latimes--2020-05-26--Despite a budget crisis, L.A. officials give new bonuses to officers with college degrees

The Los Angeles Police Department is set to award officers who have college degrees nearly $ 41 million in bonuses in the coming budget year , even as thousands of other city employees face pay cuts amid a financial crisis at City Hall .
Mayor Eric Garcetti and the City Council signed off on the new LAPD “ education incentives ” last summer , paving the way for officers with associate ’ s degrees to receive an extra $ 190 every two weeks and for those with bachelor ’ s degrees to get an extra $ 290 .
The education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just as projected tax revenues from hotels , restaurants and retail stores plummeted as a result of the coronavirus shutdowns .
In addition to those payouts , LAPD officers are on track to receive 4.8 % in pay raises in the fiscal year that starts July 1 .
The raises and bonuses are part of the city ’ s newest contract with the Los Angeles Police Protective League , the union that represents rank-and-file officers .
The three-year contract offers the latest evidence that L.A. 's financial challenges are fueled not only by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the decision by Garcetti and the council to provide more generous pay and benefits to city workers .
City budget analysts last fall that more expensive salary agreements with employee unions would turn projected budget surpluses into deficits in the coming years .
The police union contract is expected to cost the LAPD about $ 123 million in the coming budget year , according to the city ’ s financial analysts .
Over the same period , Garcetti is hoping to secure $ 139 million in furloughs from nearly 16,000 civilian city workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 10 % pay cut .
The growth in police officer salaries and benefits comes as Black Lives Matter , Ktown for All and other activist groups are pushing for reductions in law enforcement spending , arguing that the city spends too much on the LAPD and not enough on housing and social services .
Spike Friedman , an organizer with the advocacy group Ground Game LA , said city leaders should roll back the pay of LAPD officers and use the savings to fund increased services for homeless people , relief payments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Garcetti ’ s program to reduce the number of traffic deaths citywide .
“ Many city employees are being asked to take a haircut right now , and a pretty significant one .
And amidst this crisis , I don ’ t think L.A. 's police union should be so uniquely powerful that their officers aren ’ t facing the same situation , ” said Friedman , whose group endorsed Bernie Sanders during the recent Democratic presidential primary .
Garcetti ’ s deputy chief of staff , Matt Szabo , defended the raises @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed to keep LAPD salaries competitive with those at other public-safety agencies .
Although the bonuses went into effect last month , they were approved by the council in August , when the economy was still strong and coronavirus was not yet a threat , he said .
Nine months later , with much of the city still shut down , the mayor is seeking cuts to such services as street repairs , tree trimming , graffiti removal and the city ’ s 311 public-services hotline .
Despite those cuts , the mayor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police union to postpone the coming raises and bonuses , Szabo said .
Officers are helping homeless outreach teams with testing and health assessments and working assignments at emergency shelters , he said .
“ Now is not the time to ask our front-line first responders to renegotiate contacts in the middle of a pandemic , ” Szabo said .
Council members plan to review Garcetti ’ s budget over the next month .
The spending plan would increase the LAPD budget by 7.1 % , even though nearly 2,400 of the department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receive pay cuts .
By comparison , the Housing and Community Investment Department — which sends inspectors to look for violations at apartment buildings — will see a 9.4 % cut under Garcetti ’ s budget .
The Department of Animal Services , which operates animal shelters and spay-and-neuter programs , is on track to receive a 14.5 % reduction .
Bob Schoonover , president of Service Employees International Union Local 721 , one of the unions whose members are facing furloughs , voiced alarm over the planned cuts .
He said his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trimmers , custodians , janitors and others — are also being deployed to help with the city ’ s coronavirus response .
“ Our members strongly believe there are other alternatives and less harmful solutions to consider before adding further strain on L.A. 's working families , ” he said in an email .
Law enforcement experts say education bonuses can help police departments attract officers who are familiar with legal statutes , trained in technology or skilled at defusing tense situations .
Research has shown that officers who earn undergraduate and graduate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with complex and challenging circumstances , ” said Police Chief Michel Moore .
“ Their decision-making process and their ability to untangle complex issues is informed and is improved by their exposure to higher education , ” he said .
More than 6,300 officers , or nearly two-thirds of the rank-and-file , will be eligible for the education bonuses , according to the city ’ s budget analysts .
Craig Lally , president of the Police Protective League , said the bonuses would ensure that the city benefited from having “ a more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The nature of police work has evolved , and the expectations and demands placed upon police officers have increased , ” he said .
“ In addition to being police officers , we are also now therapists , drug treatment counselors , social workers and EMTs , among many other things.
” Pete White , executive director of the antipoverty group Los Angeles Community Action Network , argued that the LAPD should not be responsible for such assignments .
When police officers respond to people experiencing homelessness , mental illness or substance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely to end in violence than if a social worker were to respond , he said .
“ The last person you want to send to deal with a person going through a bout of mental illness is a person with a badge and a gun , ” said White , whose group is seeking a reduction in the LAPD ’ s budget .
“ Because those outcomes are oftentimes bad.
” The Police Protective League has played a role in city elections over the past decade , endorsing candidates and putting money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for example , the union spent nearly $ 45,000 on mailers promoting Councilman David Ryu ’ s campaign for reelection in a Silver Lake-to-Sherman Oaks district .
Critics have repeatedly complained that the city ’ s elected officials approve public employee salary agreements without vetting the details in public .
When the council took up the police union contract last summer , they had no discussion and voted for it unanimously .
Council members also did not ask any questions during the personnel committee meeting called to review the new police contract .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ committee , said the terms of the contract helped the city avoid “ the threat of a labor dispute.
” Officers who put their lives on the line deserve to receive both cost of living increases and “ modest bonuses , ” said Koretz , who is running for city controller in 2022 .
“ Had we known that we would go from 10 years of recovery to the worst drop in our country ’ s history , our whole 2019 budget would have been different , ” Koretz said .
“ However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still there .
”

Mayor Eric Garcetti and LAPD Chief Michel Moore at a briefing in 2019. Both favor a new education bonus for officers with college degrees.
The Los Angeles Police Department is set to award officers who have college degrees nearly $41 million in bonuses in the coming budget year, even as thousands of other city employees face pay cuts amid a financial crisis at City Hall.
Mayor Eric Garcetti and the City Council signed off on the new LAPD “education incentives” last summer, paving the way for officers with associate’s degrees to receive an extra $190 every two weeks and for those with bachelor’s degrees to get an extra $290.
The education bonuses went into effect last month, just as projected tax revenues from hotels, restaurants and retail stores plummeted as a result of the coronavirus shutdowns.
In addition to those payouts, LAPD officers are on track to receive 4.8% in pay raises in the fiscal year that starts July 1. The raises and bonuses are part of the city’s newest contract with the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union that represents rank-and-file officers.
The three-year contract offers the latest evidence that L.A.’s financial challenges are fueled not only by the COVID-19 pandemic, but also by the decision by Garcetti and the council to provide more generous pay and benefits to city workers.
City budget analysts warned last fall that more expensive salary agreements with employee unions would turn projected budget surpluses into deficits in the coming years.
The police union contract is expected to cost the LAPD about $123 million in the coming budget year, according to the city’s financial analysts. Over the same period, Garcetti is hoping to secure $139 million in furloughs from nearly 16,000 civilian city workers, who are being asked to take a 10% pay cut.
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The growth in police officer salaries and benefits comes as Black Lives Matter, Ktown for All and other activist groups are pushing for reductions in law enforcement spending, arguing that the city spends too much on the LAPD and not enough on housing and social services.
Spike Friedman, an organizer with the advocacy group Ground Game LA, said city leaders should roll back the pay of LAPD officers and use the savings to fund increased services for homeless people, relief payments to renters, and Vision Zero, Garcetti’s program to reduce the number of traffic deaths citywide.
“Many city employees are being asked to take a haircut right now, and a pretty significant one. And amidst this crisis, I don’t think L.A.’s police union should be so uniquely powerful that their officers aren’t facing the same situation,” said Friedman, whose group endorsed Bernie Sanders during the recent Democratic presidential primary.
Inspection during the graduation exercise for new police officers at the Los Angeles Police Academy in 2018. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Garcetti’s deputy chief of staff, Matt Szabo, defended the raises and bonuses, saying they’re needed to keep LAPD salaries competitive with those at other public-safety agencies. Although the bonuses went into effect last month, they were approved by the council in August, when the economy was still strong and coronavirus was not yet a threat, he said.
Nine months later, with much of the city still shut down, the mayor is seeking cuts to such services as street repairs, tree trimming, graffiti removal and the city’s 311 public-services hotline.
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Despite those cuts, the mayor’s team has not asked the police union to postpone the coming raises and bonuses, Szabo said. Officers are helping homeless outreach teams with testing and health assessments and working assignments at emergency shelters, he said.
“Now is not the time to ask our front-line first responders to renegotiate contacts in the middle of a pandemic,” Szabo said.
Council members plan to review Garcetti’s budget over the next month. The spending plan would increase the LAPD budget by 7.1%, even though nearly 2,400 of the department’s civilian employees are slated to receive pay cuts.
By comparison, the Housing and Community Investment Department — which sends inspectors to look for violations at apartment buildings — will see a 9.4% cut under Garcetti’s budget. The Department of Animal Services, which operates animal shelters and spay-and-neuter programs, is on track to receive a 14.5% reduction.
Los Angeles city employees at the LAPD and other agencies have been assigned to work at emergency homeless shelters as part of the city’s coronavirus response. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Bob Schoonover, president of Service Employees International Union Local 721, one of the unions whose members are facing furloughs, voiced alarm over the planned cuts. He said his union’s members — including tree trimmers, custodians, janitors and others — are also being deployed to help with the city’s coronavirus response.
“Our members strongly believe there are other alternatives and less harmful solutions to consider before adding further strain on L.A.’s working families,” he said in an email.
Law enforcement experts say education bonuses can help police departments attract officers who are familiar with legal statutes, trained in technology or skilled at defusing tense situations. Research has shown that officers who earn undergraduate and graduate degrees generally do better in “dealing with complex and challenging circumstances,” said Police Chief Michel Moore.
“Their decision-making process and their ability to untangle complex issues is informed and is improved by their exposure to higher education,” he said.
More than 6,300 officers, or nearly two-thirds of the rank-and-file, will be eligible for the education bonuses, according to the city’s budget analysts. Craig Lally, president of the Police Protective League, said the bonuses would ensure that the city benefited from having “a more qualified, highly educated police department.”
“The nature of police work has evolved, and the expectations and demands placed upon police officers have increased,” he said. “In addition to being police officers, we are also now therapists, drug treatment counselors, social workers and EMTs, among many other things.”
Pete White, executive director of the antipoverty group Los Angeles Community Action Network, argued that the LAPD should not be responsible for such assignments. When police officers respond to people experiencing homelessness, mental illness or substance abuse issues, the outcome is more likely to end in violence than if a social worker were to respond, he said.
“The last person you want to send to deal with a person going through a bout of mental illness is a person with a badge and a gun,” said White, whose group is seeking a reduction in the LAPD’s budget. “Because those outcomes are oftentimes bad.”
Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Koretz, pictured in 2017, says he favors raises and “modest” bonuses for officers in the LAPD. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
The Police Protective League has played a role in city elections over the past decade, endorsing candidates and putting money behind their campaigns. In February, for example, the union spent nearly $45,000 on mailers promoting Councilman David Ryu’s campaign for reelection in a Silver Lake-to-Sherman Oaks district.
Critics have repeatedly complained that the city’s elected officials approve public employee salary agreements without vetting the details in public. When the council took up the police union contract last summer, they had no discussion and voted for it unanimously.
Council members also did not ask any questions during the personnel committee meeting called to review the new police contract.
Councilman Paul Koretz, who heads the committee, said the terms of the contract helped the city avoid “the threat of a labor dispute.” Officers who put their lives on the line deserve to receive both cost of living increases and “modest bonuses,” said Koretz, who is running for city controller in 2022.
“Had we known that we would go from 10 years of recovery to the worst drop in our country’s history, our whole 2019 budget would have been different,” Koretz said. “However, the merit of this incentive is still there.”


latimes--2020-05-23--Column: Teaching the coronavirus outbreak in Los Angeles as a crash course in crisis management

Crises disrupt .
Crises test us .
Crises force us to find new ways to function on the fly .
Zev Yaroslavsky knows this .
How could he not after nearly 40 years in public office in Los Angeles ?
The former longtime city councilman and county supervisor , who was at the center of our region ’ s every major moment for so long , knows just how much a crisis can teach us — about who we really are and what we need to care more about and what we have to do better and do differently .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Luskin School of Public Affairs , right as students were showing up on Zoom to take it , he scrapped his plans for the graduate-level seminar he ’ s been teaching for the last four springs on the leaders , institutions and interests that shape Los Angeles ’ civic policies and quality of life .
Once the coronavirus arrived , he told me of his usual curriculum , “ I thought to myself , this doesn ’ t make sense .
It feels trivial.
” So out went the old syllabus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ crash course in real-time Los Angeles coronavirus crisis management .
Yaroslavsky , 71 , reached out to me to tell me about his class after I wrote in my column last week that in my ideal high school right now , I ’ d make the pandemic the textbook for everything .
That ’ s how he feels too , he told me , about the educational power of this time we are living in .
“ There comes a moment when you can change the trajectory of a student ’ s life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This can be that moment.
” If you ’ ve lived in Los Angeles any length of time , you know those sharp brown eyes , you know that mustache , you know that blunt , sometimes gruff , no-nonsense voice .
You may have wondered where all that energy was going since Yaroslavsky termed out after five terms as a supervisor in 2014 .
In fact , he ’ s still a part of many a civic discussion — and is making good on his strong commitment , through his alma mater @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experience with the next generation of leaders .
Ordinarily in the spring seminar , Yaroslavsky and his former chief deputy and co-teacher , Alisa Belinkoff Katz , might draw on their vast contacts to bring in a city planner to talk about land-use policy , a prominent journalist to discuss how media coverage influences the public debate , the head of the L.A. Opera to talk about the role of arts and culture in the city .
In this new version of the class , L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger spoke to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ televised daily coronavirus briefing .
Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas showed up to talk about efforts to help homeless and other marginalized communities in the crisis .
Elan Shultz , senior health deputy first for Yaroslavsky and then for his successor , Supervisor Sheila Kuehl , who is now on loan to the county ’ s Department of Health Services to serve as its COVID-19 community testing manager , spent more than two hours talking passionately about the many challenges — led by a lack of centralized federal leadership — complicating the public health response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , executive director of the Coalition for Economic Survival , broke down for students the many ways in which the coronavirus crisis was rapidly exacerbating an already extreme crisis in housing affordability .
And each week Yaroslavsky has shared his own wisdom in analyzing the fast-changing government response to the virus .
Recently , he talked to students about the constant balancing act of Gov .
Gavin Newsom , Mayor Eric Garcetti and other public officials as they keep reiterating that they are going to be guided by science and data while simultaneously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , offering a light at the end of the tunnel .
Any crisis , he told them , had a tipping point , when public sentiment would shift directions .
For now , Californians mostly were willing to follow the new rules — but chances are that pretty soon , many of them no longer would be .
Leaders have to pay close attention to those shifts , which can lead to a sudden lack of support , he said .
“ There ’ s a fine line between being a leader and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the class .
“ If you ’ re trying to lead and you have no followers , you ’ re a loner.
” The spring seminar , Yaroslavsky said , usually attracts students in such fields as urban planning , public health and environmental science who want to go into some form of government or nonprofit work .
What better way to counterbalance their theoretical and quantitative training than to show them real-world , life-and-death decision-making in the moment ?
And what else could his students really be expected to concentrate on fully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks , he learned that three of them already had come down with the virus .
One was Dulce Vasquez , 34 , who works full time for Arizona State University and is about to graduate with a master ’ s in public policy .
She got sick in March and lost her sense of smell and taste , before that became a well-known symptom of the virus and before testing was widely available .
Asked why she took the seminar , she answered “ Zev , ” whom she described as an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take his class regardless .
He could teach me how to make a pretzel .
That would be great , ” she said .
But what he ’ s been teaching her in this retooled seminar has gone beyond even her high expectations , she said .
“ I think the creativity and the work it took to shift the curriculum has been amazing.
” Spike Friedman , a former sports journalist who is getting a master ’ s in urban planning with a focus on housing policy , told me , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particularly well suited to the moment .
It ’ s not the easiest time to concentrate on schoolwork .
This has been my most engaging class this quarter .
What you ’ re getting is up-to-the-second , really relevant information.
” Jason Ballou , 46 , who simultaneously is pursuing master ’ s degrees in public policy and social welfare , said he briefly thought about dropping the seminar when he learned that its focus had shifted to the coronavirus .
“ I thought , oh my gosh , I ’ m so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told me .
“ That ’ s really all we ’ re going to talk about ?
” But then Barger appeared before the class from her office , straight from her briefing , at the tail end of an already long day .
Zoom somehow made the moment especially intimate .
Talking to the students while alone in her office , Barger took off her glasses and rubbed her eyes and the bridge of her nose .
He wears glasses too , Ballou told me , and recognized in these small gestures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she talked about her fears of the virus ’ impact on those who are in the country without legal permission , as well as those who are stuck at home in abusive situations .
Ballou , who wants to help people in need , grew up in a small town in the Midwest where cynicism about politicians and public servants ran deep .
In that small , personal moment , he saw a very different , life-choice-affirming reality .
“ You could see how exhausted she was and how much she cared , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t get any more real than that.
” Or any more likely to form a lasting impression .

Former L.A. councilman and supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky on the rooftop balcony of the County Hall of Administration office in 2014, the year he was termed out of office.
Crises disrupt. Crises test us. Crises force us to find new ways to function on the fly.
Zev Yaroslavsky knows this. How could he not after nearly 40 years in public office in Los Angeles?
The former longtime city councilman and county supervisor, who was at the center of our region’s every major moment for so long, knows just how much a crisis can teach us — about who we really are and what we need to care more about and what we have to do better and do differently.
Advertisement
So in April, at UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs, right as students were showing up on Zoom to take it, he scrapped his plans for the graduate-level seminar he’s been teaching for the last four springs on the leaders, institutions and interests that shape Los Angeles’ civic policies and quality of life.
Once the coronavirus arrived, he told me of his usual curriculum, “I thought to myself, this doesn’t make sense. It feels trivial.”
So out went the old syllabus. In came a new one — a crash course in real-time Los Angeles coronavirus crisis management.
Yaroslavsky, 71, reached out to me to tell me about his class after I wrote in my column last week that in my ideal high school right now, I’d make the pandemic the textbook for everything.
That’s how he feels too, he told me, about the educational power of this time we are living in.
“There comes a moment when you can change the trajectory of a student’s life,” he told me. “This can be that moment.”
Advertisement
If you’ve lived in Los Angeles any length of time, you know those sharp brown eyes, you know that mustache, you know that blunt, sometimes gruff, no-nonsense voice. You may have wondered where all that energy was going since Yaroslavsky termed out after five terms as a supervisor in 2014.
In fact, he’s still a part of many a civic discussion — and is making good on his strong commitment, through his alma mater, UCLA, to share his vast experience with the next generation of leaders.
Ordinarily in the spring seminar, Yaroslavsky and his former chief deputy and co-teacher, Alisa Belinkoff Katz, might draw on their vast contacts to bring in a city planner to talk about land-use policy, a prominent journalist to discuss how media coverage influences the public debate, the head of the L.A. Opera to talk about the role of arts and culture in the city.
In this new version of the class, L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger spoke to the class in early April fresh from her televised daily coronavirus briefing.
Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas showed up to talk about efforts to help homeless and other marginalized communities in the crisis.
Elan Shultz, senior health deputy first for Yaroslavsky and then for his successor, Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, who is now on loan to the county’s Department of Health Services to serve as its COVID-19 community testing manager, spent more than two hours talking passionately about the many challenges — led by a lack of centralized federal leadership — complicating the public health response.
Los Angeles tenants advocate Larry Gross, executive director of the Coalition for Economic Survival, broke down for students the many ways in which the coronavirus crisis was rapidly exacerbating an already extreme crisis in housing affordability.
And each week Yaroslavsky has shared his own wisdom in analyzing the fast-changing government response to the virus.
Recently, he talked to students about the constant balancing act of Gov. Gavin Newsom, Mayor Eric Garcetti and other public officials as they keep reiterating that they are going to be guided by science and data while simultaneously laying out plans to slowly loosen restrictions, offering a light at the end of the tunnel.
Any crisis, he told them, had a tipping point, when public sentiment would shift directions. For now, Californians mostly were willing to follow the new rules — but chances are that pretty soon, many of them no longer would be. Leaders have to pay close attention to those shifts, which can lead to a sudden lack of support, he said.
“There’s a fine line between being a leader and being a loner,” he told the class. “If you’re trying to lead and you have no followers, you’re a loner.”
The spring seminar, Yaroslavsky said, usually attracts students in such fields as urban planning, public health and environmental science who want to go into some form of government or nonprofit work.
What better way to counterbalance their theoretical and quantitative training than to show them real-world, life-and-death decision-making in the moment?
And what else could his students really be expected to concentrate on fully but the pandemic? In the first weeks, he learned that three of them already had come down with the virus.
One was Dulce Vasquez, 34, who works full time for Arizona State University and is about to graduate with a master’s in public policy. She got sick in March and lost her sense of smell and taste, before that became a well-known symptom of the virus and before testing was widely available.
Asked why she took the seminar, she answered “Zev,” whom she described as an L.A. icon. “I was going to take his class regardless. He could teach me how to make a pretzel. That would be great,” she said. But what he’s been teaching her in this retooled seminar has gone beyond even her high expectations, she said. “I think the creativity and the work it took to shift the curriculum has been amazing.”
Spike Friedman, a former sports journalist who is getting a master’s in urban planning with a focus on housing policy, told me, “I think this class has been particularly well suited to the moment. It’s not the easiest time to concentrate on schoolwork. This has been my most engaging class this quarter. What you’re getting is up-to-the-second, really relevant information.”
Jason Ballou, 46, who simultaneously is pursuing master’s degrees in public policy and social welfare, said he briefly thought about dropping the seminar when he learned that its focus had shifted to the coronavirus.
“I thought, oh my gosh, I’m so sick of the coronavirus,” he told me. “That’s really all we’re going to talk about?”
But then Barger appeared before the class from her office, straight from her briefing, at the tail end of an already long day. Zoom somehow made the moment especially intimate.
Talking to the students while alone in her office, Barger took off her glasses and rubbed her eyes and the bridge of her nose. He wears glasses too, Ballou told me, and recognized in these small gestures just how tired she must be as she talked about her fears of the virus’ impact on those who are in the country without legal permission, as well as those who are stuck at home in abusive situations.
Ballou, who wants to help people in need, grew up in a small town in the Midwest where cynicism about politicians and public servants ran deep. In that small, personal moment, he saw a very different, life-choice-affirming reality.
“You could see how exhausted she was and how much she cared,” he said. “It doesn’t get any more real than that.”
Or any more likely to form a lasting impression.


latimes--2020-05-27--How reopening schools will throw the traditional school day out the window

Sixteen students to a class .
One-way hallways .
Students lunch at their desks .
Children could get one ball to play with — alone .
Masks are required .
A staggered school day brings on new schedules to juggle .
These campus scenarios could play out based on new Los Angeles County school reopening guidelines released Wednesday .
This planning document will affect 2 million students and their families as educators undertake a challenge forced on them by the coronavirus crisis : fundamentally redesigning the traditional school day .
The safe reopening of schools in California and throughout the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — of long-held traditions and goals of the American school day , where play time , socialization and hands-on support have long been essential to the learning equation in everything from science labs and team sports to recess and group work .
The Los Angeles County Office of Education guidelines offer an early top-to-bottom glimpse at the massive and costly changes that will be required to reboot campuses serving students from preschool through 12th grade , critical to reopening California .
The 45-page framework was developed through the work of county staffers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school systems , each of which must develop its own reopening plan .
“ Our main priority is health and safety , ” said Debra Duardo , the superintendent for the L.A. County Office of Education , which provides services and financial oversight for the county ’ s 80 school systems .
“ Unfortunately some of the things that children could enjoy in the past , they ’ re not going to be able to do that.
” When campuses closed in mid-March , school systems scrambled to develop a new style of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relied on “ distance learning.
” Administrators quickly handed out computers and internet hot spots .
Teachers trained on Zoom and other online platforms .
Parents oversaw learning at home , even as they faced economic hardship .
Despite these Herculean efforts , school leaders and teachers report uneven student engagement and impediments to learning at home , underscoring the importance of an academically robust return to campus — even as the governor ’ s proposed budget envisions a cut for schools of about 10 % .
A walk-through Tuesday at Cerritos Elementary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focus .
The campus has the natural advantage of multiple outdoor spaces : The doors for the youngest students ’ classrooms open directly onto a circular courtyard leading to a student garden — no need for these students to go through hallways to get to class .
The guidelines recommend making use of outdoor spaces — where the threat of virus transmission is lower .
But how exactly do you keep kindergartners and other youngsters six feet apart ?
“ That is a big challenge because our nature is to play together and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ age , ” said Cerritos Principal Perla Chavez-Fritz .
“ Maybe hula hoops and things that the students can play together alone.
” Then there ’ s the challenge of requiring students , especially little ones , to wear masks all day — if they ’ re fiddling or taking them on and off , the sanitation benefit declines .
Some students with disabilities or health issues can not safely wear masks .
The other side of Cerritos Elementary opens onto a grassy field adjacent to a covered eating area — additional helpful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brightly hued play structure is likely to be off-limits .
Under the guidelines , the spacious eating area could be used for some classroom activities , but not for the traditional lunch period gathering .
It ’ s safer for students to remain in class , eating at their desks , spaced six feet apart .
The county said school districts could consider hybrid learning models , with students spending half the school day at home to reduce class size , and perhaps eliminating lunch period altogether — by sending students home with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Emily Miranda ’ s classroom and other issues become obvious .
Her classroom opens onto an interior hall — which new guidelines suggest be turned into a one-way passage to limit jostling .
Inside , the room is frozen in mid-March , walls festooned with student work for display at an open house that never happened : book reports on Dr. Seuss ; crayon and collage pieces for the Fine Arts Day display .
Book orders were due March 13 .
A girl ’ s pencil box is open and askew .
Student @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Addison and Maya sat facing one another with their desks pushed together .
That wouldn ’ t work for the fall .
The guidelines suggest facing all desks the same way , six feet apart .
Plus , there are too many desks — far more than the 16 the guidelines recommend in a standard-sized California classroom .
And there ’ s just too much furniture , including a student activity center at a kidney-shaped table .
That ’ s too much to keep clean , to disinfect and to allow for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administrators rent storage pods for unusable furniture .
“ We ’ ve measured , ” said Vivian Ekchian , the superintendent of Glendale Unified School District .
“ We ’ re going through all the different scenarios to see how many tables , how many chairs , how many desks , how many students would have to be in a classroom for us to remain safe and make sure that instruction still occurs.
” At Cerritos Elementary , all classrooms have sinks , but that ’ s not true everywhere .
The guidelines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frequent hand washing .
The carpet on Miranda ’ s floor — where students recently huddled during storytime to listen to her read such books as “ Horrible Harry , ” “ The Frog Prince , ” “ The Mangrove Tree ” — may also have to go because it ’ s too small for social distancing .
And those books — part of Miranda ’ s huge classroom library — are impossible to sanitize daily , and may have to be packed away .
Students may have to read online , Ekchian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be purchasing for our students their own personal equipment .
So whether it ’ s their masks or crayons and pencils , whatever is appropriate at that age level .
And it might include a basketball which they can use .
It might not be in a team sport.
” Ekchian can ’ t imagine having to reduce staff because of proposed budget cuts .
She ’ s thinking that necessary new hires might include bathroom attendants , to keep those areas properly supervised .
So many unknowns remain , said Alejandro Ruvalcaba @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , south of Pasadena .
If the county is in Phase 5 of reopening , school will be closest to normal , he said .
Although the district also must be ready , for example , to handle more restrictive openings and split schedules .
“ We don ’ t know whether it ’ s going to be every other day , ” Ruvalcaba said .
“ We don ’ t know whether it ’ s going to be AM/PM , and it might be a combination of both.
” And one instructional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Lancaster School District Supt .
Michele Bowers , who served on the task force along with Ekchian and Ruvalcaba .
“ Not everyone wants their child to be in a school setting , ” said Bowers .
“ Some need a school setting for various reasons .
Some are very comfortable with a blended model.
” The uncertain timeline of restructured schools is worrisome , said UCLA education professor Pedro Noguera .
Schools offer an important environment where children learn to socialize with one another , he said .
The diminishing of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contact could hurt students if such measures continue in the long term .
“ There are a lot of kids that are more social , and they look to school for their friends and their teachers.
” Noguera said , “ and they ’ re going to be at a huge disadvantage .
”

L.A. County Office of Education Supt. Debra Duardo explains that a play structure at Cerritos Elementary in Glendale would be off-limits to students under current health directives when the school reopens.
Sixteen students to a class. One-way hallways. Students lunch at their desks. Children could get one ball to play with — alone. Masks are required. A staggered school day brings on new schedules to juggle.
These campus scenarios could play out based on new Los Angeles County school reopening guidelines released Wednesday. This planning document will affect 2 million students and their families as educators undertake a challenge forced on them by the coronavirus crisis: fundamentally redesigning the traditional school day.
The safe reopening of schools in California and throughout the nation compels the reimagining — or abandoning — of long-held traditions and goals of the American school day, where play time, socialization and hands-on support have long been essential to the learning equation in everything from science labs and team sports to recess and group work.
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The Los Angeles County Office of Education guidelines offer an early top-to-bottom glimpse at the massive and costly changes that will be required to reboot campuses serving students from preschool through 12th grade, critical to reopening California. The 45-page framework was developed through the work of county staffers, outside advisors and representatives from 23 county school systems, each of which must develop its own reopening plan.
“Our main priority is health and safety,” said Debra Duardo, the superintendent for the L.A. County Office of Education, which provides services and financial oversight for the county’s 80 school systems. “Unfortunately some of the things that children could enjoy in the past, they’re not going to be able to do that.”
The county’s guidance came out before the state Department of Education released its own framework for California’s 6.2 million public school students. State Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said Wednesday to expect that “guidebook” in early June.
“We expect ... that students and staff should be wearing a face covering at school,” Thurmond said. Schools should follow the lead of childcare centers open now, which take temperatures when children enter and ask parents to take their children’s temperatures before they leave home. “We’re going to have to use every part of the campus to make sure that we have six feet of distance,” whether in the classroom, at lunch, or on the way to and from campus.
When campuses closed in mid-March, school systems scrambled to develop a new style of education on the fly — one that relied on “distance learning.” Administrators quickly handed out computers and internet hot spots. Teachers trained on Zoom and other online platforms. Parents oversaw learning at home, even as they faced economic hardship.
Despite these Herculean efforts, school leaders and teachers report uneven student engagement and impediments to learning at home, underscoring the importance of an academically robust return to campus — even as the governor’s proposed budget envisions a cut for schools of about 10%.
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A walk-through Tuesday at Cerritos Elementary School in Glendale put the complexities into focus.
The campus has the natural advantage of multiple outdoor spaces: The doors for the youngest students’ classrooms open directly onto a circular courtyard leading to a student garden — no need for these students to go through hallways to get to class.
The guidelines recommend making use of outdoor spaces — where the threat of virus transmission is lower.
But how exactly do you keep kindergartners and other youngsters six feet apart?
“That is a big challenge because our nature is to play together and the socialization is so important at that age,” said Cerritos Principal Perla Chavez-Fritz. “Maybe hula hoops and things that the students can play together alone.”
Cerritos Elementary Principal Perla Chavez-Fritz, foreground, looks over an outdoor lunch eating area that is unlikely to be used for the school lunch period when the Glendale campus reopens. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Then there’s the challenge of requiring students, especially little ones, to wear masks all day — if they’re fiddling or taking them on and off, the sanitation benefit declines. Some students with disabilities or health issues cannot safely wear masks.
The other side of Cerritos Elementary opens onto a grassy field adjacent to a covered eating area — additional helpful outdoor space. But the massive, brightly hued play structure is likely to be off-limits.
Under the guidelines, the spacious eating area could be used for some classroom activities, but not for the traditional lunch period gathering. It’s safer for students to remain in class, eating at their desks, spaced six feet apart.
The county said school districts could consider hybrid learning models, with students spending half the school day at home to reduce class size, and perhaps eliminating lunch period altogether — by sending students home with a bagged meal.
A hybrid model would likely require some element of distance learning, which many children statewide are still not equipped for, Thurmond said Wednesday. About 600,000 California students are still waiting for a computing device and 300,000-400,000 need internet hot spots, a gap that would cost at least $500 million to fill.
Enter second-grade teacher Emily Miranda’s classroom and other issues become obvious. Her classroom opens onto an interior hall — which new guidelines suggest be turned into a one-way passage to limit jostling.
Inside, the room is frozen in mid-March, walls festooned with student work for display at an open house that never happened: book reports on Dr. Seuss; crayon and collage pieces for the Fine Arts Day display. Book orders were due March 13. A girl’s pencil box is open and askew.
A pencil box left by a student before Cerritos Elementary in Glendale shut down, along with other schools across the state. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Student name tags show that Ryan, Lucas, Addison and Maya sat facing one another with their desks pushed together. That wouldn’t work for the fall. The guidelines suggest facing all desks the same way, six feet apart.
Plus, there are too many desks — far more than the 16 the guidelines recommend in a standard-sized California classroom. And there’s just too much furniture, including a student activity center at a kidney-shaped table. That’s too much to keep clean, to disinfect and to allow for physical distancing.
The calendar stops at March 13 in the second-grade classroom of teacher Emily Miranda at Cerritos Elementary in Glendale. That was the last day before campuses closed because of the coronavirus pandemic. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
The guidelines suggest that administrators rent storage pods for unusable furniture.
“We’ve measured,” said Vivian Ekchian, the superintendent of Glendale Unified School District. “We’re going through all the different scenarios to see how many tables, how many chairs, how many desks, how many students would have to be in a classroom for us to remain safe and make sure that instruction still occurs.”
Glendale Unified Supt. Vivian Ekchian, left, and L.A. County Office of Education Supt. Debra Duardo tour Cerritos Elementary in Glendale on Tuesday while discussing plans to reopen campuses. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
At Cerritos Elementary, all classrooms have sinks, but that’s not true everywhere. The guidelines recommend building time into the schedule for frequent hand washing.
The carpet on Miranda’s floor — where students recently huddled during storytime to listen to her read such books as “Horrible Harry,” “The Frog Prince,” “The Mangrove Tree” — may also have to go because it’s too small for social distancing. And those books — part of Miranda’s huge classroom library — are impossible to sanitize daily, and may have to be packed away.
Students may have to read online, Ekchian said, adding, “We will be purchasing for our students their own personal equipment. So whether it’s their masks or crayons and pencils, whatever is appropriate at that age level. And it might include a basketball which they can use. It might not be in a team sport.”
Ekchian can’t imagine having to reduce staff because of proposed budget cuts. She’s thinking that necessary new hires might include bathroom attendants, to keep those areas properly supervised.
So many unknowns remain, said Alejandro Ruvalcaba, superintendent of the Rosemead School District, south of Pasadena.
If the county is in Phase 5 of reopening, school will be closest to normal, he said. Although the district also must be ready, for example, to handle more restrictive openings and split schedules.
“We don’t know whether it’s going to be every other day,” Ruvalcaba said. “We don’t know whether it’s going to be AM/PM, and it might be a combination of both.”
And one instructional plan won’t be enough, said Lancaster School District Supt. Michele Bowers, who served on the task force along with Ekchian and Ruvalcaba.
“Not everyone wants their child to be in a school setting,” said Bowers. “Some need a school setting for various reasons. Some are very comfortable with a blended model.”
The uncertain timeline of restructured schools is worrisome, said UCLA education professor Pedro Noguera.
Schools offer an important environment where children learn to socialize with one another, he said.
The diminishing of play, lunch table chatter and personal contact could hurt students if such measures continue in the long term.
“There are a lot of kids that are more social, and they look to school for their friends and their teachers.” Noguera said, “and they’re going to be at a huge disadvantage.”


latimes--2020-05-27--'Powder keg' at Chuckawalla Valley State Prison with 110 cases of COVID-19 in two weeks

Until May 13 , none of the 2,306 men incarcerated at Chuckawalla Valley State Prison had tested positive for COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus .
The prison on the eastern edge of Riverside County had seemed spared from the outbreaks ravaging penal institutions in Chino and Lancaster .
But since three inmates at Chuckawalla tested positive for COVID-19 on May 13 , 107 additional people have been infected , according to statistics from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation , vaulting Chuckawalla to near the top of the state prison system ’ s list of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The recent outbreak places Chuckawalla amid a group of five institutions — the California Institute for Men in Chino , Avenal State Prison in Kings County , California State Prison in Los Angeles County and the California Institution for Women in Corona — that account for 13 % of the state prison system ’ s population but 98 % of its confirmed cases of COVID-19 .
The California Institute for Men in Chino has suffered the worst outbreak .
More than 630 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 and nine have died .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ traced to the coronavirus at any other institution .
At Chuckawalla , about 25 miles west of the Arizona border , prison officials have begun moving inmates out of buildings that housed people under quarantine to other parts of the prison , Robert McBride , an inmate , said in a phone interview .
McBride , 58 , who said he is 10 months shy of finishing a 16-year sentence for robbery , fears this will circulate the virus throughout the prison , which , given the recent rash of infections , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We don ’ t know who has what , who ’ s coming from where , ” he said .
“ We ’ re at the mercy of fate.
” The CDCR didn ’ t immediately respond to a request for comment .
Inside the prison , where inmates are housed in pods and sleep in bunk beds a few feet apart , social distancing is impossible , McBride said .
Chuckawalla , like most California prisons , is overfull : Built in 1987 to house 1,738 inmates , it now holds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Every inmate has been issued five canvas masks , which he must wear whenever he leaves the pod , McBride said , and guards perform temperature checks as well .
No inmates at Chuckawalla have died or been released due to the coronavirus to date , according to the CDCR .

The California Institution For Men in Chino, where more than 630 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 and nine have died.
Until May 13, none of the 2,306 men incarcerated at Chuckawalla Valley State Prison had tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The prison on the eastern edge of Riverside County had seemed spared from the outbreaks ravaging penal institutions in Chino and Lancaster.
But since three inmates at Chuckawalla tested positive for COVID-19 on May 13, 107 additional people have been infected, according to statistics from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, vaulting Chuckawalla to near the top of the state prison system’s list of facilities most stricken by the coronavirus.
The recent outbreak places Chuckawalla amid a group of five institutions — the California Institute for Men in Chino, Avenal State Prison in Kings County, California State Prison in Los Angeles County and the California Institution for Women in Corona — that account for 13% of the state prison system’s population but 98% of its confirmed cases of COVID-19.
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The California Institute for Men in Chino has suffered the worst outbreak. More than 630 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 and nine have died. The CDCR has reported no inmate deaths traced to the coronavirus at any other institution.
At Chuckawalla, about 25 miles west of the Arizona border, prison officials have begun moving inmates out of buildings that housed people under quarantine to other parts of the prison, Robert McBride, an inmate, said in a phone interview.
McBride, 58, who said he is 10 months shy of finishing a 16-year sentence for robbery, fears this will circulate the virus throughout the prison, which, given the recent rash of infections, he described as “a powder keg.”
“We don’t know who has what, who’s coming from where,” he said. “We’re at the mercy of fate.”
The CDCR didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Inside the prison, where inmates are housed in pods and sleep in bunk beds a few feet apart, social distancing is impossible, McBride said. Chuckawalla, like most California prisons, is overfull: Built in 1987 to house 1,738 inmates, it now holds 2,306 men, according to CDCR figures.
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Every inmate has been issued five canvas masks, which he must wear whenever he leaves the pod, McBride said, and guards perform temperature checks as well.
No inmates at Chuckawalla have died or been released due to the coronavirus to date, according to the CDCR.


latimes--2020-05-26--Los Angeles sheriff's deputy fatally shoots man in South Los Angeles

A Los Angeles County sheriff ’ s deputy fatally shot a man Tuesday evening in South Los Angeles , according @ @ @ @ @ Department .
Just after 5 p.m. , a deputy shot and killed a Latino man @ @ @ @ @ West 109th Place , an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County , the department said @ @ @ @ @ the shooting were disclosed Tuesday evening ; neither the victim nor the deputy were identified @ @ @ @ @ detectives are investigating the shooting , and anyone with information is asked to call ( @ @ @ @

A Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy fatally shot a man Tuesday evening in South Los Angeles, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
Just after 5 p.m., a deputy shot and killed a Latino man in the 1100 block of West 109th Place, an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County, the department said.
No other details of the shooting were disclosed Tuesday evening; neither the victim nor the deputy were identified.
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Sheriff’s homicide detectives are investigating the shooting, and anyone with information is asked to call (323) 890-5500.


latimes--2020-05-26--L.A. County will ask state to allow restaurants, other businesses to reopen sooner

Los Angeles County officials said Tuesday they will ask the state to allow a speedier reopening of restaurants in the county offering in-person dining and other businesses shuttered by the coronavirus outbreak .
After meeting in closed session , members of the Board of Supervisors said the county would submit a “ variance ” application to the state on Wednesday .
If approved , it would allow L.A. County to advance further into Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s plan for reopening the state .
For a variance plan to be approved , a county must prove it has met @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criteria for containing COVID-19 .
That includes having no more than 20 COVID-19 hospitalizations on any single day in the past 14 days , and fewer than 25 new cases per 100,000 residents in the past 14 days , or less than 8 % testing positive in the past seven days .
It also means a county must have sufficient contact tracing and testing available for at least 75 % of residents .
Supervisor Kathryn Barger said in an interview that during the closed session Barbara Ferrer , the county ’ s public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data showing that L.A. County has met those thresholds .
At least two supervisors had initially opposed seeking a variance , Barger said , but when Ferrer presented the new data , “ that solved the problem right there.
” If approved , the county could allow some in-person dining in restaurants , Barger said .
Restaurant owners hope to be allowed to seat more patrons outside because many say they can not survive with overly stringent rules limiting capacity , Barger said .
Additionally , if the variance plan is approved , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reopen in some capacity , as outlined by state health guidelines , but not nail salons .
L.A. County will also align its public-health order with the state ’ s order .
Previously , the county ’ s order was more stringent than the state ’ s , which caused confusion among residents , Barger said .
An updated county health order will allow community pools , drive-in theaters and flea markets to reopen because they are already allowed to operate under state rules , Barger said .
Additionally , faith-based organizations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of congregants limited to less than 25 % of the building ’ s capacity , or a maximum of 100 people , whichever is lower .
All retail , including businesses located inside malls and at outdoor retail shopping centers , can open for business at 50 % capacity .
Gatherings of people not from the same household are still prohibited , except for faith-based services and in-person protests .
If approved , the variance plan might be implemented differently within the city of L.A. , as the city could choose to implement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health order if Mayor Eric Garcetti felt it was unsafe for L.A. to reopen as much as other parts of the county , Barger said .
As of Tuesday , the state had approved COVID-19 variance plans for 47 counties to reopen dine-in restaurants , outdoor museums , shopping centers , in-store retail and office-based workplaces .
Barger said the state approved Ventura County ’ s variance plan in about 48 hours , and expressed hope that Gov .
Gavin Newsom would be similarly supportive of L.A. 's bid .
There is “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are going down , and people are getting frustrated because there ’ s no movement in letting them get back to their jobs , ” Barger said .
“ I hope by doing this , people will recognize the ability to move forward is based off what we have done for the last three weeks.
” In a statement , Supervisor Sheila Kuehl urged residents to continue wearing face coverings , practice social distancing and frequently wash their hands .
Otherwise , “ we will not be able to meet our goal of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as possible , ” Kuehl said .

L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, right, with Supervisor Janice Hahn, said the county was progressing in its coronavirus fight.
Los Angeles County officials said Tuesday they will ask the state to allow a speedier reopening of restaurants in the county offering in-person dining and other businesses shuttered by the coronavirus outbreak.
After meeting in closed session, members of the Board of Supervisors said the county would submit a “variance” application to the state on Wednesday. If approved, it would allow L.A. County to advance further into Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan for reopening the state.
For a variance plan to be approved, a county must prove it has met the state public health department’s criteria for containing COVID-19.
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That includes having no more than 20 COVID-19 hospitalizations on any single day in the past 14 days, and fewer than 25 new cases per 100,000 residents in the past 14 days, or less than 8% testing positive in the past seven days. It also means a county must have sufficient contact tracing and testing available for at least 75% of residents.
Supervisor Kathryn Barger said in an interview that during the closed session Barbara Ferrer, the county’s public health director, provided supervisors with new data showing that L.A. County has met those thresholds.
At least two supervisors had initially opposed seeking a variance, Barger said, but when Ferrer presented the new data, “that solved the problem right there.”
If approved, the county could allow some in-person dining in restaurants, Barger said. Restaurant owners hope to be allowed to seat more patrons outside because many say they cannot survive with overly stringent rules limiting capacity, Barger said.
Additionally, if the variance plan is approved, barbershops and hair salons would be allowed to reopen in some capacity, as outlined by state health guidelines, but not nail salons.
L.A. County will also align its public-health order with the state’s order. Previously, the county’s order was more stringent than the state’s, which caused confusion among residents, Barger said.
An updated county health order will allow community pools, drive-in theaters and flea markets to reopen because they are already allowed to operate under state rules, Barger said.
Additionally, faith-based organizations can resume services, with the number of congregants limited to less than 25% of the building’s capacity, or a maximum of 100 people, whichever is lower.
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All retail, including businesses located inside malls and at outdoor retail shopping centers, can open for business at 50% capacity.
Gatherings of people not from the same household are still prohibited, except for faith-based services and in-person protests.
If approved, the variance plan might be implemented differently within the city of L.A., as the city could choose to implement stricter rules than the county’s health order if Mayor Eric Garcetti felt it was unsafe for L.A. to reopen as much as other parts of the county, Barger said.
As of Tuesday, the state had approved COVID-19 variance plans for 47 counties to reopen dine-in restaurants, outdoor museums, shopping centers, in-store retail and office-based workplaces.
Barger said the state approved Ventura County’s variance plan in about 48 hours, and expressed hope that Gov. Gavin Newsom would be similarly supportive of L.A.’s bid.
There is “a sense of frustration because the numbers are going down, and people are getting frustrated because there’s no movement in letting them get back to their jobs,” Barger said. “I hope by doing this, people will recognize the ability to move forward is based off what we have done for the last three weeks.”
In a statement, Supervisor Sheila Kuehl urged residents to continue wearing face coverings, practice social distancing and frequently wash their hands.
Otherwise, “we will not be able to meet our goal of reopening as fully as possible as quickly as possible,” Kuehl said.


latimes--2020-05-26--L.A. County allows churches, stores, pools, drive-in theaters to reopen with restrictions

Los Angeles County announced Tuesday that it will align with California ’ s latest guidelines and allow the resumption of faith-based services , in-store shopping at low-risk retail stores , drive-in movies and other recreational activities with restrictions .
The new order from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health , released Tuesday evening , sets the stage for the county to request a variance from the state to permit faster reopening in some areas .
L.A. County has been the California epicenter of coronavirus , with more than 2,100 deaths .
Under the shift , faith-based organizations can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ congregants limited to 25 % of the building ’ s capacity , or a maximum of 100 people , whichever is lower .
All retail establishments , including those located in indoor and outdoor shopping centers , can open for business at 50 % capacity ; flea markets , swap meets and drive-in movie theaters can also resume operations .
Pools , hot tubs and saunas that are in a multi-unit residence or part of a homeowners association can also open .
The shift comes as Gov .
Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counties throughout the state .
Newsom said 47 of California ’ s 58 counties had already met the state ’ s standards and could move forward in reopening .
In Los Angeles , “ personal care ” businesses such as nail and hair salons will remain closed , according to the county order .
The updated health order also provides guidelines for public protests , permitting them as long as attendance is limited to 25 % of the area ’ s maximum occupancy , or a maximum of 100 attendees , whichever is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wearing of face coverings and other safety protocols must still be observed , officials said .
“ Aligning Los Angeles County ’ s health orders with that of the state is going to provide immediate relief to our communities .
This important step will enable our residents and businesses to have greater clarity and consistency as we continue to take positive steps toward reopening Los Angeles County , ” Kathryn Barger , chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors , said in a statement .
L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis acknowledged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted that it “ does not mean going back to business as usual.
” “ As long as community members follow safety rules , we can continue to make more progress , ” she said .
“ Our houses of worship can once again welcome people inside .
Shopping malls and communal flea markets can get back to business .
I am so proud of all the progress we ’ ve made to protect our loved ones from COVID-19 .
Given our resilience and collective sacrifice , we are ready to take the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gatherings of people not from the same household are still prohibited , except for faith-based services and in-person protests .
The county encouraged those 65 or older and anyone with underlying health conditions to stay home as much as possible .
Also Tuesday , Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced that all retail businesses in the city will be able to allow customers inside their stores starting Wednesday , as long as they adopt the county ’ s safety protocols .
“ We ’ ve earned the right way to do it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s time to make sure we don ’ t punish our local stores and we begin to fortify again our main streets.
” Churches and other houses of worship also will be allowed to reopen , he said , but must follow the state ’ s guideline of limiting services to 25 % of their normal capacity , or 100 people , whichever is smaller .
“ This is guidance , ” Garcetti added .
“ Reopen when you are ready.
” Restaurants are still restricted to pick-up services @ @ @ @

Shoppers come and go from the Brea Mall, which reopened Tuesday.
Los Angeles County announced Tuesday that it will align with California’s latest guidelines and allow the resumption of faith-based services, in-store shopping at low-risk retail stores, drive-in movies and other recreational activities with restrictions.
The new order from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, released Tuesday evening, sets the stage for the county to request a variance from the state to permit faster reopening in some areas. L.A. County has been the California epicenter of coronavirus, with more than 2,100 deaths.
Under the shift, faith-based organizations can resume services, with the number of congregants limited to 25% of the building’s capacity, or a maximum of 100 people, whichever is lower.
All retail establishments, including those located in indoor and outdoor shopping centers, can open for business at 50% capacity; flea markets, swap meets and drive-in movie theaters can also resume operations. Pools, hot tubs and saunas that are in a multi-unit residence or part of a homeowners association can also open.
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The shift comes as Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday that barbershops and hair salons would be allowed to reopen in many counties throughout the state. Newsom said 47 of California’s 58 counties had already met the state’s standards and could move forward in reopening.
In Los Angeles, “personal care” businesses such as nail and hair salons will remain closed, according to the county order.
The updated health order also provides guidelines for public protests, permitting them as long as attendance is limited to 25% of the area’s maximum occupancy, or a maximum of 100 attendees, whichever is lower.
Physical distancing requirements, the wearing of face coverings and other safety protocols must still be observed, officials said.
“Aligning Los Angeles County’s health orders with that of the state is going to provide immediate relief to our communities. This important step will enable our residents and businesses to have greater clarity and consistency as we continue to take positive steps toward reopening Los Angeles County,” Kathryn Barger, chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, said in a statement.
L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis acknowledged the importance of reopening certain activities but noted that it “does not mean going back to business as usual.”
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“As long as community members follow safety rules, we can continue to make more progress,” she said. “Our houses of worship can once again welcome people inside. Shopping malls and communal flea markets can get back to business. I am so proud of all the progress we’ve made to protect our loved ones from COVID-19. Given our resilience and collective sacrifice, we are ready to take the next step to reopen our economy.”
Gatherings of people not from the same household are still prohibited, except for faith-based services and in-person protests. The county encouraged those 65 or older and anyone with underlying health conditions to stay home as much as possible.
Also Tuesday, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced that all retail businesses in the city will be able to allow customers inside their stores starting Wednesday, as long as they adopt the county’s safety protocols.
“We’ve earned the right way to do it,” Garcetti said at a media briefing. “It’s time to make sure we don’t punish our local stores and we begin to fortify again our main streets.”
Churches and other houses of worship also will be allowed to reopen, he said, but must follow the state’s guideline of limiting services to 25% of their normal capacity, or 100 people, whichever is smaller.
“This is guidance,” Garcetti added. “Reopen when you are ready.”
Restaurants are still restricted to pick-up services, he said.


latimes--2020-05-26--'What the heck is going on?' County supervisors demand answers on Vernon coronavirus outbreaks

Alarmed by a rising number of coronavirus infections among meatpacking workers in Vernon , the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday gave local health officials and plant operators one week to review worker safety protocols and report back .
The order , introduced by Supervisor Hilda Solis and passed by a 5-0 vote , followed reports this weekend of coronavirus clusters in at least nine facilities in the small industrial city south of downtown Los Angeles , including five meatpacking plants .
“ I was very alarmed about what I heard , and thought , ‘ What the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Solis said in an interview after the supervisors ’ Tuesday meeting .
According to county health officials , the largest outbreak was at the Smithfield Foods-owned Farmer John plant , which produces the Dodger Dog .
There , 153 of 1,837 employees tested positive for COVID-19 between March and May , county officials said .
More than 200 workers have tested positive across the nine facilities , reflecting a broader national trend in which industrial workers , particularly those in the food industry , have been hit hard by the pandemic .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the Farmer John plant called for it to be shuttered for cleaning and a review of protocols to keep workers safe .
The company has said it already has taken measures to keep employees safe that exceed recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
In its motion Tuesday , the Board of Supervisors ordered personnel in the county ’ s health department to work with city and union officials and the plant operators to outline the efforts that have been taken already , as well as any programs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broader Southeast Los Angeles community being impacted by the outbreaks .
They also ordered a review of city and county jurisdiction over the Vernon facilities , and to assess whether current protocols for reducing outbreaks are appropriate .
“ I ’ m not coming as a bully or anything like that , ” Solis said .
“ It ’ s about trying to resolve this challenge that we have.
” In a statement , the city of Vernon said it “ will continue to do everything in its power to work with all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Smithfield did not respond to a request for comment on the board ’ s motion .
Solis said she has spoken to UFCW Local 770 union officials who represent workers in the company ’ s Vernon plant , and agreed with them that more information about control measures within the facilities is needed .
She also said more clarity is needed as to which government entities have oversight over such measures , and other issues related to addressing the current threat .
While Vernon has its own health department , it lacks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major crisis and can ’ t provide the sort of contact tracing needed to ensure large clusters of a highly contagious virus don ’ t spread more widely into the surrounding communities , Solis said .
“ We ’ re going to do what we can to try to protect the workers and set better standards , ” Solis said .

More than 200 workers have tested positive across meatpacking and other facilities in Vernon.
Alarmed by a rising number of coronavirus infections among meatpacking workers in Vernon, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday gave local health officials and plant operators one week to review worker safety protocols and report back.
The order, introduced by Supervisor Hilda Solis and passed by a 5-0 vote, followed reports this weekend of coronavirus clusters in at least nine facilities in the small industrial city south of downtown Los Angeles, including five meatpacking plants.
“I was very alarmed about what I heard, and thought, ‘What the heck is going on?’” Solis said in an interview after the supervisors’ Tuesday meeting.
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According to county health officials, the largest outbreak was at the Smithfield Foods-owned Farmer John plant, which produces the Dodger Dog. There, 153 of 1,837 employees tested positive for COVID-19 between March and May, county officials said.
More than 200 workers have tested positive across the nine facilities, reflecting a broader national trend in which industrial workers, particularly those in the food industry, have been hit hard by the pandemic.
On Monday, the union that represents workers at the Farmer John plant called for it to be shuttered for cleaning and a review of protocols to keep workers safe. The company has said it already has taken measures to keep employees safe that exceed recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In its motion Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors ordered personnel in the county’s health department to work with city and union officials and the plant operators to outline the efforts that have been taken already, as well as any programs to support workers, their families and the broader Southeast Los Angeles community being impacted by the outbreaks.
They also ordered a review of city and county jurisdiction over the Vernon facilities, and to assess whether current protocols for reducing outbreaks are appropriate.
“I’m not coming as a bully or anything like that,” Solis said. “It’s about trying to resolve this challenge that we have.”
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In a statement, the city of Vernon said it “will continue to do everything in its power to work with all parties involved to ensure compliance and safety.”
Smithfield did not respond to a request for comment on the board’s motion.
Solis said she has spoken to UFCW Local 770 union officials who represent workers in the company’s Vernon plant, and agreed with them that more information about control measures within the facilities is needed.
She also said more clarity is needed as to which government entities have oversight over such measures, and other issues related to addressing the current threat.
While Vernon has its own health department, it lacks the capacity to respond to such a major crisis and can’t provide the sort of contact tracing needed to ensure large clusters of a highly contagious virus don’t spread more widely into the surrounding communities, Solis said.
“We’re going to do what we can to try to protect the workers and set better standards,” Solis said.
Los Angeles Times reporter Jaclyn Cosgrove contributed to this article.


latimes--2020-05-26--Authorities crack down on illicit Hollywood Hills parties at short-term rentals

With nightclubs closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak , short-term rental homes in the Hollywood Hills have become hot spots for illicit parties .
Now , the Los Angeles Police Department and city attorney are warning homeowners that they can be held criminally and civilly accountable for renters ’ unruly parties .
The LAPD said it has responded to complaints about several parties in recent weeks .
The biggest occurred May 16 , when police arrived at a home to find 100 people partying .
They then heard a gunshot and found a partygoer with an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone , ” said Sheila Irani , a member of the Hollywood United Neighborhood Council .
Irani said people are flocking to the Hollywood Hills to party night and day .
Many of the short-term rentals of large homes are going to visitors from out of town .
“ By the time anything happens , they are up and gone , ” she said .
“ We have houses here with 12 people floating in the pool all day.
” In the Lake Hollywood Estates , she said , one owner has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without the required registration for at least a month .
Calls to the police , City Hall and the city attorney haven ’ t changed that .
“ We tried to get them to wear a mask .
They ’ re walking down our streets in crowds , ” she said .
Ralph Sanchez , LAPD ’ s senior lead officer for the area , has a message to people looking for a replacement for closed nightclubs : “ Please don ’ t come up here to party.
” Capt .
Steve Lurie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 49 calls about parties , 15 % to 20 % more than usual for a Memorial Day weekend .
“ It is taking up a lot of officers ’ time , ” Lurie said .
LAPD Asst .
Chief Robert Arcos said the department is doing its best to respond to party complaint calls at a time when officers are undertaking additional tasks due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ As you know , we are stretching deployment to cover beaches and support all tiered openings , ” he said .
The Los @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homeowners with a history of renting to partyers will face more than a slap on the wrist .
“ If police are called to the location of a party , there will be consequences , ” said Ethan Weaver , the Hollywood-area prosecutor for the city attorney ’ s office .
“ The consequences can range from a citation up to criminal prosecution and six months in jail .
Those consequences don ’ t just apply to the person throwing the party ; it can apply to ... the homeowner .
If your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violation in the past , you as a property owner can be held responsible even if you are not present.
” Police say the party-house issue emerged a few years ago with the explosion of short-term rentals through services such as Airbnb .
Since Gov .
Gavin Newsom and L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti in March instituted stay-at-home orders to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus , the LAPD ’ s Hollywood Division has gotten a steady stream of complaints of loud parties , with music and voices echoing through the tight canyons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the night .
Those complaints include jam-packed hillside parking , public intoxication and partygoers urinating outside people ’ s homes .
The issue came to a head May 16 , when officers entered a raging party at a 4,000-square-foot luxury home in the 1400 block of Miller Drive , which had been rented for the weekend , and heard a gunshot .
Josh Rubenstein , the LAPD communications director , said the investigation determined that there was gang activity at the party .
Three guns were recovered from the scene , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out for the party , Rubenstein said , and the owner of the property was seemingly unaware of the plan for its use .
That home was not rented via the most popular short-term rental service , Airbnb .
That company has cracked down on such violations since the pandemic , warning property owners that they will be forbidden from using the service if it is discovered they rented to people throwing parties .
Gatherings of any size are prohibited under the stay-at-home orders issued by L.A. County and the state .
Hollywood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before coronavirus .
In 2018 , the City Council approved an ordinance proposed and championed by Councilman David Ryu , who represents the Hollywood Hills , that imposed fines on both party hosts and homeowners .
Ryu is now looking at expanding the law to crack down on those who continue to flout the law and put others at risk .
“ Party promoters turning homes into de facto nightclubs have been a problem for years .
It ’ s why we passed the party-house ordinance in 2018 .
This has always been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is especially selfish and stupid , ” Ryu said .
“ This is no longer a standard-of-life issue ; it ’ s a standard-of-health issue .
Whether it ’ s by expanding the party-house law or stronger enforcement of physical distancing rules , we must crack down on these parties and hold party hosts and homeowners accountable .
”

Short-term rentals in the Hollywood Hills have become party hot spots during the coronavirus lockdown.
With nightclubs closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak, short-term rental homes in the Hollywood Hills have become hot spots for illicit parties.
Now, the Los Angeles Police Department and city attorney are warning homeowners that they can be held criminally and civilly accountable for renters’ unruly parties.
The LAPD said it has responded to complaints about several parties in recent weeks. The biggest occurred May 16, when police arrived at a home to find 100 people partying. They then heard a gunshot and found a partygoer with an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound.
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“Cabin fever has gotten to everyone,” said Sheila Irani, a member of the Hollywood United Neighborhood Council.
Irani said people are flocking to the Hollywood Hills to party night and day. Many of the short-term rentals of large homes are going to visitors from out of town.
“By the time anything happens, they are up and gone,” she said. “We have houses here with 12 people floating in the pool all day.”
In the Lake Hollywood Estates, she said, one owner has been operating a four-bedroom house as a rental without the required registration for at least a month. Calls to the police, City Hall and the city attorney haven’t changed that.
“We tried to get them to wear a mask. They’re walking down our streets in crowds,” she said.
Ralph Sanchez, LAPD’s senior lead officer for the area, has a message to people looking for a replacement for closed nightclubs: “Please don’t come up here to party.”
Advertisement
Capt. Steve Lurie said his Hollywood station last week received 49 calls about parties, 15% to 20% more than usual for a Memorial Day weekend.
“It is taking up a lot of officers’ time,” Lurie said.
LAPD Asst. Chief Robert Arcos said the department is doing its best to respond to party complaint calls at a time when officers are undertaking additional tasks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “As you know, we are stretching deployment to cover beaches and support all tiered openings,” he said.
The Los Angeles city attorney’s office said homeowners with a history of renting to partyers will face more than a slap on the wrist.
“If police are called to the location of a party, there will be consequences,” said Ethan Weaver, the Hollywood-area prosecutor for the city attorney’s office. “The consequences can range from a citation up to criminal prosecution and six months in jail. Those consequences don’t just apply to the person throwing the party; it can apply to ... the homeowner. If your house has been cited for a party violation in the past, you as a property owner can be held responsible even if you are not present.”
Police say the party-house issue emerged a few years ago with the explosion of short-term rentals through services such as Airbnb.
Since Gov. Gavin Newsom and L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti in March instituted stay-at-home orders to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, the LAPD’s Hollywood Division has gotten a steady stream of complaints of loud parties, with music and voices echoing through the tight canyons and narrow hillside arteries at all hours of the night.
Those complaints include jam-packed hillside parking, public intoxication and partygoers urinating outside people’s homes.
With bars & clubs closed due to COVID 19, we have seen an increase in calls for loud house parties in the Hollywood Hills. Our Senior Lead Officers as well as Ethan Weaver from the @CityAttorneyLA office put together a video with info on nuisance party laws in LA. pic.twitter.com/kGN5NG7IG6 — LAPD Hollywood Division (@LAPDHollywood) May 26, 2020
The issue came to a head May 16, when officers entered a raging party at a 4,000-square-foot luxury home in the 1400 block of Miller Drive, which had been rented for the weekend, and heard a gunshot. Josh Rubenstein, the LAPD communications director, said the investigation determined that there was gang activity at the party. Three guns were recovered from the scene, he said.
The house had been rented out for the party, Rubenstein said, and the owner of the property was seemingly unaware of the plan for its use.
That home was not rented via the most popular short-term rental service, Airbnb. That company has cracked down on such violations since the pandemic, warning property owners that they will be forbidden from using the service if it is discovered they rented to people throwing parties.
Gatherings of any size are prohibited under the stay-at-home orders issued by L.A. County and the state.
Hollywood Hills party houses were a problem well before coronavirus.
In 2018, the City Council approved an ordinance proposed and championed by Councilman David Ryu, who represents the Hollywood Hills, that imposed fines on both party hosts and homeowners.
Ryu is now looking at expanding the law to crack down on those who continue to flout the law and put others at risk.
“Party promoters turning homes into de facto nightclubs have been a problem for years. It’s why we passed the party-house ordinance in 2018. This has always been dangerous, but during a pandemic it is especially selfish and stupid,” Ryu said.
“This is no longer a standard-of-life issue; it’s a standard-of-health issue. Whether it’s by expanding the party-house law or stronger enforcement of physical distancing rules, we must crack down on these parties and hold party hosts and homeowners accountable.”