining and shopping, while also maintaining social distancing so the coronavirus does not spread?
Officials are hoping rules and public urging will keep people safe.
“Many of our beautiful outdoor spaces are open and we can enjoy them as we practice physical distancing and wear our cloth face coverings when we’re around other people,” Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said. “The virus hasn’t changed. It’s still relatively easy to become infected, particularly if you’re not taking precautions.”
Parks, beaches, trails
Many Southern California parks, beaches and trails will be open, but officials are urging people to keep their distance and not overcrowd these outdoor spaces.
With the lure of a three-day holiday weekend, some destinations are making more room for Memorial Day revelers , while others are clamping down.
Unlike some trails that were shuttered under Ventura County orders, the popular Santa Paula Canyon and Punch Bowls Trail in Ojai Valley never closed. But in recent weeks, crowds have been gathering in droves, filling the parking lots and leaving behind trash, said Los Padres National Forest spokesman Andrew Madsen.
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In the Santa Monica Mountains, park rangers are encouraging visitors to wear face coverings and maintain social distancing on newly reopened trails.
But in the San Bernardino National Forest, officials will close a 2.5-mile stretch in Deep Creek in the Lake Arrowhead area for roughly a year to deal with chronic overcrowding. The creek’s swimming holes, especially at Aztec Falls, have drawn crowds in past years that have created growing traffic and parking issues on the narrow roads.
Four San Francisco parks are being outfitted with painted circles to remind people to stay away from each other when they are outside during the coronavirus outbreak.
Ten-foot white circles , each eight feet apart, were painted on the grass of Mission Dolores Park on Wednesday, and Little Marina Green Picnic Area and Washington Square on Thursday. Crews were completing Jackson Playground on Friday.
Los Angeles County officials announced that beach bike paths and some beach parking lots will reopen.
The county reopened its beaches a week ago but kept beach parking lots, bike paths, piers and boardwalks closed .
Now, parking lots at Dockweiler State Beach, Will Rogers State Beach, Zuma Beach and Surfrider Beach will open at partial capacity. Santa Monica lots and most beachside public parking spots in coastal communities will remain closed.
Beachgoers are still not allowed to sunbathe, grill or lounge in the sand. The shoreline is open only for active recreation, including surfing, swimming, running and walking.
Visitors also must continue to wear face coverings when visiting the beach.
Advertisement
Shopping and dining
In many counties, restaurants , retailers and even shopping malls will be open, though not in hard-hit areas like Los Angeles County and many parts of the Bay Area.
The vast majority of California’s 58 counties have now been approved to expand retail operations as their virus conditions improved, with more expected to reopen their economies in the coming days.
But officials expect the progress to be slower in Los Angeles County, which accounts for nearly 60% of the state’s total deaths and almost half of the more than 90,000 confirmed infections.
Most counties have received approval to progress more quickly through Phase 2 of the state’s reopening road map — meaning they can open restaurant dining rooms and more retail businesses for in-store shopping.
The list of counties that can ramp up their reopening efforts now includes San Diego (the state’s second-most populous), Kern, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Riverside and Ventura.
On the heels of a two-day spike in coronavirus-related deaths in Orange County, officials Friday affirmed that they are pushing forward with a proposal to allow more businesses to reopen.
The county submitted its final documentation Thursday night outlining hospitalization rates, testing capacity and other benchmarks that state officials say need to be met before the region can move deeper into Stage 2 of reopening.
If the state agrees, restaurant dining rooms could welcome patrons and retail businesses would be permitted to open for in-store shopping with certain modifications. Hair and nail salons, gyms, bars and theme parks would remain closed.
Orange County leaders had expressed hope earlier in the week that more retailers would be able to reopen before the Memorial Day holiday. As of Friday afternoon, the county had not yet received approval by the state to move forward.
Other activities
Los Angeles County officials also gave car parades and other drive-through celebrations the green light Friday.
A week ago, public health officials warned against marking milestones like birthdays and graduations with car drive-ins.
Now, as in-person gatherings remain off-limits, county officials will permit car-parade celebrations. However, bicycles, motorcycles, convertibles with open tops and vehicles without doors, such as golf carts, are not allowed to participate. Vehicle occupants must wear face coverings if the windows are down.
Those who wish to host a car parade must comply with requirements set by the state’s stay-at-home order , which include security measures and social and physical distancing.
Heat
Southern California’s third heat wave of the year is poised to bring scorching temperatures just in time for Memorial Day celebrations , but officials are cautioning the public to remain vigilant about social distancing when heading outside to soak up some sun.
While temperatures along the coast are expected to linger in the mid-70s throughout the weekend and early into next week, the mercury will rise significantly beginning Monday — into triple digits in some areas — in the San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire, said Eric Boldt, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
The heat wave is expected to peak Wednesday, but warm weather will likely linger a while, Boldt said.
“These high temperatures are going to continue pretty much through next week,” he said. “We might see a little relief toward Friday and Saturday, but it seems like the rest of May is going to be warm.”


latimes--2020-05-23--Massive fire strikes San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf, spares WWII ship

Firefighters were able to save a historic warship after a massive fire ripped through a warehouse at Fisherman ’ s Wharf in San Francisco on Saturday morning .
The fire broke out about 4:15 a.m. in a large warehouse at the end of Pier 45 , said Lt. Jonathan Baxter , public information officer for the San Francisco Fire Department .
The warehouse is not occupied at night , but homeless people are believed to go inside to sleep , Baxter said .
The fire was quickly called to four alarms , drawing 150 firefighters and 50 pieces of firefighting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first truck responded , the flames were so high they reached above its aerial ladder .
The truck sustained some damage as firefighters kept it in place to spray water on the fire , but it proved crucial in keeping the blaze from spreading , Baxter said .
Flames also threatened the Jeremiah O ’ Brien , a World War II liberty ship that participated in the D-day invasion and is now a tourist attraction .
One fireboat was positioned to protect the historic vessel and a second assisted in pumping thousands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bay on the west side of the blaze , Baxter said .
The only damage to the Jeremiah O ’ Brien was some minor paint bubbling , Baxter said .
“ We ’ re happy and proud to say we protected that piece of history , especially at the beginning of Memorial Day [ weekend ] , ” Baxter said .
The walls of the warehouse collapsed , but firefighters were able to hold the flames to that building .
One firefighter suffered a severe hand laceration and was taken to a local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No other buildings were significantly damaged , he said .
The fire was declared under control about 2 p.m. “ This could very easily have been a conflagration .
We pride ourselves that this is one of the areas we do weekly drills on , ” he said , referring to training aimed at preventing blazes from spreading to surrounding structures .
It wasn ’ t immediately clear what caused the fire , but authorities said they were looking into whether anyone was inside the warehouse before it broke out .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area for the homeless and we do have reports that the homeless do on occasion go into that structure to sleep , ” Baxter said .
“ At this time we do not have any indication that is the case , but that is one of the main points our fire investigator will be looking at .
”

A fireboat continues to pour water on Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco on Saturday morning after a massive fire erupted overnight at a warehouse.
Firefighters were able to save a historic warship after a massive fire ripped through a warehouse at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco on Saturday morning.
The fire broke out about 4:15 a.m. in a large warehouse at the end of Pier 45, said Lt. Jonathan Baxter, public information officer for the San Francisco Fire Department.
The warehouse is not occupied at night, but homeless people are believed to go inside to sleep, Baxter said.
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The fire was quickly called to four alarms, drawing 150 firefighters and 50 pieces of firefighting apparatus to the scene.
When the first truck responded, the flames were so high they reached above its aerial ladder. The truck sustained some damage as firefighters kept it in place to spray water on the fire, but it proved crucial in keeping the blaze from spreading, Baxter said.
Flames also threatened the Jeremiah O’Brien, a World War II liberty ship that participated in the D-day invasion and is now a tourist attraction.
One fireboat was positioned to protect the historic vessel and a second assisted in pumping thousands of gallons of water from the San Francisco Bay on the west side of the blaze, Baxter said.
The only damage to the Jeremiah O’Brien was some minor paint bubbling, Baxter said.
“We’re happy and proud to say we protected that piece of history, especially at the beginning of Memorial Day [weekend],” Baxter said.
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The walls of the warehouse collapsed, but firefighters were able to hold the flames to that building. One firefighter suffered a severe hand laceration and was taken to a local hospital for treatment, Baxter said. No other buildings were significantly damaged, he said.
The fire was declared under control about 2 p.m.
Baxter credited regular training drills for helping firefighters take quick action.
“This could very easily have been a conflagration. We pride ourselves that this is one of the areas we do weekly drills on,” he said, referring to training aimed at preventing blazes from spreading to surrounding structures.
It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the fire, but authorities said they were looking into whether anyone was inside the warehouse before it broke out.
“We do have concerns this is a congregation area for the homeless and we do have reports that the homeless do on occasion go into that structure to sleep,” Baxter said. “At this time we do not have any indication that is the case, but that is one of the main points our fire investigator will be looking at.”


latimes--2020-05-23--Magnitude 3.0 earthquake registered near Clovis, Calif.

A magnitude 3.0 earthquake was reported Friday night 54 miles from Clovis , Calif. , according to the U.S. Geological Survey .
The earthquake occurred at 8:29 p.m. Pacific time .
Its epicenter was 58 miles from Fresno , 62 miles from Sanger , Calif. , 63 miles from Reedley , Calif. , and 68 miles from Madera , Calif..
In the past 10 days , there have been 260 earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby .
An average of 234 earthquakes with magnitudes between 3.0 and 4.0 occur per year in California and Nevada , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday night ’ s earthquake occurred at a depth of 2.2 miles .
Did you feel this earthquake ?
Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS .
Even if you didn ’ t feel this small earthquake , you never know when the Big One is going to strike .
Ready yourself by following our five-step earthquake preparedness guide and building your own emergency kit .
This story was automatically generated by Quakebot , a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS .
A Times editor reviewed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ re interested in learning more about the system , visit our list of frequently asked questions .

A magnitude 3.0 earthquake was reported Friday night 54 miles from Clovis, Calif., according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The earthquake occurred at 8:29 p.m. Pacific time. Its epicenter was 58 miles from Fresno, 62 miles from Sanger, Calif., 63 miles from Reedley, Calif., and 68 miles from Madera, Calif..
In the past 10 days, there have been 260 earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby.
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An average of 234 earthquakes with magnitudes between 3.0 and 4.0 occur per year in California and Nevada, according to a recent three year data sample.
Friday night’s earthquake occurred at a depth of 2.2 miles. Did you feel this earthquake? Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS.
Even if you didn’t feel this small earthquake, you never know when the Big One is going to strike. Ready yourself by following our five-step earthquake preparedness guide and building your own emergency kit.
This story was automatically generated by Quakebot, a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS. A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published. If you’re interested in learning more about the system, visit our list of frequently asked questions.


latimes--2020-05-23--California elections officials suggest schools as voting sites for social distancing

Elections officials across California , seeking a way to offer in-person voting in November with strict coronavirus protections , are urging lawmakers to close schools and allow campus gyms and auditoriums to be used in the days leading up to and including election day .
The proposal was made this week in a letter to legislative leaders and comes as county officials face tight timelines to begin preparing for the Nov. 3 election .
That process has been overshadowed by Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s order earlier this month to mail a ballot to every California voter — a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impact , would not keep voters from choosing to participate in person instead .
“ We wanted to provide a solution ” for safe voting sites , said Joe Holland , registrar of voters in Santa Barbara County and president of the California Assn .
of Clerks and Elected Officials .
“ Schools have facilities that are big enough to accommodate in-person voting with the COVID-19 environment that we have to deal with.
” Elections officials say the four weekdays in question — Friday , Oct. 30 through Wednesday , Nov. 4 — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service ” days , during which teachers and personnel are on campus but students are not .
Holland said public health requirements , especially regarding size and social distancing , would make most traditional polling places unworkable .
Schools also have more consistent access for disabled voters , he said , and are easily found by voters seeking to cast their ballots .
Several prominent education groups had not heard about the proposal when contacted Friday .
State Sen. Tom Umberg ( D-Santa Ana ) , chairman of the Senate ’ s elections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be to first see what can be agreed to without a mandate from Sacramento .
“ It does seem that schools are a community asset that is accessible , ” Umberg said .
“ That ’ s a conversation to be had between local school officials and local election officials.
” Secretary of State Alex Padilla suggested Friday that the idea has merit .
“ Schools and colleges alone will not provide all the voting locations we will need this November , but they have historically been a major source of voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this fall , ” he said .
“ The COVID-19 pandemic has presented an enormous challenge for county elections officials to adjust their operations.
” Any decision will come later than Newsom envisioned .
His executive order requiring counties to mail ballots to the state ’ s roughly 21 million voters called for clear guidelines by the end of May on how counties will provide traditional in-person voting .
At best , a decision is now unlikely before mid-June .
There were more than 2.7 million Californians who voted in person for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those cast in most states ’ elections .
But far more California voters , 72 % of those who participated , chose to fill out a ballot sent to them in the mail .
A survey released Thursday by a team of researchers from USC , UC San Diego and UC Riverside came to a similar conclusion , finding almost 72 % of eligible voters prefer either to put their ballot in the mail in November or drop them off at a location in their community .
Those who don ’ t are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or are voters with physical disabilities .
Wilma Franco , executive director of the Southeast Los Angeles Collaborative , told those attending an election webinar this week that changing those voter habits will be hard .
“ It ’ s really going to take new ways of reaching our community , ” she said during the event sponsored by the nonprofit Future of California Elections .
Exactly how many in-person voting centers will be required remains a point of contention .
Fifteen California counties , choosing to embrace an optional 2016 state election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ places , provide one location for every 10,000 voters in the final four days of an election — sites that offer a variety of voter services .
But 43 other counties have chosen not to opt into that system and could find that formula difficult .
In its letter to the Legislature , the association of elections officials suggested one location for every 15,000 voters .
Holland said even that standard will be challenging in some communities , especially given that the most reliable elections workers — Californians in their 60s and 70s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most at risk during the pandemic .
“ Can I , in good conscience , even ask them to be a poll worker in November ?
” Holland said .
Newsom ’ s push for mailing every voter a ballot faces its own challenges .
On Thursday , former Republican Rep. Darrell Issa filed a challenge to the executive order in federal court , insisting only the Legislature could make such a sweeping change .
The governor Friday dismissed the criticism .
“ I think it ’ s a responsible thing to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an alternative to waiting in line , ” he said of voting by mail , “ especially going back into the fall and experiencing a second wave that could put that election at risk.
” For those who choose to vote in person in November , ideally bringing their mailed ballots with them , a number of changes are expected .
Dean Logan , the registrar of voters in Los Angeles County , said Thursday during the election webinar that face coverings and gloves will be offered to Angelenos who use local voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experienced a number of problems with in-person voting in March , but Logan told election advocates during Thursday ’ s event that his staff believes the opportunity is essential and can be improved upon in November .
“ We have to build a capacity for that , ” Logan said about in-person voting .
“ We need to be more direct and more emphatic in informing voters that we ’ re open and available.
” Using schools for a four-day voting experience could hinge on money .
Elections officials are already insisting November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without additional state dollars , and schools may be hesitant to change their schedules without some sort of compensation .
Funding for K-12 schools depends , in part , on daily attendance numbers .
Holland acknowledged the challenges but said the coronavirus crisis could be remembered as creating a partnership that could be used in future elections too .
“ It would be a huge achievement for democracy in California , ” he said .
“ We would be partners and the voters and the citizens of California would greatly benefit .
”

Elections officials from across California say most traditional voting locations are too small for physical distancing in November’s election for voters who choose not to vote by mail.
Elections officials across California, seeking a way to offer in-person voting in November with strict coronavirus protections, are urging lawmakers to close schools in the days leading up to and including election day and allow campus gyms and auditoriums to be used.
The proposal comes as county officials face tight timelines to begin preparing for the Nov. 3 election and as the process has been overshadowed by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order earlier this month to mail a ballot to every California voter.
Newsom’s effort is now mired in a legal battle with Republicans, who insist only the Legislature has the power to change election rules. Lawsuits from the Republican National Committee and former Vista Rep. Darrell Issa are challenging the May 8 executive order and President Trump has continued to insist, without proof, that voting by mail is a process rife with fraud.
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The effort by local elections officials seeks to find rules for those who will vote in person, a process they argue cannot be done without a plan that allows voters several days to participate and venues that are much larger than those used in the past.
“We wanted to provide a solution” for safe voting sites, said Joe Holland, registrar of voters in Santa Barbara County and president of the California Assn. of Clerks and Elected Officials. “Schools have facilities that are big enough to accommodate in-person voting with the COVID-19 environment that we have to deal with.”
Elections officials say the four weekdays in question — Oct. 30, a Friday, through Nov. 4, a Wednesday — could easily be designated as “in-service” days, during which teachers and personnel are on campus but students are not.
Holland said public health requirements, especially regarding size and social distancing, would make most traditional polling places unworkable. Schools also would have more consistent access for disabled voters, he said, and would be found easily by voters seeking to cast their ballots.
Several prominent education groups had not heard about the proposal when contacted Friday.
State Sen. Tom Umberg (D-Santa Ana), chairman of the Senate’s elections committee, said the best path forward would be, first, to see what could be agreed to without a mandate from Sacramento.
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“It does seem that schools are a community asset that is accessible,” Umberg said. “That’s a conversation to be had between local school officials and local election officials.”
Secretary of State Alex Padilla suggested Friday that the idea had merit.
“Schools and colleges alone will not provide all the voting locations we will need this November, but they have historically been a major source of voting locations, and we will need them again this fall,” he said. “The COVID-19 pandemic has presented an enormous challenge for county elections officials to adjust their operations.”
Any decision would come later than Newsom envisioned. His executive order requiring counties to mail ballots to the state’s roughly 21 million voters called for clear guidelines by the end of May on how counties would provide traditional in-person voting. At best, a decision is now unlikely before mid-June.
There were more than 2.7 million Californians who voted in person for the March presidential primary — more ballots than those cast in most states’ elections. But far more California voters, 72% of those who participated, chose to fill out a ballot sent to them in the mail.
A survey released Thursday by a team of researchers from USC, UC San Diego and UC Riverside came to a similar conclusion, finding almost 72% of eligible voters prefer either to put their ballot in the mail in November or drop them off at a location in their community. Those who don’t are more often found in communities of color or are voters with physical disabilities.
Wilma Franco, executive director of the Southeast Los Angeles Collaborative, told those attending an election webinar last week that changing those voter habits would be hard.
“It’s really going to take new ways of reaching our community,” she said during the event sponsored by the nonprofit Future of California Elections.
Exactly how many in-person voting centers will be required remains a point of contention. Fifteen California counties, choosing to embrace an optional 2016 state election law that moves away from traditional polling places, provide one location for every 10,000 voters in the final four days of an election — sites that offer a variety of voter services. But 43 other counties have chosen not to opt into that system and may find that formula difficult.
In its letter to the Legislature, the association of elections officials suggested one location for every 15,000 voters. Holland said even that standard would be challenging in some communities, especially given that the most reliable elections workers — Californians in their 60s and 70s — are also those considered to be most at risk during the pandemic.
“Can I, in good conscience, even ask them to be a poll worker in November?” Holland said.
For those who choose to vote in person in November, ideally bringing their mailed ballots with them, a number of changes are expected. Dean Logan, the registrar of voters in Los Angeles County, said Thursday during the election webinar that face coverings and gloves would be offered to Angelenos who used local voting centers in the fall.
L.A. County experienced a number of problems with in-person voting in March, but Logan told election advocates during Thursday’s event that his staff believed the voting experience could be improved upon in November.
“We have to build a capacity for that,” Logan said about in-person voting. “We need to be more direct and more emphatic in informing voters that we’re open and available.”
Using schools for a four-day voting experience could hinge on money. Elections officials are already insisting November election rules can’t be implemented without additional state dollars, and schools may be hesitant to change their schedules without some sort of compensation. Funding for K-12 schools depends, in part, on daily attendance numbers.
Holland acknowledged the challenges but said the coronavirus crisis could be remembered as creating a partnership that could be used in future elections too.
“It would be a huge achievement for democracy in California,” he said. “We would be partners, and the voters and the citizens of California would greatly benefit.”
Republicans, meanwhile, continue to take aim at mail balloting. Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel announced the national party’s lawsuit on Sunday through Twitter.
“His radical plan is a recipe for disaster that would create more opportunities for fraud & destroy the confidence Californians deserve to have in their elections,” McDaniel said.
The lawsuit accuses Newsom of a “brazen power grab” that would “violate eligible citizens’ right to vote.”
Responding to the lawsuit late Sunday, Padilla said on Twitter that expanding voting by mail is not a “partisan issue.”
This lawsuit is just another part of Trump’s political smear campaign against voting by mail. We will not let this virus be exploited for voter suppression,” he wrote.
Times staff writer Laura Newberry contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-05-23--Mosques adapt to coronavirus shutdown by sharing the call to prayer. In Culver City, neighbors said

Mosques adapt to coronavirus shutdown by sharing the call to prayer. In Culver City, neighbors said it was too loud

The call to prayer rang out at 7:49 on a Saturday evening as the sky glowed pink from the setting sun .
Women in hijabs and masks gazed up at the mosque as the Arabic hymn floated down : I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah .
Mahmood Nadvi stood on King Fahad Mosque ’ s roof , 60 feet above the street , nearly level with the palm trees , singing into a handheld microphone .
For over 1,000 years , Muslims have relied on the human voice to call the faithful to prayer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wherever a mosque is built , there is a place for the muezzin , or prayer caller , said Aslam Abdullah , a Muslim scholar based in San Bernardino .
While the adhan echoes five times a day in Islamic countries , like a Roman Catholic church bell signaling Mass , it is unusual to hear the adhan publicly broadcast in the U.S. , where it is more likely to be heard in Hollywood movies .
Which is what made the scene in a Culver City neighborhood , near a gun shop and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jesus Saves , ” unusual .
Even historic .
Like the life-altering pandemic that inspired it from here to Minnesota to New Jersey during Ramadan , the holiest month in the Islamic calendar .
In extraordinary times , when Muslims are unable to break the fast and pray together because COVID-19 has forced mosques to close — as it has some churches and other places of worship — the adhan has brought comfort .
Cities across Southern California , including Redlands , Fontana , Rancho Cucamonga and Claremont , have allowed mosques to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Outside the Culver City mosque , some pedestrians stopped in their tracks when they first heard the adhan , seemingly surprised .
This was something new , and it was not altogether clear how it would be received — as with many things Muslim in the U.S. “ It is indeed historical , ” said Abdullah , who in the last week has heard the call to prayer broadcast in Redlands and Fontana .
“ It ’ s more than tolerance , it is our acceptance , I think .
That ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shown once again.
” But in Culver City , the call to prayer did not go unchallenged for long .
After four days , on May 18 , the city ’ s police department revoked the amplified noise permit , citing people congregating at the mosque in violation of the county health order , as well as “ numerous loud noise complaints from area residents.
” “ We have had and will continue to have a great relationship with mosque leadership , ” said Capt .
Jason Sims with the Culver City Police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help with facilitating any type of service that is not in violation of county health orders.
” Three days later , the city changed course again , reinstating the permit on the condition that the mosque lower the volume .
Meanwhile , on the Nextdoor social networking app , debates raged between neighbors .
“ I ’ m glad I don ’ t live near there , ” someone commented , spawning a string of responses .
“ There are a lot of bitter racists in CC , ” someone replied .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to you ?
” one user said .
Another commenter added : “ You should ask people from Europe what they think about the muslims ?
I don ’ t think you get many people cheering them on.
” Across the U.S. , the closure of churches has prompted pushback , with some filing lawsuits and a few defying stay-at-home orders .
The U.S. Justice Department warned in a letter Tuesday that the measures Gov .
Gavin Newsom enacted to slow the spread of the coronavirus and his plans to unwind them might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constitutional rights .
More than 1,200 pastors have vowed to hold in-person services on May 31 , Pentecost Sunday .
On Friday , Trump declared houses of worship “ essential ” and called on governors to allow their reopening .
In the U.S. , the question of whether to broadcast the adhan publicly has been controversial over the years .
When the City Council in Hamtramck , Mich. , approved the local mosque ’ s request to amplify the call to prayer in 2004 , it sparked anger in the town .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world with terrorism , people are afraid maybe they ’ ll be saying things [ in Arabic ] that we don ’ t understand , ” a bakery manager said at the time .
Despite the initial controversy , the adhan continues being broadcast there today .
In 2015 , Duke University called off its plan to sound the prayer call from the chapel ’ s 210-foot bell tower for the first time , in the face of anti-Islamic tirades on social media and concerns about security .
So this year , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through Ramadan , starting in Minnesota , some worried about what could happen .
“ I ’ m very excited but ... deep inside I also have some concerns .
Not because it ’ s not the right thing to do , ” said Hussam Ayloush , executive director of the Los Angeles chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations .
“ But because we also still have people in our country who harbor prejudice towards Muslims or people who are not part of the majority.
” Last week , in Fontana , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four times a day — omitting the earliest one around 4:30 a.m .
The only issue the center had , director Juma Darwish said , is that the prayer caller was too loud and actually broke the speaker outside — which the center is working to fix .
The mosque has no end date on the broadcast .
“ We ’ re just going to keep doing it until we feel any neighbor has discomfort with it , ” Darwish said .
“ We ’ re not going to do it if a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , director of King Fahad Mosque , and his wife , Anisa , were excited when they heard that the adhan was being publicly broadcast in Minnesota .
Anisa convinced her husband to request a permit to do the same in Culver City .
In his letter to the city , Patel said broadcasting the adhan “ would be a beacon of light in this trying time.
” “ During these difficult and unusual times of COVID-19 , staying away from the mosque during our holy month has been challenging , ” Patel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to prayer out loud ... would not only lift all of our spirits , but also bring back [ a ] sense of our unity in our community and get us through our last few days of Ramadan.
” Soon after , the Police Department issued the permit .
It would last until May 22 , the day before the start of Eid al-Fitr , a celebration known as feast of the fast-breaking .
On the first day , May 14 , Ahson Syed , the mosque ’ s religious director , stepped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steps that allowed him to peer over the roof at the people gathered below .
In Saudi Arabia , Syed was accustomed to hearing the call to prayer five times a day .
In the U.S. , he typically heard it only inside of mosques or community centers —- certainly not from the rooftops , broadcast across neighborhoods .
That evening , he was the first one to recite the adhan publicly , his voice ringing with emotion over the black loudspeaker .
Half of the attendees that night were crying .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ below with her 3- and 5-year-old sons , her husband and her parents .
It had been a hard Ramadan , one in which she struggled to explain to her children the lurking , viral danger that prevented them from coming to the mosque .
That Saturday evening , there were plastic containers of dates and water bottles for attendees to take for the breaking of the fast .
The first time Alrayes heard the adhan from the roof of the mosque , she said , “ it just gave me goose bumps.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ describe the feeling , ” she said .
“ We ’ re not used to having the adhan in public in the United States.
” She just hoped , she said , that it wouldn ’ t disturb the non-Muslim community in any way .
“ That would be my only concern , ” Alrayes said .
Neighbors living around the mosque were surprised to hear the permit had been revoked , albeit briefly .
Many of them said they couldn ’ t hear it , even though they live nearby .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , is “ very much a part of the neighborhood.
” She wondered about who would call to complain about the noise , calling them “ jerks.
” “ I don ’ t know who those people are , ” Cruz said .
“ I don ’ t even want to know them.
” Another neighbor , who only gave his name as Eddie , said he wished neighbors had been given a heads-up about the call to prayer .
He has stereo equipment , but said he could still hear the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in view of the blue and white minaret .
“ If you don ’ t have anything to avoid it , it can be a form of distress , ” he said .
Debra Sugarman , who has lived in the city for 10 years , said she ’ s spent a lot of time in the Middle East and enjoys hearing the call to prayer .
Sugarman , who lives a few blocks from the mosque , said she strained to hear the adhan the first few nights .
She wished , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ louder .
“ It ’ s Ramadan , ” Sugarman said .
“ They should be allowed to practice their religion .
”

Mahmood Nadvi, standing on the rooftop, delivers the adhan, the Islamic call to prayer, at King Fahad Mosque in Culver City. Amid the pandemic lockdown, many mosques in Southern California got permission from local authorities to broadcast the adhan during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar.
The call to prayer rang out at 7:49 on a Saturday evening as the sky glowed pink from the setting sun.
Women in hijabs and masks gazed up at the mosque as the Arabic hymn floated down:
Allah is the greatest.
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I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah.
Mahmood Nadvi stood on King Fahad Mosque’s roof, 60 feet above the street, nearly level with the palm trees, singing into a handheld microphone.
For over 1,000 years, Muslims have relied on the human voice to call the faithful to prayer. It’s become tradition that wherever a mosque is built, there is a place for the muezzin, or prayer caller, said Aslam Abdullah, a Muslim scholar based in San Bernardino.
While the adhan echoes five times a day in Islamic countries, like a Roman Catholic church bell signaling Mass, it is unusual to hear the adhan publicly broadcast in the U.S., where it is more likely to be heard in Hollywood movies.
People stop in their tracks to watch Mahmood Nadvi deliver the Islamic call to prayer from the roof of King Fahad Mosque in Culver City. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
Which is what made the scene in a Culver City neighborhood, near a gun shop and a church with a sign reading “Jesus Saves,” unusual. Even historic. Like the life-altering pandemic that inspired it from here to Minnesota to New Jersey during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar.
Advertisement
In extraordinary times, when Muslims are unable to break the fast and pray together because COVID-19 has forced mosques to close — as it has some churches and other places of worship — the adhan has brought comfort. Cities across Southern California, including Redlands, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga and Claremont, have allowed mosques to broadcast the call to prayer publicly.
Outside the Culver City mosque, some pedestrians stopped in their tracks when they first heard the adhan, seemingly surprised. This was something new, and it was not altogether clear how it would be received — as with many things Muslim in the U.S.
Mahmood Nadvi uses a handheld microphone to share the adhan, the Islamic call to prayer, at King Fahad Mosque in Culver City. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
“It is indeed historical,” said Abdullah, who in the last week has heard the call to prayer broadcast in Redlands and Fontana. “It’s more than tolerance, it is our acceptance, I think. That’s a remarkable thing that this country has shown once again.”
But in Culver City, the call to prayer did not go unchallenged for long.
After four days, on May 18, the city’s police department revoked the amplified noise permit, citing people congregating at the mosque in violation of the county health order, as well as “numerous loud noise complaints from area residents.”
“We have had and will continue to have a great relationship with mosque leadership,” said Capt. Jason Sims with the Culver City Police Department. “We are certainly happy to help with facilitating any type of service that is not in violation of county health orders.”
Three days later, the city changed course again, reinstating the permit on the condition that the mosque lower the volume.
Meanwhile, on the Nextdoor social networking app, debates raged between neighbors.
“I’m glad I don’t live near there,” someone commented, spawning a string of responses.
“There are a lot of bitter racists in CC,” someone replied.
“What has a Muslim ever done to you?” one user said.
“Make me unhappy,” another responded.
Another commenter added: “You should ask people from Europe what they think about the muslims? I don’t think you get many people cheering them on.”
Two women in hijabs and masks gaze up as the adhan, or Islamic call to prayer, floats down from the roof of King Fahad Mosque in Culver City. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
Across the U.S., the closure of churches has prompted pushback, with some filing lawsuits and a few defying stay-at-home orders.
The U.S. Justice Department warned in a letter Tuesday that the measures Gov. Gavin Newsom enacted to slow the spread of the coronavirus and his plans to unwind them might discriminate against religious groups and violate their constitutional rights.
More than 1,200 pastors have vowed to hold in-person services on May 31, Pentecost Sunday. On Friday, Trump declared houses of worship “essential” and called on governors to allow their reopening.
In the U.S., the question of whether to broadcast the adhan publicly has been controversial over the years. When the City Council in Hamtramck, Mich., approved the local mosque’s request to amplify the call to prayer in 2004, it sparked anger in the town.
“With so much going on in the world with terrorism, people are afraid maybe they’ll be saying things [in Arabic] that we don’t understand,” a bakery manager said at the time.
Despite the initial controversy, the adhan continues being broadcast there today.
Many mosques across Southern California got permission from local authorities to broadcast the adhan, or call to prayer, which is unusual to hear publicly broadcast in the U.S. Above, a small group gathers outside King Fahad Mosque in Culver City. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
In 2015, Duke University called off its plan to sound the prayer call from the chapel’s 210-foot bell tower for the first time, in the face of anti-Islamic tirades on social media and concerns about security.
So this year, when mosques received permits to share the adhan through Ramadan, starting in Minnesota, some worried about what could happen.
“I’m very excited but ... deep inside I also have some concerns. Not because it’s not the right thing to do,” said Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Los Angeles chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. “But because we also still have people in our country who harbor prejudice towards Muslims or people who are not part of the majority.”
Last week, in Fontana, Ar-Rahman Islamic Center began broadcasting the adhan four times a day — omitting the earliest one around 4:30 a.m.
The only issue the center had, director Juma Darwish said, is that the prayer caller was too loud and actually broke the speaker outside — which the center is working to fix. The mosque has no end date on the broadcast.
“We’re just going to keep doing it until we feel any neighbor has discomfort with it,” Darwish said. “We’re not going to do it if a neighbor complains about it.”
Rauf Patel, director of King Fahad Mosque, and his wife, Anisa, were excited when they heard that the adhan was being publicly broadcast in Minnesota. Anisa convinced her husband to request a permit to do the same in Culver City.
In his letter to the city, Patel said broadcasting the adhan “would be a beacon of light in this trying time.” The mosque has been closed since March.
“During these difficult and unusual times of COVID-19, staying away from the mosque during our holy month has been challenging,” Patel wrote. “Being able to call to prayer out loud ... would not only lift all of our spirits, but also bring back [a] sense of our unity in our community and get us through our last few days of Ramadan.”
Soon after, the Police Department issued the permit. It would last until May 22, the day before the start of Eid al-Fitr, a celebration known as feast of the fast-breaking.
On the first day, May 14, Ahson Syed, the mosque’s religious director, stepped on overturned milk crates and up three steps that allowed him to peer over the roof at the people gathered below.
In Saudi Arabia, Syed was accustomed to hearing the call to prayer five times a day. In the U.S., he typically heard it only inside of mosques or community centers —- certainly not from the rooftops, broadcast across neighborhoods.
That evening, he was the first one to recite the adhan publicly, his voice ringing with emotion over the black loudspeaker. Half of the attendees that night were crying.
On the third night, Suzan Alrayes stood below with her 3- and 5-year-old sons, her husband and her parents. It had been a hard Ramadan, one in which she struggled to explain to her children the lurking, viral danger that prevented them from coming to the mosque.
That Saturday evening, there were plastic containers of dates and water bottles for attendees to take for the breaking of the fast.
The first time Alrayes heard the adhan from the roof of the mosque, she said, “it just gave me goose bumps.”
“I can’t even describe the feeling,” she said. “We’re not used to having the adhan in public in the United States.”
She just hoped, she said, that it wouldn’t disturb the non-Muslim community in any way.
“That would be my only concern,” Alrayes said.
Neighbors living around the mosque were surprised to hear the permit had been revoked, albeit briefly. Many of them said they couldn’t hear it, even though they live nearby.
The mosque, one resident, Liliana Cruz said, is “very much a part of the neighborhood.” She wondered about who would call to complain about the noise, calling them “jerks.”
“I don’t know who those people are,” Cruz said. “I don’t even want to know them.”
Another neighbor, who only gave his name as Eddie, said he wished neighbors had been given a heads-up about the call to prayer. He has stereo equipment, but said he could still hear the adhan from his home, which stands in view of the blue and white minaret.
“If you don’t have anything to avoid it, it can be a form of distress,” he said.
Debra Sugarman, who has lived in the city for 10 years, said she’s spent a lot of time in the Middle East and enjoys hearing the call to prayer. Sugarman, who lives a few blocks from the mosque, said she strained to hear the adhan the first few nights. She wished, she said, that it had been louder.
“It’s Ramadan,” Sugarman said. “They should be allowed to practice their religion.”
Times staff photographer Irfan Khan contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-05-23--As coronavirus stay-at-home restrictions ease, California casinos gamble on reopening

Michael L. Fennell says he has spent a good portion of his 70 years gambling , so he knows the difference between a long shot and a sure bet .
And he admits his decision to step inside a casino during a global pandemic was a bit of a gamble .
“ Everything we do now is a gamble , ” he said after stepping away from a slot machine at Morongo Casino Resort and Spa for a cigarette break .
“ We ’ re going through rough times now.
” But , he added “ it feels like it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Morongo ’ s two casinos , hard by Interstate 10 about 30 minutes outside of Palm Springs , were among six tribal casinos in Riverside and San Bernardino counties that partially reopened Friday after a two-month shutdown caused by the spread of COVID-19 .
Five others reopened this week in San Diego County , including Harrah ’ s Resort Southern California in Valley Center .
At least four more tribal casinos will be back online next week .
Federal law allows tribes to run casinos with sovereignty , limiting the ability of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how they operate .
Nevertheless , most shut down voluntarily in mid-March , days before Gov .
Gavin Newsom issued his stay-at-home order .
With the governor now taking tentative measures to reopen California , the casinos are out in front again — this time discarding Newsom ’ s warnings that the state may still not be safe .
“ It was a tough decision to open , ” said Jeff L. Grubbe , tribal chairman for the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians , which on Friday reopened casinos in Rancho Mirage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone wanted to make sure that as tribes open , it wasn ’ t business as usual .
The way we are going to open is going to look much different than when we closed.
” That means all guests and employees at the Agua Caliente properties had their temperatures checked before entering , face coverings were mandatory , and smoking was prohibited .
To ensure social distancing , Grubbe said , capacity was limited to about 1,000 people in the 45,000-square-foot Rancho Mirage casino and 700 in the smaller Palm Springs one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s costing a ton of money for some of these measures , and it ’ s worth it , because you can ’ t put a price on someone getting sick , ” Grubbe said .
Despite those measures — or perhaps because of them — a couple of hundred guests had already filed into the Rancho Mirage casino by late morning Friday , about two hours after the doors opened for the first time since March 17 .
Convincing some of the employees to come back was a little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wanted to know what we were going to do , what safety protocols we ’ ll have in place , ” he said .
“ And I get that .
You don ’ t want to open up and not take this serious [ or ] do anything to mitigate their safety .
So we have an abundance of security on the floor ; we have an abundance of cleaning crews on the floor.
” For many of the 3,000 people who are either members of the tribe or are on its payroll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vital financial lifeline .
Although California is home to 109 federally recognized tribes , many are small , which pushed them to the back of the line when it came to accessing the $ 8 billion in financial assistance Congress allocated for tribal governments under the CARES Act .
“ So we kind of said , look , we need to do what ’ s best for us , for our people , for our employees and kind of take control of our destiny , ” Grubbe said .
“ Everything seemed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ COVID-19 ] cases and the deaths .
And if you open up slowly — don ’ t go full steam ahead , but with all these safety precautions — the time ’ s right.
” The casinos are hedging their bets , though , with Morongo ’ s two properties also requiring guests and employees to undergo temperature checks and wear face coverings .
Protective shields were installed between slot machines and at gaming tables , said Simon Farmer , executive director of marketing for Morongo .
“ It ’ s honestly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we can operate safely and comfortably , ” Farmer said .
“ We understand that certain guests may be a little bit more apprehensive to come back to a casino.
” Whether those measures were being strictly followed was uncertain , since reporters were not allowed inside .
“ We ’ re all a little worried , ” said Jose Garcia of Pasadena .
“ It ’ s our health.
” Still , he lined up to get in the casino , figuring it was a chance worth taking .
Morongo said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ floor — at 148,000 square feet , among the largest in California — but declined to say what the new capacity was .
In any case , that number was reached by 2:30 p.m. Friday , about three hours after opening , leaving more than a hundred people standing in line outside in 90-degree temperatures .
Southern California ’ s tribal casinos aren ’ t the first to resume business .
At least eight states — Idaho , Washington and Arizona among them — have seen some tribal properties reopen this month , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dakota , Louisiana , Arkansas and Mississippi .
Las Vegas casinos , which remained closed under Phase 1 of Nevada Gov .
Steve Sisolak ’ s “ Roadmap to Recovery , ” could learn more about their fate Tuesday , when the state gaming board hears from six health and safety experts .
Several Las Vegas casino resorts have begun accepting room reservations for stays beginning next weekend .
“ We ’ ve absolutely been monitoring the impact in those areas and learning from our counterparts , ” Farmer said .
“ Just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been taking and thereby reinforcing the decision that we ’ re making.
” For the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians , the decision to reopen has proved to be a good one , Grubbe said .
“ Being limited to 50 % capacity , we know we ’ re not going to break any records , ” he said .
“ But we ’ re going to have some revenue coming in , and people are going to start getting paychecks again .
People want to go somewhere ; they want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide them a safe , clean environment to do it .
“ So as long as we have people in there , anything ’ s better than [ being ] shut down .
”

Patrons get their temperatures taken upon entering Morongo Casino which is reopening for the first time since closing on March 17 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Michael L. Fennell says he has spent a good portion of his 70 years gambling, so he knows the difference between a long shot and a sure bet. And he admits his decision to step inside a casino during a global pandemic was a bit of a gamble.
“Everything we do now is a gamble,” he said after stepping away from a slot machine at Morongo Casino Resort and Spa for a cigarette break. “We’re going through rough times now.”
But, he added, “it feels like it’s getting back to normal.”
Morongo’s two casinos, by Interstate 10 about 30 minutes outside of Palm Springs, were among six tribal casinos in Riverside and San Bernardino counties that partially reopened Friday after a two-month shutdown caused by the spread of COVID-19.
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Five others reopened this week in San Diego County, including Harrah’s Resort Southern California in Valley Center. At least four more tribal casinos will be back online next week.
Crowds line up to enter Morongo Casino in Cabazon, Friday afternoon. Patrons are required to wear masks and to have their temperature taken upon entering. The casino reached full capacity within three hours of opening. ( Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
Federal law allows tribes to run casinos with sovereignty, limiting the ability of the state or other local authorities to dictate how they operate. Nevertheless, most shut down voluntarily in mid-March, days before Gov. Gavin Newsom issued his stay-at-home order.
With the governor now taking tentative measures to reopen California, the casinos are out in front again — this time discarding Newsom’s warnings that the state may still not be safe.
“It was a tough decision to open,” said Jeff L. Grubbe, tribal chairman for the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, which on Friday reopened casinos in Rancho Mirage and Palm Springs. “Ultimately, everyone wanted to make sure that as tribes open, it wasn’t business as usual. The way we are going to open is going to look much different than when we closed.”
That means all guests and employees at the Agua Caliente properties had their temperatures checked before entering, face coverings were mandatory, and smoking was prohibited. To ensure social distancing, Grubbe said, capacity was limited to about 1,000 people in the 45,000-square-foot Rancho Mirage casino and 700 in the smaller Palm Springs one, about half of pre-COVID numbers.
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“It’s costing a ton of money for some of these measures, and it’s worth it, because you can’t put a price on someone getting sick,” Grubbe said.
Despite those measures — or perhaps because of them — a couple of hundred guests had already filed into the Rancho Mirage casino by late morning Friday, about two hours after the doors opened for the first time since March 17.
Convincing some of the employees to come back was a little tougher, Grubbe said.
“They wanted to know what we were going to do, what safety protocols we’ll have in place,” he said. “And I get that. You don’t want to open up and not take this serious [or] do anything to mitigate their safety. So we have an abundance of security on the floor; we have an abundance of cleaning crews on the floor.”
For many of the 3,000 people who either are members of the tribe or are on its payroll, reopening the casino meant reopening a vital financial lifeline. Although California is home to 109 federally recognized tribes, many are small, which pushed them to the back of the line when it came to accessing the $8 billion in financial assistance Congress allocated for tribal governments under the CARES Act.
“So we kind of said, look, we need to do what’s best for us, for our people, for our employees and kind of take control of our destiny,” Grubbe said. “Everything seemed to be getting better as far as the [COVID-19] cases and the deaths. And if you open up slowly — don’t go full steam ahead, but with all these safety precautions — the time’s right.”
Crowds line up to enter Morongo Casino Friday afternoon. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
The casinos are hedging their bets, though, with Morongo’s two properties also requiring guests and employees to undergo temperature checks and wear face coverings. Protective shields were installed between slot machines and at gaming tables, said Simon Farmer, executive director of marketing for Morongo.
“It’s honestly up to us to show everybody that we can operate safely and comfortably,” Farmer said. “We understand that certain guests may be a little bit more apprehensive to come back to a casino.”
Whether those measures were being strictly followed was uncertain, since reporters were not allowed inside.
“We’re all a little worried,” said Jose Garcia of Pasadena. “It’s our health.”
Still, he lined up to get in the casino, figuring it was a chance worth taking.
Morongo said it was limiting capacity on its main casino floor — at 148,000 square feet, among the largest in California — but declined to say what the new capacity was. In any case, that number was reached by 2:30 p.m. Friday, about three hours after opening, leaving more than a hundred people standing in line outside in 90-degree temperatures.
Southern California’s tribal casinos aren’t the first to resume business. At least eight states — Idaho, Washington and Arizona among them — have seen some tribal properties reopen this month, while commercial casinos have reopened in South Dakota, Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi.
Las Vegas casinos, which remained closed under Phase 1 of Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak’s Roadmap to Recovery, could learn more about their fate Tuesday, when the state gaming board hears from six health and safety experts. Several Las Vegas casino resorts have begun accepting room reservations for stays beginning next weekend.
“We’ve absolutely been monitoring the impact in those areas and learning from our counterparts,” Farmer said, “just reinforcing the steps that we’ve been taking and thereby reinforcing the decision that we’re making.”
For the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, the decision to reopen has proved to be a good one, Grubbe said.
“Being limited to 50% capacity, we know we’re not going to break any records,” he said. “But we’re going to have some revenue coming in, and people are going to start getting paychecks again. People want to go somewhere; they want to do something. And we want to provide them a safe, clean environment to do it.
“So as long as we have people in there, anything’s better than [being] shut down.”


latimes--2020-05-23--Card clubs offer reopening plan as tribal and Vegas casinos get back in the game

With Las Vegas casinos expected to open next month and a handful of tribal casinos in California already taking bets , Los Angeles County ’ s card club operators put forward a set of health protocols that they hope will enable them to reopen within weeks .
The 20-page list of protocols agreed upon by the six card clubs was presented to Gov .
Gavin Newsom this week .
It includes some proposed changes already adopted by tribal and Las Vegas casinos , such as increasing the distance between players at card tables , cleaning more frequently and taking the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The protocols were drafted with the help of medical experts at UCLA and USC and have been presented to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health in hopes of getting the agency ’ s blessing , according to representatives of the card clubs .
The clubs shut in mid-March as the coronavirus spread through California .
At a news conference Friday , Newsom said the state hopes to release guidelines to reopen casinos and card clubs in the “ next days and weeks.
” “ We are guardedly optimistic , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California Cities for Self Reliance , a joint powers authority that represents the six L.A. County cities that are home to card clubs .
“ It ’ s absolutely vital that these local economic engines open up now.
” The card rooms in Los Angeles County employed more than 10,000 workers before the pandemic forced them to close .
Still , health experts say gamblers in casinos and card clubs are particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus because of the density of people in small spaces and the common practice of touching cards , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surfaces that can harbor the virus .
“ Since COVID-19 is spread via respiratory droplets and even breathing , there is a risk of eating and drinking around a card table , which by definition must be done without masks , ” said Brandon Brown , an associate professor at UC Riverside ’ s Department of Social Medicine , Population and Public Health .
The clubs ’ proposal does not set a maximum number of players for each card table ; instead , it says the number will be “ based on expert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the play of the game , and any other precautions.
” The proposal also suggests installing plexiglass barriers “ where physical distancing is not feasible.
” Garza said the card clubs are willing to discuss a maximum number of players per table if county health officials feel that is necessary .
Employees and guests would be required to wear masks or other face coverings , which would be provided to all employees and made available to guests .
Where practical , players would not be allowed to touch the cards , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chips touched by players would be cleaned frequently or discarded after use .
Keith Sharp , general counsel for the Gardens Casino in Hawaiian Gardens , said that in blackjack the cards could be dealt to the players face up on the table , eliminating the need for the players to touch them .
The rules of the game would not change substantially , he said .
The seats and rails that players lean on at the card tables would be sanitized each time a player leaves a table .
At restaurants and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on disposable plates and flatware , according to the proposed rules .
The card clubs are playing catch-up with the Las Vegas and tribal casinos , some of which have opened and many others of which are planning to open in the next few days .
In Las Vegas , about 35 properties , including the Sahara and Treasure Island , began accepting reservations Friday , hoping to draw guests looking to travel on the Memorial Day holiday weekend .
Wynn-Encore hopes to open Tuesday .
At Las Vegas casinos , employees must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do so .
The number of seats at blackjack tables will be reduced to three , down from six , to encourage social distancing .
At craps tables the maximum number of players will be cut to six , down from 15 .
Every other slot machine will be deactivated , and every other chair for the slot machines will be removed to discourage crowding .
In Southern California , Viejas Casino and Sycuan Casino near San Diego opened this week .
Several other tribal casinos — including Spotlight 29 Casino in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Casino in Twentynine Palms , Harrah ’ s Resort Southern California and Morongo Casino , Resort and Spa near Cabazon — reopened Friday .
The tribal casinos have adopted similar changes such as extra cleaning , requirements that guests wear masks and protocols to keep players from crowding around card games and slot machines .
Card club operators began meeting a month ago to develop the protocols in hopes of speeding up the reopening of the gaming rooms , which generate up to 70 % of the tax base for the small , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Haig Kelegian Sr. , a part owner of the Bicycle Hotel & Casino in Bell Gardens and the Crystal Casino in Compton , said card club operators drafted the protocols because they were not getting clear direction from the state on how to reopen .
“ We were ready to do what is necessary for the safety of the people , but we didn ’ t know what that was , ” he said .
City of Commerce council members wrote to Newsom on Thursday , urging him to let the card clubs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their city — home to the Commerce Casino — as well as in neighboring Bell Gardens , Hawaiian Gardens , Inglewood , Gardena and Compton .
“ The residents of these cities are primarily people of color , many of whom are essential workers , who rely upon the services provided by their cities , ” the letter said .
“ Like these cities , the City of Commerce greatly relies on revenues from the Commerce Casino in order to provide youth programs , feed our seniors and ensure public safety needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revenue support from the Commerce Casino , the City of Commerce suffers , and in turn so do the residents.
” Card rooms in Los Angeles County generated $ 2.3 billion in economic benefits and about $ 71 million in local taxes , according to a study commissioned by the California Gaming Assn.
, a trade group for the state ’ s more than 70 card clubs .
The report , released late last year , estimated that card rooms statewide generated $ 1.64 billion in wages and benefits for more than 32,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in state and local taxes .
Sharp , the Gardens Casino general counsel , said the card club could turn a profit even if the government limits the number of guests allowed inside .
“ We think we could break even or better than even , ” he said .
“ We think it can be done.
” Jason Ader , a gaming industry expert and chief executive of SpringOwl Asset Management , which specializes in the industry , expects that card clubs will struggle if the number of guests is limited .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be hard to make money , ” he said .

Card players try their luck at the Gardens Casino in Hawaiian Gardens in 2016.
With Las Vegas casinos expected to open next month and a handful of tribal casinos in California already taking bets, Los Angeles County’s card club operators put forward a set of health protocols that they hope will enable them to reopen within weeks.
The 20-page list of protocols agreed upon by the six card clubs was presented to Gov. Gavin Newsom this week. It includes some proposed changes already adopted by tribal and Las Vegas casinos, such as increasing the distance between players at card tables, cleaning more frequently and taking the temperatures of gamblers as they enter.
The protocols were drafted with the help of medical experts at UCLA and USC and have been presented to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health in hopes of getting the agency’s blessing, according to representatives of the card clubs. The clubs shut in mid-March as the coronavirus spread through California.
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At a news conference Friday, Newsom said the state hopes to release guidelines to reopen casinos and card clubs in the “next days and weeks.”
“We are guardedly optimistic,” said Juan Garza, executive director of the California Cities for Self Reliance, a joint powers authority that represents the six L.A. County cities that are home to card clubs. “It’s absolutely vital that these local economic engines open up now.”
The card rooms in Los Angeles County employed more than 10,000 workers before the pandemic forced them to close.
Still, health experts say gamblers in casinos and card clubs are particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus because of the density of people in small spaces and the common practice of touching cards, chips, silverware, tables and other surfaces that can harbor the virus.
“Since COVID-19 is spread via respiratory droplets and even breathing, there is a risk of eating and drinking around a card table, which by definition must be done without masks,” said Brandon Brown, an associate professor at UC Riverside’s Department of Social Medicine, Population and Public Health.
The clubs’ proposal does not set a maximum number of players for each card table; instead, it says the number will be “based on expert guidance taking into account the table dimensions, the play of the game, and any other precautions.” The proposal also suggests installing plexiglass barriers “where physical distancing is not feasible.”
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Garza said the card clubs are willing to discuss a maximum number of players per table if county health officials feel that is necessary.
Employees and guests would be required to wear masks or other face coverings, which would be provided to all employees and made available to guests.
Where practical, players would not be allowed to touch the cards, according to the proposal, and cards and chips touched by players would be cleaned frequently or discarded after use.
Keith Sharp, general counsel for the Gardens Casino in Hawaiian Gardens, said that in blackjack the cards could be dealt to the players face up on the table, eliminating the need for the players to touch them. The rules of the game would not change substantially, he said.
The seats and rails that players lean on at the card tables would be sanitized each time a player leaves a table. At restaurants and bars, the food would be served on disposable plates and flatware, according to the proposed rules.
The card clubs are playing catch-up with the Las Vegas and tribal casinos, some of which have opened and many others of which are planning to open in the next few days.
In Las Vegas, about 35 properties, including the Sahara and Treasure Island, began accepting reservations Friday , hoping to draw guests looking to travel on the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Wynn-Encore hopes to open Tuesday.
At Las Vegas casinos, employees must wear masks and guests are strongly encouraged to do so. The number of seats at blackjack tables will be reduced to three, down from six, to encourage social distancing. At craps tables the maximum number of players will be cut to six, down from 15. Every other slot machine will be deactivated, and every other chair for the slot machines will be removed to discourage crowding.
In Southern California, Viejas Casino and Sycuan Casino near San Diego opened this week. Several other tribal casinos — including Spotlight 29 Casino in Coachella and its sister property Tortoise Rock Casino in Twentynine Palms, Harrah’s Resort Southern California and Morongo Casino, Resort and Spa near Cabazon — reopened Friday.
The tribal casinos have adopted similar changes such as extra cleaning, requirements that guests wear masks and protocols to keep players from crowding around card games and slot machines.
Card club operators began meeting a month ago to develop the protocols in hopes of speeding up the reopening of the gaming rooms, which generate up to 70% of the tax base for the small, working-class communities where they are located.
Haig Kelegian Sr., a part owner of the Bicycle Hotel & Casino in Bell Gardens and the Crystal Casino in Compton, said card club operators drafted the protocols because they were not getting clear direction from the state on how to reopen.
“We were ready to do what is necessary for the safety of the people, but we didn’t know what that was,” he said.
City of Commerce council members wrote to Newsom on Thursday, urging him to let the card clubs reopen to help boost the tax base in their city — home to the Commerce Casino — as well as in neighboring Bell Gardens, Hawaiian Gardens, Inglewood, Gardena and Compton.
“The residents of these cities are primarily people of color, many of whom are essential workers, who rely upon the services provided by their cities,” the letter said. “Like these cities, the City of Commerce greatly relies on revenues from the Commerce Casino in order to provide youth programs, feed our seniors and ensure public safety needs are met for all citizens. Without revenue support from the Commerce Casino, the City of Commerce suffers, and in turn so do the residents.”
Card rooms in Los Angeles County generated $2.3 billion in economic benefits and about $71 million in local taxes, according to a study commissioned by the California Gaming Assn., a trade group for the state’s more than 70 card clubs. The report, released late last year, estimated that card rooms statewide generated $1.64 billion in wages and benefits for more than 32,000 jobs, with about $500 million in state and local taxes.
Sharp, the Gardens Casino general counsel, said the card club could turn a profit even if the government limits the number of guests allowed inside.
“We think we could break even or better than even,” he said. “We think it can be done.”
Jason Ader, a gaming industry expert and chief executive of SpringOwl Asset Management, which specializes in the industry, expects that card clubs will struggle if the number of guests is limited.
“I’m predicting it will be hard to make money,” he said.